Beijing

Beijing is China's monumental capital — a city where imperial palaces and Ming-dynasty temples sit beside a fast-moving modern metropolis. For most first-time visitors it's the essential starting point: the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace all crowd into the city centre, while the Great Wall snakes across the mountains just an hour to the north.

Beyond the headline sights, Beijing rewards slow exploration. Duck into the hutongs (the old alleyway neighbourhoods) around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang, sip tea in a lakeside teahouse, and eat your way through the snack streets. The contrast between the vast imperial scale of the centre and the intimate, lived-in lanes is what makes the city so compelling.

Getting there: Beijing Capital (PEK) and the newer Daxing (PKX) are both major international gateways. The city is also China's high-speed rail hub — bullet trains connect it to Shanghai (about 4.5 hours), Xi'an (4.5 hours) and most major cities.

Getting around: The metro is cheap, extensive and signs are in English — it's the easiest way to move between sights. For shorter hops use taxis or Didi (China's ride-hail app); carry your destination written in Chinese, as few drivers speak English. Cycling is also a fine way to explore the flat central districts.

Beijing's signature dish is Peking duck — roasted until the skin is lacquered and crisp, then carved at the table and wrapped in pancakes. Beyond it, look for zhajiangmian (noodles in fermented bean sauce), jianbing (a savoury breakfast crepe), Mongolian-style hotpot, and the candied hawthorn skewers called tanghulu. The hutongs around Wangfujing and Niujie (the Muslim quarter) are the best places to graze.

Apr–May and Sep–Oct (mild, clear skies)

Book the Forbidden City and the National Museum well ahead — timed tickets sell out. Go to the Great Wall at Mutianyu rather than Badaling if you want fewer crowds. Carry your hotel name in Chinese, keep some cash as a backup, and check the air-quality index before planning outdoor days.