Beijing blends imperial history, grand avenues, and confident modern skylines. You experience centuries-old landmarks alongside creative neighbourhoods, leafy parks, and a dynamic urban energy.
Discover Beijing
Discover Beijing
Why visit Beijing?
What to expect
You find expansive boulevards, hidden hutong alleys, and wide public squares, all framed by palaces, lakes, and contemporary towers. The city feels monumental yet surprisingly intimate once you start exploring by district.
Plan your trip
Beijing works well for a short city break or a longer stay that includes day trips to sections of the Great Wall. It is also a major gateway for journeys across northern and western China.
Top sights in Beijing
Forbidden City
Walk through grand courtyards, carved gates, and ornate halls in this vast palace complex at the very heart of Beijing.
Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Badaling)
Take a day trip to hike along restored ramparts, watchtowers, and ridgelines, with sweeping views across the surrounding hills.
Tiananmen Square and surrounding landmarks
Stroll one of the world’s largest public squares, then explore nearby museums, monumental architecture, and historic gates.
Temple of Heaven Park
Visit elegant historic halls set in a vast park, where you can also see everyday city life unfolding in the open air.
Summer Palace
Glide past lakeside pavilions and covered walkways, then climb gentle hills for panoramic views over water, hills, and palaces.
798 Art District
Explore a former factory area turned creative hub, filled with galleries, design shops, outdoor installations, and cafés.
Beijing hutongs
Wander narrow alleyways lined with courtyard homes, small boutiques, and intimate cafés that reveal a more local side of the city.
Experience Beijing’s everyday rhythm
Getting around
Use Beijing’s extensive metro network for quick, predictable journeys between major sights and business areas. Taxis and ride-hailing apps help for late evenings or shorter hops, while walking or cycling through hutong areas offers a slower, more atmospheric last-mile option.
Local life & culture
Early mornings bring parks to life with exercise groups, music, and social gatherings, while evenings see families and friends filling plazas and lakeside promenades. Creative districts and university neighbourhoods add a contemporary edge, with design studios, bookshops, and performance spaces.
Where to unwind
Escape to lakeside parks such as the Summer Palace or Beihai Park for tree-shaded paths and gentle boat rides, especially in the late afternoon. In cooler months, seek out teahouses or spa centres for a slow-paced break from the city’s busy streets.
A taste of Beijing
Street food & local specialties
You can try local favourites such as roast duck, hand-pulled noodles, and filled pancakes in neighbourhood streets, food alleys, and casual restaurants around central districts and hutong lanes.
Casual & modern dining hubs
Large malls and mixed-use districts host everything from noodle bars and regional Chinese eateries to international cafés, letting you sample multiple small plates or share dishes with friends in one convenient stop.
Signature & scenic dining
For a special evening, choose restaurants that overlook historic rooftops, lakes, or modern skylines, where carefully prepared menus pair with wide city views and a relaxed, lingering pace of dining.
Retail therapy in Beijing
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Central shopping areas feature large malls that mix international labels with local designers, cinemas, and lifestyle stores, turning a shopping trip into a full-day social outing.
Markets & local crafts
You can browse for handicrafts, calligraphy, textiles, and decorative pieces in dedicated markets and older streets, where small workshops and studios showcase local creative talent.
Evening retail scene
After dark, illuminated shopping streets and lively commercial districts stay open late, with cafés and dining nearby; metro lines and taxis make it straightforward to return to your hotel at the end of the night.
Best time to visit Beijing
Spring (April to May) is shoulder season, with mild days around 15–25°C (59–77°F) and blooming parks, though temperatures can still vary between cool mornings and warmer afternoons. Summer (June to August) is peak season, bringing hot, often humid weather around 25–32°C (77–90°F), with occasional higher daytime temperatures and short rain showers. Autumn (September to October) is shoulder season again, offering clear skies, comfortable temperatures of about 10–22°C (50–72°F), and colourful foliage in city parks and nearby hills. Winter (November to March) is low season, when dry, cold conditions and temperatures often between -5–5°C (23–41°F) result in quieter attractions and a crisp atmosphere on clear days.