Niuheliang Archaeological Site is located at the junction of Lingyuan City and Jianping County. It is named after the Mangniu River, which originates from the eastern foothills of the mountain ridge, and features a landscape that is half mountainous and half hilly. The entire site is nestled within thousands of acres of pine forests, which remain evergreen throughout the winter and summer, offering fresh air, a serene environment, and a preserved primitive appearance.Niuheliang Archaeological Site is situated on a series of mountain ridges stretching over 10 km in the mountainous region of western Liaoning. Across an area of 50 sq km of rolling hills, altars, the Goddess Temple, and groups of stone-cairn tombs are distributed in an orderly fashion, forming a grand religious sacrificial center. Within the well-arranged stone-cairn tombs, burials are classified into several levels centered around large tombs, with jade artifacts as the only burial goods. The primary types include realistic yet deified animal-shaped jade ornaments such as pig dragons, bear dragons, phoenix birds, and turtles; horseshoe-shaped jade hoops open at both ends; and cloud-shaped jade pendants decorated with patterns that appear and disappear with changing light. These, along with rows of painted pottery cylindrical vessels erected on the stone-cairn tombs, were tools used by the tomb owners to communicate with the divine. The Goddess Temple, stone-cairn tombs, and large earthen platform architectural sites are the representative structures of the Niuheliang Archaeological Site. These three site points are distributed along a north-south axis according to the mountain terrain. The altar, temple, and tomb form a trinity, grand in scale and imposing, serving as a high-level sacrificial center for the Hongshan culture. It provides rich physical evidence for the study of the origins of the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, the activities of representative figures such as the Yellow Emperor in the north during ancient times, as well as the history of religion, architecture, and art.

Jianping · 13.3 km from Lingyuan



Niuheliang Site Museum

3.9

4.1/5

9 reviews

Niuheliang Site MuseumLocated at the border of Lingyuan City and Jianping County in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, at 119°30′ E longitude and 41°20′ N latitude. It belongs to the Hongshan Culture of the late Neolithic Age, dating back 5,500–5,000 years.

Jianping · 15.1 km from Lingyuan



No. 20 of Hot Springs Attractions in Liaoning

Goddess Palace Hot Spring City

3.2

4.1/5

33 reviews

The Goddess Palace Hot Spring City is located in the core area of Reshuitang, Lingyuan City, with an artificial pine forest behind it and Ciyun Temple to the east. It is a tourist resort integrating hot spring tourism, health care, leisure and entertainment, business meetings, sports and fitness, etc. The total construction area of the first phase is more than 53,000 square meters, consisting of hot spring pools, Goddess Palace Water World, Goddess Palace Hotel, VIP villa area and other parts. The main project facilities include a unique private pool, a time-space cave experience area, a SPA health club, a Taohua Island experience area, as well as a large wave pool, a swimming pool, a water slide, a children's water play area, a large water fortress, a rafting river and many other water entertainment projects.

Lingyuan · 16.3 km from downtown



2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Beijing Resort

10

4.6/5

82.2k reviews

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.

China · Beijing



2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

The Palace Museum

10

4.9/5

205.4k reviews

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.

China · Beijing



Shanyu Tang Hot Spring

2.9

4.9/5

14 reviews

Lingyuan Reshuitang is located in Reshuitang Subdistrict Office, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province Reshuitang Village. 18 kilometers from the northern suburbs of Lingyuan City and 124 kilometers from Chaoyang Airport Lingyuan-Reshuitang Road is 60 meters wide, with street lights on both sides, Lingyuan City The Xinda bus (Lingyuan - Bajianfang - Reshuitang) has long been connected to Reshuitang. The transportation is very convenient, with only a few minutes to go. Lingyuan Hot Spring is surrounded by mountains. It is quiet and peaceful, with distinct four seasons and a pleasant climate. The total land area of the first phase is 6849.56 square meters The total construction area is 10001.87 square meters, including The upper building area is 9315.17 square meters, and the underground building area is The area is 686.70 square meters. The first phase is mainly for business comprehensive spa, including Quan Health Center, Rehabilitation Family Room, Silver Hair Kangmei Apartment, Vitality Retirement Apartment, Health Center Heart, health restaurant, etc.

Lingyuan · 15.8 km from downtown



2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

National Museum of China

9.5

4.8/5

14.2k reviews

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.

China · Beijing



2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Prince Kung's Palace Museum

8.6

4.8/5

38.3k reviews

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.

China · Beijing



No. 2 of Night Attractions in Beijing

Temple of Heaven

8.5

4.7/5

25.9k reviews

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.

China · Beijing



No. 13 of Best Things to Do in North China

Summer Palace

8.4

4.7/5

52.3k reviews

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.

China · Beijing







Lingyuan Today's weatherFoggy -6-11℃

Lingyuan weather for the next 2 days11/15: -5-8℃, 11/16: -10-4℃

Free things to do in Lingyuan





What travellers say about Lingyuan

M18***01November 25, 2024

5.0

The ruins park is very large, and you need to take a scenic bus to visit the four exhibition halls. The exhibitions and ruins tell and show the glory of the ancient civilization. The exquisite jade, altars, temples and tombs from 5,000 years ago have a profound impact on later generations. There are currently scheduled buses from Jianping Station to the city, but there are not many buses. It costs 30 yuan to take a taxi from the city. The transportation is indeed not very convenient, and there are not many tourists. You need to ask and confirm locally during non-holidays and off-seasons. Personally, I think: Friends who like ancient monuments and history, it is worth visiting this ruins and museum.