Beijing & China
Arrive ready. Go beyond the obvious.
The practical things to set up before you fly, plus food, tea, culture and people who can show you a more personal Beijing.
Before you fly
Four things make China much easier.
Set these up at home, where app registration, card verification and downloads are simpler.
01 · Connect
Install an eSIM
A roaming China eSIM can keep familiar services available on cellular data. Install and activate it before departure; hotel and café Wi-Fi still use the local internet environment.
02 · Pay
Set up Alipay and WeChat
Register, complete identity verification and connect a payment card before your flight. Open the payment screen once to confirm the card is ready.
03 · Navigate
Download Amap
Amap is the practical local map for walking, place search and public transport. Inside Alipay, DiDi handles rides and Transport provides metro and bus QR codes.
04 · Arrive
Save our Chinese address
Keep the bilingual hotel address in your screenshots and notes. It is the fastest way to help a driver find Baochao Hutong.
Apps, payment rules and connectivity can change. Treat this as a preparation checklist and confirm current requirements inside each provider’s official app before travel.
At The Orchid
Make something. Learn something.
Programs change with the calendar. Ask before arrival if one matters to your trip; otherwise, see what is happening when you check in.
Hands-on dinner
Dumpling class
Learn to make Chinese dumplings, then sit down to eat them as part of a full dinner with wine or beer. Offered several times a month.
Most afternoons
Tea experience
A guided tasting of Chinese teas in the lobby Tea Gallery. Ask for the day’s session or arrange a quieter time.
Beginner friendly
Mahjong class
A relaxed two-hour introduction to rules, terminology and basic strategy. Availability depends on the program calendar.
Ask the front desk
The big sites
Book the headline acts early.
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall are popular for a reason. Entry arrangements can be time-sensitive, so confirm official requirements before the day you plan to visit.
Forbidden City / Palace Museum
Tiananmen Square
Temple of Heaven
Summer Palace
Great Wall day trips
Palace Museum tickets
Trusted local partners
See the Beijing between the landmarks.
These are the teams The Orchid currently recommends for food, hutong life and wilder Great Wall experiences. Mention that you are staying with us when booking.
Food & stories
Lost Plate
A family-owned tour company focused on hidden kitchens, local traditions and the stories behind what Beijing eats.
Visit Lost Plate
Hutongs & the Great Wall
Our Beijing
Immersive e-bike, street-food and wild Great Wall experiences designed to move beyond the standard sightseeing circuit.
Visit Our Beijing
Still planning?