BeijingCapital
China · Country profile
Beijing is China’s storied capital, a vast, walled city where the Forbidden City’s red walls, the Temple of Heaven’s blue roofs and the hutongs of the old neighbourhoods sit beside the modern towers of the financial district. The Great Wall rises in the mountains beyond the city, and the Summer Palace spreads its lake and gardens across the western edge. The capital layers its history with a daily rhythm of parks, food markets, teahouses and the enormous public squares that anchor the state’s ceremonies. Shanghai-style modernity meets three thousand years of imperial ambition in a single metropolis. Grand, orderly and unmissable, Beijing is a city to approach in stages, with time for the walls, the temples and the backstreets.
About Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China. The city's documented population is around 21,890,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Chinese is spoken; the dialling code is +86. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Beijing Capital International Airport.
The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Hutongs
Beijing is a capital of imperial monuments, classic courtyards and modern towers, and its scale asks for planning. The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall spread across a wide city and its mountains, so the city works best in chapters — a palace day, a park day, a wall day. The compact hutongs of the old neighbourhoods and the food streets relieve the monument crowds with a lived-in, human scale. The metro is modern and enormous, the air is usually better than its reputation and the food is a loud, generous celebration. It is a formal, ordered, deeply historic place that rewards respect, patience and comfortable shoes.
Timed Palace Tickets and the Summer Palace Morning
Book the Forbidden City ticket ahead — it sells out by the day and is often closed on Mondays. The Great Wall is the essential outing: the restored sections at Badaling and Mutianyu are easiest, while the wilder stretches reward the fit; a driver or the tourist trains make it a simple day. The metro is the fast way around, and a transport card or phone wallet covers the whole city. Pack for the seasons — hot and humid in summer, dry and cold in winter — and carry a mask if the smog flares. App payment is universal; a little cash still helps at small stalls. English is limited, so a translation app goes far, and the city is generally safe.
The Subway Backbone and the Wall Beyond the Hills
The metro is the city’s real transport, clean, fast and unbelievably cheap, with the main lines crossing the whole capital. The Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are the headliners and the peak-season crowds are heavy — go early, book ahead and dress calmly. The hutongs of the old city, the food streets of the night markets and the drum and bell towers hold the backstreet charm between the big sites. The Lion’s Promenade and the lakes of the centre give the evenings a gentle pace. Tap water is not for drinking — bottled is everywhere. Learn the sprinting "xiexie" and smile: the locals are warm, curious and pleased to help a visitor.
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- Country
- China
- Population
- 21,890,000
- Coordinates
- 40.0799, 116.6031
- Capital
- Beijing
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +86
- Country code
- CN
Entry requirements for China
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting China for tourism.
Getting to Beijing
Airports we list for Beijing:
Other airports in the area:
- Xi'an Xianyang International AirportXIY≈ 935 km from Beijing
- Shanghai Pudong International AirportPVG≈ 1,099 km from Beijing
- Chengdu Tianfu International AirportTFU≈ 1,547 km from Beijing
- Guangzhou Baiyun International AirportCAN≈ 1,881 km from Beijing
- Shenzhen Bao'an International AirportSZX≈ 1,957 km from Beijing
Cities in China
Other cities we cover in China:
Frequently asked questions
Is Beijing the capital of China?
Yes — Beijing is the capital of China.
What currency do I need in Beijing?
The local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). Languages spoken in China include Chinese.
What is the dialling code for China?
The international dialling code for China is +86.
Which airport should I fly into for Beijing?
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the airport we list for Beijing.
How far is Beijing from the nearest airport?
Beijing is about 935 km from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required) and United States (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Beijing? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.