It's true that some of the best things in life are free. While enjoying cocktails in the lounge of a boutique hotel in Beijing or splurging on some serious retail therapy may be part of your ideal to-do list in China, there's plenty on offer that won't blow your budget. The difficulty with visiting a busy, sprawling city like Beijing (especially if you speak little or no Mandarin) is that you can find yourself acting too much like a tourist. It's easy to make the mistake of choosing more western-appearing restaurants, taxis or shops when you travel in Beijing and paying top dollar for goods and services native Beijingers avoid. The best tip is to make good use of your concierge, whether you're staying in a boutique hotel in Beijing or one of its discount hotels. Beijing now boasts plenty of mid-priced options thanks to many new developments made in preparation of hosting the Olympic Games. Wherever you stay in Beijing you are likely to find front house staff have decent English skills and will be able to steer you toward the best travel and dining options. If your budget can stretch to include one of the better hotels in Beijing (Hotel G is one of our favourite hotels in Sunlitan and for all its retro luxury is very reasonably priced) you won't be disappointed. In-house services can save time and money and give you more confidence when exploring Beijing. Museums Beijing has more than a dozen outstanding museums to explore including the Capital Museum, Zubeihong Museum and the Beijing Art Museum. Some offer free admission days and it's possible to get a museum pass for about RMB80 that offers discounts on admission to the city's main museums (usually available from China Post but check this with your hotel in Beijing). Tiananmen Square It will never shed its dark history but these days visitors to Tiananmen Square will find a different atmosphere. The square has been transformed into a city park where families fly beautiful and elaborate kites and is one of those rare places where tragedy and hope co-exist. Perhaps one of the best free experiences to savour when you stay in Beijing. Eating out Food is generally reasonably priced in Beijing. There are plenty of street vendors and local markets offering freshly-prepared vegetables, dumplings and noodles. It's common sense to choose stalls popular with native Beijingers as they are likely to offer the best value and quality. Be on guard against unsealed water or poorly cooked food (even staying at the best boutique hotel, Beijing will be a lousy experience with a case of food poisoning!). Getting around Beijing has plenty of taxis (both licensed and unlicensed) as well as public bus and tram systems. You can also explore the streets around the stylish hotels in Beijing by foot or hire a bicycle (often available at Beijing boutique hotels). There are plenty of ways to stretch your holiday budget a little further when you stay in Beijing. Hunt for a good deal at a Beijing luxury hotel before settling for low-cost guest houses and don't be in a rush... markets, parks, museums make for a relaxed and affordable stay in this beautiful ancient city.