20 tips for Beijing, China: when to go, things to do, food, getting around, and monthly rent by neighborhood. Checked by the My Nomad Dream team.
1-bedroom apartment, 12-month lease, checked Oct 2026: Chaoyang (CBD, Sanlitun), 7,500 – 13,000 yuan; Haidian (Wudaokou), 6,000 – 11,000 yuan.
More important than the neighborhood: stay close to a metro station. First time? Dongcheng and Chaoyang are the most convenient for the sights. But it's not worth paying a big premium just to stay in the touristy areas.
Hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The seasons swing much more than in the rest of Asia.
Coffee culture has exploded: from tiny cafés hidden in hutongs to specialty spots full of laptops. Americano 15 to 20 yuan, milk drinks 20 to 30, specialty 30 to 45. With an eSIM and a VPN, working from cafés feels normal.
The creator spent about 3,800 yuan in 10 days (about US$500), including accommodation, food, transport, coffee and insurance. Food came to around 80 yuan a day.
The metro is the backbone: clean, signs in English, 3 to 7 yuan a ride. Some stations are huge, and changing lines or finding the exit takes minutes. The city is enormous: crossing it takes 40 minutes or more even by metro. Plan your days by area.