Beijing Quick Facts

▢ Beijing is located in northern China.

▢ Beijing is the capital of China.

▢ Beijing is one of China’s largest cities, with over 22 million people.

▢ Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a rich history dating back over 3,000 years.

▢ Mandarin Chinese is the official language spoken in Beijing.

▢ Beijing is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

▢ Getting around Beijing is easy, with an efficient and simple subway system.

▢ Streets are generally well-paved, flat and great for leisurely walks.

▢ You can experience a time hop with Beijing’s historical sites and hutongs, which are traditional alleyways that Beijing is famous for.

▢ Visit the many and impressive grand imperial parks and gardens in Beijing.

▢ There is no tipping culture in Beijing, and China in general.

▢ Beijing is largely digital and most people use apps for transactions.

▢ Security guards and ID checks are common throughout Beijing.

▢ Most bathrooms only have one sitting toilet. The rest will be squatting toilets.

▢ Spitting on the ground in public is still quite common.

▢ Even during a lower season, tourist places will be packed. Though, crowds didn’t feel rushed or chaotic.

▢ Bring your passport everywhere you go. You will need it to buy tickets, for checkpoints, and to enter main tourist sites.

Locals usually scan their IDs on a machine. You can just hand your passport for them to check.

▢ Most people use apps for everything, especially to pay.

▢ There are public toilets everywhere, usually with one sitting toilet available. Always take tissue paper with you just in case a bathroom doesn’t have toilet paper.

▢ Motorcycles are quiet and pass through alleyways. Be mindful of when walking.

▢ Food is permitted in parks and major tourist sites, including the Great Wall, where trash and recycling bins are provided.

▢ During peak seasons like summer, book tickets to popular destinations ahead of time.

You can book most tickets on Klook. Otherwise, book on official tourist sites or buy in person.

Top Tours When Visiting Beijing:

🚌 Great Wall of China daily group tour (what I did)

🚙 All-inclusive private day tour of Beijing

🎫 4-Hour small group tour to Forbidden City (tickets included)

Spring offers mild weather and is cherry blossom season.

Summer reaches hight 20°Cs (80s°F) and is also rainy season, so expect some rainy days.

Autumn is a perfect time to see China’s autumn foliage.

Winter turns Beijing into a winter wonderland with snow and frozen lakes.

You will need:

• Proof of stay in Beijing.
• Proof of flight out of China within 240 hours (10 days) upon arrival to a country that is different from the 1st country you flew from.

Some points:

• You cannot have a layover in another China city. The first flight out has to be outside of China.
• You can only travel within certain regions. So if you landed in Beijing, you cannot travel to and fly out of Shanghai.

▢ You can either take the train, bus, taxi or prebook a private transfer out of the airport.

▢ There is no Uber in China. They use DiDi, which you can easily book within the Alipay app.

▢ An hour taxi ride into the city costs around $14 USD.

▢ The DiDi taxi pickup area is not located at the exit. To get there, you cross the street after exiting the airport to a big white building that says “Lost and Found.” Take the elevator to B2 and look for the taxi pickup area.

▢ Don’t trust the pickup spots shown on the Didi App. Taxis will only go to the designated pickup spot in the garage.

▢ The subway system in Beijing is simple and easy to navigate.

▢ 6 stops on the subway cost 4 yuan, or 55 US cents.

▢ You can use Apple Maps to get subway directions.

▢ There are other apps recommended online like Maps.me and Explore Beijing, but I found Apple Maps the simplest to use. You can download these as a backup.

▢ Once you’re on the platform, you can see which side to take by looking at any of the signs posted, which indicates the next stop.

▢ To use Apple Pay to pay for the subway you need to bypass the requirement for a local China bank account. It did not work for me.

▢ There are ticket machines to buy one-way tickets where you can pay with cash. Select instructions in English, then choose your destination and input the amount.

▢ Some stations had ticket machines where a local ID was required. In that case, you go to a counter, tell or show them your destination, then they will activate a ticket for you. You can pay with cash or Alipay.

▢ Transfers are easy. Just follow the signs for your number line. Apple Maps show which exit to take (written in letters) which are clearly posted on the subway.

▢ Subways can get cramped during peak hours in the morning and around 5pm.

▢ English is not widely-spoken in Beijing. It’s best to learn basic phrases and use a translation app like Papago or Google Translate.

Though most locals are willing to help if you ask!

▢ TIP: In case a menu is not in English, use Papago or Google Translate’s camera tool to scan the menu to English, or use the translator to communicate with staff.

▢ Beijing uses 220V voltage and 60Hz, with different plug types A, C & I. While some hotels provide USB charging outlets, it’s best to bring or purchase the correct plug or a travel adaptor.

I use a universal travel adaptor.

▢ Power Bank, for best practice, especially if you’ll be out all day.

▢ Reusable tote bag and handkerchief (for hot summer months!)

▢ Umbrella, especially during the summer. Rainfall can be unpredictable.

▢ Good walking shoes! You’re most likely going to be walking A LOT. I wear Xero Shoes – I can walk for hours and not have sore feet.

▢ Basic fare for subway and buses: $0.45 USD.

▢ 5-day + 1GB eSIM for $5 USD, and a local prepaid SIM card for 6 GB / 10 days for $20 USD.

▢ Hostels: $20 USD.

▢ Mid-range hotel: $50 USD.

▢ Higher-end hotel: $75+ USD.

▢ Taxi ride from Beijing Capital International Airport to downtown: $14 USD.

▢ Inner-city taxi ride: Starting from $2 USD.

▢ Food costs will vary. An average meal at a local restaurant may be $7-11 USD per person.