Things to Do in Dongcheng, Beijing

Home to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng packs Beijing's imperial heart alongside the Temple of Heaven, Wangfujing's shopping bustle, and the grey-brick hutong lanes around the Lama Temple.

Tiananmen SquarePlaza
National Museum of ChinaArt Museum
Temple of HeavenFamous Confucian Temple

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Top things to do in Dongcheng

Tiananmen Square
★ 4.4 · 6.7k
Plaza★
Historic, sprawling city square & cultural center, featuring a 37m-tall obelisk.
Website ↗Map ↗
National Museum of China
★ 4.4 · 546
Art Museum★
Free, massive (2.2 million-sq.-ft.) museum of Chinese history & art with more than 1 million relics.
Mon
Closed
Tue–Fri
9 AM – 4:30 PM
Sat
9 AM – 4:30 PM
Sun
9 AM – 4:30 PM
Website ↗Map ↗
Temple of Heaven
★ 4.6 · 3.9k
Famous Confucian Temple· $$$$★
Renowned temple complex from 1420 featuring distinctive circular buildings set in a popular park.
Every day
6 AM – 9 PM
Website ↗Map ↗
Forbidden City
★ 4.6 · 16.7k
Palace Museum· $$$$★
Massive palace complex & museum featuring tours, art exhibits & restaurants.
Mon
Closed
Tue–Fri
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sat
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sun
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Website ↗Book ↗Map ↗
China National Museum of Women and Children
Children's Museum★
6-story, modern museum featuring history exhibits & cultural artifacts relating to women & children.
Website ↗Map ↗
National Art Museum of China
Art Museum★
art museum in Beijing, China
Website ↗
The Palace Museum
Palace Museum★
museum in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Website ↗
Gulou and Zhonglou
Historic Landmark★
historic building complex in Beijing
Map ↗
Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall
History Museum★
This 4-story exhibition hall offers multimedia displays on Beijing's planning & infrastructure.
Mon
Closed
Tue–Fri
9 AM – 5 PM
Sat
9 AM – 5 PM
Sun
9 AM – 5 PM
Map ↗
Monument to the People's Heroes
Monument
monument in Beijing, China
Ancient Observatory
Science Museum· $
Dating to 1442, this former observatory is now a museum exhibiting ancient astronomical gear.
Every day
9 AM – 5 PM
Website ↗Map ↗
The Forbidden City
Historic Landmark
The most famous location in China was home to whole dynasties worth of imperial rulers.

Where to eat & drink in Dongcheng

Huaiyang Fu (Dongcheng)
Michelin ★
Chinese· ¥¥
This period mansion, complete with a stone garden and carved wooden windows, provides the perfect foil to the restaurant’s polished cuisine.
The Georg
Michelin ★
Modern European· $$$$
The three-storey complex with an art gallery, a main dining room and a space for private banquets boasts pristine white walls dotted with artworks and greenery.
Trb Hutong
Michelin ★
French· $$$$
Hidden in the courtyard of a historic temple, this cosy, modern, professionally run dining room raises customer expectations.
Website ↗
Gastro Esthetics DaDong
Michelin ★
Chinese· $$$
The Peking duck chain’s flagship in town got a makeover in 2021 and was re-branded as the chain’s most exclusive branch.
Website ↗