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Things to Do in Beijing (2026)
No trip to Beijing is complete without visiting the Forbidden City. Book your ticket online at least a week in advance (60 CNY in peak season) and enter through the Meridiaβ¦ ποΈ Start with the Icons
No trip to Beijing is complete without visiting the Forbidden City. Book your ticket online at least a week in advance (60 CNY in peak season) and enter through the Meridian Gate to avoid long queues. The adjacent Jingshan Park offers a panoramic view of the palace complex for just 2 CNY.
π― Walk the Great Wall
Skip the crowded Badaling section and head to Mutianyu instead, about 90 minutes from downtown. A round-trip bus from Dongzhimen costs 80 CNY, and the cable car saves you a steep hike for 100 CNY. Go early in the morning to enjoy the wall with fewer crowds and better light for photos.
π³ Explore Temple of Heaven
This sprawling park in southern Beijing is where locals practice tai chi and play traditional instruments. The iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is stunning, but the real charm lies in the surrounding gardens. Entry is 15 CNY for the park and 20 CNY for the inner buildings.
π Eat Like a Local
For authentic Peking duck, book a table at Siji Minfu near Dongsi (around 120 CNY per person) rather than the tourist-heavy Quanjude. Wander through Wangfujing Snack Street for skewers and candied hawthorn, but head to the hutongs near Gulou for handmade noodles and jianbing at street stalls.
π Navigate the Subway
Beijing's subway system is efficient and cheap, with single rides costing 3-9 CNY depending on distance. Get a Yikatong card at any station for convenience; it works on buses and even some taxis. Avoid rush hour (7:30-9:00 AM and 5:30-7:00 PM) when trains are packed.
ποΈ Discover Hidden Hutongs
Skip the touristy Nanluoguxiang and explore the quieter Wudaoying Hutong near the Lama Temple. This 800-meter lane is lined with indie cafes, boutique shops, and small galleries. Rent a bike (20 CNY per hour) to pedal through the maze of alleys and stumble upon local life.
π Catch a Peking Opera
For an authentic performance, head to the Huguang Guild Hall near Hufangqiao, a historic venue with ornate decor. Tickets start at 100 CNY for a one-hour show featuring acrobatics, music, and elaborate costumes. Arrive early to explore the small museum inside.
π Enjoy Nightlife in Sanlitun
Sanlitun is Beijing's buzzing nightlife hub, with bars and clubs along Taikoo Li and the surrounding streets. For a relaxed evening, try The Local on Gongti Beilu for craft beer (40 CNY a pint). If you prefer live music, head to Yugong Yishan near Zhangzizhonglu, where indie bands play nightly.
nice list, covers the essentials well. for a quieter perspective on the forbidden city, go up to jingshan park at sunset - the light hits the golden roofs perfectly and you can watch the city shift from day to night. it's only 2 yuan and most tourists clear out after the palace closes.
if you're into photography or just want a break from crowds, the 798 art district is worth an afternoon. it's a converted factory complex in chaoyang, free to wander, and the galleries rotate shows regularly. grab a coffee at atrium cafe inside the main plaza - it's overpriced at 35 yuan but the space is cool and they have good people-watching.
for a cheap meal that beats any street stall, try the xian noodles at qin tang ren jia near wudaokou. a bowl is like 18 yuan and the hand-pulled noodles are made fresh in front of you. it's a chain but the quality is consistent and the spicy broth is legit.
This is a really thorough guide, captures the city well. One thing I'd add is the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall near Qianmen. It has a massive scale model of the entire city, showing how the hutongs, ring roads, and Forbidden City fit together. Entry is 30 yuan and it's almost always empty, so you can take your time.
For a late night snack after exploring Sanlitun, walk over to the food stalls outside the Worker's Stadium subway exit. The guy with the red cart sells jianbing for 8 yuan and he's been there for years, uses a secret chili sauce that's way better than the standard stuff. He's there from about 10pm to 2am most nights.
If you're into hiking, the Fragrant Hills in Haidian are solid for a morning escape, especially in late October when the leaves turn red. Entry is 10 yuan and the cable car up is 60 yuan one way, but walking down through the temples takes about 40 minutes and saves you the queue.
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Beijing pizza prices 2026: what's the real rate at Slice & Co?
honestly the menu price is the menu price, around 128 for a whole margherita at the Sanlitun branch. What you saw was prob a lunch set or a Dianping coupon, those run cheaper if u order thru the app. nobody's charging laowai rates there in 2026.
Meituan has the same deal, usually cheaper.
Agree, but 128 excludes the 10 percent service charge.
the two-price thing is usually a set menu vs a la carte mixup, the set comes with a drink & salad so it looks cheaper per head. i usually just grab a slice at the counter around 28-32 depending on topping. ask for the printed menu, not the QR code one
Fair point on the set versus a la carte confusion. One detail though: the counter slices are smaller than the dine in ones, so per gram you're paying more. If you're splitting with two people, the whole pie wins.
yeah splitting two ways the pie wins every time
Counter slices at Sanlitun also shrink after 8pm, so the 28-32 rate buys you noticeably less pizza than at lunch.
portioning gets tighter on friday & saturday nights too so grab urs before the rush
Whole pie at Guomao, 118 flat.
Delivery apps add like 15 on top