Authentic Beijing Experiences: Discover China’s Capital Through Local Culture & Traditions

We think the best way to experience Beijing is by hitting the streets on foot or by bike. The streets are where you’ll see the real Beijing and its people. And don’t forget about the city’s modern side. Yes, the historical sights are damn fine, but Beijing is also a modern metropolis.

Beijing’s staggering wealth of culture, history, food, and contemporary attractions make it the top destination in China.

In this blog post, we’ll show you the best authentic Beijing experiences to add to your itinerary. We’ll explore the city’s rich culture and traditions and highlight some of the lesser-known gems worth discovering. So, if you’re looking for things to do in Beijing, join us on this journey to the authentic side of Beijing.

You can see our 3-day Beijing itinerary at the end of the post.

A courtyard hotel is a comfortable and extremely atmospheric experience and gives you a glimpse into a part of Beijing that’s quickly disappearing.

On our previous visit to Beijing, we stayed at the incredible Orchid Hotel. This courtyard hotel is located in the Dongcheng District and is a great location for exploring Beijing. Unfortunately, it was fully booked for the dates we were there. If you can, try to stay here—you won’t regret it.

Luckily we found another fantastic courtyard, Michael’s House, in the Haidan district. It still oozes charm with very comfy rooms and friendly service, but is located just beyond the second Ring Road. While this is a great place, we think Orchid Hotel is a liiiiiiittle better.

Hutongs are an important part of Beijing’s cultural heritage, as they represent the traditional way of life of the city’s residents. Many of the hutongs in Beijing date back to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties and are several hundred years old. They are typically lined with narrow courtyard houses, with winding alleys connecting the larger streets.

In recent years, many of Beijing’s hutongs have been demolished to make way for new buildings and modern infrastructure. However, there has been a renewed interest in preserving Beijing’s cultural heritage, and efforts are being made to restore and protect the remaining hutongs.

A visit to a hutong is a must-do when in Beijing. We visited Wudaoying and Nanxiawazi hutongs, giving us two different types of hutong experiences.

This renovated hutong in the Dongcheng district is considered one of Beijing’s most popular and trendy hutongs.

This hutong is a charming destination that offers visitors a glimpse into the traditional way of life in Beijing, while also showcasing the city’s modern and artistic side. It’s a great place to explore on foot, with plenty of cool street art, cafes, bars and boutique shops to check out.

According to locals, Metal Hand Coffee is one of the trendiest coffee shops in Hutong. So pop in for a caffeine kick and see if it’s worth the hype.

After walking around the lanes, we decided to take a rickshaw tour of the hutong, which was very enjoyable.

Many buildings in Nanxiawazi are built right up to the edge of the street, and some of the lanes are really narrow, but our rickshaw driver manoeuvred us around the hutong, dodging pedestrians, motorbikes, and the occasional car while pointing out noteworthy attractions.

To ride a bike, simply download the app of the bike company you choose (we are loyal HelloBike fans), create an account, and scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it. Bike companies charge a small fee per ride, which is deducted from your account balance. Check out this guide to using HelloBike.

As a tourist, you can use a shared bike to explore the city at your own pace, stop and take photos whenever you like. We found biking around central Beijing, especially around the Forbidden City, a lot more enjoyable than sitting in a taxi in traffic.

The way to eat Beijing duck is first to dip a piece of crispy skin and tender duck meat in the sweet bean sauce (tianmianjiang) and place it on the thin pancake. Then add some sliced green onions and cucumbers and roll it up into a wrap.  

Combining the savoury duck meat, crispy skin, sweet bean sauce, and crunchy veggies creates a mouthwatering flavour that is a hallmark of Beijing cuisine.

The Wangfujing Night Market might be a very touristy affair, but it’s a great spot to try many Chinese snacks all in one place. Adventurous eaters do not want to miss this market, as some stalls specialize in bizarre snacks such as centipede, fried crickets, scorpions or sheep penis. This is not typical Chinese food though…and we wouldn’t say it’s an authentic Bejing experience.

Far more delicious for us is Dongbei food.

What you most typically think of as Chinese food is probably Dongbei cuisine. Dishes are often heavily seasoned with garlic, ginger, and chilli peppers with copious amounts of oil. DAMN GOOD.

China’s famous sweet and sour pork (Guo Bao Rou) comes from Dongbei and is fantastic. Other Dongbei dishes to try are Di San Xian (stir-fried potatoes, eggplants, and peppers) and dumplings.

The next best thing to do is to head up to Jingshan Park on a manmade hill behind the Forbidden City. Even if you did get into the Forbidden City, go up to Jingshan Park to see it from a different perspective.

The summit of Jingshan Park is the highest point in Beijing and provides visitors with a panoramic view of the surrounding areas.

Shichahai spans 147 hectares and dates back to the Jin Dynasty, during which time it was the northernmost point of the Grand Canal, connecting Hangzhou in the south to Beijing in the north.

The area is home to several temples and mansions, and its name translates to “the lake of ten temples,” with ten famous Taoist and Buddhist temples scattered around the lake. The Prince Gong Mansion and the Prince Chun Mansion are among the most famous royal mansions and gardens in the area.

Shichahai is a popular scenic spot in Beijing, located near the north gate of Beihai Park. Tall trees surround the lakes, and visitors can stroll around, rent boats in the summer or ice skate in the winter.

But don’t just see it—for an authentic taste of this Beijing landmark, get yourself a Temple of Heaven ice cream. Snapping a pic of a popsicle in front of famous Chinese landmarks before devouring it has become one of the must-do things in China in recent times.

The Temple of Heaven (Tiāntán in Mandarin) is a magnificent display of ancient Chinese architecture and design. The beauty of the complex lies in its intricate and detailed construction and its significance to the history and culture of China.

The Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered one of China’s most important religious complexes. It attracts millions of visitors each year, both tourists and locals, who come to admire the beautiful architecture and learn about its rich history and cultural significance. 

It is also a popular spot for practising traditional Chinese exercises such as Tai Chi and Qigong. We saw a man doing calligraphy using a giant paintbrush and water on one of the paths, which disappeared moments after being written in the summer heat. It was fascinating and thought-provoking to watch.

We loved exploring this area and spent a good few hours here. Our favourite gallery we stumbled upon was the Gao Brothers Art Studio. A shirtless guy welcomed us and showed us around. I only found out after our visit when I read up on the artists that they were THE world-famous Gao brothers – and one of them showed us around his studio.

The Phoenix Centre’s inspiration comes from a Möbius strip combined with a DNA-like double helix—it’s spectacular.

You’ll feel like Jonah inside the whale as you explore the building. It is definitely the most Instagrammable spot in Beijing, but thank goodness Instagram is banned in China, so you won’t have to deal with influencers and their shenanigans. Surprisingly, few foreign visitors know of the place, so it’s definitely one of the hidden gems of Beijing.

Spiral up towards the top level to get a good view over Beijing’s Central Business District.

Admission to the Phoenix International Media Centre is a hefty RMB 100 (USD14), but we think it is worth it.

It was fascinating to watch Chinese collectors examine pottery chards and vases to determine their authenticity and haggle over prices.

Only some things in the market are authentic antiques, so when you buy something, do so because you like it and not because of its alleged age. Also, accept that you’re purchasing a good replica and HAGGLE (if it is an antique – it’s a bonus). Experts will have a ball separating the wheat from the chaff!

We loved browsing the furniture and interior shops along Guozijian Street. Most of these stores are renovated hutong houses, now featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, and the modern versions look stunning – we wouldn’t mind living in one of them.

The stores display their furniture in real-life settings, from the living room and bedrooms to the kitchen and the study. They can easily be mistaken for real homes rather than stores. We could see ourselves living in these houses as we walked from one room to the next.

The wonderful contemporary Chinese design features beautiful timber such as teak or Chinese oak. Think of it as mid-century-meets Scandi-design in China. These pieces are classic and will never go out of style, and they are distinctly Chinese without shouting CHINA.

The origins of square dancing in China can be traced back to the 1980s when the government encouraged people to exercise to promote good health. Over time, dancing in public spaces became a social activity that allowed people to socialize and make new friends.

While square dancing is not unique to Beijing, it is a popular activity in the city, especially in the summer when the weather is warm.

Whether you are a local or a visitor to Beijing, joining in on a square dancing session can be a unique and authentic experience that offers a glimpse into the daily lives and traditions of the local people.

So once the sun goes down, follow your ears to the nearest dance spot and join in.

And that, people, is how you really do Beijing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy our authentic Beijing experiences as much as we did
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