Most visited tourist spots in Beijing - Beijing's Most Popular Tourist Attractions

Picturesquely located in the Dongcheng quarter of Beijing, the Bell Tower is no ordinary historic attraction in the Chinese capital. Located a mere 100m from the Beijing Drum Tower to its north the first incarnation of the bell tower is believed to have been built as far back as 1272 AD. Located in what was the central court region of the Yuan Dynasty's Wan Ning Temple it was last rebuilt in 1745 AD after being almost entirely destroyed during two wars and is now attributes to the Qing Dynasty. Spread out across 6000m2 the bell tower features a dual hipped roof and towers above the landscape at a height of nearly 48m.

As one of the most visited highlights in China let along Beijing, the Forbidden City is a mammoth feat of architectural and engineering prowess. As the best surviving Chinese imperial palace complex to date the Forbidden City is also known as the largest among ancient palace structures in the globe. Declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1987 it is ranked among the five most coveted palace complexes in the world. Having served as the residence of 24 emperors from the latter half of the 1300's to the early part of the 1900's this sprawling compound also houses a Palace Museum which contains some of the most precious Chinese cultural relics in the country. Occupying 178 acres the venue contains 90 palaces with 980 structures and over 8703 rooms in all.

Tipped to be the most sacred of all of the capital's imperial era temples the Temple of Heaven has been dubbed ""a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design" since time immemorial. A frequent stopover on all tours of Beijing this iconic religious institution is an inspirational venue that is also ranked among UNESCO's World Cultural Relics. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty the Temple of Heaven was commissioned to be constructed by emperor Zhu Di and is located within the former royal garden. Its design is believed to denote the mystical inner workings that determine the universe as we know it, following cosmological laws in both its layout and content. Its main highlights include the Circular Alter and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, both of which reflect various universal truths in numerical values of its columns and slabs.

Regarded as Beijing's own incarnation of Disney World, Shijingshan Amusement Park is a one of a kind recreational space in the capital. Frequented by locals and tourists alike this sprawling leisure hub is littered with breathtaking lakes, walkways and towering trees. Home its very own fairy tale inspired castle with Gothic architecture the venue is also home to a Russian arcade, Arabian restaurant, European overpasses and a Giant Sight-seer Wheel. Other attractions include the Atomic Pulley and the Cinderella statue surrounded by a scenic water fountain. Globally recognized cartoon characters the likes of Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck and Pinocchio also feature heavily in the park's interiors in addition to various rides and attractions that keep families entertained for hours.

Occupying a space of 440,000m2 Tiananmen Square is known as the most expansive city square in the globe. With the capacity to host nearly one million persons simultaneously this renowned landmark is perhaps best known as the site of the flag raising ceremony that takes place daily. Home to the Tiananmen Rostrum and the Mao Zedong Mausoleum other notable structures in the square include the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. Visitors based in a centrally located serviced apartment in Beijing such as those within the Somerset ZhongGuanCun Beijing will enjoy easy access to the site