From basic knowledge on Beijing China trip, how to get a Chinese visa, when to go, what to pack, how to get to Beijing to practical travel advice and Beijing China tour packages.
Please select your resident country and plan your Beijing Trip
Please click your resident country or region below to start planning your trip to Beijing China! If your resident country or region is not listed below, please choose "Other Countries and Regions" to plan your Beijing China trip.
General information on how to plan your Beijing trip
When to Go
Beijing has clearly cut four seasons with longer winters and shorter springs. Beijing's winter lasts from November 15 to March 15. Beijing is dry and cold outside, but visiting Beijing in winter is not a bad idea given the discounts offered by airlines, hotels and sights as well as numerous winter activities in Beijing. Though Beijing's official spring time starts from March 15 to May 15, its warmer springtme only lasts one month from early April to early May. Beijing's March is very often chilly and sandstorm hits Beijijng periodically in March. So traveling Beijing in early April through early May is relatively safe and comfortable. But try to avoid visiting Beijing during the 3-day public holiday May 01 to 03.
Beijing's summer lasts from May 15 to Spetember 15. The first two months ( May 15 - July 15) are not so hot with relatively comfortable weather, a nice time to visit Beijing. July and August are Beijing's rainy season, hot and humid. July and August are also the school summer vacation season with lots of domestic tourists flocking major attractions in Beijing. Autumn (September 05 to November 15) is oft-lauded as the best time to visit Beijing, blue and clear sky and mild temperature. October 01-07 period should be avoided to keep from the hordes of domestci tourists on China's National Holiday.
The major attractions in Beijing are open all year around and basically you are able to visit Beijing at any time of a year. Choosing your own best time per your own time, budget and personal taste. You are always welcome to Beijing! Check out Beijing Climate for more information.
 Asia |
 Europe |
 North America |
 South America |
 Oceania |
 Africa |
What to See
It takes time to enjoy everything that Beijing City has to offer. If you only have a few days to spare, you can highlight your Beijing trip by visiting the major attractions in Beijing. What you should do or see in Beijing largely depends on your time, budget, personal tasteand tolerance of the crowds.
Check out below the Top 10 Things to Do in Beijing listed based on our past 20-year's internet tourism experience, only for your reference.
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| Forbidden City | Tiananmen Square | Temple of Heaven | Summer Palace | Ming Tombs |
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| Great Wall | Hutongs | Olympic Sites | Beijing Roast Duck | Beijing Opera |
Where to Stay
Where to stay in Beijing? That's a common question when you are planning your Beijing, considering that Beijing has hundreds of rated hotels, plus numerous hostels, courtyard hotels, B&B hotels and boutique hotels.
Generally, Beijing is divided into 6 areas - Central Beijing, Houhai & North Beijing, South Beijing, Northeast Beijing, West Beijing and Northwest Beijing, where you can find where and in which hotel you want to stay per your personal taste and budget.
Five Suggested Steps to Finalise Your Hotel booking in Beijing
1. Choose the area where you want to stay
2. Compare the hotels and prices in the same area
3. Use google to map the exact address of the hotel
4. Use google and hotel review websites to assess the hotel
5. Book your hotel directly or use the hotel booking engines.
Check out the link: Where to Stay in Beijing for more hotel information in Beijing.
How to Book International Flights to Beijing
Once you decide to visit Beijing, one important thing you should do is to book your international flights to Beijing. You may use your own travel agency or the online flight booking travel webs such as CheapTickets.com - Expedia.com - Hotwire.com - Kayak.com - Orbitz.com - Priceline.com - Travelocity.com.
How to Get from Beijing Airport to Your Beijing Hotel
Beijing Airport Shuttle BusTaking airport shuttle buses is the cheapest way to enter the city from Beijing capital airport. Beijing capital airport's shuttle buses cost around RMB 25 per person, which is related to the distance traveled. You may take the shuttle bus if you do not have much luggage or you may already know the bus routes and where you are going to get off and connect a taxi or subway for your hotel in Beijing.Check out the link: Beijing airport shuttle buses.
Beijing Airport Express Train
There is also a fast Airport Express Rail links the airport to Beijing's subway line. The airport express rail costs RMB 25 per person. For more information on the airport express train, check out the link: Beijing Airport Express Train.
Beijing Airport Taxis
Taking a taxi to the city center from Beijing Capital airport is most convenient.When you exit from the arrival hall, it may happen that some so-called taxi drivers or touts may approach you offering you a taxi ride. Just ignore them since these taxi rides will be unmetered, illegal or overcharged.It is preferable to follow the taxi stand sign to queue up for a legal taxi. Check out Beijing Taxi for more information.
Pre-arranged Private Transfer
Many hotels arrange airport pick-up service. There are quite some private airport transfer operators in Beijing. They offer airport to hotel door to door transfer service, which cost more than a taxi, but avoid being overcharged. For private airport transfers, check out the link: Beijing Airport Transfer
How to Get Around
Generally speaking, getting around or out of town, is quite easy in Beijing. In the past 30 years, Beijing transportation has been improved gradually and greatly - widened roads, lengthened subway lines, more clean buses, more environmentally friendly taxis etc. But like any other metropolitan cities worldwide, you will hit a traffic snag in a peak hour. So try to avoid rush hours and well plan your airport transfer to keep from possible delay.
| 1) Beijing Taxi | 2) Beijing Public Bus | 3) Beijing Subway | 4) Beijing Trains | 5) Beijing Flights |
| 6) Beijing Airlines | 7) Beijing Bike | 8) Beijing Pedicab | 9) Beijing Boat | 10) Beijing Walking |
How to Visit Beijing
Please find below our suggested Beijing travel plan for your reference:1) Beijing in One Day:
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Badaling Great Wall ( or Mutianyu Great Wall )
2) Beijing in Two Days:
Day 01: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, Beijing Opera
Day 02: Ming Tombs and Badaling Great Wall ( or Mutianyu Great Wall )
3) Beijing in Three Days:
Day 01: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Day 02: Ming Tombs and Badaling Great Wall ( or Mutianyu Great Wall )
Day 03: Hutongs, Lama Temple and Olympic Sites, Silk Market, Beijing Opera
4) Beijing in Four Days:
Day 01: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Day 02: Ming Tombs and Badaling Great Wall
Day 03: Hutongs, Lama Temple, Olypic Sites, Silk Market, Beijing Opera
Day 04: Beijing Capital Museum, Panda House, CCTV Headquaters Building, Grand Natioal Theatre, 798 Space
Where to Eat
The big difference between Chinese and Western eating manner is that in the West, everyone has their own plate of food, while in China people share the dishes placed on the table.
A typical Chinese meal starts with cold dishes. These are followed by the main courses, hot meat and vegetable dishes. Finally a soup is brought out, which is followed by principal food, usually including rice or noodles or sometimes dumplings. Check out the link Beijing Dining for more information on where to eat in Beijing.
Beijing Nightlife
Beijing nightlife is very colourful. Beijing nightlife has more to offer! If you travel with your kids, then enjoying Kung Fu show in the evening is a must. If you are young and energetic, you may go to disco or live jazz. If you like to know more about old Beijing and enjoy Chinese tea, you can go to teahouses. Check out the link: Beijing Nightlife for more information. How to Visit the Great Wall
Visiting the Great Wall is a delightful must for the first-time visitors to Beijing China. The Great Wall was built in different times and dynasties, largely constructed in the three dynasties – Qin Dynasty (221 B.C to 206 B.C); Han Dynasty (206 B.C.– 220 A.D ) and Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D - 1644 A.D). The most powerful Yuan Dynasty (1271 A.D - 1368 A.D) and the last Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D - 1911 A.D) did nothing about the building of the Great Wall since they were "barbarians" against whom the Great Wall of China had been built.
For historical and geographical reasons, the Great Wall of China doesn't form a continuous line and in fact exits in different sections. The official survey shows the Great Wall now totals 21196 km long with the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty ( 1368A.D - 1644 A.D ) as long as 8851 km. Check out the link: How to Visit the Great Wall of China.
72 Hour Visa Free Transit in Beijing
For Beijing airport transit passengers, basically you need a Chinese visa to enter Beijing if you want to exit from Beijing Capital Airport for a few hour's layover tour or 2 or 3 days short stay in Beijing. But currently, 51 countries are entitled to 72 hours free visa transit stay in Beijing. So Visa-free travel to Beijing is possible now! 1. Prerequisites for getting the 72 hours transit free visa
The Eligible 51 nationalities include:24 Schengen Countries in Europe:
A. 24 Schengen countries in Europe:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
B. 13 other European countries:
Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
C. 6 American countries:
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
D. 2 Oceanian countries:
Australia and New Zealand.
E. 6 Asian countries:
Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
2.Travelers must have valid passports.
3. Travelers must have confirmed tickets to a third country or regions (Hong Kong and Macau).
Check out Beijing 72 Hours Free Visa Transit for more information.
Questions & Answers:
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