Beijing blends imperial history, grand avenues, and fast-changing creative districts. You experience ancient palaces and hutong alleys alongside a confident modern skyline.
Discover Beijing
Discover Beijing
Why visit Beijing?
What to expect
You find monumental landmarks, wide boulevards, and compact neighbourhoods where daily life unfolds in courtyards and parks. The city feels both formal and vibrant, with cultural sights never far away.
Plan your trip
Beijing works well for a short city break or a longer stay linking other parts of China by high-speed rail or air. Allow time for sights, neighbourhood wandering, and a day trip to the Great Wall.
Top sights in Beijing
Forbidden City
Walk through vast courtyards and ornate halls in this former imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing.
Tiananmen Square
Visit one of the world s largest public squares, framed by imposing buildings and grand ceremonial avenues.
Temple of Heaven Park
Explore elegant ceremonial halls and watch locals practising tai chi and music in leafy surroundings.
Summer Palace
Stroll along lakeside walkways, painted corridors, and pavilions set among hills and water gardens.
Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling
Take a day trip to walk restored sections of the Great Wall, with sweeping views over rugged countryside.
798 Art District
Discover contemporary galleries, design shops, and cafes inside former factory buildings and warehouses.
Beijing hutongs
Wander through traditional alleyways lined with courtyard homes, small shops, and neighbourhood life.
Beihai and Houhai lakes
Rent a boat or stroll the lakeside paths, then enjoy the lively bars and teahouses around the shore.
Experience Beijing s everyday rhythm
Getting around
The Beijing Metro is the quickest way to cross the city, supported by plentiful metered taxis and ride-hailing services. For shorter hops, walk or hire a bicycle around hutongs and parks, and always keep a metro map or navigation app handy for your last mile.
Local life & culture
You see morning exercise, dancing, and card games in parks, and evening gatherings in hutongs and squares. Traditional opera, acrobatics, and modern theatre sit alongside indie galleries and live music venues.
Where to unwind
Head to leafy parks such as Jingshan, Beihai, or the Olympic Forest Park for walking trails and city views, best enjoyed in the softer light of early morning or late afternoon. Many hotels and specialist centres also offer spas and massage for quiet relaxation.
A taste of Beijing
Street food & local specialties
Try Beijing roast duck, dumplings, noodles, and grilled skewers in neighbourhoods such as Wangfujing, Ghost Street, and around the hutongs near Drum and Bell Towers.
Casual & modern dining hubs
You find convenient food courts and restaurants in malls around Guomao, Sanlitun, and Xidan, serving everything from regional Chinese dishes to international favourites, with portions that make sharing and tasting easy.
Signature & scenic dining
Reserve a table at refined restaurants around the lakes, in courtyards, or atop high-rise buildings for views of the skyline or historic rooftops, turning an evening meal into a memorable highlight.
Retail therapy in Beijing
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Explore large shopping centres in Sanlitun, Wangfujing, and Guomao, where international brands, local designers, cinemas, and cafes turn shopping into an all-day outing.
Markets & local crafts
Look for handicrafts, calligraphy, and tea sets in streets and markets around Panjiayuan, Nanluoguxiang, and Dashilar, where smaller boutiques and stalls showcase local creativity.
Evening retail scene
After dark, illuminated streets and lively areas such as Wangfujing and Sanlitun stay open late with shops, stalls, and snack stands, easily reached by metro or taxi.
Best time to visit Beijing
Spring (March to May, shoulder season) brings mild weather around 10 to 22 °C (50 to 72 °F), with blooming parks and clearer skies, though occasional windy days. Summer (June to August, peak season) is hot and humid, with temperatures about 22 to 31 °C (72 to 88 °F) and short rain showers, ideal for longer daylight hours and evening walks. Autumn and winter (September to February, shoulder to low season) range from crisp 18 °C (64 °F) September days down to around -5 to 5 °C (23 to 41 °F) in mid-winter, offering clear, cool conditions and quieter attractions away from major holidays.