family travel to beijing essay

Traveling to Beijing: An Exquisite Experience for families

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Beijing, the capital of China, is a city that effortlessly blends rich history and vibrant modernity. From its iconic landmarks to its delicious cuisine and captivating cultural experiences, Beijing offers a myriad of attractions for families looking to experience the far east..

If you have a valid China visa, embarking on a journey to Beijing is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the country’s fascinating heritage. In this article, we will explore the essential information and top recommendations for travelling to Beijing with a China visa.

Understanding China Visas:

Before planning your trip to Beijing, it is crucial to familiarise yourself with the different types of China visas. The most common types include tourist visas (L visa), business visas (M visa), and work visas (Z visa).

Depending on your purpose of travel, you need to apply for the Chinese visa in advance through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country.

Preparing for the Journey:

Passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in China. It is also advisable to make a copy of your passport and keep it separate from the original for emergencies.

Flight and Accommodation: Research and book your flights to Beijing in advance to secure the best deals. Consider major airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Additionally, make reservations for accommodation, whether it’s a hotel, hostel, or guesthouse, based on your preferences and budget.

Climate and Clothing: Beijing experiences distinct seasons, so pack appropriate clothing for the time of your visit. Winters can be cold, so bring warm layers, while summers can be hot and humid. Check the weather forecast before departure to plan accordingly.

Currency Exchange: The official currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). Exchange some currency before your trip or withdraw cash from ATMs upon arrival. Major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, upscale establishments, and tourist areas.

Arrival and Transportation:

Airport Transfers : Upon landing in Beijing, you can take advantage of various transportation options. Airport shuttles, taxis, and ride-hailing services like DiDi are available to transport you to your accommodation. Make sure to have the address written in Chinese characters or a translation app to communicate with the driver effectively.

Public Transportation: Beijing has an extensive public transportation network, including the subway, buses, and taxis. The subway system is convenient, cost-effective, and can take you to most popular tourist attractions. Consider purchasing a Beijing Transportation Smart Card (Yikatong) for seamless travel.

Bicycles: Beijing offers bicycle-sharing services, allowing you to explore the city’s sights at a leisurely pace. Apps like Mobike and Ofo provide easy access to rent bicycles using your smartphone.

Must-Visit Attractions:

The Great Wall of China: No visit to Beijing is complete without marvelling at the Great Wall. Just a short distance from the city, popular sections like Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling offer awe-inspiring views of this ancient wonder.

Forbidden City: Located at the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City is a massive palace complex that served as the imperial residence for centuries. Step back in time as you explore its grand halls, stunning courtyards, and learn about China’s imperial history.

Tiananmen Square: Adjacent to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square is one of the world’s largest public squares and holds great historical and cultural significance. Visit the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall to understand its historical importance.

Hutongs: Explore Beijing’s traditional hutongs, narrow alleyways lined with traditional courtyard homes. Rent a rickshaw or simply wander through these charming neighborhoods to get a glimpse of old Beijing’s lifestyle and architecture. Engage with the locals, visit traditional tea houses, and appreciate the preservation of Beijing’s cultural heritage.

Beihai Park: Enjoy the serenity of Beihai Park, an imperial garden with a picturesque lake, beautiful temples, and pavilions. Rent a paddleboat, wander through the lush gardens, and climb to the top of the White Dagoba for panoramic views of the park and the city.

National Museum of China: Delve into China’s rich history and culture at the National Museum. The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts spanning thousands of years, including ancient ceramics, sculptures, calligraphy, and historical relics. Gain a deeper understanding of China’s diverse heritage through its impressive exhibitions.

Beijing Olympic Park: Relive the excitement of the 2008 Summer Olympics by visiting the Beijing Olympic Park. Admire the architectural marvels of the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Water Cube. Take a walk around the park, enjoy the open spaces, and capture memorable photos.

Cultural Etiquette:

While visiting Beijing, it’s important to be mindful of the local customs and cultural etiquette:

Greetings: When meeting someone, a slight nod or handshake is appropriate. Address people by their surname followed by their title or “Mr.” or “Ms.” if unsure.

Respectful Behavior: Show respect for Chinese traditions and customs. Avoid public displays of affection, especially in temples or other religious sites.

Dining Etiquette: When dining with locals, observe table manners such as using chopsticks correctly, waiting for the host to start eating before you do, and expressing gratitude for the meal.

Photography: Always ask for permission before taking someone’s photo, especially locals. Respect any signage prohibiting photography in certain areas or within specific attractions.

Temple Visits: When visiting temples, dress modestly and be respectful of worshippers. Avoid loud conversations and keep your phone on silent mode.

Safety and Security:

Like any other destination, take precautions to stay healthy and safe during your visit to Beijing. Drink bottled water, be cautious with street food, and adhere to basic hygiene practices.

Security Awareness: Be mindful of your belongings, especially in crowded places or tourist areas. Keep your passport, cash, and other valuables secure. Avoid displaying expensive items or carrying large sums of money.

Emergency Contacts: Familiarise yourself with local emergency numbers such as 110 for police assistance and 120 for medical emergencies. Keep your embassy or consulate’s contact information handy in case you need assistance during your stay.

Health Insurance: It is advisable to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses in case of illness or injury during your trip. Check with your insurance provider to ensure you have adequate coverage.

Travel Advisories: Stay informed about travel advisories or any specific safety precautions issued by your home country’s government regarding travel to Beijing or China in general.

Experiencing the Local Cuisine:

No trip to Beijing would be complete without savoring its delicious cuisine. Indulge in Peking duck, a renowned local specialty, and explore the diverse flavors of Beijing’s street food scene.

Sample traditional snacks like jianbing (Chinese savory crepes), tanghulu (candied fruit skewers), and lamb skewers from the night markets. Don’t forget to try traditional tea and visit tea houses to experience the art of tea-drinking.

Exploring Beyond Beijing:

While Beijing offers a plethora of attractions, consider exploring nearby destinations if time permits. Take a day trip to the picturesque Great Wall sections near Beijing, such as Mutianyu or Jinshanling. Visit the ancient capital of Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors or take a high-speed train to Shanghai to experience its dynamic urban atmosphere.

Language Considerations:

While Mandarin Chinese is the official language, English is not widely spoken in Beijing. It is helpful to carry a pocket phrasebook or utilise translation apps to communicate basic needs or directions. Learning a few key phrases like greetings and simple questions will go a long way in making interactions easier.

Departure and Farewell:

As your time in Beijing comes to an end, allow yourself some time to reflect on the incredible experiences and memories you’ve created. Ensure you have packed all your belongings and check out of your accommodation.

Arrange transportation to the airport or train station in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles. Bid farewell to Beijing, knowing that you’ve embarked on an extraordinary journey filled with history, culture, and unforgettable moments.

Travelling to Beijing with a China visa opens the door to a captivating world of ancient wonders, cultural treasures, and immersive experiences. From the iconic Great Wall to the splendid Forbidden City, Beijing’s attractions offer a glimpse into China’s rich heritage.

By preparing adequately, respecting local customs, and taking necessary safety precautions, you can make the most of your visit to Beijing. Embrace the city’s vibrant energy, indulge in its flavours, and create lifelong memories in this remarkable capital of China.

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15 Things to Know Before Traveling to Beijing

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Beijing is a city full of beauty, culture, history, and mystery. The city is home to the largest palace in the world Forbidden City. Our first international trip with our son (4.5 months at the time) was to Beijing, and to say we were surprised would be an understatement. If you are planning a trip to Beijing and have no idea what to expect, here are 15 things to know before traveling to Beijing.

Table of Contents

1. Do Not Drink the Water in China

The tap water in China is not drinkable. Bottled water can be purchased very cheaply everywhere. Check with your hotel to see if they offer free bottled water. We were able to get up to 4 3L bottles of water a day from our hotel.

2. Language barrier in Beijing – Download translator before arriving

When traveling to China be prepared for a language barrier if you do not speak Mandarin or Cantonese. It is not common for many people in China to speak English. Before arriving print the name of your accommodation in Chinese characters. This is usually available when you book your accommodation and receive your confirmation. Booking.com and Agoda provide confirmations in English and Mandarin for you to provide upon your arrival. Please keep in mind Beijing is a large city with millions of people and thousands of hotels, be patient.

3. Transportation around Beijing

Transportation in China can be challenging, due to the language barrier. The easiest option is if you are staying at a hotel, it is to ask the front desk to arrange transportation. This could save you a lot of time and aggravation, you want to enjoy your time in Beijing. When we asked for a car it seemed as though the price was a little higher than expected but only by a few dollars. I would rather get to the right place and pay a little more than to risk going to the wrong place to save a dollar or two.

If you are looking to be more independent there is Didi, which is the Chinese version of Uber and it is available in English. The app works similar to other ridesharing applications. If you can get it to work properly the price is reasonable and the cars are safe and clean. I had a hard time getting my card to connect to request a car, customer service wasn’t much help.

Another option is public transportation, but this can be a little overwhelming. There are millions of people in Beijing and public transportation can become crowded very quickly. If you are traveling as a family, public transport is not the best due to the number of people. If you are traveling solo or with a friend the subway is a great way to explore. Just remember to give yourself plenty of time and to avoid rush hour 6 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm.

4. Carry passport

I usually discourage people from carrying their passport due to the risk of losing it, but in Beijing passport checks are common. When visiting major tourist areas such as Tiananmen Square there are checkpoints that you to show proof of a valid Chinese visa. Your passport may also be required to purchase tickets for Lama Temple, Mao’s Tomb, and Forbidden City.

5. Photos and a lot of stares

China is a very homogenous country in that almost everyone is Chinese. A lot of tourists in Beijing are from the countryside, so they have not been exposed to other ethnicities. We could see people taking pictures of us as we walked down the street to the Forbidden City. There were many times where we were stopped and gestured to take a picture. It was a little weird at first but eventually, you get over it and just smile.

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6. Air pollution in Beijing

Air pollution is a concern when traveling not only in Beijing but in China as a whole. The country experienced rapid industrial growth resulting in many environmental implications. The smog was noticeable but not as bad as it was made to seem from articles we found on Google. You could see a layer of gray in the sky and feel a difference when breathing. In the event the air quality was above the acceptable range we purchased protective masks for ourselves and our little one. It was difficult to find a baby mask because the smaller masks are designed for kids 3 and older. It was no fun trying to get a 4-month-old to wear a breathing mask. If air pollution is particularly bad opt-out of outdoor activities and enjoy the indoor activities that Beijing has to offer.

7. Smoking in Beijing

It was shocking to me when we arrived in Beijing and there were a lot of people smoking. We noticed that a lot of young adults and older men smoking. Although there is no smoking inside buildings we did see a large number of people smoking as we explored the city. If you are sensitive to cigarette smoke please be cautious as it was everywhere.

8. Personal space

There are over 20 million people in Beijing not including the annual tourist. Personal space is a luxury that does not exist in China. Expect to be pushed, shoved, or have your foot stepped on while waiting in line or trying to get somewhere. Do not take it personally it is part of the Chinese culture.

9. Beijing Traffic

Beijing is a major city and like other cities such as Los Angeles, or New York there is rush hour traffic. Have patience because the roads in Beijing are hectic. A simple 30-minute trip can easily turn into over an hour and a half if there is an accident.

10. Tipping in Beijing

Do not tip in China. Tipping can be considered rude so when in doubt do not tip. A tip may be requested from your tour guide but unless it is specifically outlined you do not need to tip.

11. Google and Social Media

Have you ever heard of the Great Firewall of China? This is what is used to block major websites in the People's Republic of China. Popular websites and applications such as YouTube, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat are all blocked. However, there is a way around, using a virtual private network (VPN) will allow you to use all of your applications. There are many different available but we use NordVPN , which is very well known and affordable. Download your VPN of choice before arriving in China, it may not work if you try to download after you arrive.

12. Tourists attractions are affordable

Tourist attractions in Beijing are very affordable and worth it. I was able to walk on the Great Wall of China with my family for $42. This price included transportation to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (an hour and a half away from Beijing). This is a once and a lifetime experience for less than $50, you cannot put a monetary value on something that special.

There are tours available by going to the tour offices outside on the east gate of Forbidden City. It is easier to use a tour company because you do not have to worry about transportation, tickets, and lunch. Please be forewarned you may be taken to the Chinese school of medicine or pearl factory, but there was no pressure to purchase. This is a way for the tour guides to make extra money, but can you blame them? They are trying to make a decent living like everyone else. I got an amazing 20-minute foot massage for 20RMB ($3) at the Chinese school of medicine.

13. Public Restrooms in Beijing

Be prepared to use a squat toilet as opposed to a western-style toilet. There are western toilets available in the major tourist area but may not be available everywhere. Do not forget to pack toilet paper because it is not readily available in public restrooms. What about hand sanitizer ? Soap is not provided to wash your hands, so be prepared.

14. How safe is Beijing?

We felt very safe in Beijing as two women walking around with a baby. There are different law enforcement authorities in Beijing. The main law enforcement that you will encounter is the People's Armed Police (PAP), who wears green uniforms and guard party and state organizations and foreign embassies and consulates. They will be located at all of the major tourist areas, and you can often watch the changing of guards and marching outside of Forbidden City.

15. Chinese Food

The food in China is nothing like Chinese food in America. You will not find beef and broccoli, General Tso’s chicken, orange chicken, or shrimp fried rice. Chinese food in China seemed to be a lot healthier than what we eat in America. There was not much chicken or shrimp available. The main protein at the restaurants we dined at was pork, fish, and beef. You cannot leave Beijing without trying Peking Duck. If you are a vegetarian ask your hotel to write “only vegetables” on a card for you. There were smaller family restaurants that do not have menus in English so you may need to just point at pictures.

Bonus: Cash is King

Beijing is a city that runs on cash since foreigners cannot use Wechat. Take a credit card and debit card for an emergency but you will need cash. It is a good idea to set up a travel bank account that does reimburse ATM fees so you can withdraw money from an ATM when you arrive. We use Charles Schwab (Use this link to open an eligible account and receive $100), because of their great customer service, exchange rates, and no additional fees.

Have more tips for visiting Beijing? Feel free to add them in the comments below.

Pinterest Things to know before traveling to Beijing

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14 thoughts on “15 things to know before traveling to beijing”.

In China nowadays people use WeChat to pay nearly everything. As I don’t have such payment, I had to carry cashes here and there. So yes, the cash is the King!

Yeah we couldn’t connect our card to WeChat so we had to use cash. I wish we could have, it would have been so much easier.

Yes, yes, and more yes! I lived in China for half a year and completely agree with all of your tips/hints. Cash really is king. Neither myself nor my travel mate used our cards. Completely agree about the food as well. Most people assume and are subsequently disappointed when they cannot find their “favorite Chinese dish” while dining out.

Yes, it was a surprise we couldn’t get shrimp and broccoli. The food was still amazing.

This sounds exactly like India. There are exceptions like tips, freedom on social media. I would love to try the public transport just once. And see the Forbidden City. Good guide.

This is very timely. It is going to be my first trip to Beijing and as you mentioned, I have no idea what to expect. Thank you for sharing these tips. Will keep this in mind especially about the water since I have a pretty sensitive stomach.

it is a great city we enjoyed ourselves. don’t forget a mask though just in case.

Hats off to you for going on an international trip with such a small baby! Our first trip was when mine was 3 months old, but we just went to Brugge, that’s 1 hour away from Brussels, where we live. Its been more than a decade since I ventured to China! Language barrier is such a complicated thing. I did a solo trip and till I reached the airport back to return, I was feeling too jittery. Haha. I can understand your shock about personal space! Coming from India, I think that wasn’t an issue at all for me! Lolz.

That’s a great list of tips while visiting Beijing. Translator is important. I am aware of the Great Firewall, but VPN is a great way to crack that wall. Tipping is a big no-no? I didn’t know that. It is sad to know about the smoking habit of people there.

Thanks for your list of really helpful tips for visiting Beijing, one of the destinations on my wishlist. Particularly good to understand the transportation and of course, the tip about the protective masks against the pollution. Will also make sure to download an app to use a VPN ahead of time so we can still access email (for which we use gmail).

These are some really invaluable tips and especially for those planning to visit China for the first time. We have not visited China but would love to get there, for its ancient heritage and culture. Your tips like the one about downloading VPN before entering China is really invaluable. Also the one about carrying cash

I must agree I did find a lot of points quite surprising like people taking photos of you, no YouTube, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook etc, and no toilet paper and no soap in public restrooms. Thanks for listing down these points. I’ll keep them in mind when I’ll visit the city. I would love to see the Forbidden City. Also, tasting the healthier version of Chinese food is something I would not want to miss.

Thank you for these tips. I will travel to Beijing and stay for a few weeks in the next couple years (acupuncture school). The visa, pollution, and lack of personal space would put me off, too, but how bad will it be? I’ll just have a Plan B lines up (somewhere more rural if it exists) and go anyway.

The visa process isn’t that bad we did it ourselves and it saved us a lot of money. If you don’t live within a few hours driving distance to apply I would recommend using a company. I didn’t have a problem with the personal space but we didn’t use much public transportation since we were traveling with a baby. The pollution is noticeable but wasn’t too bad when we were there. I’d get a mask just in case it gets bad get one N95 compliant. Beijing is a great place to visit. Hope you have fun

The Ultimate 7-Day Beijing Itinerary

As the capital of China and home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Beijing should be at the top of your list of cities to visit in China. This mega city offers everything from ancient temples and historical sites to delicious food, traditional hutong alleys, and a lively night scene.

I’ve lived in Beijing since August 2018 and have visited most of Beijing’s famous sites (multiple times!), spread out over many weekends and months. My sister and her husband recently came to visit Beijing for a week, so I wanted to condense as much of Beijing as I could into 7 days.

It was a challenging feat as there is so much to do and see in Beijing, and you really need more like a month to soak it all in! The itinerary I planned, however, turned out to be the perfect combination of Beijing’s best sites, foods, shopping, night-life, and relaxing time for a one week trip.

Here is my General Overview for One Week in Beijing:

Day 1: Arrive from Airport, Wudaoying Hutong Shopping and Dinner
Day 2: Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street, Silk Market
Day 3: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park
Day 4: Mutianyu Great Wall, Chinese Hot Pot
Day 5: Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, Friends Cafe
Day 6: Houhai Lake, Beijing Zoo, Massages
Day 7: Olympic Stadium, Summer Palace, etc.

Check out some of the things we did here:

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing

Beijing is a massive city, so make sure you know where you are staying and have the address in Chinese.

Depending on what time you come to Beijing (and how tired you are from the plane!), you may have some free time to explore and dip your toes into Beijing culture. If you’re looking for a place to explore, you can check out Wangfujing Street , Nanluoguxiang Street, or the Wudaoying Hutongs.

Wudaoying Street is close to where I live, so we did some shopping and strolling along this street before stopping for a drink on the rooftop of one of the many bars there.

Read 10 Tips For Your First Trip to China!

Day 2 : Tiananmen Square & Wangfujing Street

Morning: coffee and relaxing.

Still recovering a bit from jet lag, the morning was very relaxed. We grabbed coffee and breakfast at a coffee shop and prepared for a busy afternoon.

AFTERNOON: Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street, Silk Market

Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, is right across the street from the southern side of the Forbidden City and it’s free to walk around inside.

Wangfujing Street is close to Tiananman Square – just one stop over on the metro or a 15-20 minute walk. This street is popular because of all the foods you can find, like the infamous scorpions people love to try in Beijing. Here are my top 10 streed foods you should try at Wangfujing!

Afterwards we went to the famous Silk Market, a place where you can find all kinds of knock-off bags and shopping. The ladies will call out to you trying to get you to buy things. “I remember you!” one called out as we walked by again. Another looked at our summer dresses (while other Chinese people are still in jackets and pants) and said “very summer.”

EVENING: Ghost Street and A Night Out

Many hours of shopping and bartering later, we went to Ghost Street for dinner, a famous Chinese restaurant street in Beijing.

Ghost Street is a popular place for street performers to go, and they’ll wander into restaurants and ask if you want to buy a song for them to play. My sister was so excited to try this and we were serenaded with “My Heart Will Go On” (Chinese people love Titanic.)

We went out for drinks and dancing afterwards – Beijing has so many options for bars and clubs! It depends where you’d like to go and what you want to do. We went to QS and Playhouse, but other good bars options include The Great Outdoors, The Local, Legend’s, Paddy’s, and Cafe de la Poste, and some great clubs include Aurora, Salsa Caribe, and One Third.

Day 4: The Forbidden City & Jingshan Park

Morning: sleeping and relaxing.

We had a relaxing morning before grabbing pizza at Tube Station, a popular pizza chain in Beijing (and a good option if you want a break from Chinese food!)

AFTERNOON: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park

Located right in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City is a must-see when you visit the capital city of China. The ancient Imperial Palace of China, called Gùgōng (故宫) in Chinese, is a popular tourist location and covers a large area, so it’s best to do some planning before you go to avoid crowds and make the most of your time there. A ticket costs 40 RMB and I used Trip.com to buy tickets ahead of time.

When you exit the Forbidden City from the North Gate, you’ll be right across the street from Jingshan Park, a beautiful little Chinese park. You’ll see many Chinese people dancing and practicing tai ji here, and also get a stunning view of the Forbidden City from above. See more of my favorite places to take photos of the Forbidden City .

EVENING: Foot Massages and Yunnan Restaurant

We were tired from the all the walking we did and treated ourselves to foot massages! There are many massage salons in China at affordable costs. We went to Zigzag in Wudaoying Hutongs. Afterwards we went to a restaurant nearby with special food from the Yunnan Province. Yunnan food is very different than other Chinese cuisines – it has a more fresh and light flavor, and more cheese dishes (most Chinese dishes have no dairy or cheese!)

Day 4: The Great Wall & Hot Pot

Morning & afternoon: mutianyu great wall.

No trip to Beijing is complete without seeing the Great Wall! There are many sections you can visit, depending on the time and cost. Badaling and Mutianyu are two of the most popular sections that are closer to Beijing, while Jinshanling and Simatai are a bit farther with less crowds.

We went to the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall, which was perfect for taking visitors. It’s only 2 hours away, and we rented a car to drive us there, wait for us, then take us back.

Mutianyu is a great section because it’s not a difficult hike, and there’s a cable car you can take up. Best of all there’s a toboggan you can take to slide down the wall!

Our driver was hilariously terrible at communicating with us though and kept trying to offer to get us discounted tickets. We just bought them from the ticket counter instead and he called me “disobedient.”

EVENING: Hot Pot

After an afternoon rest, we went out to get hot pot for dinner on Ghost Street. Hot pot is a Chinese food experience you must try, no matter which city you visit in China! For first time hot-potters, it’s good to get a half spicy, and half non-spicy broth to dip your meats and vegetables into.

We grabbed a drink at one of my favorite bars afterwards then crashed after a busy day hiking!

Day 5: Temples & Cafes

Morning: lama temple.

The Lama Temple is a special Buddhist temple in Beijing . Bright and colorful, many people come here to pray and burn incense.

AFTERNOON: Temple of Heaven and Friends Cafe

The Temple of Heaven is a beautiful temple and a famous place where the Chinese emperor used to come pray. It’s one of my favorite temples in China! The Pearl Market is also nearby if you’d like to do some more shopping.

We stopped by the Friends themed cafe afterwards. A fun replica of Central Perk, you can get special drinks named after the characters – and they even have a cat!

EVENING: Dumplings and Karaoke Bar

We went to the famous Mr. Shi’s Dumplings for dinner, then joined some friends for drinks at a Taiwanese music bar.

Day 6: Houhai Lake & Beijing Zoo

Morning: brunch and houhai lake.

After a late night out, we had a slow morning to get ready and grab brunch. Afterwards we walked around Houhai Lake and the pedestrian street area there.

AFTERNOON: Beijing zoo and pandas!

The Beijing zoo is not too far from the center of Beijing and home to China’s national treasure: pandas. While there aren’t as many as there are in Chenddu (and there are no babies here), there were still many of them to see!

EVENING: Manicures and Dinner

After the zoo, we headed back to the massage salon for manicures and Aaron got a full body massage. We then grabbed dinner at a random noodle restaurant, but then decided to go to another restaurant with more general Chinese dishes (my favorites include cauliflower and eggplant!)

Day 7: Last Day in Beijing

Depending on when your flight is from Beijing, you might have some extra time to cross another thing off your Beijing list. There are so many more things we couldn’t fit into our schedule, but here are some other options:

798 Art district (free)
Wudaoying Hutong – Cat cafes and bars
Nanluoguxiang Walking Street – food and shops
Summer Palace (30 RMB)
Chinese Opera or Kung Fu Show (200 – 400 RMB)
Olympic Park (free to walk around, 50 RMB to go inside Bird’s Nest)
Migas Rooftop Bar
Panjiayuan Market
Peking Duck Restaurant

One Week Beijing Itinerary

Beijing is the ultimate China destination and has something to please everyone! If you have to choose one place to visit in China, I highly recommend it be Beijing.

Where is your favorite place in Beijing?

Check out some of my other favorite destinations and travel itineraries in China:

6-Day Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang Itinerary
A Guide To Hiking Jinshanling Great Wall
15 Things You Should Do In Hong Kong

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Beijing with kids

Post author: Sally
Post published: August 17, 2019
Post category: Asia / China / East Asia
Post comments: 22 Comments

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Beijing is where modern meets ancient in China, while the rest of China is changing at a rapid pace, Beijing being the capital city, seems to to be more respectful of their culture and history. That makes it the prefect place to visit with kids.

Beijing has a population of over 22 million people, nearly the same as the whole of Australia and ancient China was not built to accommodate that amount of people. Beijing is a massive metropolis and changing rapidly but they are trying to maintain some of the history and cultural sites particularly given this is what tourist are going there to see.

You’re also welcome to join my Hong Kong & China Travel Planning Facebook group – it’s a great resource for all things travel in Hong Kong & China!

I’ve heard people complain about the traffic in Beijing and the smog and I can honestly say, having been there, that neither of these things were an issue. There are also lots of traffic accidents but they are managed well and cleared very quickly. We were there in the summer, it was very hot and we expected a lot of smog and pollution but overall it wasn’t that bad. I travelled with someone that has asthma and she didn’t have any episodes throughout the whole trip. The Chinese refer to it as ‘haze’ and you often do get haze in Asian countries.

The next question most people ask is about communication, there are communication barriers in China and sometimes it can be difficult. In the major cities you’ll find it a lot easier than some of the smaller cities. If this happens be patient, ask someone for help and if all else fails google translate or any other translating device would be useful. Most restaurant menus have pictures so make use of those.

Heading to Shanghai as well, we’ve got you covered with our Shanghai with kids, Our ultimate guide!

No China trip is complete without a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, for all the information you need check out our Visiting Xian with Kids post.

Top things to do in Beijing with kids

Beijing is a great city to visit with kids and there’s definitely more to Beijing than the Great Wall of China! I have included as many things as I could find but just get out and explore by foot and you’ll definitely come across some amazing sights. The Chinese are very family focused and they love little kids.

Now that the one child policy has been lifted you’ll see children everywhere. The Chinese are now allowed to have two children and with the increase in overall wealth, you’ll note that they are taking full advantage of the lifted ban.

Great Wall of China

No visit to Beijing is complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China. There are a number of different tours and options for visiting the Great Wall and some are more crowded than others. Some are closer to Beijing than others and some include other experiences within the day tour. It really depends on how much time you have and how fit you are.

My advice is choose a tour that gives you the maximum amount of time to experience one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions. My biggest regret is that we didn’t have enough time on my visit (you can read about my TripADeal experience here ).

There are 9 different spots to visit the Great Wall of China from Beijing, the image below sets it out quite clearly.

1. Mutianyu

Fully restored and most popular with foreign tourist, this is rated as the most child friendly section of the Great Wall. This section offers a cable car both up and down and a cart railway down. This section is about a 90 minute drive from Beijing. You can walk between Mutianyu and Jiankou in 4 hours. If you have a private driver, I would do the walk and get the driver to pick you up from Jiankou.

Purchase discounted Mutianyu Great Wall tour through Klook here

2. Jinshanling

Very popular for hiking, this part of the wall is partly restored and partly original. This section is a little further from Beijing, around a 2-3 hours drive. However, it is reportedly the most picturesque area of the Great Wall but a decent level of fitness is required. You can hike Jinshanling and Gubeikou over 5 hours or between Jinshanling to Simatai over 3 hours. You’ll need a whole day to visit this section of the Great Wall.

The recommended tour below is a private charter which includes transport from Beijing to Jinshanling, there are no other group tours available for this section of the wall. This does mean the tour is more expensive than others listed but it does include a visit to the Gubei Water Town.

Purchase discounted private charter Beijing to Jinshanling Tour through Klook here

The most dangerous section of the Great Wall, its steep and challenging and requires a high level of fitness. The section crosses mountain ridges and is totally unrestored. This area is a 3 hour drive from Beijing and you’ll require a full day to visit this section of the wall.

Purchase discounted Jiankou to Mutianyu Hike Tour through Klook here

A very popular section of the Great Wall and the only section that runs a night tour. Also a 2-3 hour drive from Beijing this part of the wall boasts many activities that would be fun for kids. Activities include cable cars, battery cars and you can even zip line across to the West Wall and there are boats on the reservoir to the East Tower. As this section is quite far from Beijing it is one of the quieter sections of the wall.

Purchase Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town tour through Klook here

5. Huanghuacheng

Noted for its water scenery as the Great Wall is partly submerged in water and offers some gorgeous ancient unrestored areas to photograph. This is one of the few sections of the Great Wall you can camp on, best time for camping is late March to September. This section is a 90 minute drive from Beijing.

6. Gubeikou

An historically significant section of the Great Wall, 130 plus battles happened here and it provided protection to Beijing from the northern Mongols. This section is totally unrestored and is a 2 hour drive from Beijing. Its another quiet section due to being classed as a difficult climbing section.

7. Juyongguan

This is the section of the Great Wall I visited during my trip, this is home to the greatest of the remaining Great Wall forts. It’s 90 minutes from Beijing and is one of the busiest sections of the wall, it’s also wheelchair friendly and suitable for disabled persons. While it’s rated as busy, in my experience I found it to be quite comfortable and not overcrowded. Our tour guide told us that Genghis Khan once led his troops over this section of the Great Wall in an attempt to conquer the Chinese and claim Beijing, its an historically significant section of the wall and very well restored for this reason.

Purchase Juyongguan Great Wall & Ming Tombs Tour through Klook here

8. Huangyaguan

This is where the Great Wall marathon is held each May so if you are visiting during May I would do a bit more research to ensure you’re not there then. This is also another very popular and crowded section of the Great Wall as you are able to get a sightseeing bus to the top of the mountain. Its a 2-3 hour drive from Beijing and is fully restored.

9. Badaling

This section of the Great Wall is very popular with Chinese tourists and is always very crowded. I don’t recommend you visit this section if you can help it. It’s also fully restored and about 3.5 hours from Beijing. There are cable cars at this site for accessing parts of the wall and the Great Wall Museum is located at this site. It is wheelchair friendly in parts.

Purchase discounted Badaling Great Wall & Ming Tombs Tour through Klook here

Camping on the Great Wall of China

There are now a few different areas you can camp on the Great Wall of China. My kids would definitely love something like this, we love a good camping trip. You will have to book directly, I found a great company Great Wall Camping , they offer various options on different parts of the Great Wall with varying levels of fitness required. Some are 1 night others are 2 nights and the hikes between are graded by fitness level. Some sections of the Great Wall can be strenuous and steep, so make sure you read carefully and don’t overstate your fitness level. Click the link and check out which ones would be best for you and your family.

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Also known as the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, they are a collection of mausoleums built during the Ming Dynasty. Built on Tianshou Mountain the site was chosen based on principles of feng shui. Thirteen Ming Dynasty Emperors were buried in the same area. The Ming Tombs were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in August 2003.

The Ming Dynasty Tombs are best done as part of a tour of the Great Wall of China. There are a couple of options but I suggest you go with the more experienced one below that includes Juyongguan pass rather than Badaling. Reason being Badaling is much more crowded and is very popular with Chinese tourists.

Purchase your Juyongguan Wall & Ming Tombs tickets through Klook here

Ancient Hutongs of Beijing

The Hutongs of Beijing are where old meets new. The Hutongs show how life use to be for all of Beijing before the population exploded and they needed to build apartment blocks to house everyone. Hutong means ‘narrow street’ in Mandarin.

Many of Beijing’s Hutongs have been demolished to make room for new roads and buildings but the remaining ones are mostly protected to preserve the Chinese cultural history and are in themselves a tourist attraction. Hutongs were first established during the Yuan Dynasty which was between 1279-1368. The Hutongs all have names, generally relating to an area, land mark and some are named after people.

There are more than 35 Hutongs still remaining in Beijing. Private homes in the Hutongs don’t have washrooms and the local people share them like in holiday parks. Yet homes in the Hutongs are worth millions, everyone wants to live the traditional way in Beijing and not in the high-rise apartment buildings so many of the Hutong homes are passed down from generation to generation.

I definitely recommend a visit to a Hutong, if not just to see old China but the canals and lakes are really pretty as well. If you can, do a Hutong Tour by rickshaw.

Purchase your discounted Hutong rickshaw tickets through Klook here

Tiananmen Square

We visited Tiananmen Square on our tour, our guide told us before we got off the bus not to ask about the ‘Tank Man’ incident that didn’t happen, he had a slight smirk on his face when he said it. He also suggested that when we got off the bus, we would be best not to mention it. Chinese censorship at its best.

We were in China for the 30th Anniversary of ‘June Fourth Incident’, not surprisingly there was no mention of it in China. We where at Tiananmen Square on the 12th June, just one week later. Would the Chinese Government react in the same way if those events happened today? It hard to know but probably likely. As i write this there are protests in Hong Kong so we might just see soon how they deal with problems in the 21 century.

Tiananmen, meaning ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’ (ironic), is the gate located to the north of the square separating it from the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is home to the Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Wall of the People, National Museum of China and Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Tiananmen Square is in the top ten largest square’s in the world, significant historical events took place here including Chairman Mao’s proclamation of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in the square on October 1, 1949.

Visiting Tiananmen Square is free however I recommend doing on a tour which includes the Forbidden City below. See links under Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City

Located right next to Tiananmen Square and separated by the Tiananmen Gate, is a palace complex containing 980 buildings and covering 72 hectares (180 acres). It’s the home of the Palace Museum which now manages the site that, since 2012, receives 15 million visitors annually. This has led to a daily cap of 80,000 visitors.

The Forbidden City is the former Chinese Imperial Palace and was utilised by Emperors and their families from the Ming Dynasty through to the end of the Qing Dynasty, nearly 500 years (1420-1912). Its a great example of traditional Chinese palatial architecture and influenced many others in East Asia. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.

One of the main buildings in the Forbidden City, one of China’s most significant tourist attractions

I highly recommend doing a tour of both Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, you will find it so much more informative than visiting independently. I have provided a link to a tour I recommend below.

Note that the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. Also, the link below states Forbidden City Only Tour but the tour does commence in Tiananmen Square.

Purchase your discounted Forbidden City Only Tour tickets through Klook here

Purchase your discounted Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Beijing Olympic Village tickets through Klook here

Purchase your discounted Forbidden City & Great Wall tickets through Klook here

Beijing Olympic Village

Do you remember the hype around the Birds Nest and Ice Cube prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics? I certainly do! Our hotel was located right near the Olympic Village and we were able to walk over there and explore. It was nice to see but not sure I would go out of my way to see it.

I have included a link above for a Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Beijing Olympic Village Tour, I recommend doing a tour such as that as you wouldn’t really want to spend to much time there. You are best to visit at night when the its lit up like a Christmas tree, we went during the day and the night photos were so much better.

Did you know Beijing is hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics? They have a countdown clock in the Olympic village and they are getting very excited about being on the world stage again.

Beijing Zoo

Beijing Zoo’s main attraction is the Giant Panda enclosure which has been recently upgraded. They’re the main attraction and their enclosure is much better than any other in the zoo. I have to be honest, I don’t recommend this as a tourist attraction. However if you really want to see Giant Pandas and you are unable to get to Chengdu then this is probably the only other option.

The rest of the zoo is very much a zoo of old, lots of concrete enclosures and not a lot of stimulation for the animals. I found it quite a sad place and some of the enclosures, particularly the gorgeous tiger one was quite confronting.

To be entirely honest, I think the giant pandas were even showing signs of stress. One was pacing up and down and another was sitting and very disinterested. Such a majestic gorgeous animal and they were separated and in single enclosures and it just didn’t feel great.

If you can, get to Chengdu and visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda as it’s a much better experience and you won’t leave sad. The recommended tour below includes a visit to the Beijing Zoo but also includes a visit to the Summer Palace and Lama Temple.

Purchase discounted Historic Beijing Day Tour through Klook here

Summer Palace & Lama Temple

Built in 1750 by the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace covers an area of over 3 square kilometres three quarters of which are underwater. The main attractions include Longevity Hill & Kunming Lake and is home to a large & priceless collection of cultural relics which are under special State protection.

In 1998 the Summer Palace and surrounding gardens were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, it was declared a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design.

The Lama Temple was built in 1694 by the Qing Dynasty, its a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. Also known as the Yonghe Temple or the Palace of Peace and Harmony. After Emperor Yongzheng’s death in 1735, his coffin was placed in the temple.

The temple and monastery also houses the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. There are 5 main halls in the temple, Gate Hall of Harmony and Peace, Hall of Harmony and Peace, Hall of Everlasting Protection, Hall of the Wheel of the Law and Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses.

Both these attractions are visited on the Historic Beijing Tour linked above.

Temple of Heaven

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties would visit annually to pray for a good harvest. The three gabled circulate structure in the middle is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, reminding us that central Beijing was once farm land! Construction started in 1406 and completed in 1420 and is a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design in Beijing.

The Temple grounds cover almost 3 square kilometres of parkland and is made up of three main groups of constructions. The gardens are tranquil and calm and this site remains a very popular tourist attraction for people visiting Beijing and a significant place of worship for the Chinese.

Purchase discounted Temple of Heaven & Tai Chi Tour through Klook here

Chaoyang Theatre Acrobatic Show

Showcasing the best of Chinese acrobatics and choreographed to dramatic cultural music and telling the history of China, you’ll be blown away by the tricks and death defying acts. With bright eye catching costumes, this is a show not to be missed. The tickets in the link below are for VIP seating so you’ll be front and centre for all the action.

A mixture of Kung Fu, dance and acrobatics, there is no talking in this show the choreographed experience is a fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional marital arts, it’s a definite crowd pleaser especially for little boys who will no doubt want to try out those skills on their sisters!

Purchase discounted Legends of Kung Fu tickets through Klook here

Chinese Tea Class

The benefits of drinking green tea is well researched and Chinese green tea is known to be the best in the world. I visited a tea plantation and learnt how to pour the tea, all about the healing properties and how green tea cleans your internal organs. Tea has been part of the Chinese culture for 5000 years.

You’ll participate in a tea ceremony in a tranquil garden located near the Forbidden City, learn about the rich history, culture and customs associated with traditional Chinese tea ceremony. There are over 1000 different teas being cultivated in China with green tea being the most popular.

Purchase discounted Chinese Tea Class tickets through Klook here

Traditional Cupping Experience

Have you ever had cupping done? I have and it was amazing. It was a little Chinese massage place near Victoria Market in Melbourne. Not quite the same as in Beijing!

The therapeutic methods in cupping date back to the Han Dynasty, it removes impurities and increases circulation in the body. Cupping is said to have many benefits from relieving chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, relieving small short term problems such as neck pain or congestion from a common cold. The experience goes for 15-30 minutes and you’ll experience a relieving and relaxing experience.

Purchase discounted Traditional Cupping Experience through Klook here

Peking Opera Experience

The Liyuan Theatre is an attraction in itself but to experience a 70 minute opera experience with traditional dramatic costume combined with music, singing, mime, dance and acrobatics its a show you’ll never forget.

The theatre has instant interpretation service that translates to English and Japanese ensuring that you can watch the amazing performance and understand the story behind the show. An unforgettable experience and very traditional show.

Purchase discounted Peking Opera Experience tickets through Klook here

Do you need a visa to visit China?

The short answer is yes but there are a few exceptions.

Transit without visa policy (TWOV)

24 hour transit visa exemption.

To increase tourist numbers, China is now issuing 24 hour transit visa exemptions for some countries, Australia is one of them. Travellers must have an onward flight booked leaving within 24 hours from arrival. The 24 hour transit visa exemption is available to all foreigners and from most ports of arrival.

72 - 144 hour Transit visa Exemption

Passport holders of 49 countries may be eligible for transit visa exemptions for stays of 72 – 144 hours provided they are transiting through specific airports such as: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shenyang, Dalian, Liaoning, Xiamen, Qingdao, When, Chengdu and Kunming.

Australia and New Zealand are eligible for this exemption as with 25 Schengen countries in Europe, 15 other European countries, 6 countries in North and South America and 11 countries in Asia and the Middle East. You will need to contact the Chinese Embassy nearest to you for further information or click here for a list of the countries that participate.

Tourist Visa (L Visa)

To successfully obtain a Chinese tourist visa you will need to show one of two things, you can either obtain a Letter Of Invitation issued by a resident of Mainland China or a company based in Mainland China or produce your paid round-trip tickets plus the hotel reservations for the duration of your stay in Mainland China. The hotel reservations will need to cover every date that you will be in country.

This means you’ll need to be very organised! One option is to book hotels on any aggregator site, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com or Expedia.com. These generally have free cancellation up to a certain date prior to arrival (sometimes only 24-48 hours), this way you can cancel should you need to and not be out of pocket if for whatever reason you are not granted a visa.

For Australians, lodging your Chinese Visa application is straight forward provided you have the correct information, along with two passport photos and the application form. Chinese Visa Application Service Centres are located in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. You will need to return to collect your passport containing your visa 3 days later.

Chinese visas are not cheap, when applying in Melbourne I paid AU$109 and multi entry visas are even more expensive. Others have applied for their Chinese visas in other parts of Asia and have reported that it’s substantially cheaper. You’ll need to contact the Chinese Embassy in whatever country you’re in for further details.

I always get my visa information for every country from the Australian Government Smarttraveller website (link takes you to current information regarding entry and exit to China), it provides you with a Chinese Visa checklist , so you can make sure you have the correct paperwork ensuring you only have to lodge it once. There are so many different visas for China, however I’m only covering the L class tourist visa, click here to view other forms of visa.

Choosing the best hotels in Beijing with kids

The best place to stay in Beijing with kids is definitely as central to the activities you want to do and see. Beijing is a huge sprawling city and finding the best hotel and geographical area in Beijing can be difficult. That’s ok though, I’ve made it easy for you, see below recommendations and breakdown of areas.

Top 5 areas of Beijing for tourists

Below I have broken down the best places to stay in Beijing and recommended a luxury, mid-range and budget hotel. When recommending hotels I generally stick to luxury – 5 star, mid-range – 4 star and budget – 3 star.

Rated by many as the best place to stay in Beijing for tourists, this area enables you to walk to many of the main attractions including the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. There is also a good variety of shopping options in this area as well as restaurants with both local and western options. Wangfujing is located on subway line one and it’s well connected to other subway lines making getting around very easy.

Luxury - Waldorf Astoria Beijing;
Mid range - King Parkview Hotel;
Budget - Beijing Wang Fu Jing Jade Hotel

Another very popular place to stay in Beijing and the historical centre of Old Beijing. Located south of Tiananmen Square, this area is popular for first time visitors to Beijing. Close to Mao’s Mausoleum and the Chinese Museum, the area is renowned as Beijing’s foodie area, perfect for those wanting to try Peking Duck a national delicacy. This is also the main Muslim district, halal food is widely available.

Luxury - The Emperor Tiananmen Beijing;
Mid range - Jianguo Qianmen Hotel;
Budget - Nostalgia Hotel Temple of Heaven.

Houhai & Nanluoguxiang

Where old meets new in Beijing, this area is close to the Hutongs, Bell & Drum Towers and Lama Temple. Beijing’s emerging area popular with the younger generation searching for vintage clothes and up and coming local designers. Home to Beijing’s biggest lake, perfect for strolling around in summer and transforms into an ice rink during the winter. Known for its convenient public transport options making getting around Beijing so much easier.

Luxury - Grand Mercure Beijing Dongcheng Hotel;
Mid range - Iris Hotel Beijing Shi Cha Hai;
Budget - Beijing East Hotel.

Chaoyang/ Sanlitun

Perfect for the business traveller, Chaoyang is home of the Beijing Central Business District and full of skyscrapers, office buildings, hotels, international companies and foreign Embassies. This is one of the largest districts in the central area and plays host to one of the best shopping, dining, and party areas in the whole city. Also home to Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Village, you can still visit the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube both of which are in Chaoyang District. Sanlitun is popular for its rich nightlife and is popular with the younger generation.

Luxury - InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun;
Mid range - Oriental Garden Hotel;
Budget - Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen.

798 District

If 798 District was in Melbourne it would be full of hipsters! Here you’ll find Beijing’s finest art galleries and exhibitions and fantastic street art. You won’t go hungry with a variety of hip and quirky cafes and boutique shops. Don’t miss the Yoko Ono exhibition and the North Korean collectibles store. This area lacks accommodation options.

Luxury - NUO Hotel Beijing;
Mid range - Courtyard by Marriott Beijing Northeast;
Budget - Holiday Inn Express Beijing Wangjing.

Top places to eat in Beijing

Most of the restaurants in the touristy areas will have either pictures on the menu’s or someone that at least knows a little bit of English. If you are in an area not usually frequented by tourists it is unlikely you will be able to communicate easily. If you download a translator app that will normally get you through, the serve staff do make an effort to communicate.

I recommend eating local dishes when in Beijing, dumplings are a must and of course when in Beijing, Peking duck must be on the menu as least once. You can eat very cheaply in Beijing or you can splash out at some world class restaurants. Below I have made a recommendation for each area of Beijing:

Wangfujing – Wangfujing Snack Street – a pedestrian laneway filled with food stalls with food options from all over China. Walk along and choose from pancakes, dumplings, noodles and scorpion skewers which the kids will love, it will be the cheapest dinner you have with dishes averaging AU$2.

Houhai – Kong Yi Ji Restaurant – a popular pricey restaurant within the Hutong and serves classic Shaoxing dishes such as zuixia (drunken shrimp) and dongpo rou (stewed pork) amongst a proliferation of calligraphy and antique furniture.

Qianmen – Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant – on the more expensive side but very popular for roast duck, note the photos of the famous people in the wall including Fidel Castro.

Sanlitun/Chaoyang – Baoyuan Dumpling Restaurant – affordable and very popular with kids, offers a huge selection of multi coloured dumplings, not much English but the menu is in English with photos.

798 District – Xian Wan Shi Restaurant – one of the oldest and an original restaurants in the 798 District famous for Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan cuisine.

You won’t have a problem finding delicious food in Beijing, just get out for a walk from your hotel and you’ll be certain to find somewhere decent to eat.

Getting to and from Beijing

As the capital city of China, there are many options for transport in and out of Beijing. Beijing has two airports, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), the primary airport and Beijing Nanyuan Airport (NAY). PEK is rated as the largest airport in Asia and the second busiest airport in the world. However, Beijing is building the Beijing New Airport due to open in 2019 and will likely become the world’s biggest airport with a total of 7 runways, knocking Atlanta off its top perch.

Terminal 1 of Beijing Capital Airport is for domestic flights and you’ll find a the following airlines flying domestically from Beijing: Fuzhou Airlines, Grand China Airlines Domestic, Capital Airlines, Hainan Airlines Domestic, Tianjin Airlines, Spring Airlines and Lucky Air.

China United Airlines is the only commercial airline operating from Nanyuan Airport and the airline flies domestically only. The airport is 13kms from Tiananmen Square, south of Beijing.

If travelling domestically you should also consider travelling on the China Rail system, I have written a comprehensive post on how to book the Beijing to Xian train tickets both in person and online. This guide can be used for booking all trains in China.

Getting around Beijing

There are many options for getting around Beijing, it can be challenging though due to the language barrier and the vast majority of signage is in Chinese.

Metered Taxi – metered taxis are cheap as many Beijinger’s don’t have cars, however that is slowly changing as the economy is currently bursting. You will experience difficulty communicating with many taxi drivers as it is likely they will only know the Chinese name of most places. We took a card from our hotel with the hotel address written in Chinese so we could get back and make it easier for the taxi driver. Beijing is massive and not all taxi drivers know every area which can make it a little difficult at times;

Didi App – Didi is a Chinese version of Uber, if you download the app, it will be much easier than attempting to communicate with taxi drivers that don’t speak English and minimising the risk of a miscommunication. The app will tell you the cost prior to getting in the car which will also minimise the chance of getting ripped off like I did!

Beijing Subway – like all subways Beijing’s train system appears overwhelming, however once you get in there and experience it, things will all fall into place. Due to the traffic congestion the Beijing subway has to be efficient, especially when you are moving 25 million people around this massive metropolis. The subway stations are clean and trains are always on time, they have to be to keep the city moving.

Train stations are announced in Chinese and English, you can purchase Transportation Smart Card for longer stays or make sure you have plenty of loose change. Most stations you can buy your ticket from at the Customer Service Centre or self-service ticket vending machine. Tickets are issued for one day use only.

Some stations are only equipped with ticket vending machines which accept 1RMB coins or 5RMB and 10RMB banknotes, if you are having trouble ask someone for assistance, the Chinese are generally willing to help, a translator app will assist with the language barrier if required.

Beijing Bus – the Beijing bus network is one of the most extensive, affordable and widely used forms of public transport with over 1200+ routes to get you to where you need to go. I don’t recommend using it over the subway as they are often crowded and are subject to the same traffic congestion as getting a taxi. Buses are great if you know where you are going as you’ll likely have significant language barriers.

Walk – I always recommend getting out and walking in new cities where possible. Obviously with Beijing being such a big city, you’ll be unable to walk everywhere. However, exploring by foot will enable you to experience things others normally wouldn’t if in a car.

Best time to visit Beijing with kids

Autumn and Spring are the recommended best seasons to visit Beijing, best time is September/October however May and early June is also a good time. Summer and winter experience extremes temperatures.

I visited Beijing in mid-June and we had fantastic weather although it was very humid. We had one overcast day but the rest were clear blue skies. We were incredibly lucky to get no rain.

Beijing has very distinct seasons, summer is hot and humid and experiences a good deal of rain. Winter is freezing and the city will be blanketed with a layer of snow for a good part of the January.

Smog and air pollution are an issue in Beijing, however it does tend to be worse in summer when it is muggy and smoggy as well as winter when it is cold as extra smog is created from keeping the homes and buildings heated.

The Chinese Government is rewarding people for purchasing new electric vehicles, this is reducing the air pollution and evidently will have a huge impact on pollution levels going forward.

What to pack when visiting Beijing with kids

Make sure you pack comfortable shoes that you can walk in and if visiting the Great Wall of China I recommend hiking shoes or hiking sandals. These will support your feet as most parts of the wall are steep and uneven.

A light rain jacket would also we beneficial, one that’s easy to pack. Layers in winter will be your best friend. That will mean you are prepared for all types of weather, you can layer up or down to keep you comfortable all day. Peel them on or off as needed.

When travelling I always recommend dressing respectfully when visiting religious and culturally significant locations. While China has no restrictions like other Asian countries, its always nice to respect local custom. Preferably no skimpy tops or really short skirts/shorts, dress appropriately for the weather and conditions.

I have the weather app on my iPhone and I download each city I will be visiting prior to leaving so I have a good idea of what weather conditions to expect over the first week. This helps with packing and ensure I’m prepared have have packed appropriately.

You will be able to purchase most things you need there if you have forgotten something.

Budget for visiting Beijing with kids

Budgets are always hard for me to recommend as I’m never really great at keeping to one!

Beijing is one of the more expensive cities in China which you would expect given it is the capital. However by western standards its still pretty reasonably priced. Hotels are of a high standard for what is charged and on the ground costs such as transportation are very affordable and efficient.

If you decide to travel independently around Beijing, you can save a good amount of money however you need to be patient and ask for help when you don’t understand.There is usually someone that will try and help you, particularly the younger generation.

You might find doing a tour, most of which include hotel pick up and drop off, a much easier option. I recommend doing part tours and part independent, this will ensure you have a bit of a break from the challenges of independent travel. That’s not to say independent travel is impossible, its not, but its definitely more challenging and leaves you open to opportunistic scammers.

Do I recommend travelling to Beijing with kids

Definitely, Beijing is an amazing city and the highlight of course is visiting the Great Wall, no visit to Beijing is complete without a visit. There’s a lot of culture and history in Beijing and the oriental gardens and their ancient beginnings are definitely worth visiting.

I definitely recommend getting out and about in Beijing, it’s very safe and people are welcoming and happy to assist tourists. They are proud of their capital city and regardless of what the rest of the world thinks of their president, they are very complimentary of him.

I also think a mixture of independent and tours is perfect for visits to Beijing. I also recommend travelling by China rail fast train to other areas of China, including Xian, Shanghai and Chengdu.

Should you not yet be confident to tackle China independently, there are plenty of great and affordable China tours groups , covering everything from a week to 3 plus week tours. Tours are a great way to get your bearings and then you might be confident to return independently and explore an amazing country.

Have you been to Beijing? Do you have any questions? Please leave them in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

Happy travels,

Sal, Craig and Our3kids.

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This post has 22 comments.

Such an extensive post with lots of useful information. The Great Wall has been on my bucket list for a while and the pandas have been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. My parents would take me to London Zoo to see them 🙂

Thanks for your comment.

It is an extensive post, I hope you have found it helpful. If you can try and make the trip to Chengdu as the Beijing Zoo is very disappointing. I’m a fan of some zoo’s when their overall contribution to conservation outweighs the captivity issues but I found Beijing was a zoo of old, like they use to be before we knew better.

Thanks Sal & Co.

I visited the Great Wall of China years ago when I went there for a wedding. I can’t remember the name of the section but it was reasonably close to Beijing and was restored. It was beautiful and we saw a group of monks in their safran robes. Sadly, they were well ahead of us in the opposite direction so I couldn’t take photos. Generally, I thought China was interesting but I struggled with the dust and pollution, I hope it wasn’t too bad for your kids!

Hi Delphine,

What an amazing place for a wedding, I’m sure the wedding photos would have been spectacular. Yes the wall has been restored at the busier sections for the benefit of tourism. If I ever get the opportunity to return I will definitely look at the less developed areas and hopefully camp out for a night. I little hike from one section to the other would be great too.

I really like this post, it has so much great information. I hope to visit the Great Wall. Some of it looks quite steep. I noticed on your chart that the quieter parts are the unrestored sections of the wall. A tour might be the way to go. Saving for future reference. And the Giant Pandas at Beijing Zoo would be a must too.

Yes the unrestored sections definitely see less tourists. If I ever return I would love to hike between the sections and really get away from other people and explore the raw areas of the wall. I would also love to camp for a night as I think watching a sunset would be superb.

I recommend travelling to Chengdu to see the pandas but yes if Beijing Zoo is your only option they are definitely worth seeing. Such majestic animals and so playful.

This is a great comprehensive guide. We had mixed emotions when we visited Beijing but I think overall we did enjoy it and we will visit again in the near future. We didn’t manage to do everything in this guide but we will try to tick a few more things off next time!

Thanks for the comment.

It is a comprehensive guide and I think it would be difficult to tick them all off, I did hope to cover just about something for everyone though! Choosing which section of the Great Wall to visit is always confusing so I tried to set that out as clearly as possible so people can choose a section that suits their particular interests.

Reading this post sure brought back amazing memories of my time in Beijing. I loved my time there and would love to go back to this region of China. Very detailed guide with handy tips for those first timers. 🙂 I did the Great Wall in January, and there was nobody (ok, it was bloody freezing cold but it was an amazing experience). 😀

Thanks for your comment, oh I bet it was freezing in January however a great way to beat the crowds! Was it covered in snow? I reckon seeing it covered in snow would definitely be worth freezing your butt off for!

Glad you enjoyed the reminiscing! Beijing is a great city, I really want to go back as well.

This is such a comprehensive post on Beijing covering all useful information, a tourist needs to know. The Great Wall has been on my bucket list for a while and I would love to visit Beijing just for that. And for pandas. I so want to see a real one.

Oh you will love Beijing and the Great Wall is the icing on the cake. It has been on my bucket list for a long time, walking on the Great Wall was a little overwhelming for me, a real pinch yourself moment, I am incredibly lucky to have all the opportunities I had.

Although my daughter moved to Southeast Asia at the end of 2018, I have yet to visit the places she’s been, like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India. With those higher on my priority list (because, hello, I miss my daughter!) I hadn’t given much thought to visiting China. But giant pandas are absolutely amazing creatures, and I’d love the chance to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda. (I think I’ll skip the zoo, though, especially based on your experience.)

Oh you must get there, Australian’s are well travelled in Asia however it might be a bit foreign for America’s as it isn’t close to home. Not many Australian’s travel to the Caribbean where you guys go all the time! I think you will love it. Its very different and the food is delicious. I really hope you do get over and experience Asia, however you might find yourself wanting to go back again and again!

Wow, this looks like an amazing and intense holiday even for adults. How did your kids handle it? Were they tired or constantly excited?

Yes was intense but all our holidays are intense. I’m a terrible itinerary planner and always try to pack to much into our day. Its one thing I really need to focus on going forward on our holidays. We all generally come home from our holiday needing another holiday but I have terrible FOMO and treat every place like I’ll never be returning.

This is really helpful thanks! I am really considering a visit in the near future but until recently I thought I might take a tour – something we rarely do but this post and a few others I have seen lately make me think I can do this independently which makes it far more attractive 🙂

I would definitely do it independent, it will be challenging but definitely doable. While communication is difficult, the local people will make an effort to communicate and we were fine with menu’s most had pictures or were in English. There is always someone around that speaks English and they are happy to assist in my experience.

Whilst I don’t have kids, this is still a very helpful guide. I’ve always wanted to see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. I know there’s a lot of censorship around what happened all those years ago – but I still think it would be a fascinating place to see. Thanks for a great guide!

There are so many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China and it really is an amazing place to visit. The censorship issues should decrease over the next decade as the younger generation know how to get around it with VPN’s and so forth. I think they will be a much more informed group of people going forward.

It will be interesting to see how China deal with the current issues in HK going forward.

We’ve often talked about taking the kids to Asia but I’ve always been a bit hesitant. I love Europe but Asia seemed so much harder with kids. Beijing seems to be the perfect place to start! I’m so glad to hear about the lack of smog because my kids have asthma too. I know they’d just love to explore the Great Wall (I had no idea there was a cable car to part of it!) the acrobatics show and the kung fu show. I know that they’d love to see the Giant Pandas but that is so sad how they’re penned up. We’d skip that. Do you know if there’s another way to see the Panda’s outside the zoo?

I think a lot of people think that Asia is a bit overwhelming but it actually isn’t, its very easy and they local people generally love kids and will make a fuss of them and interact and make them feel very welcome. I know that people have real issues with the required vaccinations and I suppose if your kids aren’t use to it, it can be a bit of an ordeal. My kids are good now and only have a little of anxiety on the way.

What to know before you go to Beijing

From visa advice to foodie favorites, here are nine insider tips for a trip to China’s fascinating capital.

The 2008 Summer Olympics was Beijing ’s coming-out party as one of the world’s most influential megacities. A further influx of investment, an ever-developing tourism sector, and a massive new airport expected to open in September 2019—the Beijing Daxing International, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects—make now a great time to plan a visit to China ’s capital city. Let these pro tips guide you.

Decide whether you need a visa

You can stop in the city en route to another country for up to 144 hours without a visa . For longer stays, apply for the multiple-entry visa , since it costs the same ($140) as the single-entry version.

Plan ahead for the Forbidden City

Daniel Newman of Newman Tours advises: “Book your tickets in advance, since the government limits admissions to 80,000 people per day. Don’t forget your passport, because you can’t enter without it.”

Tourists crowding the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City

Formerly a site of royal weddings and enthronements, the Forbidden City’s Hall of Supreme Harmony now draws travelers.

Make time to wander through a hutong

One of the best preserved hutongs (historic neighborhoods) is Nanluoguxiang. Rent a bike and pedal through the winding alleys, or have lunch in a family home with Discover Beijing Tours .

Gaze at stunning modern architecture

Beijing’s standout structures include the Galaxy Soho complex, the CCTV Headquarters, and the National Stadium (aka “Bird’s Nest”), built for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The “Bird’s Nest” stadium will host events for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Know about the New Year

During Chinese New Year (in 2020, it falls on January 25), the world’s largest human migration occurs as residents visit their hometowns. Many sites close, but you can still see vibrant temple fairs like the one at Ditan Park.

Get help from a language app

Most people in the tourism industry speak English, but if you plan to explore Beijing on your own and find your language skills lacking, download a translation app such as Pleco .

Sample the iconic dish

Taste a modern version of Peking duck at the Opposite House hotel’s swanky Jing Yaa Tang restaurant. Or, says the hotel’s Nick Gollner, “for old school charm, head to Liqun Roast Duck,” where the dish is served with cucumber slivers, leeks, and pancakes.

Be aware of the air quality

Although the air quality has improved in recent years, pollution levels can still run high, especially in winter. On smoggy days, go to indoor sites like the National Art Museum of China .

Take a great walk on the Great Wall

Newman says, “Travel to Mutianyu or Simatai to avoid crowds, or even to the Ming-era Huanghuacheng section, which was recently restored and offers panoramic views.”

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Travel to Beijing with Kids - 11 Things to Do

Beijing, rich in tourist attractions, definitely has some fun things to do for kids? Where are the best places to visit in Beijing for kids and what to do in Beijing with kids? The article below will give you answers.

Beijing Zoo

Beijing happy valley, badaling great wall & badaling wildlife world.

Peking Roast Duck

Beijing museum of natural history, waterpark in water cube, shijingshan amusement park, beijing aquarium, beijing planetarium, you may like.

An Unforgettable Chinese Experience

Article By: Nicole Hofstede , Quarter Finalist

With 13 other high school juniors by my side, we all excitedly loaded the Delta Airlines Airplane. We were completely oblivious to the adventures we were about to encounter, even as we arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Our stay was to include 5 days with an individual host family, then the remaining 4 days in the heart of Beijing.

The first time I met my host family was at midnight. Their apartment was in Tianjin, China; it was to be my home for the next 5 days. Without taking any formal Chinese lessons prior, I was blessed to have a host family that was willing to teach me. My host Chinese sister, Rainie, brought me to school every morning at Purple Cloud High School.

The first day was the most intimidating; I was out of my comfort zone in so many ways. New language, food, customs, appearance, rules – but I was up for the challenge and enjoyed every minute of it. Rainie’s classmates were extremely nice, and would sing songs for me and ask me to fly kites with them. My host parents sat down to have every meal with me. Whether it was squid, sea cucumber, chicken feet, boas, black fungus, dumplings, soy soaked eggs, or fruit; I ate every meal with chopsticks. I became extremely fond of the Chinese eating habits, styles and food selections.

As my stay with Rainie and her family came to an end, she brought me to unique places. On her day off of school (Sundays), we drove to the Tianjin Aquarium. I also had was taken to K-TV, which is a popular karaoke chain in China! It was one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to. I also was treated to numerous restaurants in Tianjin, such as Hot Pot and a place similar to Benihana (in America’s comparison). My short stay with my host family was a valuable and unforgettable experience; the second I stepped off the long bus ride from the Beijing Airport to my host family, I was completely submerged in a new world. No one speaking English, no pizza, cheeseburgers – just random parts of animals and lots of black fungus. Even the little things, such as wearing slippers inside my home, eating with chopsticks, going to school from 7:40-5:30pm, and their kite flying was the complete experience. I will never forget my host family, and Tianjin. I consider it my second home.

After being reunited with my classmates, we drove to Beijing, arriving at the Youth Friendship Hotel (XiXi Hotel). Our guide kept us busy for our last 4 days in China. I toured Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and the Bird’s Nest. I took as many photos as possible, and recorded every moment. My favorite part in Beijing was the Market. There, I learned how to barter. Not just any kind of bartering, but the Chinese way of bartering. I spent hours bickering over the sales of tea, silk scarves, tea sets, chopsticks, watches, sunglasses, bookmarks.

My short 9 days in Tianjin and Beijing came to a close. The country of China changed my perspectives of education, culture and food! Their mutual respect for each other was refreshing, and many of their eating habits would be beneficial for America. Their way of life was eye opening. I would go there over and over again if I ever had the chance. China’s truly a wonderful place, deserving the recognition of being noticed as an evolving area with great culture, food, language, sights, attractions and people!

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My Trip To China Essay And Paragraphs For Students

Ever since our class studied China in social studies, I’ve dreamed of exploring this fascinating land. Well, this summer my wish came true as my family and I ventured there on a once-in-a-lifetime journey. From bustling cities to lush countryside, every moment exceeded all expectations. In this essay, I’ll share highlights that made this trip an adventure I’ll cherish forever.

Table of Contents

Short Essay About My Trip to China – Beijing: A Capital Culture Immersion

Beijing kicked off our travels in the best way. At Tiananmen Square, history was awe-inspired like nothing I’d seen before. The Forbidden City palace complex transported me to ancient empires through magnificent architecture. And pandas at the zoo confirmed I’d fallen for China! We even got to try cooking dumplings—so fun making smiles through tasty tradition sharing.

The (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Great Wall Wows

One of my favorite parts hands down was hiking a rugged stretch of the magnificent Great Wall. It’s military engineering still amazes me! The panoramic views across misty mountains reaffirmed nature’s beauty and life’s potential wonders awaiting around any crest. It felt truly life-changing climbing something I’d only dreamed of before this adventure of a lifetime.

Shanghai Sparkles

Next, modern Shanghai dazzled! Its skyline towers and bustling maglev train representing China’s innovation blew my mind. At the aquarium, sea creatures put on a wonderful underwater show. And a cooking class there even let me whip up map tofu—such a highlight adding a personal touch. Shanghai reminded me how diverse cultures connect through shared passions.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

While China welcomed us like family, saying goodbye posed bittersweet tears as all wonderful friends found in foreign lands do. I’ll forever feel pride in being able to learn from this rich country first-hand at a young age. Curiosity grows for other corners of the earth now, yet China holds an unforgettable corner of my heart for igniting wanderlust within. On to future education revelations awaits!

Conclusion: Adventures Ahead

In closing, China won my curious soul on this voyage abroad. Its blend of history, beauty, and welcoming people proves how the global community thrives through the exchange. I can’t wait to share all I’ve learned and find new connections wherever farther travels may lead with an open mind and spirit of infinite possibility. This marked only the first step on life’s exciting journey.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

My Trip To USA Essay For Children & Students

An essay on Beijing

[Italy] Rebecca Maria Mingotti Landriani, Beijing Normal University

Gazing into the distance, I took a breath—Mountain-climbing is really challenging. Fortunately, the peak was just several hundred meters away. The fatigue in my body started to recede, and I became excited again.

Taking another breath, I looked up into the autumn sky, which was beautiful and crystal clear. The green woods at the valley was turning red, and they looked like clusters of flames from a distance.

Lao She, one of China’s greatest writers in the 20th century, once wrote that the season around the Mid-Autumn Festival is Beijing’s most beautiful period in a year. Beijing’s autumn is exactly a mesmerizing season. For a foreign girl who has come to China for the first time, enjoying the autumn scenes from the historical Great Wall is my great honor.

I can still recall that before I came to Beijing, my family and friends were so worried that I might not be used to live and study in a faraway country. They were also anxious after reading some negative reports about Beijing.

Some people hinted that the “terrible smog” in China might hurt my health and make me suffer from the notorious “Beijing cough”. Others mocked about poor sanitation in China, and cheap and low quality products. If what they said were true, I could not have survived one week in Beijing, let alone two semesters.

Seeing is believing. I decided to come to the country with a long history and persistent controversy and check it out with my own eyes.

I kept walking toward the hill top so that I could get a better view.The autumn wind blew in my hair … I’ve been studying in Beijing for more than three months. I love my life here, just like a baby longing for the arms of her mother. I can’t forget when my flight landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport, I felt like arriving in another London. The streets were lined up with tall buildings, the traffic was busy, crowds of people could be seen here and there—the capital of China was full of the energy and charm of a metropolitan city.

Everything in the city—from the road signs, color of buses to the boards in traditional Chinese styles, from the different facial features to goods in the stores—are hailing at me, “Hi, welcome to China.”

Although I had studied topics such as “China’s international status and market potential” when I was studying in Britain, I was still deeply surprised about its rapid development when I experienced Beijing’s new life style in person.

I have put a lot of efforts into the study of the Chinese language, because the continuous economic development of China has triggered a new round of international exchanges, and many multinational companies have been paying increasing attention to the Chinese market.

At a time of rapid changes, young people will have a greater potential of personal development if they can grab a chance to study in China.The days I spent in Beijing have not only strengthened my determination to study Chinese even harder, but also given me a chance to explore China’s cultural accumulation from ancient times, and get to know the beautiful mind of China.

I’m increasingly impressed with Chinese people’s culture and thinking during my study at the Beijing Normal University. I admire the grandmas who practice their “square dances” in the parks and grandpas who do tai chi, a slow motion exercise inherited from ancient times—they were so focused on their own world, as if forgetting about any sorrows or noises around them, but immersing themselves with nature. In classes, the teachers often encourage us, patiently correct our mistakes, and lead us to read stories about China’s traditions.

After I told my family and friends about my experience and impressions in Beijing, their anxiety and prejudice have dissipated.The rapid changes taking place in China are so different from what they have in mind about this country—they were literally shocked by what I told them.

They kept asking me, really? really? I’m proud of myself being an eyewitness here. Beijing, China, I’m so impressed by your charms, and I’m so excited for your development. I also reminded my family and friends that the cultural difference between China and the outside world has become diminished, and it’s much easier than I had imagined integrating into this city.

They felt relaxed after hearing my story, some even hope to travel to China one day. For me, I had feared that I might miss my home very much when I first came to China. Now, I’m enjoying my life here and almost forget about missing home.

I was at last standing on top of the mountain. Looking at the shuffling cars on the roads below, the past days played back in my mind like moving pictures. China has been going through profound changes.

The impact of these changes on me and the hostile reports about China in the foreign media have prompted me to sift through the details about China. I have learned to look at an object from different perspectives, and my thinking is getting more matured.

Time flew by while I was swarmed in my memory. The sky turned reddish, as if it was painted red by an inspirational artist with warm and soft colors. The sun was setting down into the western mountains. I set out on the trip back to downtown in the last sunshine of that day. Halfway down the hill, I turned back and looked at the forest and a pine tree on the peak …

What is happiness? How can a person live a happy and fulfilling life? Even the world’s most knowledgeable philosopher may not be able to answer the question. A thousand people may have a thousand opinions. But I believe I have got my happiness in Beijing. These beautiful moments I spent in China are all precious and unforgettable.

After I came back to the university, I was worried again. I wondered when I could come back to this country again after a year of study—a country that I will miss even in my dreams. I do hope I will return to China some day. Now I know what is my happiness—that is, to live in Beijing.

Study in Shanghai
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Travel with Lily: 5 Days' Beijing Trip in 2018 Spring Festival

 Departure Date 2018-2-4
 Travel Length 5 Days
 Travel Theme Nature, Culture, History
 Group Size 2
 Travel Route Chengdu - Beijing - Chengdu
 Highlights Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Peking Duck, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven
 Story Tags #Forbidden City #Beijing Trip Story #Beijing #Jingshan Park #Mutianyu Great Wall #Peking Duck #Summer Palace #Spring Festival Trip Story

Day 1, Beijing Arrival

It was the last day of 2018 in the Chinese Lunar Year. Arriving at Terminal 3, we took the shuttle to T1 where take the subway to downtown. It was inconvenient that the machine only receives cash. I took nothing, except for my phone, identification card, and some coats. I had not made good preparation with a hectic day before the holiday. Cold wind blowing, it occurred to me that I arrived in Beijing, a northern city totally different from Chengdu .

I had planned to visit Beijing many years ago but it was canceled. So it was exciting to visit the city this year eventually. Another special thing was Forbidden Palace announced that it would exhibit more items to celebrate the Spring Festival this year.

Day 2, Magnificent Forbidden City

A whole day was spent in Forbidden City , as I was longed for this palace and wished to spend as much as time to admire its history and its beauty.

It was the first day of the lunar year and Forbidden Palace tickets had been sold out before. Luckily I booked tickets online in advance. I arrived at the Palace at about 8: 30 am and there have been lots of tourists.

Forbidden City

I chose to visit from side palaces first, instead of picking the middle line to see the main three buildings. It helped a bit to avoid many crowds, though still worse at indoor Treasure Hall and Clock Hall because they are the most famous exhibitions. Spring Festival Celebration Promotion was good and lots of tourists came to see how Palace celebrates the holiday in ancient time. I had a much better experience at other small exhibitions such as porcelain in Hall of Consolation of Mothers, where I learned much history about porcelain in different periods while enjoyed the quietness and serenity in small hall.

Taking Pictures in the Palace

The whole palace is majestic, well-preserved halls decorated with colorful delicate paintings on the roof. Imperial Garden is smaller than I thought, which does not affect its beauty. At the corner of garden stood a small hall on rockery. It was a reading room and emperor can have a panoramic view when he was tired of busy work. I like this delicate design. After wandering one day, I was unwilling to leave and went to Jingshan Park to see Forbidden City again. It is a nice view, even with some fog.

Forbidden City Seen From Jingshan Park

Day 3, Mutianyu Great Wall & Olympic Park

Today I booked a day trip to Mutianyu Great Wall . It is situated in a suburb and I prefer an easy way to get there. Tourists are much less compared with Badaling Great Wall , though I waited for a while for the upward cable car. I chose the left side to climb on the higher mountain.

Mutianyu Great Wall

It was a foggy day with a little snow at foot of Wall at the beginning. I felt happy whenever I saw snow. I lived in south area and snow is rare. There was no snow on Great Wall and the road was clean and easy to walk. Seeing mountains streching afar, I felt refreshing and relaxed. Hiking strated! It was interesting to climb on the tower through narrow stairs. I enjoyed a greater sight every time I passed one tower. Stairs become so steep at the end of hiking that I was tired and took a rest after each several steps. Legs trembling, I was suspicious whether I would use up my energy and fall. Luckily, I arrived at the top and got relieved.

Great Wall Scenery

On my way back to the city, I paid a visit to Water Cube and Bird Nest from outside. I preferred Bird Nest. Water Cube was not so beautiful as it showed on the picture.

It was bitterly cold and I decided to have a tasty mutton hotpot to warm up. It was not spicy as hotpot in Sichuan but I still enjoyed it.

Day 4, Summer Palace & Peking Duck

I wanted a relaxing day so planned to visit two parks today. First was Old Summer Palace. When I walked into the park, I felt colder and colder. The whole park covers a vast area, most of which are lakes and ponds. It was winter and most lakes were frozen. I felt like I was walking in a large ice cave. What is more, the heavy wind blew directly from smooth lake. Actually, there was not much to see and most of them were destroyed. The Old Summer Palace was praised as Garden of Gardens before and I was curious to see what it looks like now. Stones fell into the mud but plants still lived for many years. I saw a lotus picture exhibition along the lake and thought it was beautiful in summer.

Old Summer Palace

Finishing our visit fast, we had a simple lunch and went to nearby Summer Palace . It was more bustling. Kids run around and local elders danced. Crowds of tourists stayed at each corner to relax, or listen to their tour guide explanation. The Qing Dynasty is near to our time and there are so many stories. I felt peaceful when watching the well-preserved palace situates beside the lake.

Summer Palace Scenery

We finished our visit earlier today and went for Dadong Roast Duck . It was a long queue and many persons had done reservation before Spring Festival. After a long waiting, I finally enjoyed a good dinner, crisp greasy duck, sweet and sour ribs, and fresh vegetables.

Dadong Roast Duck

Day 5, Beijing Downtown & Temple of Heaven

On the last day, I did not plan much visiting. My sister wanted to eat at a restaurant recommended by her friends. Before its opening, we took a walk in downtown. There are much fewer crowds compared with tourist sites. It was interesting when I took the bus and heard locals talking in Beijing dialect.

Shopping at Taikoo-Li

Lunch with My Sister

Before our night flight, I decided to pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven . It was beyond my expectations. Locals played cards in the long corridor. Sunshine went through woods. Buildings are shining under the sunglow.

Temple of Heaven

After a tasty meal near the hotel, we finished our short visit and left Beijing . It was a charming city with lots of history to learn, stories to hear, and also good meals to try. February was a little cold but it did not bother me to enjoy Beijing charm. If possible, I plan to go there again in autumn, the best season for Beijing.

Hi, I'm Lily. Are you interested in my Five Days Beijing Trip Story? Feel free to contact me, and I will be glad to tell you more stunning stories about the places I have visited. Or, if you want to customize a tour on your own, I'm always ready to help at any time. With my passion, knowledge and understanding of the essence of travel, I promise I will try my best to make the tour memorable and meaningful for you.

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Beijing travel blog — the fullest beijing travel guide for first-timers.

As the capital of prosperous China, Beijing is not only famous for its historic palaces, classic gardens, rich in history and culture but also attracts tourists because of the cultural identity of its people as well as countless attractions worth to visit. So, is Beijing worth visiting, how to visit Beijing, what to do in Beijing and how to plan a budget trip to Beijing for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Beijing travel blog (Beijing blog) with the fullest Beijing travel guide (Beijing tourist guide, Beijing guide) from how to get to Beijing, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Beijing to help you maximize your trip as follows!

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Beijing, China’s sprawling capital has both the ancient features of a thousand-year-old capital but also the modern beauty and magnificence of the world’s prominent financial and economic center. About the name Beijing (北京) simply means the “Northern Capital”. This name is given according to the East Asian tradition of similar capitals as Nanjing (Southern Capital), Xijing (Western Capital), and Dongjing (Eastern Capital).

Overview of Beijing (# beijing travel blog)

Beijing is located in North China (Huabei), including 14 urban and semi-urban districts and 2 rural districts, bordering two provinces, Hebei and Tianjin. As one of the most populous cities in the world, Beijing possesses the most modern transportation system with highways and railways arranged very scientifically. The new Beijing’s international airport is the second largest airport in the world by number of passengers.

Formed 3 millennia ago, along with modern and novel architectural works, Beijing still preserves valuable historical relics including magnificent palaces, ancient temples, classic gardens, tombs, city walls, city gates…

Beijing is the last capital of the four great ancient imperial capitals of China during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Countless historical, cultural, and long-standing architectural relics such as palaces, pagodas, tombs, citadels, diverse art treasures, and top quality schools in the world are all present in the city.

Beijing attracts every visitor with its monumental historical, cultural and architectural heritage. Majestic palaces, sacred temples, beautiful mausoleums and surrounding citadels are all vestiges of an enchanting past. At the same time, its rich art museums contribute to making Beijing an outstanding center of art and culture.

When is the best time to go to Beijing? (# beijing travel blog)

With its location deep in the mainland, Beijing has a rather dry climate, with hot and humid summers due to the influence of the East Asian monsoon, and cold and dry winters due to the influence of the Siberian atmospheric pressure block. Beijing’s monthly mean temperature in January is −3.7 °C (25.3 °F), while in July it is 26.2 °C (79.2 °F).

The weather in spring is quite cold, it often rains and has dusty winds that are not convenient for sightseeing. In March and April, the average temperature rises to about 13°C and the temperature difference between day and night can be up to 10°C. Therefore, when traveling to Beijing in the spring, you need to prepare for this weather change. In the morning, wear a long-sleeve sweater and a thick coat to keep warm. In evening, you should have a light jacket or bring a thermal bag to be ready to deal with temperature changes.

Summer (# beijing travel blog)

Summers in Beijing are hot and rainy, with temperatures reaching up to 30°C during the day and dropping to 20°C at night. Due to heavy rainfall, it is not as dry as usual.

The average temperature in 6°C is about 24°C, but sometimes it can reach 30°C. Therefore, tourists coming to Beijing in the summer can wear cool, airy clothes that are comfortable when moving, such as short-sleeved shirts, shorts and short skirts. But you still have to pay attention to the sun protection when going out.

In July and August when Beijing has the highest temperature of the year, we can wear airy, comfortable summer clothes. However, this month is also the time when Beijing has the most rainfall, so when going out, you should bring an umbrella to prevent sudden rains.

Fall (# beijing blog)

Autumn is the best time to come here, the weather is mild, there are few tourists in the city. The natives describe this season with the phrase “sky is high, the weather is mild” – the sky is high, the climate is mild and cool.

Winter (# beijing travel blog)

In winter it’s the opposite, if you can stand the cold temperatures, it’s pretty cool, Beijing is like your own, not crowded at all, you can leisurely enjoy the scenery. You should not come during Lunar New Year from January to February and long holiday seasons such as Labor Day May 1, National Day Oct 1, because these days are always crowded. On these days, Beijing is often covered with beautiful snow, and this is the low season, so the costs will also be cheaper, especially hotel room rates.

How to get to Beijing? (# beijing travel guide)

Beijing is quite far from Vietnam, there are many flight routes, so now tourists often do not come to Beijing by road (train) but by plane is always convenient and fast. There are two airports in Beijing: Beijing Daxing International Airport (IATA: PKX) and Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK), this airport is closer to the central area.

From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are many airlines and flight routes to Beijing such as Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, China Southern, China Eastern… with many different ticket prices and flight times that you can choose from. You can get more specific information about flights, ticket prices and the most suitable flight times on airline ticket search engine sites like Google Fights , Kayak or SkyScanner but after consulting, you should still go to the official websites of the airlines to book tickets.

Direct flight time from Hanoi to Beijing is about 3 hours 45 minutes, and from Ho Chi Minh City to Beijing is about 4 and a half hours. However, if you choose a cheap ticket and transit at some other airports, the flight time may be longer, with some flights up to 10 and a half hours or more.

How to get around Beijing? (# beijing guide)

The transportation system in Beijing is quite modern and convenient. For quick travel between tourist attractions in the city, you can choose the subway or bus. Taxi is also an option to consider, but remember to learn a few Chinese sentences ready, or turn on Chinese translation apps on your phone when communicating with the driver (because Chinese people usually do not communicate well in English) to avoid being higher charge or the driver take you around to make money. If your time is abundant, you can rent a bicycle to go around the city.

One thing to note is that if you travel on your own, you should watch the time carefully to get to the bus station, airport or other places you need to go because Beijing, like many large cities, has traffic congestion issues. Especially during peak hours or holidays. So you need to watch the time to not be late! If you go on a tour, there will always be a tour guide and tour bus driver who will set a time for you, so you don’t have to worry anymore.

Bus (# beijing travel guide)

Beijing Day Tour By Bus

There are many different bus lines and there are 18 subway lines for visitors to travel. You can download the Yitongxing app on your mobile phone, scan the QR code on the bus and then scan again after arriving at the station and the fare will be automatically deducted. The bus fee is 1-2 dollars.

Subway (# beijing guide)

Because Beijing is extremely large, and tourist attractions are quite far from each other, taking a taxi or bus can cause traffic jams, so tourists often take the subway for convenience. Furthermore, there are instructions in both English and Chinese at the subway stations, so you can feel free to wander around on your own. However, you should pay attention to avoid rush hours from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 7pm because these are rush hours and all train cars are packed.

Depending on the purpose, you can buy tickets by route, or for a long stay, you can buy a train card, with 3-day, 7-day or 15-day tickets. Here are the subway lines to famous sights and key travel areas for you to note and look up easily:

1. Beijing South Railway station: Line 4 2. Beijing West Railway Station: Line 9 3. Beijing North railway Station: Line 2, 4 and 10 4. Beijing Railway Station: Line 2 5. Beijing Capital International Airport: Express Train + subway Line 2 6. Yiheyuan garden (Summer Palace): Line 4 and 10 7. Badaling Great Wall: S train from Huangtudian Railway Station, Line 8 or 13 8. Temple of Heaven: Line 5 9. Tiananmen – Forbidden City: Line 1 10. Lama Temple: Line 511, Olympic Park: Line 8

Similarly, you can buy subway tickets at train stations (quite similar to taking the elevated railway in Hanoi) and the ticket price is only from 3 yuan – 7 yuan for 1 trip. Download the MeetroMan app or use China’s online maps to get your directions. You can buy a subway card to top up for more convenient use.

If you intend to go out around the old town of Hutong, you can rent a bicycle. The price is also very “soft”. The first hour is free, every hour after that collects 1 yuan/hour. The maximum fee per day is 10 yuan or 20 yuan depending on the district where you rent the bike.

However, the procedures for installing a bike rental app, top-up, and activating an account are a bit complicated, so if you stay in Beijing for more than 3-5 days or longer, you should look for the day plan. If you only travel to Beijing for less than 3 days, it is best to experience the subway and bus. Bicycles are also convenient public transportation in Beijing. Beijing has dedicated bicycle lanes separate from pedestrian sidewalks.

For short routes or during rush hours, drivers may refuse to turn on the meter and ask for a higher fare than usual. If you know Chinese to bargain, you will have an advantage. Many drivers cannot speak English, even basic English sentences. You need to have the names or photos of the places you want to visit ready on your phone. When you get in a taxi, just show it to the driver.

Make sure you get into the licensed taxi as many illegal taxis (called heiche/黑车) operate in such a way that the price must be negotiated first. Legal taxis are usually painted yellow or black and have a driver’s license or other paperwork on the windshield.

Rickshaw (only in Hutong area)

Rickshaws are like cyclos in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, both are traditional forms of transportation. This is a great way for you to experience old Beijing culture and Hutong old town. This vehicle is only for tourists. Drivers who legally drive this type of vehicle must have a small sign on their chest with their name and surveillance phone number.

Notes on public transportation in Beijing as well as detailed prices, please refer to the costs section below!

How much does it cost to travel to Beijing?

Cost of stay.

Beijing is one of the most prosperous metropolises in China. Room prices for homestays, hostels, hotels… are quite vary. If you want a luxury accommodation, comfortable and relaxation, a five-star hotel will cost 3,000 to 4,000 CNY per night. Normally, a homestay or regular hotel costs 100 – 200 yuan to get a pretty good place to stay.

This is also a tourist city, so there are places to stay around attractions and public transport stations, so you can freely to choose. If you travel on your own, you can refer to sites like Booking.com, Agoda.com or Airbnb.com.

Travel costs and traffic notices

Beijing’s traffic is very developed, buses, subways, taxis, public bicycles for rent… are all available. Although this city is quite expensive, the public transportation system is surprisingly cheap, only about 3 – 8 yuan/ticket.

Taxis in Beijing are more expensive, about 13 yuan for the first 3km and 2.3 yuan for each subsequent kilometer. You can find rickshaws in many places in ancient tourist areas in Beijing. However, this vehicle is not cheap and is sometimes even more expensive than a taxi.

Beijing cuisine, from food types to prices, is very diverse. If you don’t going to a luxury restaurant, authentic Beijing snacks are not expensive. Traditional morning foods include soy milk, dumplings, and eggs soaked in tea. Restaurants often have free pickles. Make sure you can eat until your stomach is full and spend less than 5 yuan. At noon or dinner, eat hot pot or grilled meat, if expensive, only about 100 yuan/person. Noodle dishes are about 10 yuan per portion. In short, a day of eating in Beijing usually only costs about 150 – 200 yuan.

Sightseeing costs

In Beijing, there are many free cultural and historical attractions such as Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Yiheyuan, old Beijing area (Hutong old town)…

Other historical attractions charge a fee but don’t cost much. Specifically, some main tourist destinations have ticket prices as follows:

Forbidden City: 40 – 60 yuan depending on season
Yiheyuan (Summer Palace): 20 – 50 yuan depending on the season
Ming Dynasty Tombs: 15 – 65 yuan depending on season and visiting area
Great Wall: Take a ride to Great Wall of Badaling for 60 yuan, take the cable car 80 yuan
Fragrant Hills Park: 5 – 10 yuan depending on the season
Lama Temple: 25 yuan
Temple of Heaven: 10 – 35 yuan depending on season and visiting area
Prince Gong’s Mansion: 40 yuan. Watch a play in the palace for an additional 30 yuan
Beihai Park: 10 yuan
Jingshan Park: 13 yuan

Where to go and what to do in Beijing?

As one of the world’s economic centers, Beijing is a lavish an historic city with countless tourist attractions.

Great Wall of China

The Chinese have a saying, literally: “One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a true man”. One thing is for sure, when coming to China, the Great Wall is a place you can’t help but visit.

This is the most famous strategic military defense project in the world. Visiting the Great Wall of China, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the history of this construction that is considered a symbol of China. The Great Wall has a total length of about 6,700km (the Great Wall in Beijing alone is about 629km long). The wall is about 7-8 m high and the average width is about 5 – 6m, started construction during the Zhou Dynasty, followed by the Spring and Autumn period (770 – 476 BC), Warring States (476 – 221 BC) ), by many countries such as Shu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei… later the Qin, Han, Kim and Ming dynasties.

Famous and well-preserved places of the Great Wall can be mentioned as Badaling, Juyongguan, Shuiguan, Mutianyu… Badaling is about 60 km northwest of Beijing, has a length of about 3741m, an average height of about 7m. The section of the wall with a maximum height of about 800m above sea level, rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, is the place most visited by tourists.

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was the residence of the emperors of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties of all eras. The Forbidden City is a cultural symbol of Beijing and all of China. The Forbidden City is often called the Imperial Palace by the Chinese. This place is open all year round and ticket prices change according to the tourist season.

Located in the center of Beijing city, this place has a large space, visitors coming here will enjoy an ancient scenery. This place is the palace of the kings of the Ming and Qing dynasties with the largest scale and most intact preserved in the world. The Forbidden City was built from 1406 to 1420, including 980 buildings on an area of 720,000 m2.

Stepping inside the Forbidden City, tourists will admire the unique architecture of the Chinese royal palace. The Forbidden City was built in 14 years with high-class materials such as Suzhou brick, Anhui celadon tile, Fengshan precious stone, Gangnam precious wood. Most of the roofs of the palaces are covered with yellow lapis lazuli tiles, the color representing the Chinese court. Yellow color in the theory of the five elements is earth, the root of all things, so yellow has always been considered by the rulers to be the most noble color.

Palace walls are painted bright red, symbolizing solemnity, happiness, luck. In the past, except for the royal palace, only the royal residence and important temples were allowed to use red color. Besides, this place also keeps a lot of artifacts that are considered as national heritage.

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is located on the southeast side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It was built in the 18th year of Yongle (1420 AD), by Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty.

The Temple of Heaven – an altar dedicated to the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship heaven and pray for rain. This is also the largest and most perfect ancient temple architecture complex in the world. The altar area is round in the north and square in the south with the meaning of “Round Sky and Square Earth”.

The main area has a thick, high appearance of the altar wall, which not only protects the works inside the altar, but also highlights making the Temple of Heaven a unique sight in the south of Beijing.

Tiantan is one of the monuments of Chinese civilization, the structures of the temple show the unique meaning and artistic expression techniques of ancient China everywhere, the Temple of Heaven integrated philosophy, history, mathematics, mechanics and is a masterpiece of ancient fine art.

Tiananmen Square and National Museum of China

As one of the most famous squares in the world, Tiananmen is considered to be the heart of Beijing. Located in the city center, with an area of nearly 109 acres (44 hectares). The North and South ends of the square are marked by two gates of Tiananmen and Qianmen.

Along the west side of the square is the Great Hall of the People. Along the east side is the National Museum of China. The entire square is surrounded by the most famous landmarks and sights of the capital Beijing and certainly no visitor can ignore when coming to this city.

Visiting Tiananmen Square, visitors will be overwhelmed by this massive construction, around the square are planted with many beautifully styled ornamental plants, you should visit the square in the early morning while walking. Just breathe in the fresh air, will give visitors a feeling of relaxation and peace separate from the noisy and bustling city outside.

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

This is the pinnacle of classical Chinese gardens and the most complete imperial gardens preserved to this day. It includes the Longevity Hill and the Lake Kunming, with pavilions, terraces and pavilions step by step. The water of Kunming Lake is very clear, the view is immense, the murals in the hallway are the most classic. The lotus flowers and goldfish in summer are especially beautiful, and the deep winter snowfall is also beautiful.

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19 quick and helpful Beijing travel tips (2024)

Posted by Gayle Aggiss | Updated December 16, 2023 | Travel

Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world and it’s packed with history and culture.

It’s also one of the largest cities in the world. Home to around 20 million people, Beijing plays host to a huge number of travelers every year.

This combination means you’ll probably find the capital of China more comfortable to travel in than other cities that don’t see as many tourists, as it’s set up for travelers.

However, beyond the surface level, it’s still very different to western countries in a number of ways. Those differences can easily trip up new visitors.

I’ve lived and worked in China, and I’ve traveled around Beijing. So, let me help you ensure your vacation is more fun and exploration than trouble and confusion.

Alright, here are the best Beijing travel tips!

1. Get the right visa

Get the L visa to travel up to a month. Image by i viewfinder on Shutterstock.

For most people, getting a Chinese visa isn’t easy compared to the visa process for some other countries.

There is Visa Free Transit if you’re from a certain country and you want to stopover in China for up to 72 hours on the way to somewhere else.

But most people have to get the L visa (tourist visa) which gives you up to 30 days to explore this magnificent country.

Make sure you start the visa process early too, because you don’t want to be rushing around at the last moment getting all the paperwork organized.

2. Work out how you want to pay

Even markets prefer digital payments. Image by Freer on Shutterstock.

Like elsewhere in China, the locals in Beijing love their technology and this impacts how they pay for things.

Most of the time, you’ll see them paying using their phone, a trend that hasn’t yet become widespread in many other countries.

So, expect most places to take digital payments when you’re in Beijing. Even small food stands prefer phone payments.

If you want to join in, you can set up Alipay or WeChat Pay on your phone and link your credit card. You’ll just need to provide some personal details including your passport details.

If you’re not comfortable handing over your details, you’ll need to use cash. Try to get low-denomination notes, as smaller stores often don’t have change for big notes.

The ATMs in Beijing only dispense 100 yuan notes.

Oh, and credit cards are hardly ever used in China, so while it’s good to have different payment methods as back-up, you probably won’t use your plastic cards (apart from at the hotel).

I highly recommend using Alipay or WeChat Pay. It makes things so much easier.

3. Don’t drink the tap water

Only drink bottled water in Beijing. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

Whatever you do, don’t drink the tap water in Beijing. And don’t swallow water when you’re in the shower because the effects will be horrible.

Not even the locals can drink the water in China, so it’s even worse for travelers who aren’t used to the local microbiome.

Get used to drinking bottled water when you’re in Beijing. You’ll find it sold everywhere, because like I said, even the locals drink bottled.

And while you can brush your teeth with tap water, I choose not to. And I’ve always left Beijing with a trouble-free tummy.

4. Prepare for the language barrier

get hotel directions in chinese - one of the best beijing travel tips

Having bi-lingual directions can help. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

You will find some people who speak English in the city center, but probably not as many as you might think.

Only a small percentage of the local people speak English (or are willing to speak it). It’s usually the younger demographic, so there’s a lot of people who won’t be able to understand you at all.

Chinese people tend to be a little shy about their English-speaking abilities. If they think that they might make a mistake, they’ll often pretend they can’t speak or understand English at all rather than risk this.

This may leave you struggling to get around, especially if you’re traveling solo or you’re not part of a tour group.

But it actually isn’t as hard as you think to travel in a place where you don’t speak the language. Here are some ideas to help:

Have your accommodation name and address in Chinese characters on your phone, or carry around your hotel’s business card
Download a translation app that works in China and can be used offline
Learn some basic words or even the numbers which will help you in stores
Screenshot key phrases and keep them on your phone to show to people

Also, be prepared to use lots of body language and to look ridiculous when you do it!

5. Always carry your passport

Your most important possession in China! Image by Pexels.

Carry your passport wherever you go in Beijing.

You’ve probably heard this tip before traveling to a lot of different countries, but it’s one of the most important Beijing travel tips.

I can’t tell you how many times I was stopped by officials for a passport check in Beijing. Thankfully, I followed this piece of advice, otherwise the consequences could have been dire.

You’ll also need your passport to purchase tickets for attractions and even get on the high-speed trains, so just keep it close.

6. Visit the big attractions, and the smaller ones

The Temple of Heaven. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

There are countless things to see and do in Beijing. The biggest attractions that people tend to head for are:

The Great Wall of China
Forbidden City (also called Palace Museum)
Tiananmen Square
Temple of Heaven
Summer Palace.

While I recommend visiting all these attractions (especially The Great Wall – it’s the best place), consider doing other things too, if you have the time.

For example, you could visit the quirky 798 Art District, sift through antiques at Panjiayuan Market, try the silk market, or even take a day trip to Tianjin . It’s just an hour away on the bullet train.

Just a few years ago, Universal Beijing Resort opened up. While it’s obviously very touristy, and quite expensive by local standards, it’s still a super-fun day out. You can read more in this Beijing travel guide .

The city is also known for hosting the Olympics, twice. While the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, is famous the world over, there’s usually not much to do there.

7. Forget personal space

Wangfujing Market is always busy. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

This piece of advice is one of the most important and jarring for travelers and it’s also one of the hardest to explain.

Just don’t expect to have your personal space respected when you’re in Beijing. In fact, the idea of personal space doesn’t really exist in Beijing (or in China as a whole, for that matter).

Beijing is a huge, busy city and everywhere is crowded. During your time there, you will get pushed, stepped on, bumped into, and cut off when walking.

And the locals won’t say “excuse me” when they do it. In fact, they probably won’t even notice they’ve done it at all.

Whatever you do, don’t get angry about this. It’s not personal and really is just part of the Chinese culture . And if you stay for long, you’ll probably pick up this behavior as well, it’s just so accepted in China.

It’s also much easier to get around if you’re a little more aggressive and don’t care about personal space.

In fact, this was part of my own reverse culture shock. When I got home from China, I walked towards an escalator and deliberately cut off someone else who was ahead of me.

He stared at me like I was the rudest person in the world, and I got a huge shock when I realized that my behavior had changed in such a short time.

I literally had to relearn my own country’s ‘acceptable’ behaviors!

8. Bring an adapter

Bring one of these so you can stay connected. Image by Paralaxis on Shutterstock.

Beijing uses lots of different kinds of power plugs.

Depending on where you stay, you’ll find A, C, and I plug sockets, so if you want to charge your electronics, then make sure you have adapters to match.

You may also need a voltage converter to keep your electronics safe, so make sure you buy an all-in-one adapter/converter.

9. Prepare yourself for the toilets

A local squat toilet. Image supplied by Gayle Aggiss.

You’ve probably heard over and over that Beijing is a big, modern city and it is.

But this doesn’t mean that it’s western and this applies particularly to the toilets. Yes, you will come across a lot of squat toilets in Beijing. And yes, you will probably have to use them.

I wish I could tell you that the squat toilets aren’t as bad as some people say, but for me they were a constant challenge.

My advice is to always have toilet paper with you (the toilets usually won’t have any) and avoid any puddles you see on your way into your stall.

You should also carry a bottle of sanitizer with you wherever you go, as many bathrooms in Beijing don’t have soap.

Also, remember that China’s sewerage system isn’t set up to handle toilet paper, so you usually can’t flush it down the toilet. Put it in the provided bin instead and then wash your hands really well because the bins are often overflowing.

I’ve written a whole article on Chinese toilets if you want to find out more.

10. Just accept the noises

Beijingers love slurping their soup. Image by Gowithstock on Shutterstock.

Chinese culture is very different to western cultures and nowhere is this more obvious than in restaurants or in the streets.

The first time I sat down in a restaurant and heard the slurping I was appalled. But I got used to it over time, even if I couldn’t do it myself.

Slurping just isn’t considered rude in China, which kind of makes sense considering it’s natural to slurp when you drink soup.

Seeing and hearing Chinese spitting is a little harder to accept. Dodging a motorcycle rider who pulls over to spit near your feet in the gutter is confronting, as is dodging the puddles on the sidewalk.

But you do get used to it if you’re there long enough. It’s just part of local life.

11. Monitor the air quality

Gray skies over the Palace Museum. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

In recent years, the air pollution in Beijing has really improved.

Essentially, factories and industry have moved further away, but there has been some government intervention too.

You can still get the odd bad day, particularly in the winter months or when there’s the occasional dust storm.

There’s nothing you can do to change the city’s air pollution; all you can do is be prepared for it. Here’s how:

If you have respiratory issues, try to avoid the city in winter when the air quality is the worst
Wear a proper mask
Look out for official air warnings on the really bad days and visit indoor sites on those days
Avoid strenuous activities like hikes on bad air days.

Here’s a good website to track the air quality in Beijing, but if you’re fit and healthy, you’ve got nothing to worry about!

12. Get a VPN

Stay connected in China with a VPN. Image by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.

Out of all the Beijing travel tips I could give you, this one is extremely important for anyone who goes into withdrawal without their favorite internet sites.

China’s firewall is real, and a lot of popular western websites and apps are blocked by it. This includes sites you probably take for granted and use for everything such as Facebook, YouTube, Google, Gmail, Snapchat, and Instagram.

If you want to use one if not all of these sites during your time in the Chinese capital, then you’ll need to use a virtual private network (VPN) .

Some of the most popular and effective VPNs for Beijing are:

Top tip : Make sure that you download it before you arrive in China, as it won’t download once you arrive.

13. Don’t tip

Tipping isn’t part of Chinese culture. Image by Saelanlerez on Shutterstock.

Tipping is unnecessary in Beijing and if you try to tip, it will confuse people.

The only time you should tip is when it’s requested. If you take a private tour, then your tour company may suggest you leave a tip, but otherwise, don’t worry about it.

I never tipped during my travels to Beijing, or anywhere in China.

14. Practice your photo smiles

Having photos in the Hutongs. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

China’s capital city sees a lot of travelers from inside of China, many of them tourists from more remote areas who haven’t seen westerners in person before.

This means that you might attract attention while in Beijing. And this kind of attention usually isn’t subtle. You may find that people take photos of you as you walk down the street or ask you to take a selfie with them.

You can say no to this of course, but if you have a minute, then why not say yes?

The people asking are usually very excited and polite and it doesn’t hurt anyone to smile at the camera and make someone’s day!

15. Be patient with transport

Packed trains in peak hour. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

You will need to be patient when it comes to getting around Beijing.

Between the language barrier, the crowds, and the sheer size of Beijing’s public transportation network, it can be challenging, particularly if you’re visiting for the first time .

To be quite frank, if you want to see a lot in a short time, then it’s better to organize a car through your hotel’s front desk or a tour operator , especially if you’re visiting The Great Wall of China which is quite far out of the city.

This will save you a lot of time and isn’t as expensive as you might think.

If you’re determined to use public transport then expect crowds, give yourself plenty of time to get anywhere, and try to avoid using public transport during peak hours.

You should also expect to get lost, and to have to find your way back again, so patience is needed here as well.

And you’ll also need patience if you’re taking cars anywhere too. Beijing’s rush hour is legendary and can turn a short trip into an hours-long expedition.

You can rest assured that Beijing has plenty of subway stations. Just have a navigation app ready on your phone so you know where you’re going once you hop off.

You’re probably familiar with Google Maps but there are other China map apps too.

16. Plan your trip to the Great Wall

carefully plan your trip to the great wall - one of the best beijing travel tips

Some parts of the wall are less touristy and great for hiking. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

I’ve mentioned the Great Wall of China a few times now, but this really needs to be a Beijing travel tip all on its own.

After all, the Great Wall is supremely iconic and what Beijing is best known for .

This awe-inspiring construction dates back centuries, and it meanders through numerous provinces over thousands of miles. It’s not just located near Beijing.

However, the best preserved parts are closest to Beijing, which is why everyone heads there.

Here are the most popular parts of the Great Wall of China:

Mutianyu – the best restored, and you can even toboggan down (1.5 hours drive)
Badaling – most popular with Chinese tourists and the busiest (1.5 hours drive)
Jinshanling – the most beautiful and wild, great for hiking (2-3 hours drive)
Simitai – also good for hiking, and offers night tours (2-3 hours drive).

It’s important to plan your trip to the wall carefully, as each section is different and caters to different kinds of tourists.

And, they’re all different distances from Beijing (though a one-day return trip is enough time for most sections).

The folks over at China Highlights have a nice article which goes into more detail about the different sections.

17. Beware of scammers

Scammers are known to be in this area of the city. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

If you’re a first-time traveler in China, you really need to hear this.

If anyone approaches you, especially near Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City, and asks you to come with them to try some tea, definitely say “no”.

It’s a well-known scam , where after sampling a few small cups of tea, you’re essentially locked in the teahouse until you pay the exorbitant amount they demand.

You may also be approached by people offering to be your tour guide, especially in the Forbidden City area. Be very, very careful.

18. Come in spring or fall

Weather conditions can vary greatly in Beijing. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

So, when is the best time to come to Beijing?

If you don’t like extreme hot and cold temperatures, then spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons to visit Beijing.

Just note that this is when most travelers like to visit the city too.

No matter what season you come, it’s a good idea to avoid Chinese New Year and the other Chinese public holidays because everywhere will be unbelievably crowded. Even the hotels will be more expensive.

19. Avoid the Ming Tombs

It’s pretty, but this is kind of it. Image supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

A lot of tour groups stop in at the Ming Tombs on the way to the Great Wall.

Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to see here. And I’m sorry to say, there are no visible tombs.

I’d head straight for the Wall and spend more time there instead.

The final Beijing travel tip

This isn’t really specific to Beijing, but it’s something that I highly recommend for anywhere in China.

Just remember that the way you’ve always done things, the way that your family and culture have always done things, isn’t necessarily the right way to do them in China.

People tend to think that their way of doing things and looking at the world is the only or even the best way. But it isn’t.

During my time in Beijing and in China at large, I found that things that seemed strange at first came to feel natural and even appropriate over time.

Travel demands a flexible mind. And if you visit Beijing with a flexible mind, you’ll have a much better and stress-free trip.

I know you’ll have a great time in Beijing. And don’t forget your VPN!

I hope you liked my Beijing travel tips. Now, check out the China travel tips page for even more helpful advice.

Main image credit: Supplied by Mike Cairnduff.

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Faq about beijing travel, is beijing open for travel.

It sure is. Following a few years of being practically shut off from the rest of the world, Beijing, along with the rest of China, is now open for travel. There are no longer any Covid restrictions.

Is it safe to travel to Beijing?

It sure is. Beijing, like the rest of China, is very safe for foreign tourists. Crime against foreigners is practically unheard of. If you’re prone to respiratory problems, you may want to bring some good quality masks in case of the odd bad pollution day or dust storm.

Is Beijing worth visiting?

Absolutely! It’s the cultural capital of China and it’s very different to other Chinese cities. There’s unique food, a local dialect, and countless historical sites. You could spend weeks in Beijing and still not experience everything.

Why is Beijing a good place to visit?

It’s full of history and culture, making it an absolute treat for tourists. There’s the world-famous Great Wall of China within a few hours’ reach, Forbidden City (or Palace Museum), Temple of Heaven, ancient hutongs (back alleys), Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and so much more.

Commercial relationship disclosure: The Helpful Panda has commercial arrangements with organizations that may appear on this page, such as affiliate links. See our terms for more info.

Gayle Aggiss

Gayle loves learning and is intensely curious about the world. This curiosity has driven her to travel and work overseas, including China and Vietnam. Gayle is from Perth, Western Australia. You can follow her on LinkedIn .

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5-Day Beijing Family Tour

Beijing tour for a family with kids.

What does Beijing mean for a family trip? It means you can discover the secrets of the Forbidden City in an interesting way, conquer the most magnificent part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu , and do morning exercises as a family in the Temple of Heaven . You can also enjoy a hot pot in an amazing 'smart' restaurant, and learn how to write Chinese characters when visiting a family in Beijing's traditional hutongs.

This 5 day family tour to Beijing will present a vivid Beijing to you and give you a memorable family occasion. Your tour will be private and flexible .

Tour 'Wow' Points

Discover the mythical animals in the forbidden city.

Explore the Forbidden City in a way that's specially designed for families with kids.

Walk on the Great Wall and Slide Down from It

Visit a less-crowded Great Wall section at Mutianyu and try an exciting toboggan ride.

Be Like an Imperial-Era Chinese Child in the Hutongs

Learn Chinese calligraphy when you visit a local family living in a traditional hutong district. Play with a Chinese yo-yo made of wood or bamboo in the courtyard.Taste a popular snack loved by hutong children.

Practice a Family Morning Excercise in the Temple of Heaven

Feel the relaxing lifestyle of the local people and learn doing Tai Chi at the Temple of Heaven where the emperors prayed for good harvests.

Feel the Newness of Beijing

Experience having a hot pot in the first "smart restaurant" in China. Admire the amazing medieval and modern architecture of Beijing.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Itinerary Quick Look

Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.

Your private guide will meet you in the arrivals hall at the airport or at the train station's exit. You will be taken in a private, professionally chauffeured car directly to you hotel. Your guide will help you to check in.

Start your journey in Beijing with Tian'anmen Square (the 'Gate of Heavenly Peace' square). As the world's largest public square, it is an essential attraction for school kids' field trips in Beijing.

Walk northward from the square to enter the renowned Forbidden City . Besides the main palaces on the axis, you will also explore some places that are not on the touristy route and interest kids more. These include the library of the princes , the Archery Pavilion (the tools of the army gallery), and the Hall of Clocks and Watches . Play a game about the nine sons of the dragon and the auspicious beats in the Forbidden City.

After delving into Beijing's past, you will go into the modern part of Beijing for your hot pot lunch in China's first 'smart' restaurant. Have fun playing a video game in the restaurant's waiting area. Be impressed by the smart kitchen and robot waiters. Enjoy a hand-pulled noodles show when having a hot pot for lunch.

Drive past Beijing's CBD. Have some picture stops to capture the new skyline of Beijing. The tall and fancy architectural structures present another side of this city.

Visit the Temple of Heaven , the royal altar where emperors worshiped heaven during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Go across the local people doing their morning exercises , including tai chi, taking their singing caged birds for some fresh air, writing in calligraphy on the paving slabs (with long brush and water), and playing keep-it-up with kick shuttlecocks.

A tai chi master will be ready to teach your group. Join the locals and enjoy some interesting morning exercises as a family.

Move on to the Great Wall at Mutianyu , which is about a 1½-hour drive from the Temple of Heaven.

Take a cable car up and your personal guide will walk with you on the wall to give you some information and to help you if you want to take some photos. You will have some free time to walk around . Then take a toboggan ride down the Great Wall.

Drive back to downtown Beijing and enjoy the famous Peking roast duck dish for dinner in a time-honored brand restaurant.

Your Beijing discovery tour will continue with a visit to the Summer Palace and the hutongs.

The Summer Palace was used as a summer retreat for the imperial court, providing a nice place to escape from the summer heat.

You can climb the hill or take a stroll in the charming decorated walkways before your cruise in a dragon-shaped boat on Kunming Lake .

In the afternoon, explore the hutongs - the narrow alleys between rows of quadrangle dwellings. Pay a visit to a local family who live in a traditional and original quadrangle dwelling. There, you can try your hand at Chinese calligraphy. Learn to write the Chinese characters that mean 'family' or 'good luck'.

Say goodbye to Beijing and you will be transferred to the airport or train station according to your schedule. Your private guide will help you to check in.

Price Includes:

Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
English speaking local guide
Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
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Family travel to Beijing China

Beijing is a good place to travel for educating youth to learn about Chinese culture, which combines their latest achievements with ancient history. As it is known to all, Beijing is the capital of China, which has been acting as the Chinese political, economic, cultural, and educational centre for a long time. In addition, Beijing provides a wide range of modern and ancient places for family trips including the Beijing Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Beijing Olympic Stadium, and Hou Hai Bar Street. (“Beijing Travel Guide”)

If you want to learn about Chinese history, come to visit Chinese ancient buildings first. Chinese buildings not only have their unique characteristics but were also built for different purposes from each other. As time passes by, the Great Wall has become the symbol of China, since it played an important role in defending against invasions through Chinese history. In fact, the purpose of the construction of the Great Wall was to defend the invader from the north of China hundreds of years ago. It is said that the Great Wall is the only building that can be seen from outer space. It’s really a fantastic place to travel for the youth, which let tourists feel the ancient Chinese wisdom and daring in this great architecture. On one hand, parents could educate their children about the world outside of America. On the other hand, they could take a really valuable trip since the price of the visit is not expensive at all. Moreover, there are also several Chinese ancient buildings to travel like the Forbidden City, the Summer Place and the Temple of Heaven. (“Beijing Travel Guide”)

During the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing showed the world something so special that everyone was surprised by Beijing’s hi-tech elements combined with its ancient culture. If you only know that Beijing has a long history, you have just touched a part of Beijing. Beijing has changed a lot in these years; the development of Beijing was been happening at a high speed. Modern Beijing will give you a big shock when you arrive there; many hi-tech buildings have been constructed over the years in Beijing. For instance, the Beijing National Stadium, also called the bird’s nest, was the main stadium for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which host to the unforgettable Opening and Closing ceremonies. Many new technologies are used in the building; it looks outstanding no matter inside and outside. People could see a huge bird’s nest in a distance, which actually was built with steel bars. What a wonderful shape it has! Likewise, the unique outer side and the inside of the bird’s nest are also integral multi-technologies. Try to imagine you are in a huge bird’s nest when you go into the Beijing National Stadium. Therefore, youth travellers will see the advanced technologies and get a special feeling here. For parents, you don’t need to worry about your children, because the Beijing National Stadium is not only absolutely safe but has a completely special fun place.

Beijing has so many places for travellers to visit, which succeed to Beijing’s traditional culture and develop their own characteristics. It is not only an ancient and mysterious one but also a modern and advanced one. Most importantly, Beijing is a wonderful place for family travel that well-combined the two faces of Beijing and China.

Author : Diyang Qiu

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How Biden’s Trade War With China Differs From Trump’s

The president is trying a targeted approach, with allies, to beat Beijing in the race to own the clean energy future. Those weren’t his predecessor’s goals.

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By Jim Tankersley

Jim Tankersley has covered tariffs and China policy across several presidential administrations.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. ran for the White House as a sharp critic of President Donald J. Trump’s crackdown on trade with China. In office, though, he has taken Mr. Trump’s trade war with Beijing and escalated it, albeit with a very different aim.

The two men, locked in a rematch election this fall, share a rhetorical fondness for beating up on China’s economic practices, including accusing the Chinese of cheating at global trade. They also share a building-block policy for countering Beijing: hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, or taxes, on Chinese imports. Those tariffs were first imposed by Mr. Trump and have been maintained by President Biden.

On Tuesday, Mr. Biden announced that he is increasing some of those tariffs. That includes quadrupling electric vehicle tariffs to 100 percent, tripling certain levies on steel and aluminum products to 25 percent, and doubling the rate on semiconductors to 50 percent.

But Mr. Biden’s trade war differs from Mr. Trump’s in important ways. Mr. Trump was trying to bring back a broad swath of factory jobs outsourced to China. Mr. Biden is seeking to increase production and jobs in a select group of emerging high-tech industries — including clean energy sectors, like electric vehicles, that Mr. Trump shows little interest in cultivating.

Mr. Biden has pulled more policy levers, some of them created by Mr. Trump. He has imposed more restrictions on trade with China, including limiting sales of American technology to Beijing, while funneling federal subsidies to American manufacturers trying to compete with Chinese production.

And in a sharp break from Mr. Trump’s go-it-alone posture, Mr. Biden’s strategy relies on bringing international allies together to counter China through a mix of domestic incentives and, potentially, coordinated tariffs on Chinese goods.

As they compete for the White House again, Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump are both promising to further increase trade pressure on China, which both men accuse of unfair trade practices that disadvantage American workers. Here is how their plans overlap, and where they diverge sharply.

Mr. Trump’s plan includes more tariffs and less trade.

Mr. Trump broke decades of political consensus by pushing aggressive restrictions on trade with China as president. He imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion worth of Chinese products, including toys, electronics and household furnishings, drawing retaliatory tariffs from Beijing.

In 2020, he struck an agreement with Chinese officials that called for China to increase its purchases of exported goods from America, including agricultural products, and carry out a series of economic reforms. China came nowhere close to fulfilling those terms . Lael Brainard, the director of Mr. Biden’s National Economic Council, told reporters this week that the deal “did not deliver on its promises.”

Mr. Trump has pledged new efforts to sever the nations’ trading relationship if he is elected to a second term. Those include barriers to investment between the two countries, along with bans on imports of Chinese steel, electronics and pharmaceuticals. He has also proposed an additional 10 percent tariff on all imports to the United States, not just those from China. And he has criticized Mr. Biden.

Chinese officials were “petrified of me putting on additional tariffs,” Mr. Trump told CNBC in March. “And we don’t use that, China is right now our boss. They are the boss of the United States, almost like we’re a subsidiary of China, and that’s because the Biden administration has been so weak.”

Mr. Biden is building on his predecessor’s efforts.

Mr. Biden was once a critic of Mr. Trump’s tariffs. “President Trump may think he’s being tough on China,” Mr. Biden said in a 2019 speech , as a candidate for president, “but all he has delivered is more pain for American farmers, manufacturers and consumers.”

Early in Mr. Biden’s administration, his aides debated rolling back many of Mr. Trump’s taxes on Chinese imports to ease the pain of rapid price increases. They ultimately decided against it. Instead, Mr. Biden will announce on Tuesday that he is increasing tariffs on about $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, including solar cells, ship-to-shore cranes and certain medical technologies.

His administration has also imposed new restrictions on exports of American semiconductors and chip-making materials to China, and it has taken the first step to cracking down on imported Chinese smart-car technologies .

Administration officials offer economic rationale for all of those moves. But Mr. Biden is also responding to swing-state political pressures — and seeking to outflank Mr. Trump on the China issue. Last month, he called for higher taxes on Chinese heavy metal imports in a speech to steelworkers in Pennsylvania, a crucial state where polls show he is struggling to overcome voter anxiety about the economy.

And while Biden aides say his tariff approach is more targeted — and, by extension, more effective — than Mr. Trump’s, the president has notably decided not to roll back any of the original tariffs that Mr. Trump imposed on Chinese products.

A greener war, with allies this time.

Mr. Biden has tailored his policy, though. He has consciously coupled new restrictions on China trade with the strategic investments, in the form of government spending and tax credits, that he has used to entice new factory production in a handful of targeted sectors.

Perhaps no product better exemplifies the divergence between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump on trade policy than electric vehicles. Mr. Trump sees them as a scourge, and has said efforts to accelerate their adoption will result in an “assassination” of American jobs .

Mr. Biden has signed multiple laws meant to supercharge electric vehicle production and consumption in the United States, including an infrastructure bill with funding for 500,000 charging stations and a climate law with lucrative incentives to make and sell the vehicles in the United States. They are part of an ambitious industrial strategy to build up American factory capacity for a host of clean energy technologies meant to fight climate change and to dominate advanced manufacturing industries globally for decades to come.

Mr. Biden is increasingly worried that a flood of low-cost electric cars and other goods from China could undermine those efforts, and he is using trade policy to protect his industrial investments. His tariff increases planned for Tuesday include a quadrupling of the rate on imported electric vehicles, to 100 percent.

And while Mr. Trump antagonized allies by imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum from Japan, the European Union and elsewhere, the president has sought to bring together a coalition of wealthy democracies to battle China in clean energy. His administration led an effort at the Group of 7 summit last year to outline a harmonized strategy of subsidies to compete with China’s state funding for new technologies.

Many current and former administration officials hope that cooperation will now extend to tariffs as well, starting with Europe, which is conducting its own investigations of Chinese trade practices and appears poised to raise its existing tax rate on imported Chinese electric vehicles.

Jim Tankersley writes about economic policy at the White House and how it affects the country and the world. He has covered the topic for more than a dozen years in Washington, with a focus on the middle class. More about Jim Tankersley

COMMENTS

Traveling to Beijing: An Exquisite Experience for families
Bid farewell to Beijing, knowing that you've embarked on an extraordinary journey filled with history, culture, and unforgettable moments. Travelling to Beijing with a China visa opens the door to a captivating world of ancient wonders, cultural treasures, and immersive experiences. From the iconic Great Wall to the splendid Forbidden City ...
The Ultimate Guide to Beijing with Kids
Beijing experiences four distinct seasons summer, autumn (fall), spring, and winter. During winter Beijing can be very cold reaching temperatures as low as 5°F (-15°C) in the winter with January and being the coldest month of the year. July and August are the hottest months of the year with temperatures reaching a high of 99°F (37° C).
15 Things to Know Before Traveling to Beijing
Please keep in mind Beijing is a large city with millions of people and thousands of hotels, be patient. 3. Transportation around Beijing. Transportation in China can be challenging, due to the language barrier. The easiest option is if you are staying at a hotel, it is to ask the front desk to arrange transportation.
The Ultimate 7-Day Beijing Itinerary
Here is my General Overview for One Week in Beijing: Day 1: Arrive from Airport, Wudaoying Hutong Shopping and Dinner. Day 2: Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street, Silk Market. Day 3: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. Day 4: Mutianyu Great Wall, Chinese Hot Pot. Day 5: Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, Friends Cafe.
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Beijing with kids
7. Juyongguan. This is the section of the Great Wall I visited during my trip, this is home to the greatest of the remaining Great Wall forts. It's 90 minutes from Beijing and is one of the busiest sections of the wall, it's also wheelchair friendly and suitable for disabled persons.
7,000 Miles Away But Right Next Door: My Trip to Beijing
Honorable Mention 2007 FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Orange, blue, red, yellow signs touting the taxi cabs, the restaurants, the money changing stations lined the airport terminal. The air, an acrid, foreign aroma filling my lungs, left me with an indecipherable wonderment at being 7,000 miles from home in the heart of a country I had only read about in the context of Mao, the "Little ...
How to Plan a Family Trip to Beijing
5-Day Beijing Family Tour; Enjoy a Hassle-Free Beijing Family Tour with Us. It is advisable to enjoy a private tour if traveling with children. You do not need to be part of a larger group. The idea of being packed into a bus and driven around for long periods of time sounds terrible for anyone, but is particularly unsuitable for families with ...
Jennifer's 11 Days Family Trip Story of China Culture & Nature
Jennifer's Family and Their Travel Guide in Beijing, Photo Shared by Jennifer Xian was a wonderful city with a beautiful nightlife for the entire family. Landscape, interactive lit up sidewalk, and a beautiful city park. ... Our whole family loved it. Our travel consultant, Wendy Dan worked with over many months to get our vacation as we wished ...
How to Plan Your First-Time Family Trip to China
For a 2-week China tour for 2 adults and 2 kids, you can expect to pay about US$11,000-15,000 (US$220-350 per person per day; kids under 10 get 30-50% off). This cost includes flights or trains within China, accommodation at 4-or-5-star hotels, lunch, admission fees, English-speaking guides, and private transportation.
9 tips for planning a trip to Beijing
Plan ahead for the Forbidden City. Daniel Newman of Newman Tours advises: "Book your tickets in advance, since the government limits admissions to 80,000 people per day. Don't forget your ...
Travel to Beijing with Kids
Peking Roast Duck. Tasting Beijing Roast Duck is one of must things to do in Beijing with kids. Beijing Roast Duck is famous for the red and crisp skin and tender and fabulous meat. After being served, the whole roast duck will be cut into very thin slices by the chef. Then, put a little sweet sauce made of fermented flour on the lotus-leaf ...
An Unforgettable Chinese Experience
After being reunited with my classmates, we drove to Beijing, arriving at the Youth Friendship Hotel (XiXi Hotel). Our guide kept us busy for our last 4 days in China. I toured Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and the Bird's Nest. I took as many photos as possible, and recorded every ...
My Trip To China Essay And Paragraphs For Students
Short Essay About My Trip to China - Beijing: A Capital Culture Immersion. Beijing kicked off our travels in the best way. At Tiananmen Square, history was awe-inspired like nothing I'd seen before. The Forbidden City palace complex transported me to ancient empires through magnificent architecture. And pandas at the zoo confirmed I'd ...
An essay on Beijing
Beijing's autumn is exactly a mesmerizing season. For a foreign girl who has come to China for the first time, enjoying the autumn scenes from the historical Great Wall is my great honor. I can still recall that before I came to Beijing, my family and friends were so worried that I might not be used to live and study in a faraway country.
5 Days Beijing Trip Story of Lily, Beijing Travel Story
3 Days Beijing Essential Short Stay Tour (Visa Free) Beijing. 5 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Real Hutong Life Experience. Beijing. Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you'll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours. Customize a Trip. View the local Travel Expert Lily's 5-Day ...
Beijing travel blog
Wangfujing street | beijing travel blog Overview of Beijing (# beijing travel blog) Beijng (Peking) location on the China political map | beijing travel blog. Beijing is located in North China (Huabei), including 14 urban and semi-urban districts and 2 rural districts, bordering two provinces, Hebei and Tianjin.
19 quick and helpful Beijing travel tips (2024)
Alright, here are the best Beijing travel tips! 1. Get the right visa. Get the L visa to travel up to a month. Image by i viewfinder on Shutterstock. For most people, getting a Chinese visa isn't easy compared to the visa process for some other countries.
5-Day Beijing Family Tour
Live Your China Story. Authentic local culture and lifestyles. Understand the culture by living it. Uncover fascinating histories and witness New China. 5-Day Beijing tour for families with kids to explore highlights of Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Hutong) and learn simple Chinese characters.
Persuasive Essay Example 01
persuasive essay example 01 - Free download as Word Doc (.doc), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This persuasive essay argues that Beijing is a good place for families to travel to expose youth to Chinese culture. It notes that Beijing has a long history as China's capital and center of politics, economy, culture, and education.
[Solved] Family travel to Beijing China
Family travel to Beijing China. Persuasive Essay / By admin. Beijing is a good place to travel for educating youth to learn about Chinese culture, which combines their latest achievements with ancient history. As it is known to all, Beijing is the capital of China, which has been acting as the Chinese political, economic, cultural, and ...
Persuasive essay example 01
Family travel to Beijing. Beijing is a good place to travel for educating youth to learn about Chinese culture, which combines their latest achievements with ancient history. As it is known to all, Beijing is the capital of China, which has been acting as the Chinese political, economic, cultural, and educational center for a long time.
Persuasive essay example university
Family travel to Beijing. Beijing is a good place to travel for educating youth to learn about Chinese culture, which combines their latest achievements with ancient history. As it is known to all, Beijing is the capital of China, which has been acting as the Chinese political, economic, cultural, and educational center for a long time.
Persuasive essay example university
In addition, Beijing provides a wide range of modern and ancient places for family trips including the Beijing Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Beijing Olympic Stadium, and Hou Hai Bar Street. ("Beijing Travel Guide") If you want to learn about the Chinese history, come to visit Chinese ancient. buildings first.
Ukraine
During a joint press conference in Beijing, Russia's president added that both countries had 'independent ... foreign policies' and called for a more 'just and democratic multipolar world order'
How Biden's Trade War With China Differs From Trump's
Joseph R. Biden Jr. ran for the White House as a sharp critic of President Donald J. Trump's crackdown on trade with China. In office, though, he has taken Mr. Trump's trade war with Beijing ...

Traveling to Beijing: An Exquisite Experience for families

Understanding China Visas:

Preparing for the Journey:

Arrival and Transportation:

Must-Visit Attractions:

Cultural Etiquette:

Safety and Security:

Experiencing the Local Cuisine:

Exploring Beyond Beijing:

Language Considerations:

Departure and Farewell:

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15 Things to Know Before Traveling to Beijing

1. Do Not Drink the Water in China

2. Language barrier in Beijing – Download translator before arriving

3. Transportation around Beijing

4. Carry passport

5. Photos and a lot of stares

Want to travel more affordability, stress-free, and fun?

6. Air pollution in Beijing

7. Smoking in Beijing

8. Personal space

9. Beijing Traffic

10. Tipping in Beijing

11. Google and Social Media

12. Tourists attractions are affordable

13. Public Restrooms in Beijing

14. How safe is Beijing?

15. Chinese Food

Bonus: Cash is King

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The Ultimate 7-Day Beijing Itinerary

Here is my General Overview for One Week in Beijing:

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing

Read 10 Tips For Your First Trip to China!

Day 2 : Tiananmen Square & Wangfujing Street

AFTERNOON: Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing Street, Silk Market

EVENING: Ghost Street and A Night Out

Day 4: The Forbidden City & Jingshan Park

AFTERNOON: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park

EVENING: Foot Massages and Yunnan Restaurant

Day 4: The Great Wall & Hot Pot

EVENING: Hot Pot

Day 5: Temples & Cafes

AFTERNOON: Temple of Heaven and Friends Cafe

EVENING: Dumplings and Karaoke Bar

Day 6: Houhai Lake & Beijing Zoo

AFTERNOON: Beijing zoo and pandas!

EVENING: Manicures and Dinner

Day 7: Last Day in Beijing

One Week Beijing Itinerary

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Beijing with kids

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Top things to do in Beijing with kids

Great Wall of China

1. Mutianyu

2. Jinshanling

5. Huanghuacheng

6. Gubeikou

7. Juyongguan

8. Huangyaguan

9. Badaling

Camping on the Great Wall of China

Ming Dynasty Tombs

Ancient Hutongs of Beijing

Tiananmen Square

The Forbidden City

Beijing Olympic Village

Beijing Zoo