Where to stay · Beijing · China
Where to stay in Beijing
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Wangfujing and Dongcheng. Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City. Best alternatives — budget: Qianmen and Dashilar; nightlife: Shichahai and Houhai.
Key facts
- First visit
- Wangfujing and Dongcheng
- Families
- Wangfujing and Dongcheng
- Budget
- Qianmen and Dashilar
- Nightlife
- Shichahai and Houhai
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Wangfujing and Dongcheng | Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City |
| Families | Wangfujing and Dongcheng | Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City |
| Couples | Shichahai and Houhai | Three linked lakes, willow-lined banks and lakeside bars |
| Budget | Qianmen and Dashilar | Old shopping lanes and hutongs just south of Tiananmen Square |
| Luxury | Wangfujing and Dongcheng | Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City |
| Nightlife | Shichahai and Houhai | Three linked lakes, willow-lined banks and lakeside bars |
| Food lovers | Gulou and Nanluoguxiang | Hutong lanes, cafés and small bars below the Drum Tower |
| Solo travellers | Gulou and Nanluoguxiang | Hutong lanes, cafés and small bars below the Drum Tower |
| Shopping | Wangfujing and Dongcheng | Shopping street and hotels a walk east of the Forbidden City |
| Quiet stays | Yonghegong and Wudaoying | Lama Temple, the Confucius Temple and a hutong of cafés |
Beijing neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, shopping and luxury
Wangfujing and Dongcheng
Wangfujing's pedestrian shopping street and the surrounding lanes of Dongcheng put you about 15 minutes' walk from the Forbidden City's east gate and close to the National Art Museum. Metro line 1 runs along Chang'an Avenue to Tiananmen, and international hotel chains are concentrated here.
- Good
- Walking distance to the Forbidden City; Wide choice of hotels; Metro line 1 on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Commercial main street; Tourist-priced food on the snack streets
- Nearby
- Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and culture
Qianmen and Dashilar
South of Zhengyangmen gate, Qianmen Street and the Dashilar lanes hold century-old shops selling tea, silk, cloth shoes and Chinese medicine, plus several famous Peking duck restaurants. Smaller hotels and courtyard guesthouses here are well placed for the square and the Temple of Heaven.
- Good
- Walk to Tiananmen Square; Courtyard guesthouses; Historic shops and duck restaurants
- Watch out
- Qianmen Street is a rebuilt tourist strip; Quiet late at night
- Nearby
- Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Dashilar, Zhengyangmen
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife and culture
Shichahai and Houhai
Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai lakes form Shichahai, edged by hutongs, Prince Gong Mansion and bars that light up at night. In winter the lakes freeze for skating. Courtyard hotels here are atmospheric, and the Drum and Bell Towers and Beihai Park are within a short walk.
- Good
- Lakeside walks and courtyard hotels; Evening bars; Close to the Forbidden City's north side
- Watch out
- Bar touts and loud music around Houhai at night; Few subway stations right at the lakes
- Nearby
- Prince Gong Mansion, Drum Tower, Beihai Park, Yandai Xiejie
$$ · Best for solo travellers, budget, nightlife and food lovers
Gulou and Nanluoguxiang
Nanluoguxiang, an 800-metre hutong of snack shops and boutiques, is flanked by quieter lanes such as Mao'er Hutong and Ju'er Hutong. North towards Gulou Dongdajie, the area mixes residents, live-music bars and cafés, and courtyard guesthouses suit travellers who want hutong life.
- Good
- Authentic hutong atmosphere; Good-value courtyard guesthouses; Cafés and bars within a walk
- Watch out
- Nanluoguxiang itself is crowded; Shared bathrooms in some guesthouses
- Nearby
- Nanluoguxiang, Drum Tower, Shichahai
$$ · Best for culture, quiet stays and couples
Yonghegong and Wudaoying
Around Yonghegong subway station on lines 2 and 5, the Lama Temple and the Temple of Confucius sit a few minutes apart, and Wudaoying Hutong opposite has cafés, vegetarian restaurants and small shops. It is quieter than Gulou and well connected.
- Good
- Two major temples on the doorstep; Calm hutong streets; Subway lines 2 and 5
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; Little nightlife
- Nearby
- Lama Temple, Temple of Confucius, Ditan Park, Wudaoying Hutong
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, shopping, food lovers and luxury
Sanlitun
Sanlitun in Chaoyang is Beijing's most international neighbourhood, built around the Taikoo Li shopping complex and a grid of bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants from every cuisine. Design hotels here suit travellers who want nightlife, but the historic sights are a 20–30 minute taxi ride away.
- Good
- Best nightlife and dining choice; International shops; Design hotels
- Watch out
- Far from the palaces; Expensive
- Nearby
- Taikoo Li Sanlitun, Workers' Stadium, Ritan Park
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families and shopping
Guomao (CBD)
Guomao, around the China World Trade Center and the 528-metre CITIC Tower, has Beijing's largest concentration of five-star hotels and malls. Metro lines 1 and 10 meet here, so the Forbidden City is about 20 minutes away.
- Good
- High-end hotels with city views; Excellent subway links; Large malls and restaurants
- Watch out
- Business-district feel; Busy roads
- Nearby
- China World Mall, Ritan Park, Silk Street
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Wudaokou (Haidian)
Wudaokou in Haidian is a student hub with cheap restaurants, Korean food, bars and hostels, and it is the nearest lively base for the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace. Metro line 13 and line 15 serve the area.
- Good
- Low prices; Young, lively atmosphere; Close to the Summer Palace
- Watch out
- Far from the central sights; Few upmarket hotels
- Nearby
- Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace, Tsinghua University, Peking University
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing and Dongcheng | $$$ | Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street |
| Qianmen and Dashilar | $$ | Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Dashilar, Zhengyangmen |
| Shichahai and Houhai | $$$ | Prince Gong Mansion, Drum Tower, Beihai Park, Yandai Xiejie |
| Gulou and Nanluoguxiang | $$ | Nanluoguxiang, Drum Tower, Shichahai |
| Yonghegong and Wudaoying | $$ | Lama Temple, Temple of Confucius, Ditan Park, Wudaoying Hutong |
| Sanlitun | $$$$ | Taikoo Li Sanlitun, Workers' Stadium, Ritan Park |
| Guomao (CBD) | $$$$ | China World Mall, Ritan Park, Silk Street |
| Wudaokou (Haidian) | $ | Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace, Tsinghua University, Peking University |
Getting to your hotel
Beijing Capital International Airport is about 25 km northeast of the centre; the Airport Express train reaches Dongzhimen in about 20–30 minutes. Beijing Daxing International Airport, about 45 km south, is linked by the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao in about 20 minutes, connecting with the subway. Taxis take 40–70 minutes depending on traffic.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Beijing for first-time visitors?
Wangfujing and Dongcheng. Wangfujing's pedestrian shopping street and the surrounding lanes of Dongcheng put you about 15 minutes' walk from the Forbidden City's east gate and close to the National Art Museum.
+Where should families stay in Beijing?
Wangfujing and Dongcheng: Walking distance to the Forbidden City.
+Which area of Beijing is best for a budget stay?
Qianmen and Dashilar ($$): Old shopping lanes and hutongs just south of Tiananmen Square.