Beijing

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Imperial shopfronts in traditional hutong district.

©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet

Overview

From ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, Beijing (Běijīng, 北京), spins a breathless yarn of triumph, tragedy, endurance and innovation.


Attractions

Must-see attractions

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Eat street food, explore old neighborhoods, find the less-visited parts of familiar sites and shop for (non)antiques: our guide to the best of Beijing.

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Transportation

Getting around Beijing can be daunting. We demystify how to get around the Chinese capital.

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Free Things to Do

It’s not hard to take in the scope of Beijing without spending a single yuan, thanks to our list of the city’s 10 best free experiences.

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Day Trips

Beijing offers a dizzying variety of things to see and do, and the adventures don't stop at the city limits. Here are the top five day trips from Beijing.

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Articles

Latest stories from Beijing

Great Wall of China in autumn, License Type: media, Download Time: 2024-08-22T18:13:35.000Z, User: joe_lp, Editorial: false, purchase_order: 56530, job: Global Publishing WIP, client: Your UltimateTravel Adventure List 1, other: Joe Fullman

Public Transport

Top day trips from Beijing: Explore nearby attractions

Apr 6, 2025 • 9 min read

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Beijing and beyond