Beijing Accommodations near Forbidden City

Exploring Forbidden City

The first stop for any visitor to Beijing is naturally the most prominent of its sights, the Forbidden City, so named because the palace was once home to China’s emperors and was therefore off-limits to commoners under pain of death. Today, commoners and tourists alike can visit the Forbidden City to behold gate after gate and courtyard after courtyard of one of the best-preserved ancient palaces the world has ever seen. Easy access to this well-known landmark can be had for those staying at Hotel Kapok Beijing or Jade Garden Hotel Beijing.

Accommodations near Forbidden City

There is a range of options for all travelers. The most popular hotel in Beijing is the Beijing Xixi Youyi Hotel, which has been booked 5 times from our Hotels.com verified guests. Our guests also highly recommended Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel in Beijing as it has been reserved 5 times.

Sightseeing near Forbidden City

Beijing will occupy any visitor’s itinerary for days with its sheer number of ancient and modern sights, some of which span vast areas. Visitors should find it easy to fill up their schedules with all kinds of interesting outings.

- Wangfujing Street

Featuring major malls and shopping streets, Wangfujing is the most popular shopping area in Beijing as it is in the city center near Tiananmen Square. The Oriental Plaza mall is the top spot here and there is also good opportunity for buying souvenirs and eating at food stalls.

- Tiananmen Square

While not as ancient as the palace fronting it, Tiananmen Square is historic in itself. This square, comparable in size to 60 football fields, was the site of the 1989 protests which tragically ended in the death of hundreds of civilians following the government’s declaration of martial law. Today, visitors and locals alike stroll through Tiananmen Square to take in some of its surrounding sites, including the Revolutionary History Museum and the Great Hall of the People.

Transportation near Forbidden City

Beijing is massive but well covered by buses, taxis and a subway system. The subway is better than buses and cheap although it is fairly old. Buses cover more of the city but are crowded and uncomfortable, while taxis have standard meter charges and are a good deal.