Shanghai & Beijing · Travel series
BeijingBeijing for first-timers: what the city itself tells you to prepare
Packed from the Beijing government's official English travel guide
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A first trip to Beijing goes smoother if a few things are sorted before you fly. What follows is not our own advice — it is what the Beijing municipal government's official English travel guide tells inbound visitors to prepare, plus the numbers to keep on your phone. We have only put it in order and kept the links in.
Before you fly: four things to pack
The city's guide recommends having these ready before you arrive, so day one is not spent hunting for them.
- Plug adapter and power transformer. China's standard voltage is 220 V, so bring your own transformer and a plug adapter — and a mobile power bank.
- Clothes for four seasons. Beijing has four distinct seasons: hot and rainy summers, cold and dry winters, and short spring and autumn. Pack to the forecast.
- Basic medicines. Bring whatever is essential for you: necessary prescription medication from your own physician, plus remedies for respiratory and digestive conditions, inflammation and pain, mosquito repellent and moisturiser.
- Some cash in RMB. Carry renminbi to cover the trip from the airport to your hotel.
Two things China will not let you bring in. Under Chinese government regulations, visitors are forbidden to carry in addictive narcotics and psychotropic medicines — opium, morphine, heroin and marijuana — or any kind of weapon, including imitation weapons, controlled knives, ammunition and explosives.
Four numbers to keep on your phone
All nationwide emergency calls, all free of charge.
- 110 — Police. Theft, robbery, fighting, anything that needs the police: say clearly what happened and give the exact location.
- 119 — Fire. In a fire, dial 119 first and report the situation and the location. Do not exaggerate or hold back the facts.
- 120 — First aid. If someone needs to be taken to hospital, call 120 and describe the patient's symptoms — and the condition, if you know it.
- 122 — Traffic police. For a road accident, dial 122 and report where it happened.
Nuisance calls, or calls that do not require emergency assistance, are prohibited — the caller bears legal liability.
How the official guide lays out the rest of the trip
Beijing's guide splits a visit into clear steps. For travellers entering China: book a hotel → apply for a visa → buy transportation tickets. For those already staying in China: transportation tickets → hotel booking → travel within Beijing.
Beyond that, the city groups its visitor information under four headings — attractions, transportation, dining and shopping — with travel tips, travel-document extension and replacement, and emergency numbers in their own sections. Two entries worth knowing about: 144-hour visa-free transit, and the separate permits for foreign travellers, such as the travel permit for foreigners and the port visa for tour groups.
Official sources
Everything above is taken from the Beijing municipal government's official English-language travel guide. We have only put it in order and kept the links in. The official pages:
- Foreigner's Guide to Travelling in Beijing — Beijing municipal government (english.beijing.gov.cn)
- Tips before departure — the four things to pack, and what you may not bring in
- Emergency numbers — the nationwide 110 / 119 / 120 / 122 lines
Facts as published by the Beijing municipal government; check the official pages for the latest. This page is an independent summary and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Beijing municipal government. Photographs are free-to-use stock images (Pexels).
Keep reading
- A beginner's guide to Shanghai, in plain order
- Shanghai with International Friends: a local's private list
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