Beijing
The Forbidden City, old hutong lanes and the Great Wall within a day trip.
Find flights to Beijing
Pick your airport and month and we'll open live fares for the first direct flight. You can change the date on the next page.
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What Beijing is like
Beijing is China's capital, a huge city of imperial palaces, temples and old hutong lanes, with the Great Wall within a day trip.
Don't miss
- 01Forbidden CityThe vast imperial palace. Book ahead.
- 02Temple of HeavenWhere emperors prayed for good harvests.
- 03Summer PalaceLakeside gardens and pavilions.
- 04HutongsOld lanes and courtyard houses, best by bike.
Where to stay
- DongchengCentral, near the Forbidden City.
- SanlitunModern, with bars and restaurants.
Worth knowing
The Forbidden City is the largest surviving palace complex in the world.
Mutianyu: the Great Wall in the hills
Photo: Velatrix · CC0
A restored section of the Great Wall along forested ridges, with a cable car and a toboggan down.
Direct flights to Beijing from the UK
| From | Airlines | Months with flights | Distance | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Hainan Airlines | All year | 4,931 mi | Fares → |
| Heathrow | Air China · China Southern | All year | 5,067 mi | Fares → |
From the airlines' and Heathrow Airport's own timetables for October 2026 to September 2027. Pick an airport to see the exact days.
Weather in Beijing by month
Average daytime highs. The warmest months are June, July, August.
| Month | Day | Night | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3° | -7° | – |
| February | 6° | -4° | – |
| March | 13° | 2° | – |
| April | 21° | 9° | – |
| May | 28° | 15° | – |
| June | 31° | 20° | – |
| July | 32° | 23° | – |
| August | 31° | 22° | – |
| September | 27° | 16° | – |
| October | 20° | 8° | – |
| November | 11° | 0° | – |
| December | 4° | -5° | – |
Long-term averages from the national weather service's station record, as compiled on Wikipedia (Beijing). This station doesn't publish a count of rainy days with at least 1mm, so we don't show one.
Before you go
- Until 31 December 2026 you can visit visa-free for up to 30 days; after that, check whether you need a visa.
- You must register your address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do this when you check in.
- Your passport must expire at least 6 months after you arrive and have 2 blank pages.
From the Foreign Office's China travel advice, checked on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so check it before you travel.