VISITING BEIJING FOR THE FIRST TIME? 15 THINGS THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU

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China was my last stop on my six month tour through Asia and I was very excited – and a bit nervous. On one hand, I have been watching C-dramas (and trying to learn Mandarin) for the last couple of years so the culture seemed a bit more familiar than some other countries I visited. On the other hand, there is a lot less information available for traveling to China. And of course, China poses a couple of special difficulties when it comes to communication and planning.

So how was it? Well, while some things were as expected, many others still came as a surprise. In most cases, the reality was better than my expectations (with one notable exception). Read on to find out what surprised me during my first trip to Beijing and get my top tips to make your trip as smooth as possible.

1. You won’t see many Western tourists

While I was aware that China is not the most common tourist destination for Western tourists, I did expect a fair number of US and European visitors at least in Beijing. To my surprise, the vast majority of tourists are Asian and Mandarin-speaking.

Even at major tourist destinations, like the Forbidden City, you will find only a small sprinkling of overseas visitors. And as soon as you venture a bit further afield there are basically no foreigners. This is the only place I have been to where I felt like a bit of a curiosity!

2. Navigating China’s Great Firewall is easy with an eSIM

Before my trip I was quite worried about the Chinese internet restrictions. I wasn’t planning on doing any real work but I do use WhatsApp to keep in contact with family back home. And let’s face it – we are all fairly dependent on Google so being suddenly cut off feels quite uncomfortable.

So I was pleasantly surprised to realize that an international eSIM will largely overcome all these issues. Basically, your traffic gets routed via Hong Kong (or wherever) and you have normal access just like at home. I used this eSIM from Trip.com and was very happy with it. It dropped a couple of times but worked perfectly 95% of the time.

3. Beijing is incredibly green

I don’t think I have ever been in a city with as many parks as Beijing! Basically, every couple of blocks there is a park. And not just a small square with a pond. These are often massive, beautifully landscaped, with pavilions, lakes, bridges, playgrounds, flowers, benches.

This was especially surprising as I somehow expected Beijing to be more industrial and grey. But nothing could have been further from the truth! Make sure to include some of the must-see parks on your Beijing itinerary!

4. Parks are full of life

One of my favorite discoveries in Beijing is how lively the parks are, especially in the morning. Of course there are people jogging, walking, or just relaxing just as in parks anywhere.

But you will also find locals practising ballroom dances, playing instruments, singing as a choir, singing on their own, flying kites, playing diabolo, dancing with bands, doing Tai-Chi…

There is no limit to the variety of activities. I absolutely love how people (mostly older but not always) here just live their best life, doing what they enjoy together with their friends!

5. Beijing’s Subway is very cheap

Basically everywhere on my trip through Asia I have found inexpensive transportation, either public transit or cheap Grab/Didi rides. And in general, subway/public transit tickets have been affordable anywhere.

But the prices here in Beijing are probably the lowest I have seen so far. A trip straight across town (taking close to an hour) will run about 5 RMB! Even the special airport trains are quite affordable, ranging from RMB 25 to 40 (depending on which airport you use). So no matter where your hotel is located, the cost of public transit won’t have much impact on your budget.

Want to know more about getting around Beijing? Check out my post about finding your way in China’s capital.

6. There is security everywhere…

You will see police or security staff almost constantly. At street corners or just in between. If you are not used to it this can be a bit disconcerting. But all security people I saw were friendly/neutral – there was no shouting or hassling of people. Quite often I saw locals or Chinese tourists approach police officers with random questions.

And it does make you feel quite safe. The chances of being mugged or even just hassled by drunks etc. seem very low.

7. …Especially in the Metro

When riding subway trains you will see many Subway Safety Stewards either on the platform or in the train. I am not quite sure what they do (they are not checking tickets) but presumably they ensure everything is orderly. And the train rides are indeed very peaceful and uneventful.

8. Security Checks are fast and painless

There is no need to check tickets on the train as there is a security point close to all metro entrances. Not only do they have an eye on anyone trying to sneak by the automatic gates, but they also do a safety check.

Similar to airports, you have to put your purse/bag/suitcase through an X-Ray machine and walk through one of those airport scanners (or be wanded by an officer) yourself. This is a bit unexpected and a slight bother (especially if you are dragging around a suitcase) but only takes moments. While there may be lines sometimes, I never encountered one during my three weeks in town.

9. Malls, malls everywhere

I thought Bangkok had many malls but it has nothing on Beijing. While they are maybe not as cinematic as their Thai counterparts, they make up for it in sheer numbers. And there is one for every taste – whether you love designer clothes, art, fun activities or are just looking for a tasty meal!

The most surprising: Like toadstools you rarely see just one. Usually there are two or three malls right next to each other! So if you don’t like the selection at the mall you are at – just look around. The next one is probably not far away.

10. Lots of Bikes

Everywhere, but especially at subway stations, you will find rental bikes to borrow for getting to your destination. While I am not a bike rider myself, I have to say they are the perfect complement to the subway and bus system in Beijing.

11. Public Toilets: You might have to Squat

Yeah, this is not my favorite. Just as in South Korea, Beijing has lots of public toilets. You are never far from one. However, while I didn’t encounter any squat style toilets during my time in Korea (though I know they exist) I can’t say the same for China.

If you are lucky, one or two cubicles may be Western style but for the most part you find the traditional squat variety. And while I do understand their hygienic advantages, I am not crazy about them. At all.

12. Western Brands are everywhere

This did not surprise me as much as it might have if I hadn’t been watching Chinese dramas for the last couple of years. The times when China had no international brands are long gone.

McDonalds, Starbucks, and co are at every corner and I haven’t seen as many international designer shops in my entire life as in a couple of weeks here in Beijing!

13. You will need your Passport

Yes, I know. I don’t like carrying my passport with me either and prefer leaving it in the hotel safe. But in Beijing you are likely to need it repeatedly, often instead of a regular ticket to ride a train or enter an attraction.

It isn’t just foreigners though. Locals have to show their national ID cards instead. As for international passports, sometimes they can be just scanned, while at other times you need to show them at a ticket counter to get a paper ticket. But either way – make sure you always take it along.

14. Beijing air quality: Better than expected

At least in June 2026 the air in Beijing was much cleaner than I expected. As in any big city, it isn’t perfect but neither does it have the muggy quality that bothered me in Bangkok. It is quite possible to breathe normally and the sky looks nice and blue (unless the weather is bad). Of course it varies with the season so check the official measurements.

15. People are very friendly and helpful

This may be partly connected to #1 – as there are fewer international tourists locals are quite patient. While not everyone speaks English, most people are happy to use translation apps. I can honestly say that I had no real communication problems (and it wasn’t due to my very mediocre Mandarin skills)!

Even when I paid with cash before I got my Alipay to work, people were quite patient even if it made it more difficult for them. And several times people actively approached me to help me out or show me the sights!

Enjoy your Time

China was much easier to handle than I expected and most of my surprises were of the positive kind (well, aside of those squat toilets). But Beijing was indeed quite different from what I had expected – cleaner, greener, with more security and way less international tourists.

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