Explore Beijing's communist sites this Golden Week

Journey through the ideological heart of the PRC with this guide

Just in case you'd forgotten about the military rally played on an endless loop on the subway, China is a communist country. Who'd have guessed it, eh?

To properly get to grips with just what this might mean, and in celebration of National Day, we've highlighted some of the most intriguing communist spots around the city. It's a red star special. Before you pay a visit, just be sure to double-check their opening time as many have announced temporary closures to accommodate National Day events.

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

The monolith that forms Chairman Mao's mausoleum is the obvious place to start your communist crusade. Though you might have to wait until Oct 8 as it'll be closed during the Golden Week, it won't take you long to pay a visit. Meeting him is a whistlestop experience – you're in, out, shake it all about with the Great Leader in about one minute (after around an hour of waiting in line). It's free to get in, just make sure you're in the queue before 11am at the absolute latest as it's only open in the morning. 

The Writer's Bar, Raffles Hotel

Although it might look like a bastion of colonialism (and that's not the c-ism we're after), the Writer's Bar at Raffles Beijing – formerly the Beijing Hotel – was used for banquets by the Great Helmsman and the People's Liberation Army until the Great Hall of the People was built in 1959. However, as you can't get day-drunk in the Great Hall, unless you're incredibly subtle with a hipflask, it perhaps makes more sense to imbibe here, just like Chairman Mao. Two Moutai, please! The hotel was also occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Fragrant Hills

Perched on the side of a verdant green slope, and next to what is possibly the scariest chairlift in the world, Biyunsi temple plays host to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. This six-centuries old temple structure houses, in its innermost hall, a statue of the first president of the PRC, some of the good doctor's books and handwriting and a tiny lead coffin (empty, for once), provided by the Soviets so that erstwhile revolutionaries could attempt to cram poor old SYS in to preserve him. We'd recommend visiting before the hordes of leaf-crazed autumn-o-philes head for the hills to gaze at the changing foliage.

Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution

The Military Museum is a fascinating look at actual military history tactics. Goggle at a big-ass missile, China's first atomic bomb, Chairman Mao's limo, the gory details of the Sino-Japanese war and a whole garage of tanks. Note: It's closed off for National Day so plan your visit anytime after Oct 1. 

798 Art District

If you can ignore the pricey cafés schilling vaguely unpleasant coffee and some of the more... reductive interpretations of modern art, the 798 Art District houses some of the best examples of communist sloganeering and industrial heritage in Beijing. As a former industrial zone built by the East Germans in the '50s, the squat, grey examples of stereotypically Red architecture once played host to a massive factory complex but now is open for urban exploration. Keep an eye out for the original murals exalting Party values on some of the walls.

Ming Dynastry City Wall Ruins Park

The Yongle Emperor built the walls, the communists pulled them down; now you can walk around what is left of 'em at this pleasantly landscaped (if not the easiest to find) site. In terms of a statement of intent, pulling down one of the bastions of imperial rule is pretty impressive. There's 1.5km of wall left, which is just enough to give you a sense of scale, and you're within easy walking distance of both the Ancient Observatory and Red Gate Gallery, which has some fascinating photos from the turn of the 20th century.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

Of course, we had to conclude with Chairman Mao's portrait. What kind of Beijing communist sites list would this be otherwise? Though again you may want to plan your visit after Oct 1, as the Tian'anmen Square area has been closed off for the National Day festivities. 

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