Top 5 best scooter rentals in Beijing

Beijing rewards anyone willing to move at their own speed. One afternoon you're weaving past Tiananmen Square toward the Forbidden City's red walls, the next you're gliding along Houhai Lake as lanterns come on over the hutongs. A scooter rental in Beijing turns a city built on a scale that swallows pedestrians into something you can actually get your arms around, from the gallery lanes of 798 Art District to the neon strip of Sanlitun after dark.

This is a sprawling capital laced with wide arterial roads and near-constant car and bus traffic, and taxis get expensive and slow the moment you want to string together more than one stop. A scooter cuts through that congestion and parks steps from the gate at sights like the Forbidden City, where a car would circle for twenty minutes looking for space. It also puts longer half-day trips within easy reach — the Summer Palace's lakes and pavilions, or even Mutianyu's stretch of the Great Wall, become simple outings instead of costly taxi ordeals.

Top 10 things to see in Beijing by scooter

1. Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City — the historic core of the city; ride up and park nearby before exploring on foot.
2. Houhai Lake (Shichahai) — a scenic lakeside hutong district, ideal for an easy evening ride and waterside cafes.
3. 798 Art District — a former factory complex turned gallery zone, popular for art and photography.
4. The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) — an iconic park and temple complex with wide approach roads, easy to reach by scooter.
5. Olympic Green (Bird's Nest and Water Cube) — wide boulevards and open plazas make for a smooth ride to the 2008 Olympic landmarks.
6. Beihai Park — a central lakeside imperial garden close to the Forbidden City, good for a relaxed short ride.
7. Nanluoguxiang and surrounding hutongs — narrow historic alleys best explored slowly by scooter, then on foot.
8. Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) — a longer ride to the northwest, rewarding with lakes, pavilions and views from Longevity Hill.
9. Mutianyu Great Wall — a scenic out-of-town ride, roughly 1.5–2 hours, to a less crowded, well-preserved section of the Wall.
10. Sanlitun — Beijing's main nightlife and shopping strip, a favourite evening destination.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Beijing?

A petrol scooter counts as a motor vehicle in China, so you'll need a Chinese motorcycle licence — the light class for small-displacement mopeds, a full motorcycle class for anything bigger. A foreign licence or International Driving Permit does not cover you here, and China does not recognise the IDP at all. The legal minimum age is 18, though rental companies often set their own higher bar. Expect to leave a deposit, usually cash or a card hold, along with your passport details; the exact amount depends on the operator and the vehicle.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Beijing?

Average rental prices run around 35–45 CNY per day in low season and 70–100 CNY per day in high season, with larger-engine or newer models reaching 120–180 CNY per day.

• Prices climb from June through October, when warm weather, the early-October National Day holiday and peak tourist numbers all push demand up together.
• Prices drop from December to February, when the cold keeps visitor numbers low.

When to book a rental scooter in Beijing?

Book ahead for April, May, September and October if you want mild weather without paying peak rates — these shoulder months are the sweet spot before summer's crowds and heat arrive. If you're coming for the Labour Day break in early May or National Day's Golden Week in early October, book well in advance, since domestic travel spikes hard and vehicles get snapped up fast. Winter, from December to February, is quieter and cheaper, though the cold makes for a shorter riding day.

Local traffic rules in Beijing

China drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for motorcycle and moped riders and their passengers under the nationwide "One Helmet, One Belt" rules. Speed limits generally run 30–60 km/h on city streets, climbing to 80 km/h on urban expressways, so keep an eye on posted signs, which always take precedence. The blood-alcohol limit is 20 mg per 100 ml — effectively zero tolerance — and enforcement leans heavily on cameras, so it pays to ride by the book.

If you want to rent a scooter in Beijing, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!