Beijing travel guide
Updated 9 November 2026
China's capital packs six UNESCO World Heritage Sites into one city. Come for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall; stay for the hutong lanes, roast duck and the parks at dawn.
Time needed3–4 days
Best timeApril–May, September–October
Chinese name北京
240-hour transitYes — approved port
Visa-free entry to Beijing
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) — one of the 65 ports for 240-hour visa-free transit. Transit travellers entering here may stay in: Beijing.
- Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) — one of the 65 ports for 240-hour visa-free transit. Transit travellers entering here may stay in: Beijing.
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Top things to do
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum). The vast imperial palace. Tickets are timed and must be booked online in advance with your passport; closed on Mondays except public holidays.
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu. Restored, less crowded than Badaling, with a cable car and toboggan. About 1.5–2 hours from the city — go early.
- Temple of Heaven. Go around 7–8am to see locals doing tai chi, dancing and playing cards in the park.
- Summer Palace. Lakeside imperial garden — rent a boat on Kunming Lake.
- Hutongs around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang. Old courtyard-house lanes; explore by bike or on foot.
- Tiananmen Square. Book entry in advance and bring your passport; security checks apply.
Getting around
The metro is huge, cheap and signed in English — pay with the Alipay Transport code. DiDi is easy for short hops. The Airport Express links Capital Airport (PEK) to the city; Daxing (PKX) has its own express line.
Where to stay
- Dongcheng (Wangfujing, Dongsi) — Central, close to the Forbidden City and hutongs
- Sanlitun / Chaoyang — Modern, restaurants and nightlife
- Qianmen — Good value, near Tiananmen and Beijing South station
Hotels in Beijing that accept foreigners Affiliate link
Day trips
- Great Wall at Mutianyu or Jinshanling
- Tianjin by high-speed train (30 min)
What to eat
- Peking roast duck
- Jianbing (breakfast crepe)
- Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)
- Hot pot (copper-pot lamb)