Beijing has recently been included in National Geographic's Best of the World list. The capital, noted for its "epic history, cultural treasures, and exciting excursions", is the only Chinese city to make the list.

[Photo via People's Daily]

According to the magazine, Beijing has three significant advantages in this regard.

The first is that Beijing has rich cultural legacies. The magazine underlines the city's UNESCO World Heritage sites as must-visit attractions, including the Forbidden City and the Beijing Central Axis (a nearly 8-kilometer strip of imperial and ceremonial buildings and gardens), as well as the Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs, which are historically significant and waiting for tourists to explore. 

The second advantage is Beijing's rational tourism planning, which has advanced significantly with strong support from the city's administration. National Geographic acknowledges Beijing's efforts in providing an immersive experience spanning from the grand view of the Central Axis to unique nighttime Great Wall visits. With its improving visa-free policies and other tourist-friendly measures, the city offers a seamless blend of historical exploration and modern convenience.

The third advantage is its efficient and convenient travel services. With continuous advancements in digital and smart tourism services over the past few years, tourists' overall experiences have been steadily improving. Quoting the magazine, "Travelers can now tap in and out of the Beijing Subway using foreign credit cards, and Chinese smartphone apps are slowly offering versions with English interfaces, making exploration smoother than ever."

The rollout of visa-free transit policies, specialty tourism projects, and tourist-friendly measures has also contributed to Beijing's entry into the list.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)