Super Detailed Beijing Budget Travel Guide: Explore the Capital for Around 1,000 Yuan Per Person!

Introduction Beijing, a captivating blend of ancient capital and modern metropolis, offers countless attractions and delicious food. Even on a budget, you can create wonderful memories and experiences—let's start your Beijing journey! Best Time to Visit Beijing has a warm temperate semi-humid and semi-arid monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of around 11.8°C and four distinct seasons. Spring is windy with sandstorms, summer is hot and rainy, autumn has clear skies and pleasant weather, while winter is cold and dry. Generally, April-May and September-October are the best times to visit Beijing, with comfortable temperatures and beautiful scenery. However, each season has its unique charm—it's up to you to choose. District Travel Guides with Recommended Attractions and Food Tiananmen Square Area • Attractions: Tiananmen Square is the heart of Beijing. The daily morning flag-raising ceremony is solemn and impressive, attracting numerous visitors—be sure to arrive early for a good spot. Nearby important sites include the Monument to the People's Heroes and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (advance reservation required), which you can visit together to experience the capital's dignity and historical heritage. • Food: Not far from Tiananmen Square is Qianmen Street, which features various Beijing specialties such as zhajiang noodles, aiwowo (sweet rice cakes), and wandouhuang (mung bean cake). The flavors are authentic, giving your taste buds a full experience of Old Beijing cuisine. • Nearby Scenery: Walking along Qianmen Street, you can see buildings and shops with Old Beijing style. At night, the brightly lit street becomes lively and bustling—perfect for enjoying the scenery while sampling delicious food. The Forbidden City • Attractions: The Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with nearly 600 years of history. Its magnificent architectural complex and rich collection of cultural relics showcase the majesty and luxury of ancient imperial power. You can rent an audio guide to learn about the history and cultural significance behind the Forbidden City, or purchase some cultural creative products as souvenirs. • Food: After visiting the Forbidden City, a short walk takes you to Nanluoguxiang, a famous Beijing hutong and food paradise. You'll find various snacks like luzhu huoshao (stewed pork intestines with fried bread), douzhir jiaoquan (fermented mung bean juice with fried ring), baodu (boiled tripe), and more. Though delicious, some snacks have unique flavors that require courage to try! • Nearby Scenery: After Nanluoguxiang, you can visit Shichahai, with its expansive waters and traditional architecture. Take a boat ride to enjoy the scenery and experience Old Beijing's charm. In summer, Shichahai is surrounded by lush trees with lotus flowers blooming on the lake; in winter, the frozen lake presents a different kind of beauty, with people playing on the ice, full of everyday life. Summer Palace • Attractions: As China's largest and best-preserved royal garden, the Summer Palace is famous for its exquisite garden architecture and beautiful natural scenery. You can enter through the East Palace Gate and stroll along Kunming Lake, enjoying the lake views and famous structures like the Long Corridor and Tower of Buddhist Incense, experiencing the luxury and magnificence of imperial gardens. • Food: Near the Summer Palace are small restaurants where you can taste authentic Beijing cuisine such as shredded pork with Beijing sauce and kung pao chicken at relatively affordable prices. You can also rest at teahouses or cafes inside the garden and enjoy some snacks and drinks, though prices inside are somewhat higher. • Nearby Scenery: After the Summer Palace, you can visit the Old Summer Palace, once known as the "Garden of Gardens." Although only ruins remain, you can still sense its former glory and reflect on the changes throughout history. Badaling Great Wall • Attractions: "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man." Badaling is the best-preserved and most representative section of the Ming Great Wall, winding through steep mountains with an impressive and magnificent presence. You can choose to hike up, experiencing the grandeur of "conquering the Great Wall with one step," or take the cable car up and down to appreciate the Great Wall's beauty from different angles. • Food: Near Badaling Great Wall are farmhouse restaurants and small eateries where you can enjoy local farm dishes like free-range chicken with mushrooms and stir-fried wild vegetables. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. There are also special snacks like roasted sweet potatoes and candied haws that you can eat while walking, adding fun to your Great Wall adventure. • Nearby Scenery: Besides the Great Wall itself, the surrounding natural landscape is beautiful, with rolling hills, dense forests, and fresh air, allowing you to enjoy nature and relax while experiencing history and culture. National Museum of China and China Science and Technology Museum • Attractions: The National Museum of China is the world's largest museum in terms of single building area. Its rich and diverse collections cover history, culture, art, and other fields. Through visiting the exhibitions, you can gain a deep understanding of China's development and brilliant civilization from ancient times to the present. The China Science and Technology Museum is a technological palace integrating science education, exhibitions, and interactive experiences. It has many interesting and educational exhibitions and experimental projects suitable for visitors of all ages, especially families with children. • Food: There are many restaurants and food stalls near both venues where you can choose according to your taste and budget. Near the National Museum, there are restaurants featuring Old Beijing specialties where you can taste zhizi roast meat and copper pot hot pot; near the China Science and Technology Museum, there are fast food restaurants and cafes for convenience. • Nearby Scenery: After visiting the museums, you can explore the nearby Olympic Park, home to famous Olympic venues like the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. When the lights come on at night, they are particularly dazzling and perfect for photos, allowing you to experience modern Beijing's fashion and vitality. Accommodation Recommendations • Youth Hostels: Beijing has many youth hostels that are relatively inexpensive and mostly located in convenient areas near subway or bus stations. They usually offer dormitory rooms and a few private rooms with complete public facilities. You can also meet travelers from around the world and share travel experiences. Beijing West Railway Station Youth Hostel and Wudaoying Hutong International Youth Hostel are good choices. • Budget Hotels: Chain hotels like Hanting, Home Inn, and 7 Days Inn are widely distributed in Beijing with moderate prices and clean, tidy rooms that meet your basic accommodation needs. Choose hotels near subway stations for convenient travel and sightseeing. • Homestays: Through homestay booking platforms, you can choose to stay in siheyuan courtyard houses in hutongs to experience Old Beijing's atmosphere, or in rural farmhouses to enjoy pastoral scenery and a quiet environment. When choosing homestays, pay attention to reviews and actual housing conditions to ensure safe and comfortable accommodation. Transportation Guide • City Transportation: Beijing's subway network is very developed, covering almost all major attractions and commercial areas, making it the first choice for budget travelers. Subway fares are calculated by distance, generally between 2-8 yuan, economical and convenient. In addition, bus routes are extensive and can reach places that the subway cannot directly access, with fares mostly 1-2 yuan, equally economical. You can purchase a transportation card that offers discounts for subway and bus travel after loading money. • Suburban Transportation: To reach suburban attractions like the Badaling Great Wall, you can take special bus lines or tourist coaches. For example, bus route 877 from Deshengmen goes directly to the foot of Badaling Great Wall for about 12 yuan. You can also choose carpooling or taxis, though costs are relatively higher and more suitable when traveling with others to share expenses. Important Notes • Advance Reservations: Many attractions in Beijing require advance reservations, especially popular sites like the Forbidden City and National Museum, to avoid being unable to enter when you arrive. • Weather Awareness: Beijing's weather can be changeable, with significant temperature differences between morning and evening even in the same season. Check the weather forecast before traveling, dress appropriately, and carry common medications like cold medicine and motion sickness pills for emergencies. • Safety Precautions: During your tour, take care of your belongings, especially in crowded places like subway stations, train stations, and attraction entrances, to prevent theft. Also, ensure your safety when visiting ancient buildings or engaging in outdoor activities by following relevant regulations and not climbing or touching cultural relics. • Responsible Tourism: As China's capital and a historical and cultural city, Beijing has rich cultural heritage and historical sites. During your travel, respect local cultural customs and religious beliefs, protect the environment, don't litter, don't damage cultural relics, and be a civilized traveler to preserve the beauty for future visitors.