Beijing · City Snapshot
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
Imperial palaces meet neon hutong bars—a megacity where 3 000 years of dynastic drama rides the same subway as AI start-ups.
Sunrise gilds the Forbidden City's vermilion roofs; by night, Sanlitun screens glow like Blade Runner.
1
Heritage Pulse
Timeline
1045 BC—Yan State outpost ▶ 1420—Yongle moves Ming capital ▶ 1860 & 1900—foreign sackings ▶ 1949—PRC founded in Tian'anmen ▶ 2008—Olympic reboot ▶ 2022—dual-Olympic "ice city"
Cultural icons
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven · Peking Opera · Hutong courtyard life
Modern tags
Tech unicorn hub · World's busiest subway · AI & game dev cluster · Dual-Olympic sports venues
Keywords
Tian'anmen • CBD skyline • Hutongs • Peking duck • 798 Art Zone
2
Fast-Facts
👥 Population
≈ 21.9 M urban · Tier-1 mega-hub
2025 estimate from macrotrends.net
💰 Cost
Alley breakfast ¥12 jianbing • 4★ hotel ≈ US $140
Affordable by east-coast standards
🚇 Transit
27 metro lines • ≈ 840 km, world #1 length
Source: trade.gov
🌿 Air Quality
2024 avg PM₂.₅ ≈ 32 µg/m³—clearest since 2013
Haze in winter valleys
🎯 Tourism
Forbidden City sells out in < 15 min wknds; Temple of Heaven calm after 15:30
Plan ahead & pre-book
⚠️ Safety
Low violent crime; beware "tea-house invite" & fake taxis
Generally very safe for tourists
📱 Digital
99% 5G; QR-pay universal—even rickshaw drivers
Cash rarely needed
💳 Income
GDP ¥4.3 tn • per-cap ¥196 k—China's richest city after SH
Top inland economy
🗣️ English
Good in CBD & sights; basic in hutongs—offline translator helps
Carry translator app
3
Why Visit ↔ Why Skip
✅
Why Visit
🏛️
Palace & Wall double-header—global bucket-list pedigree
🏮
Hutong culture & night duck feasts
🏛️
World-class museums & avant-tech scene
🚇
24-line subway for DIY exploring
🎭
Year-round festivals—Ice rinks to opera
❌
Why Skip
👥
Crowds—30 k cap at Palace sells instantly
🌫️
Air hazes in Nov-Jan still possible
📋
Peak-season red tape—real-name tickets, passport scans
🗺️
Sprawl—1 h cross-town even on metro
🗣️
Language gap—taxi English limited
4
Traveler-Fit Tags
🏛️ History Buffs
★★★
Ming walls, Qing palaces & Mao souvenirs within Ring 2—time-warp trifecta.
🍜 Food Hunters
★★★
Peking duck, old-Beijing noodles, modern Guijie crawfish—budget ¥100/day.
📸 Photo Pilgrims
★★☆
Sunrise Mutianyu Wall, blue-hour Jingshan hill, neon hutongs.
👨👩👧 Family Trips
★★☆
Science Center, Olympic venues, kid-friendly hutong bike tours.
💻 Digital Nomads
★★☆
Co-works in 798 & Zhongguancun; VPN essential, coffee ¥35.
🛍 Shoppers
★★☆
Boutique hutong trades mix with high-luxury SKP malls—tax refund desks on-site.
🥾 Day-Trippers
★★☆
Bullet-train 30 min to Tianjin; 2 h to Chengde summer palace.
★★★ = highly recommended · ★★☆ = good with caveats · ★☆☆ = not ideal
5
Neighborhood Snapshot
Dongcheng (Forbidden City)
Imperial Core
✨
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutong life
⚠️
Tourist crowds, expensive hotels
Chaoyang (CBD)
Business Hub
✨
Skyscrapers, Sanlitun nightlife, embassies
⚠️
Expensive, traffic congestion
Haidian (University Town)
Tech Zone
✨
Tsinghua, Peking U, tech companies
⚠️
Far from tourist sites
Xicheng (Old Town)
Historic District
✨
Beihai Park, Shichahai lakes, traditional culture
Fengtai (Olympic Park)
Sports Zone
✨
Bird's Nest, Water Cube, Olympic venues
⚠️
Limited dining options
6
Season & Quirks
🌤️ Four-Season Climate
Fair air
Cherry-blossom moat walks & kite fests
Pleasant sightseeing weather
Moderate haze
Great-Wall night hikes; thunderstorms
Stay hydrated & seek AC
Best air
Red-leaf Fragrant Hills, crisp photos
Peak photography season
Hazy air
Frozen lakes, temple fairs; mask up
Atmospheric but challenging
🎭
Local Quirks & Tips
📋
ID everywhere
Palace, Wall, even bar check need passport QR
🗑️
No public trash
Inside Tian'anmen—carry small pouch
🌶️
Spice control
"Shāo bù tài là?" ask vendors for mild spice
💡
Quick Tips
🚇
Metro etiquette: bag scan mandatory, liquids sip test.
💰
Cashless city: top up metro card at airports if no QR wallet.
⚡
Queue firmly: subway & ticket lines respect shoulder-to-shoulder order.
⚠️
Etiquette & Pitfalls
No Drone Over Forbidden City
Strict no-fly zones around major historical sites. Violations result in ¥100 fine + confiscation.
💡 Check drone regulations before flying anywhere in Beijing
Beware "Tea-Invite" Scams
Classic scams where friendly locals invite you to tea ceremonies with exorbitant bills.
💡 Politely decline invitations from strangers near tourist sites
Great-Wall Gear Requirements
Badaling windy, Mutianyu steep—grip shoes essential. Weather changes rapidly.
💡 Check weather and wear appropriate footwear
Always Carry Passport Copy
Random ID checks on Ring-2 loop after 22:00. Foreigners must carry original passport.
💡 Keep digital copies on phone as backup reference
