Originally built during the Ming dynasty but later destroyed by fire, the current Bell Tower dates from 1747. It rises 33 meters (108 feet), but you can climb the staircase to the top to get some lovely views over the city. As the name suggests, this was where bells were rung every morning to signal the start of the day. A trip to the Bell Tower should be doubled up with a visit to its nearby brother, the Drum Tower.

QIANMEN DISTRICT. An extraordinary series of underground bunkers and tunnels stretches beneath Beijing city center. Built between 1969 and 1979, originally under the guidance of Chairman Mao, the 30 km (19 miles) of tunnels were excavated (often by schoolchildren) as air-raid shelters during China's Cold War spats with the US and the Soviet Union. The Underground City was built to house up to 6 million evacuees and was equipped with restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters, factories, a roller skating rink, a grain and oil warehouse as well as barber shops and a mushroom cultivation farm, for growing foods that require little light. It is rather damp in the tunnels, but a fascinating insight into the paranoia of the times.

Dating back to the conquest of Kublai Khan, the Drum Tower marked the center of the Mongol capital in the 14th century. Originally it contained 24 large drums which were struck every evening to signal the closing of the city gates. It's a steep climb to the top, but a great photographic spot when you get there. Trips to the Drum Tower should be doubled up with its brother, the Bell Tower.

Founded in AD 696, this is the oldest Buddhist temple in Beijing. A vast and attractive complex, it contains an academy for training monks, a library, and several halls with a variety of Buddhist statues, from the laughing Maitreya Buddha statues to more austere incarnations such as the sedate reclining Buddha. In addition to the excellent exhibitions of Buddhist art, the architecture and atmosphere are quite relaxing.

Even if you are in Beijing for only one day, you should not miss the Forbidden City. So called because it was out of bounds to all but the emperor and his court for 500 years, the imperial places are set among a huge complex of largely wooden palaces that housed 24 emperors. With stunning architecture and historical motifs from the Qing and Ming dynasties, the Forbidden City is your one-stop guide to Chinese history. Guided tours are available and well worth it. Leave plenty of time and be prepared for a good walk as you browse through this wonderful 200-acre site.