Lonely Planet Beijing

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN:
  9781787010505
• Print ISBN:
  9781786575203

Forbidden City & Dōngchéng Central

Sights

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Activities

Forbidden City & Dōngchéng Central

Neighborhood Top Five

1Forbidden City Marvel at the might, splendour and sheer scale of the world’s largest palace complex and the place 24 consecutive emperors of China called home.

2Tiān’ānmén Square Place yourself at the symbolic heart of the Chinese universe with a visit to this quintessential Běijīng sight.

3National Centre for the Performing Arts Enjoy a show or just stare open-mouthed at the sci-fi architecture itself.

4Jǐngshān Park Rise early to get the most out of this area’s wonderful imperial parks.

5National Museum of China Peruse the galleries of the city’s best museum with exquisite ceramics, calligraphy and artifacts.

Explore Forbidden City & Dōngchéng Central

The most historically significant part of Běijīng, Dōngchéng Central comprises much of what was once the Imperial City, at the heart of which lay the Forbidden City, from where emperors ruled China for more than 500 years.

The hútòng (narrow alleyways) fanning out to the north and east of the Forbidden City were where the members of the imperial court once lived, and are fascinating places to explore on foot or by bicycle. You can even base yourself here by settling in to one of this area's charming courtyard hotels.

You’ll need at least a couple of days to visit all the best sights in this history-rich neighbourhood; figure on half a day for the Forbidden City alone.

Food options are strong, with cuisine from across China well represented, as well as street markets and some of the capital's more unusual fine-dining establishments. Nightlife is relatively thin on the ground, though.

Local Life

AFood Tuck into authentic Běijīng grub at Zuǒ Lín Yòu Shè or Yuèbīn Fànguǎn. The street-food markets near Wángfǔjǐng may be fun, but locals find them touristy and overpriced. Enjoy your barbecued skewers from a hole-in-the-wall hútòng joint instead; spot the red neon 串 sign, and you’re good to go.

AParks Jǐngshān Park and Zhōngshān Park are two of Běijīng’s most colourful – and locals, particularly the elderly, love to spend their mornings in t...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to Beijing
• Beijing's Top 13
• What's New
• Need to Know
• First Time Beijing
• Getting Around
• Top Itineraries
• If You Like...
• Month By Month
• With Kids
• Like a Local
• For Free
• Eating
• Drinking & Nightlife
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Neighbourhoods at a Glance
• Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
• Drum Tower & Dongcheng North
• Temple of Heaven & Dongcheng South
• Beihi Park & Xicheng North
• Dashilar & Xicheng South
• Sanltun & Chaoyang
• Summer Palace & Hidian
• The Great Wall
• Day Trips from Beijing
• Sleeping
• Understand Beijing
• Beijing Today
• History
• Historic Hutong
• Arts
• Architecture
• Religion & Belief
• Transport
• Directory AZ
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Beijing Maps
• Our Writers