Beijing, China

The Forbidden City anchors Beijing's imperial axis — 980 buildings across 72 hectares where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled for five centuries, now a museum complex that draws tens of millions of visitors annually (daily cap of 80,000; online booking mandatory). Immediately south, Tiananmen Square opens into one of the world's largest public plazas, flanked by the National Museum and the Great Hall of the People. North of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park's artificial hill delivers the definitive panorama over the palace's golden rooftops. The Temple of Heaven, where emperors performed solstice rituals for five centuries, sits in a park where retired Beijingers practise tai chi, fly kites, and play erhu at dawn — one of the city's most atmospheric morning experiences. Beijing's hutong neighbourhoods — the narrow lane networks of traditional courtyard houses — survive in the Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang, and Dashilar districts, offering a human-scaled counterpoint to the eight-lane boulevards. The 798 Art District in a converted military electronics factory complex has become one of Asia's most important contemporary art quarters. The Summer Palace, an imperial garden and lake retreat on the city's northwest edge, rewards a half-day visit. And the Great Wall: Badaling (most accessible, cable car, heavy crowds), Mutianyu (best balance of access and atmosphere, cable car and toboggan), Jinshanling (for hikers, spectacular sunrise photography), and Simatai (the only night-lit section) all lie within 70-130 kilometres of central Beijing.