Beijing, the capital of China, is a city steeped in history. As one of the oldest cities in the world with a history spanning over 3,000 years, it offers a fascinating mix of the old and the new. Today, you can see ancient red palace walls standing right next to giant glass skyscrapers.
My last visit to Beijing was in 2013 with my family. 12 years later, I revisited this incredible city with H and Y. Beijing has changed a lot over the years. It used to be a quiet city filled with small alleyways called hutongs and traditional courtyard homes. In recent decades, it has grown incredibly fast into a modern megacity. Despite these big changes, Beijing still keeps its history alive.
On this trip, our main purpose was to introduce the culture and language to Y. Thankfully, after the trip, he expanded his vocabulary from just "有" (have) to "我要/不要" (I want/don't want), and more. I’m even thinking of sending him to a Chinese summer camp in the future!
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Beijing Trip Summary
- Day 1: Arrival – Check-in – Gong Mansion – Qian Hai Park – Hutongs – Wangfujing
- Day 2: Temple of Heaven – Beijing Museum of Natural History
- Day 3: Pop Mart Park – 798 Art Zone
- Day 4: Children’s Discovery Museum / Great Wall of China
- Day 5: Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
- Day 6: Last Minute Shopping + Departure
Essential Beijing Travel Logistics (Read Before You Go)
Don't leave home without downloading these 3 China apps!
Traveling to China requires a specific set of apps because the digital ecosystem is completely different from the rest of the world. Most Western apps (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Uber) are blocked, and cash is rarely used.
1. Payment (The Absolute Essentials)
You cannot survive easily in China without mobile payments. While cash is legally accepted, vendors often do not have change, and some automated services only take digital payments.
- Tip: Don’t change too much cash! I highly recommend downloading both Alipay and WeChat Pay, as not all vendors accept both. For example, Hema Fresh supermarkets only accept Alipay.
- Alipay (Zhifubao): The most foreigner-friendly app. You can now link foreign credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) directly without a Chinese bank account.
- WeChat (Weixin): The all-in-one "Super App" for messaging and payments. Like Alipay, you can link international cards.
- Note: There is a transaction charge of 3% for transactions above 200 RMB.
2. Navigation
Google Maps does not work reliably in China due to the "China GPS shift" and lack of data.
- We used: Amap (Gaode Maps). It is updated, accurate, and easy to use (though mostly in Chinese).
3. Transport
We used DiDi (China's Uber) for all our trips! It is convenient, and if the driver deviates from the route, the app even provides a small compensation.
- Trip.com: Essential for booking High-Speed Trains and hotels. It connects to the Chinese system but accepts foreign cards.
- DiDi: It has an auto-translate chat function, so you can message the driver in English and they see Chinese.
4. Internet Access (The "Great Firewall")
To access Google, Instagram, or WhatsApp, you need a workaround.
- Recommendation: We purchased an eSIM from Shopee, and it worked perfectly! I highly recommend getting an eSIM instead of a VPN for better reliability.
Day 1: Arrival & Ancient Mansions
We took a red-eye flight from Singapore and arrived at Beijing Daxing Airport. Immigration took almost 1.5 hours to clear. Do note that there are 2 airport in Beijing. Beijing Capital International Airport ( PEK ) and Beijing Da Xing International Airport (PKX) . Since we had 3 adults, 1 toddler, and luggage, a normal car was too small, so we booked a private transport to our hotel (approx. 1 hour drive).
- Alternative: Take the Daxing Airport Express train to Caoqiao Station or book a DiDi.
Check-in: Swissotel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Center Thankfully, our rooms were ready upon arrival. We freshened up and immediately set off for our first attraction.
Prince Kung’s Mansion (Gong Wang Fu)
This is the most well-preserved royal mansion in Beijing, once home to the powerful Prince Gong. It is often described as "half the history of the Qing Dynasty." The mansion's garden is said to rival even the Imperial Palace!
There is no direct drop-off at the mansion. Drivers usually drop you at the roadside, and you have to walk in.
- Tickets: We didn’t book in advance but managed to buy tickets onsite by showing our passports at the counter (we couldn't pay via the mini-app).
- Address: No. 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District.
- Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays).
After the mansion, we walked to Qian Hai. The lakeside is lined with small shops. We tried several street foods—the Bean Juice (Douzhi) was memorable, though definitely an acquired taste! Do try the yogurt and other snacks along the street!
For lunch, we visited Ma Ke Restaurant (马凯餐厅). This place specializes in Hunan Cuisine (Xiang Cai). The food was excellent, especially the Dong Bo Meat and mutton skewers! Highly recommend to try if you are sick of having pekin duck for every meal!
- Location: 3 Di'anmenwai Ave, Shichahai.
We continued to explore the Beijing Hutongs—ancient, narrow alleyways that form the traditional heart of the city. We found a seat at Café by Alba (many cafes were full!) to enjoy the mix of historic homes and trendy vibes.
- Address: 70 Gulou E Ave, Dongcheng.
In the evening, We took a taxi to Wangfujing Street for dinner. It’s packed with restaurants, street food, and massive LED screens. A great way to end the first night!
Day 2: Temple of Heaven & Dinosaurs
We started with breakfast at a local eatery - 老磁器口豆汁店 right outside Temple of Heaven. Unfortunately, the food served were cold and we were disappointed with the food.
Thankfully, we found a hidden gem—a bun shop right outside! A local lady told us she stops here every week just for these buns. She was right; the walnut bun was flavorful and delicious!
Temple of Heaven This massive complex is where Emperors prayed for good harvests. The iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a wooden masterpiece built without a single nail.
- Tip: Arrive early! The park is a hub for locals practicing Tai Chi. Locals enter the park for free, but tourists need a ticket.
- Tickets: Buy the Combo Ticket to access the temple; the basic ticket is just for the park.
- Address: 1 Tiantan East Road, Dongcheng District.
We had a break at Tiantan Restaurant (天坛餐厅) near the West Gate. The interior is beautiful, and the desserts were impressive.
National Natural History Museum of China
Located right next to the Temple of Heaven, this was a hit with Y! It houses over 200,000 specimens, including a world-class collection of dinosaur fossils. We spent almost 2 hours there and we didn't even finish walking!
- Address: 126 Tianqiao South Street.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays).
We had an early dinner at Pekin Chamber, and it didn’t disappoint! The service and food were so good that we visited twice during this trip.
Pekin Duck is the highlight! skin was crispy and sauce goes really well! Not forgetting the mixed bean sprout with sauce! We even visit their first oversea outlet in Singapore Sentosa after the trip!
Day 3: Pop Mart & Art Zones
We started the day with a surprisingly good breakfast at our hotel/nearby cafe. Then, we headed to Chaoyang Park to visit the world’s first Pop Mart Park.
It’s a paradise for collectors of Labubu, Molly, and Dimoo, featuring character zones and Molly’s Castle. While it’s a hit for die-hard fans, we actually found it a bit boring for us personally.
- Tip: Buy tickets online as it is cheaper than onsite.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
I visited this chain 10 years ago, and the food is still just as good today! It is famous for its Manchu and North eastern China food style! The highlight was crispy prawns were delicious! Love the ambience and service!
- Address: Jiuxianqiao N Rd, Chaoyang.
This is the center of Beijing's modern art scene. Decommissioned military factories have been converted into galleries and cafes. The Bauhaus architecture and street art make it perfect for photos. Visit in the afternoon as many galleries don't open until 11:00 AM. Wear comfortable shoes—the area is huge!
We visited one of the newest malls in Beijing - San Li Tun and had Peking Duck again! We tried a different restaurant this time. I loved that they served small portions, which was perfect for us.
Day 4: Children’s Discovery Museum aka Lao Niu Children's Discovery Museum
Y’s favorite attraction of the entire trip! It is designed for kids aged 0–7 and is fully hands-on with zones like a mini-supermarket, construction site, and water play area.
Tickets are sold for specific sessions. We arrived at 11:00 AM only to be told the morning session ended at 12:00 PM. We ended up coming back for the afternoon session. Book the Morning Session (9am-12pm) OR Afternoon Session (2pm-5pm). Bring extra clothes for your little one!
- Address: 43 Ping'anli West Street, Xicheng District.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (Closed Mondays).
We wanted to try the famous Hu Da, but it was super crowded! We ended up at a local eatery instead, which was a nice authentic experience.
Day 5: The Forbidden City & Seafood Feast
The Palace Museum (Forbidden City) You cannot miss the heart of Chinese history. This was the imperial palace for 24 emperors
Tickets are released 7 days in advance at 8:00 PM. They sell out in minutes! We booked via Trip.com, which only confirms the ticket 1 day before. I recommend booking for an early date in your trip so you have backup days if it fails.
- Route: Enter from the South (Meridian Gate) and exit from the North.
- Opening Hours: Closed Mondays.
We made a pitstop at JM Café, a highly raved coffee chain. The atmosphere was great, and the pastries were delicious too!
Next, we visited Hema Fresh (Freshippo). This is Alibaba’s "New Retail" concept. We were impressed by the massive tanks of live seafood! We ordered crab and abalone, which they cooked on the spot (approx. 20 mins wait).
- Tip: Go early! Most fresh items are sold out by 6:00 PM.
In the evening, We went back to Pekin Chamber for our final night. We indulged in classic Beijing dishes one last time. Be warned: the queue was long, and we waited almost 1 hour!
Day 6: Goodbye Beijing
We did some frantic last-minute shopping before heading to the airport for our evening flight back to Singapore. It was a tiring but fulfilling trip, and we left with great memories (and plenty of new Chinese words for Y!).
Other attractions in Beijing
Great Wall of China
If you have time, do not forget to visit one of the seven wonders of the world! Great wall of china was build thousands years ago and the longest man-made structure in the world (over 21,000 km) . It showcases the incredible engineering skills and sheer labor force of ancient Chinese
While there are many sections, Mutianyu is the best choice for travelers—it is fully restored but less crowded than the famous Badaling section. You can take a cable car up and slide down the mountain on a toboggan. Do note the toboggan will be close during wet weather.
Do sign for the trip without shopping as it can be really annoying.
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal park in China. It served as a summer retreat for the emperors (especially the Empress Dowager Cixi) to escape the heat of the Forbidden City. It is a massive complex of lakes, gardens, and palaces. Definitely a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design
Alternatively, there is a list of things to do in Beijing that you can check it out!
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