What you pack for Beijing depends heavily on the season, since temperature swings across the year are extreme. For spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) — the two best times to visit — pack light, layerable clothing: a cotton shirt, a light sweater, and a slightly heavier jacket for the evenings, since the day-to-night temperature gap can be significant. If you're traveling in summer (June-August), heat and humidity run high, so pack light cotton clothes, sunscreen, and a hat — sun exposure is intense, especially at open-air sites like the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. Winter (December-February) is cold, dry, and sometimes windy, requiring a heavy coat, gloves, and thermal layers.

Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable in every season; exploring the Forbidden City alone can mean thousands of steps, and climbing the Great Wall requires good-grip soles for balance on uneven steps. Also pack a Type A/I power adapter depending on your device chargers, since Chinese outlets differ from standard Gulf plugs.

On budget, think of a Beijing day like this: mid-range accommodation runs $40-90/night, daily meals (a simple breakfast, local lunch, dinner at a mid-range halal restaurant) around $25-40, local transport (subway plus the odd Didi taxi ride) $5-10, and daily site tickets (the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, or a Wall section) $10-40. That puts you in the $90-180/day range for a mid-range traveler — a figure you can trim by 20-30% with early booking, off-peak seasons, and avoiding peak crowd days.

One last tip that saves both money and time: get a rechargeable metro card on day one (easily purchased and topped up at major subway stations) — it's far cheaper than taxis and saves you dealing with a paper ticket every single ride.