International travel is not cheap, so how can you save money on your journey to Beijing, China? In this article, I’m happy to share our 15 money-saving tips to help you better budget your trip!
Many people worldwide want to visit the city of Beijing, the capital of China. My wife and I visited Beijing in 2019 and it was INCREDIBLE!
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Beijing is an ancient capital with over 3,000 years of rich history! It is one of the oldest cities in the world. This city has both modern and traditional architecture, making it unique and appealing.
The elements of tourism include food, housing, traffic, shopping, entertainment, etc. Of course, not all of these are cheap in Beijing.
After all, Beijing is an internationally renowned metropolis, but in general, most things in China are more affordable than in the US.
Note: The Chinese currency is Yuan or Renminbi (RMB/￥), and the American Currency is the United States Dollar (USD/$). Usually, $1.00 USD = around ￥6.5 RMB (Yuan).
Table of Contents
1) Visit Beijing During the Off-Season.
One of the best ways to save money is to choose to visit Beijing during the off-season. You are not just saving money on air tickets and hotels, but also saving ticket money on various attractions.
Beijing attractions such as the Great Wall are divided into the low season and peak season:
- The off-season: October 31st to March 31st
- The peak season: April 1st to October 31st
The tickets sometimes can be DOUBLE in price during the peak season. So make sure you note the off and peak season times mentioned above.
However, a potential disadvantage of going during the off-season is that the weather is cold. As a result, there will be less green, and some tourist attractions may be closed.
If you decide to visit Beijing during the off-season, double-check the places you want to visit to ensure they will be open.
2) Beware of Chinese Holidays!
Try to avoid traveling during Chinese public holidays! Most locals will go travel with family during major holidays.
The flights and hotels will be more expensive, and the subway, buses, and tourist attractions will be packed with people – in Chinese, we call this 人山人海 (Ren Shan Ren Hai). The direct translation is “people mountain people sea,” but it means a huge crowd of people!
You don’t want to share the road with a billion other people.
My wife Shan also told me there is a saying: if you travel during the Chinese public holidays, the only view you can see at a tourist attraction is the backs of many people’s heads. 😆
You can view the Chinese public holiday calendar HERE。
3) Consider Chinese Flight Sites
When you purchase your flight tickets, you can check some Chinese-run sites such as trip.com, Qunar.com, etc.
Sometimes you can purchase cheaper flight tickets on these Chinese-run sites.
My wife Shan was an international student in the USA, so she has a lot of experience purchasing air flight round-trip tickets between the USA and China.
She said that summer and winter breaks are usually considered hot seasons. Additionally, flight tickets will be more expensive because many international students here in the USA will return to China. Many Chinese families will also travel to the United States during these break times.
Shan told me (from her own experiences) that flights from America to China are often around $1,000 round-trip during the hot season.
But for the off-season, you can expect the price to be around $700, which is at least $300 cheaper for a round-trip. This will save you a lot of money for your tip to Beijing.
Keep in mind there are frequent sales and amazing discounts! So remember to keep looking and sign up for low-price alerts.
Beijing and Shanghai are the two biggest international cities in China. So usually, they are the cheapest airports for international arrivals, especially Beijing. So if possible, consider flying through one of those cities.
4) Navigate Using Baidu Maps or Gaode Map
Alright… so this is a MUST-know tip before you go to China.
Most of our typical methods of web surfing, navigating, and communicating with one another are BLOCKED in China.
You will not be able to access Facebook, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, and so much more.
Instead, you’ll need to use either Chinese websites or apps or find ones that aren’t blocked in China.
Or you can download a VPN, which I will talk about later.
Baidu Maps and Gaode Maps are the two most common GPS resources, but they only offer the Chinese language.
They can be an excellent option if you can understand a little Chinese.
If you cannot read Chinese, then your next best choice is to use Maps.me.
Or you can download a VPN. When you have a VPN, you can access google products or other products blocked in China.
5) Get a Free VPN Trial
As I just mentioned, if you want to access websites and apps that you’re using daily, such as Gmail, Google, Google Maps, Facebook, Gmail, etc.. you’re going to need a VPN.
Just google VPN in China, and you will see tons of options.
If you want to save money, you can take advantage of a free trial.
Also, don’t forget to cancel your subscription when you leave China!
6) Avoid the Worst Places to Exchange Currency
Traveling aboard is exciting, but the country traveled to often does not use US dollars.
Then you will need to do currency exchange. If you can do currency conversions wisely, you might be able to save a lot of money!
Below are five key takeaways from Investopedia. I hope it can help you avoid the worst place to exchange currency.
- Currency exchange shops and airport kiosks are not the best places to exchange money.
- Try a local bank or a bank ATM to make your currency exchanges for the best rates.
- Check if your U.S. bank offers foreign ATM fee refunds for using a foreign ATM.
- Not all currency exchanges charge the same rate.
- Tourists can get ripped off by some businesses, so it is advisable to shop around for a reasonable rate.
7-Understand Payment Methods in China
Many ATMs in China will probably refuse foreign debit cards. So if you need money, you better look for a Bank of China, ICBC, or China Construction Bank ATM. They are the main banks that accept foreign cards.
ATMs in China can be somewhat confusing to use because a lot of them start in Chinese. The good news is there is usually a button to change the language to English.
If you still have problems, go inside the bank and talk to an employee. Some Chinese people can speak simple English. If not, a translator App can be your good friend, haha.
Don’t expect your foreign credit cards to work in China. Since Beijing is a big international city, there is a higher chance the store will take your foreign credit cards.
In China, locals use Alipay or Wechat pay as payment methods.
Both of these two apps are very easy to use. There is a code at the checkout section. Scan the code in the apps, then confirm your payment.
But remember to always have some cash on hand.
I still remember when we visited the Great wall. The ticket seller only accepted cash (I’m not sure if they still do that now or not).
Unfortunately, my wife Shan and I did not have enough cash.
Luckily, some friendly Chinese people helped us out. They gave us cash, and we transferred them money through Alipay or WeChat. I do not remember exactly which one because we used both daily.
Here are couple of pictures of our adventures at the Great Wall:
8-Find a Place to Stay Within Your Budget
NOTE: Some hotels DON’T accept foreign guests, but not many do this so you shouldn’t have to worry. Still, it’s best to be mindful and make sure when booking your hotel.
Luckily, the price of hotels in China is lower than in America, even in the capital city of Beijing. You can find a lovely hotel room as cheap as ￥250, around $45 a night.
American hotels can cost $200 per night and can be pretty old. So finding a very nice hotel in Beijing at a reasonable price shouldn’t be too difficult.
When you book a hotel room, you can check some Chinese-run sites like trip.com, Qunar.com, etc.
Sometimes you can find more hotel listings (especially budget listings) on these Chinese-run sites.
AIRBNB can be a good choice, especially if you find a Chinese host who can speak English! There’s a good chance they could give you some sound advice about traveling around Beijing.
9-Save Money on Food in Beijing
Food is central to Chinese culture and will become one of the most memorable aspects of your trip to China. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
Chinese people, like my wife Shan, are not just traveling for tourist attractions but also travel for the delicious local food that is unique to that specific area.
In Beijing, you can enjoy delicious food at an affordable price, even cheaper than cooking for yourself. The average meal can be as low as $2-$5 per person. And you can eat very well!
You also don’t need to pay tips in China, which can save you money too.
But food will be more expensive in the scenic spots because they make money from tourists, like Wangfujing Street.
Not only will the food price be higher, but sometimes the food quality and quantity are also not good.
I still remember my wife went to Wangfujing Street and went into a restaurant. She ordered a soup, but barely a little meat in it. She was so mad. lol
So if you want to enjoy yummy Chinese food and save money in Beijing, it is good not to eat at scenic spots.
10) MUST try Beijing specialty food
Yes, we need to save money on food, but there are local Beijing specialty foods you MUST try!
Peking duck is one of Beijing’s most famous and delicious foods.
Peking Duck is usually not cheap. For example, a whole duck that can feed four people costs ￥200 RMB or is around $35 US dollars.
If you cannot eat the whole duck, you can order a half duck!
Below is a simple introduction from Forkplate:
“Peking Duck that’s been bathed in honey and sherry, air cured for hours or days, then slow roasted to produce the crisp, amber-brown skin that is its trademark. Morsels of meat and skin are rolled with scallions and spears of cucumber into a crepe-like pancake, drizzled with Hoisin sauce, and served. Then you eat it and faint with delight.”
Trust me, Peking Duck will be worth your money, and you can save up for it by cutting back on other expenses.
11) The Cheapest and Fastest Way to Get Around
The cheapest, fastest way to get around in Beijing is the subway. The Beijing subway has English everywhere, so you don’t need to worry about not knowing where you are at.
The Beijing subway is pretty awesome. You can go anywhere in Beijing within a 10-minute walk of a subway station.
I don’t recommend taking a taxi because Beijing is so big and it’s easy to get stuck in traffic. It will waste not only your money but it will also waste your precious time.
12) Consider FREE or Cheap Attractions
Tickets for some attractions can be pretty expensive.
Fortunately, Beijing has tons of cool spots that are entirely free to visit! There are tons of ancient streets, fantastic markets, neighborhoods, and parks that cost less than $1 USD per person.
For example, the Jingshan Park!
Tickets to Jiangshan Park costs less than $1 a person. The view you see will be worth so much more. It is listed as a Key State Park in China.
Upon exiting the Forbidden City, a three-story eaves pavilion called Wanchun Pavilion is on the very top of the large hill.
This mountain is called Jingshan. Jingshan and its surrounding buildings and gardens are called “Jingshan Park.”
It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk up to the top along the winding stone steps. Then, while standing at Wanchun Pavilion, you can look down on the forbidden city.
The view is incredible. It was a big “wow” moment for us! I could share a picture, but I’ll leave that up to you when you visit.
It will make you sigh how great the wisdom of ancient people is. Without the help of so much technology, they can still build such great works of art.
13) Students and Seniors’ Discount
Being a Student or Senior has significant money-saving benefits when visiting Beijing, China.
You can usually expect a 50% discount or even 100% FREE admission for students and seniors in China! So it might save you hundreds of RMB in ticket costs.
Remember, don’t forget your senior ID and/or student ID when you visit an attraction.
14) Bargain Tips in China
My wife told me that locals charge a higher price when they see tourists, especially foreigners. They do this because they think you are rich and don’t understand the Chinese market.
My wife taught me these Chinese bargaining tips:
- No matter how much you like the product, please don’t show it! Instead, tell the seller your ideal price but a little lower. If the seller disagrees, you say no and start to leave. Most of the time, the seller will give you a lower price when they see you are leaving.
- Shop around; there are a lot of shops selling similar souvenirs in Beijing. If one shop doesn’t work out, check out other shops to find the same thing or something similar.
Remember, bargaining is the Chinese way! Don’t be shy to negotiate a lower price.
15) Expect Tight Security Around
This tip is less about saving money, but good to know regardless.
Don’t be surprised when you see a lot of security checks at subway stations and tourist attractions.
Beijing has many historical places with hundreds, even thousands of years of history. Not only that, but Beijing is also the capital of China. Since it’s the political center of China, the government attaches great importance to the security of Beijing.
For example, expect airport-style security checks when you enter some tourist attractions such as Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, or even when entering the subway.
Bonus Tip: Beware of Scammers
Be careful with your backpacks and wallets because many people are around, including thieves.
Especially be mindful to keep your essential identity documents in an extra safe. It is very troublesome to lose them abroad.
Besides that, be careful of scammers. There will be scammers who will come and talk to you. No matter how good it sounds, know they are trying to trick you.
Be careful not to be deceived.
In Conclusion
Beijing is a city with a long history, which embodies the essence of ancient Chinese civilization.
It has a splendid culture and rich historical sites, which preserve and present the ancient history and culture well in the modern city. While developed with modern structures, it also retains the unique charm of old Beijing.
Beijing itself is super big! There are many attractions worth seeing, so be sure to plan your itinerary, especially when we go to a strange country with a language barrier.
Last but not least, if you don’t speak Chinese, remember to download a translator. Although translators can sometimes translate strangely, it will undoubtedly help.
Using the tips in this article, you can visit this fantastic city of Beijing and save lots of money! If you have any questions, please comment below and ask us!
Disclaimer:
We hope the information in this article provides valuable insights to every reader but we, the Biesingers, are not financial advisors. When making your personal finance decisions, research multiple sources and/or receive advice from a licensed professional. As always, we wish you the best in your pursuit of financial independence!
