Wander through the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City in the central part of Beijing is right on Tiananmen Square. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived there. The Great Hall of the People and Mao’s mausoleum are on the square as well. You can wind your way through some impressive imperial buildings and the grounds. A good audio tour is available, too.

Start on the south side at the main entrance to get the best experience when entering the main gates and then snaking your way through the many courtyards. You can easily catch a taxi (except when it’s raining) when you exit from the north side of the Forbidden City.

Avoid the Forbidden City (and other Chinese tourist attractions) on Sundays. This centrally located tourist destination can be overrun with locals, out-of-town Chinese, visiting overseas Chinese tour groups, and foreign tourists from all corners of the world.