The Essential Traveler’s Itinerary for Beijing, China
As China’s cultural, historical and financial capital, Beijing is a city that you simply have to visit at least once. Full of vibrant and colourful architecture, beautiful park and lakes, unique things to do and enough history to last a lifetime, Beijing is a must on any China itinerary. Whether you’re stopping in Beijing for a day or a week, prepare yourself for grand palaces, peaceful parks and a very different perspective on city life. In this itinerary of Beijing, you’ll learn all about what to see during you’re time here, where to get the best plant-based food and some very unique places to stay.
After living in China for one year and exploring quite a few corners of the country, Beijing definitely became one of my favourite cities for Chinese culture and history as well as the variety of things to do. Are you ready to jump into this essential itinerary for Beijing and explore this unique Chinese city?
WHEN TO GO
Beijing and northern China experience all four seasons in extreme ways. Winters bring bitter cold and sometimes snow while summers can be scorching, leaving spring and autumn as some of the best times to visit the Chinese capital. March to May sees the start of spring where temperatures are warm and days are crisp and sunny. Visit from September to October and you’ll find the city covered in a sea of autumnal foliage giving the city a dazzling ochre hue.
Beijing is a big city and it’s crowded almost all the time, but try to avoid it during major Chinese holidays as this will bring the masses to popular sights like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Avoid visiting during the Spring Festival (late January-February) or during the first week of October during the National Day holidays.
WHERE TO STAY
The best places to stay in Beijing are in the City Centre around Tiananmen Square and in the Hutong Area, where you can find the traditional narrow alleys and unique stays in the city. Beijing has many accommodation options for all budgets.
Budget–Beijing Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel- This gorgeous little boutique hotel located in the heart of the Hutong area is a great, comfortable option in Beijing. The hotel has a shadow art theme with a large courtyard to relax in and small but comfortable rooms with traditionally patterned shutters and finishes. The hotel also does a wide range of cultural activities on-site to ranging from Chinese calligraphy to dumpling making as well as free shadow art performances three times a week.
Check rates and availability here booking.com
Mid– Hotel Cote Cour Beijing– For a really traditional stay this hotel will transport you to bygone eras. Located in the Hutong Area, it makes the perfect base to explore the immediate neighbourhood and beyond. The decor and ambience here are sublime and so is the friendly and local staff. Rooms are large and airy and are all decorated with local and traditional furnishings and ornaments and have everything you’ll need for a peaceful and relaxing stay. Did I mention there’s also a gorgeous little plant-filled courtyard?- The perfect place for a peaceful morning coffee.
Check rates and availability here booking.com
Splurge– ManXin Qianmen Courtyard Hotel– If you’re an interior design lover you won’t want to miss this unique stay. For a modern, minimalist take on Chinese decor, this Hutong property is centred around a central courtyard just like during old times. Each room is spacious and has a garden or patio view with private bathroom and wifi and the property also has a shared kitchen for preparing some coffee or light meals. The balance between modern minimalism and traditional Chinese motifs and ornaments here makes your stay here nothing short of zen-like.
Check rates and availability here booking.com
*Airbnb: You might be wondering if you can use Airbnb in China and the short answer is yes but I wouldn’t recommend it. Airbnb is rapidly growing in China and many Chinese nationals use it to book accommodation but Chinese laws make things a little difficult for foreigners. Under Chinese law, all foreigners are required to make a temporary residence registration within 24 hours of checking in and hotels or hostels will normally do this for you but Airbnb hosts aren’t required to, meaning that you could get in trouble if they don’t. While you can do it yourself it is a bit of a hassle so, for this reason, I would give Airbnb in China a miss, or until Airbnb have clarified and reinforced their policy in China.
WHERE TO EAT
There’s no shortage of amazing plant-based food in Beijing from tofu to dumplings and even Western classics like pizza and burgers. In general, Chinese vegetarian cuisine is varied and plentiful and it’s possible to taste a lot of traditional foods and flavours while being on a plant-based diet. You’ll also find many vegetarian restaurants to be run or be backed by Buddhist temples and most temples will have a vegetarian restaurant nearby.
Fu Hui Ci Yuan– One of Beijing’s best plant-based restaurants this eatery serves Beijing-style tofu and other stir-fried vegetable dishes as well as soups, buns, dumplings and pancakes. Very good quality, delicious food right in the centre of the Hutong Area.
Vegetarian Dumpling – A simple vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options too and an English menu. The menu consists of dumplings and many different Chinese stir-fry dishes. Affordable and delicious.
Vegetarian Tiger – One of the best vegan chain restaurants in Beijing and you definitely can’t leave without trying this at least once. This modern and well designed a la carte restaurant serves many tofu, vegan meat, noodle and vegetable dishes that are flavoursome and filling. They also have buffets in which you can taste many different Chinese dishes. The Qianmen branch is just the southwest corner of Tiananmen Square making it a great option for after the Forbidden City.
Wutai Yun – Another delicious, 100% plant-based option in central Beijing, this restaurant focuses on organic ingredients straight from the owner’s garden. It’s the place to go to try hotpot and the homemade tofu products. They also do a great burger if you need a break from Chinese food. There’s also a really great shop on site selling all kinds of vegan snacks and juices- perfect for stocking up if you’re heading to somewhere more rural next.
Bestease- Bai Yi SuShi– another great option on the eastern side of central Beijing, this great little restaurant offers a menu of Chinese classics with a focus on noodles. Food is fresh, delicious and affordable.
There are vegetarian and plant-based restaurants all over Beijing and the city has many options. For more plant-based eats check out Happy Cow to see what’s near you.
ITINERARY FOR BEIJING: THINGS TO DO
FORBIDDEN CITY
Probably the most significant place to visit in all Beijing and the most famous, the Forbidden City is a symbol, an emblem of Chinese history, culture and art throughout history. The Forbidden City is located at the heart of the city and since its construction in the 13th Century, the city of Beijing has slowly grown around it. It’s entirely encompassed by a moat and 10-metre high walls and when walking in this place feels like you’ve just been transported back in history to another era altogether. The Forbidden City showcases some of the best of Chinese architecture and art throughout history so make sure not to leave without checking out the Golden River bridges, the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden- a natural respite towards the end of the visit.
The Forbidden City is one of the most popular places to visit in Beijing so make sure to arrive early and prepare to stay for a few hours- this place is huge!
If you’d like to know more about the fascinating history of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square why not organise an expert guide to take you around? Check out our top recommendations below:
TIANANMEN SQUARE
Another famous site that’s simply unmissable from your itinerary for Beijing is Tiananmen Square. Located just opposite the entrance to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square is one of the biggest public squares in the world and it shows. With the ability to hold about 1 million people the square is normally used for celebrations and gatherings, notably during National Day when the military parade takes place here. Around the square, you’ll find some significant buildings too including the Chinese Revolution Museum, the beautiful Tiananmen Gate, Monument to the People’s Heros and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum.
JINGSHAN PARK
Upon exiting the Forbidden City you’ll find yourself adjacent to Jingshan Park. It’s a beautiful little green space right in the middle of the city with probably the best view of the Forbidden City in this whole itinerary for Beijing. Walk up to the top of the rocky outcrop and from the hilltop temple you’ll be able to gauge just how large the Forbidden City actually is. From here you can see most of central Beijing and beyond; a view of trees, palaces and pavilion rooftops and the odd pagoda and modern skyscraper. The park also offers glimpses of Chinese local life and provides a nice place to rest for a while. Alternatively, come back for sunset and you won’t be disappointed.
