Planning on visiting Beijing? Whether you are spending one week in Beijing or just making a stop during your Asian trip, Beijing is sure to leave a lasting impression on you.
Use this page to help get inspiration and be prepared for your upcoming Beijing trip.
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The Best Things to Do in Beijing
Beijing is one of the most popular cities in the world, renowned for itsrich cultural heritage。You should not miss the following things:
- Walk along or camp on the Great Wall: a must-do activity in Beijing. We recommend the Mutianyu section, which is the most child-friendly and not too crowded, or the wild Jiankou section for hiking and camping.
Camp on the Great Wall
- Explore the Forbidden City: the second most popular attraction in Beijing. It is hard to get an idea of the great size of the imperial palace until you are in it.
Explore the Forbidden City
- Savor the Summer Palace- resort for the royal family, known as the "Museum of Royal Gardens". Wander where the royals relaxed in the warmer months.
Summer Palace cruise
- Discover the enchanting hutongs: Walk into a family's houses, explore the historical and cultural sites like temples and towers, and take a stroll.
Beijing Hutong - South Luogu Lane
- Experience other things, such asBeijing roast duck,a kung fu show, or an acrobatic show.
Beijing roast duck
Things to Do Recommended for Family with Kids
- Enjoy an easy walk at Mutianyu Great Wall equipped with advanced cable car, chairlift and toboggan or Camp on the Jiankou Wild Great Wall with a BBQ dinner.
- Take a rickshaw through hutongs and play with a Chinese yo-yo made of wood or bamboo in a hutong's courtyard
- Go on a treasure hunt in the National Museum of China
- Experience Modern Beijing — ‘Smart’ Restaurant Lunch and Beijing’s New CBD Skyline
Things to Do Recommended for Couples
- Enjoy a stunning sunset at the Great Wall with a romantic picnic
- Taste fine rce wine in a hidden hutong
- Enjoy the night cityscape on the Western Hills
- Go to the Place and express your love on "the Sky Screen"
Suggested reading:Ultimate Beijing Itineraries: From 1 Day to 5 Days with Side Trips
Beijing Trip Itinerary: 4 Days Suggested
Four days are enough if you only want to see the essence of Beijing。A recommended itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1: Arrival and explore Wangfujing or Sanlitun
- Day 2: Discover the Forbidden City and the hutongs.
- Day 3: Hike the Great Wall and visit the Temple of Heaven.
- Day 4: Visit the Summer Palace and departure.
Click to see4-Day Beijing Highlights and Great Wall Night Tourorour 5-Day Beijing Family Tourwith detailed descriptions and vivid pictures as a starting point for your tailor-made tour.
Many people will extend their Beijing trip to Xi'an or Shanghai.CheckHow to Plan a Beijing and Xi’an Trip (Itinerary, Cost, Transportation)
- 6-Day Beijing and Xian Tour
- 6-Day Beijing and Shanghai Tour
- 8-Day China Golden Triangle Tour - Ideal for First-Timers
Our travel experts are happy totailor-makea Beijing tour according to your special interests and requirements.
Beijing Trip Costs
The reference price of a private Beijing tour for a group of 2-4 people is aboutUSD150 per day per person.(This doesn't include the cost of transportation to and from Beijing).
A Beijing trip cost will vary according to your accommodation choice, type of transportation, dinning, and other expenses.
Beijing lies on the top price band in Chinese Mainland, but is still below the Western city prices found in China's most expensive cities of Hong Kong and Macau.
Reference Prices for a Trip to Beijing
- International flightsto Beijing: 800 to 1,300 USD for an economy round trip flight from the USA (or Europe).
- Domestic travelto Beijing: 500 to 1,500 yuan (80–230 USD) for an economy one-way trip by plane; 400–1,000 yuan (60-150 USD) for a second-class one-way trip by high-speed train
- Cost ofaccommodationin Beijing: 3-star/economy (40–80 USD/per night); 4-star/boutique (80–200 USD/per night); 5-star/luxury (100–500 USD/per night)
- Cost of diningin Beijing: 1.50–5 USD for a snack like pancake; 5–15 USD per meal per person for a good restaurant; 30–60 USD for more expensive. See thetop restaurants in Beijingwith their prices and specialties for reference.
- Cost of transportation:在北京地铁票价3 - 8 yuan (0.50–1.20 USD), public buses are 1–5 yuan (0.10–0.70 USD), and taxis charge 13 yuan (2 USD) within three kilometers, and thereafter cost 2.3 yuan (0.3 USD) per kilometer.
- Cost of Beijing attraction tickets: tickets for most attractions in Beijing range from 30 to 100 yuan (5–15 USD). There are a few free attractions in Beijing such asHouhai,Tian'anmen Square, Tianning Temple, and the798 Art Zone。
The Best Time to Visit Beijing
Beijing is approximately at the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. (but drier in winter and wetter in summer) and Madrid in Spain (though colder in winter).
Although you could travel Beijing throughout the year, autumn (September and October) is the most recommended season to visit, as the weather is usually quite temperate, and there are relatively few tourists。
The high season is from April to October。Pros: warm weather and long days; cons: crowds, heat, and high costs.
The low season is from November to March。优点:更少的人群和更低的价格;缺点:冷我们ather and short days.
We recommend that you book at least 6 months in advance if you plan to visit during these Chinese holidays:
- China's summer holiday season (July and August)
- Labor Day (May 1–3)
- National Day (October 1–7)
- Spring Festival (late January or early to mid February)
Read more aboutBeijing's weather。
Takeour private Beijing tourto enjoy a more comfortable trip. Your guide will help you skip the lines at the famous Forbidden City, lead you to explore a less crowded part of the Great Wall, and keep you refreshed with ice water and air-conditioned private transport.
Where to Stay in Beijing
Beijing is a huge city with a vast range of accommodation options suiting every budget, including hotels, hostels, traditional hutong courtyards, guesthouses, and boutiques.
There are several areas you can consider when choosing your hotel:
- Qianmen Street area: best for first-timers and sightseeing travelers; near the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven
- Wangfujing Street area: best for first-timers and shopaholics; near the Forbidden City
- Hutong area: best for families with children and culture lovers; near Lama Temple and Drum Tower
- Sanlitun area: best for young people and night owls
If you want to experience old Beijing life, you can opt to stay ina traditional hutong courtyard。
Famous Food You Should Try in Beijing
Beijing snack – ice-sugar gourd
Beijing has food from all over China as well as from many parts of the world. There are thousands of restaurants, including Chinese restaurants, Western restaurants, vegetarian restaurants, Muslim restaurants, and Asian restaurants.
There are quite a few dishes which are unique to Beijing, and one of the most famous specialties is roast duck。The famous roast duck chains of restaurants are Quanjude (全聚德) and Dadong (大董).
Your local guide can give you recommendations according to your tastes and requirements. He/she can help you to order dishes, giving you a hassle-free dining experience.
How to Travel around Beijing
It is very convenient to travel around Beijing. You can choose subway, buses, or taxi according to your preference.
Beijing is China's No. 1 gateway city and it has two airports: Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. Both airports have domestic flights to Beijing.Beijing Capital International Airport is closer to downtown area。
Public Transportation
Although buses in Beijing are abundant, the subway has more and clearer English signage and is faster。
北京的地铁线路大多数attrac可以带你去tions within Beijing city, like the Forbidden City and Lama Temple. It is also an economical way to get around Beijing.
The Great Wall is located far from the downtown area. But you can still use public transport to get there, although it takes a long time. Learn more onHow to Get to the Great Wall (Options & Costs)。
Taxi
Taxis are also a useful option though they cost a bit more. It's hard to get a taxi during rush hours (7–9am and 5–9pm).
Private Transportation
Booking a private tour with your own driver and English-speaking guide is what we recommend, as it is the most hassle-free option to avoid traffic congestion and help you maximize your time.
Tips for a Beijing Trip
1. visa requirments: usually, foreigners need toapply for a visabefore traveling to China. If you met the relevant qualifying criteria of the144-hour visa-free transit policy, you could stay in Beijing for 144 hours without a visa.
2. Read some movies or books about China and Beijing. See10 Movies to Watch Before Going to China。
3.Get your mobile phone plans in order。Make sure your SIM card is compatible on a Chinese network if you plan to use it. Read some information aboutInternet access in China。
4.Learn a few words of Chinese, such as "please", "hello", "thank you", and "excuse me". Strangers are more likely to show kindness when you make an attempt to speak in their local language.
If the above information is not enough for you to plan your Beijing tour, feel free tocontact us。Our specialists will help you to maximize your travel experience by suggesting the optimal trip for the time you have available and the things you love to do.
Here are some popular Beijing itineraries for inspiration. They're able to betailor-madedown to the finest detail according to your tastes and interests.
- 4-Day Beijing Highlights and Great Wall Night Tour
- 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing without missing the must-sees
- The Golden Triangle— This 8-day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai itinerary, or variations of it, has been our most popular first-time China trip over the last 20 years.
- Check all ourBeijing Toursfor inspirations.
