What currency is used in Beijing?

Beijing uses the Renminbi, counted in yuan (CNY).

What is the emergency number in Beijing?

In Beijing, call 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire.

How much does a day in Beijing cost?

Roughly $40-65 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $110-190 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Beijing?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Beijing without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Beijing travel guide

China

The capital of imperial China, built around the vast Forbidden City and ringed by modern boulevards. Its old hutong alleys, parks and roast-duck restaurants give the city a human scale beneath the monuments.

Essentials

Language: Mandarin Chinese; English is limited outside hotels and major sights
Currency: Renminbi, counted in yuan (CNY)
Plugs: Types A, C and I, 220 V
Emergency number: 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire
Tipping: Not customary; upmarket hotels and restaurants may add a service charge.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $40-65, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $110-190, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Beijing

Gulou and Shichahai: hutong lanes, the Drum and Bell Towers and lakeside bars.
Dongcheng: central, close to the Forbidden City, Wangfujing and many courtyard guesthouses.
Sanlitun: the international nightlife and dining area, with shops and embassies nearby.

Getting around Beijing

The subway reaches almost everywhere you will want to go and is signed in English, payable with single tickets or a transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat. Distances are large, so allow time for changes between lines.

Best time to visit Beijing

September to October, clear and comfortable, with April to May a good second choice.

Top things to do in Beijing

Spend a morning in the Forbidden City, then climb the hill in Jingshan Park for the view over its roofs
Watch locals practise tai chi and play cards in the grounds of the Temple of Heaven early in the day
Walk or cycle the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang and Houhai Lake
Visit the Summer Palace and take a boat across Kunming Lake
See the Lama Temple, an active Tibetan Buddhist temple with a towering carved Buddha

What to eat in Beijing

Peking duck: roast duck with crisp skin, carved at the table and wrapped in thin pancakes
Jianbing: a street-breakfast crêpe with egg, crisp cracker, sauces and herbs
Zhajiangmian: thick wheat noodles with a savoury fermented soybean and pork sauce
Jiaozi: boiled dumplings, often filled with pork and cabbage and dipped in black vinegar

Day trips from Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall: a restored, forested section with a cable car, about one and a half to two hours by road
Jinshanling Great Wall: a wilder, partly restored stretch for a longer hike, roughly two and a half hours by road
Tianjin: European-style streets and a riverside promenade, around 30 to 40 minutes by high-speed train

Local etiquette

Expect bag and passport checks at Tiananmen Square and many major sights, so keep your passport on you. Queues can be looser than you may be used to; stand your ground calmly rather than taking offence.

Staying connected

Local SIMs from China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom are sold with a passport, but Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked on Chinese networks, so set up a roaming plan or an international eSIM, plus Alipay or WeChat Pay, before you arrive.

Staying safe

Violent crime is rare, but around Wangfujing and Tiananmen watch for the tea-house and art-student scams, where friendly strangers lead you to an overpriced bill. Summers are hot, and on some days air quality is poor, so check a pollution app before long days outdoors.

A local tip

Book Forbidden City tickets online several days ahead with your passport details, as tickets often sell out and the palace is closed on most Mondays.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Beijing on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Beijing for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Beijing, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about Beijing

What currency is used in Beijing?: Beijing uses the Renminbi, counted in yuan (CNY).
What is the emergency number in Beijing?: In Beijing, call 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?: September to October, clear and comfortable, with April to May a good second choice.
How much does a day in Beijing cost?: Roughly $40-65 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $110-190 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Beijing?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Beijing without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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