Www.redgategallery.com; Dongbianmen 东便门 ; 10am-5pm; Jianguomen or Chongwenmen

When it opened in 1991, Red Gate was Beijing’s first gallery devoted to Chinese contemporary art. With its stunning watchtower setting, Red Gate remains one of the most influential art spaces in the city. It’s located on the tower’s 1st floor; you usually don’t need to pay the tower’s admission fee to visit.

Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s favourite historical sights, sits in the Temple of Heaven Park
BOB CHARLTON/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

SOUTHEAST WATCHTOWER 东南角楼

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Dongbianmen 东便门; admission Y10; 8am-5.30pm; Jianguomen or Chongwenmen

This Ming-era watchtower has 144 archer windows but is also notable for the ‘I was here’ graffiti left by international troops during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion. On the tower’s 2nd floor there are historical exhibits about Chongwen district. With the admission ticket, you’re allowed to walk the 100m stretch of old city wall attached to the tower.

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN PARK 天坛公园

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North Gate, Tiantan Donglu 天坛东路北门; park & temple complex Y30, park only Y10; sights 8am-6pm, last entry 5pm, park 6am-9pm, last entry 8pm; Tiantandongmen

From 1420 until the fall of imperial China, successive emperors travelled here to pray for good harvests. Nowadays, it swarms with both tourists and locals. At dawn, the park turns into a vast stage for taichi; later on the visitors arrive to gaze in awe at one of Beijing’s most iconic sights (see). Audio-guides are Y40.

So many pearls at the Pearl Market, but head upstairs if you’re looking for the best quality ones
GREG ELMS/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

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