Beijing is the first city to host both which events?

The FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics

Beijing Quiz: Forbidden City, Hutongs and Peking Duck in China

This Beijing quiz explores China's capital, from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square to the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, old hutong alleys, the Bird's Nest stadium, Peking duck and the city's unique double Olympic history, plus nearby sections of the Great Wall. Ten questions, 90 seconds.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Palaces
How many years did Chinese emperors live in Beijing's Forbidden City?
Squares
Which huge public square lies just south of the Forbidden City?
Temples
At which temple did emperors pray for good harvests?
Olympics
Beijing is the first city to host both which events?
Stadiums
What is the nickname of Beijing's National Stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics?
Food
Which famous dish of crispy roasted duck, served with thin pancakes, comes from Beijing?
Streets
What are Beijing's old narrow alleys lined with courtyard houses called?
Gardens
Which royal garden with Kunming Lake and a long painted corridor was a summer retreat for emperors?
Great Wall
Which restored section of the Great Wall is closest to central Beijing and the most visited?
Name
What does the name Beijing mean?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: How many years did Chinese emperors live in Beijing's Forbidden City?
Answer: About 500 years
From 1420 to 1912, 24 Ming and Qing emperors lived there. Ordinary people were forbidden to enter without permission.
Q2: Which huge public square lies just south of the Forbidden City?
Answer: Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen means Gate of Heavenly Peace. The square is one of the largest city squares in the world.
Q3: At which temple did emperors pray for good harvests?
Answer: The Temple of Heaven
The round Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has three blue-tiled roofs and was built without a single nail.
Q4: Beijing is the first city to host both which events?
Answer: The Summer and Winter Olympics
Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and the Winter Olympics in 2022, reusing several venues such as the Bird's Nest.
Q5: What is the nickname of Beijing's National Stadium, built for the 2008 Olympics?
Answer: The Bird's Nest
Its steel frame looks like a woven nest. Next door, the Water Cube hosted swimming and later curling.
Q6: Which famous dish of crispy roasted duck, served with thin pancakes, comes from Beijing?
Answer: Peking duck
Peking duck has been prepared for centuries. Chefs often carve the duck at the table into more than 100 slices.
Q7: What are Beijing's old narrow alleys lined with courtyard houses called?
Answer: Hutongs
Many hutongs date back to the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors often explore them by bicycle rickshaw.
Q8: Which royal garden with Kunming Lake and a long painted corridor was a summer retreat for emperors?
Answer: The Summer Palace
The Long Corridor is decorated with more than 14,000 paintings. Empress Dowager Cixi spent much time there.
Q9: Which restored section of the Great Wall is closest to central Beijing and the most visited?
Answer: Badaling
Badaling opened to visitors in 1957. Mutianyu and Jinshanling are popular alternatives with fewer crowds and beautiful mountain views.
Q10: What does the name Beijing mean?
Answer: Northern capital
Nanjing means southern capital. Beijing was once written in English as Peking, which is why the duck dish keeps that name.

Beijing Quiz – The Imperial Capital of China

Beijing is the capital of China and one of the world's great historic cities. Home to more than 21 million people, it combines ancient palaces and temples with wide modern avenues, futuristic buildings and busy shopping streets. For most of the last 800 years, it has been the political and cultural heart of China.

The Forbidden City, at the center of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its red walls and golden roofs enclose hundreds of buildings and courtyards. In front of it lies Tiananmen Square, and to the south stands the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for good harvests. All are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Beyond the palaces, Beijing's charm can be found in its hutongs, narrow alleys lined with traditional courtyard houses called siheyuan. The Summer Palace, with its lake, gardens and long painted corridor, offers a peaceful escape. A short drive from the city, visitors can walk on sections of the Great Wall such as Badaling and Mutianyu.

Modern Beijing has hosted major world events. In 2008, it held the Summer Olympics, with the Bird's Nest and Water Cube becoming famous landmarks, and in 2022 it became the first city to host the Winter Olympics as well. Food lovers come for Peking duck, jiaozi dumplings and zhajiangmian noodles, and night markets and tea houses add to its atmosphere.

This quiz covers the history, landmarks, neighborhoods and food of Beijing.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for travelers, history fans and anyone planning a trip to China.

The history of the Forbidden City
Famous temples, squares and gardens
Beijing's Olympic record
Life in the hutongs
Peking duck and other foods
Where to visit the Great Wall near Beijing

Quick Facts About Beijing

Beijing's subway is one of the busiest in the world.
The Lama Temple has a Buddha statue carved from a single sandalwood tree.
Jingshan Park offers views over the roofs of the Forbidden City.
Beijing Daxing International Airport is shaped like a starfish.
The 798 Art District is a center for contemporary art.
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to visit.