Beijing
Beijing has been the seat of Chinese power for the best part of eight centuries, and it wears that history at a scale that can genuinely catch you off guard — the world’s largest palace complex, a square that swallows a million people, a wall that runs off over the mountains beyond the city. But it’s also a fast, modern, surprisingly easy capital to visit, with a clean and vast metro, streamlined entry rules for many nationalities, and a digital-payment culture that — once you’re set up — makes getting around far simpler than its reputation suggests. This is the place most China trips begin, and for good reason.
AUTHOR EXPERIENCE
Beijing was our arrival point into China for a 23 day tour. During our four days there we saw all the highlights listed on this page. But, of these, the one that stays strongest in my memory is the Temple of Heaven. A thing of beauty. I was struck in particular by the curve of its roof (or roofs) and really wanted to spend more time there. Beijing really has an extraordinary offer for its visitors.
Visited: 2001
Stayed In: Beijing
Perspective: Independent Traveller
A little background
Beijing (北京, “Northern Capital”) has served as China’s capital under the Yuan, Ming, Qing and the modern People’s Republic. Its historic core is laid out along a grand north–south axis — itself now a UNESCO World Heritage listing — running through the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square, with the older city arranged in the grey-walled lanes called hutongs that still survive in pockets between the ring roads. It is a city of imperial monuments and Communist-era grandeur, of temple courtyards and glass towers, and the contrast between the two is much of its character.
Before you go: entry and the practical basics
Two things are worth sorting before you arrive, because they shape the whole trip.
Visa-free entry (check your nationality and the date). China’s entry rules have loosened substantially, but they are also among the most changeable facts on this site, so treat the following as a prompt to verify, not gospel. As of 2026, citizens of a long list of countries — including the UK, Ireland and most of the EU, plus Australia and New Zealand — can visit visa-free for up to 30 days; Canada is included in the 30-day arrangement, while US passport-holders currently rely on the separate visa-free transit scheme (up to 10 days for many travellers connecting onward) rather than the 30-day rule. These policies carry end-dates and change at short notice, so confirm your own position on the official Chinese embassy site before booking.
Payments and apps. China runs on the mobile-payment apps Alipay and WeChat Pay, and the good news for visitors is that both now let you link an overseas Visa or Mastercard and pay as locals do. Set this up before you fly. Cash is still accepted but increasingly awkward, and foreign cards are rarely taken directly. A VPN, installed before arrival, is the usual route to your normal apps (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and the like are blocked); a translation app and an offline map are well worth having too.
Places you don't want to miss
Tian'anmen Square
The monumental square on the palace’s southern side — free, but requiring advance reservation and a passport-and-security check to enter. Best in the soft light of early morning.
The Temple of Heaven
A sublime Ming complex of altars and the famous circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, set in a park where Beijingers practise tai chi, dance and play music in the mornings — a lovely antidote to the imperial grandeur.
The Summer Palace
The Qing emperors’ lakeside retreat northwest of the centre — gardens, a long painted corridor and Kunming Lake, an easy half-day.
The hutongs
Old lanes around the Drum and Bell Towers and Houhai Lake: wander, or take a cycle-rickshaw, for a sense of the older, low-rise Beijing that the modern city grew over.
The Great Wall
Beijing’s unmissable day trip, covered in its own right — most visitors choose the Mutianyu section, and we’d agree.
The Forbidden City
A vast imperial palace at the heart of the city, home to 24 emperors over nearly 500 years, and the single must-see.
The Lama Temple
Beijing’s most important and atmospheric Tibetan Buddhist temple, thick with incense and home to an eighteen-metre Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk.
Jingshan Park
The artificial hill immediately north of the Forbidden City, built from the earth dug out to make the palace moats. A short climb to the pavilion at the top gives a definitive view.
Getting there and around
Beijing has two major airports — Capital (PEK) and the vast newer Daxing (PKX) — both connected to the centre by airport rail. Getting around, the metro is extensive, cheap, signed in English and the simplest way to move; you can pass through the gates with Alipay/WeChat QR codes. Taxis and DiDi (China’s ride-hailing app) are plentiful and inexpensive, though drivers rarely speak English, so have your destination ready in Chinese characters. High-speed rail links Beijing to Xi’an, Shanghai and far beyond from its major stations.
Cost and Hours
Beijing is inexpensive by Western standards once you’re there — metro rides, street food and most attractions cost little. The Forbidden City runs around ¥60 in peak season (¥40 off-season), closed Mondays, advance passport booking essential. The **Temple of Heaven** and Summer Palace charge modest entry. Allow a minimum of three to four full days to take in the central sights and the Wall without rushing — conveniently, about the span the transit-visa schemes allow.
A final word
Few cities ask you to hold so many contradictions at once. In a single day you can stand in a 600-year-old throne room, climb a wall built to keep the world out, lose an afternoon in a lane unchanged in a century, and pay for your dinner with a phone in a district of glass towers. Beijing can feel daunting on paper — the scale, the language, the entry rules — but in practice it rewards the effort more completely than almost anywhere in Asia. It is the place China’s past and present press hardest against each other, and the natural place to begin understanding the country.
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Visiting Beijing: FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Beijing?
Many nationalities no longer do. As of 2026, UK, Irish, most EU, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, while US passport holders rely on the separate visa-free transit scheme. These policies carry end-dates and change at short notice, so confirm your own position on the official Chinese embassy site before booking.
How many days do you need in Beijing?
Allow a minimum of three to four full days to take in the central sights and a Great Wall day trip without rushing — conveniently, about the span the transit-visa schemes allow.
Do I need to book Forbidden City tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets are timed, capped at a daily limit, and must be booked online in advance with your passport — there are no same-day sales, and it is closed on Mondays. Book as early as you can, ideally a week ahead in peak season, and aim for a morning slot to walk the central axis before the halls fill.
Is the Great Wall a day trip from Beijing?
Yes — it is Beijing's unmissable day trip. Most visitors choose the Mutianyu section, about 70km northeast of the city, which is beautifully restored and noticeably less crowded than Badaling.
Can I use my phone and bank cards in Beijing?
China runs on the Alipay and WeChat Pay apps, both of which now let you link an overseas Visa or Mastercard and pay as locals do — set this up before you fly. Foreign cards are rarely taken directly. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked, so install a VPN before arrival to reach your usual apps.
What's the best way to get around Beijing?
The metro is extensive, cheap, signed in English and the simplest way to move, and you can pass through the gates with Alipay or WeChat QR codes. Taxis and the DiDi ride-hailing app are plentiful and inexpensive, though drivers rarely speak English, so have your destination ready in Chinese characters.