Xiangshan Park, also known as the Forest Park, is located on the eastern sides of the Western Hills, approximately 10 kilometers to the west of Beijing. Due to its high elevation and dense cover of trees, spring arrives late in the area and summer days are always pleasantly cool. The best time to visit the park is late fall, when the smoke tree leaves turn red. The trees make the grandest display of all. There are also groves of apricots, pears, peaches and lilacs adding their fragrance, and the more solemn evergreens, whose contribution to the local beauty is unrestricted by seasonal changes. In 1186 of the Jin Dynasty, the Xiangshan Temple was built here and for a period served as the emperor's traveling lodge. In 1745, Emperor Qianlong had a number of large halls; pagodas, memorial archways and leisure pavilions. This complex served the famous Qing ruler as one of his summer palaces and became one of the three favorite hills of Qianlong

The Ruins of Yuanmingyuan (the Garden of Perfection and Light) is located to the northwest of Beijing and to the east of the Summer Palace. The Garden was first constructed in the year of 1709 during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as a summer vacation spot. Over the next 150 years of the Qing Dynasty, this Garden was expanded to be a large-scale Chinese emperors' private pleasure garden, covering a total area of 350 hectares. Hundreds of scenic spots in the Garden are made up of exquisitely constructed halls, pavilions, chambers, kiosks, earth and rock hills, rivers and ponds, and exotic flowers and grasses from different parts of the country. Indeed, it embodies the essence of Chinese ancient landscape gardening and was appropriately named "Garden of Gardens" or the "Versailles of the East". The garden was pillaged and its artifacts plundered by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. Some parts of the garden have been reconstructed but most remain in their ruins today in commemoration of the historical conflict.

The Siheyuan is a historical type of residence that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing. The name literally means a courtyard surrounded by four buildings. In English, siheyuan are sometimes referred to as Chinese quadrangles. Throughout Chinese history, the siheyuan composition was the basic pattern used for residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family, businesses and government offices. In ancient times, a spacious siheyuan would be occupied by a single, usually large and extended family, signifying wealth and prosperity. Today, however, most remaining siheyuan are used as mass housing complexes, and suffer from a lack of modern amenities. In Beijing, there are still many areas where the siheyuan residences are preserved and occupied by ordinary citizens.

Peking Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era, and is now considered one of China's national foods. The duck is known for the thin, crispy skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat, sometimes sliced in front of the diners by the cook. Ingredients of the dish are specially chosen at the most famous restaurants to ensure the best taste. Details such as the breed of the duck, the age of the duck, the feeding of the duck are all carefully attended. The meat is often eaten with pancakes, spring onions, and hoisin sauce or sweet noodle sauce. The two most notable restaurants in Beijing which serve this delicacy are Quanjude and Bianyifang, two centuries-old establishments which have become household names.

The history of Beijing street snacks dates back throughout the imperial dynasties. Traditional Beijing snacks feature delicacies that come in a huge variety and will stretch your imagination. The best places to visit for a taste of local Beijing are East Huamen night market and WangFuJin Street. These two pedestrian-only venues offer everything from noodles to lobster that are prepared in every way from hot pot to deep fry, perfect for a taste of Beijing culture at a very reasonable price.