Things to do in Botou

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Beijing Resort

Beijing Universal Studios is a highly anticipated theme park destination, including Universal Theme Park, Beijing Universal CityWalk, and two resort hotels. It features brand new selected Attraction and includes popular entertainment facilities and attractions from Universal Theme Parks around the world. ▲Universal Studios Beijing: Blending Chinese cultural elements to create a unique experience, it has seven theme Attraction, 37 rides and entertainment facilities and landmark attractions, 24 performances, 80 Dining and 30 retail stores.  ▲Minion Land: It is a colorful world full of joy! At this moment, these naughty Minions are walking around the streets, ports and city centers, having fun all over the world without restraint! At the same time, Gru is also recruiting soldiers for the Minions Army, so hurry up and sign up at Gru's house! ▲The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™: Here you can leave the ordinary world behind and experience the wonderful rides and endless magical adventures, which will lead you step by step into a thrilling and interesting magical world! ▲Transformers Metrobase: This is a Cybertron-style base, which is transformed by Transformers the size of a city. If you are ready to become an agent, then accept Optimus Prime's recruitment, join the Beijing Nest Force, fight side by side with the Autobots, and fight against the Decepticons to protect the earth! ▲Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness: This is an ancient place like a paradise, and also a legendary place that combines the beauty of nature and craftsmanship. Come here to explore your own Kung Fu! There's also Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood, and Waterworld waiting for you to explore! ▲The Universal Studios Grand Hotel The Universal Studios Grand Hotel is located at the entrance of Universal Studios Beijing and offers Hollywood-themed accommodation and the privilege of Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance; NUO Resort Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the entrance. Guests can enjoy a well-equipped fitness center, indoor swimming pool, and spa center (NUO SPA). Guests can also enjoy Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance. Both hotels combine themed features with high-end facilities to create an immersive vacation experience.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

The Palace Museum

The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the symbol of ancient China. When you are in the majestic and orderly high walls and deep courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. ▲The long history has left behind large-scale precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which have also become the main attraction of visiting the Forbidden City today. ▲Classic attractions: The Forbidden City Corner Tower is a polygonal building with a convex plane on all four sides. It is located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The roof has three layers. The upper layer is a hip roof with vertical and horizontal intersections. It is composed of a gable roof with flowing water on two slopes and a hip roof with four slopes. Because there are nine main ridges on this roof, it is called the Nine-ridge Hall. ▲Sundials are divided into two types according to their installation principle: equatorial and horizontal. The sundial installed using the equatorial principle is called an equatorial sundial. The key points of its production are that it must have a time plate, a latitude arc and a gnomon. When operating, the time plate must be parallel to the equatorial plane of the earth, the gnomon must be in the same direction as the earth's axis, and the shadow cast by the gnomon on the gnomon is the desired time. ▲The Treasure House is located in the Ningshou Palace area. It has a rich collection of treasures, including Buddhist supplies, ornaments, daily utensils, and treasures for appreciation. Among them, the red coral lion about 14 cm high, the Dongzhu court beads about 130 cm long, and the gold "Fengtianzhibao" seal are all rare treasures. ▲The Clock and Watch Museum is located in the Fengxian Hall in the palace. Most of the clocks on display are British products, but there are also clocks from other countries such as France and Switzerland. In addition to the timing function, these clocks are decorated with figures, birds, beasts, flowers, etc., which can also make various different movements. They are very delicately made. Among them, the copper-plated gilded writing clock, the copper-plated gilded enamel gourd-top fishing and woodcutting farming clock, and the copper-plated gilded rotating flower running man rhinoceros carrying clock are very rare.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Badaling Great Wall

The Badaling Great Wall is a highly representative section of the Ming Great Wall, located in Yanqing, Beijing, north of Juyong Pass. Since ancient times, it has been a strategic military location guarding the northwestern passage to the capital. The pass city is trapezoidal in shape, narrow in the east and wide in the west, with two gates, east and west. The east gate bears the inscription "Juyong Outer Town," and the west gate bears the inscription "Key to the North Gate." Both inscriptions remain clearly legible to this day. Extending north from the pass is the North Wall, along which more than ten watchtowers are distributed; to the south is the South Wall, which has fewer watchtowers. North Tower 8 is the highest point of the entire section, at over 1,000 meters above sea level, and from its top you can overlook the magnificent sweep of the wall winding along the mountain ridges. The North Wall has higher terrain and steeper slopes with open views, and is the main route for most visitors; the South Wall is relatively gentle and less crowded, making it suitable for visitors who want to take photos at a relaxed pace and avoid the crowds. If time permits, walking the South Wall first and then the North Wall is a more leisurely arrangement. Badaling Great Wall is also one of the earlier sections of the wall opened to the public. The top surface of the wall is paved with square bricks, and the widest parts can accommodate five horses walking side by side. Defensive structures such as battlements and arrow holes are well preserved, and walking along it gives a direct sense of the construction standards of Ming Dynasty border defense works. In fall, layers of red leaves on the mountains contrast beautifully with the gray brick wall, making it a season that many photography enthusiasts travel specifically to capture. ▲Travel through 600 years of gilded splendor and encounter the visual shock of crimson red leaves blanketing the mountains ▲nightAs night falls, it winds through the mountains like a brilliant golden dragon, and the ancient city wall illuminated by lights tells of the glory and mystery of a thousand years of history ▲ In winter, the Badaling Great Wall, covered in pristine white snow, winds through the mountains like a silver dragon. The golden light of dawn spills across the wall, painting a tranquil and magnificent picture.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

National Museum of China

The National Museum of China is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and was formed by merging the former Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. The building is one of the ten great structures built for the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959. The museum holds over 1.4 million items, covering categories such as ancient artifacts, modern and contemporary artifacts, rare books and ancient texts, and artworks, among which the number of Grade One cultural relics is substantial. The three permanent exhibitions are the core of any visit. The "Ancient China" exhibition, located in the basement-level galleries, follows the succession of dynasties and is divided into eight sections from remote antiquity to the Ming and Qing dynasties, displaying heavyweight artifacts such as the painted pottery basin with human-face and fish design, the four-ram zun vessel, the Houmuwu ding, the drum-beating storyteller figurine, and the jade burial suit sewn with gold thread, several of which are listed as cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad; this exhibition is also the most artifact-dense area in the museum and is worth spending time examining closely. The "Road to Rejuvenation" and "Road to Rejuvenation: New Era" exhibitions, located in the northern galleries, review the Chinese nation's journey of rejuvenation since the Opium War of 1840, with exhibits including the oil painting The Founding Ceremony of the Nation and the Shenzhou 5 return capsule, among other landmark artifacts. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts thematic exhibitions on ancient Chinese Buddhist statues, coins, porcelain, and painting and calligraphy, and periodically presents special exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions covering history and culture, archaeological discoveries, and classic fine art. With numerous galleries spread across multiple floors, visitors are advised to plan their route in advance and allow ample time.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Mount Taishan

Mount Taishan is centered around Mount Taishan, the first of the Five Great Mountains, with steep and towering peaks, and the views of sunrise and sunset from the summit are breathtaking. Sea of clouds often appear among the mountains, and in winter there are spectacular rime ice views. In addition to natural scenery, the mountain also has numerous historical sites, stone inscriptions, religious temples, and other cultural views, with cliff inscriptions and steles scattered throughout the mountain, which is a major feature of Mount Taishan. Mount Taishan has its own highlights in each of the four seasons: in spring, peach and pear blossoms bloom across the mountains; in summer, the mountaintop is lush green and cool, making it a great summer retreat; in fall, the leaves are a mix of red and yellow, dyeing the layered forests in brilliant colors. There are multiple routes to the summit of Mount Taishan. The hiking trail at the Hongmen entrance is the traditional route opened during Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Fengshan ceremony, consisting mainly of stone steps. Walking from Hongmen to Zhongtianmen, you will pass by numerous attractions along the way, including Wanxian Tower, Doumu Palace, Huima Ridge, and Hutiange. This area is also where stone inscriptions are concentrated. After reaching Zhongtianmen, you can take a cable car or walk to Nantianmen and the summit area, where you can see attractions such as Eighteen Bends, Shengxian Archway, Duisong Mountain, Chaoyang Cave, and Wudafu Pines. The Tianwaicun route is a road leading from Tianwaicun to Zhongtianmen, accessible by tour bus, passing by Heilong Pool, Fanzhi Cliff, and Feng Yuxiang's Tomb. After reaching Zhongtianmen, it merges with the latter half of the Hongmen route. Travelers who prefer not to hike can choose this route. The Tianzhufeng route is relatively steep with few visitors, and is a hiking route often taken by outdoor enthusiasts. It features beautiful mountain scenery, including attractions such as Liyu Back, and at the starting point there is also the large-scale live performance "Chinese Mount Taishan: Grand Ceremony of Fengshan." The Taohuayu route is mostly chosen by travelers when descending the mountain. From Tianjie at the summit, take the ropeway to the mountainside, then transfer to a tour bus down to Taohuayu at the foot of the mountain. Along the way, you can enjoy the Colorful Stone Stream scenic area, where the colorful stone patterns at the bottom of the stream are quite magical. Dongyudao is also a walking hiking route, with attractions such as Qingyang Hall, Hanque Gate, and Dongtianmen along the way. Each route ultimately leads to the Daiding tourist area at the summit. Daiding features the main peak of Mount Taishan, Jade Emperor Peak, the Tianjie Scenic Area, as well as attractions such as Sun Viewing Peak, Daguan Peak, Zhanlu Terrace, Bixia Temple, and Confucius Temple. On clear days at the summit, you can gaze at the Yellow River in the distance and admire the wonder of the "Golden Belt of the Yellow River." The Houshiwu area is rich in varied pines and rocks, and there is a cableway leading to the North Heavenly Gate. Many visitors who want to watch the sunrise choose to climb Mount Taishan at night, usually setting off from the Hongmen route, and it is advisable to depart around 11 pm. This route is well lit at night, and a hike of about seven to eight hours will allow you to reach Sun Viewing Peak or Jade Emperor Peak at the summit before sunrise, which are ideal spots for watching the sunrise.

Pegasus Bathhouse

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Prince Kung's Palace Museum

Prince Kung's Palace Museum is located by the Shichahai lakeside and stands as one of the best-preserved princely mansions from the Qing dynasty in Beijing. It originally served as the residence of Heshen, a powerful official during Emperor Qianlong's reign. After Heshen's downfall, the property was granted to Prince Qing Yonglin, and later to Prince Gong Yixin during the Xianfeng era, hence the name "Prince Kung's Palace." This mansion witnessed the entire decline of the Qing dynasty, earning the saying "One Prince Kung's Palace, half the history of the Qing dynasty." The complex features a mansion in the front and a garden at the rear, both laid out along central, eastern, and western axes with meticulous order and grandeur. The mansion consists of multiple siheyuan courtyards connected along a central axis: The central Yinan Hall, roofed with green glazed tiles, follows the specifications of a prince's main hall. On the eastern route, the two-courtyard complex of Ledao Hall and Duofu Pavilion once served as the residence of Heshen's son Fengshen Yinde and Princess Hexiao of the Gulun rank, with Ledao Hall later becoming Prince Gong's living quarters. The western route features delicate refinement, with Xijin Study standing out particularly – its partitions are entirely made of exquisitely carved nanmu wood, modeled after the Ning Shou Palace in the Forbidden City. This extravagant construction later became one of Heshen's listed crimes. At the mansion's end stands a two-story elongated building commonly called "Ninety-nine and a half rooms," its rear wall punctuated by a row of variously shaped decorative windows. Legend claims this was the treasure vault and marks the boundary between mansion and garden. The garden, named Cuijin Garden, was reconstructed by Prince Gong's commissioned artisans, blending the charm of Jiangnan landscapes with northern architectural layouts. Its three marvels are the Western-style gate carved from white marble, the stele inscribed with the character "Fu" (blessing) by Emperor Kangxi, and the grand all-wood theater. Hidden in the Secret Cloud Cave within rockeries, the "Fu" stele conceals wishes for numerous descendants, abundant harvests, talent, longevity, and blessings in its strokes—easily missed if one isn't attentive. The theater, an enclosed wooden structure, reportedly projects vocals throughout without amplification. Bat motifs dominate the garden's "blessing" theme: the Bat Pool, Bat Hall, and painted beams interplay harmoniously. From the Moon-Inviting Platform, visitors overlook the entire garden, while the Winding Stream Pavilion preserves the refined legacy of ancient floating wine cup poetry. When touring, you may first follow the central axis to see the mansion, then pass through the western gate to enter and appreciate the garden in detail. There are usually more travelers visiting during holidays, so it's advisable to start early and allow enough time to slowly savor the history and details of this princely mansion.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Beijing

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is a unique altar for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Here, people worship the heavens, ask for rain, and pray for a better harvest. It is a famous ancient building in China. The Temple of Heaven is divided into two parts: the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. Well-known structures such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Echo Wall are located in the Inner Altar. While visiting the Temple of Heaven, tourists get to experience the grand praying ceremony of ancient emperors and observe the ingenious designs such as the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stones. The wisdom of the ancient craftsmen will not fail to impress you.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Shandong

Baotu Spring

Baotu Spring is located in the bustling downtown area of Jinan, with Thousand Buddha Mountain to the south, Daming Lake attraction to the north, and Quancheng Square to the east. It is a distinctive garden themed around springs, renowned as "the finest spring under heaven" and ranked first among Jinan's "72 famous springs," with a history spanning over 2,000 years. It has also appeared in literary works many times, most notably in Lao She's essay "Baotu Spring." Visitors come here to witness the magnificent sight of the three springs erupting. The main spring is the centerpiece of the park. The spring water splits into three streams, clear and crisp, gushing day and night, and reaching several feet high when the flow is abundant. Around the spring are large stone blocks with railings, where visitors can look down at the spectacular sight of the three springs surging in the pool. Beside the spring stands a stone tablet inscribed with "First Spring" in dark green, written by Emperor Qianlong himself. In addition, nearby are scattered more than thirty famous springs, including Golden Thread Spring, Shuyu Spring, Xibo Spring, Liuxu Spring, Huanghua Spring, and Dukang Spring. Due to the abundant local rainfall in July and August, this is a good season to come and admire the spring water. In midsummer, visitors can have an intimate encounter with the spring water in the park. Some springs have no railings around them, and there are stone paths in the pools with spring water flowing over them. Visitors can step down into the pools to get close to the water, and walking on the stone paths, their feet will be splashed by the spring water, giving a cool sensation. Besides getting close to the water, there are also springs beside the pools that visitors can drink from directly. To the east of the spring is the Wanghe Pavilion Teahouse, which offers visitors specially preparedThis springFragrant tea brewed with water. In addition to the springs, another sight worth seeing in the park is the South Gate. It is magnificently and elegantly decorated. The horizontal plaque above the gate, with the words "Baotu Spring" in golden characters on a blue background, was written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and is acclaimed as the "first gate" of Chinese gardens. In addition, the attraction frequently hosts various cultural activities. Every year during the first lunar month, a lantern festival is held in the park, lasting 20 days. There is also the Spring Water Culture Festival, during which the park features various folk activities, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and opera performances for visitors to enjoy. The park also hosts a chrysanthemum exhibition; in the golden fall season, when the springs all surge forth and chrysanthemums and spring water complement each other beautifully, it is well worth a visit. In addition, the attraction has also launched a cruise route. After touring the attraction, visitors who are interested can board a boat at the boat station and sail through the West Gate Bridge in Jinan's old city area, passing by the East Gate of Wulongtan Park and entering Wulongtan Lock, Jinan's first passenger lock in history, where they can experience a drop of more than 2 m. Sitting on the east side of the boat, visitors can also see the relief sculptures of the "Eight Views of Jinan." Along the way, there are many aquatic plants on the banks, and the river water is so clear that the bottom is visible.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in North China

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace was originally an imperial palace and garden of the Qing Dynasty emperors, also known as Qingyi Garden. Built on the foundation of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill and following the design techniques of Jiangnan gardens, it is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden extant in China, with highly elegant scenery and many precious cultural relics, and is known as the "Museum of Royal Gardens." Area overview: The Summer Palace is grand in scale and can be divided into three areas: the political activity area centered on the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity; the imperial and empress living area, mainly comprising the Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Joyful Longevity; and the garden sightseeing area, mainly along the Long Corridor, the Back Hill, and the West Area. About three-quarters of the park is occupied by Kunming Lake. Along the lakeshore are more than 100 buildings of various types—pavilions, terraces, towers, galleries, and waterside pavilions—totaling over 3,000 rooms, among which the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat, Suzhou Street, and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge are all household representative structures and unmissable places when visiting the Summer Palace. Boating on Kunming Lake: When visiting the Summer Palace, in addition to touring the resplendent halls and buildings, you can take a cruise within the attraction and boat on Kunming Lake, which is both relaxing and pleasant without missing the sightseeing. There are more than ten cruise docks in the park, including the Bafang Pavilion, Wenchang Pavilion, Hall of Jade Ripples, Cloud-Dispelling Hall, Shizhang Pavilion, Bronze Ox, Marble Boat, and South Lake Island docks, with 5 different types of cruise: pedal boats, rowboats, battery-powered boats, dragon boats, and large painted boats. Cruise prices and routes vary, so you can choose according to your needs. On-site food & beverages: The Summer Palace is quite large, and a complete visit takes at least 4-5 hours. If you get tired and hungry while strolling, you can sit down and recharge. There are three fast-food kiosks in the park, located at Zhichun Pavilion, the east nine rooms of Cloud-Dispelling Hall, and Shizhang Pavilion, mainly serving everyday meals and noodles at relatively reasonable prices. If you want to match the occasion, there is also a traditional restaurant in the park specializing in imperial court cuisine: Tingli Hall, where you can taste food with imperial court flavors, though the prices are somewhat higher than everyday dishes.