The Summer Palace is more than just a building; its grounds contain expansive lakes, beautifully landscaped gardens and, of course, grand palaces. It's striking no matter the season, so we highly recommend carving out a few hours to pop by for a visit.

Exceptional service, fresh ingredients and a buzzy vibe. Hai Di Lao towers above other hotspot restaurants in the city if you ask us. They have locations across the city, so if Haidian isn't convenient, you can certainly find one that works for you.

This Mongolian yurt-style restaurant is a true experience. This ain't your usual white-tablecloth spot. The vibe is surprisingly raucous, so it's the perfect place for a celebration or a big group. Lamb is their bread and butter; vegetarians are probably better off elsewhere.

Though there are many worthy cultural institutions in town, the Inside-Out Art Museum definitely has some of the best programming in Beijing. Peep their website for the latest and greatest!