Palaces, temples and mosques
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Forbidden City | The emperors' palace of thousands of rooms and courtyards, on the World Heritage list. | ¥60 April to October and ¥40 in winter; book ahead with your passport; closed Mondays |
| The Temple of Heaven | A round hall with a triple blue roof, and a large park where locals practise tai chi in the morning. | South Beijing |
| The Summer Palace | The emperors' gardens around Kunming Lake, with a long covered walkway and a seventeen-arch bridge. | North-west Beijing |
| The Yonghe (Lama) Temple | Beijing's largest Tibetan temple, with colourful halls and a huge wooden statue. | North-central Beijing |
| Niujie Mosque | Beijing's oldest mosque, founded more than a thousand years ago in Chinese style, with a street of halal restaurants around it. | Niujie, south-west of the centre |
The Great Wall
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Mutianyu Wall | A restored section among green mountains, less crowded, with a cable car up and a toboggan down. | ¥45 entry and ¥140 return cable car; about 1.5 hours from Beijing |
| The Badaling Wall | The closest and best-known section to Beijing, reached by high-speed train. | About 40 minutes by train |
| The Jinshanling Wall | A half-restored mountain section with its towers, for walking away from the crowds. | About 2.5 hours from Beijing |
The modern city and family
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Beijing | A theme park of famous movie worlds, rides and shows. | Tongzhou, east Beijing |
| The National Museum of China | China's history from ancient times, with treasures of bronze, jade and porcelain. | Free with advance booking by passport; closed Mondays |
| Wangfujing Street | Beijing's best-known shopping street, with its stores and malls. | Central Beijing |
| The hutongs and Houhai Lake | Beijing's old alleys of courtyard houses, explored by bike or rickshaw. | North of the Forbidden City |
Tips before you go
- Most sights must be booked ahead with your passport, so book a few days before.
- Halal food is easy to find on Niujie Street and in Hui Muslim restaurants.
- Saudi passport holders enter China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026.
Hotels in Beijing
Flights to Beijing
More places nearby
- Things to do in China
- Guangzhou and Shenzhen
- Things to do in Shanghai
- Things to do in Xi'an
- Things to do in Chengdu
- Things to do in Guilin and Yangshuo
- Things to do in Zhangjiajie
- Things to do in Hangzhou
- Things to do in Harbin
Visa
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Beijing?
The Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, Niujie Mosque, the National Museum and Universal Beijing.
How much is the Forbidden City?
¥60 from April to October and ¥40 from November to March, booked ahead with your passport; it is closed on Mondays.
Which section of the Great Wall should I visit?
Mutianyu for its beauty and smaller crowds, or Badaling as the closest by train.
Planning your trip to China? Read Travel to China from Saudi Arabia.
Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.