Beijing blends imperial landmarks, broad boulevards, and creative neighbourhoods into a city where history and modern life sit side by side. You encounter grand palaces, intimate hutong lanes, and contemporary culture in a single day.
Discover Beijing
Discover Beijing
Why visit Beijing?
What to expect
You find monumental avenues, striking modern architecture, and quiet courtyards tucked behind grey-brick walls. The city moves at a steady pace, with distinct districts for culture, business, and nightlife that are easy to navigate once you get your bearings.
Plan your trip
Beijing works well as both a standalone city break and a starting point for exploring wider China by high-speed rail or onward flights. Allow enough days to see major sights at an unhurried pace and to wander through a few contrasting neighbourhoods.
Top sights in Beijing
Forbidden City
Walk through vast courtyards, ornate halls, and intricate gateways in this former imperial palace at the heart of Beijing.
Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Jinshanling)
Head out of the city to hike restored ramparts and watchtowers, with sweeping views over rolling hills and valleys.
Tiananmen Square
Cross one of the world’s largest public squares, framed by imposing buildings and ceremonial monuments.
Temple of Heaven Park
Visit the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and see locals practising tai chi, dancing, or playing games in the surrounding park.
Summer Palace
Explore lakeside pavilions, painted corridors, and wooded hillsides in this former royal retreat on the city’s outskirts.
Beijing hutongs
Stroll narrow lanes lined with traditional courtyard homes, small cafés, and independent boutiques around areas such as Nanluoguxiang and Yandai Xiejie.
798 Art District
Wander through converted factories now filled with contemporary galleries, design shops, and street art installations.
Jingshan Park
Climb the central hill for one of the best panoramic views over the Forbidden City and the surrounding historic districts.
Experience Beijing’s everyday rhythm
Getting around
Use the extensive metro network for fast, reliable journeys between major sights and business districts. For shorter hops or a scenic ride through hutongs and around lakes, choose taxis or app-based rides, and walk the final streets to discover quiet side lanes.
Local life & culture
You see daily life spill into parks and courtyards, with people practising music, dance, and calligraphy in shared spaces. Traditional teahouses, small theatres, and cultural venues sit alongside modern galleries, giving you many ways to tap into the city’s creative energy.
Where to unwind
Relax in leafy parks such as Beihai or the lakes around Houhai, best enjoyed in the early morning or late afternoon. In the evenings, head to wider boulevards and waterfront promenades for gentle walks as the city lights come on and the heat softens.
A taste of Beijing
Street food & local specialties
Sample classic Beijing roast duck, hand-pulled noodles, and savoury pancakes in neighbourhoods like Dongcheng and Xicheng, or at busy local food streets where vendors focus on a handful of signature dishes.
Casual & modern dining hubs
Discover relaxed bistros, noodle bars, and cafés in areas such as Sanlitun and Wukesong, often clustered in mixed-use complexes that make it easy to try several flavours in one evening with sharing plates and small portions.
Signature & scenic dining
Choose refined restaurants housed in courtyards or high-rise venues with skyline views, where you can linger over multi-course menus and seasonal specialities while looking out across historic rooftops or modern city lights.
Retail therapy in Beijing
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Browse major shopping centres in districts such as Wangfujing and Sanlitun, where international brands, local designers, cinemas, and cafés turn malls into all-day social spaces.
Markets & local crafts
Look for handicrafts, tea, and design pieces in smaller markets and streets, including areas around Panjiayuan, Nanluoguxiang, and Liulichang, where stalls and boutiques sit in traditional-style buildings.
Evening retail scene
After dark, shopping streets and open-air complexes light up with neon signs, music, and outdoor seating, especially around Wangfujing and the city’s newer mixed-use zones, all easily reached by metro or taxi.
Best time to visit Beijing
Spring shoulder season (April to May) brings mild days around 15–25°C (59–77°F) with blooming parks and clearer skies. Summer peak season (June to August) is hot and often humid, with temperatures around 26–32°C (79–90°F). Autumn shoulder season (September to October) offers crisp air, low rainfall, and temperatures of about 10–22°C (50–72°F), ideal for outdoor sightseeing. Winter low season (November to March) is cold and dry, with temperatures often between -5 and 5°C (23–41°F), but clear days reward you with quieter attractions.