Beijing

Ancient history meets modern dynamism

Beijing is China’s political and cultural center, home to nearly twenty million people. The city holds landmarks like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, where history meets modern life on busy streets. Visitors can explore ancient temples alongside bustling markets selling food and souvenirs. Public transport connects neighborhoods with parks, museums and high-rise buildings. Beijing’s air quality varies by season, so planning ahead helps with outdoor activities. The city balances tradition and progress in daily routines, from morning tai chi to evening subway commutes.

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City in China

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.6

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	2

Read details

3/5

While Mandarin is the official language, English is commonly spoken in hotels, major tourist attractions, and by younger residents. However, learning basic Mandarin phrases can enhance your experience.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Beijing Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

Outstanding for imperial history and culture. Walk the Great Wall, explore the Forbidden City, visit temples and enjoy famous local cuisine.

Place score

8.9

Best at:

Large cities

Historic sites

Local cuisine

Tea

Museums

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🕌 8

Halal

👩 6

Solo

China – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type I Type A: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) £1 ≈ CN¥8.88
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in China, particularly in urban areas. Mobile payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in China and is not expected, although it may be appreciated in high-end restaurants or by hotel staff for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in many places in China, but it is common in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and public transport, but enforcement can vary.

Chinese New Year (January/February)	Major holiday with family gatherings and public celebrations
National Day (1 October)	National holiday with parades and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	DiDi, Uber
Other:	China is known for its vast cultural heritage, including historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. It offers diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Beijing, China

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

🔥

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	April - May, Sep. - Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, June - Aug., Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Chinese New Year, late January to mid-February: many shops and restaurants close, attractions busy with domestic visitors

National Day Golden Week (1 to 7 October) and May Day holiday are extremely crowded, book well ahead

Forbidden City closed Mondays, tickets sell out days ahead and must be booked online

Don't miss

🏯 Walk across Tiananmen Square and visit the Forbidden City
🧱 Climb the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
🌸 Explore the Summer Palace’s gardens and lakeside pavilions
🥟 Wander through the traditional hutongs and try local snacks
💠 Marvel at the Temple of Heaven’s stunning architecture
🎭 Watch an evening Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre

You've been here?

Why travel to Beijing?

Beijing is a treasure trove of cultural and historical landmarks, offering travelers a chance to explore sites like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. Beyond its rich past, the city boasts a vibrant culinary scene, bustling markets and a dynamic arts community. However, visitors should be aware of occasional air quality issues and plan accordingly.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Great Wall of China
This ancient wonder stretches across mountains, featuring iconic watchtowers and sweeping ramparts. Visitors explore historic fortifications, scenic vistas and cultural heritage sites that have stood for centuries along China's northern frontier.
2 Forbidden City
The Forbidden City spans nearly 180 acres of imperial palaces and gardens, once home to Chinese emperors for centuries. Its marble halls, intricate carvings and vast courtyards showcase Ming and Qing dynasty grandeur.
3 Summer Palace
This sprawling imperial garden features ornate halls, tranquil lakes and winding paths that once hosted emperors. Summer visitors enjoy lush greenery, peonies in bloom and shaded courtyards perfect for peaceful reflection away from the city's bustle.
4 National Museum of China
The National Museum of China stands as a monumental landmark in Beijing, housing extensive collections that chronicle Chinese history and culture within its grand architectural setting.
5 Beihai Park
This historic imperial garden features serene lakes, ancient pavilions and lush forests. Visitors stroll through centuries-old architecture while enjoying peaceful views of the surrounding hills and tranquil waters within this vast complex.
6 Jingshan Park
7 Tian'anmen Square
8 Temple of Heaven
9 798 Art District
10 Yonghegong Lama Temple
11 Ming Tombs

🎡Places for activities

1 National Centre for the Performing Arts
2 Wangfujing Snack Street
3 Mubus meeting point (Mutianyu Great Wall bus)
4 Beijing Olympic Park
5 Houhai Lake
6 Beijing Zoo
7 Beijing Chaoyang Theater

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Yuyuantan Park
2 Beijing Botanical Garden
3 Gushanzhai Gorge Scenic Area
4 Miyun Reservoir
5 Jinhai Lake

🛍️Shopping

1 Xidan Joy City
2 Silk Street Market
3 Wangfujing Street
4 Qianmen Street
5 The Place

🎈Events

Chinese New Year Celebrations
Beijing International Film Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
National Day Celebrations
Beijing Marathon
Beijing International Music Festival
Temple Fair during Spring Festival
Beijing Design Week
Dragon Boat Festival
Beijing Fringe Festival

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Knowledge before you go

Pre-download essential apps and a VPN; many Western services are blocked.
Book Forbidden City and Great Wall tickets in advance, choosing less-crowded wall sections like Mutianyu or Jinshanling when possible.
Expect heavy walking through vast palace complexes; wear comfortable shoes, carry water and check seasonal air-quality forecasts before long outdoor days.
Stay near a central subway line around Wangfujing or Dongcheng to reach hutongs, major sights and evening food streets with minimal taxi dependence.

How to travel to Beijing

Beijing is accessible via the Beijing Capital International Airport and the newer Beijing Daxing International Airport, both serving numerous international and domestic flights. The city is also well-connected by China's high-speed rail network, with Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station being major hubs.

Access summary

From Capital Airport (PEK): Airport Express metro to Dongzhimen, about 20 minutes.
From Shanghai: High-speed G-trains to Beijing South, usually around 4.5–6 hours.
From Tianjin: Frequent high-speed trains to Beijing, typically about 30–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Beijing

Beijing offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to budget hostels. The city center, especially areas like Dongcheng and Xicheng districts, provides easy access to major attractions and is recommended for first-time visitors.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Beijing XinQiao Hotel

8.3

Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Beijing Wangfujing

8.9

Grand Millennium Beijing

8.6

Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing

8.5

Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing

8.8

New World Beijing Hotel

9.1

Regent Beijing By IHG

8.9

GUO JI YI YUAN HOTEL

8.4

Empark Prime Hotel Beijing (Wangfujing)

9.2

Peace Beijing Hotel

8.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Beijing

Navigating Beijing is convenient with its extensive public transportation system. The subway is efficient and affordable, covering most major attractions. Buses are plentiful but can be crowded and affected by traffic. Taxis are available but may face language barriers; having your destination written in Chinese can be helpful. Bicycling is also popular, with dedicated lanes and bike-sharing programs widely available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-69 %

Daily expenses in Beijing are around 69% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CNY) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£30	£63	£146
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£75
🍝 Food per day	£12	£23	£64
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£7

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£10
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.30
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.40
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.43
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£4.20
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£27
🤧 Cold medication	£3.60
💇 Basic haircut	£6

Safety information overview

General safety

Beijing is generally safe for tourists, with low crime rates. However, be cautious of petty theft in crowded areas and always use registered taxis or ride-sharing services.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Beijing are of high quality, especially in international hospitals. It's advisable to have travel insurance and carry any necessary medications.

Accessibility

Major tourist sites and public transportation in Beijing are increasingly accommodating to those with mobility challenges, though some historic sites may present difficulties due to stairs and uneven surfaces.

Tap water

Tap water in Beijing is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is widely available and many hotels provide complimentary bottled water for guests.