China’s capital Beijing always makes for a very special travel destination. The city promises to be an unforgettable destination not only due to its location and climate, but also thanks to the culture and mentality of its inhabitants. Many visitors return.
From April to October is a particularly good time to visit Beijing. During these months countless festivals and public holidays are celebrated in the city. Popular festivals are the International Beer Festival, which is Cina’s October Fest and the traditional Daxing Watermelon Festival. Several Temple festivals also take place throughout the year and are a welcome contrast to the many street festivals. The Chinese new Year, celebrated on the first full moon of the year, between 21. January and 21 February, is also a good time to visit.
British passport holder will need a visa to visit Beijing as a tourist. Visas are valid 30 days and passport should be valid for at least 6 months as well as having one or two empty pages for entry stamps. It is advisable to have booster vaccines for the usual diseases, however, this is not compulsory. Please also consult the Foreign office travel website before travelling. It is not advisable to drink tap water in China, please drink bottled water, or filter or boil tap water before consumption. There are several markets in Beijing selling souvenirs. Prices on restaurants and supermarkets can be up to 50 percent lower than in the UK.
The Airport shuttle bus and Express Railway will take travellers from Beijing airport to the city centre and vice versa for around 30 CNY. The local buses from airport to central Beijing are a cheaper alternative, costing around a third. Taxis are between 100 and 200 CNY depending on the exact destination. Accommodation prices vary as always. A guesthouse or backpacker hostel will cost around 60 CNY, rooms in 3 star hotels are available for about 240 CNY upwards per person per night. An affordable underground system will transport you anywhere in the city, or you can take one of the many buses in the inner city region as well as suburbs. Taxis start at about 20 CNY for the first km and cost about 2.50 CNY for every km thereafter. Cycling around the city is a wonderful way of exploring Beijing.
| Flight duration | min. 10:00 / max. 10:30 |
|---|---|
| Return flight duration | min. 11:20/ max. 11:35 |
| Distance | 8146 km |
| Flights per week | 27 |
| Departure airport | Airport London (LCY, LGW, LHR, LTN, STN, SEN) (LON) |
| Arrival airport | Airport Beijing International (PEK) |
| Destination country | Flights to China |