BEIJING
BEIJING
Beijing is the capital of China and one of the most populous cities in the world. The Chinese characters ‘北京‘ literally mean Northern Capital. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world, it is steeped in history and has a cool, modern side.
Population: Approx 22 million
Weather: Hot, dry summers and bitterly cold winters. Spring and Autumn are very short but a great time to visit.
Popular food: Peking Duck, Jianbing, Zhajiangmian, Donkey burgers, Tanghulu, Meat buns
Best areas to explore: Gulou, Sanlitun, Andingmen, Qianmen/Dashilan, Liangmaqiao, Wudaokou, Wangjing, CBD, 798
Top Things to do in Beijing: The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Temple Of Heaven, The Pearl Market, The Summer Palace, 798 Art District, Explore the Hutongs, Lost Plate Food Tour, The National Stadium (The Birds Nest), CCTV Tower.
Getting around Beijing: Beijing is really easy to navigate; it has an extensive public transport system, which is also cheap. Although it looks quite a compact city, it can take a while to travel between locations. It is the perfect city to rent a bike in, as the bike lanes are large and it is a flat city.
Metro: ¥2-10/£0.20-£1.10
Hotels: ¥374-¥468/£40-£50 (Budget) ¥749-¥937/£80-£100(Luxury)
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Our Beijing Films
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Beijing is our second home, we absolutely love the city, and no trip to China would be complete without a few days spent in the historic capital. We spent over 5.5 years living in Beijing, and it will forever be one of our favourite places in China.
Need help in Beijing?
Beijing is a great city for tourists as there are so many iconic sights to see, but it’s the hidden gems - like the maze-like Hutongs - that really make it special.
If you’re planning a trip to China, Beijing will almost certainly be on your list. The challenge is knowing how long to spend here, what to prioritise, and how to fit it into the rest of your route.
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