Ask a QuestionFamous Landmarks in Beijing are regards as the Name Card of Beijing, like the Mutianyu Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall, Forbidden City, Olympic sites, etc. Both the ancient and modern landmarks represent a certain Chinese character or role which Beijing presents to the world. Come with TopChinaTravel, to witness and appreciate those famous Beijing landmarks.
Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huairou District, Beijing, 73 kilometers away from Beijing downtown area. It is one of the famous sections of China Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt and till today most parts of it are well-preserved. The Mutianyu Great Wall has the largest construction scale and best vegetation covering area among all sections of Great Wall.
Tian'an men Square is located at Chang'an Avenue in the cetral area of Beijing City, the southern tip of the Forbidden City. It has been the landmark of Beijing for a long time and one of the top 10 largest city square around the wolrd(880 meters long and 500 meters wide).
Many vital historical national events happened or were held in the square. Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China in this square on October 1, 1949; the anniversary of this event is still observed here. It is the witness of Chinese development. While strolling in Tian'anmen Square, looking up at the magnificent layout, the majestic momentum, the vast and deep landscape, you will feel China's rapid development.
The ceremony of raising the national flag in every morning and dropping flag in every sunset time is the most solemn ceremony in the square and grand ceremony for visitors to take part in. If you want to see the ceremony of raising the national flag, you must get up quite early to reach the square for a good spot, or you will be ubmerged by the crowd.
You can take a leisure walk around the square. The square contains the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China.
Located in the heart of Beijing, symbolized the imperial power, the magnificent Forbidden City is considered the undoubtable grand landmark of Beijing since Ming Dynasty when it was built.
Forbidden City, also known as Imperial Palace Museum, was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Built in Yongle Period, Ming Dynasty (1406 - 1420 AD), it coveres an area of 720,000 square meters. It therefore is the largest and well-preserved wooden building complex of the world.
The Forbidden City consists of 980 buildings with 9,999 bays of rooms. Originally, it was designed precisely in accordance with a feudal code of architectural hierarchy which designated specific features for reflecting the paramount authority and status of the emperor. In 1987, it was listed as one of the world cultural heritages by UNESCO.
Temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture and a symbol of traditional Chinese cosmology. Located in the southern part of central Beijing, it was originally constructed in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. The temple complex was used by emperors of both the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for good harvests.
Design Highlights:
The design of the Temple of Heaven reflects ancient Chinese belief in the harmony between heaven and earth. Its most iconic structure, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, is a magnificent triple-gabled circular building supported by 28 wooden pillars without using a single nail. The Echo Wall and the Circular Mound Altar are also well-known for their acoustics and symbolic layout. The whole layout follows a strict north-south axis, symbolizing the path from earth to heaven.
Travel Tips:
Temple of Heaven is best visited early in the morning when locals gather for tai chi, dancing, and other cultural activities—giving you a glimpse into authentic Beijing daily life. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit due to the pleasant weather. Entrance ticket is required, and combo tickets including all main halls are available.
Bird's Nest is a nickname of the Beijing National Stadium located in the Olympic Green, 4th Ring of Beijing. It is one of the most dramatic stadiums to host the 2008 Summer Olympics Games which was designed by submission from the Swiss architecture firm, appeared like a ovalsteel beams weaved nest-like building, hence the name.
Beijing National Stadium hosted the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics, from 8 August to 24 August 2008. The stadium also hosted the Opening and Closing ceremonies and athletic events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics from 6 September to 17 September 2008. The stadium will continue to host sporting events, such as football, afterwards. It will become the most important public space in Beijing."
The National Aquatics Center, colloquially known as the Water Cube is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The National Aquatics Center is one of the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Equipped With international standard facilities and world top class design ideas, plus convenient Metro system connections, Water Cube is truly a quality landmark building of Beijing. It started to be built on December 24, 2003 and was completed and handed over for use on January 28, 2008. It will host the curling sport at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
This center has 4000 fixed seats、2000 removable seats and can stretch to 11000 temporary seats when it needed. The total cost of this event was approximately 1 billion CNY. Entrance Ticket fee is 30 CNY with the Peak Season from May to October: 09:00 to 20:00 and Low Season from November to April 09:00 to 18:00.
Has a “Half-Egg-Shaped” appearance, the National Grand Theatre of China is usually described as "The Egg" by local folks. It is also known as the Chinese National Centre for the Performing Arts - an opera house in Beijing. As located to the west of Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, and near the Forbidden City, it is said to be a brand new landmark of Beijing which looks like an egg floating on water, or a water drop.
The National Centre Theatre is an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, seats 5,452 people in three halls and is almost 12,000 m² in size. It is designed by French architect Paul Andreu. It was designed as an iconic feature, something that would be immediately recognizable. It therefore, is combined with the theatre’s futuristic design, created considerable controversy. Construction starts in December 2001 and the inaugural concerts are held in December 2007.
CCTV HQ (China Central Television Headquarters)or CCTV New Tower is outstanding for its brand-new appearance. It is surely that every one who has seen CCTV new Tower for at least one time will remember it immediately.
With the avant-garde appearance, CCTV headquarters building was listed oen of the the world's top ten engineering wonders by time magazine of the United States in 2007. The structure emphasizes stylish ideal. Two "L" shaped high-rise towers are linked at the top and the bottom at an angle to form a loop, which has been described as a "Z" criss-cross. The new CCTV Tower can be generally divided into three parts including the Main Building, The TV Cultural Center and auxiliary comprehensive facilities.
Those are the most famous landmarks in Beijing. Everyone in Beijing knows those places when you mention them. Except Badaling Great Wall, the other sites are located in the central area of Beijing.
How many of the landmarks in Beijing have you ever visited ? If you want to plan a trip that includes almost all the famous landmarks in Beijing, a 5-6 days trip is highly recommended. TopChinaTrave has tailor-made a 6 Days Beijing Panorama Tour for your reference. You may check belowing:
CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, is the tallest building in Beijing and a symbol of the city's rapid modernization. Completed in 2018 and rising to a height of 528 meters (1,732 feet), it is located in the core area of Beijing’s Central Business District (CBD). The tower gets its name “Zun” from the ancient Chinese wine vessel it resembles, blending cultural heritage with futuristic design.
Design Highlights:
The tower was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and features a distinctive hourglass-like shape that widens at the top and bottom, providing structural stability and maximizing usable space. With 108 floors above ground and 7 below, it houses offices, a sky lobby, conference facilities, and observation decks. It has become a landmark of modern Beijing’s skyline.
Travel Tips:
Although the tower is primarily for office use, several nearby skyscrapers such as China World Summit Wing offer great views of CITIC Tower. Come at sunset to enjoy the glow of the skyline. If you’re visiting CBD, this is a must-see photo spot for architecture lovers.
Beijing Daxing International Airport, also called “The Starfish” due to its unique design, is one of the world’s largest and most advanced airports. Officially opened on September 25, 2019, it is located about 46 kilometers (29 miles) south of central Beijing. Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, the airport has become a new gateway and modern architectural wonder of the city.
Design Highlights:
The terminal covers 700,000 square meters and features a radial design that allows passengers to walk from the center to any gate in under 8 minutes. With 5 airside concourses extending from a central hub, its futuristic structure maximizes efficiency and passenger comfort. The use of natural light, intelligent navigation systems, and green technology showcases China’s ambition to lead in smart infrastructure.
Whether you are flying in or just visiting, don’t miss the viewing platform and observation deck. The airport is connected to Beijing via high-speed rail, expressways, and metro (Daxing Airport Express Line), making it extremely convenient. If you’re an architecture fan, consider scheduling some time to explore its breathtaking interiors and take photos of the soaring roof and star-like layout.
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