CN · Beijing · 39.91°N 116.40°E

beijing

Great Wall hikes, the Forbidden City, hutong alleys and proper Peking duck.

Best time
September and October are clear and comfortable. Spring is pleasant but can be dusty. Summers are hot, winters are well below freezing, and Golden Week in early October is very crowded.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Direct flights from KL take about 6.5 hours, landing at either Capital or Daxing airport. Both have express trains into the city. High-speed trains reach Shanghai in about 4.5–6 hours.
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CN · Beijingbeijing39.91°N 116.40°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Great Wall hikes, the Forbidden City, hutong alleys and proper Peking duck.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBeijingCN, Beijing
KLbeijing
≈ 4,349 km from KL, as the crow flies
B-5906 was flying CA112 (from Hong Kong) at that time.

Photo: N509FZ · CC BY 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

China's capital, and its imperial city for most of the last 600 years. You come for the history: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall a couple of hours out, and old hutong lanes tucked between the big avenues. The food helps too.

Makan

  1. Peking duckCrisp roast duck carved at the table and wrapped in thin pancakes.Map ↗
  2. JianbingA breakfast crêpe with egg and a crispy cracker, sold from street carts.Map ↗
  3. ZhajiangmianThick noodles with a savoury soybean and pork sauce.Map ↗
  4. NiujieBeijing's old Muslim quarter, around the city's oldest mosque, full of halal lamb dishes and snacks.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Great Wall at MutianyuA restored section about 1.5–2 hours out, with a cable car up and a toboggan ride down.Map ↗
  2. Forbidden CityThe vast imperial palace. Book tickets online in advance with your passport.Map ↗
  3. Temple of HeavenA round, blue-roofed hall in a big park where locals gather for tai chi, dancing and cards in the morning.Map ↗
  4. Summer PalaceLakeside imperial gardens with a long painted corridor.Map ↗
  5. HutongsOld alleys around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang. Walk or take a rickshaw.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card before you go. Many places prefer mobile payment.
  • Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked on Chinese networks. Roaming or an eSIM from home usually still works.
  • Carry your passport. You'll need it for tickets, trains and security checks.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.