China Travel — The Top 10 Iconic Buildings in Beijing

The earliest settlements in China’s capital date back to 1100 B.C. Beijing is one of China’s eight ancient capitals and served as the capital for eight dynasties over more than 800 years. Before Emperor Yongle (1368-1644) of the Ming Dynasty began the large-scale construction of the Forbidden City in 1406, there were few ancient city structures left in Beijing’s history.

Afterward, much of Beijing’s magnificent heritage and culture can still be found in its well-preserved architectural landmarks. The iconic buildings of any city change with the times. Beijing’s top iconic buildings include both classical and traditional Chinese architecture, as well as modern and postmodern styles. Here are ten must-see attractions during your visit to Beijing.

1. Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City (1406)
   The Forbidden City, constructed between 1406 and 1420, served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties (1420–1911) for over 500 years. The complex includes 980 buildings and 8,707 rooms, covering 72 acres. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is a prime example of traditional Chinese palace architecture and has had a profound impact on the development of East Asian culture and architecture. The original Hall of Supreme Harmony was built in 1406, but it was destroyed by fire seven times during the Qing Dynasty. The last reconstruction took place between 1695 and 1697.

2. Tiananmen Gate Tower (1417)
The Tiananmen Gate Tower was built in 1417 and served as an important gateway to the Forbidden City. Today, it stands as a famous monument on the northern edge of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and is a symbol of the Chinese nation.

Close-up View of the Tiananmen Gate Tower
The gate tower is 66 meters long, 37 meters wide, and 32 meters high, with a roof adorned with imperial decorations. The tower itself is accessible, and for a 20 yuan entrance fee, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiananmen Square. However, you are free to pass through the archways beneath the tower to enter the Forbidden City.

In front of the gate, two large stone lions stand guard, believed in Chinese culture to ward off evil spirits. Also standing before the tower are two ornate stone columns known as Huabiao.

3. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Temple of Heaven (1420)
The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420, was the imperial altar of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a religious complex where the emperors of these dynasties held annual ceremonies to pray for a good harvest.

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Temple of Heaven
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is an important landmark and symbol of Beijing. It is one of the three main structures in the Temple of Heaven complex, featuring a large circular design with a circumference of 36 meters and a height of 38 meters, built atop a three-tiered marble base.

This is where the emperor would pray for a bountiful harvest. The building is a masterpiece of Chinese architecture, constructed entirely of wood without a single nail. In 1998, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Great Hall of the People (1959)
The Great Hall of the People is located on the west side of Tiananmen Square and serves as the seat of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. It is the venue for meetings and political, military, and economic activities of the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China.

It is also the site for the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Great Hall of the People
Built in 1959 by volunteers over 10 months, it is one of the “Ten Great Buildings” constructed to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The building covers an area of 171,800 square meters, with a length of 356 meters and a width of 206.5 meters. The national emblem of the People’s Republic of China hangs beneath the eaves of the main entrance.

5. Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) (2008)
The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, is a legacy of the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which left a lasting impression on people worldwide.

This stunning landmark features the largest steel structure in the world, using 26 kilometers of unwrapped steel. The innovative design was created by Herzog & de Meuron Architekten, Arup Sport, and the China Architecture Design and Research Group. It earned the nickname “Bird’s Nest” due to its twisted steel framework forming the roof. The stadium can accommodate 91,000 spectators.

6. CCTV Headquarters Building (2008)
The new CCTV (China Central Television) Headquarters was designed by the Arup Group and constructed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren of OMA. Construction of the new headquarters began in 2004 and it was put into use in 2008.

The main building of the CCTV Headquarters is a 44-story skyscraper standing 234 meters tall, located in the Beijing Central Business District along the East Third Ring Road. It is not a traditional building; instead, it is formed by a loop of six horizontal and vertical sections.

The planned new CCTV building is an elegantly shaped, solid, sculptural structure that not only represents Beijing’s new image but also expresses the importance and cultural significance of the television industry through its architectural language. For more information, please visit the CCTV Headquarters Building.

7. National Centre for the Performing Arts (2007)
Located to the west of the Great Hall of the People, the National Centre for the Performing Arts was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction began in December 2001, and the first performance took place in December 2007.

It is said that the total construction cost exceeded 3 billion yuan. The theatre has a total of 5,473 seats, with each seat costing about 500,000 yuan!

The exterior of the theatre is a glass dome adorned with titanium, completely surrounded by an artificial lake, giving the appearance of an egg sliced in half.

Inside, there are four main performance halls: the central Opera Hall, with 2,416 seats, used for opera, ballet, and dance performances; the Concert Hall on the east side, with 2,017 seats; and the Theatre Hall on the west side, with 1,040 seats, used for traditional Chinese theatre, including Peking opera.

Ticketing Information
The ticket office of the National Centre for the Performing Arts is located at the north gate and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Entrance tickets are priced at 30 yuan per person.

8.China World Trade Center Tower III (2010)
Standing 330 meters tall, China World Trade Center Tower III is the third tallest building in Beijing, with a total of 81 floors and 4 underground levels. It has 30 elevators and is located near the China World Hotel and Dawanglu, in the Beijing Central Business District.

The building was completed in 2010. It is a massive integrated structure designed for office and hotel spaces, with retail shops on the ground floor. The building also houses a five-star hotel with 278 rooms. The China World Trade Center complex is situated in Beijing’s Central Business District, at the intersection of East Third Ring Road and Jianguomenwai Avenue (the eastern section of Chang’an Avenue).

9. Galaxy SOHO Beijing (2012)
Galaxy SOHO Beijing is a multidimensional architectural marvel among Beijing’s many landmark buildings, reshaping the city’s skyline.

Constructed between 2009 and 2012, Galaxy SOHO is located southwest of Chaoyangmen Bridge on the East Second Ring Road, with a total construction area of 330,000 square meters, including 166,000 square meters of office space and 86,000 square meters of commercial space.

Developed by SOHO and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Galaxy SOHO is a new type of office and entertainment complex without corners or abrupt transitions. It is a reinterpretation of the classical courtyard, creating an immersive and captivating experience in the heart of Beijing.

The four tower structures are dynamically connected by multiple bridges, with an elegant design that stimulates the imagination and invites people to immerse themselves in a 360-degree architectural world.

10. China Zun (2019)
Designed by the American architectural firm Farrells, China Zun stands 528 meters tall. It is currently ranked ninth among the world’s completed skyscrapers, fifth in China, and first in Beijing.

The skyscraper became operational in July 2013 and was completed in 2019. Located in the core area of Beijing’s Central Business District, adjacent to the CCTV Headquarters, it is considered one of China’s top ten contemporary buildings. The architectural inspiration for China Zun comes from the traditional Chinese ritual vessel known as a “zun,” symbolizing the concept of “heaven is round and the earth is square.”