【Beijing Travel Guide 2026】
Transport, Things to Do, Food & More

Do you know where the surprises of Beijing lie?

Beijing is an amazing city. Shocking scenes? Being illuminated by the golden light of the Forbidden City in the early morning, turning a corner and crashing into the magical world of Universal Studios, and food to exist? The quadrangle hutongs are filled with the fresh scent of Purple Garden yogurt, and the little hanging pear soup hides the essence of Beijing cuisine.

📌Entry to Beijing is available with a 144-hour transit visa waiver. Citizens of 54 countries (e.g., the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Europe, etc.) can stay for a maximum of 30 days with an ordinary tourist visa and will face penalties if they overstay.

Beijing Airport to City Center

Transportation from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to the city center (Dongzhimen or Sanyuanqiao)

Transportation from Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) to City Center

How do I organize my Beijing itinerary?

• It is best to book 4-5 days to have enough time to play around Beijing. If you like literati attire, you can go to the Forbidden City to take photos of the C position (a small program needs to be booked in advance), and it's not a good man until you reach the Great Wall! You can choose the Badaling Great Wall or the Mutianyu Great Wall. For art and modern style, head to the 798 Art District.
• Beijing's subway network is very good (tickets cost $3-7) and the city is very congested in the morning and evening, so it's easier to use shared bikes for short trips! Especially in hutongs like Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai.
• For food, don't miss out on Ziguangyuan Yogurt, Little Hanging Pear Soup, Peking Duck (Quanjude), Copper Pot Shabu Shabu (e.g. Jubao Basin, Nanmen Shabu Shabu, etc.), and Hutong Snacks (e.g. YinSan Bean Juice, Fried Noodles, etc.).
• For a convenient stay in Beijing, you can choose the Sanlitun or Guomao area; for a family trip, you can experience the authentic flavors of old Beijing courtyards and hutongs.

Top 4 Popular Attractions in Beijing

1. The Forbidden City Museum (8:30-17:00, closed on Mondays)

• Subway Line 1 Tiananmen West Station, “Forbidden City Museum” APP or GZT booking 7 days in advance to grab tickets. The Forbidden City is the most well-preserved architectural complex in China, with red walls, green bricks and tiles, and a magnificent atmosphere.

2. Universal Studios Beijing ($528 for weekdays / $638 for peak season / $748 for special days)

Enter face recognition in the official APP in advance for faster 🎫.

Universal Studios, Must-Brush Items!

• Harry Potter Forbidden Journey: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Step into the magical world of Harry Potter, ride a roller coaster through the Forbidden Forest, get in close contact with magical creatures, and experience a 5D visual feast! The degree of restoration is extremely high!
• Flight of the Eagle and the Horse ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Want to experience the thrill of flying, but do not want to be too exciting? Eagle and Horse is your choice (ride at sunset and enjoy the golden special effects of the castle)
• Decepticon Roller Coaster ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• If you're a thrill-seeker, how can you miss the Decepticon roller coaster? It's fast and impactful! Let you scream and scream~
• Little Yellow Man ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Both young and old 4D movie projects, follow the little yellow project with joyful play, and feel their unique charm, the perfect choice for family outings!

3. The Great Wall of Beijing ($45 at Badaling and $45 at Mutianyu)

The Great Wall is a great place to visit! Book 1-3 days in advance! If you have enough time, you can go to the relatively quiet Mutianyu. We recommend hiking up the mountain and then doing the slide down, which is a great way to get a taste of the city. The Badaling Great Wall is easily accessible by bus 877 from Deshengmen or by car. Wearing comfortable shoes, you may have to walk for three or four hours, and there are only a few water vendors inside the Great Wall.

4.798 Art District (free, $20-50 for select exhibitions)

The 798 Art District is a cultural gathering place filled with modern art. It is a gathering place for young hipsters. Filled with industrial and wasteland styles, the art district is retro when it comes to taking photos, and it is conveniently filled with creative studios, galleries, art exhibitions, cafes, and restaurants.

Beijing food energy list! 🍜rice lover or foodie

1. Sanlitun-ins style photo shoots are a blast!

• Sanlitun shopping preferred + best photo spot!
• The minimalist color palette of TWOI's online store is absolutely beautiful for photo shoots all the young beauties are here! It's the perfect place to take photos of your friends! She also has a coffee lab where you can sit and drink coffee when you're tired, so it's best to go on a weekday when it's less crowded.

2. straight- Beijing Snack Street - Ox Street

• A juicy bite of beef bun + bean juice = a straight-up flavor that not many people can try! The copper pot shabu-shabu at Juboyuan is the soul of the dish, and the shoestring dipped in sesame sauce is also delicious!
• Tao Xiang Cun is famous for its pastries and you can buy one as a souvenir. The snowflake pastry, coconut pastry, and green tea cake are so good they will make you cry!

3. Guiguo Temple Snack Street (Xicheng District)

• A collection of Beijing snacks, combining palace flavors and marketplace flavors.
• Beijing Snacks Museum! Noodle tea + donkey rolls, Fuhuazhai meat and potatoes store, palace snack replicas! Rose and walnut face value are online ~ non-heritage artifacts, unique smoked meat barbecue, crispy and out.

What areas to stay in Beijing?

Beijing's accommodation is unique. Sanlitun is a fashionable place where you can shop to your heart's content. Autumn and winter are the home of Beijing, with ginkgoes dotting the corners of the Forbidden City, making it a beautiful place to take a picture with your hand. There are hotels with various specialties to meet any of your needs!

Weather in Beijing

Beijing has four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are great for photo tours, while summer and winter are all about air conditioning and hot pots. Just choose the right season and take care of sun protection.

Travel tips👇

• Spring and fall seasons are windy and sandy, the air is dry and moisturizing, remember to bring a light windproof jacket;
• In summer (April-May), when visiting open-air attractions such as the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, please bring rain gear and bug spray;
• Beijing sometimes encounters sandstorms, so be sure to have your outdoor mask ready!

What to Prepare for a Trip to China?

• Visa & Entry Tips China’s ​240-hour visa-free transit policy now covers ​54 countries, incl. the US, UK, Canada, and Brazil, allowing up to 10 days during layovers. Learn more about China Entry Tips to land in China easily.
• Getting Connected to VPNs is vital for accessing Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc in China. Set one up before arriving. China eSIMs are the easiest option for data and bypassing restrictions. Pocket Wi-Fi devices work best for groups but are pricier and require pickup/return.
• Money Exchange & Tax Refunds Exchange money in China banks (better rates than airports). ATMs accept foreign cards but notify your bank first. For tax refunds, spend over ¥500 at stores with a "Tax-Free" sign. Keep receipts and get forms stamped at customs before departure.

Must-Have Apps in China

• China Payment Apps Forget Cash. Chinese use ​Alipay (I like it better) or ​WeChat Pay to pay for everything in China. Scan a QR code at noodle stalls, metros, and even temples. Link your foreign Visa/Mastercard before landing.
• China Map Apps Amap (Gaode Map) & Baidu Map (limited English) are what locals use, with real-time navigation, metro/bus routes, and traffic updates. Apple Maps does a good job too if you're already an IOS user.
• China Transport Apps Street taxis are cheap, but drivers rarely speak English. Use China Taxi App like ​DiDi (China’s Uber)—set your destination in English, and pay by Alipay.
• China Travel Apps 15+ China trips taught me: Use Trip.com. It's the best English app for booking China trains/flights/hotels + finding Trip.com deals.
• China Dating Apps Locals use ​Tantan (China’s Tinder) and ​Momo. WeChat’s “People Nearby” works too, but expect language barriers unless your Mandarin is decent.
• China Food App Use Meituan (also helps find nearby restaurants) or Ele.me for food delivery—both have English mode. No English menu in restaurants? Scan the QR with Alipay's translator.