Do I need to book The Forbidden City (故宫) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required. 7 days out, 20:00. Booking window: 7 days. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required. Daily 17:00, up to 7 days. Booking window: 7 days. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book Badaling Great Wall (八达岭长城) (Beijing) in advance?
No — walk-up works. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book Temple of Heaven (天坛) (Beijing) in advance?
No — walk-up works. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book Summer Palace (颐和园) (Beijing) in advance?
No — walk-up works. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required. Real-name online sales, up to 30 days ahead. Booking window: 30 days. Passport accepted.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Do I need to book Juyongguan Great Wall (居庸关) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required.
Full booking rules →Do I need to book Ming Tombs (Shisanling) (明十三陵) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required.
Full booking rules →Do I need to book National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) (中国美术馆) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required.
Full booking rules →Do I need to book Natural History Museum of China (Beijing) (北京自然博物馆) (Beijing) in advance?
Yes — advance booking is required. Daily around 11:00, 1-3 days ahead. Booking window: 1-3 days.
Full booking rules →Official booking →Can I pay with a foreign card (Visa/Mastercard) in Beijing?
Yes — foreign Visa/Mastercard work in Beijing, typically linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay for everyday spending. Carry a little cash as a backup.
Do hotels in Beijing accept foreign passports?
It varies in Beijing — mid-range and chain hotels usually register foreigners, while cheaper local guesthouses may not. Confirm foreign registration when booking.
What should foreigners know about hotels and registration in Beijing?
Stay where they can register foreign guests with the police, or you may be turned away at check-in.
What's the main thing to know before visiting Beijing?
Tourist trap. Wangfujing snack-street scorpions are a photo op, not dinner: overpriced and aimed at tourists. Locals eat in the hutong alleys a couple of blocks east.
Any tourist traps or surprises to watch for in Beijing?
Hotels. Some budget guesthouses quietly turn away foreigners because they aren't set up to register you with the police. Filter for properties that explicitly accept foreign passports, or you'll be moved at 11pm.
What should I eat in Beijing?
Peking duck, without the circus. Skip the famous flagships with two-hour queues unless the ceremony matters to you. Mid-range sit-down places roast the same bird for ¥200-300 a duck. It's carved tableside; wrap slices in the pancakes with scallion and sweet bean sauce. One duck feeds two to three.
Where do locals eat in Beijing, and what else is worth trying?
Breakfast is on the street. A jianbing (savory crepe with egg, crisp wonton and chili paste) from a morning window runs ¥8-12 and locals eat it standing. If a place has a queue of commuters at 8am, that's your endorsement. Pay with Alipay/WeChat — even carts take it.
Can I book the Forbidden City as a foreigner?
Yes, with your passport, through the official channel only. Tickets release 7 days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time and sell out within minutes. No same-day tickets, and no third-party reseller is authorized. If you can't pay through the Chinese app flow, email bookingticket@dpm.org.cn with your details.
Why won't some hotels take foreigners?
It comes down to police registration. Properties that aren't set up to register foreign guests will decline you at check-in. Book ones that state they accept foreign passports.
Do I need cash, or will my foreign card work?
Mostly mobile pay. Foreign cards now link to Alipay and WeChat Pay for most things, but carry some cash as a backup for small vendors.
How do I book the Badaling Great Wall without a Chinese phone number?
The official online system requires a mainland mobile number to register, which blocks most visitors. Buy at the ticket windows on site with your passport (arrive early in peak season), or ask your hotel to make the real-name booking for you. Ignore resellers promising 'guaranteed' slots at a markup.
Do the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace need advance booking?
No — both still sell tickets at the gate, and that's the practical route for foreigners since their online systems want a Chinese mobile number. Bring your passport. Buy the through ticket at each; the basic gate ticket skips the buildings you came to see.
Rules change. We re-check these facts on a schedule and date-stamp every page — but always confirm on the official channel before relying on a time.