CITY GUIDES / BEIJING
Beijing 北京
Six centuries of imperial capital, with the Great Wall an hour or two away.
- Best time
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- How long
- 3–5 days
- Daily budget
- ¥250–500 + hotel
- Airports
- PEK · PKX
Overview
Beijing is where most first-time visitors start, and for good reason: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall all sit within reach of one base. The city is huge and the big sights are far apart, so plan by area, ride the metro, and give the Great Wall a full day of its own.
Many major sights now use real-name tickets. Book the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square ahead with the passport you will carry, and expect security checks at metro entrances and every big attraction.
See, eat and plan
Forbidden City 故宫博物院
The imperial palace. Allow three hours, enter from the Meridian Gate, usually closed on Mondays. About ¥60 in high season.
Mutianyu Great Wall 慕田峪长城
A restored stretch about 70 km out. Cable car up, walk a few watchtowers, toboggan down when the weather allows.
Peking duck
Book a well-known restaurant instead of queuing at the busiest branch. A full duck meal runs ¥150–350 a head.
Temple of Heaven 天坛公园
Arrive at opening to see locals exercising, singing and playing cards in the park before the Hall of Prayer.
Summer Palace 颐和园
Longevity Hill, the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake. Pick a route rather than trying to see every hall.
Zhajiangmian
Thick noodles with savoury fried soybean paste and fresh vegetables. A cheap, filling Beijing lunch.
Jingshan Park 景山公园
A 15-minute climb for the clearest view down over the Forbidden City roofs. About ¥2.
Shichahai and the hutongs 什刹海
Lakes and old lanes around the Drum Tower. Walk the quieter hutongs, and remember people live there.
Boiled dumplings
Ordered by weight at simple shops. With noodles, ¥40–90 covers a meal.
Copper-pot lamb hotpot
Old Beijing style: paper-thin lamb dipped in a charcoal copper pot. Around ¥100–250 a head.
Spicy crayfish on Ghost Street
Guijie's late-night specialty. Pick a busy place with clear prices; ¥80–180 a head.
Jianbing
A crisp egg crêpe folded around crackers and sauce, made to order at breakfast stalls.
Beijing in 1 day: A practical first-time itinerary
See Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and Shichahai in one realistic, transit-ready day through central Beijing.
Beijing in 3 days: A practical first-time itinerary
A practical three-day Beijing itinerary covering the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and hutongs.
Beijing in 7 days: An in-depth first-time itinerary
A seven-day Beijing plan covering imperial sights, hutongs, the Great Wall, palaces, contemporary art, and a Chengde day trip.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Forbidden City: Daniel Case / CC BY-SA 3.0; Mutianyu Great Wall: xiquinhosilva / CC BY 2.0; Temple of Heaven: Balon Greyjoy / CC0; Summer Palace: HoweyYuan / CC BY-SA 4.0; Shichahai and the hutongs: Anagoria / CC BY 3.0.
Getting there and around
Beijing has two international airports: Beijing Capital (PEK) in the northeast and Beijing Daxing (PKX) in the far south. Both connect to the metro by airport express lines, and both have official taxi queues. Late arrivals may miss the last train, so check the final departure before you land.
The metro is the way to get around. It is cheap, signed in English, and avoids the traffic around Tiananmen and on the ring roads. Every station has a bag check, so allow a few extra minutes. Use Didi for late nights, luggage, or short hops the metro handles badly.
For the Great Wall, a reputable small-group transfer or a hired car is simplest. Public buses work but take longer and need current instructions.
Where to stay
Stay central, near Wangfujing, Dongdan or Chongwenmen, with easy access to metro Lines 1, 2, 5 or 8. That keeps early starts at the Forbidden City and the Great Wall short. The lanes around Shichahai and the Drum Tower are a quieter, more atmospheric choice if you don't mind a few more transfers.
Good to know
- Carry your passport every day. Tickets, hotels, trains and some sights check it, and a photo or photocopy may not be accepted.
- Mondays: the Forbidden City, the National Museum and many galleries are usually closed.
- Avoid holiday peaks if you can: the National Day week from 1 October, Lunar New Year, and school-holiday weekends. Tickets sell out well ahead.
- Weather: summers are hot and humid with storms, winters cold and windy, and spring can bring dust. Check air quality before a Great Wall day.
- Paying: set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly and keep ¥300–500 in cash. See how to pay in China.
- Tea-house scam: politely decline friendly strangers near Tiananmen and Wangfujing who invite you for tea or drinks.
Prices, hours and visa rules change. Confirm key bookings before you go.