Free things to do · Beijing · China
6 free things to do in Beijing
Beijing without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shujianyang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Beijing without paying an entry fee: Tiananmen Square, National Museum of China, Shichahai lakes and hutongs and Nanluoguxiang are all free. Palace and park tickets are inexpensive, and the National Museum is free with a reservation.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 12
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- March and November–January
Free sights and experiences
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Landmark · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
1.Tiananmen Square
Bring your passport; there are security checks at every entrance and identity is checked on the way in.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
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Museum · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
2.National Museum of China
Head straight for the Ancient China exhibition on the basement level; it is the strongest part of the collection.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Shichahai and Houhai
3.Shichahai lakes and hutongs
Agree the price and route of any rickshaw tour in writing before you set off, or simply walk the lanes yourself.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Street · Gulou and Nanluoguxiang
4.Nanluoguxiang
Use Nanluoguxiang as a starting point and spend most of your time in the side hutongs to the east and west.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Gallery · Chaoyang
5.798 Art Zone
Visit on a weekday afternoon when galleries are open but the weekend crowds are absent.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Architecture · Chaoyang
6.Olympic Green
Come at dusk to see the stadium and aquatics centre illuminated from the plaza at no cost.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Free
- Kids
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing and Dongcheng | Tiananmen Square and National Museum of China | 1 hour + 2–3 hours |
| Shichahai and Houhai | Shichahai lakes and hutongs | 2 hours |
| Gulou and Nanluoguxiang | Nanluoguxiang | 1–2 hours |
| Chaoyang | 798 Art Zone and Olympic Green | 2–3 hours + 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Palace · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
Walk the side courtyards to the east and west of the central axis, which are far quieter, then climb Jingshan Park opposite the north gate for the view over the roofs.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Qianmen and Dashilar
Temple of Heaven
Enter by the east gate before 8am to see the park at its liveliest, and buy the combined ticket that includes the main halls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Palace · Haidian
Summer Palace
Enter by the north gate, climb Longevity Hill first, then walk down to the lake and take a boat back towards the east gate.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Views
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Religious site · Yonghegong and Wudaoying
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
Walk to the Temple of Confucius a few minutes away along cypress-lined Guozijian Street afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Jingshan Park
Visit right after the Forbidden City, or come in late afternoon when the sun lights the palace roofs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Park · Shichahai and Houhai
Beihai Park
Combine it with Jingshan Park and walk out of the north gate towards the Shichahai lakes.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
- History
Historic site · Gulou and Nanluoguxiang
Drum and Bell Towers
Climb the Drum Tower for a performance, then look down on the square between the towers, where locals gather in the evening.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Palace · Shichahai and Houhai
Prince Gong Mansion
Go early on a weekday; tour groups crowd the garden by late morning.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Religious site · Yonghegong and Wudaoying
Temple of Confucius and Imperial Academy
It is far calmer than the Lama Temple nearby, so it suits a quiet hour after the crowds there.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Historic site · Haidian
Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)
Visit in July when the lotus ponds bloom, and combine it with the Summer Palace about 3 km away.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
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Zoo · Xicheng
Beijing Zoo
See the pandas in the morning when they are most active, before midday heat or crowds.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Haidian
Fragrant Hills
Late October to early November is peak leaf season; go on a weekday to avoid huge weekend crowds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
More ways to save
- Palace and park tickets are inexpensive, and the National Museum is free with a reservation.
- Hutong walks, Tiananmen Square, 798 Art Zone and the Olympic Green cost nothing.
- Sharing a private car to the Great Wall with three or four people can cost little more per person than a group tour.
- Eat at local dumpling and noodle shops; a filling meal costs a fraction of a hotel restaurant.
- Avoid national holidays, when hotel rates rise sharply and tickets sell out.
- Winter brings the lowest hotel prices and clear, if cold, sightseeing days.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Beijing expensive to visit?
Beijing is moderately priced for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Beijing?
Tiananmen Square: Bring your passport; there are security checks at every entrance and identity is checked on the way in.