Beijing represents China’s increasingly important place in the world and offers visitors the country’s best historical and religious monuments, shopping and top-class restaurants.

There’s so much to do in Beijing, so if your time is limited, make sure you visit the most iconic landmarks, one of which is Tiananmen Square. The square’s sheer enormity is awesome, and it’s the centre from which to access attractions such as the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the National Museum of China, the Palace Museum and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Beijing has become a shopaholic’s paradise, and many great shopping areas are located nearby Tiananmen Square.

Head east to Silk Alley where you can pick up clothing, artwork and leather goods. Then, head further west to Chao Yang district, for the Pan Jia Yuan market, otherwise known as “dirt market”, which is China’s largest – and possibly most entertaining – market. Haggle here and you’ll pick up bargain antiques, art and craft items such as ceramics, jade, carvings and much, much more.

Temple enthusiasts must visit at least a couple of Beijing’s grand places of worship. The Temple of Heaven, only a half-hour walk west from Tiananmen, is a complex of Taoist buildings that started being constructed in 1420. From Temple of Heaven, head to nearby “pearl and jewel heaven” – Hong Qiao. This is a famous location and there’s a fabulous pearl market that occupies an entire floor where you can also buy turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones.

One of the most well-preserved and impressive temples in Beijing is Yonghe Temple, also known as Lama Temple. Dating back to 1694, it’s one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world, and a visit is a wonderful way to escape Beijing’s frenzy, as this is one of the city’s most peaceful locations.

A trip to China isn’t complete without visiting some part of the Great Wall, and Beijing is a convenient base from which to do this. Three sections of the wall – Badaling, Mutianyu and Simatai – are located about two hours’ drive from the city. If you’ve got a whole day free you can even combine a private tour to the Mutianyu section with a visit to the magnificent Summer Palace – a destination many tourists cite as their favourite – and be dropped back
to your hotel by the evening in time to attend Li Yuan Theatre. Here you can watch a 70- minute performance of Beijing opera, acrobatics and puppetry, artforms that Beijing natives take great pride in – and for good reasons. 

Since Beijing has been the Chinese capital for centuries,you'll find its cuisine has influences from all over China - but most commonly you'll find Shandong and Liaoning cuisine. The common term 'Emperor's Kitchen' refers to the cooking places inside the 'Forbidden City' where thousands of cooks from different parts of China showed their skills to please royal families. But in particular, you’ve never eaten real Peking Duck if you haven’t had it in Beijing, and although there are stacks of places around town to feast on this treat, the city’s most famous duck restaurant is Qianmen Quanjude, not far from Li Yuan Theatre. It’s also one of the oldest, having been established in 1864. As a guest, you’ll eat one of the thousands of meals served here each day, while admiring the walls festooned with photos of dignitaries who patronise the restaurant.

Booming Beijing is a place for feasting all the senses, sightseeing and shopping till you drop, so get there before the rest of the world does. There’s never been a better time to visit China’s capital.