Beijing Travel Guide: Route, Stay, Costs
By China On Arrival Editorial Desk · Checked and updated 2026-09-21 · Research basis: First-hand visit — photographed on location by the site owner
At a glance
Capital of imperial grandeur: the Great Wall, Forbidden City and hutong neighborhoods, with the most international flight options of any Chinese gateway.
Suggested stay: 3-5 days · Airports: PEK (Capital) / PKX (Daxing) · Train hubs: Beijing South (high-speed south) / Beijing West / Beijing North (Great Wall at Badaling)
What is Beijing known for?
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall day trips
- hutong neighborhoods
What do you eat in Beijing?
Peking duck · imperial cuisine. Peking duck and imperial cuisine amid palaces and hutongs.
How do you arrive in Beijing?
PEK (Capital) and PKX (Daxing) handle the international arrivals; Beijing South (high-speed south) is the high-speed rail entry point.
Tips from our own trips to Beijing
- Six sections of the Great Wall take visitors — Badaling ¥40, Mutianyu ¥40, Juyongguan ¥45, Simatai ¥40, Huanghuacheng water wall ¥60, Shuiguan ¥35. They are different trips, not one site.
- At Tiananmen the classic route runs south to north and turns one-way once you cross the Golden Water Bridge: square sights first, then the gate and the Forbidden City. A Chairman Mao Memorial Hall reservation also covers square entry.
- Cycling Chang’an Jie past Tiananmen is a Beijing ritual, but e-bikes are banned on it from 19:00/20:00 to midnight.
- Distances look short on the map and ride long in traffic — plan two or three sights a day, not five.
- Shichahai is the largest intact historic district in the city; come at dusk. Yonghegong (Lama Temple) is the busiest incense courtyard in town.
- Subway starts at ¥3 and taxis at ¥13. For value rooms look at Ping’anli or the Guang’anmen/Caishikou belt instead of Qianmen’s premium prices.
From the site owner's own runs through Beijing — photographed on location, updated 2026-09-21.
Where should you stay in Beijing?
Dongcheng / Wangfujing is the default first-timer base — first-timers — Forbidden City and hutongs within walking reach. Before paying, check the property's guest policy and, for smaller hotels, confirm the front desk can register a foreign passport — licensing rules still exclude some budget properties. Hotel-by-hotel picks: where to stay in Beijing →
| Area | Best for | The honest note |
|---|---|---|
| Dongcheng / Wangfujing | first-timers — Forbidden City and hutongs within walking reach | Lines 1/5/8 trunk access; the priciest central base |
| Sanlitun / Chaoyang | nightlife, embassies, modern international hotels | 30-40 min to the imperial sights by metro |
| Qianmen / Dashilar | Tiananmen at the doorstep, restored courtyard stays | boutique-scale hotels; fewer big-brand options |
Area picks are editor research, verified 2026-09-21 — not sponsored placements. Book through the links below to support this site.
How do you get in from the airport?
PEK: Airport Express to Sanyuanqiao/Dongzhimen, 20-25 min. PKX: Daxing Express to Caoqiao, 19 min. Metered taxis 60-90 min. Last trains run about 23:00 - for later landings, pre-book a car or stay airport-adjacent.
Plan your trip around these questions
Explore the Beijing guides below, organised around the questions travelers ask before booking.
Which cities pair with Beijing?
Frequently asked questions about Beijing
- How many days do you need in Beijing?
Three to five. Three covers the Forbidden City, one Great Wall section and the hutongs; five adds the Summer Palace, the temples and Universal Studios. - Which section of the Great Wall should I visit?
Six sections take visitors and they are different trips: Badaling ¥40 (about $6) is the easiest to reach and the busiest, Mutianyu ¥40 (about $6) is quieter with a cable car, Juyongguan ¥45 (about $7), Simatai ¥40 (about $6), the Huanghuacheng water wall ¥60 (about $9) and Shuiguan ¥35 (about $5). - How do I get to the Great Wall without a tour?
Intercity trains to Badaling leave from Beijing North station, and buses serve Mutianyu. Skip the roadside "cheap tour" pitches — they route through shops. - What is the right way to walk Tiananmen?
South to north — the route turns one-way once you cross the Golden Water Bridge. Do the square sights first, then the gate, then the Forbidden City. A Chairman Mao Memorial Hall reservation also covers square entry. - Where should I stay in Beijing?
Qianmen and Wangfujing for walkability at premium prices, the hutong areas (Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai) for atmosphere, and the Ping’anli or Guang’anmen belt for better-value rooms.