Travel guide · North China
Beijing
北京
Imperial Capital of the Middle Kingdom
Beijing is China's capital and a province-level municipality, known for the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall on its northern edge. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; four to six days cover the main sights.
Key facts
- Status
- National capital and province-level municipality[1]
- UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Eight wholly or partly in Beijing: Great Wall (1987), Imperial Palace / Forbidden City (1987), Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (1987), Summer Palace (1998), Temple of Heaven (1998), Ming Tombs (2003, as part of the Imperial Tombs), Grand Canal (2014), Beijing Central Axis (2024)(as of 2024)[5]
- Airports
- Beijing Capital International (PEK), north-east; Beijing Daxing International (PKX), south
- Main rail stations
- Beijing, Beijing South, Beijing West, Beijing North, Beijing Chaoyang, Beijing Fengtai
- Best seasons
- April–May and September–October
- Time zone
- China Standard Time, UTC+8
- Suggested stay
- 4–6 days for the main sights
Overview
Beijing is the political and cultural centre of China. It served as an imperial capital for most of the last eight centuries, and its history as a settlement reaches back about 3,000 years. Visitors combine imperial monuments, the Great Wall in the hills to the north, old hutong neighbourhoods and contemporary art districts.
History
Beijing began as Ji, a Zhou-era city, and became the Mongol capital Khanbaliq (Dadu) under Kublai Khan in the 13th century. The Ming emperors rebuilt the city and built the Forbidden City in the early 15th century; the Qing kept Beijing as their capital, adding the great imperial gardens in the north-west. The palace complex is among the largest in the world.
Culture
Beijing's culture spans the Confucius Temple and the Imperial Academy, Peking Opera, courtyard-house life in the hutongs, and a contemporary art scene centred on 798 and Caochangdi. Many old neighbourhoods have been preserved or restored alongside new development.
Main sights
One of the largest palace complexes in the world, home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, which houses the Palace Museum
- Hall of Supreme Harmony
- Imperial Garden
- Treasure Gallery
- Clock Exhibition
- Time needed
- 4-6 hours
- Best time
- The first entry slot of the day, reserved in advance with a passport number, to avoid the densest crowds
One of the best-restored sections of the Great Wall near Beijing, with Ming Dynasty fortifications along a wooded ridge
- Cable car access
- Restored watchtowers
- Mountain scenery
- Less crowded than Badaling
- Time needed
- 5-7 hours (including travel)
- Best time
- Spring and autumn for clear mountain views
Where emperors performed annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests
- Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
- Circular Mound Altar
- Echo Wall
- Imperial Vault of Heaven
- Time needed
- 2-3 hours
- Best time
- Morning, to see residents practising tai chi, dancing and singing in the park
Qing Dynasty imperial garden and a landmark of Chinese landscape design
- Kunming Lake
- Longevity Hill
- Marble Boat
- Long Corridor with 14,000 paintings
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours
- Best time
- Late afternoon for golden-hour photography
Traditional alleyways preserving old Beijing lifestyle and architecture
- Nanluoguxiang
- Shichahai area
- Courtyard houses
- Local street food
- Time needed
- 2-4 hours
- Best time
- Evening, when residents gather and street food vendors are busy; free to explore on foot, with rickshaw tours as an option
Local food
Beijing's signature dish: roast duck with crisp skin, carved at the table and served with thin pancakes, scallions and sweet bean sauce
Where to try: Quanjude (全聚德) · Bianyifang (便宜坊) · Da Dong
Contains gluten (pancakes) · Not suitable for vegetarians
A breakfast crêpe with egg, a crisp cracker, scallions and savoury sauce, cooked to order at street stalls
Where to try: Street vendors · Morning markets · Hutong breakfast stalls
Contains gluten · Can be made without egg for vegetarians
Beijing's signature noodles with a savoury fermented soybean paste sauce and fresh vegetables
Where to try: Local noodle shops · Hutong restaurants · Hai Bowl
Contains gluten · Traditional version has pork, vegetarian options available
Getting there and around
Getting there
The long-established international gateway, about 32 km north-east of the city centre, linked to the metro by the Airport Express
- The Airport Express is usually the fastest way to the centre in traffic
- Avoid weekday morning and evening rush hours by road
- Use the official taxi rank or a ride-hailing app such as Didi
The newer airport south of the city, linked to the centre by the Daxing Airport Express metro line
- Check which of the two airports a flight uses before planning the transfer
- The Daxing Airport Express connects with the metro network for onward travel
Beijing South Station serves Shanghai and the south-east, Beijing West the routes to Xi'an and Guangzhou, and Beijing Chaoyang the north-east; Beijing, Beijing North and Beijing Fengtai stations handle further lines
- Reserve seats early, especially around public holidays
- Carry the passport used for the booking; it is checked at the station entrance and the gate
- Allow time for security screening on arrival at the station
Getting around
An extensive metro network reaching all major attractions and districts
- Download a metro map app or use a mapping app with transit directions
- Rush hours are extremely crowded
- Mobile QR-code payment works at the gates; keep a single-journey card until the exit
- Stations and many announcements are in English
Convenient door-to-door service; the Didi ride-hailing app is widely used
- Have the destination written in Chinese characters
- Didi app has English interface
- Avoid travel during rush hours
- Always use the meter
Entry rules are on the visa and entry pages.
Plan the trip
From hotels near the Forbidden City to traditional hutong courtyard stays, choose a base for exploring Beijing.
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Beijing's two international airports connect the capital with cities across Asia, Europe and beyond.
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Beijing is the northern hub of China's high-speed rail network, with direct trains to Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou and many other cities.
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Practical information
- Best time to visit
- April-May and September-October for pleasant weather and manageable crowds
- Climate
- Continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons
- Time zone
- China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8
- Internet
- Free WiFi in hotels and many cafes and mobile data widely available; many foreign websites and apps are blocked on local networks, so travellers often arrange a roaming plan or eSIM before arrival
- Electricity
- 220V, 50Hz, Type A, C, and I plugs
Safety
- Beijing is very safe for tourists; violent crime is rare
- Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas like Wangfujing
- Keep copies of passport and visa separate from originals
- Avoid unlicensed taxis late at night
- Air pollution can be severe on some days; check the AQI and wear a mask when necessary
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Beijing Municipal Government — English portal — Beijing Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- The Great Wall — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- National Immigration Administration — English site — National Immigration Administration (retrieved 27 September 2026)
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