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.

A large, ancient ginkgo tree with vibrant golden leaves dominates the center of the frame against a bright blue sky. In the foreground, traditional Chinese-style buildings with tiled roofs are visible behind a low, ornate stone wall and several wooden benches. Fallen golden ginkgo leaves carpet the ground.

Beijing’s Western Hills: A Guide to Tanzhe Temple and Beyond

Escaping the concrete density of downtown Beijing requires little more than a subway card and a willingness to head west. [...]

An aerial view of the Forbidden City in Beijing during golden hour, featuring its signature golden tiled roofs, red walls, and a flock of birds flying in the hazy sky. In the foreground, several trees with blurred foliage frame the lower part of the image, while a crowd of people and a white bus are visible in the courtyard below the main palace structure.

How to Book Forbidden City Tickets in 2026: A Survival Guide for Foreigners

Traveling to Beijing in 2026 requires military-level planning, especially when it comes to the Palace Museum. If you think you [...]

An aerial view of a traditional Chinese siheyuan courtyard. The courtyard features tiled roofs, wooden architecture, a central paved area, lush greenery, grapevines laden with purple grapes, a koi pond with a stone bridge, and decorative stonework.

Beijing Courtyard Hotels: Best Hutong Stays for Every Budget

Finding the perfect balance between modern comfort and ancient charm is the biggest challenge when visiting China's capital. While towering [...]

An aerial, eye-level view of the vast Forbidden City in Beijing at sunset. The image is dominated by the expansive, orange-tiled roofs of the palace complex, arranged in a symmetrical pattern along the Beijing Central Axis. In the foreground, a prominent red wall with a white sign featuring Chinese characters is visible, with ornate doorways and pillars. Behind the Forbidden City, a cityscape with modern buildings stretches towards the horizon. The sky above is filled with dramatic, fiery orange and yellow clouds, illuminated by the setting sun, with patches of dark, stormy clouds and a deep blue sky visible.

Beijing Central Axis: A DIY Walking Guide to the UNESCO World Heritage Site

Planning a trip to China in 2026? Tackling the newly minted UNESCO World Heritage site requires a solid Beijing Central [...]

A wide view of the Great Wall of China winding over lush green, tree-covered mountains under a partly cloudy sky. Many tourists are walking along the stone pathway of the wall, which features watchtowers and crenelated battlements. In the foreground, the wall is wide with stone steps, and people are visible in casual clothing carrying bags and taking photos.

A Traveler's Guide to Beijing's 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Maximizing Your Layover

Finding yourself with a long layover in China’s capital used to mean sitting in an airport lounge for a dozen [...]

A panoramic view of the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling section, stretching over rolling green mountains under a blue sky with white clouds. Several stone watchtowers are visible along the wall, with dense green trees covering the slopes.

Beyond the Wall: A Day Trip Guide to the Jinshanling Great Wall

If you are traveling to Beijing, seeing the Great Wall is non-negotiable. However, getting crushed in a sea of [...]

A large table laden with dishes for hot pot dining. In the center is a steaming copper pot with a decorative yellow and blue base. Around it are platters of thinly sliced raw meats, including lamb and beef, arranged in circular patterns. Several skewers of small meat pieces and a bowl of dipping sauce are also visible. Various vegetables, including napa cabbage and purple cabbage, are placed in bowls. Bottles of drinks and stacks of tofu are on the table. In the background, traditional Chinese architecture with red lanterns and green vines can be seen, with people dining at tables.

Beijing Copper Pot Hot Pot: A Guide to Authentic Mutton Shabu-Shabu

When the biting winter winds sweep down from Siberia, locals know there is only one true way to thaw out: [...]

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 [...]