Beijing 北京
Imperial palaces, the Great Wall and hutong life
Good forHistory, Culture, Food, Easy first trip
Suggested stay3–5 days
Best timeApril–May and September–October
China's capital and its political centre for most of the last 800 years. People come for the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven, plus the old hutong lanes. It is large and spread out, so plan sights by district.
Highlights
- Forbidden City — book online ahead with your passport; closed most Mondays
- Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling — buy a timed ticket online with your passport
- Temple of Heaven and its park, busiest with locals in the early morning
- National Museum of China — free, but reserve ahead with your passport
- Summer Palace — lakeside imperial gardens in the northwest
- Hutong areas around Shichahai and the Drum and Bell Towers
Food to try
- Peking roast duck
- Zhajiangmian (noodles with fermented bean sauce)
- Jiaozi (dumplings)
- Lamb hotpot
Getting there
Two airports: Beijing Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX). Fastest high-speed trains take about 4.5 hours to Shanghai or Xi'an.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: April–May and September–October. Avoid or plan for: Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year crowds; hot, humid July–August; cold, dry winters.
Good to know
- Forbidden City tickets are real-name and released 7 days ahead; they often sell out, and the passport you booked with is checked at the gate.
- Most Great Wall sections are 1.5–2 hours from the centre; allow a full day.
- Tiananmen Square is free but needs an advance reservation with your passport (WeChat mini-program '天安门广场预约参观'); a same-day booking for the Forbidden City or National Museum also gets you in.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Beijing is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).