CHINA · Northern China · Beijing
MUST-SEEImperial courtyards, hutong lanes and a day at the Great Wall.
Begin with the sweep of palace roofs, then look for a smaller Beijing in its lanes, parks and neighbourhood meals. This is a city to explore in chapters. Keep the Great Wall as a separate day and give its scale the time it deserves.
Look a little closer
Vast courts, painted beams and layers of palace history make this an essential introduction. Choose a few interiors and details to enjoy rather than trying to see everything.
Plan your visit Reserve through the Palace Museum’s official visitor service and follow its current passport and entry instructions.
Official information & visiting details ↗A wall walk brings towers, mountain views and a sense of how the structure follows the landscape. The steps can be demanding, even when using mechanical transport.
Plan your visit A separate excursion from central Beijing, check official tickets, access and weather before setting out.
Official information & visiting details ↗The ceremonial buildings are only part of the attraction. Allow time for the park and the details of the architecture, with a quieter change of pace from the palace.
Plan your visit Check which areas your ticket includes and respect any temporary access restrictions.
Official information & visiting details ↗A hilltop view helps put the palace in context, while a neighbourhood walk brings the city back to a human scale. Pick one area and let yourself linger.
Plan your visit Use the tourism service for current routes and park information. Jingshan involves an uphill walk.
Official information & visiting details ↗An unhurried introduction
A suggested outline, adjust it to opening days, bookings and your pace.
Enjoy the place, not just the sights
Try roast duck with time for a proper meal, then explore a hutong area on foot. Remember that these lanes are also residential streets, ask before photographing people or entering courtyards.
Allow four or five nights for the city and a separate Great Wall excursion.
Nearby bases, direct contact
Hotel contacts to start your search.
Speak to the hotel directly.
A central-city base near Wangfujing, ask the concierge about palace reservations and your airport transfer.
57 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100006A contemporary city hotel in Chaoyang, plan transport to the historic sights rather than assuming they are on the doorstep.
Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020Suggestions are based on location and the hotels’ published information, not personal inspections. Confirm room types, accessibility, parking and current rates directly. Need help with a group hotel request?
Getting here & around
Beijing has two major airports and several railway stations, check the exact terminal or station on every booking. Use the metro for suitable city journeys and arrange a separate transfer for the wall. Keep your hotel’s Chinese name and address saved offline.
Check rail connections ↗Local knowledge
Explore the destination resources below, then ask your hosts or the attraction directly about current visiting arrangements, local guides and suitable routes.
Visit Beijing, official tourism information ↗Information reviewed October 24, 2026. Confirm changing details with the attraction or hotel before travelling.
Photo: Tojan76 · Wikimedia Commons ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗. Display cropped to fit.
Visitor information is linked beside each attraction. Hotel contact details are linked to official hotel websites or the identified destination-service listing.