10 Best Non-Touristy Things To Do In Beijing, China - Updated 2024

non touristy things to do in beijing
Nduku
Nduku 
Updated
| 5 min read

Enjoy the best amusement parks, restaurants, museums, nightlife, markets, and many more in Beijing, China. This region has scenic views of both modern and traditional Chinese structures all around the city and boasts of having one of the great wonders of the world. Other than that, Beijing is the capital city of China with an average population of 22 million inhabitants and it covers an estimated area of 6,564 square miles (17,000 square kilometers). The major attractions to visit while in this region include the Forbidden City complex, The Great Wall, The Ancient City, Beijing Palace Museum, and many more! Check out below for more information on the best non-touristy things to do in Beijing, China, for an exciting holiday.

1. Hike to Mutianyu Great Wall (from USD 64.71)

non touristy things to do in beijing | hike to mutianyu great wall

Explore this popular region situated 43 miles ( 69 kilometers) from Beijing city center and have a glimpse of the great natural landscape it provides. The Great Wall is among one of the wonders of the world and it is also considered as one of the best tourist destinations for romantic couples, families, or groups of friends on holiday. Visitors are allowed to take pictures of the vicinity and also purchase the ones already taken. Tourists are directed to the best scenic views and also walks through the Great Wall by professional tour guides. Visit this region and experience a memorable vacation with family or friends.

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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Small-Group Tour with Lunch

Duration: 7.0 hour

220 reviews

2. Visit the Poly Art Museum


With more than 150 bronze art collections and over 30 stone carvings, Poly Art Museum is an ideal tourist destination for a group of friends on vacation. Here, visitors will be able to see carvings ranging from three Chinese dynasties, Buddhist statues, cooking items, ornaments and many more! A tour guide directs visitors across the two halls with breathtaking views of the ancient tools and statues. Tourists are encouraged to carry with them a digital camera so as to capture the images of themselves and also of the ancient artifacts. This holiday destination is perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

Poly Art Museum

Address: Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Beijing

Website: Poly Art Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Sun)

Price: From 44 USD

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3. See European-style buildings at Dong Jiao Min Xiang

Beijing Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Zhang Ai used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The European style buildings were constructed during the transitioning period of the 19th century to the modern 20th-century architecture. Enjoy an evening walk with family or friends as you glance at these magnificent structures which give a glimpse of the ancient architectural structure and also the beauty of traditional culture. Dong Jiao Min Xiang stretches approximately 0.96 miles ( 1.54 kilometers ) and it is considered the longest alley in Beijing. The structure found in this region differs from the traditional Chinese buildings. Visitors from all around the world flock to this region to glance at the beautiful historic buildings.

Dong Jiao Min Xiang

Address: Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China

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4. Go to Fayuan Temple

Fayuan temple daxiongbaodian
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Walter Grassroot used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Pay a visit to this ancient monument located in a vibrant neighborhood in Xicheng District, Beijing. Fayuan Temple sits on an estimated 6700 square meters (72,118 square feet) piece of land filled with artifacts, sculptures, and stone tools. The building was initially constructed in 645 and was later renovated between 1436 and 1449 during Ming dynasty. This Buddhist temple is considered one of the oldest around this region as some other temples were constructed later. Come visit with family or friends and enjoy the display of the various ancient items found in this monument.

Fayuan Temple

Address: 7 Fayuansi Front St, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100068

Opening hours: 8am - 3:30 pm (daily)

Price: From 51 USD

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5. Buy some clothes at Dahongmen


Buy quality and affordable clothing, shoes, accessories, wallets, handbags, and many more at this vibrant marketplace located along a stretch from Muxiyuan road to Tiananmen Square covering approximately 4.3 miles (7 kilometers). The market is always packed with locals and foreigners negotiating on the prices of commodities. Several malls selling high-quality clothes to those selling cheap clothes can be found in this region. Some of the shops include Tianya Clothing Building, Jinwuxing DepartmentStore, GuanYuan Market, and many others.

Dahongmen Trade Centre Of Clothing

Address: Beijing, China

Opening hours: 4:30am - 5pm (daily)

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6. Explore China Watermelon Museum

Pekin şəhərində Qarpız muzeyi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Laman Leiba used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Traveling to Beijing? Then do not forget to check out China’s Watermelon Museum situated in a serene neighborhood in Beijing, China. This museum pays tribute to the love of fruits with structure models representing the watermelon fruit. This establishment sits on a 4,000 square meters (43,055 square feet) piece of land in one of the best regions in the world producing watermelon. The museum has an indoor fake representation of watermelons and an outdoor plantation of the real fruit. This museum was founded in 2002 and has since been an ideal tourist destination.

China Watermelon Museum

Address: Jingkai Side Rd, Daxing Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 102609

Opening hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm (daily)

Price: 2.89 USD

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7. Get a traditional Chinese massage (from USD 68.0)

Revitalize your body and mind as you experience an ancient Chinese massage which soothes aching muscles and also does away with toxins in the body. Unwind as you receive relaxing services from professional massage therapists after a long day around Beijing. The sessions available include a variety of customized treatments from a full body massage to a foot massage and free hotel pickups. Get yourself in an ideal state of mind and body before you visit other attractions around Beijing.

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Tradtional Chinese Massage with Transfer in Beijing

Duration: 2 hours

8. Ride the Dragon Escalator

2-20-08 034
Source: Photo by user Bridget Coila used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Enjoy 258 meters (0.16 miles) Dragon escalator ride to the top of a gorge filled with lots of activities such as cable rides, bungee jumping, or boat rides on a man-made lake. This region is situated approximately 53 miles (85 kilometers) from downtown Beijing and it has a scenic landscape ideal for relaxing and unwinding with family, a spouse, or friends. Jump in the Dragon escalator and experience the adrenaline rush to the top of the gorge. At the top of the gorge, there is a breathtaking view of the surrounding lush landscape.

Dragon Escalator

Address: Guchengcun, Jiuxianzhen, Yanqing 102109

Website: Dragon escalator

Opening hours: 5:50am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 1.16 USD an hour

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9. Visit the pandas at Beijing Zoo (from USD 65.0)

non touristy things to do in beijing | visit the pandas at beijing zoo
Source: www.viator.com

Select a date and visit with family or friends for a sightseeing tour which starts in the hutongs area. This region is filled with ancient Chinese architectural structures, traditional culture, and beautiful long narrow alleyways. Before exiting this region, have a taste of nicely brewed tea made by combining special ingredients and using unique preparation methods before it is served while hot. At the Beijing Zoo, the guide will give you tours around the zoo for you to view the adorable giant pandas as they eat plenty of bamboos, play, and take naps.

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Beijing Family Tour: Pandas at Beijing Zoo, Rickshaw, Calligraphy Lesson in Hutongs and Flying Kite at the Olympic Park

10. Visit the fascinating Beijing World Park

世界公园19
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Techyan used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Enjoy witnessing Beijing in miniature and learn about the different architectural structures spread across the city. Here, you will learn of over a hundred different world’s city miniatures. Experience a magical tour of 480,000 square meters ( 5,166,677 square feet) filled with cities skyline replicas such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the leaning tower, Manhattan skyscrapers, and many more! Visitors are encouraged to carry with them a camera to capture the different scenes of the global village. This tourist destination is best for families or a group of friends on vacation.

Beijing World Park

Address: Fengtai, China, 102627

Website: Beijing World Park

Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 1 USD

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Visit Beijing for a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Beijing is an ideal tourist destination with lots of attractions and activities such as hiking, skiing, sightseeing, boat riding, biking, and many more! This region also has lots of scenic beauty ranging from the traditional structures to modern architecture and also the beautiful landscape around the city.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Nduku Mulwa is an accomplished online freelancer with a penchant for travel. She has explored various countries, including Canada, South Africa, Ghana, and Japan, in pursuit of stunning landscapes,...Read more

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