Beijing - what are the top 5 things to do?

Hi, we went last year I'd say .... forbidden city obvioulsy although if you plan to do it properly wear v comfy shoes and allow lots time the place is huge!! Tianamen square, i'd say at night, all the buildings and gates around are lit up it looks far more impressive!!! book a trip to the great wall, there are loads of different parts of it make sure you get the type right for you. there are trips that just take you up to wall so you can wander for an hour or so then get taken back and there are trips like ours that drop you at one point and pick you up 5 hours later further down (much further down) the wall. never realised it was quite so up and down silly i know!! :o) ok so 4 (this is in no order by the way?) summer palace is worth a trip its gorgeous and to finish yes the peking duck is amazing but try and get it from a proper cafe rather than the posh restaurants, the food is amazing surrealy we got hooked on beijing stir fried aubergine it was addictive and i hate aubergine!! anyway enjoy!!

1. summer palace (spend at 1/2 day there) - majestic and impressive
2. temple of heaven (also wak around the park - beautiful and you will see lots of leisure activities by the locals)
3. the forbidden city and take a ride aolog the hutongs (easily 1/2 day)
4. the great wall
5. tianamen square and mao tze tung moseleum
6. shopping at wangfujing and silk street

1) eat dumplings * so good!
2) go to the great wall
3) go to the emperior's palace
4) go to the tian an men (really big!)
5) shopping! really cheap stuff there

hi, I suggest you can also try to find a volunteer local guide at www.hieverywhere.com

Traveling with a volunteer guide, you'll get not only an inside perspective but also a local friend.

1: The great wall ( Simatai Section is the best)

2: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square

3: Summer Palace

4: Temple of Heaven

5: Lama Temple

6: Silk Street

7: Peking Roast Dun at Qunjude Restaurant

8: Sanlitun Bar Street or Houhai Bar Street at night

9: Hutong Tour

10: Chinese Kungfu Show