Visit Haidian to discover palaces and temples adorning stunning parks in a serene suburban district. Much of the culture is centered on the many universities, whose youthful students can often be seen hanging out in the area’s various bars and cafés. Learn about the Ming and Qing history in the palace grounds and botanical gardens of this tranquil getaway.

Sign up for a guided tour around the University District for an insight into the innovation and creativity of Beijing’s young students. See the impressive campus of Peking University and browse the works on display at the Sackler Museum of Art at Peking University. Enter the walled community of Tsinghua University, which is among China’s most reputable colleges and also contains an intriguing museum.

Other educational centers in Haidian include the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the Beijing Forestry University and Beihang University, whose Beihang University Gymnasium hosts weight-lifting events and other sports.

A little northwest of the universities is one of Beijing’s jewels in the form of the Summer Palace that graces the northern shore of Kunming Lake. As you walk around the lake, meander past the majestic pavilions, gardens and hills overlooking the water.

Reach the Old Summer Palace in nearby Yuanmingyuan Park, where executions and torture used to be carried out. The ruins of the palace remain as a reminder of the damage caused by foreign imperialism.

Keep traveling through the district for wonderful sights such as the Five Pagoda Temple, Fragrant Hills Park and the Beijing Botanical Garden.

Haidian is a vast area that stretches northwest from the northwestern corner of central Beijing toward the Baiyanggou Natural Scenic Spot. Ride a bus to one of the stops scattered across the zone or ride the metro to Changchun Bridge and Chedaogou, among other stations. Pass through the district and continue north to reach the Great Wall of China in Badaling.