Beijing Travel Safety Guide — China

Safety Score: 8.8/10 · Value: 7.2/10 · Beauty: 8.2/10

Beijing has been the seat of power in China for centuries, and it still feels like the centre of everything. The big sights live up to the hype: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall an hour or two out of town. It is a huge city of more than 20 million people, and it can feel daunting once you step away from the main sights and the English signs run out. A few practical things make a big difference. Set up a VPN before you arrive, because Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are all blocked. Get Alipay or WeChat Pay working, because almost nobody takes cash. Crime is very low and the metro is cheap and easy. Autumn is the best time for clear skies and mild days, winter is bitterly cold, and spring can be dusty. Save time for the old hutong alleys and a Peking duck dinner, which is where the city feels most like itself.

Tripvey Score — estimated from travel advisories and publicly available data. Not official safety advice.