Explore like a local. Eat like a local. Feel like a local. While Part 1 helped you prepare for Beijing logistically — from apps to air quality — this second part is all about making your time here more meaningful, cultural, and connected. At Our Beijing, we believe great travel happens beyond the landmarks. These 6 tips are drawn from our everyday life here in the capital — the quiet joys, local rhythms, and creative adventures we share with our guests.Let’s get started.
Beijing’s subway is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get around the city — but it’s more than just transportation. It’s a chance to people-watch, discover new neighborhoods, and travel like a local.
📱 Get a subway app like “MetroMan” or just use Baidu Maps for route planning.
🪪 Foreign visitors can now use passports to buy transport cards (Yikatong), or scan with Alipay/WeChat.
💡 Pro tip: Avoid rush hours (7:30–9:30am, 5:00–7:30pm). Subwayss are air-conditioned and very punctual.
👉 We shared more subway tips and how to ride like a local in this earlier post — check it out if you’re new to the Beijing metro system!
🛎 Want to skip the stress of route-planning and just explore freely? Try our Beijing itinerary experiences — we handle the logistics so you can just enjoy the city.
Beijing is full of food… but not all of it is good. Around tourist spots, you’ll often see overpriced “traditional” places with mediocre taste.
🌟 Instead, head for local neighborhoods like Dashilar, Shichahai, or Guijie, where real Beijing flavor lives in tiny noodle shops, dumpling houses, and skewer grills.
Or better yet: join a local.
👉 Book an Our Beijing foodie tour and let us take you straight to the best bites — no guesswork, no Google reviews needed.
Forget croissants — Beijing breakfast is savory, steamy, and unforgettable.
Locals line up every morning for:
🍴 Wake up early, grab breakfast from a street vendor, then stroll to a park. You’ll see tai chi, fan dancing, Jianzi Golf and locals chatting over tea.
This is the real start to a Beijing day.
Beijing’s parks are not just green space — they’re public stages of everyday life.
At dawn, they fill with retirees doing qigong, couples ballroom dancing, and elderly uncles singing Beijing opera under the trees.
🌅 Head to Ritan Park, or any neighborhood green space before 9am.
This is the city at its most human and unscripted.
Want to dive deeper into the rhythm of local life?
🚲 Try an Our Beijing bike tour — we pass through hutong alleys, open parks, and unexpected gathering places most travelers miss.
Instead of just looking at calligraphy, dumplings, or tea ceremonies — why not try them yourself?
🎭 Hands-on experiences help you connect to the culture with all your senses. Learn to:
These aren’t tourist shows — they’re creative, fun, and led by locals.
👉 Browse our cultural workshops to see what inspires you.
Beijing moves in patterns. You’ll enjoy the city more if you understand:
Also check local holiday calendars — during Golden Week (October) and Chinese New Year, travel crowds surge.
📌 Want to avoid timing misfires? Let us help — our team curates flexible itineraries and seasonal routes that align with real-life Beijing, not just the travel brochure.
This wraps up our 12 tips for first-time visitors to Beijing — but really, it’s just the beginning.
At Our Beijing, we live for discovering places, flavors, and moments that guidebooks often miss. Whether it’s biking down a hutong or folding dumplings with a local cook, we’d love to show you the city our way.
✨ Explore all of Our Beijing’s local experiences — bike tours, foodie walks, cultural workshops, and custom itineraries — and make your 2025 trip unforgettable.