China Travel Guide
Beijing Travel Guide
Highlights and practical tips for visiting Beijing. Most US travelers need a China visa, and we can handle it for you.
Beijing Travel Guide for US Citizens
Beijing is China’s capital and home to many of its best-known sights: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. This guide covers what US travelers need to know before they go, from visas and airport transfers to paying for things and getting around.
Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Beijing?
For most trips, yes. US citizens need a Chinese visa to visit Beijing for tourism, business or to see family. Most US applicants qualify for a 10-year multiple-entry visa that allows stays of up to 60 days per entry.
The main exception is China’s 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit. If you are flying through Beijing on your way to a third country or region (for example, US → Beijing → Tokyo), you can stay up to 240 hours without a visa. You need a confirmed onward ticket with a date and seat, and you must enter through an eligible port. Both Beijing Capital (PEK) and Beijing Daxing (PKX) airports are eligible. A round trip back to the US does not qualify.
If your trip doesn’t fit the transit rules, Visa Express can handle your China visa, with processing in as little as 6–8 business days.
Getting From the Airport to the City
Beijing has two international airports. Check which one your flight uses.
| Option | Beijing Capital (PEK) | Beijing Daxing (PKX) |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Express train | About 25–30 min to Dongzhimen, ¥25 | About 20 min to Caoqiao, about ¥35 |
| Taxi | 45–60 min, about ¥100–140 | 60–90 min, about ¥220 |
| Airport shuttle bus | 40–70 min, ¥20–30 | About 80 min, ¥25–60 |
Taxis add a 20% surcharge between 11 pm and 5 am. Use the official taxi line or the DiDi app, and turn down anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride. Fares and schedules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Top Things to Do in Beijing
- The Forbidden City (Palace Museum): The former imperial palace. Tickets are tied to your passport and sell out, so book ahead. It is closed on most Mondays.
- The Great Wall: Mutianyu is the most popular section for first-time visitors and has a cable car and toboggan. Badaling is the easiest to reach but the most crowded.
- Tiananmen Square: Entry requires a passport check and advance reservation.
- Temple of Heaven: Go early in the morning to see locals doing tai chi and dancing in the park.
- Summer Palace: Gardens, lakes and pavilions in the northwest of the city.
- Hutongs: Explore the old alleyways around Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai on foot or by bike.
- 798 Art District: Galleries and cafes in a former factory complex.
Paying for Things in Beijing
Beijing is largely cashless. Most shops, restaurants and taxis expect you to pay by scanning a QR code.
- Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly. Both let you link a US Visa or Mastercard. You’ll need to verify your identity first, so start a few weeks early. Setting up both gives you a backup if one card link fails.
- Carry some cash. About ¥500–1,000 is useful for small vendors and as a backup.
- ATMs: Bank of China, ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs usually accept US cards.
Getting Around Beijing
- Subway: Fast, cheap and well signed in English. You can buy tickets at station machines or use the transit QR code in Alipay.
- DiDi: China’s main ride-hailing app works in English once you link a payment method.
- Taxis: Plentiful, but most drivers don’t speak English. Have your destination written in Chinese.
- High-speed trains: Beijing has fast connections to Shanghai, Xi’an and other cities. See our guide to getting around China.
Practical Tips for US Travelers
- Internet: Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are blocked in China. A travel eSIM from your carrier or a provider like Airalo usually gives you access.
- Maps: Apple Maps works on iPhone. Android users should download Amap or Baidu Maps before the trip.
- Passport: Carry it with you. You need it for hotels, train tickets, attractions and some museum entries.
- Hotels: Hotels register foreign guests with the police when they scan your passport. If you stay with friends or family, you must register with the local police within 24 hours.
- Power: China uses 220V. US plugs (Type A) fit most outlets, but check that your devices handle 220V.
- Water: Don’t drink tap water. Bottled water is cheap and easy to find.
- Emergencies: Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119.
- Best time to visit: Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) have the most comfortable weather. Avoid the national holidays in early May and early October, when attractions are packed.
Get Your China Visa With Visa Express
Planning a trip to Beijing? Visa Express prepares and submits China visa applications for US citizens in all 50 states. See our China visa requirements, fees and processing times, or read the China visa guide for US citizens.