This extraordinary urban complex of 800 palaces, temples and pavilions containing some 9 000 rooms presents a huge challenge for the millions of tourists who visit the Forbidden City. The seat of power and sacrarium of the Ming and Qing dynasties u..

Built in the 12C, but sacked on several occasions, this summer palace was restored at great expense at the end of the 19C by the empress Cixi, whose megalomania remains legendary even to this day. Situated 12km northwest of Beijing, this enchanting s..

The affirmation of absolute power is embodied in this 20ha esplanade, a megalomaniac creation of Mao, whose portrait still features as a backdrop. Adorned with red flags, this is the heart of Beijing, where the past (the Forbidden City) and the prese..

Founded in the 15C and remodelled two centuries later, the Tiananmen Gate (or Gate of Heavenly Peace) served as the tribune of the Emperors , and then of Chairman Mao , who proclaimed the People’s Republic of China on this spot in 1949. His giant p..

This gate, without doubt the most ornately decorated in the Forbidden City, is guarded by two imposing bronze lions, the symbol of the highest-ranking dignitaries of the State. It was built for the first time in 1420, then completely reconstructed un..

Situated to the north of the Forbidden City, on the opposite side of the street from the gates of the military engineering headquarters, Coal Hill Park is one of the most pleasant in Beijing. Boasting a superb view of the centre of the city, it is, i..

The residence of Prince Gong, built in the last quarter of the 18C across an area of 3ha, is worth a visit if only to admire the splendour of its gardens. Underground passageways, a forest of rocks, small lakes and water features have all been create..

Despite the huge urban transformation that has taken place in the Choyang district, a few nostalgic architectural gems still remain here. The vestiges of the old Ming fortifications, built in the 15C and stretching for 1.5km, are a perfect illustrati..

Many Chinese continue to follow the Taoist faith , as witnessed by the Eastern Peak Temple, built in the early 14C. It receives the faithful who come here to place their offerings in front of the statues of a rich pantheon of divinities , made up o..

The Lama Temple, the former palace of Prince Yong, was granted to the Tibetan community in 1744. This lamasery, one of the major attractions in Beijing, boasted a spiritual aura equal to that of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. It contains splendid Budd..

It was from the Temple of Heaven – built in the 16C and remodelled in the 18C and 19C – that the Ming and Qing emperors adopted the role of spiritual intermediaries with the gods on behalf of the nation. In keeping with such an event, everything here..

The Cow Street Mosque was erected for the first time in the 10C and rebuilt in the 13C, making it the oldest in Beijing. Like the Great Mosque in Xi’an, the Chinese architecture of its buildings makes it difficult at first glance to distinguish it fr..

En route to their summer residence, the Ming emperors stopped at the 16C Temple of Longevity. Two towers, the Drum and Clock towers, provide an early glimpse of architecture which is similar to that of the Forbidden City and which could be taken for ..

The former Summer Palace, a complex of European-style buildings, was built under the reign of the emperor Qianlong, between 1740 and 1747, and based on plans drawn up by Jesuit missionaries. This complex, the splendour of which incorporated the best ..

Located close to the Summer Palace, this park certainly lives up to its name, with its scented gardens and temples full of incense. The first to take advantage of the coolness of the park were the emperors of the Yeng dynasty, who built the 14C Azure..

This huge concrete cube faced with marble in the centre of Tiananmen Square is permanently thronged with visitors, both Chinese and foreign, who queue here for a very quick glimpse (no stopping is allowed) of the mummified remains of Mao , who died ..

Constructed in the 15C, the Qianmen Gate (or Front Gate), marked the border between the old Tartar city and the Chinese city. Formerly defensive in origin and hemmed in by ramparts, it now stands, somewhat superfluously, on manicured lawns to the sou..

Housed in a somewhat sad looking building on the east side of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum is in fact an amalgamation of two museums: the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution . The former highlights the story..

This museum highlights the urban changes that Beijing has experienced in recent years, via old photos showing images of old Beijing and its hutong , and a giant model highlighting the layout of the city in 2008. The museum also includes models ..

Once you’ve climbed the three floors and walked around the top level, you can enjoy a perfect 360° view of the rooftops of old Beijing. The Drum Tower, originally erected for defensive purposes in 1272, then rebuilt in 1420, guarded the entrance to t..