Photo by CC user Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons

Of all the countries in the world to see, China frequently tops the list of many seasoned travelers. If 2017 will be the year that you will discover one of the most prominent nations in the Far East, a visit to Beijing is practically mandatory.

Containing many of this country’s top historical attractions, one could base an entire trip to China around this megacity and come away satisfied, and loaded with great photos.

Travel to the capital of China doesn’t come without its difficulties, however. For one, many taxi drivers here have little or no knowledge of English, making it difficult to communicate where it is you need to go.

Fortunately, there are services that provide private airport transfers in Beijing, which will ensure you get from arrivals to your comfortable hotel room with ease, and in style.

Additionally, many of these same companies offer drivers that can help you negotiate the streets of China’s capital if excessive walking isn’t your thing. With that being said, let’s talk about some of the coolest things to see in Beijing:

1) Great Wall of China

Conveniently enough, one of the most recognizable tourist attractions in China is located within an easy drive from the center of Beijing.

There are several sections of the Great Wall of China that tour agencies focus on specifically, but by asking the locals which ones are less crowded, you can then hire a private driver to take you out to a section that will give you the sort of authentic experience (like Jinshanling) that you are seeking.

For a truly unique experience, visit the Shanhai Pass after you have finished visiting Beijing. Located 300 kilometres east of the city, it is where the Great Wall of China meets the Pacific Ocean.

2) Summer Palace

A sprawling series of temples and royal residences scattered across 200-foot high Longevity Hill, the Summer Palace used to be where emperors and their families spent the better months of the year living alongside one of the prettiest lakes in the region.

Added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1998, its architectural mastery is only enhanced by the lush Chinese gardens fill in the spaces between the various buildings in this compound.

3) Forbidden City

Through most of the year, however, China’s ruling class ruled the country from the palace known as the Forbidden City.

The center of this country’s political life from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420-1912), entrance was only open to those that the emperor personally approved of; conversely, he could also deny certain people the right to exit the grounds as well.

While there are many priceless works of art within its bounds, the structures themselves are also well known for being the largest collection of ancient wooden structures in the world.

Give yourself an entire day to explore its many highlights, as this cultural attraction is almost a kilometre north to south, and 750 metres from west to east.