How to Plan the Perfect Beijing Itinerary: Your Complete 2027 Guide
Beijing is a city where ancient emperors and modern innovators share the same skyline. Planning a trip here can feel overwhelming — the city is massive, the history is deep, and the food scene alone could fill a week. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to plan the perfect Beijing itinerary, whether you have 3 days, 5 days, or a full week.
How Many Days Do You Need in Beijing?
The short answer: 5 days is the sweet spot for most travelers. Here's how different trip lengths work:
3 Days in Beijing (First-Timer Highlights)
Day 1: Forbidden City + Jingshan Park sunset + Wangfujing StreetDay 2: Mutianyu Great Wall (full day)Day 3: Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + hutong evening walk
5 Days in Beijing (Recommended)
Days 1–3: As aboveDay 4: Lama Temple + Confucius Temple + Ghost Street food tourDay 5: 798 Art District + Sanlitun + Olympic Park
7 Days in Beijing (Deep Culture)
Days 1–5: As aboveDay 6: Day trip to Gubei Water Town + Simatai Great Wall (night illumination)Day 7: Ming Tombs + Yinshan Pagoda Forest or Xi'an day trip by high-speed rail
Best Time to Visit Beijing
Spring (April–May): Mild temperatures (15–25°C), blooming flowers, clear skies. Peak season — book early.
Autumn (September–October): The best season. Cool, dry, and the Great Wall views are spectacular with fall foliage.
Summer (June–August): Hot (30–35°C) and crowded. Good for budget travelers (lower hotel rates) but bring sun protection.
Winter (December–February): Cold (-5 to 5°C) but uncrowded. Perfect for seeing the Great Wall without tourists. Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) offers incredible temple fairs.
Beijing Visa Requirements (2027 Update)
Citizens of 57 countries can enter Beijing visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) under China's transit policy. This includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most EU nations.
Key requirements:
Valid passport (6+ months)
Confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region
Hotel booking or invitation letter
For stays longer than 10 days, apply for a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) at your nearest embassy.
Getting Around Beijing
Subway
Beijing's subway is clean, efficient, and cheap (¥3–7 per ride). Lines 1, 2, and 6 cover most tourist sites. Download the "Beijing Subway" app for English maps.
Didi (Ride-Hailing)
China's Uber is affordable and easy to use with an English app. A 30-minute ride costs ¥30–50.
Private Driver
For the Great Wall and distant sites, hire a private driver (¥600–1,000/day). Your hotel can arrange this.
Where to Stay in Beijing
Luxury (¥1,500+/night)
The Peninsula Beijing, Aman Summer Palace, Rosewood Beijing — all offer impeccable service and central locations.
Mid-Range (¥500–1,000/night)
Hotel Éclat, The Orchid, NUO Hotel — boutique charm with modern amenities.
Budget (¥200–400/night)
Beijing Courtyard Hostel, Peking Youth Hostel — clean, social, and hutong-located.
Beijing Food Guide: 12 Must-Try Dishes
Peking Duck — Quanjude or Da Dong (book ahead)
Zhajiangmian — Noodles with soybean paste (Haiwanju Restaurant)
Jianbing — Savory crepes (street vendors everywhere)
Hot Pot — Haidilao (famous for service)
Lamb Skewers — Ghost Street (Dongzhimen)
Mongolian Hot Pot — Dong Lai Shun
Beijing Yogurt — Street vendors in hutongs
Tanghulu — Candied hawthorn on a stick
Wonton Soup — Chaoyang district restaurants
Scallion Pancakes — Breakfast stalls
Imperial Court Cuisine — Fangshan Restaurant (Forbidden City area)
Vegetarian Buddhist Cuisine — Jingxin Zhai (Lama Temple area)
Shopping in Beijing
Luxury Shopping
SKP Beijing (Asia's highest-grossing department store), China World Mall, Taikoo Li Sanlitun.
Traditional Markets
Panjiayuan Antique Market (weekends best), Hongqiao Pearl Market (bargain hard), Wangfujing Street (tourist-friendly).
Local Crafts
Liulichang Cultural Street for calligraphy, seals, and traditional art.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Cultural Shows
Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theatre, Kung Fu show at Red Theatre, acrobatics at Chaoyang Theatre.
Nightlife
Sanlitun Bar Street (international crowd), Houhai Lake bars (scenic), Gongti (club scene).
Unique Experiences
Night cycling on the City Wall, hutong rickshaw tours at dusk, tea ceremony at Lao She Teahouse.
Beijing Travel Costs (2027 Estimates)
Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
Accommodation/night | ¥200–400 | ¥500–1,000 | ¥1,500+ |
Meals/day | ¥100–200 | ¥300–500 | ¥800+ |
Transport/day | ¥30–50 | ¥100–200 | ¥600+ (driver) |
Attractions | ¥60–150 | ¥200–400 | ¥500+ |
Total/day | $50–80 | $100–200 | $300+ |
The 3-Day Beijing Itinerary: Classic Highlights
This 3 day beijing itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to see the absolute best of Beijing without rushing from dawn to dusk. Every day includes specific restaurant picks, exact opening hours, and transport details.
Day 1 — Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City → Jingshan → Hutong Evening
Morning: Forbidden City Area
8:00am — Tiananmen Square (free, 20-30 min). Enter via east side for shorter security lines.8:45am — Walk to Meridian Gate (south entrance of Forbidden City), 5 min walk.9:00am — Enter Forbidden City when it opens (¥60 peak / ¥40 off-season + ¥10 Treasure Gallery + ¥10 Clock Gallery).Route: Meridian Gate → Supreme Harmony → Central Axis → Treasure Gallery (east) → Clock Gallery → Imperial Garden → Exit Shenwu Gate (north).
🍽️ Lunch (12:30-1:30pm): Siji Minfu Roast Duck (Forbidden City North Branch)📍 2-min walk from Shenwu Gate (north exit) | 💰 ¥180-280/person | ⏰ 11am-9:30pmOrder: Half a roast duck (¥198) if 2 people, whole duck (¥298) if 3+. Add boiled cabbage with dried shrimp (¥38) and mustard duck web (¥48).
Afternoon: Jingshan + Beihai + Hutong
2:00pm — Jingshan Park (¥2). Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for the best aerial view of the Forbidden City. 20 min up, 20 min down.3:00pm — Beihai Park (¥10 entry + ¥5 Qionghua Island). Walk across the bridge to the White Dagoba. Rent a rowboat if the weather is nice (¥80/hr for 2 people).4:30pm — Exit Beihai north gate → Walk 10 min to Shichahai / Nanluoguxiang area.5:00-7:00pm — Wander Nanluoguxiang hutong and Yandai Xiejie. Try street snacks: bingtanghulu (¥10), Beijing yogurt (¥12), stinky tofu (¥15 — if you're brave).
🍽️ Dinner (7:30pm): Hai Wan Ju Zhajiangmian📍 Near Ganjiakou (or try Huguosi Snacks closer to Shichahai) | 💰 ¥40-60/personOrder: Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste, ¥28), fried pork tenderloin (¥48), cold cucumber salad (¥18). The classic Beijing meal.
INSIDER TIP: The Forbidden City is ENORMOUS — wear your most comfortable shoes. You'll easily walk 12-15km on Day 1. Skip the west side galleries if you're short on time; the central axis + east side (Treasure Gallery) are the must-sees.
Day 2 — Great Wall of China (Mutianyu) + Ming Tombs (Optional)
Morning: Great Wall at Mutianyu
7:00am — Hotel pickup (private car or group tour). Private car: ¥800-1,200/day. Group tour: ¥350-500/person.8:30am — Arrive Mutianyu. Buy tickets at the counter: ¥45 entry + ¥20 shuttle RT + ¥140 cable car RT (or ¥140 chairlift+toboggan).9:00am — Take cable car to Tower 14. Walk east: Tower 14 → 15 → ... → 20 → 21 → 22 → 23 (highest point). Turn around and walk back. Each direction takes ~1.5 hrs at a moderate pace.11:30am — Take the toboggan down (¥100 one way). 1,680m long, pure fun. This is the #1 thing visitors remember.
🍽️ Lunch (12:30pm): Local Farm Restaurant near Mutianyu📍 Several restaurants near the parking lot | 💰 ¥60-100/personOrder: Fish hotpot in iron pot (¥88-128), farm vegetables (¥25-35), corn pancakes (¥15). Simple but delicious home-style food.
Afternoon: Ming Tombs or Return to City
Option A (History buffs): Ming Tombs — Dingling (¥60, 1 hr visit). The only Ming tomb with an excavated underground palace. Interesting if you're into imperial history, but skip it if you're tired — most travelers find it underwhelming.Option B (Recommended): Head back early — Return to Beijing by 2-3pm. Rest at hotel, then go for a relaxed evening walk in Sanlitun or Wangfujing.~4:30pm — Arrive back at hotel. Rest for 1-2 hours — you'll be tired from all the Great Wall walking!
🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Hai Di Lao Hotpot (Sanlitun)📍 3/F, Taikoo Li South, Sanlitun | 💰 ¥150-220/person | ⏰ 10am-2amOrder: Split pot (half pork bone / half spicy, ¥68-88), fresh lamb rolls (¥48), beef rolls (¥48), fish tofu (¥32), mushrooms (¥28), hand-pulled noodles (free show!). The best service you'll ever experience.
INSIDER TIP: Do NOT take public bus to Mutianyu on a short beijing itinerary. Bus 916 + minibus takes 2.5 hours each way — you'll lose 5 hours to transport. Book a private car or small group tour. The ¥400-500 cost saves you hours and stress.
Day 3 — Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + Farewell Dinner
Morning: Temple of Heaven
8:00am — Arrive Temple of Heaven, west gate (¥34 combined ticket).8:15am — Walk through the park. Watch locals doing tai chi, fan dancing, playing badminton, and singing opera — this is real Beijing morning life.9:00am — Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests opens. This is the iconic blue-roof circular building — the most photographed spot in the temple.9:45am — Echo Wall + Imperial Vault of Heaven.10:30am — Exit through south gate.
🍽️ Brunch (11:00am): Huguosi Snacks (nearby branch)💰 ¥30-50/person | Try: a selection of Beijing snacks — aiwo wo, lvdagun, wandouhuang, spring rolls.
Afternoon: Summer Palace
12:30pm — Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (North Palace Gate). 40 min from Temple of Heaven area.1:00pm — Enter Summer Palace north gate (¥60 combined ticket peak / ¥50 off-season).1:15pm — Walk up to Tower of Buddhist Incense (best viewpoint). Then descend to the lakeside.2:30pm — Walk the Long Corridor (728m long, 14,000 paintings — each one is different!).3:30pm — Take a dragon boat across Kunming Lake to the south side (¥50/person, 20 min). Magical experience.4:30pm — Visit Suzhou Street (small merchant street built in the style of a water town).5:30pm — Exit east gate or south gate.
🍽️ Farewell Dinner (7:00pm): Quanjude Roast Duck (Qianmen) or Da DongQuanjude Qianmen: 📍 Qianmen Street | 💰 ¥250-350/person | The original historic brand (established 1864).Da Dong: 📍 Various locations | 💰 ¥300-500/person | More modern, "super-lean" duck, fancier presentation.Order: Whole roast duck, duck soup, crispy duck skin with sugar (starter).
INSIDER TIP: On your last day, keep your luggage at the hotel (most will hold it for free after checkout). If you have an evening flight, leave the Summer Palace by 4pm and head directly to the airport from there — it's closer than going back to the city center first.
The 5-Day Beijing Itinerary: Our Most Recommended
This 5 day beijing itinerary is what we recommend to 80% of our guests. It includes everything from the 3-day plan, plus time for food exploration, art, and a more relaxed pace. This is the beijing day by day plan that balances must-see sights with real local life.
Day 1 — Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City → Jingshan → Hutong Walk
Same as Day 1 of the 3-day plan, but at a more relaxed pace. Tiananmen Square (free, enter east side for shorter lines), then Forbidden City (¥60 peak/¥40 off, book 7 days ahead on WeChat, closed Mondays). Add the Palace Museum ceramics gallery (west side) if you have time. Dinner at a hutong restaurant instead of zhajiangmian — try Bao Du Feng for traditional Beijing Muslim food.
Day 2 — Great Wall (Mutianyu) + Hongluo Temple
Great Wall in the morning (same as Day 2 of 3-day). Mutianyu (¥45 entry + ¥20 shuttle + ¥140 cable car/toboggan, 7:30am-6pm). On the way back, stop at Hongluo Temple (¥54 entry, 1.5-2 hrs visit). A beautiful 1,600-year-old Buddhist temple in the mountains with stunning ginkgo trees in autumn. Much less touristy than the city temples. Return to Beijing by 5-6pm.
Day 3 — Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + Acrobatics Show
Same as Day 3 of the 3-day plan, but add an evening show. Temple of Heaven (¥34 combined, park 6am-10pm, buildings 8am-5:30pm). Summer Palace (¥30/¥60 combined, 6:30am-8pm, enter North Palace Gate on Line 4).
🎭 Evening: Red Theater Acrobatics Show
📍 44 Xingfu St, Chongwenmen | 💰 ¥280-580 depending on seat | ⏰ 7:30pm nightly, 80 min
Book tickets online in advance (CTrip or Trip.com). The 7:30pm show is the most popular. Arrive 20 min early. Kids love it — no language barrier, just pure spectacle.
Day 4 — Lama Temple + Hutong Deep Dive + Food Tour
9:00am — Lama Temple (Yonghegong, ¥25, 9am-5pm, closed some Buddhist holidays). The most active Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing, home to an 18m-tall sandalwood Buddha. Very atmospheric — incense, monks, worshippers. 1-1.5 hrs.10:30am — Confucius Temple + Imperial College (¥30, 1 hr). Two historic sites side by side. Very quiet and peaceful. The ancient cypress trees are beautiful.11:30am — Walk to Wudaoying Hutong (10 min from Lama Temple).
🍽️ Lunch (12:30pm): The Tides or another Wudaoying cafeWudaoying is Beijing's "hippest" hutong — full of indie cafes, brunch spots, and boutique shops. Try Voyage Coffee for great coffee, or Susu for Vietnamese food in a courtyard setting.
2:00pm — Rickshaw hutong tour (¥150-200/person, 1 hr) through Shichahai area. Visit a local family's courtyard siheyuan home — they'll serve you tea and tell you about hutong life.3:30pm — Beihai Park boat ride (if you haven't done it yet) or tea ceremony at a local tea house (¥80-200/person).5:00pm — Drum and Bell Towers area. Climb the Drum Tower (¥30) for a great view of the hutong rooftops.
🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Gui Jie (Ghost Street) Food Crawl📍 Dongzhimen Inner Street | 💰 ¥80-150/person for a food crawlWhat to try: Lamb skewers (¥3-5 each), crayfish (¥88-128/jin), spicy bullfrog, beer. Walk from one end to the other, sampling at different stalls. The whole street is red lanterns — very atmospheric at night.
Day 5 — 798 Art District + Sanlitun Shopping + Farewell
10:00am — 798 Art District (free entry, galleries ¥20-80 each, 10am-7pm, Line 14 to Jiangtai). 3-4 hours of galleries, street art, industrial architecture, and design shops.Don't miss: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (¥60-100), the big graffiti walls, 798 Factory original buildings, and all the boutique design shops.1:30pm — Lunch inside 798. Try Beijing Pie Company for pot pies, or any of the hip cafes.
3:00pm — Sanlitun Taikoo Li for shopping. International brands, local designers, beauty stores, and the famous Uniqlo.5:00pm — Last-minute souvenir shopping. Stop at a Daoxiangcun shop for Beijing pastries to take home (fuling jiabing, lvdagun, etc.).
🍽️ Farewell Dinner (6:30pm): Jing Yaa Tang or Din Tai Fung (Sanlitun)Jing Yaa Tang: Modern Beijing cuisine in the Opposite House hotel | 💰 ¥200-350/person | Fancy but excellent.Din Tai Fung: Taiwanese soup dumplings | 💰 ¥100-150/person | Consistently excellent xiaolongbao.
The 7-Day Beijing Itinerary: Complete Cultural Immersion
Our beijing one week itinerary is for travelers who want to go beyond the surface. You'll see a second Great Wall section (the photographer's favorite), take a day trip to an imperial summer retreat, and have time to explore neighborhoods you'd miss on a shorter trip.
Days 1-5: Same as the 5 day beijing itinerary above, but add one or two of these bonus experiences on days you have extra time:
National Museum of China (free, book ahead — massive collection of Chinese history)
Capital Museum (free, excellent Beijing history exhibits, less crowded than National Museum)
Beijing Zoo + Panda House (¥19 — pandas are always a hit, go before 9am when they're most active)
Houhai Lake bar district (evening drinks by the lake, very pleasant in summer)
Liulichang Culture Street (calligraphy, antiques, scrolls — great for art lovers)
Day 6 — Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Sunset (Full Day)
The most magical day of the entire beijing travel plan — a wild, unrestored Great Wall section paired with a charming canal town.
10:00am — Depart hotel. Private car or tour: ¥800-1,200/day. Simatai is 120 km NE of Beijing, ~2 hrs drive. Alternatively, take the express bus from Dongzhimen to Gubei Water Town (¥48, 2 hrs).12:00pm — Arrive Gubei Water Town (¥140 entry, 9am-6pm water town / 9am-9pm night tickets available). A beautifully reconstructed canal town at the foot of Simatai. Explore alleys, dye workshops, lantern-lit streets, and traditional courtyard shops.12:30pm — Lunch in the water town. Try bridgehead noodles (¥35-50), roasted rainbow trout (¥60-80), or local farmhouse dishes. Many restaurants line the main canal.
2:00pm — Take the cable car (¥90 one way) or hike up to Simatai Great Wall (¥40 entry). This is the only section of the Great Wall that preserves its original Ming Dynasty appearance — wild, unrestored, and dramatically steep. Hike the eastern section from Tower 2 to Tower 8 (best views, ~1.5 hrs). The wall here clings to knife-edge ridges — the most spectacular and least crowded of all Beijing sections.4:30pm — Descend and return to Gubei Water Town. The town transforms at dusk — lanterns light up along the canals, and the Great Wall glows gold in the sunset light.5:00-6:30pm — Sunset over Simatai Great Wall from the water town — the highlight. Watch the wall turn from gold to deep amber against the mountains. Best spot: the bridge near the yongshun dye house, or the rooftop terrace of any canal-side cafe.
🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Canal-side Restaurant in Gubei Water Town📍 Along the main canal | 💰 ¥80-150/personOrder: Roasted trout (¥60-80), braised pork belly, stir-fried mountain vegetables, local rice wine. Eat outdoors by the lantern-lit water — unforgettable atmosphere.
8:00pm — If staying overnight in Gubei, catch the water town night show (free with town entry, 7:30-8:30pm) — music, fountains, and projected lights on the ancient buildings.8:30pm — If returning to Beijing: express bus back (last bus ~9pm, ¥48) or private car. Arrive Beijing ~10:30pm.
INSIDER TIP: For the full experience, stay one night at a guesthouse inside Gubei Water Town (¥500-1,200/night). You'll get exclusive night access to a section of Simatai Great Wall — the only place in China where you can walk the Wall at night under the stars. Book guesthouses 1-2 weeks in advance via Trip.com. Wear comfortable hiking shoes — Simatai's uneven steps and steep drops require good grip.
Day 7 — Xi'an Day Trip or Relaxed Beijing Exploration
Option A: Xi'an — Terracotta Army & Ancient City Wall (UNESCO World Heritage)
6:00am — High-speed train from Beijing West to Xi'an North (G trains, 4.5-5.5 hrs, ¥515-840 each way). Book early on 12306.cn or Trip.com — popular trains sell out fast. Alternatively, fly Beijing→Xi'an (2 hrs, ¥500-1200).11:00am — Arrive Xi'an North. Taxi/metro to Terracotta Warriors site (1 hr, ¥120-150 by taxi or metro Line 2 + bus 5(306) for ¥7).12:00pm — Terracotta Army (¥120, 8:30am-5:30pm Mar-Nov / 8:30am-5pm Dec-Feb). Three pits + Bronze Chariots hall. Start at Pit 1 (the iconic one), then Pit 3, then Pit 2. Hire an audio guide or English-speaking guide at the entrance (¥150-200) — it makes a huge difference. 2.5-3 hrs.3:00pm — Lunch at Muslim Quarter. Try yangrou paomo (pita bread in lamb soup, ¥30-50), roujiamo (Chinese burger, ¥10-15), and biangbiang noodles (¥20-30).4:00pm — Walk to the Drum & Bell Tower (¥30 combined). Climb up for panoramic old-city views. 30 min.4:30pm — Xi'an Ancient City Wall (¥54, 8am-10pm). Rent a bike (¥45/2 hrs) and cycle the 14km loop on top of the wall — the best way to see it. 1-1.5 hrs.6:00pm — Taxi/metro back to Xi'an North Station. Grab dinner or snacks from Muslim Quarter to-go.7:00pm — High-speed train back to Beijing. Arrive ~11:30pm-midnight.
INSIDER TIP: Xi'an is a long day trip — 4.5+ hours each way by train. For a more relaxed experience, consider extending to an overnight stay and returning on Day 8 morning. If you prefer a shorter day trip, fly (2 hrs each way, ¥500-1200) and book the earliest morning / latest evening flights. Either way, book transport tickets at least 3-5 days in advance.
Option B: Relaxed Beijing Day (if Xi'an is too much travel)
Sleep in, then visit Panjiayuan Antique Market (Sat-Sun only) — the biggest antique market in China. Great for souvenirs and people-watching.
Afternoon tea at The Peninsula Beijing (¥300+/person) or a traditional tea house in a hutong.
Last-minute shopping: silk at Hongqiao Pearl Market, tea at Maliandao Tea Street, antiques at Liulichang.
Farewell Peking duck dinner.
Beijing Layover Itinerary: 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit (10 Days)
If you're passing through Beijing on your way to another country, you can use China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy (10 days) to see the city without applying for a visa. This beijing layover itinerary is optimized for different lengths of transit:
Transit Time
What to See
Feasibility
6-12 hours
Tiananmen + quick Forbidden City walk
Tight — no checked bags only
12-24 hours
Forbidden City + Temple of Heaven
Doable but packed
2-3 days
All classics + Great Wall (Mutianyu)
Perfect — see the best of Beijing
4-6 days
Full 5-day beijing itinerary highlights
Comfortable pace
7-10 days
Full 7-day itinerary + Xi'an + side trips
Relaxed — see everything
INSIDER TIP: For the 240-hour visa-free transit, your flight must arrive in Beijing and depart from a different country/region. For example: Tokyo → Beijing → Paris works. But Tokyo → Beijing → Tokyo does NOT. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as "different" for transit purposes. With 10 full days, you could even do Beijing + a day trip to Shanghai or Xi'an by high-speed rail.
Sample 2-Day Beijing Layover Itinerary
Layover Day 1 — Arrive + Forbidden City + Wangfujing
Morning: Arrive at PEK/PKX, clear immigration (use the 240-hour transit lane)
Midday: Airport Express to city (¥25, 30-40 min). Check into airport hotel or city hotel.
Afternoon: Forbidden City (if arriving early enough) or Temple of Heaven
Evening: Wangfujing dinner + walk. Try roast duck at Siji Minfu if you have time.
Layover Day 2 — Great Wall Half Day + Depart
Early morning: Book a private car for a half-day Great Wall trip (Badaling is closest — 60 min by S2 train or car)
~9am-12pm: Badaling Great Wall (cable car up, walk down — 2-3 hrs). Entry ¥40 + cable car ¥140 RT.
1pm: Head back to airport (allow 2 hrs for return + traffic buffer)
3-4pm: Arrive at airport for evening departure
Essential Beijing Travel Tips
Book Forbidden City tickets in advance — They sell out days ahead, especially during holidays.
Bring your passport everywhere — Required for hotel check-in, attraction entry, and train travel.
Download essential apps — WeChat (payments), Didi (rides), Pleco (translation), Apple Maps (works in China).
Carry cash as backup — While WeChat/Alipay dominate, some small vendors still prefer cash.
Learn basic Mandarin phrases — "Ni hao" (hello), "Xie xie" (thank you), "Duo shao qian?" (how much?).
Final Advice: Build Your Perfect Beijing Travel Plan
Every traveler is different. Use these itineraries as a starting point and customize based on your interests:
History buff?
National Museum + Capital Museum + Xi'an day trip (Terracotta Army) + more time in Forbidden City
Foodie?
Hutong food tour + Peking duck + hotpot + Sichuan dinner + Muslim quarter + street food crawl
Photographer?
Simatai sunset + Summer Palace golden hour + Jingshan overview + hutong rooftops at Drum Tower
Family with kids?
Great Wall toboggan + Beijing Zoo pandas + 798 art + acrobatics show + aquarium
Shopper?
Sanlitun + Hongqiao Pearl Market + Panjiayuan + Xiushui + Liulichang + Daoxiangcun pastries
Night owl?
Sanlitun bars + Gongti clubs + Houhai lake bars + Gui Jie food street + late-night hotpot
Traveler Discussions
Questions from travelers