Beijing for First-Time Visitors: Airport, Metro, Payments & Tickets (2026)

Short answer: The big sights are booked online with your passport, often days ahead. The Forbidden City releases tickets at 20:00, 7 days before, and closes on Mondays.

Visa-free entry and 240-hour transit

Beijing's airports are designated ports for 240-hour visa-free transit. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces (Tibet, Xinjiang and a few other regions are not included).

Not sure which rule applies to you? Check your passport in 10 seconds or see rules by country.

Airport to the city

Beijing Capital (PEK)

Option	Time	Cost
Capital Airport Express Then change to the metro	20–30 min to Dongzhimen	~¥25
Taxi / Didi Depends heavily on traffic	40–90 min	~¥100–200

Beijing Daxing (PKX)

Option	Time	Cost
Daxing Airport Express Then change to the metro	~20 min to Caoqiao	~¥35
Taxi / Didi Daxing is far south of the centre	60–90 min	~¥150–250

Landing late, with luggage or kids? A pre-booked car meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fixed price: Beijing Capital (PEK) transfer · Beijing Daxing (PKX) transfer. (affiliate links)

Times and fares change. Check Amap or the airport's official site on the day. First time landing in China? Read arriving in China step by step.

Metro and taxis

Metro: All subway lines, including the airport lines, take contactless Visa and Mastercard at the gates. Alipay's metro QR code works too. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you fly as a backup.

Didi: Didi works well inside Alipay. Avoid rush hour (7:30–9:30 and 17:00–19:30), when the metro is much faster. See how to use Didi as a foreigner.

Hotels in Beijing

Check in with your passport: hotels register foreign guests with the police automatically at check-in, so there's nothing else to do. Compare hotels in Beijing on Trip.com (affiliate link): the site is in English, shows prices in your currency and takes foreign cards. Save the hotel's address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.

Top sights: do you need to book?

Forbidden City (Palace Museum)Booking: Online only, released 20:00 Beijing time 7 days ahead; sells out in peak seasonPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Official English booking site. Closed Mondays.

National Museum of ChinaBooking: Free, but a real-name reservation is required; released 7 days ahead and the daily quota goes fastPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Museum's official website or WeChat mini program

Mutianyu Great WallBooking: Real-name ticket, book online before you go (one ticket per passport per day)Passport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Official Mutianyu site, or a ticket plus cable car bundle · Book tickets

Temple of HeavenBooking: Usually same day is fine; book ahead for weekends and holidaysPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Beijing parks booking, or the ticket window with your passport

Summer PalaceBooking: Usually same day is fine; book ahead for weekends and holidaysPassport: Yes, bring the originalHow: Beijing parks booking, or the ticket window with your passport

"Book tickets" links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Day trips from Beijing

• Tianjin: High-speed train from Beijing South, about 30–35 min
• Mutianyu Great Wall: About 1.5–2 h by car or tour bus; the least crowded easy section

Where to go next

• Shanghai: 4.5–6 h by high-speed train
• Xi'an: 4.5–6 h by high-speed train

Booking trains: how to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner. All cities: China city guides.

Next steps for your trip

1. Fill in the arrival cardOnline, free, within 72h before landing2. Set up AlipayLink your Visa or Mastercard before you fly3. Get a China eSIMGoogle, WhatsApp & Instagram keep working · affiliate linkStuck? Ask a real personWhatsApp / WeChat · paid help from $15

FAQ

Can I use 240-hour visa-free transit in Beijing?

Yes. Beijing Capital and Daxing airports are designated ports. If you fly on to a third country or region, you can stay up to 10 days and travel across the 24 permitted provinces, not just Beijing.

Can I pay for the Beijing subway with a foreign card?

Yes. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work at the gates on every line, including the airport express lines. Alipay's metro QR code also works.

How far ahead should I book the Forbidden City?

Tickets release at 20:00 Beijing time, 7 days before your visit. In peak season they can sell out within minutes, so be online at release time.

Last verified 24 October 2026. Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] . Rules, fares and booking windows change often — confirm on official channels before you travel.