Beijing Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Beijing, China — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Beijing

• The Forbidden City (Palace Museum). The world's largest surviving imperial palace complex, home to 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors across nearly 600 years. A labyrinth of 980 buildings, golden-roofed halls, and imperial courtyards that rewards at least half a day of exploration.
• Great Wall at Mutianyu. One of the best-preserved and most scenic sections of the Great Wall, stretching 5,400 meters with 22 watchtowers and dramatic forested ridgelines. Visitors can ascend by cable car or chairlift and descend via a toboggan slide — making it the top choice for first-timers and families alike.
• Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan). Beijing's most architecturally striking sacred site, where Ming and Qing emperors performed annual ceremonies to pray for a good harvest. Early-morning visits reveal Beijing elders practicing tai chi, playing erhu, and dancing in the surrounding park — a living slice of city culture.
• Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan). The largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, covering 290 hectares with Kunming Lake at its center, ornate pavilions, and the famous Long Corridor painted with 14,000 intricate scenes. The lakeside setting is especially beautiful in autumn when willows turn gold.
• Beijing's Hutongs. Beijing's ancient alleyway neighborhoods — dating to the Yuan Dynasty — offer an intimate counterpoint to imperial grandeur: courtyard homes, dumpling vendors, mahjong games, and hidden teahouses. Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying, and the Shichahai area are the most rewarding to explore on foot or by rickshaw.
• 798 Art District. A sprawling creative campus converted from 1950s Bauhaus-style factory buildings in Chaoyang, now home to over 100 galleries, design studios, cafes, and outdoor sculpture installations. Entry to the district is free, though individual galleries charge separately.
• Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple). Beijing's most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple, built in 1694 and home to the world's largest single-piece sandalwood Buddha standing 18 meters tall. The temple's five main halls, incense haze, and resident monks create one of the city's most genuinely atmospheric experiences.
• Drum Tower & Bell Tower (Gulou–Zhonglou). Twin Ming-dynasty towers that once regulated the rhythm of imperial Beijing now anchor the city's most atmospheric neighborhood, where hutong bars, live-music venues, and independent cafes fill converted courtyard buildings. In 2024, the area became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Beijing Central…

Best time to visit Beijing

September–October. Clear skies, mild temperatures (highs 59–83°F range across the two months), very low humidity, and minimal rain make autumn the most pleasant season. Spring (April–May) is the close second for blooming flora and moderate warmth. Avoid July–August (peak heat/rain) and January–February (sub-freezing)

Beijing weather by month

Getting to Beijing

Beijing's subway is the fastest, cheapest, and most tourist-friendly way to navigate the city — 27 lines, 490+ stations, fully bilingual signage and announcements, and fares starting at ¥3. Load a Yikatong card (rechargeable transit card, ¥20 refundable deposit) at any station window, or link Alipay/WeChat Pay for QR-code entry. Avoid rush hours (7:30–9:30 AM and 5–7:30 PM).

• PEK Beijing Capital International Airport — 35 min drive
• PKX Beijing Daxing International Airport — 50 min drive

Where to stay in Beijing

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Dongcheng — Wangfujing & Forbidden City Corridor. The natural base for first-time visitors: within walking distance of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing shopping street, and the National Museum, with Metro Lines 1, 2, 5, and 6 intersecting the district. The widest range of hotel categories in… Good for: First-time visitors, culture-seekers, families.
• Gulou / Houhai — Drum Tower & Lake District. Beijing's most atmospheric neighborhood for travelers who want to sleep inside the historic hutong fabric. Willow-lined lakeshores, courtyard guesthouses, jazz bars, and artisan coffee shops sit within steps of the Drum and Bell Towers. Quieter and more… Good for: Culture-seekers, romantics, independent travelers, nightlife explorers.
• Sanlitun & Chaoyang CBD. Modern Beijing at its most international: designer hotels, flagship shopping malls, the city's most active bar and restaurant strip, and easy access to the 798 Art District and the embassy quarter. Less convenient for sightseeing but unbeatable for dining,… Good for: Business travelers, nightlife, returning visitors, upscale dining.
• Qianmen & South Dongcheng. The southern edge of the old imperial city, anchored by the Qianmen Gate and the historic Dashilar shopping lanes, with the Temple of Heaven a short taxi ride away. Boutique hotels and guesthouses in renovated courtyard buildings offer an old-Beijing feel at… Good for: History enthusiasts, budget-conscious travelers, those seeking old-Beijing atmosphere.
• Olympic Park & North Chaoyang. Spacious, modern, and family-friendly, clustered around the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Parks, wide boulevards, and large convention hotels make this an excellent choice for families with young children or groups attending events, though the sightseeing… Good for: Families, sports enthusiasts, groups with large event or convention needs.

Where to eat in Beijing

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Quanjude Roast Duck (Qianmen Flagship). Qianmen, Dongcheng · Traditional Peking duck — Founded in 1864, Quanjude is Beijing's most storied Peking duck institution — the restaurant that hosted Nixon, Castro, and countless world leaders.…
• Dali Courtyard. Gulou/Houhai, Dongcheng (Xiaojingchang Hutong) · Yunnan (Southwest China) — A beloved Beijing institution set in a beautifully restored hutong courtyard near Houhai Lake. Serves a rotating…
• Siji Minfu. 32 Deng Shi Kou Xi Jie · 4.4★ (749 reviews)
• Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant. WCPV+VJG · 4.5★ (286 reviews)
• Liu's Family And Restaurant. 8 Mei Shu Guan Dong Jie · 4.7★ (193 reviews)
• Mr. Shi's Dumplings. 74 Bao Chao Hu Tong · 4.4★ (218 reviews)
• Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant. 7 Wang Fu Jing Xi Jie · 4.9★ (123 reviews)
• Little Yunnan. China · 4.5★ (127 reviews)

Cafés, bakeries & casual

• Quanjude Roast Duck (alternate note on Zhalong section): Southern Barbarian. Dongcheng (107 Baochao Hutong) · Yunnan — A well-regarded hutong restaurant offering approachable Yunnan cuisine including fried goat cheese, flower-petal salads, and Yunnan craft cocktails. Popular…
• Alley Cafe. W9GX+5V8 · 4.8★ (68 reviews)
• Starbucks Coffee. 1 Qian Men Da Jie · 4.2★ (101 reviews)
• Voyage Coffee. China · 4.8★ (48 reviews)
• The Cheesecake Factory 芝乐坊餐厅. China · 4.5★ (57 reviews)
• Voyage Coffee. Dongcheng · 4.4★ (42 reviews)
• Maan Coffee. 9 Jiang Tai Xi Lu · 4.2★ (49 reviews)
• Soloist Coffee Co.. V9WV+96M · 4.0★ (40 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Chao Shang Chao. Chaoyang (Zhengda Center, Guanghualu) · Chaozhou (Teochew) Chinese — One of two Three-Michelin-Star restaurants in Beijing 2025. Chef Yat Fung Cheung's refined takes on Chaozhou classics — including…
• Xin Rong Ji. Chaoyang (Xinyuan South Road) · Taizhou seafood — Beijing's second Three-Michelin-Star restaurant in 2025, celebrated for wild-caught East China Sea yellow croaker, live-tank seafood, and a baby…
• King's Joy. Dongcheng (Wudaoying Hutong, opposite Lama Temple) · Fine dining vegetarian — China's first Michelin-starred and Michelin Green Star vegetarian restaurant (Two Stars, 2025), set in a serene…
• Da Dong (Gastro Esthetics DaDong). Dongcheng (Jinbao Hui Shopping Center, 88 Jinbao Jie) · Elevated Peking duck — One-Michelin-Star flagship (2025) of Beijing's most celebrated Peking duck chef. Air is pumped beneath the skin before…
• TRB Hutong. Dongcheng (23 Shatan North Street, inside a 600-year-old temple courtyard) · Contemporary French — One-Michelin-Star restaurant (continuously since 2023) set inside a historic temple courtyard near…
• Cai Yi Xuan. Dongcheng (Four Seasons Hotel Beijing) · Cantonese — One-Michelin-Star (2025) Cantonese restaurant known for refined dim sum and Cantonese seafood preparations. A favorite for leisurely weekend…
• Lu Shang Lu. Chaoyang · Regional Chinese (elevated) — Promoted to Two-Michelin-Stars in the 2025 Guide for its high-quality ingredients, exceptional technique, and consistent standards. One of the most…
• Beijing Da Dong. China · 4.3★ (416 reviews)

A 7-Day Beijing Plan

1. Day 1 — Imperial Heart of Beijing. Begin at Tiananmen Square at dawn to catch the flag-raising ceremony and take in the vast expanse of China's symbolic center before the crowds arrive. Cross the Gate of Heavenly Peace into the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), spending several hours exploring the Hall of Supreme…
2. Day 2 — Walls, Temples & Sacred Grounds. Head to the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) early, joining locals practicing tai chi in the surrounding park before touring the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar. Visit nearby Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple), the largest and best-preserved Tibetan Buddhist…
3. Day 3 — Great Wall at Mutianyu. Take an early morning transfer to the Great Wall at Mutianyu (approximately 90 minutes from central Beijing), arriving before tour groups to enjoy the misty mountain scenery and walk the well-restored battlements in relative solitude. Continue along the wall toward the Ox Horn…
4. Day 4 — Lakes, Palaces & Royal Gardens. Spend the morning at the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan), gliding across Kunming Lake on a wooden boat and walking the 700-meter Long Corridor painted with 14,000 scenes. Head to Beihai Park in the afternoon, exploring the White Dagoba on Jade Island and renting a paddle boat on the…
5. Day 5 — Hutongs, Drums & Old Beijing. Join a guided rickshaw or walking tour through the historic Shichahai Hutongs, ducking into narrow alleyways, courtyard homes (siheyuan), and neighborhood tea houses for a glimpse of old Beijing life. Climb the Drum Tower and Bell Tower (Gulou–Zhonglou) for sweeping rooftop views…
6. Day 6 — History, Art & Modern Beijing. Spend the morning at the National Museum of China on Tiananmen Square, home to one of the world's largest collections covering 5,000 years of Chinese civilization — allow at least two to three hours. Take a taxi to the 798 Art District in Dashanzi, a converted factory complex…
7. Day 7 — Olympic Legacy & Farewell Views. Visit Olympic Park to walk around the iconic Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), now a water park, exploring the monumental plaza built for the 2008 Games. Head to Jingshan Park, the hilltop garden directly north of the Forbidden City,…

Events & festivals in Beijing

• Spring Festival / Chinese New Year Temple Fairs (January–February (lunar; e.g. 17 Feb 2026). Temple fairs run the 1st–7th day of the first lunar month.). Major temple fairs at Ditan Park and other sites feature lion dances, folk opera, lantern displays, and traditional food stalls. One of Beijing's most celebrated annual events.
• Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao Jie) (15th day of the first lunar month (e.g. 3 March 2026)). Marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. The Forbidden City holds special night-time openings. Lantern displays, tangyuan (sweet rice balls), and riddle games are traditional.
• Cherry Blossom Culture Event, Yuyuantan Park (Mid-March to mid-May (e.g. 18 March – mid-May 2026 for the 37th event)). Annual cherry blossom festival in Yuyuantan Park, one of Beijing's top spring events. Entry: 10 yuan full-price.
• Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie) (5th day of the 5th lunar month (e.g. 19 June 2026)). Dragon boat races on Shichahai Lake and Yanqi Lake; traditional zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings) eaten. Over 2,000 years of history.
• Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie) (15th day of the 8th lunar month (e.g. 24–26 September 2026)). Mooncakes, lanterns, and family gatherings. Beijing parks and historic sites host lantern displays and cultural events.
• National Day Golden Week (1–7 October (annual)). Seven-day public holiday celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China (1 October 1949). Tiananmen Square hosts large flag-raising ceremony; major crowds at all Beijing attractions.

Top-rated tours & activities in Beijing

• Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour — 5.0★ (320 reviews)
• Beijing Capital Airport Layover Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour — 5.0★ (221 reviews)
• Beijing to Datong See YunGang Cave, Hanging Temple (Bullet Train) — 5.0★ (47 reviews)
• Great Wall Day Tour with Yoyo — 5.0★ (26 reviews)
• Beijing Peking Opera Show Ticket with Guide and Transfers — 5.0★ (26 reviews)
• All-inclusive Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall — 5.0★ (116 reviews)
• Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing — 5.0★ (109 reviews)
• Mutianyu Great Wall 5-Kilometer Guided Hike with Uphill Cable Car — 5.0★ (57 reviews)

Beijing travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Beijing?

September–October.

What are the top things to do in Beijing?

Top experiences include The Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Great Wall at Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan), Beijing's Hutongs.

Which airport is closest to Beijing?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the nearest, about 35 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Beijing?

Popular areas to base yourself include Dongcheng — Wangfujing & Forbidden City Corridor, Gulou / Houhai — Drum Tower & Lake District, Sanlitun & Chaoyang CBD, Qianmen & South Dongcheng.

How do I get around Beijing?

Beijing's subway is the fastest, cheapest, and most tourist-friendly way to navigate the city — 27 lines, 490+ stations, fully bilingual signage and announcements, and fares starting at ¥3.