Once you’ve exhausted Beijing’s many world-famous sights such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, there are plenty of alternative things to see and do. With a vast choice of competitively priced Beijing hotels, it makes sense to stay in China’s capital a bit longer to explore properly and enjoy a few attractions and activities you may otherwise have missed. Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Take a tour without the tourist traps

If you fancy getting out and about for a hike or a tour, forget joining one of those irritating organised tours that take regular detours to tacky souvenir or gemstone shops along the way, encouraging you to part with money so they can earn commission. Instead you could join the more intrepid Beijing Hikers who go off each weekend to explore the spectacular scenery within just a short drive of central Beijing. Seeking out interesting trails that are either little-known or completely unknown to both the foreign and Chinese community, their hikes offer a fresh perspective on Beijing’s surroundings. Their eco-friendly ethos means the company makes sure everyone who joins them takes the approach “take only photographs, leave only footprints”, and they employ local guides to make sure revenue is pumped back into the local economy – without persuading you to part with extra cash for unwanted souvenirs or gem stones of questionable quality.

Join a cookery lesson in a local’s kitchen

Some tour operators, such as Hias Gourmet, offer tourists the chance to learn to cook classic Chinese dishes at local homes. You get to find out about authentic Chinese cuisine – which is completely different to anything you’ll taste at a bland British-Chinese takeaway – and enjoy a peek into the home of a real Beijing resident.

Spend some leisure time like a local

The city’s many green parks offer welcome relief from the city’s lengthy boulevards and narrow hutongs (alleyways), and because they’re so popular with locals they give you a good idea of how many Chinese people like to spend their leisure time. The Temple of Heaven in Chongwen District, for example, is regarded as the symbol of Beijing, and is surrounded by a pleasant park that attracts all sorts of locals — mostly to enjoy sedate activities such as tea-drinking, or practising tai-chi or calligraphy. It’s a great spot to spend some time just watching the world go by and soaking up the lively atmosphere.

Where to stay

Tourist accommodation in China ranges from budget hostels – such as those found in Dongcheng District and Xuanwu District in Beijing – to Western-style travel hotels and state-owned official hotels, which are found right across the city and most other parts of China. Further out of the city, particularly around the Great Wall, you will also come across some more luxurious resort-style hotels and boutique establishments.