Beijing Info Center for Foreign Visitors

The 3 things that make or break your trip

If you only do three things before departure, do these:

• Stay online — A roaming eSIM beats a VPN in 2026 — set it up before you fly so WhatsApp, Maps and Gmail just work. See internet-in-china (Internet in China for Foreigners: SIM, eSIM, Roaming and Staying Connected).
• Pay like a local — Link Visa / Mastercard to Alipay & WeChat Pay — no Chinese bank account, covers street food to hotels. See paying-in-china (Paying in China as a Foreigner: Alipay, WeChat Pay and Your International Card).
• Get around easily — Subway, Didi and offline maps; Beijing even lets you tap a foreign card at the gate. See didi-taxi-beijing (Taxis and Ride-Hailing in Beijing: Didi, Fares and Tips) and china-high-speed-rail (China High-Speed Rail for Foreign Visitors: Booking with a Passport).

Official 2025–2026 Beijing services for foreigners

Beijing built free, official help that speaks your language — worth knowing before you arrive:

• GO BEIJING (Alipay mini-program) — 39 services in 16 languages, a no-fee Travel Wallet, and an AI guide. Search 'GO BEIJING' in Alipay after you land.
• Beijing Service counters — At PEK & PKX arrival halls: SIM card, payment setup, and AI translation devices, in multiple languages.
• Tap-to-Go — Tap your foreign Visa / Mastercard straight at subway gates on Line 8 — no card, no app needed.

Your trip, step by step

We organised all our Beijing guides around the timeline you travel in:

• 1 · Before you go — Visa & transit, apps to install, best time, and money — china-visa-transit (China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How to Enter via Beijing), apps-for-china (Apps to Install Before You Travel to China), best-time-to-visit-beijing (Best Time to Visit Beijing: Seasons, Crowds and When to Avoid), money-in-china (Money in China: Cash, Cards, ATMs and What to Expect).
• 2 · At the airport — PEK vs PKX and how to reach the city — beijing-airports-pek-pkx (Beijing Airports: PEK vs PKX and How to Get to the City).
• 3 · Getting around — Subway, Didi, and high-speed rail — subway (Beijing Subway Guide), didi-taxi-beijing (Taxis and Ride-Hailing in Beijing: Didi, Fares and Tips), china-high-speed-rail (China High-Speed Rail for Foreign Visitors: Booking with a Passport).
• 4 · During your stay — Where to stay, etiquette, food, daily life, medical — where-to-stay (Where to Stay in Beijing), china-etiquette-dos-donts (Chinese Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts to Avoid Offence), beijing-food-what-to-eat (Beijing Food Guide: What to Eat — Peking Duck, Jianbing, Hotpot & More), china-day-to-day-survival (Surviving Daily Life in China: Toilets, Plugs, Water & Language Tips), medical-pharmacy-beijing (Seeing a Doctor and Buying Medicine in Beijing (and What to Do If You Lose Your Passport)).
• 5 · Before you leave — Tax refund on shopping — china-tax-refund (Tax Refund for Tourists in China: How the Departure Refund Works).

All our Beijing guides

Practical, plain-English, updated for 2026. Every guide we've written:

• China visa & transit — China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How to Enter via Beijing
• First time in Beijing — First Time in Beijing
• 3 days in Beijing — 3 Days in Beijing
• Paying in China — Paying in China as a Foreigner: Alipay, WeChat Pay and Your International Card
• Money: cash, cards & ATMs — Money in China: Cash, Cards, ATMs and What to Expect
• Internet in China — Internet in China for Foreigners: SIM, eSIM, Roaming and Staying Connected
• Apps to install before China — Apps to Install Before You Travel to China
• Beijing airports PEK / PKX — Beijing Airports: PEK vs PKX and How to Get to the City
• Airport to your hotel — Beijing Airport to Your Hotel
• Beijing subway guide — Beijing Subway Guide
• Didi & taxis in Beijing — Taxis and Ride-Hailing in Beijing: Didi, Fares and Tips
• Foreigners buying high-speed rail tickets — China High-Speed Rail for Foreign Visitors: Booking with a Passport
• Taking the bus — Taking the Bus in Beijing
• What to eat in Beijing — Beijing Food Guide: What to Eat — Peking Duck, Jianbing, Hotpot & More
• China etiquette & don'ts — Chinese Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts to Avoid Offence
• China tax refund — Tax Refund for Tourists in China: How the Departure Refund Works
• Medical & pharmacy in Beijing — Seeing a Doctor and Buying Medicine in Beijing (and What to Do If You Lose Your Passport)
• Pre-flight checklist — Pre-Flight Checklist for China: Set These Up Before You Fly
• What a first trip costs (2026) — What a First Trip to Beijing Actually Costs: A 2026 Budget Breakdown
• Scams & tourist traps — Beijing Scams & Tourist Traps to Avoid
• Drones & photography rules — Drones & Photography Rules in Beijing (2026): Why You Shouldn't Bring One
• Shopping in Beijing — Shopping in Beijing: Markets, Bargaining & What to Buy
• Beijing nightlife — Beijing Nightlife & Evening Things to Do
• Peking Opera & performances — Peking Opera and Traditional Performances in Beijing: What to See and How to Book
• Beijing with kids — Beijing with Kids: A Practical Family Guide
• Accessible & senior travel — Accessible & Senior Travel in Beijing: The Realistic Guide
• Day trips from Beijing — Day Trips from Beijing: Tianjin, Chengde & Gubei Water Town
• 24-hour layover itinerary — 24 Hours in Beijing: A Layover Itinerary That Works
• Beijing museums — Beijing Museums: National Museum Tickets, Booking & What to See
• China Space Museum (Donggaodi) — China Space Museum, Donggaodi: A Half-Day in Beijing's Rocket District
• Cycling & walking — Cycling & Walking Beijing: Shared Bikes, Routes and Safety
• Subway Line 8 sights — Beijing Subway Line 8: A Ride Past the City's Famous Sights
• Subway Line 9 sights — Beijing Subway Line 9: The Line to the Railway Stations and South-West Beijing
• Festivals & seasons — Beijing Festivals & Seasons: A Month-by-Month Calendar
• Best time to visit — Best Time to Visit Beijing: Seasons, Crowds and When to Avoid
• Autumn foliage & red leaves — Beijing Autumn Foliage & Red Leaves (2026)
• Forbidden City & Great Wall with kids — Forbidden City & Great Wall with Kids: The Slow, Doable Version
• Beijing breakfast & coffee — Beijing Breakfast & Coffee: What Locals Actually Eat at 7am
• Beijing photo spots — Beijing Photo Spots: Where and When to Shoot Without a Drone
• The Forbidden City — The Forbidden City
• Great Wall of Beijing — Great Wall of Beijing
• Temple of Heaven — Temple of Heaven
• The Summer Palace — The Summer Palace Beijing: Tickets, Metro and How to Spend a Day by Kunming Lake
• Beijing World Park — Beijing World Park: The Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids in One Afternoon
• Nanhaizi & Milu Deer Park — Nanhaizi Park & Milu Deer Park: Beijing's Quiet Wetland Escape
• Garden Expo Park — Beijing Garden Expo Park: Gardens from Across China, One Metro Ride Away
• Staying longer in Beijing — Staying Longer in Beijing: A Realistic Guide for Remote Workers
• Beijing skiing & winter — Beijing Skiing & Winter: Chongli Resorts, Trains, Costs and Gear
• Posting, shipping & luggage home — Posting, Shipping & Getting Your Luggage Home from Beijing
• Beijing travel tips — Beijing Travel Tips
• Daily life survival: toilets, plugs, water — Surviving Daily Life in China: Toilets, Plugs, Water & Language Tips
• Official services for foreign visitors — Beijing's Official Services for Foreign Visitors (2025-2026)
• Temples & sacred sites — Beijing Temples & Sacred Sites: Yonghe, Baiyun & Niujie Mosque
• Business travel & exhibitions — Beijing Business Travel: Venues, Tax Invoices, Transport & Etiquette
• Extreme weather & emergencies — Beijing Extreme Weather & Emergencies: Warnings, Closures and Who to Call
• Sports events & the marathon — Beijing Sports Events: China Open, the Marathon, Football & Basketball
• Short-term rentals & homestays — Beijing Short-Term Rentals & Homestays: Registration Rules for Foreigners
• Where to stay — Where to Stay in Beijing
• Hotels that accept foreigners — Booking a Hotel in Beijing as a Foreigner: What Can Go Wrong, and How to Avoid It
• Park passes & city cards — Beijing Park Annual Pass & City Cards: An Honest Comparison
• Bookshops & creative districts — Beijing Independent Bookshops & Creative Districts
• Peking University & Tsinghua — Peking University & Tsinghua: How Foreign Visitors Actually Get In
• Hot springs & countryside resorts — Beijing Hot Springs & Countryside Resorts: What You Can Reach Without a Car
• Science museums for families — Beijing Science Museums for Families: Dinosaurs, Hands-On Science and the Planetarium
• Countryside hiking & the wild wall — Hiking Beyond Beijing: Baihe Canyon, the Water Great Wall, and Why Jiankou Is Off Limits
• Beijing Hutongs and Courtyard Life — Beijing Hutongs and Courtyard Life: Walking the Old Lanes
• Beijing's Tea Houses and Tea Culture — A First-Timer's Guide to Beijing's Tea Houses and Tea Culture
• Rainy-Day Beijing — Rainy-Day Beijing: What to Do Indoors When It Pours
• Beijing Zoo and the Pandas — Beijing Zoo and the Pandas: A Family Half-Day
• Routes, Parks, and Staying Fit — Where to Run in Beijing: A Visitor's Guide to Routes, Parks, and Staying Fit
• Beijing Railway Stations Explained — Beijing Railway Stations Explained
• Booking Beijing's Big Sights — Booking Beijing's Big Sights: Real-Name Tickets, Passport Entry and What Sells Out
• Beijing Live Music & Livehouses — Beijing Live Music: Livehouses, Concert Halls and How to Buy Tickets
• 798 Art District and Beijing's Best Art Neighborhoods — 798 Art District and Beijing's Best Art Neighborhoods
• Late-Night Street Food — Beijing After Dark: A First-Timer's Guide to Late-Night Street Food
• Bringing Your Pet to Beijing — Bringing Your Pet to Beijing: Quarantine, Boarding and Dog Walks
• Beijing Security Checks — Beijing Security Checks: What You Can and Can't Carry on the Metro, Trains and Planes
• Maps and Navigation in Beijing — Maps and Navigation in Beijing: Amap, Apple Maps, and Why Google Maps Lets You Down
• Your Second Trip to Beijing — Your Second Trip to Beijing: Three Days Beyond the Big Three
• Camping Around Beijing — Camping Around Beijing: Where You Can Legally Pitch a Tent
• Prince Gong's Mansion, Beihai and Bell Tower — Prince Gong's Mansion, Beihai and Bell Tower: A Self-Guided Half-Day in Shichahai Beyond the Hutongs
• UK Passport 30-Day Visa-Free China Stay — The UK Passport 30-Day Visa-Free China Stay: Rules, Re-Entry, and the Hong Kong Reset
• 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit — The 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Two Multi-City Routes Through China
• Private Cars, Drivers and Day Tours in Beijing — Private Cars, Drivers and Day Tours in Beijing: What They Cost and How to Book One Safely
• Train Tickets Sold Out: the Waitlist — China Train Tickets Sold Out? The Waitlist System and What Actually Works
• Leaving Beijing — Leaving Beijing: Your Departure Day Plan for PEK and PKX
• Visa-Free, Transit Visa-Free, or Tourist Visa — Visa-Free, Transit Visa-Free, or Tourist Visa: How to Enter Beijing
• Hong Kong / Macau ↔ Mainland China — Hong Kong / Macau ↔ Mainland China: Multiple Entries, Immigration Questions, and Golden Week Caveats
• Hong Kong — Hong Kong–Shenzhen–Macau in One Day: Transport and Documents
• Landing in Beijing — Landing in Beijing: Arrival Cards, Customs, Health Declarations & Border Questions
• Bringing Prescription Medications into China — Bringing Prescription Medications into China: ADHD Stimulants, Doctor's Letters, and Customs
• China Visas and Entry Documents for Families, Seniors, and Children — China Visas and Entry Documents for Families, Seniors, and Children
• eSIM in China — eSIM in China: Trip.com vs Airalo vs ByteSIM vs Hong Kong eSIM Compared
• Beijing's Ring Roads Explained — Beijing's Ring Roads Explained: What the Second to Sixth Ring Mean for Your Trip
• When Your VPN Fails in Beijing — When Your VPN Fails in Beijing: Practical Backup Plans
• Verification-Code Problems in Beijing — Verification-Code Problems in Beijing: WeChat, Alipay & Shared Bikes with Foreign or eSIM Numbers
• Hotspot Tethering Fails? Fixing Your Nihao Mobile SIM on a Laptop — Hotspot Tethering Fails? Fixing Your Nihao Mobile SIM on a Laptop
• TikTok vs Douyin in China — TikTok vs Douyin in China: What Western Travelers Need to Know
• Staying Connected in Beijing — Staying Connected in Beijing: 3-Week Trips vs. 6-Month Stays
• Tracking Your Trip.com eSIM — Tracking Your Trip.com eSIM: How to Check 30GB/30-Day Data Usage
• Setting Up WeChat in Beijing — Setting Up WeChat in Beijing: Registration, QR Scans, and Foreign-Number Fixes
• Installing and Verifying WeChat Desktop Before You Land in Beijing — Installing and Verifying WeChat Desktop Before You Land in Beijing
• Amap (Gaode Maps) Login Issues for Foreign Visitors — Amap (Gaode Maps) Login Issues for Foreign Visitors: Solving the Most Common Problems
• Long-Term Stay in Beijing — Long-Term Stay in Beijing: SIM Card, Bank Card, and Setting Up WeChat Pay & Alipay
• Setting Up Payments and Accounts for Elderly Family Members in Beijing — Setting Up Payments and Accounts for Elderly Family Members in Beijing
• Is the 'Nihao China' App and Its Coupons Worth Using? — Is the 'Nihao China' App and Its Coupons Worth Using?
• Flying Domestically in China with Power Banks and Battery Devices — Flying Domestically in China with Power Banks and Battery Devices: What You Need to Know
• Getting Between Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong — Getting Between Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong: Rail Links, Transfers, and Buffer Time
• Landing at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) at 1 PM — Landing at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) at 1 PM: Making a Same-Day Flight to Chengdu
• Connecting Flights in Beijing — Connecting Flights in Beijing: PEK and PKX Transfers Without Missing Your Plane
• Saving and Planning Places on Maps in Beijing — Saving and Planning Places on Maps in Beijing: Amap, Custom Lists, and Offline Prep
• High-Speed Rail vs Flying in China — High-Speed Rail vs Flying in China: Which Should Foreign Visitors Choose?
• Arriving at 10pm — Arriving at 10pm: Late Check-In at Beijing and Xi'an Boutique Hotels and Hostels
• Where to Stay in Shanghai — Where to Stay in Shanghai: Hongqiao vs the Bund (When You Fly Out of PVG Tomorrow)
• Shenzhen for 2 — Shenzhen for 2–3 Weeks: Hostels, Capsule Hotels, and Serviced Apartments
• Booking Strategy for Golden Week & Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing — Booking Strategy for Golden Week & Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing
• Side-Tripping to Hong Kong and Macau from Beijing — Side-Tripping to Hong Kong and Macau from Beijing: Where to Stay
• Where to Stay in Beijing with Kids or Elderly Parents — Where to Stay in Beijing with Kids or Elderly Parents
• Terracotta Army + Shaanxi History Museum in One Day — Terracotta Army + Shaanxi History Museum in One Day: Is It Feasible?
• Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Closures — Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Closures: What First-Time Visitors Need to Know
• WeChat Mini-Program — Booking Lingyin Temple: A First-Timer's Guide to the WeChat Mini-Program
• Beyond Beijing — Beyond Beijing: Spa Days in Shanghai, Xi'an and Chengdu
• Rice Terraces — Rice Terraces: Longji (Guangxi) and Jiabang (Guizhou)
• Beijing Sights You Can Visit Without Booking Ahead — Beijing Sights You Can Visit Without Booking Ahead
• Travel Insurance and Medical Care in Beijing — Travel Insurance and Medical Care in Beijing: What First-Time Visitors Need to Know
• Eating Street Food in Beijing Safely — Eating Street Food in Beijing Safely: A First-Timer's Guide
• Beijing Solo Travel — Beijing on Your Own: A Three-Day Solo Itinerary and Everything That Changes When You Travel Alone
• Solo Travel Safety in Beijing — Solo Travel Safety in Beijing: A Practical Health & Safety Guide
• Street Food Safety in Beijing — Street Food Safety in Beijing: How It Compares to Hong Kong and Singapore Hawker Centers
• Shopping, Paying, and Shipping — Taobao for Food Lovers: A First-Timer's Guide to Shopping, Paying, and Shipping
• Eating in Beijing with Dietary Restrictions — Eating in Beijing with Dietary Restrictions: Menus, Allergies, Vegetarian and Halal Dining
• Tea and Souvenirs in Beijing — Tea and Souvenirs in Beijing: What to Buy and Where
• Why the Restaurant Is Closed — Why the Restaurant Is Closed: Business Hours on Maps vs. Dianping
• Eating in Beijing When Your Phone Dies — Eating in Beijing When Your Phone Dies: Cash, Cards, and Offline Food Plans
• First Trip to China — First Trip to China: A Classic 1–3 Week Route
• 14 Days in Southern China — 14 Days in Southern China: Hong Kong, Chongqing, Chengdu, Shenzhen & Macau
• Beijing During Golden Week & Mid-Autumn Festival — Beijing During Golden Week & Mid-Autumn Festival: A First-Timer's Itinerary
• Beijing Itineraries — Beijing Itineraries: 3 Weeks vs 30 Days vs 56 Days
• Supplier Hunting in Shenzhen — Supplier Hunting in Shenzhen: A First-Timer's Sourcing Itinerary
• Beijing First-Timer Itinerary, Tailored to Where You're From — Beijing First-Timer Itinerary, Tailored to Where You're From
• Applying to Chinese Universities in Beijing — Applying to Chinese Universities in Beijing: A Practical Guide for Westerners
• Choosing a VPN or VPS Protocol for a Long Stay in Beijing — Choosing a VPN or VPS Protocol for a Long Stay in Beijing
• Supplier Hunting in Shenzhen — Supplier Hunting in Shenzhen: A 2–3 Week Business Stay Guide
• Using Reddit r/travelchina Wisely — Using Reddit r/travelchina Wisely: Review Etiquette and Asking Good Questions as a Long-Stay Visitor
• Where to Verify Official Information Before and During Your Long Stay in Beijing — Where to Verify Official Information Before and During Your Long Stay in Beijing
• Renting an Apartment in Beijing as a Foreign Student or Intern — Renting an Apartment in Beijing as a Foreign Student or Intern: Agents, Deposits and Lease Registration
• VPNs in China (2026) — VPNs in China (2026): Astrill, LetsVPN, NordVPN, and Self-Hosted VPS — What Fits Your Stay
• Beijing in Winter — Beijing in Winter: Ice Festivals, Frozen Lakes and Surviving Sub-Zero Sightseeing
• Where to Buy Party Decorations in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing — Where to Buy Party Decorations in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing
• 9 Nights in Shanghai — 9 Nights in Shanghai: Enough Time? Plus Suzhou and Hangzhou Day Trips
• Driving in Beijing — Driving in Beijing: International Permits, Chinese Licenses, and What Foreigners Can Actually Do
• Dentists, Eye Tests and Routine Health Checks in Beijing — Dentists, Eye Tests and Routine Health Checks in Beijing: A Long-Stay Guide
• Beijing Subway for Seniors 70+ — Beijing Subway for Seniors 70+: QR Codes, Transit Cards, and Paper Tickets Explained
• Gentle Four-Day Beijing Itinerary for Older Parents with Limited Stamina — A Gentle Four-Day Beijing Itinerary for Older Parents with Limited Stamina
• Navigating Beijing with a Parent Who Speaks No Chinese and Has No Smartphone — Navigating Beijing with a Parent Who Speaks No Chinese and Has No Smartphone
• Subway and Both Airports — Step-Free Beijing: A Accessibility Guide to the Subway and Both Airports
• Visiting Guangzhou During Chinese New Year Week — Visiting Guangzhou During Chinese New Year Week: A First-Timer's Itinerary
• Surviving Chunyun — Surviving Chunyun: How to Travel During the World's Largest Annual Human Migration
• Hong Kong to Guangzhou — Hong Kong to Guangzhou: Ferry, Cross-Border Train, or Bus?
• Guangzhou or Shanghai for a March Trip — Guangzhou or Shanghai for a March Trip: Which City Suits You Better?
• Pixel Phones Without eSIM Hardware — Pixel Phones Without eSIM Hardware — and How to Stay Connected in China Anyway
• OnePlus Phones Without eSIM — OnePlus Phones Without eSIM: Model List and Your China Connectivity Options
• Why Chinese Airline Apps Reject Foreign Accounts and Cards (and How to Work Around It) — Why Chinese Airline Apps Reject Foreign Accounts and Cards (and How to Work Around It)
• Self-Driving in China — Self-Driving in China: Where It Works and Where It Doesn't
• Changing or Refunding Chinese Train Tickets When Your Plans Shift — Changing or Refunding Chinese Train Tickets When Your Plans Shift
• Booking Multiple High-Speed Rail Tickets in One Go — Booking Multiple High-Speed Rail Tickets in One Go: Limits and ID Rules
• How to Get Adjacent Seats for Your Group on Chinese High-Speed Rail — How to Get Adjacent Seats for Your Group on Chinese High-Speed Rail
• 72 Hours in Beijing on Transit Without a Visa — 72 Hours in Beijing on Transit Without a Visa — Yes, You Can Still See the Great Wall
• Long-Stay Monthly Hotel Rates in Beijing's 'Beverly Hills' Area — Long-Stay Monthly Hotel Rates in Beijing's 'Beverly Hills' Area — and How to Negotiate Them
• Monthly Apartments and Serviced Residences in Beijing — Monthly Apartments and Serviced Residences in Beijing: A Long-Stay Guide
• Opening a Chinese Bank Account Without a Mainland Phone Number — Opening a Chinese Bank Account Without a Mainland Phone Number: Which Banks Allow It
• Rail Discounts and Senior Tickets in China Without a Chinese Bank Card — Rail Discounts and Senior Tickets in China Without a Chinese Bank Card
• Bringing a Folding Stool or Walking Stick into Beijing Museums and Attractions — Bringing a Folding Stool or Walking Stick into Beijing Museums and Attractions
• QR Codes Without the Scams — QR Codes Without the Scams: Mobile Payment Safety for Elderly Travellers in Beijing
• Requesting Wheelchair Assistance on Chinese Domestic Flights — Requesting Wheelchair Assistance on Chinese Domestic Flights
• Travel Insurance With Pre-Existing Condition Coverage for Older Visitors to Beijing — Travel Insurance With Pre-Existing Condition Coverage for Older Visitors to Beijing
• Bringing Medication into China — Bringing Medication into China: A Declaration Guide for Elderly Travellers
• Urgent Medical Care in Beijing — Urgent Medical Care in Beijing: A Guide for Elderly Visitors
• Gentle Eating in Beijing — Gentle Eating in Beijing: A Soft-Food & Mild-Flavour Guide for Older Travellers
• Budget Hotels Near Beijing Railway Station & Chongwenmen — Budget Hotels Near Beijing Railway Station & Chongwenmen: Cash, Walk-Ins, and What You Actually Get
• Shenzhen Night Markets — Shenzhen Night Markets: When They Start and Which Ones Are Worth It
• Shenzhen After Dark — Shenzhen After Dark: Beyond the Night Markets
• Normal Prices — How Cheap Are Beijing Attraction Tickets, Really? A First-Timer's Guide to Normal Prices
• Riding Neighbourhood and Community Minibuses in Chinese Cities — Riding Neighbourhood and Community Minibuses in Chinese Cities
• Avoiding Fake Rickshaws and Unlicensed Taxis in Beijing — Avoiding Fake Rickshaws and Unlicensed Taxis in Beijing
• Avoiding Tourist Pricing and Surprise Surcharges in China — Avoiding Tourist Pricing and Surprise Surcharges in China
• Getting Around Tianjin — Getting Around Tianjin: Metro, Bus and Taxi Basics for a Day Trip
• How to Avoid Missing a Train or Flight in China — How to Avoid Missing a Train or Flight in China
• Small-Group Tours in China — Small-Group Tours in China: Worth It If You Hate Planning (But Hate Big Coaches)
• How to Avoid Fake Travel Websites and Booking Scams for Your China Trip — How to Avoid Fake Travel Websites and Booking Scams for Your China Trip
• Tax Refunds and Duty-Free in China — Tax Refunds and Duty-Free in China: What's Real and What's a Trap
• Which Apps Actually Work in China Without a VPN — Which Apps Actually Work in China Without a VPN
• Dealing with Aggressive Street Vendors in China — Dealing with Aggressive Street Vendors in China: A First-Timer's Guide
• China Visa for Mexican Passport Holders — China Visa for Mexican Passport Holders: Requirements, Processing and Timing
• Bringing Elderly Parents to China — Bringing Elderly Parents to China: Family-Visit Visas and Accommodation Registration
• Booking Wheelchair-Accessible and Near-Toilet Seats on Chinese High-Speed Rail — Booking Wheelchair-Accessible and Near-Toilet Seats on Chinese High-Speed Rail
• Universal Beijing Resort: Tickets, Metro & One-Day Plan — Universal Beijing Resort: Tickets, Transport and One Well-Planned Day
• Lost Your Passport in Beijing: Police Report, Embassy, New Visa — Lost Your Passport in Beijing: The Recovery Steps That Actually Work
• Public Toilets in Beijing — Public Toilets in Beijing: Where to Go, What to Expect
• Beijing's Great Wall Without a Tour — Beijing's Great Wall Without a Tour: Getting to Mutianyu Independently
• Haircuts, Nails and Grooming in Beijing — Haircuts, Nails and Grooming in Beijing: Where Foreigners Get a Good Cut Without the Membership-Sales Pitch
• Gym Passes and Day Workouts in Beijing — Gym Passes and Day Workouts in Beijing: Drop-In Gyms, Pools and Climbing Walls for Visitors
• Beijing West Railway Station — Beijing West Railway Station: Where to Stay for Late Arrivals and Early Departures
• Driving in Beijing — Driving in Beijing: Hotels with Free Parking and How to Book One
• Sleeping Before a 6am Flight From Beijing Daxing Airport — Sleeping Before a 6am Flight From Beijing Daxing Airport
• Beijing South Railway Station Layover — Beijing South Railway Station Layover: Where to Stay Overnight
• HuipinCang Outlet & Xihongmen Shopping — HuipinCang Outlet & Xihongmen Shopping: Where to Eat and Base Yourself
• Staying on Beijing Metro Line 8 — Staying on Beijing Metro Line 8: Why Wufutang Works as a Base for the Hutongs and the City Centre
• Where to Stay in South Beijing — Where to Stay in South Beijing: Fengtai vs Daxing Compared
• Beijing travel times: how long things really take — Beijing Travel Times: How Long Things Actually Take, and How Many Sights Fit in a Day
• Watching Beijing Guo'an at the Workers' Stadium — Watching Beijing Guo'an at the Workers' Stadium: A Foreigner's Match-Day Guide
• Laundry in Beijing — Laundry in Beijing: Hotel Services, Self-Service Laundromats and Same-Day Options for Travellers
• Supermarkets and Grocery Shopping in Beijing — Supermarkets and Grocery Shopping in Beijing: Where Foreigners Buy Western Food, Snacks and Supplies
• Receiving and Sending Packages in Beijing — Receiving and Sending Packages in Beijing: Fengchao Lockers, Cainiao Stations and the Post Office
• Travelers' Diarrhea in Beijing — Travelers' Diarrhea in Beijing: What to Buy, What to Eat, and When to See a Doctor
• Beijing to Hong Kong by High-Speed Rail — Beijing to Hong Kong by High-Speed Rail: Booking, the Border Check and Arriving at West Kowloon
• Buying or Repairing a Phone in Beijing — Buying or Repairing a Phone in Beijing: Official Stores, Gray Market and Warranty Realities for Visitors
• Jet Lag and Your First Day in Beijing — Jet Lag and Your First Day in Beijing: An Arrival-Day Plan That Works
• Period Products and Women's Health Basics in Beijing — Period Products and Women's Health Basics in Beijing: What Pharmacies Stock
• Vaccinations Before Beijing — Vaccinations Before a Trip to Beijing: What's Required, What's Recommended, and What You Can Skip
• Extending Your Stay in Beijing — Extending Your Stay in Beijing: Visa Extensions, Stay Permits, and the Exit-Entry Bureau
• What to Wear in Beijing — What to Wear in Beijing: A Season-by-Season Packing and Dress Guide
• China's M Visa for Short Business Trips — China's M Visa for Short Business Trips: Invitation Letters and What Counts as Business
• Packing a Small First-Aid Kit for Beijing — Packing a Small First-Aid Kit for Beijing: What to Bring vs What to Buy on Arrival
• Do You Need a Visa for Beijing? A Plain-English Guide for Passport Holders Without Visa-Free Entry — Do You Need a Visa for Beijing? A Plain-English Guide for Passport Holders Without Visa-Free Entry
• Beijing Emergency Numbers — Beijing Emergency Numbers: Who to Call and What Happens Next
• Trying Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing — Trying Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing: Hospitals, Prices and Safety Rules
• Where to Leave Your Bags in Beijing — Where to Leave Your Bags in Beijing: Lockers, Left-Luggage and Free Transfers
• Beijing Metro Security Queues at Peak Hours — Beijing Metro Security Queues at Peak Hours: Which Stations and Exits Have the Shortest Lines
• Watching the National Flag-Raising Ceremony at Tiananmen Square — Watching the National Flag-Raising Ceremony at Tiananmen Square
• Buying Medicine in Beijing — Buying Medicine in Beijing: Hospital Pharmacies vs Street Pharmacies for Foreigners
• Card Declined in Beijing — Card Declined in Beijing: Why It Happens and Your Cash Backup Plan
• Smoking, Drinking and Noise Rules — Smoking, Drinking and Noise Rules in Beijing: What Actually Gets You Fined
• Lost Something in Beijing — Lost Something in Beijing: How to Get Your Phone, Bag or Wallet Back
• Can You Drive in China as a Visitor? Guided Great Wall & Countryside Drives Explained — Can You Drive in China as a Visitor? Guided Great Wall & Countryside Drives Explained
• Beijing's Vintage & Flea Market Scene — Beijing's Vintage & Flea Market Scene: Panjiayuan and Beyond — What's Real, What's Repro, and How to Ship It Home
• Working Remotely in Beijing — Working Remotely in Beijing: Co-Working Spaces, Cafés, Day Passes and the Wi-Fi Reality
• Reading a Chinese Menu in Beijing — How to Read a Chinese Menu in Beijing: Characters, Photos and Dianping
• Birdwatching in Beijing — Birdwatching in Beijing: Wetlands, Migration and Raptor Passes
• Overcharged in Beijing — Overcharged in Beijing: How to Complain and Actually Get Your Money Back
• S2 Commuter Train to Badaling — The S2 Commuter Train to Badaling: Tickets, Seats, and Whether It Beats the Bus
• Ordering Food Delivery in Beijing with Meituan and Ele.me as a Foreigner — Ordering Food Delivery in Beijing with Meituan and Ele.me as a Foreigner
• Overnight Sleeper Trains from Beijing — Overnight Sleeper Trains from Beijing: Soft Sleepers to Xi'an, Shanghai and Beyond
• Beijing in Summer: Heat, Humidity and Mosquitoes — Surviving Beijing in Summer: Heat, Humidity, Mosquitoes and What to Actually Do
• Embassies and Consulates in Beijing — Embassies and Consulates in Beijing: What Your Government Can Actually Do for You
• Water in Beijing — Water in Beijing: What to Drink, Where to Refill, and Why the Room Has a Kettle
• Cancelled or Delayed China High-Speed Train? How to Get Your Refund or Compensation — Cancelled or Delayed China High-Speed Train? How to Get Your Refund or Compensation
• Beijing Movie Theatres for Foreigners — Beijing Movie Theatres for Foreigners: Booking Tickets, Subtitled Screenings and IMAX Options
• Moving to Beijing for Work — Moving to Beijing for Work: The Z Visa, Work Permit and Residence Permit, Step by Step
• SIM Cards and eSIM for Under-18s in Beijing — SIM Cards and eSIM for Under-18s in Beijing: What Parents Need to Know
• Beijing Cat Cafés and Animal Encounters — Beijing Cat Cafés and Animal Encounters: Prices, Booking and Welfare
• Mental Health Support in English in Beijing — Mental Health Support in English in Beijing: Counsellors, Teletherapy, Hotlines and Costs
• Getting Vaccinated in Beijing — Getting Vaccinated in Beijing: Flu Shots, Rabies Post-Exposure and Travel Clinics
• Buying Prescription Glasses and Contact Lenses in Beijing — Buying Prescription Glasses and Contact Lenses in Beijing: Eye Exams, Same-Day Lenses, Prices
• Great Wall With Limited Mobility — The Great Wall With Limited Mobility: Which Sections Actually Work
• Home Broadband in a Beijing Rental — Home Broadband in a Beijing Rental: ISPs, Installation, Contracts and Moving Out
• Beijing Hotel Check-In and Your Room — Beijing Hotel Check-In and Your Room: What to Expect, Step by Step
• Hiring an Ayi (Housekeeper) in Beijing — Hiring an Ayi (Housekeeper) in Beijing: Apps, Hourly vs Live-in, Costs and Etiquette

Where to stay — both welcome foreign guests

Both KOULING hotels accept Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, and sit steps from a subway line: