CN
Beijing
China’s capital, home to the Forbidden City, imperial temples and the Great Wall
China’s capital, home to the Forbidden City, imperial temples and the Great Wall
The vast imperial palace, completed in 1420, home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors and now the Palace Museum. Tickets must be booked online in advance with your passport, and it is usually closed on Mondays.
Book as early as possible; tickets sell out, especially in summer and holidays.
Photo: Uwe Aranas (CEphoto), CC BY-SA 3.0
A restored section of the Great Wall about 1.5 hours from central Beijing, quieter than Badaling, with watchtowers along a forested ridge. A cable car or chairlift goes up, and a toboggan comes down.
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
Where emperors prayed for good harvests, with the round, triple-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The surrounding park is busy in the mornings with locals doing tai chi, dancing and playing cards.
Photo: Lloyd Tudor, CC BY-SA 4.0
A huge imperial garden in the north-west of the city, with Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, pavilions and the painted Long Corridor.
Photo: Uwe Aranas (CEphoto), CC BY-SA 3.0
Narrow lanes of traditional courtyard houses, best explored on foot or by bike around the Drum and Bell Towers, Houhai lake and Nanluoguxiang.
Photo: Gary Todd, CC0
Beijing’s signature dish is Peking roast duck, served with pancakes, spring onion and sweet bean sauce. Also try zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), dumplings and hotpot.
Night markets and food streets serve snacks; restaurants from every Chinese region are found across the city.
Beijing has two international airports, Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX), both linked to the city by express trains. The metro is extensive and cheap, and high-speed trains connect Beijing with Shanghai, Xi’an and other cities.
Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and many others can currently visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days; this policy runs until 31 December 2026 unless extended. US citizens need a visa, though they and travellers from 55 countries can use the 240-hour visa-free transit if flying on to a third country through designated ports. Check current rules before you travel.
Beijing is moderately priced; entry tickets for major sights are inexpensive. China uses the yuan (CNY, RMB). Mobile payment dominates: Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign bank cards, but carry some cash as a backup.
Imperial sights and the Wall.
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, then climb Jingshan Park for the view over the palace.
Take a day trip to Mutianyu.
See the Temple of Heaven in the morning, then the Lama Temple and the hutongs around Houhai.
Spend the morning at the Summer Palace, then visit the 798 Art District.
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card before you travel; many places do not take foreign cards directly.
Book the Forbidden City and other major sights online in advance with your passport number.
Carry your passport; it is checked at Tiananmen, major sights and train stations.
Avoid Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week (1–7 October), when sights and transport are extremely busy.
Quick answers for planning time in Beijing.
Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and others can currently visit visa-free for up to 30 days (until 31 December 2026). US citizens need a visa unless using the 240-hour visa-free transit.
Yes, tickets must be booked online in advance with your passport, and they often sell out.
Mutianyu is restored, scenic and less crowded than Badaling, about 1.5 hours away.
April to May and September to October; summers are hot and winters very cold.
Not without a roaming SIM, international eSIM or VPN; many Western apps are blocked in mainland China.
Google Maps works poorly in mainland China; Apple Maps or the Chinese app Amap (Gaode) are more accurate.
Free
Mandarin is the main language, and English is limited outside big hotels; a translation app with camera and offline mode is very helpful.
Free
WhatsApp, Google and many Western apps are blocked in mainland China without a roaming SIM or eSIM; most people use WeChat for messages and payments.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our China travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.