$489+ Cheap flights to Beijing, China

Beijing climate

Beijing has a monsoon-influenced climate. The summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold and dry.

Getting around Beijing

It’s not necessary to rent a car in Beijing (foreigners are allowed to rent cars now) as taxis are very cheap and the public transport system is excellent. The subway is fast, clean, punctual and cheap. The bus network is comprehensive and enormous. There are about 500 routes, but numbers 1-199 should be sufficient for getting around the city centre. 

What is good to know if travelling to Beijing?

• Local Beijingers don’t bother with the Panjiayuan Dirt Market, preferring instead to go to the Baoguosi Flea Market in Xuanwu District. The prices for antiques and Cultural Revolution items are reasonable. 
• Tipping is not expected in Beijing. 
• You can’t visit Beijing and not go to see the Great Wall. The Badaling sections are where most of the other tourists will go. If you go on an organised tour to Badaling, a visit to the Ming Tombs (a World Heritage Site) is often included. However, if you can spare the time and you have the money, go to Mutianyu. It’s about 60km northeast of Beijing. This section of the Wall is largely intact and it’s a wonderful place to hike and bike. Alternatively, there are two cable cars that will carry you to the top of Mutianyu Great Wall. 
• Beijing has some wonderful, serene parks including Yuetan Park (west Beijing). Visit in the evening and breathe in the heavily scented air. That’ll be from the pomegranate, phoenix and osmanthus trees. 
• Ritan is site of the Temple of the Sun. The altar was used for ritual sacrifices… hundreds of years ago. 
• A foot massage in Beijing can cost a fraction of what it does at home. Our favourite is at the Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat, opposite the Workers’ Stadium (north gate). The traditional foot massage takes 90 minutes. Sheer bliss.