Where the Great Wall’s dragon spine dissolves into the North China Plain’s loess haze, Beijing’s 21.9 million souls tread a palimpsest of imperial codes. The city’s concentric ring roads pulse like ripples from a Ming Dynasty wellstone dropped into time – each highway stratum entombing Mongol horsemen’s hoofprints, Qing palanquin routes, and bicycle-revolutionary slogans in its asphalt layers.
The 1403 Yongle Emperor’s capital shift ignited Beijing’s geomantic obsession. Craftsmen from Suzhou carved marble cloud pillars for the Forbidden City, while Shandong masons stacked altar tiers at the Temple of Heaven, aligning celestial mathematics with earthly matter. Today, as dawn gilds the Summer Palace’s marble boat, pensioners trace Tai chi arcs where Manchu archers once drew bows, their silk sleeves fluttering like forgotten battle standards.
True alchemy simmers in hutong capillaries. Near the Bell Tower’s moss-stained bricks, a cleaver hacks Peking duck through courtyard steam, the aroma mingling with cinnabar ink from neighboring calligraphy studios. Southwest beyond Liulichang’s antique scroll galleries, Marco Polo’s phantom still gapes at the White Pagoda – its Tibetan mandala curves slicing through air thick with hawthorn candies’ fermented sweetness, a collision of swallowed histories and indigestible presents.
Beijing Weather
Beijing experiences a dry and breezy spring with occasional sandstorms, followed by hot and humid summers marked by frequent thunderstorms. Autumn in Beijing brings crisp air and golden foliage, transitioning into cold winters with biting winds from Siberia. While snowfall is infrequent, light snow occasionally dusts the city between December and February. For real-time updates, check the 7-day Beijing weather forecast.
How to Get There
by Air
Beijing is served by two major international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX). From either hub, travelers can reach central Beijing via airport express trains, metro lines, shuttle buses, or taxis. Capital Airport’s Airport Express Line (20-minute ride to Dongzhimen) and Daxing Airport’s Daxing Airport Express (19-minute ride to Caoqiao) are the fastest rail options. The Metro Line 10 (accessible at Capital Airport) and Airport Bus Lines (e.g., Line 1 to Wangfujing) offer affordable transfers to key urban areas. For real-time route planning, visit the Beijing Metro Official Website.
by Rail
Beijing’s five major stations serve as gateways to distinct corners of China:
- Beijing Railway Station: Connects to North China, the Northeast (e.g., Shenyang, Harbin), and East China (Shanghai, Nanjing).
- Beijing West Railway Station: A hub for trains to the South (Guangzhou), Southwest (Chengdu, Kunming), and Northwest (Xi’an, Urumqi).
- Beijing South Railway Station: The high-speed heart, offering bullet trains to Tianjin, Qingdao, Jinan, and intercity routes.
- Beijing North Railway Station: Focuses on suburban lines and short-haul trips to Inner Mongolia and Hebei.
- Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station: Dedicated to high-speed routes into Northeast China (e.g., Shenyang, Changchun).
Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway
Zip between the two capitals in just 30 minutes on this 120-kilometer route linking Beijing South Station and Tianjin Station. A favorite for business travelers and day-trippers alike.
Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway
China’s iconic 1,318-kilometer artery seamlessly connects Beijing South Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Station, cutting through six provinces and municipalities (Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu) in roughly 5 hours. Passengers glide past mist-shrouded mountains, ancient water towns, and modern megacities—a journey as captivating as the destinations.
How to Navigating
Beijing has made remarkable strides in developing a comprehensive public transit network that extends to nearly every corner within the Sixth Ring Road, connecting urban hubs with suburban areas. The city boasts some of China’s most ambitious road infrastructure projects, with sprawling, well-paved boulevards and the nation’s most sophisticated expressway system. Notable landmarks include the Second Ring Road—China’s first fully controlled highway—and the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads, which function as high-speed corridors. The Jingzang Expressway links central Beijing to Yanqing, while the Capital Airport Expressway seamlessly connects the Third Ring Road to Beijing Capital International Airport in Shunyi District.
That said, navigating Beijing’s vast urban sprawl requires patience. Travelers should anticipate commutes of one to two hours for distances as short as 5–10 kilometers, given the city’s dense traffic and sheer scale.
by Metro
The Beijing Subway reigns as the fastest and most reliable way to traverse the city. Its 27-line network—including the Batong Line (Line 1), Daxing Line (Line 4), Olympic-focused Line 8, and suburban connectors like the Yizhuang and Changping Lines—ensures seamless access to cultural landmarks, commercial hubs, and outer districts. Historic Lines 1 and 2 thread through the city’s beating heart, passing major attractions and shopping districts, while newer suburban extensions streamline excursions to far-flung destinations like the Great Wall. The Capital Airport Line and Daxing Airport Line offer direct links to their respective aviation hubs.
by Taxi
Taxis provide unmatched convenience for intracity travel. Daytime fares start at ¥13 for the first 3 kilometers, with a base rate of ¥2.3 per additional kilometer. A 20% surcharge applies between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
by Bus
Beijing’s sprawling bus network—supplemented by night routes, tourist shuttles, and specialty lines—offers an efficient alternative. Dedicated bus lanes on major arteries often make buses quicker than taxis during rush hours.
by Sharing Bike
For a quintessential Beijing experience, hop on a shared bike. These ubiquitous two-wheelers—found on nearly every street—invite travelers to weave through hutong alley