Get to know Beijing.

Beijing rewards a little planning: palace courtyards, neighbourhood lanes, lakeside parks and contemporary galleries sit within a very large city. Start with the kind of visit you want, then put nearby places together. Leave room for a slow lunch and an unplanned walk rather than treating every landmark as a box to tick.

Beijing at a glance

Beijing brings together the imperial centre, residential hutongs, modern business districts and mountain scenery beyond the city. Plan the historic centre in walkable clusters, use public transport for longer city journeys, and give the Great Wall or a distant garden its own outing. Start with Beijing facts and essentials for practical preparation, then choose the guides that fit your interests.

Find the right guide

• Beijing facts and essentials: entry requirements, practical preparation and an introduction to the city.
• Sights and neighbourhoods: imperial landmarks, museums, hutongs and trips beyond the centre.
• Food and dining: roast duck, noodles, hotpot, ordering and choosing where to eat.
• Hotels and accommodation: location, room types and the questions to ask before booking.
• Markets and shopping: shopping districts, useful gifts and a sensible approach to markets.
• Transport: airports, railway stations, metro journeys and getting home after an evening out.
• Arts and entertainment: performances, contemporary art and relaxed evenings.

A manageable first visit

For three full days, consider one day around the Forbidden City and Jingshan, one around the Temple of Heaven and the southern old city, and one Great Wall excursion. This is a suggested pace, not a fixed tour. With an extra day, add the Summer Palace or a museum and hutong walk. Our 15 things to do helps you choose rather than attempting everything.

Book the hardest-to-secure visit first. The Palace Museum's official visitor information explains advance booking and its usual Monday closure. Treat Tiananmen Square and nearby museums as separate visits with their own entry arrangements. Carry the identification used for reservations and check each operator's notices for your date.

Choose your base and daily rhythm

Stay near the places you will visit most and check the actual walk to a metro entrance. Wangfujing and Dongsi suit a central sightseeing plan; Shichahai appeals for lanes and lakes; other districts may make more sense for work or university visits. Use our hotel selection guide to compare convenience, quiet and room requirements.

Keep a saved Chinese address for your accommodation and prepare more than one way to pay. The Beijing municipal visitor portal provides current public-service and travel information. For outdoor days, check the local weather and the return journey before leaving.

Explore further

The Fragrant Hills guide introduces a wooded escape in western Beijing. Nearby, the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha offers a quieter temple visit within the China National Botanical Garden. These outings work best with time for the journey and walking inside each attraction.

Beijing Page is associated with Tour Beijing. Its Beijing sightseeing resources offer additional ideas; for organised arrangements, compare the route, inclusions and pace with your own needs before booking.

Further visitor information

Weather and Beijing time

Our daily photo diary shows recently recorded conditions with their observation dates, not a forecast. Check the date before comparing temperatures and pack layers for a full day outdoors.

Find the right city guide

Start with visitor essentials, then choose sights and neighbourhoods, food, accommodation and transport to suit the time you have.

Beijing in photographs

Illustrated guides help you compare places before setting out. Explore the Great Wall or Fragrant Hills, and open the complete daily weather photo diary for more views around the city.

Sights and neighbourhoods

Group nearby landmarks into an unhurried outing. The sightseeing guide connects imperial buildings, hutong streets, gardens and trips beyond the centre; leave a separate day for a distant Great Wall section.

Museums and galleries

Choose one major collection rather than rushing between distant museums. Read the museums and sightseeing guide, check the venue’s own reservation instructions and keep passport details consistent with the booking.

Plan a workable visit

Compare private day trips, shared outings and multi-day plans. Reference rates identify party size and inclusions; confirm a dated proposal for the route you actually want.

Choose your base

Use the accommodation guide to compare neighbourhoods, room arrangements and the walk to a metro entrance. A convenient base saves repeated journeys; check late arrival and luggage arrangements before booking.

Trips and travel stories

Browse trips and stories for route ideas. China Challenge 2009 and Amanda’s walking journey describe a completed historical event, rather than a current tour for sale.

Performances and evenings

Compare Peking opera, acrobatics and teahouse evenings. Book a named production and date, checking the actual theatre, seats, running time and return transport rather than relying on an old venue schedule.

Food and dining

The dining guide and eight local dishes introduce roast duck, noodles, dumplings and more. Agree portions, sharing and dietary needs when ordering; leave time for the meal before an evening performance.

Parks, walking and outdoor time

For an active day, compare Fragrant Hills walks with a Great Wall visit. Match stairs and walking time to the group, use authorised paths and keep the return journey manageable.

What to check before an evening out

Use the culture and evening guide as a starting point, then check the venue’s dated programme. Confirm whether a ticket includes a performance only, dinner or transport; temporary events need their own date check.

Useful reading and local information

Keep practical visitor information and your transport guide available during the trip. Save the hotel’s Chinese address and reservation confirmations so the essentials remain accessible without a reliable connection.

Official visitor information

For current public-service information, consult the Beijing municipal English portal alongside visitor essentials. Use the attraction’s own booking source for admission requirements and reservation dates.

Shopping and useful gifts

The shopping guide compares market areas and established shopping streets. Check material, size, receipts and any transport restrictions before buying gifts; allow space in your luggage and keep fragile purchases protected.

Beyond central Beijing

Compare excursions, the Western Hills and Great Wall sections by geography and travelling time. A distant outing works best as its own day, with an agreed return plan.

Everyday practicalities

Before leaving the hotel, save its Chinese address, carry the identification needed for reservations and plan a return journey. Our essentials and getting-around guide collect practical preparations for a comfortable day.