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Capital and municipality in China
Photo: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Beijing (北京 Běijīng) is China's capital and its second-largest city after Shanghai, with a population of around 22 million. With a rich history as the capital of Imperial China for much of its past, Beijing became the political and cultural heart of the People's Republic of China following the Chinese revolutions.
covering the eastern half of the central city area. This is the most important tourist district of Beijing. Including: *Forbidden City *Central Dongcheng, including Wangfujing (Walking Street) and Tian'anmen Square. *Chongwen, the southern third of Dongcheng, including the Temple of Heaven. *Gulou, in the north-center of Dongcheng, with the Drum Tower and Nanlougouxiang *Dongzhimen and Ditan, the northeast parts of Dongcheng, including Yonghegong (Yonghe Lama Temple)
covering the western half of the central city area. Includes Beihai Park, the Houhai area, Beijing Zoo and National Concert Hall.
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Try your hand at creating a variety of Chinese dishes, from cold starters to famous noodles and dumplings. Classes are conducted in English, and you can also enjoy a fancy dinner with explanations of major flavors and the significance of different ingredients. Reservations are required.
Join a cooking class focused on Hutong cuisine, offering hands-on experiences in preparing traditional dishes. An optional market tour is available for an additional fee.
Located in a traditional courtyard home in downtown Beijing, The Hutong offers a variety of Chinese cultural programs. Visitors can attend market tours, cooking classes (both Chinese and international), tea tastings, and traditional Chinese medicine sessions. You can also enjoy private meals, events, or simply relax on the rooftop terrace with a view of authentic hutong culture. Chefs, guides, and teachers speak English, Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, and more by request.
By plane
Beijing (BJS for all airports) is served by two major international airports; Beijing Capital International Airport is older and larger of the two, while Beijing Daxing International Airport is a…
By train
The following are the principal stations of Beijing:
By car
Foreigners are allowed to rent vehicles while in China, although they need a Chinese driving license.
By bus
As a tourist, you're unlikely to use inter-province buses since China's extensive and affordable high-speed rail system covers most destinations.
By bicycle
Long-distance cyclist-tourists will find National Road 109 is a pleasant way to enter or leave Beijing, though lots of work.
By subway
The Beijing Subway is one of the world's most extensive systems with 29 lines and over 500 stations covering an impressive 879 km. It is clean, reliable and efficient.
By bicycle
Once known as a nation of bicycles, China saw private cars dominate the roads from the 1990s until the 2010s.
By bus
Beijing's bus system is especially convenient for short trips, particularly when your starting point or destination is not within walking distance of a subway station.
By minibus
Minibuses are very common in the countryside outside the urban areas. Privately operated, most trips cost less than ¥10 per short journey and only a little more for longer journeys.
By taxi
Official taxis in Beijing are reliable and relatively inexpensive. If you don't speak Mandarin, it's advisable to have the Chinese characters for your destination ready in advance.
By car
Driving in Beijing can be quite complicated with seemingly perpetual traffic jams. Many hotels rent cars that come with drivers for up to ¥1,000 per day.
By suburban railway
The Beijing City Rail is a suburban railway system for commuters and not the typical way by tourists to get around except for the S2 in spring.
Beijing Transportation Card
The Beijing Transportation Card, commonly known as the Yikatong card, is a convenient way to pay for public transport in Beijing.
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Beijing · International · PEK
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