Things to see and do on your trip to Beijing?

Beijing is one of the most impressive and historically significant cities on the Asian continent. The Chinese capital is the political, social, economic and cultural heart of the country, so the city has a lot to offer. What is most striking is the contrast between the modernity that floods the streets with the tradition that can still be seen in its customs and embodied in the facades of its temples. If you’re preparing your trip to the Chinese capital, pack a comfortable pair of trainers because there’s so much to see in Beijing.

The city is huge and there’s a myriad of things to do, so we’ve put together this post to guide you through your trip and make things easier. Here are the must-sees in the city and other points of interest in the surrounding area in case Beijing is too small for you. We also recommend some of the best restaurants where you can try typical Chinese food, as well as some more affordable accommodation. China is quite a different country compared to Western traditions, so here are some tips that are sure to come in handy.

What are the best places to see in Beijing?

1. Temple of the Lamas

The Temple of the Lamas, the main Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, is a must-see on your trip to Beijing. It was built in the 17th century as a palace for Prince Yongzhen, and later became the temple it is today, home to Mongolian monks dedicated to the study of astronomy and medicine. The temple is striking for its traditional architecture, gilded roofs and giant sculptures scattered throughout the buildings that make up the temple.

The entrance fee is 25 yuan and the temple is open daily from 9am to 5pm. We recommend you go early as it is one of the most famous tourist attractions to see in Beijing and it gets very crowded.

2. The Forbidden City, a must-see in Beijing

 Located in Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City is one of the most spectacular and majestic buildings to see in Beijing. This architectural complex dates back to the 15th century, and more than 24 emperors have passed through it. Inside the complex you will be able to see different pavilions where official events took place, beautiful gardens and courtyards.

The entrance fee is €8.6 from April to October and €5.7 from November to March. To enter the clock room and the treasure gallery you have to pay an extra €1.4. From April to October the museum is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm, and the rest of the year from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

3. Jingshan Park

This park is located next to the Forbidden City and is one of the most beautiful parks in the city. It was built during the Jin Dynasty and covers more than 230,000 hectares. One of the most interesting things is the Coal Hill, a small artificial mountain whose access was exclusive to royalty. Today anyone can climb its 50-metre height and enjoy views of the Forbidden City.

The entrance to the park costs 2 yuan and the opening hours are from 6am to 9pm (April/October) and 6am to 8pm (November/May). We recommend visiting this park when visiting the Forbidden City as they are next door.

4. Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is a beautiful complex of buildings whose purpose was to perform rituals to thank the gods for the fruits obtained and to ask for good harvests. Throughout the complex, which is built in the middle of a park, there are beautiful vaulted buildings and luxurious halls, however, the most impressive is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, where the rituals were performed. The opening hours of the Temple of Heaven are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 35 yuan.

5. Markets to see in Beijing

Street markets that stay open late into the night are a common sight in Asia. The most famous in Beijing is the Wangfujing Night Market, where you can sample skewered insects such as scorpions and grasshoppers. Bargaining is allowed in these markets, but not in the regular shops where prices are posted.

Other markets to see in Beijing are the Panjiayuan Market, famous for its handicrafts and held every Saturday and Sunday, the Silk Market, where you can choose from thousands of fakes, or the Pearl Market, which is a bit of a disappointment despite being mentioned in many guidebooks because it’s nothing more than a four-storey shopping mall.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Beijing?

1. Summer Palace

This small oasis surrounded by nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city is the perfect place to unwind. The Summer Palace is a 300-hectare expanse of gardens on which you can find buildings such as the Buddha Fragrance Tower, temples and palaces from the imperial era. The complex was commissioned by the Qing dynasty, who used it as a summer resort. It’s definitely something to see in Beijing; you won’t be left indifferent by the beauty of its gardens.

The palace is 12km from Beijing and takes about half an hour by car. Admission costs 60 yuan in high season and 50 yuan in low season. Opening hours are from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm.

2. Ming Dynasty Tombs

This impressive necropolis is 50km from the city and is the resting place of 13 Ming dynasty emperors, 23 empresses, courtiers and court concubines. The enclosure covers an area of 40 square kilometres. We recommend you get lost among the mausoleums and appreciate the architecture of the buildings. It is also worth walking the Sacred Way, 6km flanked by 16th-century marble statues.

The site is open from 8am to 6pm in summer and until 5.30pm from November to March. Each area of the site has a different price ranging from 30 to 130 yuan, and the Sacred Way is charged separately.

3. The Great Wall of China, a classic

The Great Wall of China stretches 6,700 kilometres across the country, luckily there’s one area near Beijing where you can take a day trip. The Badaling sector is 80 kilometres from the capital, and is the best-preserved section of the wall, measuring 7 metres high. The wall tour lasts between 2 and 3 hours, depending on how many photos you want to take or how many tourists there are. The entrance fee is €5.7 and guided tours are also available.

What to see in 1 day in Beijing?

To visit Beijing in a single day is almost mission impossible. The city itself is very large, and you’ll need to take public transport to get around. Plus, there’s so much to see in Beijing. Still, if you’re short on time, here are the must-sees.

The first thing you should visit is the Forbidden City along with the Jingshan Gardens in Tiananmen Square. We also recommend a visit to the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of the Lamas. Another must in the city is its gastronomy: haven’t you tried the dumplings yet? Here we recommend some of the best restaurants in the city and at a very affordable price.

Where and what to eat in Beijing?

Beijing cuisine is world-famous for dishes such as Peking duck, hot pot and dim sums. As the capital of the country, Beijing offers a wide variety of restaurants of all nationalities. Unfortunately, the traditional Chinese restaurants are not exactly the cheapest. To save money on your meals, it is best to eat at markets or street stalls. Here are some good restaurants where you can eat for a good price.

• Mr. Shi’s dumplings: a simple, unpretentious little place where they cook the best dumplings in town at a very moderate price. You can eat well for less than 100 yuan. They don’t accept credit cards, though.
• Beijing Haidilao Hot Pot: You can’t miss the experience of trying a hot-pot in China. This restaurant is one of the best and most affordable in the city.
• Siji Minfu Restaurant Peking: is the best place to try Peking duck. It’s usually very busy so it’s advisable to arrive a couple of hours early to reserve a table. They will let you know when to go.

Where to stay in Beijing?

Beijing is such a big city that no matter where you stay, you’ll need to use public transport to get around. Even so, there are 5 recommended neighbourhoods to stay in as a tourist: Wangfujing (the most central neighbourhood), Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, Qianmen, Sanlitun (the neighbourhood with the most nightlife) or Xidan. Here is a selection of some of the best accommodation in the city.

• Peking Station Hostel: this is a pretty, floral-decorated hostel next to Dongdan metro station. It has both private and shared rooms from €71 and is in a lively shopping area.
• The Orchid Hotel is a beautiful apartment complex in the heart of Beijing’s Hutong district. Breakfast is included and they also have a bar and room service. The price per night is €177.
• Jingshan Garden Hotel: this hotel is an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of Dongcheng. The facilities include a bar and a very pleasant indoor terrace. They offer a great breakfast for €11 and nightly rates start at €90.

How to get to Beijing?

The best way to get to Beijing is by plane, which will drop you off at Beijing International Airport. Along with Shanghai, Beijing is one of the main gateways to the country, so it’s well connected to European countries. The minimum ticket price is €500. Once you’re at the airport, here are the alternatives for getting to the city centre:

• Airport Express: this is the fastest option. The train, which departs from all terminals, runs every 10-15 minutes and takes 25 minutes to reach the centre. The ticket costs €3.3. The train makes several stops and the final stop is Dongzhimen. It is also very well connected to the metro.
• City bus: many of the city’s city buses run to the airport. It’s cheaper but takes longer and is more difficult to find your way around. They run between 7:00 am and 12:00 midnight.
• Taxi: is the most comfortable option. The price ranges between 13€ and 20€ depending on our destination and the traffic. The journey takes between 45 minutes and 1h.

What should I consider before travelling to Beijing?

• The official currency is the Renminbi (yuan).
• Money can be withdrawn directly from ATMs or exchanged at bureaux de change.
• Beijing is a very safe city, but as with any tourist destination, be careful with your belongings.
• Careful when crossing the street, cars do not respect zebra crossings. The best time to travel to Beijing is in April, May, October and November.
• It’s best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as prices are high.
• In Beijing we can bargain in places where the price is not fixed. Like in street markets or in some knick-knack shops or present shops.
• Brace yourself for medical emergencies: travel insured.
• The water quality in the city is poor, so drink only bottled water.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Beijing?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Beijing.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Beijing