Beijing: Imperial Past, Global Future

Uncover the historical heart of China. Comprehensive guides to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and essential tips for navigating the modern metropolis.

An aerial, overhead view of Beijing Daxing International Airport's main terminal building. The sprawling structure is brown and distinctively starfish-shaped with six radial piers emanating from a central hub, featuring several skylight domes. Surrounding the terminal are vast paved areas, active construction zones, railway tracks, and other airport support buildings, all bathed in warm, late afternoon sunlight casting long shadows.

Navigating Beijing Daxing Airport: A Practical Guide for Travelers

Arriving in China can feel overwhelming, but landing at the architectural marvel of PKX doesn't have to be. Whether you [...]

Numerous colorful camping tents are set up on a green grassy hillside next to a long, winding section of the Great Wall. The ancient stone wall extends up a steep hill to a stone watchtower on the summit, all under a clear blue sky with distant mountains in the background. A few people are visible near the tents.

A Guide to 'Wild' Great Wall Camping: Safety, Gear, and Top Locations

Most travelers experience the Great Wall shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of others at restored sections like Badaling. But if you're looking [...]

Multiple hands operating chrome beer taps against a gold-colored wall, pouring amber craft beer into various stemmed glasses. The glasses are branded with the black script 'xuan' and show a foamy head on the beer.

Beijing Craft Beer Guide: Best Breweries in the Hutongs

If you think Beijing’s drinking culture is strictly limited to baijiu toasts and light lagers, you are in for a [...]

A red and blue airport express train with open doors stopped at a brightly lit indoor subway platform. The platform features reflective gray tiles and glass screen doors. People are visible through the train windows, and the station roof has a distinctive curved, ribbed design.

A Traveler's Guide to the Beijing Capital Airport Express Train

Landing in Beijing is an assault on the senses in the best way possible, but navigating your way out of [...]

A close-up shot of a bowl of dark sauce noodles (Zhajiangmian) topped with green pickled garlic cloves and shredded vegetables. Accompanying it are a large jar of pickled garlic, a small jar of red chili oil, and a yellow bottle of Arctic Ocean soda, all on a wooden table.

Top 10 Local Eats in Beijing’s Hutong Alleyways: Where to Find Authentic Snacks

Beijing’s soul isn't found in the glass skyscrapers of the CBD; it resides in the gray-brick hutongs (alleyways) that crisscross [...]

The Great Wall of China winds along a mountainous ridge covered in vibrant red and yellow autumn trees, illuminated by the warm light of a sunset. Several stone watchtowers are visible along the wall, which stretches into the hazy distance.

Which Great Wall Section to Visit? A Guide for Every Type of Traveler

You have booked your flights to Beijing, secured your visa, and now you are staring at a map of Hebei [...]

A bustling outdoor antique market in Beijing with numerous vendors displaying a wide array of curios, ceramics, jade figures, and other collectibles on cloths spread across the paved street. Many people are browsing or seated by the stalls. On the right, traditional Chinese buildings with red pillars and ornate roofs line the street, while modern high-rise residential buildings are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.

Beyond Panjiayuan: Beijing's Best Antique and Artisan Markets for Travelers

While the Forbidden City and the Great Wall dominate most itineraries, the true pulse of the capital beats in its [...]

A modern Beijing subway train, silver with a blue front and a yellow stripe along its side, travels at speed on elevated tracks. Blurred green trees and tall white apartment buildings are visible in the background.

Beijing Subway Survival Guide: Master the Metro Like a Local

If you attempt to navigate Beijing by taxi during rush hour, you will spend more time looking at the bumper [...]

A person wearing a blue hooded jacket and orange hiking pants climbs very steep, uneven stone steps on a dilapidated section of the Great Wall. Other hikers are visible further up the crumbling path under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds. Sparse green trees and bushes grow alongside the ancient stone wall.

Hiking the Great Wall: Best Sections, Trails & Logistics for Travelers

Standing on a watchtower at sunset, watching the stone dragon wind over ridges that disappear into the mist, is the [...]

Aerial view of a narrow, lively Beijing Hutong street at evening. Traditional grey-tiled roof buildings with illuminated shop fronts line both sides, bustling with pedestrians. Red lanterns are visible near several entrances. In the foreground, a rooftop patio with tables and chairs overlooks the street, and tall modern buildings are faintly visible on the horizon.

Beijing Hutong Exploration: Hidden Courtyards, Local Life & Food

While the Great Wall and the Forbidden City represent the imperial grandeur of China's capital, the true soul of the [...]