Your first trip to Beijing
Everything you need, nothing you don't

Capital Airport Express: a flat ¥25 (~฿125) fare, reaching Dongzhimen station in about 20–25 minutes. Change there to Metro Line 2 for Wangfujing or Qianmen (a separate ticket is needed). Taxi: roughly ¥100–130 (~฿500–650) to the centre depending on traffic — practical if you have several bags or arrive late.

Daxing Airport Express: ¥10–35 (~฿50–175) in ordinary class by distance, ¥50 in business class, reaching Caoqiao station (Lines 10/19) in about 20 minutes. High-speed rail links to Beijing West station fast. Taxi: ¥200–300 (~฿1,000–1,500) into the city — a longer ride than from PEK.

Close to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Wangfujing pedestrian street — you can walk to the biggest sights in minutes. Hotels here span every level, from budget to luxury, and the central position pays for itself in time saved.

A restored heritage street directly south of Tiananmen Square, within reach of the Temple of Heaven and the southern hutongs. Metro Lines 2 and 8 run through it. A good base for travellers who want a more traditional, old-Beijing atmosphere on the doorstep.

If you want to sleep in a traditional hutong courtyard hotel and wake up by Houhai Lake, this is the area. It is the most authentic old-Beijing experience, with bars and cafes lining the lanes and a lively evening scene — though courtyard rooms are often small and lifts are rare.

The business and lifestyle district to the east, home to international hotel brands, high-end malls, global restaurants and the city's nightlife. A little further from the historic sights, but well connected by metro. A good fit for repeat visitors or anyone wanting big-city comfort.

If your trip continues by high-speed rail to Xi'an, Shanghai or elsewhere, staying near Beijing South or Beijing West station is the efficient choice. These areas are not as rich in sights as the centre, but they save real time on your departure day.

Beijing requires your actual passport (not a copy) to enter the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and many major sights, and to pass security checks at some metro stations. The Forbidden City's online ticket is tied to your passport number too. Keep it on you whenever you leave the hotel.

The Forbidden City caps daily visitors and sells tickets online in advance only — in high season they sell out days ahead, so book early. It is closed on Mondays. Other sights such as the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace also use advance booking systems, so plan your days before you go.

China blocks all Google services (Maps, Gmail, Translate), Facebook, Instagram, LINE, YouTube and WhatsApp. Without a working VPN you are cut off. Set up a VPN on your phone before you leave, and download Amap (maps) and Baidu Translate as well. See the VPN & eSIM guide →

Metro stations and the airports have full English signage, but most Beijing taxi drivers cannot read English place names. Save your destinations in Chinese characters on your phone, or show the driver your screen in Amap or DiDi. Outside hotels, English is spoken less than in Shanghai.

Tap water in Beijing is not drinkable — stick to bottled or boiled water; hotels usually provide a kettle. During National Day Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year, the whole country travels at once: sights are packed, prices double or triple, and Forbidden City tickets vanish. Avoid these dates if you can.

A friendly English-speaking stranger invites you to "taste tea" or "see an art exhibition," then steers you somewhere that ends in a huge bill. It turns up most often around Tiananmen Square and Wangfujing. If it happens, thank them and walk on. Beijing is very safe overall — this is just the one thing to watch.