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Beijing: Visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven

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This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove It (Literally): Shanghai Disneyland Hits and Misses, Dormy Inn Shibuya Jingumae Hot Spring in Tokyo, Highlights of our Tokyo Shenanigans, Surprise Upgrade at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay, Our Machiya Rental in Kyoto, The Deer Really Do Bow! Day Trip to Nara, Japan, Highlights of our time in Kyoto, Japaan, Was Universal Studios Japan Worth the Time and Money?, Two Nights on Miyajama Island, Highlights from Our Whirlwind Day in Osaka, Japan, Beijing, China: Airport Confusion, No Photos, and We Don’t Speak Russian, Grand Hyatt Beijing Review, Goodness Gracious Great Wall of China, Visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven (this post)

On our second full day in Beijing, my daughter and I visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.

Tiananmen Square

We booked an English-speaking tour through Klook (affiliate link). Unfortunately, we were 20 minutes late to the tour due to the most direct route from our hotel being blocked off to pedestrians. We had to make a huge circle to get to the meeting spot. Our guide was about to leave without us, so we’re thankful we made it. One other family arrived at the same time as us, and another family was left behind.

The crowds to get into Tiananmen Square were huge. Our tour guide took us to an alternate entrance after walking by the famous Zhengyang Bridge area.

A bustling street scene featuring a traditional Chinese archway with intricate designs and vibrant colors. People are walking and taking photos, and there are buildings with traditional architectural elements on either side. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Security in this area was so tight. We had to show our passports 6 times across various checkpoints in Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City. And the guards didn’t just glance at our passports; at least one of them flipped through every page, studying the other countries we had visited with discernment.

We entered Tiananmen Square through this tunnel for tour groups:

A group of people is walking down a set of stone stairs leading into an underground passage. The scene is outdoors, with a busy street and buildings visible in the background. The people are casually dressed, and some are carrying backpacks. The area is surrounded by railings and there is a sign with red text near the entrance.

And then we were in the square! Tiananmen Square can hold one million people, and I believe it.

A large, open square with a traditional multi-tiered Chinese building on the right. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are a few people walking in the distance. Several vehicles are parked along the side of the square.

A large open square with a few people walking around. In the background, there is a traditional-style building with a red roof. A tall monument is visible on the right side. The sky is mostly clear with some clouds. In the foreground, a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a mask is standing, holding a bag.

The image shows a large open square with a tall stone monument in the center. The monument is surrounded by a low fence, and there are a few people walking around the area. In the background, there is a large building with a flat roof. The sky is partly cloudy.

Our young Chinese tour guide did not mention the infamous 1989 student protests that resulted in hundreds or possibly thousands of deaths. I wondered if she had actually ever even heard about it, since the incident is not taught in Chinese schools and has essentially been erased from the country’s history. I decided I better not ask her about it.

The end of the square leads to the famous gate of the Forbidden City that I’ve seen on the news so many times:

The image shows the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China. The gate features a large portrait of a man and is adorned with red flags. There are Chinese characters on the facade. In the foreground, there are barriers and people, some holding umbrellas, standing or walking around. The sky is clear and blue.

A large stone column with intricate carvings stands prominently in the foreground, surrounded by a metal fence. Behind it is a red building with a portrait and Chinese characters on the facade. Several red flags are visible on the building's roof. People are walking and standing around the area, and a tall streetlight with multiple lamps is on the right. The sky is clear with some clouds.

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is huge! It was constructed during the Ming Dynasty in the 1400s and includes hundreds of buildings, a moat and defensive walls.

The image shows a large, open courtyard in front of traditional Chinese architecture with ornate, sloping roofs. The sky is clear with some clouds, and there are several people walking around the area, suggesting it is a popular tourist site. The buildings are surrounded by stone railings, and the ground is paved with large stone tiles.

It’s also a big concrete jungle that gets vey hot in the summer. There is very little shade, and you cannot go inside most of the buildings. A member of our tour group almost passed out from the heat. We had to retreat into a tunnel for a while in the shade. I let her borrow my portable electric fan for the rest of the tour. While there were a few drinks vendors there, none of the drinks were cold.

The image shows a large traditional Chinese building with a red and gold roof, likely part of the Forbidden City in Beijing. In the foreground, there are many people walking and standing on a stone bridge, some holding umbrellas for shade. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

A selfie of two people in front of a large, traditional Chinese building with ornate, sloping roofs, likely part of the Forbidden City. The sky is clear and blue, and there are several people walking in the background. The person on the right is wearing sunglasses.

We were so happy to get inside this furniture museum for the shade. Plus, we saw some old thrones:

The image shows an intricately carved wooden chair with a high backrest. The backrest features a detailed landscape scene depicting mountains, trees, and traditional buildings, possibly temples or pagodas. The carving is framed with geometric wooden patterns, and the chair is placed against a red wall. The craftsmanship highlights a blend of natural scenery and architectural elements.

A large traditional Chinese building with ornate details and a sloping roof is in the background. In front of the building, there is a stone lion statue. Several people are walking and taking photos in the foreground. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

The image shows a traditional Chinese architectural scene with a stone bridge featuring ornate carvings and decorative posts. The bridge spans over a narrow body of water. In the background, there are buildings with classic Chinese-style curved roofs and red walls. The sky is partly cloudy, and a few people are walking around the area.
The moat

One of my favorite memories of being inside the Forbidden City was watching the women in traditional dresses pose for photos.

A group of people dressed in traditional Chinese clothing are standing in front of a large, historic building with ornate roofs, likely part of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The building features red walls and golden roofs. The individuals are wearing floral-patterned garments and hair accessories, and one person is holding a decorative fan. The scene is set on a sunny day with other visitors in the background.

A person is dressed in traditional Chinese attire, holding a decorative fan, and posing for a photo. They are standing in front of a historic building with ornate architecture and a yellow-tiled roof, likely part of a cultural or historical site. Other people are visible in the background.

Three people are dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, standing along a stone wall by a body of water. The background features a traditional Chinese building with a multi-tiered roof and lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Temple of Heaven

After our tour, we took a DiDi to the Temple of Heaven. I’ve seen the replica of the Temple of Heaven at Epcot at Disney Wold dozens of times, so I was excited to see the real deal. Thankfully, it’s located in a beautiful park (Tiantan Park) with lots of shade.  Like other attractions in China, the Temple of Heaven has ice cream bars in the shape of the attraction.

The image shows a signboard advertising "Temple of Heaven Blessing Ice Cream." The sign features illustrations of ice cream bars shaped like the Temple of Heaven, each in different colors and flavors. The flavors include strawberry, mango, vanilla, matcha, and chocolate. The sign is placed outdoors, with trees and people visible in the background.

The surrounding gardens made for a beautiful sight with the temple:

A traditional Chinese temple with a circular, multi-tiered roof is visible behind a stone wall. In the foreground, there is a well-maintained garden with colorful flowers arranged in rows of yellow, red, and purple. A green metal fence separates the garden from the walkway. A large tree is on the left side of the image, and the sky is clear and blue.

The image shows a large, ornate, circular building with intricate designs and vibrant colors, likely a traditional Chinese structure. The sun is positioned directly above, creating a halo effect. In the foreground, a group of people are gathered, some sitting on steps and others standing, with a few wearing traditional clothing. The sky is clear and blue.

Tiantan Park has several other buildings and bridges to see, and locals were practicing Tai Chi.

The image shows a traditional Chinese architectural structure with a large, ornate building featuring a blue-tiled roof and decorative details. In the foreground, there are stone railings and steps leading up to the building. Several people are walking around the area, some holding umbrellas. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

A traditional Chinese building with a curved roof and ornate details is in the center of the image. The building is surrounded by a stone wall and colorful flower beds. Several people are walking in front of the building, some holding umbrellas. Tall trees frame the scene on both sides, and the sky is clear and blue.

 

Next: Shanghai shenanigans

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. Aleks says

    Not to big surprise to me, I find most capitals unattractive for me to tour. Or at least much less attractive to see compared to natural wonders and/or smaller cities in the same country. Same goes for China after seeing photos from your review (thanks for sharing, btw). I wanted to visit the Forbidden City but now might reconsider, given its location and vast empty spaces inside it. Just not a fan of concrete/stone jungles in metropolitan areas. For these reasons I avoid most of them when traveling, and trade New York City for Albany, LA/Phoenix for Sedona, Tokyo for Kyoto, and so on. Few exceptions that I found so far are Mexico City, London, Ottawa, Athens, Vienna and Ljubljana – for having very green and walkable centers.

    Happy travels!!

    Reply

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