Beijing, a world-renowned ancient capital, boasts a rich tapestry of historical and cultural legacies—a shining golden card in its deck. Exploring Beijing unveils a journey from the ancient site of "Peking Man," dating back hundreds of thousands of years, to the newly opened Chinese Archaeological Museum. Numerous heritage parks and museums in Beijing are worth experiencing and capturing.
Zhoukoudian Site
Located approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Beijing in Fangshan District, Zhoukoudian Site nestles against the undulating Taihang Mountains, overlooking the vast North China Plain with a gentle river flowing at its foothills.
The Peking Man Site Museum at Zhoukoudian, positioned about 500 meters south of the site, encompasses over 8,000 square meters. Its rugged and robust architectural design draws inspiration from the earliest tools crafted and utilized by the "Peking Man"—stone implements.
With a collection of over 7,000 artifacts, over 1,000 of which are displayed, the museum features temporary exhibitions, basic displays, and a 4D cinema. It covers interactive educational exhibitions, simulated settings, souvenir sales, and public services.
Address: Zhousheng Road, Zhoukoudian, Fangshan District, Beijing
Jinzhongdu Park
Jinzhongdu City, established in the third year of the Tiande era (1151), witnessed the inception and history of Beijing. The reconstructed Jinzhongdu Park, erected on the site's ruins, is a central park built along the city's moat, brimming with profound historical roots.
Focused on the culture of Jinzhongdu's establishment, the park is situated on the former Imperial City's site, serving as an open park that vividly reflects Beijing's history of establishment and culture.
Address: South Bank of the Riverside Road, Xicheng District, Beijing
Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park
The Beijing Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park is constructed on the site of the Yuan Dynasty's capital, Dadu. The city's establishment in the northeast suburbs of Jinzhongdu laid the foundation for modern-day Beijing. Its planning and design inherit the traditional construction practices of China's historical capitals.
During the Ming Dynasty's construction of Beijing, the northern city walls were shifted southward by 5 li, rendering the northern earthen city obsolete and leading to the preservation of this site. The preserved remnants consist of the western and northern sections of the original Yuan Dynasty city wall, approximately 12 kilometers in length.
Having endured 700 years of history, only the remnants of the north and west sections of Dadu remain today. In 1957, this site was designated as a key cultural heritage protection unit in Beijing. Officially approved by the Beijing Municipal People's Government in 1988, it was named the "Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park."
Address: 24 Anwai Xiaoguan Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs collectively refer to the 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors. Covering an area of 80 square kilometers, it represents one of the most complete sets of imperial burial sites in the world. Construction began in the seventh year of the Ming Yongle era (1409) and continued for over 200 years until the early Qing Dynasty.
Address: Changchi Road, Thirteen Mausoleums Town, Changping District, Beijing
The Old Summer Palace
Constructed in the forty-sixth year of Kangxi's reign (1707), the Old Summer Palace consisted of three gardens—Yuanmingyuan, Changchunyuan, and Qiyuan—covering 350 hectares. With over 140 hectares of water surface and more than 100 scenic spots, spanning an architectural area of over 160,000 square meters, it was a grand imperial garden managed by the Qing emperors for over 150 years. Reflecting China's longstanding garden design tradition, it was hailed as the "paragon of all gardening arts" and the "garden of gardens."
Address: 28 Qinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Chinese Archaeological Museum
Situated at the northern end of Beijing's central axis within the Chinese Academy of History, the Chinese Archaeological Museum is the country's first national-level professional museum named after archaeology. It officially opened to the public on September 15. With over 7,000 square meters of permanent exhibition space and more than 6,000 artifacts on display, it not only serves as a public museum but also supports archaeological research.
The museum has a dedicated "Hands-On Area" where visitors can touch ancient pottery shards from millennia ago, allowing them to experience the work of archaeologists firsthand.
Address: 1-4 Floors, Chinese Academy of History, Intersection of Stadium North Road and Beichen East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Translator: HU Guoman
Editor: ZHOU Huilin
