Beijing

Beijing has served as China's capital for five of the last eight centuries, leaving behind seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within a single municipal boundary. The Forbidden City alone covers 72 hectares with 8,700 rooms across 980 buildings, while the Temple of Heaven's wooden Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was assembled in 1420 without a single nail.

Hutong alleyways thread between the imperial core and the modern business districts of Chaoyang and Haidian, where courtyard homes built during the Ming and Qing dynasties still hide behind red doors and stone lions. The city's food culture runs from ¥15 bowls of zhajiangmian wheat noodles in Dongcheng's backstreets to the theatrics of Peking duck carved tableside at Dadong, where a whole bird costs ¥298 and arrives within 15 minutes of ordering on weekday lunches.

Beijing sprawls across six ring roads, but the metro's 27 lines connect every major sight within 30 minutes of Tiananmen Square. Spring and autumn bring blue skies and comfortable temperatures, while winter cold drops to minus 10 Celsius and summer humidity pushes past 35 Celsius with afternoon thunderstorms.

Most foreign visitors to Beijing need an L tourist visa issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate 4-6 weeks before departure, valid for 30 or 90 days depending on your nationality. The visa costs around USD 140 for most passports and requires submission of your application in person or through an authorised agency. Citizens of 54 countries including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most EU member states qualify for 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit when entering and exiting through Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) with onward tickets to a third country, staying within Beijing municipality, Tianjin and Hebei province.

When to apply

Submit your L visa application 4-6 weeks before your departure date to allow for processing, which typically takes 4-5 business days for standard service or 2-3 days for express at an additional USD 30-50 fee. Peak travel periods around Chinese New Year and October Golden Week can extend processing to 7-10 days.

What you need

Your application requires the following documents:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay with at least two blank visa pages
• Completed visa application form with a recent passport photo (33 x 48 mm on white background)
• Proof of round-trip flight bookings
• Hotel reservations or invitation letter covering your entire stay
• Detailed daily itinerary listing cities, dates and accommodation
• Visa fee of approximately USD 140 (varies by nationality and processing speed)

For the 240-hour transit scheme, immigration officers at PEK and PKX will stamp your passport on arrival when you show onward tickets to a third country within 10 days.

By air

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), 26 km northeast of the city centre, handles most international flights with direct routes from London (10.5 hours), Paris (10 hours), New York (13.5 hours), Los Angeles (12 hours), Sydney (11.5 hours) and Singapore (6 hours). Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), which opened in 2019 and lies 46 km south of Tiananmen Square, serves additional international and domestic carriers with modern facilities and shorter immigration queues. Both airports connect to the metro network, and travellers from Southeast Asia often route through Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore for better fare options.

By train

Beijing's four main railway stations serve high-speed rail from across China. The G-series trains from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing South take 4.5 hours and cost ¥553 second class, departing every 15-30 minutes from 07:00 to 20:00. Trains from Guangzhou South reach Beijing West in 8 hours for ¥862 second class, while the overnight sleeper from Xi'an arrives at Beijing West in 11 hours for ¥263 in a hard sleeper berth. Hong Kong to Beijing takes 9 hours on the direct G-series service for around ¥1,100 second class.

Airport to city

The Airport Express train runs every 10 minutes from Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 and 3 to Dongzhimen (25 minutes) and Sanyuanqiao (20 minutes) for ¥25, where you connect to metro Lines 2, 10 and 13. Taxis from PEK to central districts cost ¥80-120 and take 40-70 minutes depending on traffic. From Daxing Airport, the Daxing Airport Express reaches Caoqiao station in 20 minutes for ¥35, connecting to metro Line 10 and the South 4th Ring Road.

Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

The Forbidden City sprawls across 72 hectares with 8,700 rooms in 980 buildings, constructed between 1406 and 1420 as the imperial palace for 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties. Entry costs ¥60 April to October and ¥40 November to March, open 08:30 to 17:00 with last admission at 15:30. Book tickets online at least one day ahead through the official Palace Museum website, as walk-up tickets sell out by mid-morning in peak season. Take metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West, both 2-3 minutes apart on the same line. Enter through the Meridian Gate on the south side and walk the central axis north for two hours, skipping the crowded outer halls to spend time in the quieter Palace of Tranquil Longevity in the northeast corner. Tiananmen Square lies directly south of the Forbidden City, free to enter after a bag check, and fills with domestic tour groups from 08:00 to 18:00.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven's wooden Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests rises 38 metres on three marble tiers, built in 1420 without using a single nail. The surrounding park opens at 06:00 for ¥15, though the interior halls require an additional ¥20 ticket from 08:00. The north gate sees taichi practitioners and morning exercises from 06:00 to 08:30, when the park is quiet and the light is soft. Photographers gather at the Hall of Prayer's south steps for the classic angle. Take metro Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen, a 3-minute walk to the east gate, or Line 8 to Qiaowan for the southwest entrance. Avoid weekends, when retiree groups dominate the Echo Wall and Imperial Vault courtyards.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu, 73 km northeast of Beijing, balances restored Ming-dynasty watchtowers with dramatic pine-covered ridges and far fewer crowds than Badaling. The wall here stretches 5.4 km along the mountain, with 23 watchtowers connected by steep stone staircases. Entry costs ¥40, and the cable car runs ¥100 round trip to Tower 14, where most visitors start their walk. A toboggan slide descends from Tower 6 for ¥100, popular with families. Bus 916 from Dongzhimen Transport Hub to Huairou then a shuttle bus costs ¥30 total and takes 2.5 hours each way, departing Dongzhimen every 20 minutes from 06:00 to 19:00. Private tour vans cost ¥200-300 return and leave central Beijing at 07:30, returning by 16:00. The wall opens 07:30 to 18:00 April to October and 08:00 to 17:00 November to March. Go midweek and arrive by 08:30 to walk west toward Tower 23 before tour groups fill the lower sections.

Summer Palace and Kunming Lake

The Summer Palace covers 290 hectares of gardens, pavilions and Kunming Lake, created in 1750 as a royal retreat. Entry costs ¥30 for the grounds and an additional ¥30 for interior halls, open 06:30 to 20:00 April to October and 07:00 to 19:00 November to March. Walk the 728-metre Long Corridor, painted with 14,000 scenes from Chinese literature, then climb Longevity Hill for views across the lake to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Kunming Lake freezes solid December to February, when locals ice-skate for ¥30 skate rental. Take metro Line 4 to Beigongmen, exit D, for the north gate and quietest entrance. Allow three hours to loop the main sights or rent a rowboat for ¥60 per hour to cross the lake.

Nanluoguxiang and Hutong Neighbourhoods

Nanluoguxiang hutong runs 800 metres north to south through Dongcheng District, lined with courtyard homes built during the Ming and Qing dynasties now converted into cafes, craft shops and guesthouses. The alley itself fills with souvenir stalls and tourists, but the east-west hutongs branching off preserve quieter residential life behind red doors and stone threshold guards. Walk east into Mao'er Hutong or Fangjia Hutong to see traditional siheyuan courtyards. Take metro Line 8 to Nanluoguxiang station, exit E, which puts you at the south end of the lane. The hutong is free to walk and open 24 hours, though shops operate 10:00 to 22:00. For a deeper dive, rent a shared bike for ¥1.50 per 30 minutes and explore the grid west toward Houhai Lake, where locals gather at the north shore for evening walks away from the bar-lined south banks.

• The 798 Art District in Dashanzi, northeast Beijing, fills decommissioned factory halls with contemporary galleries, open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, metro Line 14 to Jiangtai station then 15-minute walk.
• Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple) charges ¥25 entry and opens 09:00 to 16:30, a working Tibetan Buddhist monastery with an 18-metre sandalwood Buddha, metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple.
• Beihai Park, ¥10 entry from 06:30 to 21:00, centres on a 13th-century island pagoda and willow-lined lake, metro Line 6 to Beihai North.
• Jingshan Park, ¥2 entry, sits directly north of the Forbidden City with a hilltop pavilion offering the best panoramic view of the palace rooftops at sunset, metro Line 8 to Shichahai then 10-minute walk east.

Must-try dishes

• Peking duck (Beijing kaoya): crispy skin and tender meat carved tableside, served with thin pancakes, spring onions and sweet bean sauce, ¥198-398 per whole bird depending on the restaurant.
• Zhajiangmian: thick wheat noodles tossed with fermented soybean paste, diced pork and julienned cucumber, ¥18-28 per bowl at neighbourhood noodle shops.
• Jiaozi dumplings: boiled or pan-fried parcels filled with pork and chive, lamb and carrot, or cabbage and egg, ¥20-35 for a plate of 15-20.
• Jianbing: morning crepe spread with egg, hoisin, chilli paste and crispy wonton, folded around scallions and pickled vegetables, ¥8-12 from street carts near metro exits.
• Lamb hotpot (yangrou shuanyangrou): thin-sliced lamb cooked at the table in a simmering sesame-and-chilli broth, ¥80-120 per person at Donglaishun or Nanmen Shuanrou.

Where to eat

Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant at 1-2 Nanxincang, Dongcheng District (metro Line 2 to Dongsishitiao, exit C, 8-minute walk south) serves Peking duck from ¥298 per bird that arrives within 15 minutes of ordering on weekday lunches, sliced into 100 pieces with paper-thin skin. The set menu for two costs ¥500 including duck, stir-fried seasonal vegetables and rice, and reservations are essential for dinner.

Ghost Street (Guijie) runs 1.5 km along Dongzhimennei Avenue east from Dongzhimen metro station (Lines 2 and 13), packed with 150 restaurants open until 04:00 specialising in spicy crayfish (xialongxia), Sichuan hotpot and grilled skewers. Expect to pay ¥80-150 per person at Hu Da Restaurant (number 235 Dongzhimennei Dajie) for their signature spicy crayfish with beer, no reservations and queues after 19:00.

Wangfujing Snack Street, 100 metres east of Wangfujing metro station (Line 1, exit A), offers skewered scorpions, fried starfish and more conventional jianbing and tanghulu candied hawthorn from 11:00 to 22:00, with most snacks ¥5-20 each. It's touristy and overpriced, but useful for sampling a dozen small bites in one evening.

King's Joy at 2 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District (metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple, exit F, 5-minute walk west), serves refined vegetarian tasting menus at ¥480 per person with ingredients sourced from organic farms outside Beijing, reservations required two days ahead.

Etiquette and ordering

Chinese restaurants rarely accept tips, and most neighbourhood places expect cash payment though WeChat Pay and Alipay QR codes are now standard at mid-range spots. Wave to get a server's attention, as pushing a table button or calling out is normal. Tea is free and refilled throughout the meal, and it's polite to pour for others at your table before filling your own cup.

Metro

Beijing's 27 metro lines cover 780 km and connect every major district, with Line 1 running east-west through Tiananmen and the Forbidden City, Line 2 looping the Second Ring Road past Yonghe Temple and Gulou (Drum Tower), and Line 4 reaching the Summer Palace in the northwest. Fares range ¥3-10 per ride depending on distance, calculated when you tap out. Trains run 05:00 to 23:00 with 2-5 minute frequencies on core lines during the day, extending to 8-10 minutes after 21:00. Single-journey tickets are sold from machines with English menus at every station. For multiple trips, buy a Yikatong transport card for ¥20 deposit plus credit at any station service window, which gives a small fare discount. Most short-term visitors will find single-journey tickets simplest, as linking Alipay or WeChat Pay to scan QR codes at gates requires a Chinese bank account or pre-verified foreign card that many overseas banks do not support.

Taxis and ride apps

Metered taxis start at ¥13 for the first 3 km, then ¥2.3 per km, with a 20 percent surcharge after 23:00. Hail cabs at designated ranks outside metro stations or hotels, as street hailing is difficult during rush hours. Most drivers speak limited English, so have your destination written in Chinese characters or show a map pin. DiDi, China's Uber equivalent, offers in-app English navigation and costs roughly the same as a taxi. Download the app and link a foreign credit card or Alipay before you need it. Avoid black cabs without meters at airports and tourist sites, as they charge triple the going rate.

Shared bikes

Meituan (yellow bikes) and Hello (blue bikes) blanket central districts with dockless shared bicycles costing ¥1.50 per 30 minutes, paid through their respective apps linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay. They work best for short trips under 3 km in flat areas like the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang and Houhai Lake, though cycling on main roads alongside buses and e-scooters requires confidence. Bike lanes are inconsistent, and pedestrians often walk in them. Lock the bike anywhere on the pavement when done, and the app ends your ride.

Dongcheng and Hutongs

Dongcheng District wraps around the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, placing you within walking distance of the Temple of Heaven, Jingshan Park and the hutong lanes of Nanluoguxiang. Metro Line 5 runs north-south through the district, connecting to Line 2 at Yonghegong and Line 6 at Dongsi. The trade-off is narrow hutong alleys without elevators in traditional courtyard conversions, and breakfast options skew toward steamed buns and noodles rather than hotel buffets.

• The Orchid Hotel: ¥850-1,100 per night, a restored courtyard on Baochao Hutong with 10 rooms and rooftop views of the Drum Tower, metro Line 8 to Shichahai then 8-minute walk.
• Leo Hostel: ¥180-220 for a private double, ¥60 dorm bed, in a converted hutong house near Nanluoguxiang metro (Line 8, exit E), shared kitchen and common room.
• Nostalgia Hotel: ¥650-850 per night, a boutique courtyard property at 12 Banqiao Hutong with 16 rooms around a central garden, metro Line 2 to Gulou Dajie then 10-minute walk east, or Line 8 to Shichahai, 12-minute walk.

Chaoyang and Business Districts

Chaoyang stretches east from the Second Ring Road to the airport expressway, home to international hotels, shopping malls and the 798 Art District. Metro Line 10 circles the area with interchanges to Lines 1, 2 and 14, and it's a 20-25 minute ride to Tiananmen Square. The district lacks historic character but offers English-speaking staff, Western breakfasts and proximity to bars and restaurants in Sanlitun.

• The Opposite House: ¥2,200-2,800 per night, a minimalist design hotel in the Taikoo Li Sanlitun complex, metro Line 10 to Tuanjiehu, 5-minute walk, 25 minutes to the Forbidden City via Line 10 and Line 1.
• Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido: ¥700-950 per night, near the airport expressway with a pool and gym, metro Line 10 to Liangmaqiao then 10-minute taxi, 30 minutes to central sights.

Xicheng and Houhai Lake

Xicheng District lies west of the Forbidden City, centred on Beihai Park and the willow-lined shores of Houhai Lake. Metro Line 4 runs north-south through the area, connecting to Line 2 at Xizhimen for trains to the Summer Palace and Beijing North Railway Station. Nights here bring live music bars along the south shore of Houhai, though the north shore remains quieter for evening walks.

• Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel: ¥600-800 per night, a renovated courtyard at 37 Dongbuya Hutong near Beihai Park, metro Line 6 to Beihai North, 6-minute walk.
• Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel: ¥480-680 per night, overlooking Houhai Lake at 91 Deshengmen West Street, metro Line 2 to Jishuitan, exit B, 8-minute walk, occasional evening shadow-puppet shows in the lobby.

Best months

April, May, September and October deliver the most comfortable weather, with daytime temperatures between 15 and 25 Celsius, low humidity and blue skies that showcase the Forbidden City's golden rooftops. Cherry blossoms peak in Yuyuantan Park in early April, while autumn leaves turn the Summer Palace and Fragrant Hills deep red and gold in late October. These months also see the lowest air-quality index readings, typically under 100 AQI, though spring dust storms can blow in from the Gobi Desert for 2-3 days in April.

Avoid

July and August bring heavy humidity, frequent afternoon thunderstorms and temperatures pushing 35-38 Celsius, making outdoor sightseeing at the Forbidden City and Great Wall exhausting by midday. January and February see daytime highs around minus 2 to 5 Celsius with biting winds, though hotels and metro stations are well heated. Chinese New Year (late January or early February, dates vary by lunar calendar) and October Golden Week (1-7 October) flood Beijing with domestic tourists, tripling hotel prices and creating 2-hour queues at the Forbidden City even with advance tickets.

Festivals worth timing

The Beijing Spring Festival Temple Fairs run for a week around Chinese New Year at venues including Ditan Park and Longtan Park, with traditional opera, acrobatics, calligraphy stalls and street food for ¥10 entry. The Mid-Autumn Festival in late September or early October celebrates the harvest moon with mooncakes filled with lotus paste and salted egg yolk, sold from bakeries citywide for ¥30-80 per box of four.

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are blocked across mainland China including Beijing. Install a VPN like ExpressVPN, Astrill or NordVPN on your phone and laptop before you fly, because Chinese app stores remove VPN apps and you cannot download them once you arrive. A reliable VPN costs USD 8-12 per month with servers in Hong Kong, Japan or Singapore offering the fastest connections from Beijing.

Mobile data and SIMs

ESIM plans from providers like Airalo, Holafly and Ubigi offer 5-20 GB of data for 7-30 days at USD 10-40, delivered instantly to compatible iPhones and Android phones without needing a physical SIM card. These work with VPNs pre-installed on your device. Physical China Unicom or China Mobile SIM cards sold at airport arrivals and convenience stores cost ¥50-100 for 5-10 GB and require passport registration, though they do not include access to blocked sites without a VPN. Top up credit via Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to the SIM.

Local apps you need

WeChat combines messaging, payments and mini-programs for ordering taxis, food delivery and buying metro tickets, and nearly every restaurant, shop and street vendor accepts WeChat Pay QR codes. Alipay works similarly for payments and is accepted as widely as WeChat. Registering either app requires a Chinese mobile number or a foreign credit card, which some overseas banks block for Chinese payment platforms. Baidu Maps and AMap provide turn-by-turn navigation in English with real-time metro and bus schedules, and both work offline if you download Beijing's map in advance. DiDi is essential for hailing rides in English, though it requires Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a payment method. Download all four apps and set up accounts before you leave home, as English-language customer support is limited once you arrive.