Beijing
Beijing rewards preparation. These are the things first-time visitors wish they had known before arriving — from booking logistics to air quality to the best way to see the Great Wall.
The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and popular Great Wall sections all require advance ticket booking. Walk-up access is no longer available at the Forbidden City at all. Use Trip.com or the official sites for booking. Check capacity restrictions — major holidays (Golden Week in October and Chinese New Year) bring enormous crowds and many sites hit capacity early.
Beijing's metro covers the city well and is easy to navigate with English signage. Lines 1 and 2 form the central loop — most tourist attractions connect to these. The Airport Express (Line A) from Terminal 3 reaches Dongzhimen in 25 minutes. DiDi is the right choice for late nights, luggage-heavy trips, or destinations not on the metro.
Beijing can have periods of significant air pollution, particularly in winter. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) app before your trip. On high-pollution days, outdoor sightseeing like the Great Wall or parks is less pleasant. The Forbidden City and indoor activities are fine regardless. Scheduling the Great Wall on a clear day makes a substantial difference to both the experience and the photos.
Beijing is less English-friendly than Shanghai at street level, though major tourist sites have English signage. Save hotel and restaurant addresses in Chinese characters before you go out — showing a driver the Chinese text is more reliable than attempting to pronounce pinyin. Most Forbidden City audio guides are available in English through the Palace Museum's official app.
Plan Your Route
Use our preplanned trips or the travel planner to shape a route that includes Beijing alongside other key destinations.