Beijing Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Forbidden City featuring a square or plaza and heritage architecture
Beijing is the beating heart of China’s political, cultural and historical heritage, surviving invasion and revolution to shine once more on the world stage.

Beijing is a hub of power and influence on the Chinese mainland, whose busy streets are home to 20 million residents. Getting around is easy, with a good subway system and public buses as well as a plentiful supply of city taxis. If you’re feeling brave, rent a bike and head out to explore China’s capital on two wheels.The history of this expansive city can be seen in the extraordinary mix of architecture lining the pavements: spectacular imperial palaces sit next to utilitarian warehouses reminiscent of the early Communist era and daring modern designs symbolising the nation’s leap into the twenty-first century.For a taste of ancient China, retrace the steps of the emperors from Tiananmen Square through the Front Gate (Qianmen Gate) to the immense palace buildings of the Forbidden City. Visit manicured pleasure gardens such as Jingshan Park and the Summer Palace where royalty used to relax in the shade of cypress trees. Further opportunities for refuge from the packed urban centre can be found in the spiritual quiet of Lama Temple and Temple of Heaven, or the peaceful surroundings of the Old Summer Palace and Beihai Park.The city also served as the theatre of much twentieth-century conflict. Marco Polo Bridge to the southwest of central Beijing saw the first gunfire of the Sino-Japanese War. The National Museum of China in the city centre will lead you through the more recent history of the Chinese Communist party, which came to power in the 1950s, while you can come face to face with the dinosaurs that roamed this land at the Natural History Museum. In 2008, Beijing returned to the international stage with a bang as it played host to the world’s greatest sporting event in the ultra-modern Olympic Park.Nowadays the city is gaining a reputation as a cultural centre, with the arts district around 798 Space at the vanguard of modern art and music. As well as galleries, the area has numerous restaurants and cafés serving the local delicacy Peking duck. Shopping lovers should head to Wangfujing Street – a commercial street with great shops and traditional tearooms.

Where to stay in Beijing

Temple of Heaven showing heritage architecture, religious elements and a temple or place of worship

Downtown Beijing

Historical sites, museums and art galleries highlight some notable features of Downtown Beijing. Make a stop by Forbidden City or Peninsula Beijing Shopping Arcade while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Jinyu Hutong Station or Dengshikou Station to get around town.

Downtown Beijing
National Museum of China showing signage

Wangfujing Shopping Area

Historical sites, art galleries and museums highlight some notable features of Wangfujing Shopping Area. Make a stop by Forbidden City or Wangfujing Street while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Dengshikou Station or Dongsi Station to get around town.

Wangfujing Shopping Area
South Chaoyang

Chaoyang

Museums, art galleries and cocktail bars highlight some notable features of Chaoyang. Make a stop by Alien's Street Trade Market or Temple of the Sun while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Dongdaqiao Station or Hujialou Station to get around town.

Chaoyang
Dongcheng - Wangfujing

Dongcheng

4.5/5(124 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Dongcheng. Forbidden City is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Zhangzizhonglu Station or Dongsi Station to see more of Beijing.

Dongcheng
Summer Palace featuring heritage elements and a river or creek

Haidian

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Haidian is well liked for its museums and monuments. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Beijing Botanical Garden and Summer Palace are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Xibeiwang Station or Malianwa Station to get around.

Haidian
Houhai Lake which includes heritage elements and a lake or waterhole

Xicheng

4.5/5(11 area reviews)

Historical sites, museums and theatres highlight some notable features of Xicheng. Make a stop by Forbidden City or Cultural Palace Of The Nationalities while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Lingjing Hutong Station or Xidan Station to get around town.

Xicheng
Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
4 out of 5
No.88 Dengshikou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing
The price is NZ$148 per night from 6 Jun to 7 Jun
NZ$148
per night
6 Jun - 7 Jun
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Forbidden City and Wangfujing ...
7.8/10 Good! (897 reviews)
"Is been a pleasure to stay in these hotel and I recommend to everyone. Good area, close to wangfujing center, very easy to Wal and very safe."

Reviewed on 4 May 2024

Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
5 out of 5
8 Wangfujing East Street, Dongcheng, Beijing, Beijing
The price is NZ$255 per night from 10 Jun to 11 Jun
NZ$255
per night
10 Jun - 11 Jun
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Forbidden City and Wangfujing Street ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (838 reviews)
"The hotel was in a great area, right next to a shopping mall filled with amazing restaurants and on the other side of the mall is wangfujing street. It's also a 20 minute walk to the palace museum, tianamen square, and qianmen street so probably an unbeatable location for the price range. The condition ..."

Reviewed on 30 Apr. 2024

Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
Hilton Beijing
Hilton Beijing
5 out of 5
1 Dong Fang Rd, North Dong Sanhuan Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Beijing
The price is NZ$241 per night from 26 May to 27 May
NZ$241
per night
26 May - 27 May
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Beijing. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Forbidden City and Sanlitun Road are ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (358 reviews)
"Love it thanks"

Reviewed on 2 May 2024

Hilton Beijing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
2.5 out of 5
No. 17 Qianliang Hutong, Beijing, Beijing
Stay at this residence in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, daily housekeeping, and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Forbidden City and Wangfujing ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (16 reviews)
"base-wangfujing was a fantastic "base" for our stay in Beijing. Easy access to the Subway and with lots of restaurants and bars - both traditional and contemporary - within easy walking distance. Easy walking distance to many of the main sties of central Beijing - Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, ..."

Reviewed on 18 Apr. 2024

base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing
Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing
4 out of 5
No. 33, Zhou Zhuang Jiayuan Dongli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Beijing
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly aparthotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a steam room. Popular attractions Temple of Heaven and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (60 reviews)
"Very large room that is decently clean and comes with a kitchen, washer dryer, living area and sofa. Breakfast was decent and relatively inexpensive with ok options. Cleanliness is acceptable but the key concern is the room air conditioning. We went in the spring so we could live with the weak air ..."

Reviewed on 24 Apr. 2024

Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing
Sanlitun Xin Xiang Ya Yuan Apartment
Sanlitun Xin Xiang Ya Yuan Apartment
3.5 out of 5
Room 607, unit 2, Yongli International, No. 21 North Street of Worker's Stadium, Beijing
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
7.6/10 Good! (51 reviews)
"For the price and location, this is the easiest place for foreigners coming to China."

Reviewed on 21 Mar. 2024

Sanlitun Xin Xiang Ya Yuan Apartment
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Beijing

4.2
Top destination
5 - Excellent
46
" "5 - Excellent 42.20183486238532%
4 - Good
46
" "4 - Good 42.20183486238532%
3 - Okay
11
" "3 - Okay 10.091743119266056%
2 - Disappointing
3
" "2 - Disappointing 2.7522935779816513%
1 - Terrible
3
" "1 - Terrible 2.7522935779816513%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
2 Jan 2020

Great big city, I would recommend at least 5 days so that you can do all the sights. Best if you learn some Chinese as not many people speak English well.

5/5 - Excellent

Dan
23 Nov 2019

Amazing

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
16 Nov 2019

Cheap taxis, very smogy. Little English spoken away from the hotel.

4/5 - Good

Frequent
4 Nov 2019

Beijing is changing - fast and for the better

4/5 - Good

Nat
3 Nov 2019

Beijing is a fascinating city. So much to explore. But it is a big city and it takes time to get around. Try and stay close to a subway line as it will be really useful.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
2 Nov 2019

Amazing place with great history, but in the afternoon the air pollution built up and was unpleasant.

Cities near Beijing