Los 10 mejores lugares para visitar en Beijing

The Yongle Emperor moved the Ming capital here from Nanjing in the early 15th century, and the imperial city he built, the moats, altars and hutong grid around it, still shapes the streets. UNESCO recognised the Beijing Central Axis in 2024. Most first-time itineraries cover the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, plus a day trip to a restored section of the Great Wall.

The subway is the practical way to move around the centre, with fares from CNY 3, and ride-hailing (Didi) fills the gaps. Two airports serve the city: Capital (PEK), linked by the Airport Express to Dongzhimen, and Daxing (PKX), which opened in 2019 and connects to Caoqiao via its own express line. High-speed trains leave from Beijing South, West and North stations, and the Great Wall sections need a bus, train or car rather than the subway.

April, May, September and October give the best weather. July and August are hot and wet, winters are cold and dry, and the 1-7 October Golden Week and Spring Festival fill every site. The Forbidden City and several other sites close on Mondays, and Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City require advance real-name reservations with a passport, so book before you arrive.