Beijing
China
- Safety rating
- 8.2/10
- Best time to visit
- April to May and September to October for clear skies and mild temperatures. Avoid the June–August heat and July–August smog. Winter is cold but atmospheric for Forbidden City snow scenes.
- Population
- 21.9M
Overview
Beijing is 3,000 years of imperial history meeting a 21st-century superpower capital. Home to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, it's China's political, cultural, and educational heart — a city of extraordinary historical weight and relentless modernity.
Top attractions
Forbidden City, Great Wall (Mutianyu section), Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Hutongs of Nanluoguxiang, 798 Art District, Lama Temple
Getting around
The Beijing Subway is extensive, efficient, and cheap — the best way to navigate. Didi (Chinese Uber) is essential for areas not on the subway. Taxis are metered and fair.