North Chaoyang is a bustling area, with green parks and streets lined with kebab and shrimp stalls. The ruins of 13th-century civilizations take visitors back to when Beijing was known as Dadu. Explore the many museums to learn about the history of the area and its silk trade.

Among the highlights in the center of the zone is Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park. Stroll along the trails and relax with a picnic on the grass in this park, which is filled with historic sculptures and murals of the Ruins of the Yuan Dynasty, from the Dadu time period. Inspect the statues of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, who was the grandson of Genghis Khan.

A little north, enter the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature to find out about the literary impact from this part of the world. Piece together the cultural development of the country in the China Numismatic Museum and the China Science and Technology Museum. The Beijing Dong Wu Silk Museum has guides sharing information about silk products and their role in Chinese trade.

Beside this silk museum, get an insight into the local customs and history in the China Ethnic Museum. Try the culinary delights from 56 ethnic groups and witness dancing and singing traditions from different peoples. For the kids, the Happy Magic Water Cube provides an exceptional thrill as an indoor water amusement park.

The district consists of the northern reaches of Chaoyang, which runs across the eastern side of central Beijing. It is just north of Middle Chaoyang and east of Haidian. Ride the metro to the Shaoyaoju or Huixinxijie Nankou stations and travel around the district by bus.