Beihai Park is an imperial garden to the northwest of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The park is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China.

• On the south side of the park, Qiong Dao, an islet topped by a white dagoba built to commemorate the visit of the first Dalai Lama to the capital in 1651, is worth a quick look.
• The north side of the park is more interesting, so catch a boat from the islet to the opposite side of the lake.
• Don't miss Daci Zhenru Bao Dian, one of the most impressive structures in Beijing.

Houhai (Chinese: 后海; pinyin: hòuhǎi; literally "Rear Sea") refers to a lake and its surrounding neighborhood in Xicheng District of central Beijing.

• Emerging from the north of the Bei Hai Gongyuan, turn right and cross at the first set of lights to Hou Hai.
• If you want your own Sino-Western serenade, you can rent boats with musicians from the small dock near the Lotus Lane entrance.
• From here you can watch the boats drifting along below, several of which come complete with zither players strumming out classics such as "Moon River" for foreign passengers.
• Walk northeast along Qian Hai Nanyan until you come to Yinding Qiao (Silver Ingot Bridge), the bridge that marks the boundary between Qian Hai and Hou Hai.

Drum Tower (Gulou), originally built for musical reasons, it was later used to announce the time and is now a tourist attraction.

• Follow the alley until it ends at the main road. Walk 1/2 block directly north (left) to Drum Tower (Gulou).
• You need to climb up only one tower's steep set of stairs, and your best bet is the Drum Tower.
• The upper chamber has replicas of traditional drums, which are showcased in performances several times per hour.

Yonghe Lama Temple contains the largest wooden Buddha in the world, combining Han Chinese and Tibetan styles temple building and artworks.

• You'll find the temple's most prized possession in the last of the major halls, Wanfu Ge (Tower of Ten Thousand Happiness).
• Try to ignore the crowds and roam around the many courtyards at a leisurely pace, exploring the temple's impressive offerings.

The Confucius Mansion is one of the most and best-preserved wooden arches in Beijing which demonstrates the status of the royal family. (Including ticket for Beijing Imperial Academy (Guozijian))

• Exit Yonghe Gong, cross the street, and walk south for less than half a block. Turn right onto the street marked by a traditional Chinese arch. Walk for about 5 minutes to Confucius Temple (Kong Miao).
• Avoid visiting Guozijian in the months leading to the national exams - guokao - as the place will be swamped by parents and students praying to Confucius and hoping to absorb "scholarly energy" from the grounds.
• You should definitely visit the souvenir shop, as the employees will try to explain every single thing. Need some effort to understand their "mechanic" English, but in the end you learn a lot of things about Chinese symbolism!
• Behind the temple is the entrance to forest of steles. These contain the thirteen classics of Confucianism, but, unless you can read Chinese, are only going to remind you of your illiteracy.