Step into a slice of history when you visit Beijing’s “Hutong” (胡同)—a sprawling labyrinthine network of old narrow alleys, courtyards, and traditional low-rise residences. With fast-paced urbanization, many of these hutongs were torn down to make way for modern buildings, while some are preserved as tourist attractions. Two of the most famous hutongs are the 800-year-old Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) and Houhai (后海), both of which are filled with shop alleys and residential streets. 

If you prefer something less crowded and touristy, walk from Liuchang antique street to Dazhalan. The walk will give you an undisrupted glimpse into how locals truly live while admiring the neighbourhood’s ancient architecture.

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Shift your traveller’s gaze from East to West as you spend your afternoon appreciating European-style buildings at Dongjiaomingxiang, which is also known as the Beijing Foreign Legation Quarter. The name Dong Jiao Min Xiang roughly translates to “East Foreign Residents Alley.”

A historical and cultural site in Beijing, the lane is filled with European influenced buildings, street lamps and structures. Home to foreign delegations to the capital city from 1861 to 1959, it housed the quarters of 11 foreign embassies—Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. Trivia hunters may be pleased to know that this lane is also the longest alley in Beijing, stretching for a distance of 1,550 metres. 

Each building is distinct from the other, with unique designs and aesthetic features that convey the cultural identity of its inhabitants. This makes visiting the street a must for photography enthusiasts. Fans of architecture will also enjoy spotting the nuances in the architectural designs of  different western countries. 

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Start your next morning with a visit to the Fayuan (法源寺) Temple—one of the oldest temple structures in Beijing, it is less touristy than the popular Lama Temple built as the initial residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was still a prince. Built in 645 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 AD), the Fayuan Temple is far older than the Lama Temple, which only came about in 1725.

Fans of ancient Chinese culture would appreciate the ancient gems in this temple, which is also the home of the China Buddhism Institution and China Buddhism Library and Relic Centre. Spanning 6,700 m2 (approximately one-and-a-half soccer fields in area), Fayuan Temple has 13 halls in its compound. Inside the temple, you can find sculptures of Buddhas, stone carvings, and pillars inscribed with Buddhist sutras and plaques written in the calligraphic style of emperors dating from the Ming (1368 to 1644 AD) and Qing (1644 to 1911 AD) dynasties. 

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After a morning immersed in Chinese culture, get ready once again to “travel” to the West—or more specifically New York in America. One of the hidden gems in Beijing, Friends Cafe is a New York style cafe which arose from a Beijing man’s intense love for the popular American TV show Friends—virtually every aspect of the famous Central Perk cafe featured in the sitcom is lovingly recreated in the eatery. 

In Friends, Central Perk was the coffee house where the six pals from Friends regularly hung out in. To memorialise the hit TV series, the cafe’s owner Du Xin painstakingly replicated each detail of the cafe in Beijing—even the food items on the menu are faithfully named after those mentioned in the show. For fans of the show, Central Perk is a must-visit for an afternoon of lunch or tea. 

Interestingly, the cafe is popular with Beijing college students who watch reruns of the show being played in the cafe to practise their English. As a bonus to your Friends’ experience, you can snap an Instagram-worthy photo with a replica of Joey’s apartment right next to the cafe, complete with a foosball table and an oversized television stand. 

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A visit to Beijing cannot be complete without a pilgrimage to the Great Wall of China. Most visitors would choose to visit the easily accessible Badaling segment, where it is usually crowded with enthusiastic tourists walking along the wall. But why walk when you can slide?

Just two hours north of Beijing to Mutianyu (慕田峪) is a more adrenaline-pumping way to explore the wall. Visitors ascend to the top of the wall through one of three ways—via a gondola, on a chairlift, or on foot. There, you can admire the picturesque view from the top of the wall. Instead of descending the same way, however, you can zoom down a steep, winding slide, while still soaking in the inspiring views of the Great Wall along the way. 

The ride is adjacent to the wall and takes around five minutes, depending on how fast you wish to go. To ensure safety, you can apply brakes with the joystick attached to the cart. While the average speed of 12 mp/h (19.3 km/h) is somewhat manageable, speed enthusiasts may choose to go faster, while sight-seeing lovers may slow down to take in more of the surrounding view.

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It is no secret that the Forbidden City is one of the top attractions in Beijing. On any given day, you have to battle hordes of visitors exploring the vast compound. To visit one of Beijing’s best-kept secrets the Working People's Cultural Palace—take a short hike to the eastern flank of the city. This building is a small-scale replica of the grand Imperial Palace with one significant difference—no crowds. 

Enveloped by a grove of cypress trees, the 48-acre palace grounds (around 36 soccer fields) played an important role in Chinese imperial history. Originally built as an Imperial Ancestral Temple, its buildings and structures are no less grand than the main palaces in the Forbidden City. The palatial grounds were also where emperors and members of the imperial family came to pray and pay homage to the dead. 

In 1951, it was renamed the Working People’s Cultural Palace, with its buildings and gates converted into educational and recreational spaces for visitors. Without the massive crowds, you can take your time to appreciate the details on the structures and interiors of the buildings. End your trip to this ancient city with a deeper understanding of Chinese culture by visiting the palace’s exhibition halls and libraries. 

Get directions to the Working People’s Cultural Palace

Centrally located, a stay at the luxuriously appointed Pan Pacific Beijing would put you in a convenient place to travel around the attractions. Enjoy 20% off when you book your room 14 days in advance and receive complimentary internet access.