Beijing

Travel Guide

Forbidden City showing a fountain
Forbidden City showing a square or plaza and heritage architecture
Beijing showing a monument and heritage elements as well as a large group of people
Beijing showing modern architecture
Dongcheng - Wangfujing showing heritage elements and a statue or sculpture
The capital of China combines the ornate delights of traditional culture with the vibrant life of a modern global city.

Beijing has been at the heart of Chinese culture and society for many centuries, and the combination of its ancient past and the developing “New China” is sure to excite and fascinate. 20 million people live here, with a further 125 million visitors coming every single year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Begin your visit in the traditional heart of the city. The imperial gardens at Jingshan Park offer wonderful views over central Beijing, including the fantastic Forbidden City, which is a must-see attraction. After you've seen all there is to see here, head for the famous Tiananmen Square where you can enjoy two extensive repositories of culture and history, the National Museum of China and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. The Front Gate (Qianmen Gate) looms over the southern end of the square, an impressive reminder of the old fortifications which used to protect the city.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre with a visit to the opulent Summer Palace of the hugely powerful and wealthy Chinese emperors, or gaze on the stunning and historic Marco Polo Bridge. Or for a more serene, spiritual experience, the Lama Temple is hard to beat.

Beijing is also a startlingly contemporary city, full of cutting-edge architecture, chic eateries and bustling shopping centres. The 2008 Olympic Games gave the city’s development a huge boost, and you can see the centre of it all at Olympic Park.

The hip artistic scene of modern China can be experienced at 798 Space, while you can pick up some mementoes of your visit along Wangfujing Street. When you get hungry, make sure to try the authentic local Peking duck with noodles or rice. Later in the evening, head for a karaoke bar or a nightclub to experience what the capital's nightlife has to offer.

Beijing is in the northeast of China and, despite being many thousands of miles away from the capitals of the West, is served by a well-connected modern international airport. The city is very flat, so it’s a pleasure to cycle around, and the public transport system is top-notch, with plenty of signs in English to help orientate the visitor. Getting around by car can be significantly more difficult, particularly if you don’t have a good command of Mandarin, so be warned.

Where to stay in Beijing

Temple of Heaven showing heritage architecture, religious elements and a temple or place of worship

Downtown Beijing

Historical sites, museums and art galleries highlight some notable features of Downtown Beijing. Make a stop by Wangfujing Street or Peninsula Beijing Shopping Arcade while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Jinyu Hutong Station or Dengshikou Station to get around town.

Downtown Beijing
National Museum of China showing signage

Wangfujing Shopping Area

Historical sites, art galleries and museums highlight some notable features of Wangfujing Shopping Area. Make a stop by Wangfujing Street or Peninsula Beijing Shopping Arcade while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Dengshikou Station or Dongsi Station to get around town.

Wangfujing Shopping Area
Default Image

Chaoyang

Museums, art galleries and cocktail bars highlight some notable features of Chaoyang. Make a stop by Alien's Street Trade Market or Temple of the Sun while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Dongdaqiao Station or Hujialou Station to get around town.

Chaoyang
Dongcheng - Wangfujing

Dongcheng

4.5/5(111 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Dongcheng. Wangfujing Street is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Zhangzizhonglu Station or Dongsi Station to see more of Beijing.

Dongcheng
Summer Palace featuring heritage elements and a river or creek

Haidian

3.5/5(8 area reviews)

Haidian is well liked for its museums and monuments. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Summer Palace and Fragrant Hills Park are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Xibeiwang Station or Malianwa Station to get around.

Haidian
Dong Hua Men Night Market

Dongdan

Visitors to Dongdan love its popular shops, and you can check out Wangfujing Street and Wangfujing Paleolithic Museum. If you want to see more in the area, you can get around town on the metro at Dengshikou Station.

Dongdan
Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
4 out of 5
No.88 Dengshikou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing
The price is RM315 per night from 6 Apr to 7 Apr
RM315
RM362 total
includes taxes & fees
6 Apr - 7 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,005 reviews)
"Cleaning lady Mrs Judy (張葆娥)) helped me on my room deposit safe box and explained a lot of Beijing cultural / road direction to me. Nice lady ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2025

Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
Grand Hyatt Beijing
Grand Hyatt Beijing
5 out of 5
1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing, Beijing
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is RM763 per night from 27 Apr to 28 Apr
RM763
RM890 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Apr - 28 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 4 restaurants. Popular attractions Wangfujing Street and The Palace Museum ...
9/10 Wonderful! (757 reviews)
"The hotel is perfect for both business and family travelers for its locatiom, amenities, etc., but for the best stay, contact CECILIA, the hotel concierge, before departing for the hotel bc she IS FANTASTIC (!!!) and really made all of the difference in our stay. She will arrange all of your transportation ..."

Reviewed on 22 Mar 2025

Grand Hyatt Beijing
Regent Beijing
Regent Beijing
5 out of 5
99 Jinbao St Dongcheng Dstrct, Beijing, Beijing
The price is RM658 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
RM658
RM767 total
includes taxes & fees
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Beijing. Enjoy a full-service spa, 5 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Wangfujing Street and The ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
Great
"Great hotel! Wonderful service and wonderful atmosphere"

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2025

Regent Beijing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
3.5 out of 5
No. 17 Qianliang Hutong, Beijing, Beijing
Stay at this 3.5-star residence in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (60 reviews)
"Great hotel if you want to stay close to the airport."

Reviewed on 29 Mar 2025

base-Wangfujing Serviced Apartment
base-Sanlitun Serviced Apartment
base-Sanlitun Serviced Apartment
3.5 out of 5
No.2, Lane 10, Xingfu 1 Village, North Gongti Road, Chaoyang Disrict, Beijing
Stay at this 3.5-star residence in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, daily housekeeping, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Wangfujing Street and Sanlitun Road ...
9/10 Wonderful! (27 reviews)
"Excellent state for a good price."

Reviewed on 4 Feb 2025

base-Sanlitun Serviced Apartment
Ascott Raffles City Beijing
Ascott Raffles City Beijing
4.5 out of 5
No.1-2 Dongzhimen South Street, Dongchen Beijing, Beijing, Beijing
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Beijing. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Wangfujing Street and Sanlitun ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (69 reviews)
"Great for families."

Reviewed on 18 Jan 2025

Ascott Raffles City Beijing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Beijing

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
55
5 - Excellent 45%
4 - Good
52
4 - Good 43%
3 - Okay
8
3 - Okay 7%
2 - Disappointing
4
2 - Disappointing 3%
1 - Terrible
2
1 - Terrible 2%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Loved my experience, I'd advise booking a tour with Klook

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Air quality was very poor during our stay. I don't normally suffer with lung problems, but this did leave me with a tight chest and dry cough which cleared quickly once I left the city.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great place for a city break. Loads to see amazing food and nice people

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

The district is the showpiece of China so it's tightly controlled (hence safe) and clean. The queues for security look daunting but throughput is rapid, and both square and palace easily absorb the crowds.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

We loved Beijing as a whole and wish we could have had more time there. It’s a beautiful place full of such vibrant history. Would definitely recommend as a once in a lifetime kind of trip!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

The subway was very convenient though the distances between stations are large. We liked the Great Wall.