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Beijing

Hutong lanes, teahouse afternoons & imperial landmarks

Browse Beijing

Beijing is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Wudaoying Hutong, Pearl Market (Hongqiao) and Nanluogu Alley. Food lovers should not miss Daoxiangcun Pastries and Siji Minfu. Below you will find 13 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Beijing at a glance

  • Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
  • Best time to visit: spring and autumn
  • Highlights: Wudaoying Hutong and Pearl Market (Hongqiao)
  • Where to stay: Mutianyu and Chaoyang
  • Local picks: 13 hand-chosen recommendations
  • Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Beijing

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Where to stay in Beijing

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Beigou Village, Mutianyu

Brickyard Retreat at Mutianyu

Why it matters: American-Chinese couple Jim Spear and Liang Tang converted a derelict glazed-tile factory in Beigou Village into this 25-room retreat expressly to create jobs for their village neighbors, and roughly 80 percent of the kitchen’s ingredients come from local suppliers. The reclaimed-brick architecture is a quiet lesson in reuse, and rooms look straight up at the Mutianyu Great Wall. Stay the night instead of day-tripping: you get the wall at sunrise and a village breakfast before the tour buses roll in. Book one of the scattered village houses if you’re traveling as a family.
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Dongcheng

Da Dong

The celebrated modern take on lean, crackling Peking duck.
★ 4.5
$$$
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Dao Xiang Cun (稻香村)

It has the best native Beijing PASTRIES and DESSERTS that Beijingers have loved for more than 100 years. The store maintains our favorite flavors through generations while bringing new elements to their…
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Dongcheng

Daoxiangcun Pastries

A Beijing institution for over a century, beloved for traditional pastries and desserts. Locals grab them for breakfast alongside porridge. Point at the counter to pick one of each and find your favourite – try the tao su cookie or the walnut he tao pai.
★ 4.4
$
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Centre

Forbidden City

The vast, moated imperial palace at the very heart of Beijing.
★ 4.8
$$
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Mutianyu

Great Wall at Mutianyu Day Trip

A day trip to the restored, less-crowded Mutianyu stretch of the Great Wall.
★ 4.8
$$
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Chaoyang

Hotel Eclat Beijing

An art-filled luxury hotel dotted with Dali and contemporary works.
★ 4.5
$$$
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Centre

Jingshan Park

The hilltop park with the classic postcard view over the Forbidden City.
★ 4.6
$
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Qianmen

Naga Tree Coffee

Why it matters: founded in 2024 by Ren Jiayi, an entrepreneur with disabilities, Naga Tree is China’s first fully accessible cafe — it employs staff with disabilities and doubles as a community hub where blind visitors borrow braille books and wheelchair users socialize in a genuinely barrier-free space. It hides in Sanjing Hutong near Qianmen, an easy add-on to a Dashilar wander. Order a hand brew and browse the coffee merchandise that helps keep the project running. Notice the details while you sip: wind chimes at the door to guide visually impaired guests, adjustable tables, and restrooms with automatic doors.
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Dongcheng

Nanluogu Alley

One of Beijing’s most famous hutongs – a lively lane mixing old courtyard homes (some former residences of Chinese celebrities) with handicraft shops and snack bars. Wander off into the side alleys for the real surprises, and try local treats like double-skinned milk and candied fruits.
★ 4.3
$
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Hongqiao

Pearl Market (Hongqiao)

A multi-storey market right by the Temple of Heaven, best known for pearls on the lower floors and a sprawling mix of stalls above. It’s tidier than it once was, but still a fun spot for a spot of good-natured haggling.
★ 4.1
$
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Xiangjiang / Shunyi border

Roundabout Charity Store

Why it matters: opened in 2008 by longtime Beijing volunteer Leslie Simpson, Roundabout was mainland China’s first charity store, and store proceeds fund medical care for orphans plus support for 80-some charitable organizations across China and Mongolia. The volunteer-run shop is a proper treasure hunt: secondhand books, furniture, clothes and expat cast-offs at bargain prices, with one of the city’s best English-language used-book selections. Every kuai you spend goes to the cause, since store sales cover all overheads. Practical tip: it’s out toward Shunyi near Cathay View Plaza, so pair it with a lazy brunch in the villa district rather than a downtown day.
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Dongcheng

Siji Minfu

A local favourite for crisp Peking duck near the Forbidden City.
★ 4.6
$$
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Haidian

Summer Palace

The imperial lakeside gardens, pavilions and long painted corridor.
★ 4.7
$
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Dongcheng

Temple of Heaven

The serene Ming temple and its park of locals dancing and practising tai chi.
★ 4.7
$
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Sanlitun

The Opposite House

A sleek, light-filled design hotel in buzzing Sanlitun.
★ 4.6
$$$
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Dongcheng

Wudaoying Hutong

A narrow, easy-to-miss hutong running parallel to the Confucius Temple approach, now dotted with stylish cafes, tea houses and little craft and jewellery shops. It comes alive late morning – a relaxed, not-too-touristy stroll after visiting the Lama Temple opposite.
★ 4.4
$
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Before you go

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Book your trip to Beijing

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Beijing travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Beijing?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Beijing at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Beijing?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Beijing?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Beijing guide.

What is the best time to visit Beijing?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Beijing is worth visiting year-round.

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