Beijing: Heart of China
China's capital for over 800 years, home to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. A city where ancient history meets modern ambition.
Best Season
Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Daily Budget
$70-140/day
Language
Chinese/English
Recommended Stay
4-5 days
Top Attractions
Great Wall 长城 (Mutianyu)
Best-preserved section with cable car and thrilling toboggan ride down
Go on a weekday. Take the toboggan down!
Forbidden City 故宫
World's largest imperial palace, 980 buildings, UNESCO World Heritage
Book online 7 days ahead. Closed Mondays
Temple of Heaven 天坛
Iconic circular temple where Ming & Qing emperors prayed for harvests
Go early morning to see tai chi and kite flying
Summer Palace 颐和园
Imperial garden with Kunming Lake, Long Corridor, marble boat
Combine with nearby Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace)
Hutongs 胡同
Traditional Beijing alleyways — explore by rickshaw or on foot
Best explored by rickshaw — driver doubles as guide
National Museum 国家博物馆
World's most visited museum — 1M+ artifacts spanning 5,000 years
Free with passport. Closed Mondays
Suggested Itineraries
Pick the pace that suits your travel style
Compact
3 Days · $500-700
Fast-paced, covers the essentials
- Day 1 Forbidden City → Jingshan Park → Wangfujing
- Day 2 Great Wall day trip
- Day 3 Temple of Heaven → Hutong tour → depart
Standard
5 Days · $800-1200
Well-rounded, includes Great Wall day
- Day 1 Arrival → Temple of Heaven
- Day 2 Forbidden City → Jingshan Park → Wangfujing
- Day 3 Great Wall (Mutianyu)
- Day 4 Summer Palace → Hutong rickshaw tour
- Day 5 National Museum → depart
Relaxed
6-7 Days · $1000-1500
Slow pace, immersive experiences
- Day 1 Arrival, settle in
- Day 2 Forbidden City → Jingshan Park
- Day 3 Great Wall day trip
- Day 4 Summer Palace → Yuanmingyuan
- Day 5 Hutong walk → National Museum → Peking duck dinner
- Day 6 798 Art District → depart
Recommended Hotels
Foreigner-friendly hotels with English service
5-Star
The Peninsula Beijing
王府半岛酒店
Luxury on Wangfujing, steps from Forbidden City
$250-400/night
Waldorf Astoria Beijing
北京华尔道夫酒店
Art Deco heritage on vibrant Wangfujing street
$220-380/night
4-Star
Novotel Peace Beijing
北京诺富特和平宾馆
French-brand hotel near Wangfujing, great value
$80-130/night
Double Tree by Hilton
希尔顿逸林酒店
Reliable international chain near Temple of Heaven
$70-120/night
Where to Eat
From street eats to fine dining — Beijing has it all
️ Fine Dining
Da Dong 大董
World-famous Peking duck, modern setting
TRB Hutong
Fine dining in a converted temple near Forbidden City
Street Food & Casual
Sijimin 四季民福
Excellent duck at half the price of Da Dong
Fangzhuang Zhajiangmian 方庄炸酱面
Authentic Beijing noodles with bean paste
Local Favorites
Haidilao 海底捞
Legendary hotpot with incredible service
Wangfujing Snack St 王府井小吃街
Candied hawthorn, lamb skewers, Beijing yogurt
Getting Around
Beijing has a world-class public transport system
Airport to City
️ Capital PEK
- Airport Express 25min ¥25 → Dongzhimen
- Taxi 40min ¥100-150 to center
️ Daxing PKX
- Daxing Express 20min ¥35 → Caoqiao
- Taxi 60min ¥150-200 to center
City Transport
Metro
27 lines cover all attractions. ¥3-9/ride. Use Alipay. Day pass ¥20.
Taxi & Ride-hail
Didi has English. Taxi starts ¥13. Have Chinese address ready.
High-Speed Rail
Beijing South → Shanghai 4.5h ¥550, → Xi'an 3.5h ¥520. Book via Trip.com
Shared Bikes
Meituan ¥1.5/30min. Perfect for hutong exploration & short trips.
Local Tips
Insider knowledge for a smooth Beijing trip
Money-Saving Tips
- • National Museum & Temple of Heaven park are free certain days
- • Book Forbidden City online — cheaper than tour bundles
- • Eat at Sijimin for duck at half the price of Da Dong
- • Metro day pass ¥20 — best value in the city
Essential Apps
- • Didi — ride-hailing with English
- • Alipay — pay, metro, taxi
- • 12306 — book trains (English)
- • Baidu Maps — better than Google in China
️ Avoid Common Scams
- • "Great Wall is closed today" — fake, they redirect you
- • Tea ceremony scam near Forbidden City — avoid
- • Taxi from train station: insist on meter
- • "Free" massage or art exhibition — high-pressure sales
Internet & Connectivity
- • Buy SIM at Capital Airport: ¥100/7 days/15GB
- • eSIM from Airalo before you go
- • Free WiFi at most hotels & Starbucks
- • Install VPN before departing home
Emergency Info
110
Police
120
Ambulance
Peking Union Medical
Intl Hospital
Beijing PSB
Lost Passport
Local Culture
Beijing's 3,000-year imperial heritage
️ Forbidden City Legacy
24 emperors ruled from this palace — symbol of imperial power for 500 years
Peking Opera
Elaborate costumes and acrobatics — catch a show at Liyuan Theatre
️ Hutong Life
Narrow alleyways with siheyuan courtyards — the heart of old Beijing
Teahouse Culture
Lao She Teahouse offers tea ceremony with folk performances