Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · China

Beijing

A photograph of Beijing
Photograph · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0

Beijing is vast, but its principal historic sights align around the north-south imperial axis. Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan form the central sequence, while the Temple of Heaven lies south and the lake, hutong and palace districts extend north and west. Great Wall sections and imperial tombs are separate day journeys outside the urban core.

Practical information
Language spoken
Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Beijing

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walking, subway and city bus
  1. January: recurring difficult conditions
  2. February: recurring difficult conditions
  3. March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  7. July: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  8. August: viable with meaningful trade-offs — current month
  9. September: best time to visit
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  12. December: recurring difficult conditions
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

50 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 2221 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 2221

Interests

History 4193 Art 1294 Museums 986 Nature 3637 Sea and beach 2221 Viewpoints 1416
  1. Mutianyu Mutianyu
    01 1 hour

    Mutianyu

    慕田峪长城旅游区

    Mutianyu is a restored section of the Great Wall in Huairou District, north of Beijing.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  2. Shichahai Shichahai
    02 1 hour

    Shichahai

    后海公园

    Shichahai is a historic scenic area in central Beijing, comprising three connected lakes: Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai. The name literally means Ten Temple Sea, referencing temples that once bordered the water.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  3. Olympic Green
    03 1 hour

    Olympic Green

    奥林匹克公园

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  5. Simatai
    05 1 hour

    Simatai

    司马台长城旅游区

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  10. Badachu
    10 1 hour

    Badachu

    八大处公园

    • High
    • Nature site
  18. Milu Yuan
    18 1 hour

    Milu Yuan

    麋鹿苑

    • High
    • Nature site
  26. Jiufeng
    26 1 hour

    Jiufeng

    鹫峰国家森林公园

    • High
    • Nature site
  33. Central Green
    33 1 hour

    Central Green

    城市绿心森林公园

    • High
    • Nature site
  41. Xihaizi Park
    41 1 hour

    Xihaizi Park

    西海子公园

    • High
    • Nature site
  50. Wenyuhe Park
    50 1 hour

    Wenyuhe Park

    温榆河公园朝阳示范区

    • High
    • Nature site

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Plan the Forbidden City axis as one long central route and avoid pairing it with a distant outer attraction. The Temple of Heaven and Qianmen fit a southern cluster; Shichahai, Drum Tower and nearby hutongs form a northern cluster. The Summer Palace occupies a western half-day, while any Great Wall section requires its own transport plan.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Beijing’s official guidance describes the subway as the most convenient public transit for major attractions and transport hubs. Use rail for cross-city moves, then walk within each historic cluster. International bank-card access is available at supported gates under current guidance. Distances and security checks can add time, so leave margins around major monuments and railway stations.

Checked 2026-08-26

Nearby districts and related places

Nearby places

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Beijing?

A fixed stay length is not recorded. Build the visit around the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces, then add Great Wall sections and imperial tombs only when the available time supports a separate journey.

What is the best way to organise sightseeing in Beijing?

Group places by district instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Start with the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces; treat Great Wall sections and imperial tombs as separate routes with their own travel allowance.

How do I get around Beijing?

Use Walking, subway and city bus. Walk within compact clusters and consult the linked official transport information before making longer transfers or relying on a particular route.

Can I explore Beijing mainly on foot?

Only within individual neighbourhood clusters. The main visitor areas are separated by distances, waterways, major roads or regional approaches, so longer links normally need public transport or a licensed vehicle.

Which Beijing sights need separate transport planning?

Plan Great Wall sections and imperial tombs separately from the imperial axis, Shichahai and the western palaces. Check the current route, return connection and any access requirements on the official source before departure.