Things to Do in Beijing

Beijing's Great Wall section at Badaling receives over 10 million visitors annually, making it the most visited section of the wall globally.

The Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex by area, spanning 180 acres with 980 buildings constructed during the Ming Dynasty in 1406.

Beijing sits on the edge of the Gobi Desert, and seasonal dust storms called 'black winds' can reduce visibility dramatically in spring.

Peking duck has been a signature dish since the imperial era, with the technique refined over 600 years, particularly at restaurants like Quanjude (established 1864).

The Summer Palace's Kunming Lake was artificially created during the Jin Dynasty and covers 2.2 square kilometres of the imperial retreat.

Beijing's hutongs (traditional alleyways) are rapidly disappearing; fewer than 1,000 authentic hutongs remain from the original thousands that once made up the city.