Beijing Travel Guide

As host to the 2008 Summer Olympics Beijing is exploding with construction and activity. China’s capital city of over 13 million is on the fast track toward Western modernization (for better or for worse) and nothing will stand in its way. Cars and more cars as well as MTV and marketing slogans are now everywhere and designer stores and mobile phones are suddenly as common as they are in most of Europe. But there is still plenty of the old Beijing to see as thousands of years of history don’t get wiped away quickly.

What To Do

The massive Forbidden City is probably Beijing’s most famous attraction and is a must for every visitor. This enormous cluster of ancient buildings is the best place to see China of old and see up close how things were run during the 500 years when the rest of the world was locked outside the Forbidden City’s gates.

Tianenmen Square is not just home to a famous protest, it’s the world’s largest public square and is in the heart of Beijing. It’s filled with kite-flying locals and tourists alike and it’s fascinating to see this stone square that was once home to parades of one million people.

The most often visited section of the Great Wall of China is nearby and tours from Beijing are very popular. You can’t come to China without having a look at the wall, but scams are somewhat common from unscrupulous drivers and tour operators so take caution and book with an operator that looks legit.

Getting There

You’ll want to book a flight into the rapidly expanding Beijing Capital International Airport. Being a major airport in a capital city there is much competition so good deals are often available if you are on the lookout for them. Taxis are fairly cheap and the ride isn’t too far into the city center, but there are airport shuttles available that go to certain hotel districts.

Where To Stay

Foreign visitors used to be restricted to staying only in high-priced “official” hotels, but things are changing quickly. It’s now possible for Westerners to book into a wide variety of hostels in Beijing as well as hotels in Beijing in all price ranges. As with anywhere, the better and cheaper places tend to fill up in advance so plan ahead.