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Beijing, China
Beijing's scale is enormous, but its most rewarding areas are surprisingly intimate on foot. The Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex, and walking through its succession of courtyards and halls takes hours. The surrounding hutong neighborhoods — narrow alleyways of traditional courtyard houses — offer a glimpse of old Beijing life, with tiny noodle shops, neighborhood temples, and locals playing chess in doorways. The Temple of Heaven park is a masterpiece of Ming-dynasty architecture set in gardens where locals practice tai chi and calligraphy at dawn. The 798 Art District transforms a former military factory complex into one of Asia's leading contemporary art zones. The Summer Palace provides a vast lakeside escape, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu is a day trip that combines ancient engineering with mountain scenery.
explore by interest
Beijing is vast — use the efficient subway to travel between districts and then explore each area on foot. The hutongs around the Drum Tower are best discovered by wandering without a map.
September through November offers clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures, known locally as golden autumn. Spring (April through May) is also pleasant but can be dusty.