China, Made Clear
Verified city guide

Beijing

Plan Beijing with official booking guidance, foreign-card metro help and routes through the palace, Central Axis and old-city hutongs.

Last verified 2026-06-29
Explore clearly

Choose a route

Plan your arrival journey
first visit

Beijing essentials: palace, hill and old city

Est. Full day · 6 km walking

transit

Capital Airport to the old city: a cautious transit day

Est. 8-10 hours outside the airport · 4 km walking

go deeper

A slower hutong and central-axis day

Est. Half to full day · 5 km walking

Practical essentials

Before you go

Verified guide

How to ride Beijing Metro with a foreign bank card

At supported gates, tap the same contactless overseas bank card when entering and leaving. Keep a backup option because card acceptance can still depend on the card and device.

Verified guide

Beijing attraction reservations without guesswork

Reserve high-demand attractions through their official channel before building the rest of the day. Use the same passport details and carry the original passport to enter.

Verified guide

Beijing airport transfer: identify PEK or PKX first

Beijing has two major airports. Confirm the three-letter code on your booking before choosing transport: PEK is Capital Airport and PKX is Daxing Airport.