Planning a trip to Beijing? This sprawling capital packs millennia of history alongside its glass-tower skyline, and there is more to see than any single visit can cover. The classics, of course, deserve their reputation. The Forbidden City sits at the heart of the city and remains one of the most visited palace complexes in the world, with nearly 1,000 rooms restored to imperial-era condition. Just north, Jingshan Park gives you a panoramic view of the entire palace from the hill where the last Ming emperor took his own life. From there you can walk to the Drum and Bell Towers in under fifteen minutes, then weave through the surrounding hutongs for an afternoon. A day trip to the Great Wall at Mutianyu is easier than most travellers expect — the highway from Beijing takes about ninety minutes and the cable car puts you right at the watchtowers. If you visit during the right season, the air is crisp and the views from the wall are unforgettable. For something more unusual, try the 798 Art District in the northeast, the Temple of Heaven at dawn when locals come to practise tai chi, or a Peking duck dinner at one of the older establishments near Qianmen.