Travel tips · Beijing · China
Beijing travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Beijing's identity is shaped by centuries as the imperial and modern capital: formal monuments, wide avenues and official buildings sit beside hutong neighbourhoods where residents chat on stools, play chess and walk birds in cages. The Beijing dialect, with its rolled 'er' endings, is a source of local pride.
Key facts
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese
- Currency
- CNY
- 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
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
Things to know
- Carry your passport at all times; it is needed for museum and palace bookings, train tickets and security checks.
- Queue patiently at security checks on the subway and at major sights, where bags go through scanners.
- Ask before photographing residents in hutongs and keep noise down in residential lanes, especially early and late.
- Do not point chopsticks at people or stand them upright in rice.
- Avoid political discussions with strangers and follow instructions from security staff at Tiananmen Square and official sites.
- Book Forbidden City (Palace Museum) ahead: Tickets are sold online only, with a daily cap and passport registration, and sell out days ahead in peak season.
- Book Great Wall at Mutianyu ahead: Tickets for the wall and cable car can be booked online; a private driver or organised tour is the easiest way to get there.
- Book Tiananmen Square ahead: Entry is free but usually requires an advance reservation with your passport number, especially at weekends and holidays.
- Palace and park tickets are inexpensive, and the National Museum is free with a reservation.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in restaurants or taxis. Hotels and upmarket restaurants may add a 10–15% service charge; tipping private guides and drivers on day tours is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| Xièxie | Thank you |
| Duōshǎo qián? | How much is it? |
| Jiézhàng | The bill, please |
| Wǒ bù chī ròu | I don't eat meat |
What to wear
Dress in layers: winters are bitterly cold and dry, summers hot. Comfortable shoes matter, as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall involve long walks and steps.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or boiled water, which hotels provide.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
- Phone and internet
- Many international apps and websites are blocked in mainland China; most visitors use an international roaming plan or eSIM. Free public Wi-Fi often needs a Chinese phone number.
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check China's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Beijing?
Tipping is not customary in restaurants or taxis. Hotels and upmarket restaurants may add a 10–15% service charge; tipping private guides and drivers on day tours is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Beijing?
Do not drink tap water; use bottled or boiled water, which hotels provide.
+What plugs are used in Beijing?
Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Beijing?
Mandarin Chinese.