About The Port Of Beijing
Beijing serves as the gateway to imperial China, a sprawling capital where centuries of dynastic history unfold across monumental squares and palace grounds. Tian'anmen Square opens onto the Forbidden City, the UNESCO-listed palace complex that once housed emperors and remains the largest of its kind in the world. Nearby, the Summer Palace offers a serene counterpoint with its lakes and gardens, while the Temple of Heaven, founded in the 15th century, reflects centuries of imperial ceremony.
Beyond the city, the Great Wall winds through the surrounding hills, its ramparts offering sweeping views of the rugged terrain it once defended. Within Beijing itself, narrow hutong alleys preserve a quieter, older layer of urban life, best explored on foot or by rickshaw. Travelers typically arrive with time to settle in before a full slate of sightseeing begins.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Beijing.
Walk the Great Wall
A well-preserved section north of the city offers sweeping views of the ramparts winding across rugged terrain; expect a scenic drive of an hour or more each way, so plan a full day.
Tour the Forbidden City
Wander the largest palace complex in the world, entering through Tian'anmen Square into a maze of courtyards and imperial halls; arrive early and allow several hours to see it properly.
Rickshaw Through the Hutongs
Glide through Beijing's ancient alleyways by rickshaw to glimpse everyday courtyard life largely unchanged for generations, a quieter counterpoint to the grand monuments.