Beijing

Beijing is the political, cultural, and historical heart of China. As the country's capital for over 700 years, it is home to the world's largest imperial palace, the most intact stretch of the Great Wall, and some of the most significant temples and hutong neighbourhoods in East Asia. For first-time visitors to China, Beijing is almost always the right place to start — it is well-connected internationally, English signage is widespread in tourist areas, and the sheer concentration of world-class sights means you can fill five to seven days without ever feeling you've exhausted the city.

The city divides naturally into layers. At its centre is the Forbidden City, the 600-year-old imperial palace that anchors Tiananmen Square to the south and Jingshan Park to the north. Radiating outward are the historic hutong lanes of Dongcheng and Xicheng, where courtyard houses, independent cafés, and neighbourhood temples survive between modern construction. Further out, the Olympic Park to the north and the 798 Art District to the northeast represent contemporary Beijing — ambitious, internationally minded, and rapidly evolving.

What surprises most visitors is Beijing's scale. This is a city of 22 million people spread across an area larger than Belgium. But its major attractions are concentrated enough that a well-planned visit feels manageable. The metro system is excellent, Didi (China's Uber) is reliable, and most major hotels are clustered near the sights. The learning curve for first-time visitors to China is real — WeChat Pay, the language barrier, and the scale of everything takes adjustment — but Beijing rewards the effort more than almost any other city on earth.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) both serve the city. Capital Airport (PEK) is closer to central Beijing (30–45 minutes by express train or taxi) and handles the majority of international flights. Daxing (PKX) is newer and further south, connected by metro Line Daxing Airport Express (45–60 minutes to central Beijing).

From the airport to the city, the Airport Express train from Terminal 2 or 3 at PEK costs ¥25 and takes around 25 minutes to Sanyuanqiao station, where you can connect to metro Line 10. Taxis from PEK to central Beijing run ¥80–120 depending on traffic. Didi is available from both airports.

By high-speed train, Beijing is well connected to Shanghai (4.5 hours on the G-train), Xi'an (4.5 hours), Chengdu (8–9 hours), and most major Chinese cities. Beijing has two main stations: Beijing Station (older, central) and Beijing West Station (for trains to Xi'an, Chengdu, and southern China). Beijing South Station handles the high-speed trains to Shanghai and Tianjin.

For first-time visitors, staying within the Second Ring Road — particularly in Dongcheng or Xicheng districts — puts you walking distance from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the main hutong areas. The Wangfujing area is a reliable choice: well-connected by metro, surrounded by restaurants and shops, and close to major sights.

Budget travellers will find good hostels in the Nanluoguxiang hutong area — atmospheric, central, and social. Mid-range hotels cluster around Wangfujing and Qianmen. For a luxury stay, the Rosewood Beijing, Aman at Summer Palace, and The Peninsula Beijing are among China's finest hotels.

Get WeChat Pay or Alipay set up before you arrive — cash acceptance is increasingly rare in Beijing, and international cards are not accepted at most local restaurants, shops, or transit systems. See our WeChat Pay guide for step-by-step setup instructions for foreign visitors.

A VPN is essential for accessing Google Maps, Instagram, WhatsApp, and most Western websites. Download and activate it before you land — VPN apps cannot be downloaded from within China. We recommend ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

Tap water in Beijing is not safe to drink. Bottled water is inexpensive and available everywhere. Most hotels provide filtered water.

Air quality varies seasonally. Winter months (November–February) can bring heavy smog days. Check the AQI (Air Quality Index) daily — apps like AirVisual work well. On high-pollution days, an N95 mask is advisable.

The Great Wall is best visited on weekdays — Mutianyu is the most visitor-friendly section and has a cable car. Badaling is the most famous but also the most crowded. Book tickets in advance online.