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 Beijing's famous Tiananmen Square is vast enough to hold one million people, while the historic Forbidden City boasts thousands of imperial rooms. The city continues to grow with the emergence of ever-higher rising towers, new restaurants, and trendy nightclubs. Despite this rapid development, China's capital has managed to retain its unique charm. The small teahouses in the backyards, traditional fabric shops, old temples, and bustling street restaurants make this city one of a kind.

Beijing, China cityscape at the CBD. ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com

The City

Beijing: Nowhere else can you find so many historic sites so close to each other. The famous Forbidden City and nearby Tiananmen Square mark the centre of Beijing.

North lies the popular Qianhai Lake, where locals cool down in the hot summer months. The Chongwen district to the south of the Forbidden City houses the Temple of Heaven, while the Chaoyang district in the east is well-known for its trendy restaurants and bars.

Preparing the Chinese capital for the 2008 Olympic Games saw many old buildings get refurbished and new skyscrapers erected. New restaurants, clubs and bars have also sprouted up and made the city more vibrant. Yet, Beijing is still managing to retain its traditional charm. A stroll alongside the city’s old shopping streets with its many silk, antique and tea shops give visitors a unique insight into Chinese culture. And of course, Beijing is also a culinary capital. From traditional Chinese dumplings to the original Beijing Duck, Beijing’s hundreds of restaurant and food stalls are sure to stimulate your taste buds.

Asian girl on Wangfujing food street during Asia summer vacation Maridav/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

Beijing is heaven for sightseeing fans. The city boasts well-known historic sites as well as many temples that attract thousands of visitors every year. The nearby Great Wall of China is clearly a must-see. Below is a list of some of the city’s major tourist attractions.

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Tian'anmen Square / 天安门广场

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The Forbidden City / 故宫

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The Summer Palace / 颐和园

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Temple of Heaven / 天坛

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Yonghe Temple / 雍和宫

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798 Art Zone

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Liulichang / 琉璃厂

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The Great Wall of China / 长城

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Chaoyang Theatre Acrobatics Show / 朝阳剧场

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Beihai Park / 北海公园

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Happy Valley Beijing / 北京欢乐谷

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National Museum of China / 中国国家博物馆

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Beijing Aquarium / 北京海洋馆

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Shi Cha Hai / 什刹海

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Beijing Capital Museum / 北京首都博物馆

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Yuan Ming Yuan Park / 圆明园

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Nan Luogu Xiang / 南锣鼓巷

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The Olympic Park / 奥林匹克公园

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Dashilan / 大栅栏

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Dining

Chinese cuisine is, without a doubt, one of the most popular across the globe - and it is not surprising that you will find the best Chinese food in China! A visit to Beijing is not complete without having sampled the local speciality, the crispy Beijing Duck, which is served with pancakes, spring onions, and fermented bean paste. However, Beijing also has a lot of fabulous international restaurants - from Brazilian to Japanese cuisine plus American-style fast food.

Below are the best places to eat while in Beijing, China:

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Fangshan Restaurant / 仿膳饭庄

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China Grill / 亮

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Nobu

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Yu Restaurant / 玉餐厅

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Laochuanwu / 老船坞

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Gonin Byakusho Japanese Restaurant / 五人百姓日本料理

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Xi He Ya Ju / 羲和雅居

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Yong He / 永和大王

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Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant / 功德林素菜饭庄

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Black Sesame Kitchen

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TRB Hutong

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The Cut Steakhouse / 刃扒房

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Haidilao Hot Pot / 海底捞

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Huang Ting / 凰庭

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Annie's / 安妮意大利餐厅

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Baoyuan Jiaozi Wu / 宝源饺子屋

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Mosto / 南美牛扒屋

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Cafes

Whether you are looking for a cup of freshly-brewed coffee or exotic Chinese tea, the variety of coffee shops and tea houses in Beijing is almost endless. Many cafes serve fresh bread and cakes as well.

Here are the best cafes and tea houses in Beijing, China:

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The Bookworm / 老书虫

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Cafe Zarah

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Village Café

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Wagas / 沃歌斯

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Fu San / 福叁

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SUZUKI CAFE / 铃木食堂

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1901 café

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Two Cities Coffee Bar / 双城咖啡酒吧

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Beiping Café / 北平咖啡

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Laoshe Tea House /老舍茶馆

beijing after sunset-night scene of CBD zhu difeng/Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

Fancy a bottle of China’s Tsingtao Beer, a cup of Japanese sake rice wine, or a pint of Guinness? Beijing has a large selection of bars catering to locals and international visitors—and it’s growing. Make sure you pay a visit to Sanlitun Street with its many pubs.

Below are some of the best bars and nightclubs in Beijing, China:

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Mix Club / 密克斯酒吧

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Shi Cha Hai / 什刹海

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Nuoyan Wine House / 糯言酒馆

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Panda Brew Pub / 熊猫精酿

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Aurora Club

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Reddog Bar

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Club SIR.TEEN

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Nan Luogu Xiang / 南锣鼓巷

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Two Cities Coffee Bar / 双城咖啡酒吧

Woman tourist walking in chinatown on china travel. Asian girl on Wangfujing food street during Asia summer vacation. Traditional Beijing snacks being sold at chinese chinatown outdoor market. Maridav/Shutterstock.com

Shopping

Beijing has long been a centre of trade. Today, it boasts over 13,000 stores spread across the city, offering anything from original Chinese handicrafts to international designer fashion items. Wangfujing Street is among the most popular shopping miles in town. It is home to new, shiny shopping malls and department stores selling trendy, expensive brand-name goods. Top Beijing souvenirs are Beijing Crisp Candy (Su Tang), Liubiju sauce, Daoxiangcun pastry, Chinese jasmine tea, and Peking roast duck.

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Beijing Oriental Plaza / 东方新天地

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China World Mall / 中国国际贸易中心

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Ten Fu’s Tea / 天福茗茶

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Hongqiao Pearl Market / 红桥珍珠市场

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Qianmen Street / 前门

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Liulichang Street / 琉璃厂

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Wangfujing / 王府井

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Joy City / 大悦城

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Taikoo Li Sanlitun / 太古里

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Yandaixie Street / 烟袋斜街

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Beijing Antique City / 北京古玩城

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Dashilan / 大栅栏

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Tourist Information

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

The Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is located approximately 32 kilometres northeast of Beijing's city centre, this is the busiest airport in Asia and one of the busiest in the world. It has three terminals, with Terminal 3 being the primary terminal for international flights. The airport offers extensive facilities and services, making it a major hub for both domestic and international travel.

The Airport Express Train is the fastest and most convenient option, connecting Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 to Dongzhimen Station in downtown Beijing in about 20 minutes. Taxis offer a more direct route, taking 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. For a budget-friendly choice, the Airport Shuttle Bus provides multiple routes to various parts of the city, taking about an hour.

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Website: en.bcia.com.cn

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Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

The Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), opened in September 2019, is located about 46 kilometres south of Beijing. It is known for its impressive design and state-of-the-art facilities, including the world's largest single-building airport terminal. The airport is expected to handle 100 million passengers annually by 2025, making it one of the busiest airports globally.

The Daxing Airport Express train links the airport to Caoqiao Station on Line 10 of the Beijing Subway in about 20 minutes. Another efficient option is the Beijing–Xiong'an Intercity Railway, which connects the airport to Beijing West Railway Station in approximately 30 minutes. Taxis are also available, taking about an hour to reach the city centre. Alternatively, the Airport Shuttle Bus offers several routes to different parts of the city, taking about 1.5 hours.

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Website: daxing-pkx-airport.com

More Information: Also known as Beijing New Airport.

Best Time To Visit

Most of Beijing's attractions feature timeless architecture and rich cultural heritage, making them enjoyable year-round. However, the outdoor temperatures are most pleasant in spring and autumn, as winter can be too cold and summer too hot for comfort. Additionally, the city’s parks and gardens are particularly beautiful during these seasons, with blossoming flowers in spring and vibrant foliage in autumn.

It's best to avoid Chinese public holidays, especially from October 1st to 7th, when the city is crowded with local tourists.

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Public Transport

The subway is the best way to move around the city and avoid traffic jams in Beijing. Currently, there are 24 lines in operation. Line 1, Line 2 and 4 run through the centre of Beijing and cover most of the attractions. The subway runs from 5am to 11pm daily. Subway stations are marked by navy blue signs with a 'D' (for Ditie or subway) in a circle. Route signs are bilingual.

Bus service is another option to travel around the city. With more than 1,600 routes, the buses take you through both the downtown and suburbs. Buses generally run from 5am to 11:30pm. Applications like 'Beijing Public Transport' (北京公交) or 'Ruubypay' (亿通行) will help you pick the best route. You can pay with cash, coins and notes by putting the exact amount into the fare box on the bus, or pay with a transportation card or applications. For the card, you need to tap both on and off on the bus.

The transportation card in Beijing is called Yikatong, and using it offers travel discounts. You can purchase and top up a Yikatong card at the service centre in the subway stations. At major stations, you can refund the card as long as you have your receipt. You can also top up the card using the machines at stations.

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Website: www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/transportation

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Mobile Payments

In China, mobile payment apps such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay are widely used and accepted almost everywhere, including restaurants, shops, street food stalls and tourist attractions. To use them, you can link your international credit card or set up a local bank account. Both apps provide features in English and are user-friendly, making it easy to handle payments, split bills, and even pay for transportation. Download these apps before your trip and familiarise yourself with their functionality to enhance your travel experience in Beijing.

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Website: english.visitbeijing.com.cn/article/4HWNoka8e95

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Taxi

Taxis are the default mode of transportation for many foreigners in Beijing. Have your destination written down in Chinese and hail a cab. Make sure there is a taximeter and it starts at its initial point. You can also use the popular ride hailing app Didi if you have a Chinese phone number and internet access.

Beijing taxi drivers may speak only a little English. Expect to get your change; tipping is discouraged. Taxi from the airport to the city centre takes approximately 50 minutes, depending on the traffic. Ask for your receipt by saying "Fa-piao / 发票".

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Website: english.visitbeijing.com.cn/article/47OLiWSO3PP

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Internet Access and VPN in China

Because of the internet security laws of China, certain websites and applications are not accessible from the mainland, which includes those very commonly used in the west (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google and Gmail, Skype and more). Some travellers have been able to gain access to those via a VPN service installed prior to arrival in China.

Make sure you comply with local laws and regulations when deciding on whether or not to employ a VPN, and which one to choose. If you do, only use those explicitly allowed by the Chinese government, and only use them for authorised purposes to avoid any trouble. There have been reports of foreigners in China getting their cell service cut off in response to unauthorised use of VPN; restoring cell service required a trip to the local police station, where contents of the device were investigated and certain apps removed.

Given that Google is banned in China, Google Maps might not be the most accurate and reliable source of information. Some local apps such as Baidu Maps tend to work better than Google Maps.

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Post Office

In Beijing, post offices are conveniently located throughout the city, offering a range of services including mail, parcel delivery and various banking functions. Mailboxes, typically green, are also widely available and can be found in residential areas, near businesses, and on main streets, making it easy to send letters and small parcels.

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Pharmacy

Pharmacies are easy to locate but do keep in mind that staff often will not speak English, so it is recommended that you bring along someone who can interpret for you, or have the name of the needed medicine written down in Chinese.

One pharmacy staffed with English speakers is Vista Clinic, located at Kerry Centre Shopping Mall.

Address: Beijing Kerry Centre Mall, 3rd floor, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

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Phone: +86 10 8529 6618

Website: www.vista-china.net/en

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Electricity

In Mainland China, the standard power plugs and sockets are Type A, Type C, and Type I. The voltage is 220V, and the frequency is 50Hz. Type A plugs have two flat parallel pins, Type C plugs have two round pins, and Type I plugs have three flat pins in a triangular pattern. It's advisable to carry a universal adapter if you plan to use devices with different plug types. Make sure your devices are compatible with the 220V voltage to avoid any electrical issues.

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Telephone

Country code: +86
Area code: (0)10

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