The Best Things To Do on a Budget in Beijing

Sitting smack bang in the centre of the Chinese capital, Tiananmen Square is one of Beijing’s biggest attractions. The massive plaza is 880 metres (2,887 feet) long and 500m (1,640ft) wide – roughly the size of 60 football fields – and is completely free to enter. Tiananmen is often busy – large crowds congregate for the raising and lowering of the national flag at dawn and dusk – which makes it perfect for people-watching, while landmarks like the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the National Museum of China border the square.

Speaking of the National Museum, this big-ticket attraction pulls together 5,000 years of Chinese history under the one roof – and doesn’t cost a single renminbi to visit with a valid ID. Perched on the eastern edge of Tiananmen Square, the National Museum houses a mammoth collection of ancient art, currency, weapons, sculptures, bronze work and other relics across five floors, 48 rooms and almost 200,000 square metres (2.2 million square feet) of exhibition space. The National Art Museum of China, the Beijing Museum of Natural History and the China National Film Museum are also worth visiting.

The legacy of Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games is controversial – many venues have been abandoned and lie crumbling around the city – but the two centrepiece stadiums are still glistening. The Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube are two architectural marvels that symbolise the spectacular 2008 Games, and the two space-age arenas will feature in the 2022 Winter Olympics as well. Situated on the northern outskirts of the capital and well connected via their own dedicated subway stops, the Olympic precinct can feel like a bit of a ghost town, but it’s a must-see sight for sports fans on a tight budget.

You could spend hours wandering through this huge park in East Beijing, admiring the ornate Temple of the Sun and the quaint pavilions surrounding it, strolling through the dazzling gardens, and watching the locals perform tai chi and play games of mahjong. Popular picnic spot Chaoyang Park, the 1,000-year-old Beihai Park and Jingshan Park, which overlooks the Forbidden City, are other free green spaces where you can grab a breath of fresh air in this smoggy city.

Hutongs – the narrow alleys that criss-cross siheyuan courtyards – are a symbol of traditional Beijing culture, and there’s no admission charge to explore these picturesque laneways. Most of the 1,000-odd remaining hutongs are found on the northeast shoulder of the Forbidden City, between Jingshan Park and the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, such as the lengthy Nanluoguxiang and the colourful Guozijian Street, which has retained its authentic archways. You can wander through Old Beijing on foot or shell out for a rickshaw tour and let someone else do all the work.

Another scenic corner of the capital that’s free to explore, the 798 Art District – also known as Dashanzi – began life as a military factory complex in the 1950s. However, when the soldiers moved out in the 1990s, contemporary artists moved in, transforming this complex of Bauhaus-style warehouses into one of Beijing’s hottest cultural destinations. There are dozens of galleries to visit, but the murals and sculptures you’ll spot on the street are every bit as eye-catching.

OK, you’d have to be pretty brave to join the crew of intrepid swimmers who throw themselves into this urban lake, especially when the weather cools down. But a simple stroll around the scenic waterfront is a free experience that everyone can enjoy. Houhai Lake sits within the Shichahai area stretching down the Forbidden City, with bars, shops, restaurants and old-school hutongs surrounding the area.

Zizhuyuan Park is one of the most peaceful and beautiful natural spaces in Beijing. Also known as the Purple Bamboo Garden, this area used to be a marsh until the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, when the emperor enlisted the help of a mathematician to excavate a channel for the Tonghui River to flow through the park. Then, in the Ming Dynasty, a temple was built on the north coast of the lake – it wasn’t until the relatively recent Qing Dynasty that a statue of the Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was enshrined within the temple. The park is particularly atmospheric on foggy days and looks like the set of Ang Lee’s 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Covering 26,000sq m (279,861sq ft), and with around 4,000 stalls, Panjiayuan Antique Market is the biggest market in Beijing selling Chinese antiques and artwork. You’ll find jades, paintings, calligraphy and teapots here, and it is the ideal place to search for souvenirs. Even if you can’t afford to buy anything, it’s still a lovely area to ‘window-shop’. If you do decide to make a purchase, make sure to bring cash with you. It’s customary to haggle the price down, so don’t be shy!