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4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

How to enjoy a Beijing vacation in a leisure and unique way?

This 4 days tour takes you to visit the best and featured highlights of Beijing in a single trip and explore the glorious past and present of Beijing in one go. Apart from Beijing's time-honored landmarks – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall, you will take a special visit to 798 Art Zone to enjoy different galleries and admire the most outstanding architectures in Olympic Park. Taking flights (and train) arrival and departure into consideration, this trip also perfectly match your possible longer China trips to Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, Tibet, Zhangjiajie, etc.

•  Type : Private Tour
•  Tour Code : CD-BT-04
• 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
• 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
•  Trip Length : 4D/3N
•  Theme : Architecture / Culture

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

• Be picked up by private car and English-speaking guide upon your arrival and enjoy a worry-free transfer to hotel and different attractions;
• Not only visit unmissable collection of imperial architectures of Forbidden City, but also appreciate a bird's-eye vista of the whole palace from Jingshan Park;
• Hike along the man-made wonder – Mutianyu Great Wall which is renowned for its Ming Dynasty watchtowers and stirring views;
• Visit interesting numerous art galleries, graffiti walls and many cool restaurants and cafes in 798 Art Zone;
• Explore modern architectures in Olympics Park, including world-famous Bird's Nest and Water Cube;
• Get some perspective of the old Beijing's local life by strolling or riding a rickshaw on Hutongs and experience traditional Chinese art by learning paper cutting.
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Day 1 Beijing Arrival Airport or Railway Station Pick Up

Ni Hao, welcome to Beijing, the iconic city as well as the capital of China! You will be met by your local tour guide at the arrival hall of Beijing Capital Airport, or railway station, then be escorted to check in your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to relax. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide. Arrival Ideas : At present, there are many international and domestic flights to Beijing. Besides, you can take a high speed train to this capital city from Shanghai (5-6 hrs), Xian (5.5 hrs), Guangzhou (8-9.5 hrs), etc. Tour guide picked up our clients at Beijing airport

Day 2 Beijing (B, L) Tiananmen Square - Forbidden City - Summer Palace

After breakfast, start to explore the historical face of Beijing with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square , now the largest city plaza in the world. Tiananmen Gate on the northern side of the square was the site where Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Stepping into the Tiananmen, you will see one of the world's five most important palaces - Forbidden City (Palace Museum) , a huge palace complex of more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties lived. Pass through various doorways in this magnificent structure to admire the beautiful and well-preserved buildings decorated with yellow-glazed tile roofs, white marble bases and splendid colorful paintings. After Forbidden City exploration, take a short visit to Jingshan Park where you can get a nice shot of one watchtower of Forbidden City and take a panoramic view of Forbidden City. After lunch, drive to the outskirts of Beijing to spend an enjoyable time in the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Stroll around ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges and corridors while feasting your eyes on the vast lotus in Kunming Lake and the colorful paintings in the Long Corridor. Optional activities: 1) You can watch a wonderful Kungfu Show in the Red Theater (Hong Ju Chang) which usually starts at 19:30; 2) Enjoy the classic Chinese art performance of Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater during 19:30-21:00. Woo's group visited Tiananmen Square The Forbidden City Overall View from Jingshan Park The Fudol Couple visited Summer Palace with China Discovery

Day 3 Beijing (B, L) Mutianyu Great Wall - 798 Art Zone - Bird's Nest & Water Cube

This morning, you will drive about 70km (about 1.5 h) to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World - Great Wall . The less-crowded Mutianyu , a well-preserved segment of Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty, lives up to all of your nice expectations. You'll take a cable car to ascend the Great Wall, then hike the most beautiful and interesting part of Mutianyu. It's a wonderful experience to climb up its rising towers to enjoy scenic views and take brag-worthy photos of the wall wriggling along mountain ridges. After the exciting time, descend Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car. (Note: If energy permits, you can hike up or down which takes about 40 minutes to climb steps. Please tell your likes to your travel consultant.) After Great Wall exploration, drive about 65km (1.5 hours) to 798 Art Zone to get an artsy vibe which stands in contrast to the old atmosphere of Beijing's other historic sights. It is an open air gallery to discover street art, new trends, exhibitions and many cool shops. Lastly, drive back to Beijing City, and take a short stop at the Beijing Olympic Vill age to view the magnificent Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the outside. Lastly, be escorted back to your hotel. Recommended optional activities: Enjoy an exciting and safe toboggan ride (about 2~3mins) down Mutianyu Great Wall. Sara's family from Australia visited Mutianyu Great Wall in December 2023 Our customers visited Bird's Nest in 2019

Day 4 Beijing Departure (B, L) Temple of Heaven - Hutong - Beijing Departure

After breakfast, drive to the imperial site – Temple of Heaven . It was originally used to pay homage to Heaven and pray for harvest, now becomes a bustling place for locals to take part in traditional activities, such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, etc. Then, hop on a rickshaw to experience Beijing Hutongs - small alleys made of neighboring quadrangle dwellings. Shuttle among different Hutongs to feel the old Beijing life style, meet various antique shops and small boutiques, feel the historical changes of Beijing, and also pay a visit to a local family's home in the traditional Hutongs. ( Optional Activity: If you're interested and have the time, consider participating in a class on China's Traditional Paper Cutting in the Hutong area. You'll have the opportunity to learn the art of cutting common motifs and characters, guided by a skilled Paper Cutting teacher.) Your Beijing tour is now about to end. Your tour guide will escort you to catch your flight/train to next destination. Carsha's group from USA experience Hutong Richshaw in Beijing in September 2019 Fantastic View of Temple of Heaven Shared by Our Guest Daniel

Recommended Add-on Options

Xian , as the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties, is filled with amazing historic and cultural wonders. 

With only 2~3 days , you can travel the best highlights of ancient capital Xian at an enjoyable pace. One day for arrival and relaxing, another day to visit the famous Terracotta Warriors , Ancient City Wall , Local Snack Street - Muslim Quarter . An extra day for visiting to the symbol of Xian - Big Wild Goose Pagoda , and having an educational learning in Shaanxi History Museum . The rest time is free for departure.

Shanghai, regarded as the Oriental Paris, is the best place to experience East-meet-West Culture, find hidden tradition within modernity.

Generally speaking, you can spend Day 1 exploring the popular landmarks of Shanghai, such as the Shanghai Museum , Yu Garden , Nanjing Road , the Bund , and Shanghai World Financial Center Tower . The Day 2 is for you to explore deep into the city of Shanghai (such as Wukang Road , Tianzifang or Jade Buddha Temple ) and departure.

The quotation for this trip is from $485 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. 2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels. 3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025. 4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

• Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
• Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
• Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (4-star standard);
• Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary;
• Domestic flights (economy class) and high-speed trains (second class) as listed in the itinerary;
• Airport (and train station) pick up and drop off;
• Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels;
• All meals as listed( “B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
• Accident insurance;
• Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

• China visa;
• Personal expenses;
• Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
• Single Room Supplement;
• Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary;
• Recommended optional activities;
• Flights or trains not listed in the itinerary;
• Excess Baggage Charges;
• Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

I apologize for the delayed response as I've been occupied with work.

In response to your query, here are my feedback:

1. Is your travel consultant of our company fast enough to answer your E-mail and patient enough to answer your questions? Absolutely, you were incredibly prompt in responding to my numerous queries and helped ensure a smooth trip planning process.

2. How is tour arrangement, including the drivers,tour guides,hotels,etc? The trip was fantastic. Our guide, Jerry, was exceptional and extremely knowledgeable, making our visit to Huangshan truly memorable.

3. Would you like to recommend our company? Certainly. I will wholeheartedly recommend China Discovery to friends and family planning future trips to China

Hi Samantha,

yes we had a good time at the panda volunteer program. Thanks for helping us to arrange it.

Thank you very much for organizing the tour. We enjoyed it a lot. We also had been quite lucky with the weather in Jiuzhaiguo. Colors of the lakes has been fantastic. I still owe you the feedback - it will take some time as I’m quite busy now. But we already filled the feedback forms with the guides. Thanks to Jason and Michael nd they has asking me about my tour. I hv recommend them to contact you.

we had such a great time in Guilin and had a great experience with our tour guide Lynn! Thank you. It has been wonderful so far! We are very pleased with the tour.

Feedback as follows:

1. Yes, the travel consultant is very prompt in responding to queries etc

2. All the arrangements are excellent, no complaints at all, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and helpful and courteous.

3. Definitely, already recommended to some of my friends who are planning to go to China this year.

Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Photo gallery of this trip

Most Important Beijing Travel Notes

Beijing, altogether with Tianjin and Hebei has implemented 144-Hour Visa-free Transit to visitors from 53 countries with valid travel document & connecting (flight, ship, trains) tickets to a third country/region. These countries include 25 European Schengen Visa Agreement countries (Austria, Germany, Italy…), 14 Other European countries (Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland…), 6 America countries (United States, Canada, Brazil…), 2 Oceania countries (Australia and New Zealand) and 6 Asian countries (South Korea, Japan, Singapore…).

The itinerary in this tour can be customized according to your own interests and needs. Usually, Mutianyu Great is the top recommended among several sections of Great Wall in and around Beijing, because it's less crowded, fully-restored and quite family-friendly. If you want to explore the primitive appearance of Great Wall and want a memorable hiking experience in lesser known sections, you can also choose Simatai, Jiankou, Jinshanling, etc. It is also available to choose some other attractions based on your interest. Besides, you can visit a local family in Beijing Hutongs, or take part in some other interested activities. If you have any personal travel ideas, feel free to tell us.

Beijing, the capital and No.1 tourist destination of China, is equipped with numerous hotels and restaurants for your choice. Undoubtedly, every traveler can stay in Beijing with great comfort. There are enough luxuries hotels with good location and best value. It is also easy to find many comfortable 4-star hotels and economical hotels. You can choose one hotel according to your tour itinerary and budget. Beijing also offers a large number of choices of food – from multi-course cuisine to various street food to satisfy your taste bud.

As the capital of China, Beijing enjoys a well-developed transportation system to be reached from both international cities and domestic cities. There are many daily flights from Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, etc.), America (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, etc.), Asia (Singapore, Tokyo, Taipei, Macao, etc.) and Oceania to Beijing. It is also quit convenient to take a domestic flight to Beijing from more than 120 cities in mainland China, including the frequent flights from some other popular gateway cities - Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu.

With a temperature monsoon climate, Beijing enjoys four distinctive seasons. It has warm spring (March ~ May), hot summer (June ~ August), cool autumn (September ~ November) and cold winter (October ~ December). Visiting Beijing in different seasons allows you to see different featured scenery, but the best time to visit Beijing is spring and autumn because you can enjoy the most comfortable weather. It is also important to avoid visiting Beijing in China's big festivals, including May Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon's Boat Day and National Day when most of the scenic areas will be crowded and it will be common to meet traffic jam.

If you have more days in China, you are strongly suggested to extend your tour to another two top tourist destinations – ancient Xian and modern Shanghai, which presents China's past and future. A tour combining these three cities will help you get a first panoramic view of China. For more wonderful experience, you can visit Guilin to see breathtaking Karst landscape or take a Yangtze River cruise to enjoy a comfortable holiday.

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Beijing Sideways

Sidecar exploring tours, the highlight of your journey.

Beijing Sideways helps you explore Beijing and its surroundings from a sideways view, seated in the sidecar of a motorbike. Avoiding traffic jams, enjoying the pleasures of a roofless vehicle, wind in the hair (or in a helmet), admiring the stunning, hilly landscapes of Beijing, savoring a French picnic on the crest of the Great Wall, cruising the less known hutongs and markets. Beijing sideways can be a stress-buster for many people including bitcoin traders. Several bitcoin traders are facing losses due to ineffective strategies. Employing good strategies can fetch good returns. Read the bitcoin anonym kaufen blog if you are interested in buying bitcoins anonymously.

With Beijing sideways , you enjoy the company of an expat insider who has been living in Beijing for years, guiding you in your exploration. What’s more fun than taling a ride in this sidecar that appears to be straight out a black and white movie ?

A sidecar tour is the best way to discover the city.

Rated “excellent” by More than 300 travelers on Tripadvisor !

“ too much fun, even in the rain ”.

As an ex-pat in Beijing, I was looking for something my family would enjoy as well as our out-of-town guest. We'd all been to the Great Wall many times, but never to the particular location visited...

Yifeng, Altanta - 1 August 2011

“ A real life view of Beijing and the people that make it so special. ”

Ask for Yves. Get the champagne option and make the very most of this fantastic adventure. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and beyond wonderful. The smiles you see on the locals as you drive...

sjoy1964, Seoul, South Korea - 3 August 2011

“ Beijing Sideways gave me the best city tour I have ever had. ”

Beijing Sideways is expensive compared to most tours I have been on but it was well worth the money. My tour guide, Andrei, was a great guy to spend the day with and I saw a lot of the city in our 9+...   

MountainmanVancouver, vancouver - 15 July 2011

“ the best one ”

this is a really amazing thing. first it was easy to get a tour with people that talks englisg because i dont speak chinesse then i met this great people (the ownners) they explain me everythin...

miguelvillacreses, Guayaquil, Ecuador - 1 August 2011

“ Amazing way to see the Great Wall ”

Myself and my sister did the trip while visiting Beijing and it is one of the most memorable trips i've done. The guide Gael is an interesting Frenchman, who will take you to a part of the wall not...

Eimes30, Dublin, Ireland -

“ Brilliant - a must do for anyone going to Beijing! ”

Simply the best way to see Beijing and the bikes allow you to navigate your way through the traffic to see not only all the key sights but also some which are off the beaten track. Riding through the...

NZBear11, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - 15 July 2011

“ Beijing by night - Great experience! ”

I went on a 2hours night tour with a friend and we really enjoyed it! Even after 3 months in Beijing, our guide, Yves, was able to show us some unknown places. He also shared his own expat life and we...

Julianito, Beijing, China - 1 August 2011

Your sidecar

Meet the changjiangs.

Our sidecars, are models of China Changjiang 750 year 1970, fully restored condition. They participate in making our tours even more fun and original with unique views, smells, and sounds.

Buy a tour for your loved one(s) ! Just choose a tour and select - GIFT - in the Booking process options

Beijing sideways also provides Incentive tours , contact us for a tailor-made trip like:

• Group transfer
• Company lunch at the Great Wall

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The Travel Momento

A Perfect Beijing Itinerary: Detailed 5 Days Guide For First Timers

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If I had to choose one city that perfectly represents China’s spirit, it would be Beijing. Even after almost a month of travelling through China, Beijing has left a special mark with its most unique and best-known attractions and things to do. We share all the details of our 5 day Beijing Itinerary with you below.

Personally, I think it’s an essential stop for anyone visiting China and a great starting point of your travel to China. It provides you with an insight into both worlds – traditional and new. Whether you want to wander through traditional hutongs (alleyways = oldest parts), surround yourself with an enormous collection of historical sights, or observe futuristic skyscrapers, the city has you covered. 

Regardless if you are a first-time traveller or returning travel addict, our 5-days Beijing itinerary will help you navigate through the city’s top attractions spread across the city. This jam-packed itinerary includes all the best bits, handy tips and recommendations to make your trip to Beijing the best experience. Let’s start 🙂

See the complete 3-week China travel itinerary

5 Day Beijing Itinerary

Beijing Day 1: Blend of nature and urban

After arriving at Beijing airport at 8 a.m. and finding our hotel in one of the hutongs, we decided to begin exploring the area we’ll be living in for a couple of days. It’s a great starting point of your Beijing itinerary as it is close to the majority of tourist sites.

Temple of Confucius and Imperial College Museum

  Recommended time: 2 hours

The second biggest Confucius temple in China and the origin of education and knowledge is a must-see on your Beijing itinerary to help you understand the culture and tradition. It has four courtyards and four main sides: t he Gate of the First Teacher, the Gate of Great Accomplishment, the Hall of Great Accomplishment , and the Worship Hall . Among other things you can see various carvings of scholars who passed the official examinations.

Arriving earlier, we suggest heading straight to Imperial College for the most iconic pictures with traditional architecture. Every hour you can also enjoy a traditional show, which lasts for 15 minutes. There is only a small number of chairs in front of the stage. If you are tired or want to have the best view, come 5 minutes before the show.

Yoghe Temple or Lama Temple

 Recommended time: 45 minutes to 1 hour 

Around the corner from previous stop, you can visit the largest and most preserved lamasery in present China. It consists of five main halls separated by courtyards: t he Gate Hall of Harmony and Peace, the Hall of Harmony and Peace, the Hall of Everlasting Protection, the Hall of the Wheel of the Law , and the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happiness.

The most important feature is the Hall of the Kings of Heaven, featuring Buddha’s statue surrounded by the four kings. Each of them features one symbolic objects (snake, sword, shield, and toad).

You can sit down in the shadows of the temples to relax, observe people and/or the process of praying.

Houhai Lake

 Recommended time for a walk around it: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Known for numerous restaurants with traditional food, outdoor seating overlooking the lake, and famous rickshaw rides, it’s also home to one of the best-known hutongs . You should stop by at night, when the lights come up and people fill up every corner. If you are looking for authentic, traditional Chinese food, this is the place to go.

Beihai Park

 Recommended time: 1,5 – 2 hours

Beautiful scenery complemented by gardens, pagodas, and gorgeous artwork has much to offer. There are restaurants and bars as well as playgrounds for children. In the middle of the lake is the Island of Exquisite Jade with a beautiful 17th-century White Pagoda. The island is accessible by boats of all imaginable forms or through a bridge connecting it with the walk side. You can also take a paddle and enjoy the lake or relax and leave it to locals.

We decided to walk through the bridge and explore the island’s splendid architecture. It turned out this is a popular place for locals to relax and enjoy their time.

The Travel Momento insider tip : If you leave by the southern exit, you will come out by the Forbidden City’s western part.

As we were visiting Beijing during the national holidays in October, the Forbidden City was closed on that day. If you are visiting outside of the celebration, you can finish the first day by visiting the Forbidden City .

We decided to take the bus to visit the biggest commercial street in Beijing, Xidan commercial street , which also represents the financial district of Beijing. 

Business / Financial Area

 Recommended time: 30 minutes

As Gregor is working in finance, visiting the bank’s headquarters has become a must on every trip 🙂

Take a walk around this area to witness China’s other side: the modern, technological, and futuristic. Here you can find the headquarters of China Construction Bank, The People’s Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, and Agricultural Bank of China.

We decided to return to Houhai Lake to start our foodie trip down the traditional Chinese cuisine flavours.

EVENING/NIGHT ALTERNATIVE : You can stay on a vibrant Xidan comercial street full of malls with Chinese and European shops and restaurants. Just don’t forget that European brands are way more expensive here.

Beijing Day 2: Chasing the views

We recommend beginning the second day of your Beijing itinerary with a trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Summer Palace, and imperial gardens.

Summer Palace

 Recommended time: 3 hours

Connected to the city centre with a subway, the largest royal park in China is easily reachable for all of you travelling with children. You need to purchase a subway ticket and then an additional ticket for the tram connecting you with the closest gate.

With 733-acres you can easily spend here the whole day. We recommend you take some time to walk around the lake towards the palace and enjoy the ensemble of pavilions, gardens, bridges, corridors, and temples. 

The Summer Palace has four parts : Kunming Lake Area, the Court Area, Front and Rear Area of Longevity Hill. The later offers great views overlooking the lake. There is not a more photogenic traditional place that this one and one of the few with many places to hide and enjoy tranquil harmony. 

You can purchase a ticket covering all the levels or pay for a particular level before entering it. 

The Travel Momento insider tip:  Climb the Longevity Hill to reach the Buddhist Temple for stunning views overlooking the lake and surroundings. 

Old Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan Park

 Recommended time: 1 hours

Existing to the east of the current Summer Palace, you can continue to the ruins of the old palace. It is an essential part of Yuanmingyuan Park that consists of three gardens: Garden of Perfect Brightness, Garden of Eternal Spring, and Garden of Elegant Spring.

The Travel Momento insider tip: Make sure to enter on the right side. Otherwise, you have to walk through a huge park to see the ruins.

On the way back to the city centre, we stopped to see the masterpiece of all times – the Olympic Park.

Olympic Park

 Recommended time: 30 minutes to 1 hour (if you visit the indoor)

The so called Bird’s Nest and Water Cube building hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. Despite not being in use anymore, it doesn’t look less powerful than it did back in the days. A great architectural piece with a park to sit down or walk around the building. You can see it straight after exiting the subway station.

Beijing Day 4: Step back into the history

Continue your adventure by exploring the rich past of China. 

Tiananmen Square

 Recommended time: 20 minutes 

Tiananmen Square is the main square of Beijing and the most prominent spot that every Chinese wants to see at least once in life. With over 440,000 square meters is also the largest city square in the world. 

Over history, Tiananmen represented the entrance to the Imperial City, within which is located the Forbidden City. When you look at the gate entrance, you will see two lions in front of it and two lions guarding the bridges. This is not surprising as the Chinese see lions as protectors from evil spirits.

In the middle of the square is the Monument to the People’s Heroes devoted to all the fallen soldiers in World War 2. It represents one of the largest monuments ever built in China.

Around the square, you can find the most important political and historical buildings –   The Great Hall of the People , where meetings of the China National People’s Congress take place, Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall with the crystal coffin of Chairman Mao’s body, and the Museum of China .

Forbidden City

This is a fantastic and most visited historic landmark in Beijing! So much to see and so much to learn. It should definitely be on anyone’s list of must-sees in China regardless of the available time.

There is only one entrance to the city, the Southern Gate, where you will already see a large queue of people waiting to go through security. It’s closed on Mondays, and from our experience it’s also opened during the national holidays in October.

Home to 24 of China’s former emperors since 1406 has five sections: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Meridian Gate, Imperial Ancestral Temple, Zhongshan Park, Gate of Heavenly Peace.

The Travel Momento insider tip:  You need to bring your passport for identification purposes. 

National Museum of China

 Recommended time: 2 hours

Want to dive deep into China’s development into modernity? Then this is the place to visit. It features a great display of ancient Chinese cultural relics, archaeological discoveries, Chinese calligraphy and paintings, Buddhist statues, Ming and Qing furniture, and ethnic customs.

Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

 Recommended time:  10 minutes

You can also visit the inside and pay respects to the founder of China.

Going around the mausoleum you will arrive at Zhengyang Gate and Dashilan Street, where you can drive down the street with an ancient tram.

Temple of Heaven

 Recommended time:  1,5 to 2 hours

Temple of Heaven was an important temple during the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors would pray for good harvesting during the winter solstice. It consists of three main buildings: The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Circular Mound Altar, and The Imperial Vault of Heaven . In the latter, you can find the famous Echo Wall, which can transmit even the quietest of sounds and voices enabled by three unusual echoing stones.

Nowadays, the complex gardens are a place for locals to hang out, play board games (especially chess) and perform dances. It’s a great place to get some insights into how Chinese people spend their free time. So interesting to see how they cheer and bet, and how loud it can get.

Although we arrived late in the afternoon and it was crowded, we could still get empty pictures with the temple.

Beijing Day 4: Reaching the top of China

After getting a feel for the city, it was time to see one of the world’s greatest wonders – The Great Wall of China. You cannot truly experience Beijing or even China if you haven’t seen the Great Wall.

We were waiting for this since we landed, and it had completely surpassed everything we expected. There are no words to describe the feeling when you stand on the wall and look around what people built centuries ago.

For this day trip, we booked a guided tour on Viator to get information that only locals would know.

Great Wall Hiking Tour from Jinshanling to Simatai West

 Tour time:  9 hours

This part of the wall is further away from Beijing than other sections. But it has its own perks – it’s less crowded and quieter.

Some parts of the wall are really steep and slippery, especially if you are walking in sandals. I (Tjasa) speak from first hand experience as I had to get on my hands to climb up. But the views on the top of the watchtowers are worth it!

Along the way, you can find locals selling snacks and drinks, so make sure to have money with you. Even with several water bottles, we had to buy some cold refreshments as there are no shadows to hide from the sun.

Silk Market

 Recommended time:  9 hours

Like every woman, I (Tjasa) had such big plans for everything I would be able to buy. The truth is that the prices are not as low as you might have heard or saw on the websites with Chinese clothes and shoes.

This place exists just for the tourist. You won’t find many locals there. The majority of the products are duplicates. If you decide to purchase something, always negotiate. Some retailers are willing to change the initial price substantially and will also run after you to persuade you to buy the item.

Night visit of Tianmen Square

We concluded the day with the visit of the main square at night. 

You might be surprised, but there were more people than during the day. The square and surrounding building light up. It’s worth seeing the iconic place at night.

Beijing Day 5: Outskirts of the city

To conclude our Beijing itinerary we headed to the surroundings of Beijing for some cultural inspiration and finish the day by absorbing the spirit on the main street. 

798 Art District

 Recommended time:  1 to 3 hours (if you want to visit the galleries)

An interesting place representing the heart of alternative and modern art and culture in China. It used to be an industrial area that was turned into a unique district of murals, sculptures, graffiti walls, and wall arts. Even if you are not interested in art, we would recommend visiting this area. It’s a nice walk through the community representing a contract between the city’s past and present.

Drum and Bell Tower

 Recommended time:  30 – 45 minutes

Originally used as musical instruments, they quickly became the official time announcers of Beijing. We recommend climbing both of them for some nice views of traditional hutongs and Houhai Lake. While enjoying the view, don’t forget to catch the drum performance. It runs at 09:30, 10:00, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:45.

When visiting this site, you can also take a walk through the most well-restored hutong, Nanluogo Xiang, where you can sit down for lunch or snack in many restaurants and cafes. Due to its restoration, this hutong is super touristy and busy and doesn’t represent the traditional way of living.

Wangfujing Pedestrian Street

  Recommended time:  completely up to you

Shopping heaven with the best food diversity. From local to international shops like Starbuck, Wangfujing pedestrian street is a popular destination, especially for young people. It also offers delicious food ranging from duck and chicke to desserts. 

Sum up of this 5 day Beijing itinerary

The aim of our Beijing itinerary is to give you a chance to explore it all. The unique landmarks and highly tourist sights while providing you with the opportunity to dive into the culture and tradition. 

You can combine different days or start clockwise. It’s up to you to decided what suits you the best. 

Enjoy exploring this amazing city!

Still have some questions regarding your trip to China? Click here for the most comprehensive overview of everything you need to know to explore China like a local. 

We are two travel passionistas, who are always in the minds of planning their next travel trip and creating memories. Get honest tips and all the details, learn from our mistakes and enjoy our travel guides so you can have the best time!

Get to know us

This is a great itinerary for Beijing. I lived in China so have been many times and you hit all the best places for sure. I used to love looking for quiet places in the city with great views, and of course the shopping. I often found the Pearl Market was a little quieter and a little less touristy than the Silk Market so I often got slightly better deals, but both were great for finding cheap clothes, shoes and jewellery

The structures and temples are so beautiful. I love the architecture and colors and the way it all ties into the culture. What a great list of things to see!

It really is so outstanding to see it in person and the meaning behind it.

I’ve been all around the region but been saving Beijing for a special trip. You definitely convinced me it’s next on my list!

can’t get over the oriental architecture 😍

It definitely is breathtaking, especially when you see it in person.

I can’t believe they don’t use the “birds nest” anymore??? Such a waste lol. But great article, thanks for sharing all this information

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4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Forbidden City & Great Wall

No.1 Beijing City Tour for In-depth Exploration

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Beijing, the capital of China, is China’s second largest city after Shanghai, with 20 million locals, 16 massive districts and 17000 square kilometers full of modern to ancient sights. It boasts a history of more than 3000 years and served as the capital of China’s three most recent imperial dynasties - the Yuan, Ming and Qing. It is truly a mega-city where the old and new coexist in perfect harmony, making visitors fully explore its rich history , cultural splendors and modern amenities .

This 4 days tour is the CLASSIC BEIJING TOUR package and also ranked as the “no.1 city tour in China” providing remarkable experience in Beijing. It includes the must-visited iconic attractions - Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and Hutongs . Explore in guided and private way, and you can adjust your Beijing trip totally based on your likes and budget. Go with us now!

Itinerary at a Glance

Beijing (4 Days)

Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Temple of Heaven, Old Hutong

Itinerary Day by Day

Nihao! Welcome to Beijing , the capital city of China! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Beijing, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Beijing. The rest of the day is free on your own so you can have a good rest for the jet lag or explore by yourself around your hotel.

Arrival Ideas: Beijing is well connected by air and high speed rail. There are two airports - Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport operating many international and domestic airlines. Travelers can go to Beijing by air from most cities of China, like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Wuhan, Xiamen, Guiyang, Chongqing, and Lanzhou. In addition, travelers can take the high speed train to Beijing from Xian (4-5 hours), Shanghai (4.5-6 hours), Zhengzhou (2.5-3 hours), Wuhan (4-5 hours), Harbin (5-5.5 hours), etc.

Free Time Ideas: You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interest.

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the ancient citadel Beijing through China’s famous landmarks, epic imperial grandeur and royal gardens.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and then head to  Tian’anmen Square , which is the world’s largest public square and also the symbol of China. It has witnessed many big events in China over the past decades and from here you can take good pictures of Tiananmen Gate showing on CCTV News every day.

Walk across the square and you will visit the might and splendor of the awe-inspiring  Forbidden City , the world’s largest palace complex and one-time home to 24 emperors of China. Listed as a world heritage site, Forbidden City has about 500 years’ history, and served as the political and ritual center of China during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. With over 8,728 rooms, the Forbidden City is not only China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings, but also a city within the city, like the Vatican in Rome. Enter through Meridian Gate and visit along the central axis to ensure you won’t miss any highlighted palaces. You can admire its brilliant architecture and numerous ancient art treasures while listening to your guide and learning more about the emperors’ stories hidden inside the Imperial Palace. Later, take another 15-minute walk up to  Jingshan Park , where you can have a magnificent panorama of modern Beijing and princely views over the russet roofs of the Forbidden City.

In this afternoon, drive to the “Museum of Royal Garden” -  Summer Palace , which used to be the resort for royal families to flee summer heat. The grounds, temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate-towers, and corridors are a marvel of landscaping. Enjoy the leisure walk and take your time to appreciate the imperial architectures, hilltop views, and beautiful lakes, which offer a pastoral escape into the landscapes of traditional Chinese painting.

Recommended Optional Activity:  You can try the famous Peking Roasted Duck at Quanjude this evening.

In this morning, you will head northwest of Beijing (about 1.5-2 hours’ drive, 73km) to the  Great Wall at Mutianyu . The Great Wall boasts a history over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient masterpieces on the planet. Mutianyu Great Wall is connected with the Jiankou Great Wall in the west and the Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. Mutianyu is the longest and best fully-restored Great Wall with fewer tourists and is also famed for its 23 Ming-era watchtowers and stunning views. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower and then enjoy the memorable hiking time on the wall while visiting its western route. With the green pines and cypresses covering the surrounding area, and the winding wall standing majestically on the vast land, you will capture the most stunning natural scenery in this section. Challenge yourselves while climbing up to the 20th watchtower where you could fulfill your Great Wall dream. Cherish the chance and take photos as many as you like!

After the once-in-lifetime experience, head back to downtown Beijing and have the chance to take photos with the exterior of the  Bird's Nest  (Beijing National Stadium) and  Water Cube  (Beijing National Aquatics Center). They were both designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and used for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. After that, transfer back to your hotel and have a good rest tonight.

This morning you will head to  Temple of Heaven . Located in Beijing's Tiantan Park, the Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace. As a World Heritage, the Temple of Heaven (Taoist temple) is also known for its rigorous symbolic layout, peculiar structure, and magnificent decoration. The Temple of Heaven used to be a place to offer sacrifice to Heaven by 22 Chinese emperors twice a year for good harvests. You can learn more about the grand praying ceremony there, as well as observe the amazing designs such as the Echo Wall and the Triple Sound Stones. Nowadays, it is also a park for local people to do morning exercise and you are welcome to join them.

If there is more time, you can also enjoy the relaxing time exploring the ordinary local life through the old Hutongs . Take a rickshaw tour to travel through the narrow alleys with many featured shops standing on both sides.

Then, it is time to end your 4-day Beijing tour. Your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your flight or high speed train to your next destination.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia.

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Latest Beijing Tours Reviews from Our Customers

I'm a Singaporean traveller who booked a private solo tour. I chanced upon AOT after I googled and decided to travel last min. My planner from AOT named Rita was very patient towards all my request and changes, she is knowledgeable and provided excellent advice for my 8 days trip arrangement from Shanghai, Zhangjiajie N Chongqing. Although there were very minor hiccups just like any overseas holiday, it was still a well planned trip.

I would like thank all my tour guides and drivers (师父) for looking after me so well. Special mention to Zhangjiajie Tour Guide named Ms Rita Wang, she looks after her client with her sincerest heart into the smallest details such as eating habits and my lifestyle. (Example: Turning A/C on knowing we Singaporeans can't live without A/C in car & also I don't even have to look at menu to order food becos she knows what I want to eat) Also thank you 杨师父 who tagged team with Rita, he is a very good skilled safe driver and knows how look after me during long haul journey drive inter cities.

I would strongly reccomended anyone who wants to travel to look for Rita or her colleagues from Asia Odyssey Travel.

Lastly, thank you to all whom I've crossed path during my trip. I'm grateful to all people in China for the warm hospitality. 感恩大家的招待和爱。

I left my heart in Zhangjiajie

Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie

Date of Experience: Apr 06, 2024

Tour Customized by: Rita

You May be Interested in This Tour: 11 Days China Scenic & Cultural Tour in Group (Shanghai Zhangjiajie Xian Beijing)

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Our bespoke East to West China tour starting In Shanghai and ending in Shangri-La was well organised by Mr Leo Li.

Everything went smoothly for our 20 day tour the guides and drivers where knowledgeable and looked after us well, particularly Sarah in Kunming.

We saw some beautiful parts of China and our hotels were good plus traveling 1st class on the bullets trains was well worth the extra cost.

We would recommend the Asia Odessey travel company and will definitely use them again for a future China tour.

Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Yunnan

Date of Experience: Apr 01, 2024

Tour Customized by: Leo

You May be Interested in This Tour: Customized Tour

Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai

Date of Experience: Mar 25, 2024

Tour Customized by: Rex

You May be Interested in This Tour: 8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Small Group Tour

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19 quick and helpful Beijing travel tips (2024)

Posted by Gayle Aggiss | Updated December 16, 2023 | Travel

Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world and it’s packed with history and culture.

It’s also one of the largest cities in the world. Home to around 20 million people, Beijing plays host to a huge number of travelers every year.

This combination means you’ll probably find the capital of China more comfortable to travel in than other cities that don’t see as many tourists, as it’s set up for travelers.

However, beyond the surface level, it’s still very different to western countries in a number of ways. Those differences can easily trip up new visitors.

I’ve lived and worked in China, and I’ve traveled around Beijing. So, let me help you ensure your vacation is more fun and exploration than trouble and confusion.

Alright, here are the best Beijing travel tips!

1. Get the right visa

Get the L visa to travel up to a month. Image by i viewfinder on Shutterstock.

For most people, getting a Chinese visa isn’t easy compared to the visa process for some other countries.

There is Visa Free Transit if you’re from a certain country and you want to stopover in China for up to 72 hours on the way to somewhere else.

But most people have to get the L visa (tourist visa) which gives you up to 30 days to explore this magnificent country.

Make sure you start the visa process early too, because you don’t want to be rushing around at the last moment getting all the paperwork organized.

2. Work out how you want to pay

Even markets prefer digital payments. Image by Freer on Shutterstock.

Like elsewhere in China, the locals in Beijing love their technology and this impacts how they pay for things.

Most of the time, you’ll see them paying using their phone, a trend that hasn’t yet become widespread in many other countries.

So, expect most places to take digital payments when you’re in Beijing. Even small food stands prefer phone payments.

If you want to join in, you can set up Alipay or WeChat Pay on your phone and link your credit card. You’ll just need to provide some personal details including your passport details.

If you’re not comfortable handing over your details, you’ll need to use cash. Try to get low-denomination notes, as smaller stores often don’t have change for big notes.

The ATMs in Beijing only dispense 100 yuan notes.

Oh, and credit cards are hardly ever used in China, so while it’s good to have different payment methods as back-up, you probably won’t use your plastic cards (apart from at the hotel).

I highly recommend using Alipay or WeChat Pay. It makes things so much easier.

3. Don’t drink the tap water

Only drink bottled water in Beijing. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

Whatever you do, don’t drink the tap water in Beijing. And don’t swallow water when you’re in the shower because the effects will be horrible.

Not even the locals can drink the water in China, so it’s even worse for travelers who aren’t used to the local microbiome.

Get used to drinking bottled water when you’re in Beijing. You’ll find it sold everywhere, because like I said, even the locals drink bottled.

And while you can brush your teeth with tap water, I choose not to. And I’ve always left Beijing with a trouble-free tummy.

4. Prepare for the language barrier

Having bi-lingual directions can help. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

You will find some people who speak English in the city center, but probably not as many as you might think.

Only a small percentage of the local people speak English (or are willing to speak it). It’s usually the younger demographic, so there’s a lot of people who won’t be able to understand you at all.

Chinese people tend to be a little shy about their English-speaking abilities. If they think that they might make a mistake, they’ll often pretend they can’t speak or understand English at all rather than risk this.

This may leave you struggling to get around, especially if you’re traveling solo or you’re not part of a tour group.

But it actually isn’t as hard as you think to travel in a place where you don’t speak the language. Here are some ideas to help:

• Have your accommodation name and address in Chinese characters on your phone, or carry around your hotel’s business card
• Download a translation app that works in China and can be used offline
• Learn some basic words or even the numbers which will help you in stores
• Screenshot key phrases and keep them on your phone to show to people

Also, be prepared to use lots of body language and to look ridiculous when you do it!

5. Always carry your passport

Your most important possession in China! Image by Pexels.

Carry your passport wherever you go in Beijing.

You’ve probably heard this tip before traveling to a lot of different countries, but it’s one of the most important Beijing travel tips.

I can’t tell you how many times I was stopped by officials for a passport check in Beijing. Thankfully, I followed this piece of advice, otherwise the consequences could have been dire.

You’ll also need your passport to purchase tickets for attractions and even get on the high-speed trains, so just keep it close.

6. Visit the big attractions, and the smaller ones

The Temple of Heaven. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

There are countless things to see and do in Beijing. The biggest attractions that people tend to head for are:

• The Great Wall of China
• Forbidden City (also called Palace Museum)
• Tiananmen Square
• Temple of Heaven
• Summer Palace.

While I recommend visiting all these attractions (especially The Great Wall – it’s the best place), consider doing other things too, if you have the time.

For example, you could visit the quirky 798 Art District, sift through antiques at Panjiayuan Market, try the silk market, or even take a day trip to Tianjin . It’s just an hour away on the bullet train.

Just a few years ago, Universal Beijing Resort opened up. While it’s obviously very touristy, and quite expensive by local standards, it’s still a super-fun day out. You can read more in this Beijing travel guide .

The city is also known for hosting the Olympics, twice. While the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, is famous the world over, there’s usually not much to do there.

7. Forget personal space

Wangfujing Market is always busy. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

This piece of advice is one of the most important and jarring for travelers and it’s also one of the hardest to explain.

Just don’t expect to have your personal space respected when you’re in Beijing. In fact, the idea of personal space doesn’t really exist in Beijing (or in China as a whole, for that matter).

Beijing is a huge, busy city and everywhere is crowded. During your time there, you will get pushed, stepped on, bumped into, and cut off when walking.

And the locals won’t say “excuse me” when they do it. In fact, they probably won’t even notice they’ve done it at all.

Whatever you do, don’t get angry about this. It’s not personal and really is just part of the Chinese culture . And if you stay for long, you’ll probably pick up this behavior as well, it’s just so accepted in China.

It’s also much easier to get around if you’re a little more aggressive and don’t care about personal space.

In fact, this was part of my own reverse culture shock. When I got home from China, I walked towards an escalator and deliberately cut off someone else who was ahead of me.

He stared at me like I was the rudest person in the world, and I got a huge shock when I realized that my behavior had changed in such a short time.

I literally had to relearn my own country’s ‘acceptable’ behaviors!

8. Bring an adapter

Bring one of these so you can stay connected. Image by Paralaxis on Shutterstock.

Beijing uses lots of different kinds of power plugs.

Depending on where you stay, you’ll find A, C, and I plug sockets, so if you want to charge your electronics, then make sure you have adapters to match.

You may also need a voltage converter to keep your electronics safe, so make sure you buy an all-in-one adapter/converter.

9. Prepare yourself for the toilets

A local squat toilet. Image supplied by Gayle Aggiss.

You’ve probably heard over and over that Beijing is a big, modern city and it is.

But this doesn’t mean that it’s western and this applies particularly to the toilets. Yes, you will come across a lot of squat toilets in Beijing. And yes, you will probably have to use them.

I wish I could tell you that the squat toilets aren’t as bad as some people say, but for me they were a constant challenge.

My advice is to always have toilet paper with you (the toilets usually won’t have any) and avoid any puddles you see on your way into your stall.

You should also carry a bottle of sanitizer with you wherever you go, as many bathrooms in Beijing don’t have soap.

Also, remember that China’s sewerage system isn’t set up to handle toilet paper, so you usually can’t flush it down the toilet. Put it in the provided bin instead and then wash your hands really well because the bins are often overflowing.

I’ve written a whole article on Chinese toilets if you want to find out more.

10. Just accept the noises

Beijingers love slurping their soup. Image by Gowithstock on Shutterstock.

Chinese culture is very different to western cultures and nowhere is this more obvious than in restaurants or in the streets.

The first time I sat down in a restaurant and heard the slurping I was appalled. But I got used to it over time, even if I couldn’t do it myself.

Slurping just isn’t considered rude in China, which kind of makes sense considering it’s natural to slurp when you drink soup.

Seeing and hearing Chinese spitting is a little harder to accept. Dodging a motorcycle rider who pulls over to spit near your feet in the gutter is confronting, as is dodging the puddles on the sidewalk.

But you do get used to it if you’re there long enough. It’s just part of local life.

11. Monitor the air quality

Gray skies over the Palace Museum. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

In recent years, the air pollution in Beijing has really improved.

Essentially, factories and industry have moved further away, but there has been some government intervention too.

You can still get the odd bad day, particularly in the winter months or when there’s the occasional dust storm.

There’s nothing you can do to change the city’s air pollution; all you can do is be prepared for it. Here’s how:

• If you have respiratory issues, try to avoid the city in winter when the air quality is the worst
• Wear a proper mask
• Look out for official air warnings on the really bad days and visit indoor sites on those days
• Avoid strenuous activities like hikes on bad air days.

Here’s a good website to track the air quality in Beijing, but if you’re fit and healthy, you’ve got nothing to worry about!

12. Get a VPN

Stay connected in China with a VPN. Image by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.

Out of all the Beijing travel tips I could give you, this one is extremely important for anyone who goes into withdrawal without their favorite internet sites.

China’s firewall is real, and a lot of popular western websites and apps are blocked by it. This includes sites you probably take for granted and use for everything such as Facebook, YouTube, Google, Gmail, Snapchat, and Instagram.

If you want to use one if not all of these sites during your time in the Chinese capital, then you’ll need to use a virtual private network (VPN) .

Some of the most popular and effective VPNs for Beijing are:

Top tip : Make sure that you download it before you arrive in China, as it won’t download once you arrive.

13. Don’t tip

Tipping isn’t part of Chinese culture. Image by Saelanlerez on Shutterstock.

Tipping is unnecessary in Beijing and if you try to tip, it will confuse people.

The only time you should tip is when it’s requested. If you take a private tour, then your tour company may suggest you leave a tip, but otherwise, don’t worry about it.

I never tipped during my travels to Beijing, or anywhere in China.

14. Practice your photo smiles

Having photos in the Hutongs. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

China’s capital city sees a lot of travelers from inside of China, many of them tourists from more remote areas who haven’t seen westerners in person before.

This means that you might attract attention while in Beijing. And this kind of attention usually isn’t subtle. You may find that people take photos of you as you walk down the street or ask you to take a selfie with them.

You can say no to this of course, but if you have a minute, then why not say yes?

The people asking are usually very excited and polite and it doesn’t hurt anyone to smile at the camera and make someone’s day!

15. Be patient with transport

Packed trains in peak hour. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

You will need to be patient when it comes to getting around Beijing.

Between the language barrier, the crowds, and the sheer size of Beijing’s public transportation network, it can be challenging, particularly if you’re visiting for the first time .

To be quite frank, if you want to see a lot in a short time, then it’s better to organize a car through your hotel’s front desk or a tour operator , especially if you’re visiting The Great Wall of China which is quite far out of the city.

This will save you a lot of time and isn’t as expensive as you might think.

If you’re determined to use public transport then expect crowds, give yourself plenty of time to get anywhere, and try to avoid using public transport during peak hours.

You should also expect to get lost, and to have to find your way back again, so patience is needed here as well.

And you’ll also need patience if you’re taking cars anywhere too. Beijing’s rush hour is legendary and can turn a short trip into an hours-long expedition.

You can rest assured that Beijing has plenty of subway stations. Just have a navigation app ready on your phone so you know where you’re going once you hop off.

You’re probably familiar with Google Maps but there are other China map apps too.

16. Plan your trip to the Great Wall

Some parts of the wall are less touristy and great for hiking. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

I’ve mentioned the Great Wall of China a few times now, but this really needs to be a Beijing travel tip all on its own.

After all, the Great Wall is supremely iconic and what Beijing is best known for .

This awe-inspiring construction dates back centuries, and it meanders through numerous provinces over thousands of miles. It’s not just located near Beijing.

However, the best preserved parts are closest to Beijing, which is why everyone heads there.

Here are the most popular parts of the Great Wall of China:

• Mutianyu – the best restored, and you can even toboggan down (1.5 hours drive)
• Badaling – most popular with Chinese tourists and the busiest (1.5 hours drive)
• Jinshanling – the most beautiful and wild, great for hiking (2-3 hours drive)
• Simitai – also good for hiking, and offers night tours (2-3 hours drive).

It’s important to plan your trip to the wall carefully, as each section is different and caters to different kinds of tourists.

And, they’re all different distances from Beijing (though a one-day return trip is enough time for most sections).

The folks over at China Highlights have a nice article which goes into more detail about the different sections.

17. Beware of scammers

Scammers are known to be in this area of the city. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

If you’re a first-time traveler in China, you really need to hear this.

If anyone approaches you, especially near Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City, and asks you to come with them to try some tea, definitely say “no”.

It’s a well-known scam , where after sampling a few small cups of tea, you’re essentially locked in the teahouse until you pay the exorbitant amount they demand.

You may also be approached by people offering to be your tour guide, especially in the Forbidden City area. Be very, very careful.

18. Come in spring or fall

Weather conditions can vary greatly in Beijing. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

So, when is the best time to come to Beijing?

If you don’t like extreme hot and cold temperatures, then spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons to visit Beijing.

Just note that this is when most travelers like to visit the city too.

No matter what season you come, it’s a good idea to avoid Chinese New Year and the other Chinese public holidays because everywhere will be unbelievably crowded. Even the hotels will be more expensive.

19. Avoid the Ming Tombs

It’s pretty, but this is kind of it. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

A lot of tour groups stop in at the Ming Tombs on the way to the Great Wall.

Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to see here. And I’m sorry to say, there are no visible tombs.

I’d head straight for the Wall and spend more time there instead.

The final Beijing travel tip

This isn’t really specific to Beijing, but it’s something that I highly recommend for anywhere in China.

Just remember that the way you’ve always done things, the way that your family and culture have always done things, isn’t necessarily the right way to do them in China.

People tend to think that their way of doing things and looking at the world is the only or even the best way. But it isn’t.

During my time in Beijing and in China at large, I found that things that seemed strange at first came to feel natural and even appropriate over time.

Travel demands a flexible mind. And if you visit Beijing with a flexible mind, you’ll have a much better and stress-free trip.

I know you’ll have a great time in Beijing. And don’t forget your VPN!

I hope you liked my Beijing travel tips. Now, check out the China travel tips page for even more helpful advice.

Main image credit: Supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

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Faq about beijing travel, is beijing open for travel.

It sure is. Following a few years of being practically shut off from the rest of the world, Beijing, along with the rest of China, is now open for travel. There are no longer any Covid restrictions.

Is it safe to travel to Beijing?

It sure is. Beijing, like the rest of China, is very safe for foreign tourists. Crime against foreigners is practically unheard of. If you’re prone to respiratory problems, you may want to bring some good quality masks in case of the odd bad pollution day or dust storm.

Is Beijing worth visiting?

Absolutely! It’s the cultural capital of China and it’s very different to other Chinese cities. There’s unique food, a local dialect, and countless historical sites. You could spend weeks in Beijing and still not experience everything.

Why is Beijing a good place to visit?

It’s full of history and culture, making it an absolute treat for tourists. There’s the world-famous Great Wall of China within a few hours’ reach, Forbidden City (or Palace Museum), Temple of Heaven, ancient hutongs (back alleys), Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and so much more.

Commercial relationship disclosure: The Helpful Panda has commercial arrangements with organizations that may appear on this page, such as affiliate links. See our terms for more info.

Gayle Aggiss

Gayle loves learning and is intensely curious about the world. This curiosity has driven her to travel and work overseas, including China and Vietnam. Gayle is from Perth, Western Australia. You can follow her on LinkedIn .

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5 Cars From the Beijing Auto Show That Reflect China's Vision for the Future of Driving

China’s vision of the future of the automobile — electrified and digitally connected — is on display at the ongoing Beijing auto show

5 Cars From the Beijing Auto Show That Reflect China's Vision for the Future of Driving

Ng Han Guan

The Xiaomi SU7 is displayed with the slogan, "The car and the person as one, my heart is surging," in Beijing, Thursday, April 25, 2024. China's vision of the future of the automobile — electrified and digitally connected — is on display at the ongoing Beijing auto show. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

BEIJING (AP) — China's vision of the future of the automobile — electrified and digitally connected — is on display at the ongoing Beijing auto show .

Organizers say that 117 new models are making their debut at Auto China 2024, which runs through May 4. They range from eye-poppingly cutting edge to more subtle novelties.

THE CONNECTED CAR

One of the biggest mob scenes was for the opening day presentation by Xiaomi, a major Chinese maker of smartphones and trendy, affordable smart appliances aimed at younger generations that's entering the car market for the first time.

Xiaomi announced that it had received more than 75,000 orders in the four weeks since the launch of its first car, the SU7, with a list price of 215,900 to 299,900 yuan ($29,800-$41,400).

Why is a phone company making a car? Analysts say connectivity. Consumer technology companies want to connect the lives of their customers across all their devices — phones, laptops, televisions and now cars.

Photos You Should See - April 2024

“It starts with the concept of the third place,” said Beatrix Keim, the China director at German auto research center CAR. “Because nowadays people are at the office, at home and then mainly they’re spending the time in the car.”

The approach works well in China, a highly digital society where e-payments are the norm and the convenience of connectivity trumps privacy concerns for most.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has ventured into the car business too. Apple explored the idea but dropped it earlier this year.

THE CAR AS LIVING SPACE

Some Chinese makers are taking the idea of a third space to new heights.

Zeekr unveiled the Mix, an electric vehicle with an interior that can transform into a small room while parked. The front seats swivel to face the back ones, with a table in between that a company executive told the crowd could be used to play card games or enjoy a Chinese hot-pot meal.

Stefan Sielaff, the design director of Zeekr, described the Mix as “a nice experiment” focusing on younger families.

“I wouldn’t even call it a car or an MPV or a van,” he said. “It’s more a lifestyle capsule. It’s an iPod on wheels.”

It will be the fifth model for Zeekr, a 2 1/2-year-old premium EV brand of China's Geely group, a major maker that owns Volvo and has designers in Sweden and Shanghai.

The Mix will go on sale in China by the end of June, the company said. Its selling price has not been announced.

THE HYBRID APPROACH

An EV boom in China that started three years ago has eaten into the market for gasoline-powered cars, but they are not dead yet.

So says Chery Automobile Co., China's biggest exporter, which told its auto show audience that it would continue to develop gasoline cars as well as EVs and hybrids.

Its EXEED Yaoguang C-DM, a hybrid SUV launched last month, was one of four vehicles it highlighted — two hybrids and two EVs.

The Yaoguang SUV sells for 159,800 to 225,800 yuan ($22,000-$31,000) in China and is also aimed at overseas markets, a company news release said.

Hybrids, which have lagged EVs in China, are now seen as a growth opportunity. Last year, 2.6 million new hybrids were sold in China, about half the number of EVs. Together, they accounted for 36% of the market.

THE LUXURY TANK

Chinese EV maker BYD , known for its low-cost battery technology and cars, is also going after the high-end market in China, defined as 1 million yuan ($140,000) and up.

Its Yangwang brand introduced the latest version of the U8, a monster of an off-road SUV that was launched last September and is designed for survival in rugged conditions. It comes with a satellite phone in case a driver gets stuck beyond cell phone range.

The U8 is built on a platform that enables it to turn on the spot, like a tank. It's priced at 1.1 million yuan ($150,000). For 100,000 yuan ($13,800) more, buyers can add a built-in drone system.

A SIMPLER APPROACH

Volvo , the Swedish brand now under Geely, offered an answer for those overwhelmed by technology.

“The current EV market is marked by a prevalent trend of excess and addition,” said Roger Yu, Volvo's managing director for sales in greater China.

He introduced the EX30 electric SUV as a user-friendly vehicle with a sophisticated sound system and a tablet screen that are both easy to use.

“By subtracting for ease of use and adding for safety, Volvo aims to give users the clearest interface, the most user-friendly operation, and the most reassuring intelligent experience,” he said of the in-car screen.

The company announced that the EX30 would sell in China for 210,000 to 260,000 yuan ($29,000-$36,000).

Associated Press researcher Yu Bing and video producer Olivia Zhang contributed.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tags: Associated Press , business , cars , electric vehicles , world news

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• What's My Car Worth?
• Buyer's Guide

Beijing Auto Show Is a Home Run, but Mostly for Domestic Brands

North America remains a forbidden land for China's automakers, but the technical advances are worth watching. So are all the new models and companies.

• Another trend is the proliferation of domestic brands never heard of before.
• Auto Beijing opened to media on April 25, and the public days run through May 4.

A proper EV for under $7500 in U.S. money? No problem; there are stacks of those in China. An electric Smart (remember that three-cylinder microcar?) with a nuclear 646-hp drivetrain under its belt? Check out the rugged #5 (below). Plug-in hybrids with a range of 1250 miles? BYD, Chery, and Geely would be proud to oblige. The world's first production-ready long-range solid state energy pack? Developed and made in China, these are due to come onstream next year at the latest. A luxury SUV that can swim across a lake, or a battery-powered flying car? Piece of cake—the megabucks YangWang U8 floats like a duck, while the super-light XPeng Aeroht takes off like a kite. Look elsewhere for fake news; these and other dream objects are for real at the Beijing auto show, which opened to the public today.

Once again, the domestic automakers pulled out all the stops for what must now be the greatest car show on earth. Staged annually alternating with Shanghai, China Auto never ceases to surprise and delight. In 2024, we are seeing never-heard-of brands like Onvo, Fang Cheng Bao, Mona, and Stelato, together with a glut of new models in all segments and a wide choice of advanced technologies, be they software-driven or spurred by breakthrough hardware.

But all that glitters is not gold. The sheer number of manufacturers and products is struggling to gain a firm footing in an already crowded market. Oversupply and slowly waning demand keep triggering cutthroat price wars, more and more cars look confusingly similar inside and out, and although the government supports this industry where it can, only a dozen or so of the close to 100 players are fit enough to survive the inevitable selection process.

Right now, however, the community is in a party mood. With COVID no longer an impediment, the economy is almost back on track again, consumer confidence has returned, and thanks to a boost of national pride, local brands are fast gaining momentum. The authorities comply by prolonging subsidies and fast-tracking the charging infrastructure, which is set to grow from 1.1 to 1.5 million hookup points by 2028.

.css-1rvrtxn{font-family:Gliko,Gliko-fallback,Gliko-roboto,Gliko-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-size:1.625rem;line-height:1.2;margin:0rem;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#DBCA8B;text-decoration-thickness:0.25rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1rvrtxn{font-size:2.25rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1rvrtxn{font-size:2.625rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1rvrtxn{font-size:3rem;line-height:1.1;}}.css-1rvrtxn b,.css-1rvrtxn strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-1rvrtxn em,.css-1rvrtxn i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;} The cheapest zero-emission model—China's answer to the Japanese kei car—is currently priced under $6000. Four of last year's bestselling NEVs are priced under $11,000.

At the same time, the car industry is launching one affordable New Energy Vehicle (NEV, an acronym that includes plug-in hybrids) after the other. The cheapest zero-emission model—China's answer to the Japanese kei car—is currently priced under $6000. Four of last year's bestselling NEVs are priced under $11,000, and there are three more that would set you back less than $21,000. While the popular Wuling Hongguang is too basic for exportation, others like the $10,000 BYD Seagull and the $20,500 GAC Aion S are bound to worry the foreign competition.

Solid State Batteries, Battery Swapping

In addition to independent battery suppliers including CATL, Gotion, and Whale, Chinese carmakers have become experts at building their own energy packs. In Beijing, Nio revealed its latest 150-kW WeLion power pack. It made headlines until a previously unknown startup named Talent New Energy presented its lithium metal solid-state battery. That miracle cell is allegedly good for up to 1250 miles between charges.

The fastest-charging vehicle is no longer a Tesla or the new Taycan but the Zeekr 001, which went from 400 to 800 volts to complete the standard 10 to 80 percent charge in only 11 minutes. Trouble is, it needs a rare ultrafast 600-kW charger to fill up for the next 296 miles, so Geely (Zeekr's parent) promised to install 1000 of these special docking stations by the end of the year.

BYD unwrapped its second-generation Blade battery, which found its first home in the Ocean M hot hatch (below), based on a new rear-wheel-drive architecture, which looks like a Hyundai N fighter.

If charging is not your thing, battery swapping might be a more attractive option. At least that's the business model proffered by Nio and its system partners Changan, JAC, Chery, and Geely, with Volvo and Polestar in tow. Even though Nio wants to have 4000 swapping stations in place worldwide before 2025 runs out, commercial success may be thwarted by fast-forward battery evolution, the compromised one-size-must-fit-all packaging, and high costs for the stand-alone infrastructure.

Even though the company is reportedly losing thousands on every vehicle sold, the new Onvo brand launched at Auto China and next year's Firefly, aimed exclusively at European customers, both feature battery-swapping systems. Will Nio ever be profitable? Since it was established in 2014, cumulative sales have yet to exceed 500,000 units, and that doesn't bode well for a player that spreads its investment over 10 different look-alike models, not counting the two sub-brands.

Domestic Brands Proliferate

BYD (Build Your Dreams) sold 2.5 million cars in China last year, a 43 percent increase that propelled the local hero past VW (2.2 million), Toyota (1.7 million), and Honda (1.2 million). The other two Chinese brands in the 2023 top 10 were Changan, which specializes in affordable small and mid-size cars (1 million), and Geely, another multibrand outfit (915,000). At the Beijing show, BYD displayed the Qin L and Seal 06 PHEV sister models, but the more significant new arrival was without a doubt the good-looking Sea Lion 07 crossover (below), which challenges the bestselling Tesla Model Y with a truly luxurious interior and an aggressive price.

All models built by BYD and its sub-brands are the work of Wolfgang Egger (formerly of Alfa, Seat, Lancia, Lamborghini, and Audi) and his team. European and American designers are the flavor of the decade in China. Influenced from day one by Porsche's lineup, their work may look imitative, but it sells.

In addition to the core brand and its three channels, the Shenzen-based dream merchants are nursing three upmarket divisions: YangWang, Denza, and Fang Cheng Bao, a young outdoors-oriented marque launched last June. YangWang sells pure electric luxury, like the $140,000 U8 G-class rival, the U9 supercar (above), which has yet to go into production, and the U7 S-class-size sedan, which debuted here.

Denza will eventually have five lineups under the initials D, E, N, Z, and A, offering a wide selection of near-premium EVs and PHEVs. Its latest effort is the Z9 GT high-end shooting brake evidently inspired by the Porsche Taycan and Panamera.

Fang Cheng Bao (Chinese for "formula leopard") launched the Bao 3 at Auto China, a funky compact electric SUV priced from around $27,000, and the Super 9 roadster (below), a one-off that looks a bit like a reborn SLR McLaren Stirling Moss or a reimagined Italdesign Aztec.

Vacuuming Robots, Crossbrand Allegiances

Autonomous driving is another big thing in China, where commuters spend hours in stop-and-go traffic. Cooperation is the name of the game when it comes to pairing AD software with a predominantly upmarket set of wheels. Recently forged alliances include pony.ai with Toyota, to be followed soon by Toyota with Huawei and Momenta; Haomo DriveGBT and Great Wall Motor; GAC/Aion and Didi (Uber's chief rival here); and Horizon Robotics and Volkswagen.

In record time and on a tiny budget, the Chinese software specialist developed the self-driving talents of the brand-new VW ID.Code 01 concept (below). Conceived "in China for China," the chic and sleek CUV features a stowaway steering wheel and a robot that vacuum-cleans the vehicle when parked. Due later this year is the China-only ID.UX sub-brand, which will enter the market with the VW sibling of the locally built Cupra Tavascan.

More and more often, Chinese carmakers are collaborating with crossbrand allies like software giants, telecommunication companies, and internet trading specialists. This year's undisputed co-op shooting star is the Xiaomi SU7 (below), which found 100,000 takers before the first car was delivered to a customer. A sleek Taycan clone priced from around $28,000, the SU7 boasts Xiaomi's own L2++NoA (navigate on autopilot) system certified for 100 Chinese cities. Other integrated tech includes the brand's Ecosystem and Hyper MMI. Similar money buys the IM L6 notchback and the Luxeed L7; IM belongs to the SAIC Group, while Luxeed is a joint venture between Chery and Huawei of laptop and smartphone fame. Both models offer Level 2+ capability, 60-mph acceleration times of under three seconds, and between 535 and 625 miles of maximum range, in the case of the L6 thanks to a new 133.0-kWh solid-state battery. Are you still wondering why the rest of the automotive world is worried sick?

Almost all fresh products on display in the International Exhibition Center break old records and set new standards in terms of efficiency, performance, software-defined qualities, value for money, range, and charging time. But in the eyes of the increasingly ambitious Asian strategists, that ́s not good enough to keep the competition at bay, Innovation is a fickle thing, and who knows where the next revolutionary battery (South Korea!) or the next magic electric motor (Germany!) might come from? So in China, the domestic brands are not merely ticking all the conventional boxes; they also put a lot of effort into soft values like positive user experience and feel-good emotions—the kind of stuff their European and American rivals hesitate to spend money on.

For instance, zoom in on the aforementioned YangWang U8 (above), which can be ordered with a $14,000 roof-mounted drone with over-the-air face recognition.

There are many more fuzzy skills to be discovered. Like multi-modality interiors with face, fingerprint, eyesight, and even emotion identification. Or in-dash AI via self-learning LLMs (large language models), long-reach multi-mode ultra-wide-band digital keys, rotating touchscreens as seen in the BYD Qin L, or major updates of good old gesture control. One extreme example is the active suspension pioneered by Nio on the ET9, which can step like a stork over sleeping police officers or shake a load of snow off its body after a cold winter night.

Doubters, please simply watch that You Tube video. Almost anything is possible in China, where avatars are commonplace digital in-cab assistants on all screens all the time, sometimes a little loud but always one digital step ahead. Luxing yukuai– safe journey!

Although I was born the only son of an ornithologist and a postal clerk, it was clear from the beginning that birdwatching and stamp collecting were not my thing. Had I known that God wanted me to grow to 6’8", I also would have ruled out anything to do with cars, which are to blame for a couple of slipped discs, a torn ligament, and that stupid stooped posture behind the wheel. While working as a keeper in the Aberdeen Zoo, smuggling cheap cigarettes from Yugoslavia to Germany, and an embarrassing interlude with an amateur drama group also failed to yield fulfillment, driving and writing about cars became a much better option. And it still is now, many years later, as I approach my 70th birthday. I love every aspect of my job except long-haul travel on lousy airlines, and I hope it shows.

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View Photos from the 2024 Beijing Auto Show

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