Travel Guide: Beijing
The Chinese capital is home to many of the nation’s most famous sites.
Cover photo: Posing at Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing, China (2025).
Intro
As capital of China for eight centuries, Beijing (Peking) is home to many of the nation’s most famous sites, including the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City), Tiananmen Square, and Great Wall.
Then a young teenager, I still vividly recall watching the opening pageantry of the 2008 Summer Olympics on TV. The event was heralded as China’s reintroduction to the world stage, and it certainly sparked my imagination. As such, Beijing was the first stop on my trip to China this spring — made possible by Visa-free travel with my Polish passport. Please read on for more details of my experience and travel tips.
Click on an image above for details.
Experience
My first impression of China was a mix of awe and trepidation upon my arrival to the incredible but largely-desolate Zaha Hadid-designed Beijing Daxing International Airport — opened just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with some visitors I guessed to be from the Caucasus region, I seemed to be one of few foreign tourists.
After a bus ride downtown, I hailed a taxi to my hotel via the DiDi service on the Chinese app WeChat. An excited local kindly helped me locate the car.
I was staying at the Ji Hotel in Sanlitun, an area famous for shopping and nightlife. Thankfully, it proved satisfactory as I would be staying at the same chain later in both Chengdu and Shanghai. The room was clean and breakfast adequate, with a large variety of steamed buns, noodles, and vegetables — but low in protein.
For my first day, I had booked a tour at the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City) through the website Klook; it’s quite difficult for foreign visitors to secure tickets otherwise. Security is strict, including passport verification and passing through metal detectors. A guard directed me to drink from my water bottle to prove I was not smuggling dangerous liquid — a common practice in China.
The Imperial Palace served as home to Chinese royalty from 1420 until the last emperor in 1912. The sprawling palace grounds are enormous and exhausting to traverse, especially amongst the boisterous and unrelenting crowds of domestic tourists. Highlights include the titanic portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong hanging from the Meridian Gate (Gate of Supreme Harmony), the small but exquisite Imperial Garden, and porcelain Nine Dragon Screen.
After a refreshing lunch of soybean-paste noodles at Michelin-recommended chain Fang Zhuan Chang, I took the metro to Yuyuantan (“Jade Deep Lake”) Park to admire seasonal cherry blossoms. Though the sun was veiled in Beijing’s gray smog, it was nonetheless beautiful. The park was gargantuan; the scale of China is truly unlike anything I’ve seen before. I was also caught unprepared for the spring weather, combining biting cold and brutal wind.
I found China to be entirely different from Japan, arguably more similar to the United States. Chinese are loud, brash, and frankly oblivious to their surroundings. In public, locals are frequently shouting or watching videos at full-volume — even on the subway or in restaurants. I often found myself reaching for my headphones to avoid sensory overload.
As for personal space, Chinese seemed to deliberately brush against me when passing on the street or breathe down my neck while waiting in line — if they were willing to queue at all. Many locals also smoke in public, including bathrooms! Despite these cultural grievances, I found most people friendly and kind, eager to point me in the right direction or recommend a restaurant.
The following day, I took a tour to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, considered one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” Completed by the 17th century, the wall served to protect against Mongolian invaders. Famously, performance artists and lovers Marina Abramović and Ulay trekked across the site in 1988 to conclude their tumultuous relationship. Ideas of time, protection, and romance filled my head as I spent over two hours walking the site. I reached the “Hero Slope” at Tower 20, which is 600 meters (1969 feet) above sea level — comparable to the height of Tokyo Skytree at 634 meters.
The tour also brought me to the Bird’s Nest or Beijing National Stadium, site of the 2008 Summer Olympics — the very origin of my interest in China. The incredible structure was designed by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang, with consultation by artist (and now-dissident) Ai Weiwei. Said to be the largest steel structure in the world, the stadium is a jaw-dropping feat of engineering and a colossal work of art.
After the long trip, I rewarded myself with a nourishing hot pot dinner at Haidilao, including spicy beef, potato noodles, spinach, mushrooms, lotus root, and quail eggs — for a grand total of 193 RMB (approx. 26 USD).
On my final day in Beijing I had yet another guided tour. First, we visited the Temple of Heaven, which once hosted grand rituals of imperial sacrifice to pray for good harvest.
For lunch, I ate a feast of Peking duck at Quanjude. It’s a storied chain that has served several royals and heads of state, including many U.S. presidents. Roast duck is served with spring pancakes, cucumbers, scallions and mouthwatering Tianmian (sweet bean) sauce. Restaurant staff taught me how to assemble the rolls — not unlike a Mexican burrito. It was my favorite meal in China!
Next, we departed for the Summer Palace, host of the emperor’s yearly retreat away from the sweltering Forbidden City. I was less familiar with this site, but it was recommended to me by another English teacher. I’m so glad, as it was absolutely stunning. The palace grounds surround Kunming Lake and the natural scenery is breathtaking. The statue of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin Bodhisattva is also impressive, located atop the Tower of Buddhist Incense.
Every site I visited was so overwhelming in scale and marvelous in appearance that I had nearly grown numb to Beijing’s tremendous beauty. It was difficult to fully appreciate every detail. Thankfully, I was at the end of my time here, ready for my next destination.
I concluded my evening with some final shopping at Taikoo Li Sanlitun — I bought a new bag — and a short visit to Destination, Beijing’s premier gay club, as I had to leave early for my flight to Chengdu the following morning.
I’m so happy to have finally visited Beijing and I will forever cherish climbing the Great Wall, eating Peking duck, and wandering the Summer Palace.
History
Beijing (北京) dates back to the ancient city of Ji, capital of Yan Kingdom. In the 13th century, Mongol Genghis Khan conquered China and successor Kublai Khan consolidated rule here in 1261, at the new capital of Dadu (Khanbaliq).
In 1368, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty was expelled by the Chinese Ming Dynasty, who would construct the Imperial Palace and complete the Great Wall. The city was renamed Beijing (Peking) or “Northern Capital.” The following Qing Dynasty fell in 1912, marking the end of imperial rule in China.
Japanese troops invaded Beijing in 1937, controlling China until Japan’s defeat in World War II. After the Chinese Civil War, Communist leader Mao Zedong declared formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at Tiananmen Square in ‘49. Mao also started the Cultural Revolution in ‘66, leading to the destruction of countless historic buildings and artefacts in the city.
China established “Permanent Normal Trade Relations” (PNTR) with the United States in 2000 and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, leading to rapid industrialization. Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and Winter Olympics in ‘22, making it the first and only city to host both events. Today, it is home to 22 million people.
Fast Facts
Languages: Mandarin (Standard Chinese), local dialects
Government: democratic dictatorship
Total population: 1.4 billion
Climate: temperate (continental)
Religions: folk (22%), Buddhist (18%), Christian (5%)
Major industries: manufacturing, technology, financial services
Currency: Chinese Yuan or Renminbi (CNY/RMB)
Plug types: A, C, and I
Traffic: right side
Air quality: moderate
Tap water: not safe to drink
Cuisine
China is home to a rich and varied cuisine, much of which can be enjoyed in Beijing, but the city is most famous for the dish Peking duck. I recommend the storied chain Quanjude. Soybean-paste noodles are beloved too, most easily found at the Michelin-recommended Fang Zhuan Chang.
Chinese cuisine is also famed for hot pot. The nation’s largest chain is Haidilao, which offers convenient ordering via electronic tablet with English translation.
As the birthplace of tea, a highlight of visiting China is the ubiquity and variety of tea shops such as Mixue. Plain, fruit, milk, and cheese teas are available, often costing less than 25 RMB (approx. 3.5 USD). Note: Chinese restaurants typically serve complementary tea or warm water.
Shopping & Souvenirs
Often called “the world’s factory,” China offers virtually everything, ranging from cheap trinkets to luxury goods. I purchased a leather bag from Songmont and jeans from menswear designer brand Croquis. Many foreign brands feature China-exclusive merchandise as well; I found a great Chinese-style denim jacket at Japanese retailer Muji. Of course, Chinese tea is a classic and affordable souvenir too.
In busy areas, shops are open late from 9:00 to 22:00 (10:00 PM). Tourists may be eligible for a tax refund on purchases over 500 RMB (approx. 70 USD), but shop staff I encountered were unfamiliar with the process.
Great Firewall & Apps
Travel in China — and especially Beijing — requires a high degree of planning and patience. Notably, the nation utilizes an internet separate from the “Western” world. A virtual private network (VPN) is required to access sites such as Google and Facebook. I strongly recommend installing (and testing) a VPN prior to arrival as there are few options available from within China.
Furthermore, many businesses have adopted a digital-first approach, rendering physical maps and menus sparse. Many processes such as making payments, hailing taxis, making reservations, and ordering food are optimized for WeChat. Businesses are mandated to accept cash, but the WeChat app is simply indispensable for a smooth trip — it also offers English translation.
I recommend the apps Amaps for navigation and Google Translate (Mainland China uses Simplified Chinese) which can be downloaded for offline use. For current information about trending places, I also suggest downloading RedNote (Xiaohongshu).
Transportation & Accommodation
Beijing is served by multiple airports, the busiest of which is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Taxis are relatively affordable (ordered easily through DiDi), but I found the metro superior as traffic in Beijing is often dismal. It’s also easy to navigate, with plentiful English signage. Most lines operate from 5:00 to 23:00 (11:00 PM). Note: all riders must pass through metal detectors. Be careful when exiting train cars, as locals tend not to wait for passengers to disembark.
For accommodation, Beijing’s east side is most popular, around Wangfujing (convenient for sightseeing) or Sanlitun (nightlife). I booked Ji Hotel at Sanlitun Taikoo Li through Agoda. I highly recommend the chain as it offers comfort at an affordable price.
Timing & Weather
I recommend a minimum of three full days to spend in Beijing. The best times to visit Beijing are widely considered to be spring (March through May) and fall (September to November) for comfortable weather. These are also the best times to avoid crowds, as most Chinese enjoy vacations in winter and summer.
The following are additional holidays that tourists are suggested to avoid:
Chinese New Year (January/February)
May Day (early May)
National Day (early October)
Health & Safety
China is overwhelmingly safe but tourists should be mindful of pick-pocketing and bag theft. Tap water is not considered safe to drink; drink only bottled water. I was nervous about eating uncooked vegetables, but I ultimately had no problems. Because the air quality is moderate, consider wearing a mask.
LGBT+
For queer acceptance, China ranks 100th out of 175 nations around the world. Same-sex marriage is not recognized. The nation decriminalized homosexuality in 1997, but discrimination continues amidst renewed cultural crackdowns. Post-COVID, the situation has been described as “deteriorating.” For an alternate destination, consider visiting Taipei or Tokyo.
HeeSay (also known as Blued) and Finka (formerly Aloha) are China’s most popular gay apps but difficult to use without Chinese fluency. Grindr and Tinder are also acceptable. Beijing’s premier gay club is Destination — located just west of Worker’ Stadium and best after midnight.
Top Attractions
Tiananmen Square & Imperial Palace (Forbidden City) UNESCO WHS
Great Wall of China UNESCO WHS
Summer Palace UNESCO WHS
National Stadium (Bird’s Nest)
Yuyuantan Park (urban park popular for cherry blossoms)
Taikoo Li Sanlitun (shopping & nightlife)
Temple of Heaven UNESCO WHS
Additional Ideas
By train, Beijing is four hours from Xi’an, home to the famed Terracotta Warriors guarding the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. I also recommend a visit to Sichuan capital Chengdu and cosmopolitan Shanghai.
