Where to Stay in Beijing | Best Accommodation Areas 2025

As the capital city of China, its political, cultural and economic center, and also home to more than 200 tourist attractions including the centuries-old "Seven Wonders of the World" the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and entertaining themed park Universal Studios, etc., Beijing ranks the first among the most popular tourist destinations in China and is also the gateway to other cities in China. A trip to Beijing usually takes 2 to 5 days, but there's no need to worry about where to stay in Beijing since there are lots of hotels. However, due to the layout of most Beijing sight spots, you're highly recommended to stay in four areas - 3 areas in Beijing inner city (Wangfujing Area, Qianmen Area, Hutong Area), and the Great Wall Area in the suburb.

Beijng Attractions Map
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4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package (Leisure Paced)

Itinerary: Beijing
Highlights: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, Local Family Visit

Top 3 Areas to Stay in Beijing Inner City – Most Convenient & Most Recommended

Since most of the Beijing highlights are surrounding Forbidden City within 2nd city ring including Tiananmen Square, National Museum of China, Beijing Hutongs, Wangfujing, Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, etc., you're highly suggested to stay nearby. Near the city center Forbidden City, where most good hotels are located can be divided into Wangfujing Area, Hutong Area, and Qianmen Area. It's very convenient for visitors to travel from the three areas to most attractions in the city, for Beijing has an efficient transportation system. So it's a good idea that you decide where to stay according to your interests, itinerary, and budget.

Beijing Hotels Region Map
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Wangfujing Area – Closest to Most Beijing Attractions

Wangfujing (王府井) is in the east of Forbidden City. For travelers, living in this area will save more time and strength, for it's not far from Lama Temple and most popular hutongs in the north and near Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven in the south. You can walk only for a few minutes to make a transfer among most inner-city attractions. Moreover, it's not far from Dongzhimen Bus Station (东直门站), where you can take a direct bus to different sections of the Great Wall in the Beijing suburb, the must-see world wonder in Beijing, at fixed times.

Wangfujing is the busiest modern business street in Beijing, and also a snack street and night market with diverse styled architecture. Home to around 280 stores and restaurants it involves many large shopping malls with a great number of international brands. It also has a Wangfujing Snack Street selling nationwide snacks, souvenirs, and folk crafts. Living in this area offers you opportunities to fit into prosperous contemporary Beijing.

Sunworld Hotel in Beijing

3 Days Beijing Essential Highlights Tour

Itinerary: Beijing
Highlights: Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Mutianyu Great Wall, Hutong, Bird's Nest, Water Cube

Qianmen Area – Foodie Paradise

Qianmen Area (前门区) is between Tiananmen Square in the north and Temple of Heaven in the south. It is centered on the 840m-long Qianmen Pedestrian Street. Compared with the Wangfujin area, Qianmen preserves more Beijing favor. It has fewer business shopping malls and more local specialized outlets such as cloth markets, jewelry markets, craftsman workshops, etc., as well as more time-honored snack shops and restaurants such as Quanjude (全聚德), BianyiFang (便宜坊), Donglaishun (东来顺), Liubiju (六必居) and also foreign cafes and fast-food brands such as Haagen Dazs, Starbucks and KFC. You can really satisfy your belly if living nearby.

You can take a tourist bus at the nearby Beijing Tourist Distribution Center (北京旅游集散中心前门中心店) to the Great Wall. Besides, it's close to Beijing South Railway Station, the largest train station and a principal pivot departing and receiving the most trains in Beijing, and not far from Beijing West Railway Station. If you plan another trip to hot cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xian, etc., in China, then secure accommodation in this area.

Beijing Xinqiao Hotel

Hutong Area – Closer to Local Beijing Life

In this Hutong Area (胡同区), there are many famous hutongs like Yandaixiejie Hutong, Nanluoguxiang Hutong, Shichahai Hutong Area, and others, formed by traditional quadrangle courtyards some even with a history of over 700 years. Stay deep in the area and the labyrinthine alleyways of Beijing Hutongs will tell the various stories that happened in each period and show the historical development and cultural change of Beijing city to you. For an in-depth Beijing tour to experience authentic Beijing life, this Hutong area must be your first choice. Furthermore, it's close to Summer Palace, 798 Art Zone, Lama Temple, and Dongzhimen Bus Station as well.

5 Days Fantastic Universal Studios Beijing Tour - Best for Family

Itinerary: Beijing
Highlights: Universal Studios Beijing, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Kungfu Show, Hutong Local Family Visit, Beijing Zoo Panda

Recommended Hotels around the Great Wall

In fact, usually we suggest travelers accommodate in Beijing city, for most sight spots gather in the inner city, and since Beijing as an international city has convenient transportation, it's very easy to make transfers to the Great Wall.

For travelers who are scheduled to hike the Great Wall early in the morning and see marvelous sunrise, or late in the afternoon to watch a beautiful dusk, especially in the JInshanling Great Wall, it's highly recommended to stay around. If you long for a majestic night view in the Simatai Great, living at its foot in the Gubei Water Town will be an excellent choice. However, the Great Wall sections are all in the suburbs of Beijing far from Beijing City and there are only a few star-level hotels to choose. If you want to stay nearby but are worried about the hotel conditions, you can contact us China Discovery and we'll choose comfortable hotels with a good location and nice service.

Jinshanling Great Wall Hotel

4 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Simatai Great Wall Night Sightseeing

Itinerary: Beijing / Jinshanling / Simatai / Gubeikou Water Town / Beijing
Highlights: Jinshanling Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall Evening Sightseeing, Gubei Water Town

How to Plan Your Travel in Beijing

To explore Beijing's highlights, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall (with Mutianyu as the top recommendation), the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and the Beijing Hutongs - plan for about 4 days, including arrival and departure.

☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

☛ 3 Days Beijing Essential Highlights Tour

If you have extra days, consider hiking the scenic Jinshanling Great Wall, enjoying the stunning night views of Simatai Great Wall, or visiting other sections like Huanghuacheng, Gubeikou, and Juyongguan.

☛ 4 Days Beijing Essence Tour with Simatai Great Wall Night Sightseeing

☛ 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

Families with children should not miss Universal Beijing Resort, while museum enthusiasts should visit the National Museum of China, home to the nation's most valuable treasures.

☛ 5 Days Beijing Family-friendly Tour with Universal Studios Fun

☛ 5 Days In-depth Beijing Tour with History and Culture Discovery

As a major transportation hub, Beijing offers easy access to other top destinations in China by flight or train, such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, and Tibet. China Discovery provides a variety of tour packages from Beijing, or we can customize an itinerary to suit your preferences.

Recommended Beijing Tours with Other Top Cities in China:

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☛ 8 Days Best of China Tour (Beijing - Xian - Shanghai)

☛ 10 Days Classic China Tour from Beijing (Beijing - Xian - Guilin - Shanghai)

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