Discover

Explore China

Choose your passport, entry path, port, stay length, and interests. Visa-free travelers see nationwide ideas; transit travelers see city options bounded by the official region.

What this page answers

Discover does not invent open-ended itineraries. It filters a static decision matrix through your entry path, then shows nationwide city ideas for visa-free entry or bounded region options for transit.

Policy boundary

Use this as planning support only. The National Immigration Administration policy, airline checks, and border officer decisions remain authoritative. Stay inside the permitted area for your entry port.

Discovery boundary

Recommendations are limited to the current curated city data and, for transit users, compliant regions. Unverified sensitive details are hidden until they are checked.

China discovery panel

Change any filter and the recommendations update locally in your browser.

Policy snapshot: 2026-06-04 (2026-06-05)
Transit length
Interests

Eligibility and allowed-region snapshot

Passport is in the current 240-hour policy country list.

Transit region guides
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei linked region: beijing, tianjin, hebei

Linked-region exit rules may apply. Confirm entry and exit ports before booking.

Strongly recommended

Beijing

Mode: safe · Matched interests: Heritage

beijing
Executable units
Transport
Airport → central Beijing (fastest legal route)
  1. From PEK (Capital): take the Capital Airport Express (机场快轨) to Dongzhimen (东直门) → transfer Metro Line 2 or 13.
  2. From PKX (Daxing): take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao (草桥) → transfer Line 10 or 19.
  3. Pay by international card tap or Alipay/WeChat metro QR.
  4. Official taxi from PEK to the centre is roughly ¥100–130; use the marked taxi queue, not touts.

Verified: 2026-07-04 · Beijing Subway / Airport Express official; confirm fares on-site

Sight
Half-day central loop (under 24h stay)
  1. Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East (天安门东) → Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City (故宫).
  2. ⚠️ Forbidden City requires an online ticket booked in advance with your passport and is closed Mondays — book before you go.
  3. Walk north to Jingshan Park (景山) for a skyline view over the palace.
  4. Great Wall (Mutianyu) is a half-day trip — only if you have 144h+.

Verified: 2026-07-04 · General central-Beijing routing; Forbidden City booking rule public

Hotel
Hotels that accept foreign guests
  1. Book an international-brand or 4★+ hotel — these reliably accept foreign passports and complete the temporary-residence registration (临时住宿登记) at check-in.
  2. Many budget / hutong guesthouses cannot register foreigners; confirm it accepts foreign guests (涉外) before booking.
  3. Staying with friends: register at the local police station within 24h.

Verified: 2026-07-04 · General guidance (temporary-residence registration rule)

Medical
English-speaking medical care
  1. Beijing United Family Hospital (北京和睦家医院) — 2 Jiangtai Rd, Chaoyang District; 24h service centre 4008-919191, ER +86-10-5927-7120; full English service.
  2. ⚠️ Call ahead to confirm current hours and whether an appointment is needed before travelling.

Verified: 2026-07-04 · Beijing United Family official site / Wikipedia / travelchinaguide (2026); verify by phone

Payment
Set up mobile payment before you rely on it
  1. Install Alipay before arrival: use 'Tour Pass' or link an international card (Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB); no Chinese bank/phone needed.
  2. Verify your passport in-app to raise limits (single transaction up to ~US$5,000).
  3. Under ¥200 free; ¥200+ about 3% fee. WeChat Pay is similar. Carry some backup cash.

Verified: 2026-07-04 · Alipay-for-foreigners guides (2026); limits/fees may change

Copyable help templates
Transit area boundary check

Hi, I am using China's 240-hour transit policy and entered through Beijing. Can you help me confirm whether this destination stays inside the allowed Beijing or official linked area?

Airport to hotel

Hi! I just landed at Beijing [Capital PEK / Daxing PKX]. Is the Airport Express + Metro the fastest way to [hotel area]? Which line should I transfer to?

Hotel foreign-guest check

Hi, does your hotel accept foreign passport guests and handle temporary residence registration (临时住宿登记)?

English medical

Hi, I'm a foreign visitor and need an English-speaking doctor. Is the international department open now, and do I need an appointment?

Discovery highlights

digital exhibit

Virtual Forbidden City (360° Panorama)
Why it matters

Foreigners can preview core Forbidden City spaces on the official Palace Museum panorama site in advance, then spend transit time on the parts they care about most.

What foreigners usually don't know

Many visitors do not realize official high-resolution 360° views are already available from the Palace Museum before arrival.

Foreigner-friendly: 4/5Time: 30-60 minBooking: Online

Official source: https://pano.dpm.org.cn/ · Data as of: 2026-07-05 · verify before you go

Monetization
Shop official Palace Museum craft goods (ships worldwide)Book Forbidden City tickets

digital exhibit

Palace Museum Digital Artifact Library
Why it matters

The official digital artifact library lets foreign travelers verify object details from authoritative catalog pages before deciding which hall visits fit the allowed stay.

What foreigners usually don't know

International visitors often only see social reposted screenshots, while the museum’s own artifact library provides the canonical searchable reference.

Foreigner-friendly: 3/5Time: 30-90 minBooking: Online

Official source: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/ · Data as of: 2026-07-05 · verify before you go

Monetization
Shop official Palace Museum craft goods (ships worldwide)Book Forbidden City tickets