Travel guide · China
Beijing travel guide
Imperial palaces, hutong lanes and the Great Wall within a day's reach
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Beijing has been China's capital for most of the last 800 years, and its imperial core still lines up along a north–south axis from the Temple of Heaven through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to the Drum and Bell Towers. Around it, grey-brick hutong lanes, lakes such as Houhai and big parks fill the old city, while the Summer Palace sits to the northwest and the Great Wall at Mutianyu is about 70 km away. Four or five days covers the essentials, getting around by subway and taxi. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- China
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- PEK, PKX
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$230 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Forbidden City, Great Wall, Peking duck and Hutongs
Why visit Beijing
- Seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, are in or within reach of the city.
- Restored sections of the Great Wall such as Mutianyu and Badaling are day trips from the centre, with wilder stretches like Jinshanling further out.
- Hutong neighbourhoods around Shichahai, Gulou and the Lama Temple show courtyard-house life a short walk from the palaces.
- Peking duck, hand-made dumplings, zhajiangmian noodles and copper-pot lamb hotpot are the city's defining meals.
- Morning parks such as the Temple of Heaven fill with locals doing tai chi, singing and dancing, free to watch.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Palace · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
Completed in 1420, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing emperors covers about 72 hectares of halls, courtyards and gates.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Huairou District
Great Wall at Mutianyu
About 70 km northeast of the centre, Mutianyu is a restored Ming section of wall with more than 20 watchtowers along a forested ridge.
- Time needed
- Full day including travel
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- History
Religious site · Qianmen and Dashilar
Temple of Heaven
Emperors came here to pray for good harvests at the triple-roofed, round Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, built without nails.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Palace · Haidian
Summer Palace
The Qing court's summer retreat spreads around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, with the 728-metre painted Long Corridor, the Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Marble Boat.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Views
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Landmark · Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Tiananmen Square
One of the world's largest public squares, bordered by Tiananmen gate with its portrait of Mao Zedong, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
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Religious site · Yonghegong and Wudaoying
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple was a prince's residence before becoming a lamasery in the 18th century.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Where to stay
Wangfujing and Dongcheng is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and luxury
Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and culture
Qianmen and Dashilar
Old shopping lanes and hutongs just south of Tiananmen Square
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife and culture
Shichahai and Houhai
Three linked lakes, willow-lined banks and lakeside bars
$$ · Best for solo travellers, budget, nightlife and food lovers
Gulou and Nanluoguxiang
Hutong lanes, cafés and small bars below the Drum Tower
What to eat
- Peking duck — Roast duck with lacquered, crackling skin, carved at the table and wrapped in thin pancakes with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce.
- Noodles with soybean paste — Thick hand-pulled noodles topped with a salty fried sauce of fermented soybean paste and minced pork, served with shredded cucumber, radish and bean sprouts to mix in.
- Dumplings — Boiled dumplings filled with pork and cabbage, lamb and carrot, or egg and chives are northern China's staple, ordered by weight and eaten with vinegar and garlic.
- Jianbing — A thin crêpe of mung bean and wheat batter cooked with egg, scallions and coriander, spread with sauces and folded around a crisp fried cracker.
- Copper-pot lamb hotpot — Paper-thin slices of lamb dipped briefly in plain broth in a charcoal-heated copper pot, then into a sesame sauce.
- Lamb skewers — Chunks of lamb grilled over charcoal and dusted with cumin and chilli, the standard late-night snack with a cold Yanjing beer.
When to go
The best times to visit Beijing are September to October and April to May, when skies are clearest and temperatures comfortable for the Great Wall and long palace walks. Avoid 1–7 October and 1–5 May if possible, when national holidays bring huge crowds. Summer is hot and stormy, while winter is very cold but dry, quiet and lower-priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom and warming days, with dry winds and occasional dust in March and April; May is warm and sunny. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with most of the year's rain in thunderstorms; lotus ponds bloom and family crowds peak. |
| Autumn | September–November | Beijing's best season: clear, crisp and colourful, especially in the Fragrant Hills, apart from the Golden Week crush. |
| Winter | December–February | Freezing but sunny and dry, with frozen lakes for skating, quiet palaces and Lunar New Year temple fairs. |
Getting there and around
Beijing Capital International Airport is about 25 km northeast of the centre; the Airport Express train reaches Dongzhimen in about 20–30 minutes. Beijing Daxing International Airport, about 45 km south, is linked by the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao in about 20 minutes, connecting with the subway. Taxis take 40–70 minutes depending on traffic.
Beijing is huge, but its subway, with more than 25 lines and English signage, reaches all main sights except the Great Wall. Taxis and DiDi ride-hailing fill the gaps; walking works within the old city, though distances between sights are larger than they look on the map.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and a Great Wall trip. Five days adds the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, hutong walks and a night at the Peking opera; a week leaves time for the Ming Tombs or a high-speed train to Tianjin or Chengde.
Practical information
- Currency
- CNY
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese
- Plugs
- Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or boiled water, which hotels provide.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in restaurants or taxis.
Beijing is generally safe for visitors, but tea-ceremony and art-student scams target tourists around Wangfujing and Tiananmen, and unlicensed taxis tout at stations. Expect identity and bag checks at major sites, and carry your passport.
Flights to Beijing
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Beijing?
Three days covers the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and a Great Wall trip. Five days adds the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, hutong walks and a night at the Peking opera; a week leaves time for the Ming Tombs or a high-speed train to Tianjin or Chengde. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Beijing?
The best times to visit Beijing are September to October and April to May, when skies are clearest and temperatures comfortable for the Great Wall and long palace walks. Avoid 1–7 October and 1–5 May if possible, when national holidays bring huge crowds. Summer is hot and stormy, while winter is very cold but dry, quiet and lower-priced.
+What is Beijing known for?
Forbidden City, Great Wall, Peking duck, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square. Seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, are in or within reach of the city.
+Is Beijing expensive?
Beijing is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$230 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Beijing?
No. Foreign licences are not valid for driving in mainland China and traffic is heavy; use the subway, taxis and hire a car with driver for Great Wall trips.