Best Beijing Day Trips & Things to Do

third most populated city in the world with over 21 million residents, the capital of the people's republic of china is a sprawling city of 16 administrative divisions, composing its rural, suburban, urban, and economic sectors. vast and filed with major cultural institutions, there are a variety of sites to see on a trip to beijing, such as the iconic forbidden city, the thirteen tombs of the ming dynasty, the 144 museums and galleries, temple of heaven, and summer palace. the city is also the perfect place to take a day trip to the great wall, such as the badaling, mutianyu, and juyongguan sections. beyond the city's fascinating attractions, beijing is also home to the world renowned peking opera. beijing serves as a major starting point for longer trips to china, serving as a large rail hub and end point for the beijing-shanghai and beijing-guanzhou high-speed railway, allowing easy access to shanghai in under 6 hours and guanzhou under 10. the primary airport is the beijing capital international airport (pek), which is the second busiest airport in the world.