City trip Beijing

When is the best time to go?

Autumn (September to November) is by far the best period for Beijing: clear blue skies, temperatures of 12 to 25 degrees Celsius and low humidity. The Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and the Great Wall look magnificent in autumn colours. October also falls during Golden Week (1-7 October), which triggers a massive domestic tourism peak: book early or avoid the first week of October.

Spring (March to May) is the second best period: peach and cherry blossom in the parks, 10 to 24 degrees. Summer (June to August) is oppressively hot and humid with temperatures up to 40 degrees and frequent smog. Winter (December to February) is cold and dry: minus 10 degrees or lower, but less crowded and no rain.

Best neighbourhoods in Beijing

• Dongcheng (hutong area) The historic heart around the Forbidden City and Nanluoguxiang: protected hutong alleyways with siheyuan courtyard houses, boutique coffee shops and small eateries. Best base area for tourists.
• Xicheng (Shichahai lakes) Around the three Shichahai lakes: tranquil waterside squares, traditional bars and restaurants, and the beautiful Drum Tower nearby. In winter locals skate on the lake.
• Sanlitun The international and lively nightlife area: multi-brand shops, global street food, cocktail bars and the popular Taikoo Li shopping strip. Good for an evening out.
• Wangfujing The central shopping street with the famous snack market (fried scorpions, silk worms), department stores and traditional shops. Touristy but worth a visit.
• Chaoyang (business district) Modern towers, international restaurants and museums including the 798 Art District: a former military factory converted into galleries and design studios. A must for contemporary art lovers.

Top 5 things to see and do in Beijing

• Forbidden City (Gugong) The world's largest palace complex with 9,999 rooms and 600 years of Ming and Qing imperial history. Tickets cost CNY 60 (about EUR 8) in peak season; advance online booking mandatory via the official website. Daily visitor cap of 80,000 - book at least one week ahead. Closed on Tuesdays.
• Great Wall of China (Mutianyu) The most tourist-friendly and best-restored section, 90 minutes from the city centre. Cable car up, toboggan or stairs down. Entrance CNY 65 (about EUR 9); cable car return about CNY 140. Come on weekdays for smaller crowds.
• Temple of Heaven A Ming-dynasty ceremonial complex where emperors prayed for a good harvest. Park entrance about CNY 30-35 (about EUR 4); the Hall of Prayer (the iconic building) costs an additional CNY 35. Beautiful for walking and early-morning tai chi.
• Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) Vast garden complex with the Kunming Lake, marble boat and the Long Corridor (728 metres of painted gallery). Entrance about CNY 30 (about EUR 4). Worth a full half-day, 12 km from the city centre.
• 798 Art District Former state-owned factory complex converted into a gallery village with contemporary Chinese and international art, design studios, coffee shops and street food. Free entry to the complex; individual galleries may charge. Best on a weekday when there are fewer tourists.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands to Beijing

KLM flies 6 times per week direct from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in about 10 hours 55 minutes. Return tickets start from about EUR 800 in economy class. Air China also flies daily direct from Amsterdam to Beijing.

From Eindhoven there are no direct flights to Beijing: take the train or bus to Amsterdam Schiphol, or connect via Frankfurt, Brussels or Paris. A connecting flight via a Middle East hub (Emirates via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Qatar Airways via Doha) can be cheaper but takes 15 to 17 hours in total.

From PEK Airport to the city centre: the Airport Express (line 3) runs to Dongzhimen in about 25 minutes for CNY 25 (about EUR 3). Connect to the metro from there.

Taxi or Didi (the Chinese Uber app) costs about CNY 100 to 130 (about EUR 14 to 18) but can be slow in traffic. The Beijing metro has more than 20 lines; a single journey costs CNY 3 to 5. Buy a rechargeable IC card at the station for convenience.

What does a Beijing trip cost?

Hostel from about CNY 80 per night (about EUR 10); mid-range hotel CNY 400 to 800 per night (about EUR 55 to 110). Food can be cheap or pricey depending on location. Peking Duck at a traditional restaurant costs about CNY 150 to 250 per person; a plate of dumplings (jiaozi) from a street stall costs CNY 15 to 30. City transport (metro) CNY 3 to 5 per journey. Forbidden City CNY 60; Great Wall Mutianyu CNY 65 plus cable car CNY 140. Daily budget all-in (excluding flights) realistically CNY 450 to 900 (about EUR 62 to 125).