Before I moved to Beijing in 2016 I was really, really nervous. I was in desperate need of helpful Beijing travel tips because I was very confused about what it would be like. I expected to experience major culture shock, apocalyptic pollution and insane crowds. But the moment I landed in China’s capital, I was like, What was I so scared of? 

Beijing is unlike any place I’ve ever been, and that’s a good thing. I’m not going to say that traveling to Beijing is the easiest thing in the world, because China definitely has its quirks and challenges, but it really is an amazing city.

I started my time in Beijing just like any other tourist. I stayed for a week at a hotel near the Forbidden City and I explored the city armed with nothing more than my Lonely Planet.

After spending a week playing tourist in Beijing, I was surprised by how easy it had been to navigate the city. But after living there for two years, I now realize that there’s a lot that first-timers miss out on. There are so many things I wish I would have known before I first touched down in the city. So if you’re visiting the city for the first time, here are a few helpful hints and essential Beijing travel tips to help you make the most out of your trip.

12 Beijing Travel Tips for Newbies

Get a VPN because your favorite social media sites are banned in China

I already knew this before I touched down in Beijing because I was moving there. But it surprises me how many tourists travel to China and don’t know about the Great Firewall. In a nutshell, sites like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (and so many more) are all banned in China. And yes, that goes for Google Maps and Gmail too!

So unless you have a VPN, you won’t be able to access these sites during your trip. It’s not the end of the world, but if you’re relying on things like Facebook messenger to communicate with people on the ground in China or back home, you’re out of luck. At the very least, I recommend downloading WeChat (a very popular and unbanned messaging site in China).  WhatsApp isn’t banned in China, but it’s iffy.

The VPN situation in China is constantly fluctuating. But at the time of writing ExpressVPN is the one that works best for everyone I know. For a full guide on VPNs in China, click here.

Stay in the hutongs, not near the Forbidden city

This is another thing I wish I would have known before I first visited Beijing. Like most tourists, I stayed near the Forbidden City. And while my hotel was great and within walking distance of iconic landmarks like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, it wasn’t the most exciting area to stay. But because I didn’t know any better, I had no idea what I was missing out on!

Gulou and Andingmen are great places to base yourself. These areas are famous for their mazelike hutongs and historical attractions like the Drum and Bell Towers and the Lama Temple.

The hutongs are definitely the heart of Beijing. There are tons of quirky boutiques, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and lively bars to keep you entertained for days and days. It’s an easy place to base yourself and you can always take the subway to get to most of Beijing’s tourist attractions, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Which brings me to my next point…

Beijing’s subway system is a lifesaver

OK, OK if you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll know that I constantly griped about taking the subway in Beijing. But that’s because I had to commute 1-hour (each way) from my out-of-town apartment to my office in downtown Beijing…during rush hour!

If you can, avoid taking the Beijing metro during rush hour (5-7pm during weekdays). But seriously it’s not that bad. Just be prepared to snuggle up with your neighbors during rush hour. The Beijing subway has stops near most major tourist attractions in Beijing. It’s cheap and it’s super simple to use. So take advantage! Do note that the subway does close ridiculously early for a big city. It varies from line to line but most close at 11 pm and open at 6 am. So plan accordingly so you don’t get stranded.

Taxis can be difficult to hail

Most locals and expats use DiDi (China’s version of Uber) to order taxis. That’s part of the reason you’ll find unoccupied taxis passing you by. Additionally, a lot of taxi drivers won’t stop for foreigners on the street. Seriously, it’s a thing in Beijing. The other problem is that, unless you have a Chinese bank account, you can’t sign up for DiDi. If you’re in a touristy area like Gulou or Sanlitun you will find a taxi eventually, but depending on the time of day it can be a challenge. I’ve been stranded in Gulou at 2 am so many times. That’s why I prefer taking the subway when I can. Oh did I mention there’s no Uber in China? Because there’s not.

The language barrier is real… especially at restaurants

In Beijing, people speak Mandarin and signs and menus are mostly in Chinese characters. It makes identifying businesses and ordering off of menus very challenging. To top it off, a lot of people don’t speak much English. If you’re going to a restaurant and the menu is all in Chinese, fear not. Beijing’s restaurateurs love picture menus. This at least gives you a general idea of what you’re ordering. There are also plenty of tourist and expat oriented restaurants that offer English menus, so you’ll find plenty to eat.

Go on a food tour to get your bearings

Going on Lost Plate’s Hutong Food Tour was one of my favorite things that I did in Beijing. I liked the fact that their tours focus on family-run, off-the-beaten-path restaurants and that they take pride in giving historical and cultural facts about Beijing’s local food scene. I also liked the idea that I’d be shuttled around the hutongs in tuk-tuks and provided with unlimited amounts of free beer.

I’m generally not a fan of tours but this one is well worth it. During the tour, we took our tuk-tuk to six very local, very hidden restaurants. There was cook-it-yourself Beijing barbecue, handmade noodles with the most delicious sesame sauce ever, homemade flatbreads filled with eggs, veggies (and pork for the non-vegetarians) and a delicious (and slightly alcoholic) traditional dessert. To top it off, we wrapped up the night with a pint of craft beer at a local brewery. This tour is a great way for newcomers to sample Beijing’s amazing food…and get a little tipsy while doing so.

Beijing has a pollution problem…but it’s not what you think

Beijing is polluted, but not all the time. There are days when the pollution is so bad you can barely see across the street. This is when Beijing’s infamous “airpocalypse” headlines spread like wildfire all over the international news. And it’s those sensational headlines that scare people off of visiting this incredible city. The reality is that these days are few and far between. They definitely do exist though. And they are brutal.

There are also days when the skies are so crystal clear and blue that you’d never know the city had a pollution problem. Many tourists get lucky and see nothing but blue skies during their trips.

But most of the time, the air quality is unhealthy but bearable. Unless you’ve lived in a polluted place you might not even know that that haze outside is actually pollution; you might think it’s fog or overcast skies.

The pollution does tend to get worse in the winter when the region burns massive amounts of coal for heating. But really, it’s impossible to time your trip to Beijing based on pollution. You just get what you get. And honestly don’t be too paranoid. You’re only there for a few days. It’s people who live in Beijing who have to worry about health problems. You’re going to be fine. Though do wear a mask if you have lung issues.

Visit Beijing’s famous attractions on the weekdays

Beijing is a city of over 21 million people, so the crowds can be intense. If you have the chance definitely visit the most popular attractions – like the Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall – during a weekday. Depending on the time of year, there will still be crowds but it’s much more bearable.

The food in Beijing is amazing

The food in Beijing is something special. If you’re American, like me, you might be expecting things like chow mein, orange chicken and the like. That type of “Chinese food” is totally American and doesn’t exist in China. But that’s not a bad thing.

What’s great about Beijing is that it’s home to people from all corners of China, which means the food is super varied and authentic. You can find spicy Sichuan, traditional Cantonese and (my favorite) Yunnanese all around the city. But there’s a lot more than that to choose from. Also, make sure to try a jianbing (basically a crepe stuffed with egg, lettuce, spices and a crispy cracker). You’ll find food carts serving jianbing all over the place.

Visit the Great Wall with a private driver

Chances are you’re going to visit the Great Wall during your trip to Beijing. But think twice about booking a tour. It’s way better to go on your own. I know it sounds expensive to hire a driver but it’s actually not, especially if you have a small group. Plus, it gives you the option of visiting more remote and less crowded areas of the Wall.

Most tours will take you to the Badaling and Mutianyu sections of the Wall. These are both restored areas of the Great Wall and because they are the easiest to access from Beijing, they are by far the most crowded. Instead, I opted to hire a driver for roughly $100 for three people and go to the unrestored Gubeikou section of the Great Wall, located two hours from downtown Beijing. It was by far my favorite Beijing experience. I hired a driver through Beijing Private Driver. While the driver didn’t speak English, the manager of the company did, so we managed just fine.

The best time to visit Beijing is…

In my opinion, the best time to visit in Beijing is in the spring and in the fall when the weather is mild and the air quality is (usually) at its best. Plus, in the spring the city is filled with cherry blossoms and in the autumn the yellow ginko trees burst with color. That being said, Beijing is a wonderful city to visit at any time of year.

Just know that Beijing’s weather varies wildly. The summer can be oppressively hot and the winter can be bitterly cold. Just do your research and pack accordingly. If you’re visiting during the winter make sure to bring a puffy coat. It’s the heavy winds that make things bone-chillingly cold!

Helpful sites for first-time visitors:

If you really want to be in the know about what’s going on around town, then browse through some of the most popular expat-oriented websites and magazines: That’s Beijing (where I worked!), The Beijinger and TimeOut Beijing are all great resources.

On all of these sites, you can find great guides on what to explore in the city, learn about new restaurants to eat at, and find great events that are going on in the city. From craft beer festivals to wild parties to live music to educational walking tours, there’s always something fun going on in Beijing.

I’m sure I’ve left so much off this list. Have you ever been to Beijing? Do you have any Beijing travel tips you’d like to add?