Beijing Municipality is the capital of China and its political centre, home to more than 21 million people. The municipality is large, so a visit tends to be a series of distinct experiences rather than a single compact walk.
What draws visitors
- The Forbidden City, the imperial palace complex at the heart of the city, is one of the best-known landmarks in Beijing.
- Sections of the Great Wall lie within the municipality, giving visitors a chance to see this famous structure within reach of the capital.
Beyond these two landmarks, the municipality offers the everyday energy of a major capital city, with its large population shaping the streets, neighbourhoods and public life that visitors encounter.
Planning your visit
Because the municipality covers a wide area, it helps to decide early which parts you most want to see and to allow travel time between them. The Forbidden City and the Great Wall are both worth building into your plans, as they represent very different chapters of the country's history and are among the reasons many people come to Beijing.
Whether you come for the imperial palace, the Great Wall, or the sheer scale of a city of this size, Beijing Municipality rewards visitors who approach it with time and curiosity.
