Beijing, China
"Imperial palaces, Great Wall sunrises and hutong alley life"
Beijing at a glance
- Best time to go
- April to May and September to October are usually the most comfortable: mild weather and clear skies for the Great Wall and open-air sights. Summer is hot and rainy, with school holidays adding crowds, and winter is cold but quieter. If you can, avoid the National Day 'Golden Week' around 1 October, when attractions and transport are at their busiest.
- How long to stay
- We'd suggest three to four days: the Forbidden City area, a Great Wall day, and a couple of neighbourhood and food days. Add a day if you want a second Great Wall section or a long museum day.
- Who it's for
- First-time China travellers, history lovers and walkers who like big sights with quieter hutong streets in between.
- Might not be for you if
- You like to decide on the day. The Forbidden City needs a passport-linked booking in advance and is closed on Mondays (except during some holidays), and many places expect mobile payment.
- Worth knowing right now
- China's visa-free and transit policies have end dates and have been extended in stages, so it's worth checking the current status for your passport before you book.
Beijing is the imperial heart of China — the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace on one side, the Great Wall snaking through mountains just outside town on the other. Between the monuments, hutong alleys reveal a quieter, slower city.
Best Time to Visit
April to May or September to October
Apr – May
Blossoms in the Summer Palace, warm days, occasional dust storms. Prime Great Wall weather.
Sep – Oct
Clear blue skies, cool evenings, red leaves at Fragrant Hills. The best season, hands down.
Jun – Aug
Hot (35°C+) and humid with summer rains; carry an umbrella and hit the parks at dawn.
Nov – Mar
Cold and dry (–10°C in Jan). Great Wall dusted with snow is spectacular but bring serious layers.
Getting Around
Beijing's subway is huge (27 lines and counting), cheap and easy — the fastest way through this vast city.
🚇 Subway
27+ lines covering the city and airports (Line 2 loops the old city walls). Fares from ¥3, English signage throughout.
🚄 High-Speed Rail
Beijing South and West stations link to Shanghai (4h30), Xi'an (4h30) and Hong Kong (9h) on the world's largest HSR network.
🚕 Didi (Ride-hail)
Didi is the local Uber — cheap and everywhere. English mini-program works via WeChat or Alipay.
🚌 Public Bus
Dense network but sparse English; useful for reaching Great Wall trailheads.
🚲 Meituan / Hellobike
Dockless share bikes on every corner — pay via WeChat/Alipay.
💡 Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before landing — the subway, taxis, buses and even street food are cashless.
Suggested Itineraries
Arrival & Wangfujing
Settle in, evening on Wangfujing pedestrian street and Dashilan hutong.
Forbidden City & Jingshan
Full morning in the Forbidden City, sunset from Jingshan Park.
Great Wall — Mutianyu
Full-day trip, cable car up, hike, toboggan down, Peking duck dinner.
Temple of Heaven & Hutongs
Temple of Heaven morning, hutong bike tour, tea at a courtyard house.
Summer Palace
Half day at Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, boat ride, dinner in Wudaokou (student district).
798 Art District & modern Beijing
798 galleries, Sanlitun for shopping and cocktails, view from CCTV Tower.
Lama Temple & departure
Yonghegong Lama Temple, farewell jianbing breakfast, transfer to airport.
✨ Feeling dizzy already? Breathe. This is a menu, not a to-do list — skip a stop, nap by a fountain, leave a couple of sparks for next time.
Highlights
Must See
- Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling)
- Forbidden City
- Temple of Heaven
- Summer Palace
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
Skip Badaling — Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections of the Wall are just as spectacular and far less crowded.
Beijing travel questions, answered
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
April to May and September to October are the most commonly recommended months, with comfortable temperatures and clear skies for hiking the Great Wall. Autumn is often called the best season, with red and gold foliage around Fragrant Hill from mid-October. Summer is hot, with most of the year's rain in July and August, and winter is cold. Chinese holiday periods, especially National Day Golden Week in early October, bring the biggest crowds.
Do you need a visa to visit Beijing?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and other short stays, and travellers from around 55 countries can use a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. These are policies with end dates that have been extended before (the current 30-day scheme was extended to the end of 2026), so check the Chinese government's announcement or your nearest Chinese embassy for your passport.
How do you book tickets for the Forbidden City?
Tickets are sold online only, linked to your passport, and are usually released around seven days ahead in the evening Beijing time. Popular dates sell out quickly. Book through the official Palace Museum ticket site, bring the same passport you booked with, and remember that the palace is closed on Mondays except during some holidays. Don't count on buying a ticket at the gate, since walk-up availability for foreign visitors isn't guaranteed.
How do you pay in Beijing as a foreign visitor?
Mobile payment is used almost everywhere. Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept some foreign cards, so it's worth setting one up before you arrive, and some booking sites expect it. Guides say foreign cards may not be accepted directly at some sights and shops, so it also helps to carry a backup.
Details last checked 20 September 2026.