Beijing
Peking
Where 3,000 years of history meets the modern world
Best Time: Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Ideal Stay: 3-4 days
Daily Budget: $80-150
Quick Facts
Language
Mandarin Chinese
Time Zone
UTC+8 (CST)
Currency
Chinese Yuan (¥ / CNY)
$1 USD ≈ ¥7.2
Safety Level
Very Safe
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mobile Payment
WeChat Pay & Alipay
Nearly universal
English Friendly
⭐⭐⭐
Tourist areas OK
Why Beijing?
Beijing isn’t just China’s capital — it’s a living museum where emperors built palaces that still stand, where the Great Wall winds across mountains like a stone dragon, and where hutong alleyways hide centuries of stories behind gray brick walls. This is the city where Nixon stood on the Great Wall and declared it “truly great,” where Marco Polo marveled at Kublai Khan’s court, and where modern China writes its future while honoring its past.
For American travelers, Beijing offers something increasingly rare: genuine discovery. You’ll walk through the Forbidden City where 24 emperors ruled, eat Peking duck prepared with centuries-old technique, and stand on watchtowers that once guarded against Mongol invaders. Three to four days here will change how you see China — and history itself.
🇩🇪 Auf Deutsch lesen
Peking ist nicht nur Chinas Hauptstadt — es ist ein lebendiges Museum, in dem Kaiser Paläste bauten, die noch heute stehen, wo die Große Mauer wie ein steinerner Drache über Berge windet, und wo Hutong-Gassen Jahrhunderte an Geschichten hinter grauen Ziegelwänden verbergen.
Für Reisende aus dem Westen bietet Peking etwas zunehmend Seltenes: echte Entdeckung. Du wirst durch die Verbotene Stadt wandern, wo 24 Kaiser herrschten, Peking-Ente essen, die nach jahrhundertealter Technik zubereitet wird, und auf Wachtürmen stehen, die einst gegen mongolische Eindringlinge bewachten.
Must-See Attractions
Ranked by what American travelers love most
+ More: Tiananmen Square, National Museum, 798 Art Zone, Capital Museum, Beijing Zoo (Pandas!)
Where to Eat
Beijing’s food scene is legendary — from imperial cuisine to street-side snacks
Da Dong Roast Duck
大董烤鸭店 — Modern Peking Duck at its finest
Must try: Super-lean roast duck (crispy skin, no fat), sea cucumber with green onion
⭐ 4.8/5 · ¥200-300/person ($28-42) · English menu ✓ · Reservations essential
Quanjude (Qianmen flagship)
全聚德 — The original Peking Duck, since 1864
Must try: Classic roast duck, duck liver pâté, duck bone soup
⭐ 4.5/5 · ¥150-250/person ($21-35) · English menu ✓ · Historic location
Din Tai Fung
鼎泰丰 — Taiwan’s famous dumpling house, Beijing outpost
Must try: Pork xiao long bao (soup dumplings), shrimp & pork wontons, beef noodle soup
⭐ 4.7/5 · ¥80-120/person ($11-17) · English menu ✓ · Multiple locations
Haidilao Hot Pot
海底捞 — Legendary service, interactive dining experience
Must try: Hand-pulled noodles (performance!), tomato broth, fresh beef slices
⭐ 4.8/5 · ¥100-180/person ($14-25) · English menu ✓ · Free manicure while you wait!
Wangfujing Snack Street
王府井小吃街 — Beijing street food adventure
Must try: Jianbing (crepe), tanghulu (candied hawthorn), lamb skewers — skip the scorpions unless you’re brave!
⭐ 4.2/5 · ¥30-60/person ($4-8) · Cash preferred · Touristy but fun
Old Beijing Zhajiang Noodle King
老北京炸酱面大王 — The classic Beijing noodle dish
Must try: Zhajiang mian (noodles with pork sauce), cucumber strips, garlic cloves
⭐ 4.4/5 · ¥25-40/person ($3.5-6) · No English menu · Point at what locals eat
Fangshan Restaurant
仿膳饭庄 — Imperial court cuisine in Beihai Park
Must try: Empress Dowager Cixi’s favorite dishes, “lion’s head” meatballs, pea flour cake
⭐ 4.6/5 · ¥150-300/person ($21-42) · English menu ✓ · Historic setting
King’s Joy
京雅堂 — Michelin-starred vegetarian near Lama Temple
Must try: “Mock” Peking duck (tofu skin), truffle fried rice, lotus root in plum sauce
⭐ 4.7/5 · ¥120-200/person ($17-28) · English menu ✓ · Vegan-friendly
+ More great eats: Guijie (Ghost Street) for late-night crayfish, Nanluoguxiang cafés, traditional courtyard restaurants
Where to Stay
Hotels for every budget, from historic courtyards to international luxury
💰 Budget ($30-60/night)
Peking Yard Youth Hostel
Traditional courtyard hostel, great atmosphere
From ¥200 ($28) · Near Lama Temple · ⭐ 4.5
Beijing City International Youth Hostel
Central location, rooftop terrace
From ¥180 ($25) · Near Tiananmen · ⭐ 4.3
Sleeping Inn
Clean, modern, excellent value
From ¥250 ($35) · Near Sanlituan · ⭐ 4.6
🏨 Mid-Range ($60-150/night)
Cote Cour Beijing
Boutique hotel in renovated hutong courtyard
¥600-900 ($85-125) · Near Forbidden City · ⭐ 4.8
Hotel Cote Cour Beijing
Stylish boutique, personalized service
¥700-1000 ($100-140) · Dongcheng · ⭐ 4.7
Nuage Hotel
Hutong location, rooftop bar with views
¥500-800 ($70-110) · Near Drum Tower · ⭐ 4.6
✨ Luxury ($150-500+/night)
Aman at Summer Palace
Ultra-luxury in restored imperial gardens
¥3000-5000 ($420-700) · Summer Palace · ⭐ 4.9
The Peninsula Beijing
Classic 5-star, impeccable service, great location
¥1500-2500 ($210-350) · Wangfujing · ⭐ 4.8
Rosewood Beijing
Modern luxury, stunning city views, excellent spa
¥1800-3000 ($250-420) · CBD · ⭐ 4.9
💡 Tip: Stay in Dongcheng district (near Forbidden City) for sightseeing, or Sanlituan/CBD for nightlife and shopping
Practical Information
🌤️ Weather & Best Time
Spring (Apr-May): Perfect — mild temps, flowers blooming
Summer (Jun-Aug): Hot & humid, 30-35°C, crowded
Fall (Sep-Oct): Ideal — cool, clear, golden leaves
Winter (Nov-Mar): Cold (-5 to 5°C), but fewer tourists
Best months: April, May, September, October
🚄 Getting Here
By air: Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airports
From Shanghai: High-speed rail 4.5 hrs (¥550/$77)
From Xi’an: High-speed rail 4-5 hrs (¥520/$73)
Airport to city: Airport Express train (¥25) or taxi (¥100-150)
🚇 Getting Around
Metro: Excellent, cheap (¥3-10), English signs
Taxi: ¥13 base fare, Didi app (Chinese Uber)
Bike share: Mobike/Ofo everywhere, scan QR to ride
Walking: Central areas very walkable
📱 Essential Apps
WeChat: Everything — payment, messaging, mini-programs
Alipay: Backup payment, some prefer it
Didi: Taxis and ride-hailing
Apple Maps: Works in China (Google blocked)
VPN: Essential for Google, Instagram, WhatsApp
🛂 Visa Note
144-hour visa-free transit: If transiting through Beijing to a third country (e.g., US → Beijing → Thailand), you can stay up to 144 hours without a visa. Must show onward ticket.
Warning: US-China direct flights limited; check routes carefully
⚠️ Scams to Avoid
Tea house scam: Friendly students invite you to tea, then huge bill
Fake art: “Art students” show work, pressure to buy
Fake antiques: “Found” items are mass-produced
Taxi scams: Use official taxis or Didi app
Rule of thumb: If strangers approach you, politely decline
🆘 Emergency Numbers
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Fire: 119
US Embassy: +86 10 8531 4000
Tourist police: Can help with disputes
💬 Useful Phrases
Hello: Nǐ hǎo (你好)
Thank you: Xièxie (谢谢)
How much: Duōshao qián? (多少钱?)
Where is ___: ___ zài nǎlǐ? (___在哪里?)
Delicious: Hǎochī (好吃)
I don’t understand: Wǒ tīng bù dǒng (我听不懂)
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