The essential guide to Beijing

For that market buzz, there’s nowhere better than Beijing Farmers’ Market. Started by a group of expat artists in 2010, it has since hosted more than 200 markets each attended by around 40 farmers, craftsmen, social enterprises and NGOs.

The market attracts thousands of people, and you can find everything from organic vegetables, meats and eggs to homemade cheeses and bread that come from farms around Beijing and beyond. Although some of the vendors haven’t undergone official organic certification, the market organisers visit each farm and make sure they’re producing safe, healthy food using organic methods.

The location of the market is not fixed, but you can follow them at weibo.com/farmersmarketbj and facebook.com/farmersmarketbj to find out where their next stop will be.

One of the oldest streets on this list with a 600-year history as a commercial centre, Qianmen Dajie is a pedestrianised shopping area just south of Tiananmen Square. Renovated in time for the 2008 Olympics, Qianmen is now a commercialised shopping street with trams that run during Chinese holidays. There's Western high street staples galore here, but be sure to stop by the original Liubiju Pickle Shop for something more local, or, if you want a break from shopping, Madame Tussauds.

In the market for a calligraphy brush at tall as you? Liulichang is your spot. Situated a couple blocks south of Qianmen, this shady hutong consists solely of shops dedicated to Chinese crafts – think calligraphy, paper cutting, water colour paints – a handful of which have been in business in some way or another for a few hundred years. Perhaps the street’s most famous store is Rongbaozhai, a time-honoured brand which dates back to the 17th century and sells stationery and calligraphy supplies, as well as high-quality porcelain, and has a sunny café-bookstore attached. A good one for Beijing visitors.

Besides being a hub for Beijing’s design scene, the hutongs of Dashilar are full of traditional craft shops as well as trendy designer boutiques. Yangmeizhu Xiejie is the most packed in the area. Along the alley, scout out Triple Major for indie magazines and contemporary lines like French label Lemaire and Croatian Damir Doma’s eponymous co-ed label. The street also has you covered for homewares: Ubi Gallery for ceramics, Book Design Shop for coffee table books and stationery, and Beijing Postcards for beautifully reproduced vintage maps. After all that shopping, get your caffeine fix at Soloist.

The 798 Art District is a must for anyone eager to see the modern artistic side of Beijing. Arguably the first significant creative cluster in Beijing, this area in the city’s northeast was once a buzzing factory complex that was designed by East Germans in the 1950s to produce military and civilian hardware, including acoustic equipment for the Workers’ Stadium and the loudspeakers in Tiananmen Square.

The present-day numerical name actually comes from a single sub-factory, ‘798’, a portion of which was the first location to host a major exhibition. After this, the whole complex became known by these three iconic numbers. There are numerous galleries and spaces here: the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, Faurschou Foundation and Boers-Li Gallery are just some of the places that feature thought-provoking and boundary-pushing exhibitions on a regular basis.

No visit to Beijing would be complete without visiting the Forbidden City, which is filled with crowds of tourists snapping photos within the 72 hectares of sprawling palatial grounds. A gradual expansion of publicly open areas, a large budget for research, and the production of guides and elucidating materials for the interested visitor makes the Forbidden City more accessible than ever – we recommend getting a copy of 'Candogan Beijing' and 'Insight Guide to Beijing' to take around with you. Those seeking the perfect Instagram shot should head to Wanchunting (Pavilion of Everlasting Spring), which allows visitors to take in an unrivalled view of the expanse of curved roofs and age-defying walls.

The Summer Palace is undoubtedly one of Beijing’s hottest attractions, offering a different experience for visitors in every season. Whether you’re coming to whizz across its frozen lake in winter, soak up some sun in the spring or summer, or admire its splendid autumn colours, it’s always a good idea to spend the day out here.

The history of Beijing’s Summer Palace can be traced as far back to the Jin dynasty (1115-1234), when it was used by imperial families and their entourage to get some rest and relaxation. Successive dynasties made their alterations and additions to its gardens, lakes, halls and pavilions, but it was during the late Qing dynasty and the regency of Empress Dowager Cixi (1861-1908) that it gained its current grandeur.

A fair warning: one trip might not be enough to see it all – which is why we recommend this ultimate guide produced by Time Out Beijing. If you’re pressed for time, pay a visit to picturesque locations of The Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, The Garden of Virtue and Harmony and The Spacious Pavilion, where you can snap a few gorgeous photos to show to family and friends.

It’s China’s best known monument, one of the seven wonders of the modern world and a marvel to behold; there’s no other structure that matches the staggering scale and ambition of the Great Wall of China, which sits atop nearly every visitor’s Beijing bucket list. However, given the whole host of different sections with different qualities and defining features, choosing which one to start with – or which to visit next – can be a difficult decision.

It’s a long list to get through, which is why we’re recommending that you check out Time Out Beijing's roundup of the Great Wall, which includes a few history lessons, as well as the lowdown on transport and tickets. However long you have here and however wild you want to go, there’s a bit of wall for everyone, so get out there and get climbing!