10 of the harshest TripAdvisor reviews of Beijing

China's capital? 'Sooo not worth it'

Ah, TripAdvisor. A handy way to check just how much hotels are airbrushing their room pictures; an enduring and comforting space for spleen venting after bad service and a window into the private thoughts of the world's grumpiest and most unreasonable tourists (i.e. one star reviews). 

Here are 10 amazingly harsh reviews of Beijing's best landmarks and attractions. Next! 

Forbidden City

'Monotonous and boring, I don't get the hype. There is nothing special to see, same old buildings restored the same in all the other sites (summer palace, temple of heaven, winter palace). With so many people inside you don't even get that nostalgic feel.' 

'I thought it was a large square, not the massive temples we enjoyed and we did do the entire city! However, we enjoyed all that we saw.'

The Great Wall at Badaling

'It wasn't really a great wall, if anything it was just a wall. There were a lot of people as well, too crowded for a valley person like myself. Also the amount of stairs was very tiring and at times uneven, not recommended unless you live in a gym. 2/10 would not Great Wall at Badaling again.'

Beihai Park

'Seriously don't have much things to look at. Only a river and a temple which the temple is far away.'

The Bird's Nest

'What's so special? Well...none. It's another gigantic concrete wasteland left over from the Olympics. Whatever statement the thing was supposed to make is slowly rusting away. A drive-by view of this monstrosity is more than enough. Skip it.'

'Laid to waste after the Olympics, and they bring tourists there to generate revenue? Anyway, this ultra-modern Bird Nest building doesn't quite fit into the general image of imperial Beijing. Would be more suitable for Shanghai.'

The Long Corridor at the Summer Palace

'There really isn't much to say, it's a covered walkway which is extremely long. It's very hot and walking underneath it is an exercise in frustration. You're constantly being bumped into, after a while I just gave up and walked beside the long corridor on the long sidewalk. Well just the sidewalk. Forget about getting a good photo opportunity. I'd skip.'

798 Art District

'It was completely dull, boring and full of communist propaganda "art" showing how wonderful life is under Mao's ideology - a waste of time and money!'

The Great Wall at Mutianyu

'Not worth the 1.5 hour trip if its foggy and raining. Could only see about 20 metres ahead of us. I am sure the views would be breathtaking if you could see beyond the wall!'

Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen)

'If walking around getting hassled by crap tour guides on a big open square is your thing...knock yourself out! From the time we passed security checks...the hustle began. All it is is a big pile of concrete where a massacre occurred. Will admit the view back to the Forbidden City is great but there is stuff all here...'

The Temple of Heaven

'A round pagoda sat in the middle of a large area of concrete paving with nothing to make me think it should be recommended as part of any itinerary of Beijing.'

The Mao Mausoleum

'I'm sorry if you're offended by this, but a person that did so much damage to thousands of innocent people doesn't deserve a memorial. Good vibes to all Chinese citizens!'

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