Beijing hotels

Visit the Forbidden City, a huge palace dating back to the Ming dynasty in which the royalty of China up to the Qing dynasty resided. Today it is a World Heritage Site and one of the most popular destinations for tourists. Hosted inside is the Palace Museum, exhibiting imperial Chinese art. Choose the Hotel Ascott Raffles City Beijing, nestled at the Meridian Gate, the entrance into the Forbidden City. The aparthotel offers luxurious apartments and a pool. A cheaper alternative is the Palace Hotel Forbidden City, a 3-star hotel located a 10-minute walk from the site.

To explore one of the most iconic religious sites, visit the Temple of Heaven, situated in the southeast of the city. The temple dates back to the Ming dynasty and the RJ Brown Hotel Beijing places you a 15-minute walk through the park from the temple. The 3-star hotel features breakfast, a bar and free Wi-Fi. Jun'an Hotel is a 4-star alternative, equally close but on the other side of the park encasing the temple.

Culture lovers will appreciate a visit to the National Museum of China, not far from Tiananmen Square, the Mausoleum and The Great Hall of People, so all cultural tastes are catered to. China Great Hall Hotel is situated amidst these cultural treats, about 7 minutes from Tiananmen Square and 15 minutes from the National Museum. Capital Hotel is a posh upmarket choice, about 15-20 minutes from the museum and Tiananmen Square.

Wangfujing in the Dongcheng District is the most famous shopping street in Beijing where travellers will find department stores, authentic tea stores as and a diverse range of food in the snack street. The luxurious Beijing Hotel is located in the pedestrian area of the street, opposite the Palaeolithic Museum. Only three cross streets further down is snack street, where visitors can enjoy delectable delicacies. Further north of the street is the Novotel Beijing Peace, a 4-star choice with chic rooms and close vicinity to all the amenities and shops Wangfujing has to offer.

One major reason travellers come to Beijing is, of course, The Great Wall, located in the north of the city. Choose the Mutianyu Great Wall section, as it is most popular with children and allows all members of the family to enjoy this mesmerising site. There is a cable car going up and a toboggan to get down again, great fun for young and old alike. To be close to this section of the wall, consider the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, an upmarket choice situated in the wild nature of China, about a 45-minute drive from the wall. If you want to get the best out of Beijing city and the wall, opt for the ibis Kunming, which puts you about 1 hour to the wall and Beijing city centre by car.