Flights from Zurich (ZRH) to Beijing (BJS)

About Beijing

Discover Beijing, where history meets modern life

Beijing is a city where ancient streets and imperial landmarks sit alongside contemporary architecture and lively neighbourhoods. As the capital of China, it offers a rich blend of heritage, design, and everyday city life that you can feel as soon as you arrive.

From broad avenues lined with trees to atmospheric hutong alleyways, each part of Beijing reveals a different story. You can spend your days exploring world-famous sites, and your evenings discovering local markets, parks, and dining spots that show how the city continues to evolve.

Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see more, Beijing rewards unhurried exploration. It is a place to walk, taste, and observe, with new districts and cultural venues appearing alongside long‑standing favourites.

Top sights in Beijing

Great Wall of China

Visit a restored section of the Great Wall near Beijing and take in wide views over rolling hills and stone fortifications.

Forbidden City

Explore the former imperial palace complex, with its courtyards, gates, and meticulously detailed traditional architecture.

Tiananmen Square

Walk across one of the largest city squares in the world, framed by landmark buildings and wide open spaces.

Summer Palace

Stroll through landscaped gardens and lakeside walkways, and admire pavilions and bridges designed for warm‑weather escapes.

798 Art District

Discover contemporary galleries, installations, and cafés set inside converted industrial warehouses.

Experience Beijings culture and city life

You can experience Beijings culture simply by walking its streets. Spend time in the hutongs, where narrow lanes reveal courtyards, small shops, and everyday scenes that show a more intimate side of the city. Join a guided walking or cycling tour to learn how these neighbourhoods have changed over time.

Parks are central to daily life in Beijing. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, they fill with residents practising gentle exercise, dancing, or meeting friends. You can visit popular green spaces to enjoy the atmosphere, rent a boat on the lake in warmer months, or appreciate landscaped views when the weather is cooler.

For a different perspective, explore Beijings modern districts after dark. Glass towers, theatres, and creative hubs light up with colour, and you can watch a performance, attend an exhibition, or simply enjoy the city skyline from a rooftop terrace.

A taste of Beijing

Beijings dining scene ranges from time‑honoured dishes to new culinary ideas. You can try famous roast duck carved at your table, sample hand‑pulled noodles, or taste regional cuisines from across the country in specialist restaurants.

Food streets and night‑time snack areas offer another way to explore local flavours. Small stalls and informal eateries serve skewers, dumplings, pancakes, and seasonal specialities that you can enjoy while walking. In cooler months, warming soups and hotpots are especially popular, and you will find many venues dedicated to these sharing dishes.

If you prefer a quieter setting, there are many contemporary cafés and bakeries in creative districts and business areas. Here you can pair tea or coffee with light bites, or settle into a modern restaurant that blends local ingredients with global influences.

Retail therapy in Beijing

Shopping in Beijing takes you from large, modern malls to characterful markets. In central districts, you will find international brands, department stores, and lifestyle boutiques offering fashion, beauty, and homeware under one roof.

Smaller streets and older areas are ideal for finding local design. Look for studios and independent shops selling crafts, stationery, ceramics, and clothing by Beijing‑based creators. Antique and vintage markets provide an opportunity to browse older objects, decorative pieces, and collectables.

For a more contemporary experience, visit creative clusters such as the 798 area, where galleries are often accompanied by design stores and pop‑up concepts. Here, art, shopping, and dining sit side by side, making it easy to spend an afternoon exploring.

Best time to visit Beijing

Spring in Beijing (March to May, 10–20°C / 50–68°F, shoulder season) brings gradually warming days, blossoming parks, and clearer skies. It is a pleasant time for walking the city and visiting open‑air sights, with lighter layers usually sufficient for daytime exploring.

Summer (June to August, 22–30°C / 72–86°F, peak season) is warm and often humid, with longer daylight hours ideal for early‑morning and evening activities. Occasional rain showers refresh the air, and this is a lively period with many outdoor events and busy attractions.

Autumn and winter (September to February, from 0–22°C / 32–72°F, low season) bring crisp, dry days and cooler temperatures, especially from November onward. Clear skies and lower humidity can offer excellent visibility, and quieter crowds mean more space at major sights and in popular parks.

Frequently Asked Questions