Beijing Travel Guide
China's huge capital city is a perennial favourite with tourists and backpackers, who relish its wide range of unusual sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The city's unique cultural elements are alive and well and can be experienced first-hand through indigenous cuisine, temples and traditional performances. Beijing is nevertheless more than up-to-date with modern trends and fashions, partly as a result of its cosmopolitan expat population and partly because China is increasingly an international trend-setter in its own right.
A global hub of business, culture and entertainment, Beijing has an incredibly diverse nightlife that will keep even the most demanding of socialites satisfied at all hours, especially during the summer months, when areas such as the Sanlitun bar street are buzzing from dusk till dawn. Visitors hoping to lighten their pockets will also have no shortage of shopping opportunities; from bustling markets such as Silk Street (Xiushuijie) to colossal shopping malls like the 13-storey Xidan Joy Center, Beijing has it all.
China is a teeming medley of more than 50 officially recognised ethnic minorities and Beijing, as the country's capital, is suitably varied and representative. The city's many attractions are testament to this, and visitors will find exploring everything fully a near-impossible task.
Best time to visit Beijing
Beijing's climate is one of extremes. With hot, humid summers and chilling, dry winters, travellers will find that spring and autumn (April to May and September to October) are the best times of year to visit. The weather during these seasons is pleasant, temperate and highly conducive to sightseeing.
What to see in Beijing
-The breath-taking and historically poignant Tiananmen Square is a must-see for those visiting Beijing.
-It is practically an obligation for travellers to journey out of the city to see the Great Wall; tourists can stroll along the historic landmark at a number of different locations.
-The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest during the 2008 Olympics, is a spectacular feat of modern architecture.
-Experience the thriving Beijing art scene in 798 Space, a notable gallery in the city's famous art district.
What to do in Beijing
-Hire a pedal boat and relax on the majestic waters of Beihai Park.
-Experience the beauty of Chinese culture in the Summer Palace.
-Take a tour of the cryptic reminder of cold-war fears that is The Underground City.
-Learn about the diversity of aquatic life at the Beijing Aquarium.
-Travellers can learn about early humans and see the remains of the famous 'Peking Man' at the Zhoukoudian Cave, just south of the city.
Beyond Beijing
Despite its size, travelling within China is relatively simple. This is especially the case from its capital city, as there are frequent buses, trains and flights going to all corners of the country. From Beijing, travellers may enjoy meandering down to Xi'an, resting place of the remarkable Terracotta Army, or to Chengdu, home of the world's largest Panda Breeding and Research Center.
Getting there
All international flights to the city will land in Beijing City International Airport, located 17 miles (28km) north of the city. From the airport, visitors can either take a taxi, shuttle service or express train to the heart of the city and beyond. Beijing's extensive public transport system, while generally crowded, is reliable; visitors should not experience much difficulty navigating.
Did you know?
-Despite being called the 'kingdom of bicycles', the number of cyclists in Beijing has more than halved in the past 15 years; this is largely a result of the city's growing middle-class, who consider owning a car to be a greater status symbol.
-Beijing's signature dish, Peking Duck, is a carefully prepared delicacy that has been around since the imperial era and is a favourite of Henry Kissinger.
-Beijing's subway is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 11 million trips on a busy day.