Beijing Travel Guide
Beijing is the capital of China, with over 3,000 years of history as a city and more than 800 years as a capital. The red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City, the winding grandeur of the Great Wall, the solemn ancient architecture of the Temple of Heaven, and the everyday bustle of the hutongs together make up this city where ancient and modern blend.
As the first stop for inbound travelers getting to know China, Beijing combines imperial relics, World Heritage Sites, and a modern metropolis, making it the starting point of many travelers' journeys to China.
Must-Visit Attractions
The Palace Museum (Forbidden City) — the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the world's largest surviving wooden ancient architectural complex; Badaling and Mutianyu Great Wall — climb the Great Wall and look out over the mountains; Temple of Heaven Park — where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped heaven, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture; Summer Palace — a model of imperial gardens, with Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill complementing each other; Yonghe Temple — the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing; Tiananmen Square — one of the world's largest city squares; Prince Gong's Mansion, Shichahai, and Nanluoguxiang — experience the hutong and princely mansion atmosphere of old Beijing.
Specialty Foods
Peking duck, old Beijing zhajiangmian (noodles with fried sauce), mutton hot pot, luzhu huoshao, douzhi with jiaoquan, wandouhuang, aiwowo, and imperial pastries.
Best Time to Travel
Spring and autumn (April–May, September–October) have pleasant weather and are the best seasons for in-depth sightseeing; in summer you can climb the Great Wall to escape the heat, while in winter you can enjoy snowy scenery and ice and snow activities.
Transportation Guide
Beijing's subway network is well developed and covers the main attractions; to reach Badaling you can take the suburban railway or a tourist line; the two international airports, Capital and Daxing, connect to destinations around the world, and high-speed rail reaches most cities nationwide.
Suggested Itinerary
Classic three-day tour: On day one, visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Jingshan Park, then stroll around Shichahai in the evening; on day two, climb the Badaling or Mutianyu Great Wall, and in the afternoon visit the Ming Tombs; on day three, visit the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, or Yonghe Temple, and in the evening explore Nanluoguxiang.
Travel Tips
For popular attractions such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, it is recommended to book tickets online in advance; spring and autumn are the best seasons, while winter is cold so warm clothing is needed; the journey to the Great Wall is relatively long, so it is advisable to allow a full day.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences
In the early morning, go to Temple of Heaven Park and feel the leisurely pace of old Beijing alongside residents practicing tai chi; in the afternoon, duck into the old bookstores and creative shops on Yangmeizhu Xiejie and Liulichang; in the evening, climb to Wanchun Pavilion in Jingshan and look down over the Forbidden City in the glow of sunset; after nightfall, watch a Peking opera or crosstalk performance in a hutong. Avoid the crowds — these streets and everyday scenes are another side of Beijing.
One-Day Trips Around the City
Gubei Water Town — a northern water town at the foot of Simatai Great Wall; Mutianyu Great Wall — a quieter option for climbing the wall than Badaling; Cuandixia Village — a well-preserved Ming and Qing ancient village in western Beijing; Tianjin — reachable by high-speed rail in about half an hour, where you can also visit the Italian Style Town and Ancient Culture Street.
