Introduction

Three days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Beijing. It’s enough time to see the icons — the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven — without rushing so much that you miss the city’s quieter rhythms. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want a balanced mix of must-see sights, authentic local experiences, and breathing room.

Each day has a theme. Day 1 is Imperial Beijing — the grand palaces and the heart of Chinese power. Day 2 is The Great Wall & Imperial Gardens — the city’s most famous excursion paired with its most beautiful park. Day 3 is Culture, Hutongs & Modern Beijing — temples, alleyways, contemporary art, and nightlife.

All timings are approximate. Build in buffer time — Beijing has a way of surprising you, and you’ll want to linger in places you didn’t expect.

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Day 1: Imperial Beijing — The Heart of the Empire

Morning: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (8:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

8:00 AM — Arrive at Tiananmen Square

Start your day early. The square faces east, so the morning light is beautiful on the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong that hangs from the Tiananmen Gate. The square is vast — 440,000 square meters — and the walk from one end to the other takes 15–20 minutes.

Security note: All visitors must pass through security screening. Bring your passport; you’ll need it to enter both the square and the Forbidden City. Large bags are not allowed; leave them at your hotel.

Spend 30–45 minutes on the square. Take your photos, watch the flag-raising if you’ve arrived before sunrise (times vary by season; check ahead), and then walk north through the Tiananmen Gate (the gate with the portrait) into the Forbidden City.

9:00 AM — Enter the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City (紫禁城, Zǐjìnchéng) is the largest imperial palace complex in the world. It served as the home of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and its 9,999 rooms were once forbidden to commoners — hence the name.

How to book: Tickets must be purchased online in advance (up to 7 days ahead) via the official WeChat mini-program “Palace Museum” (故宫博物院). Foreign visitors can use the English version. ¥60 (Apr–Oct) / ¥40 (Nov–Mar). Do not show up without a ticket — you will be turned away.

The route: Enter through the Meridian Gate (午门, Wǔmén) at the south end. Walk through the Outer Court (where emperors held court), cross the Inner Golden Water Bridge, and enter the Inner Court (the residential palace). Exit through the Gate of Divine Might (神武门, Shénwǔmén) at the north end.

Must-see stops:

1. Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿): The largest and most important building. This is where emperors held grand ceremonies.
2. The Imperial Garden (御花园): A beautifully landscaped garden with 400-year-old cypress trees.
3. The Treasure Gallery (珍宝馆): Requires an extra ¥10 ticket but houses incredible jade, gold, and pearl artifacts.
4. The Clock Gallery (钟表馆): An extra ¥10; displays intricate Western and Chinese clocks gifted to the emperor.

Time needed: 3–4 hours. Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll walk 5+ km.

12:30 PM — Late Morning Snack

Exit the Forbidden City at the north gate (Gate of Divine Might). Directly across the street is Jingshan Park. But first, grab a snack at one of the small shops along the east side of the moat. A jianbing (¥12) or a baozi (¥15 for 3) will tide you over until lunch.

Afternoon: Jingshan Park and Beihai Park (1:30 PM – 5:30 PM)

1:30 PM — Jingshan Park (景山公园)

Jingshan is a small hill (45 meters) directly north of the Forbidden City. It was created from the earth excavated to build the Forbidden City’s moat, and it offers the single best view in all of Beijing — a panoramic look down over the Forbidden City’s yellow-tiled rooflines, framed by the modern city skyline beyond.

• Tickets: ¥2 (yes, just ¥2).
• The climb: 15 minutes to the top. The summit pavilion, the Pavilion of Everlasting Spring (万春亭), is the photo spot.
• Best light: Mid-morning and late afternoon. If it’s a clear day, this is spectacular.

2:30 PM — Lunch

Descend Jingshan and walk west to Beihai Park. There are several restaurants along the way; a reliable option is Haidilao Hot Pot (if you don’t mind a sit-down meal) or KFC (yes, really — the one on Wangfujing has a surprisingly good view and is a fun cultural experience).

For a more authentic option, walk 10 minutes south to Wangfujing Street and try Haiwanju for zhajiangmian (¥30) or Ding Ding Xiang for dumplings (¥50 per person).

3:30 PM — Beihai Park (北海公园)

Beihai is a Yuan-dynasty imperial garden centered around a lake with a white dagoba (stupa) on an island. It’s quieter and more atmospheric than the Summer Palace, and the combination of Tibetan-style architecture and classical Chinese gardens is unique.

• Tickets: ¥10 (Apr–Oct), ¥5 (Nov–Mar).
• Highlights: The White Dagoba, the Nine-Dragon Wall (one of only three in China), and the round city (a small fortified island with ancient relics).
• Boat ride: In warm months, rent a pedal boat (¥60/hour) and paddle around the lake. Magical.

5:30 PM — Rest at Hotel

Head back to your hotel to rest and freshen up before dinner. You’ve walked 8–10 km today — your feet will thank you.

Evening: Peking Duck Dinner and Wangfujing Night Walk (6:30 PM – 10:00 PM)

6:30 PM — Peking Duck Dinner

Tonight’s the night — your first authentic Peking duck. Make a reservation at one of these:

• Sijiminge (Side Palace): Local favorite, great value. No English menu, but the staff is helpful. ¥250 per person. (Multiple locations; the Dongcheng branch is closest to your day’s route.)
• Da Dong: Upscale, artistic presentation. ¥600 per person. (Dongsi Branch: Subway Line 5 to Dongsi Station.)
• Quanjude (Qianmen Branch): The historic original. Touristy but culturally significant. ¥350 per person.

What to expect: The chef will carve the duck tableside. You’ll receive a plate of duck skin and meat, a stack of thin pancakes, small bowls of sweet bean sauce, and dishes of scallions and cucumber. Take a pancake, brush on sauce, add scallions and cucumber, place 3–4 pieces of duck, roll it up, and eat. Repeat until full.

8:30 PM — Wangfujing Street Walk

After dinner, walk off the duck with a stroll down Wangfujing Street, Beijing’s most famous shopping street. It’s brightly lit, crowded, and energetic. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out the “snack street” (actually on a side alley called Donghuamen Night Market) where you can try scorpion on a stick, starfish, or larvae. It’s touristy, but it’s an experience.

10:00 PM — Return to Hotel

Take the subway (Line 1 to your nearest station) or a short Didi ride back to your hotel.

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Day2: The Great Wall and the Summer Palace

Morning: The Great Wall at Mutianyu (7:00 AM – 2:00 PM)

7:00 AM — Depart for the Great Wall

The Great Wall is the single most important excursion from Beijing. There are several sections to choose from; we recommend Mutianyu for its combination of stunning scenery, fewer crowds than Badaling, and excellent facilities (cable car, toboggan).

How to get there:

Option 1: Private Car / Didi (Recommended) — Book through your hotel or a [Klook affiliate link] tour. Cost: ¥500–¥800 round-trip with a driver who waits for you. Comfortable and door-to-door.

Option 2: Public Transport — Take Subway Line 2 to Dongzhimen, then Bus 916 (express) to Huairou North Avenue (怀柔北大街), then a taxi to Mutianyu (¥30). Total time: 2.5 hours each way. Cheap (¥30 total) but time-consuming.

Option 3: Organized Tour — Many companies offer day tours that include transport, lunch, and an English-speaking guide. Search on [GetYourGuide affiliate link] for options. Cost: ¥300–¥500 per person.

9:00 AM — Arrive at Mutianyu

Mutianyu is 2.2 km of restored wall with 23 watchtowers, snaking over rugged mountains. On a clear day, the views areheart-stopping.

• Tickets: ¥45 (entrance) + ¥15 (shuttle bus from parking to base of wall).
• Cable Car: ¥120 round-trip, ¥100 one-way. The cable car takes you to Watchtower 14.
• Toboggan: ¥100. A metal slide that winds down the mountain — incredibly fun and a great way to descend.

Our recommended route: Take the cable car up to Watchtower 14. Walk west (to the left) toward Watchtower 20 — this section is steeper and less crowded. Turn around at Watchtower 17 or 18 if you’re tired. Return to Watchtower 14 and take the toboggan down. Total hiking time: 2–3 hours.

Tips:

• Bring water and snacks. There’s a small cafe at the base, but it’s overpriced.
• Wear sturdy shoes with grip. The wall’s steps are steep and uneven.
• Start early to beat the bus tours (which typically arrive by 10:30 AM).
• On winter visits, the wall can be icy. Wear boots with traction.

12:00 PM — Lunch

Most tours include lunch at a local restaurant near the Wall. If you’re independent, there are several farmhouse-style restaurants in the village below the Wall serving simple Chinese dishes (¥40–¥80 per person). “Xiaolongpu” is a reliable option.

2:00 PM — Depart for Beijing

The ride back to the city takes 1.5 hours. Rest in the car — you’ve earned it.

Afternoon: The Summer Palace (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

4:00 PM — Arrive at the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Built in 1750 and rebuilt after being destroyed in the Second Opium War, it’s a masterpiece of landscape design — 716 acres, three-quarters of which is water (Kunming Lake).

• Tickets: ¥30 (Apr–Oct), ¥20 (Nov–Mar). Through-ticket (includes all inner courts): ¥60 (peak), ¥50 (off-peak).
• Hours: 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Apr–Oct); 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Nov–Mar).

The route: Enter through the North Palace Gate (Beigongmen). Walk down through the Suzhou Street (a narrow canal lined with Qing-era shop replicas), then down to the Marble Boat, along the Long Corridor, past the Hall of Joy and Longevity, and up Longevity Hill for the view over Kunming Lake. Exit through the East Palace Gate.

Must-see stops:

1. The Long Corridor (长廊): A 728-meter painted walkway with more than 14,000 colorful paintings. Guinness World Record-certified.
2. The Marble Boat (石舫): A “boat” made of marble that actually sits permanently on the lake shore. Symbol of the Qing court’s decadence.
3. Longevity Hill (万寿山): Climb to the top for the panoramic lake view. The gold-topped pavilion (Foxiang Pavilion) is iconic.
4. Kunming Lake: In warm months, take a dragon boat ride (¥40) or rent a paddleboat.

6:30 PM — Sunset at the Summer Palace

If it’s a clear evening, the sunset over Kunming Lake is spectacular. The light turns the gold pavilions warm amber, and the lake reflects it all.

7:30 PM — Dinner in Haidian

The area around the Summer Palace has excellent restaurants. Xiweiju (multiple locations) serves refined Beijing cuisine. Haidilao (the hot pot chain) is always a crowd-pleaser. Or take a Didi back to your hotel area for more options.

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Day3: Temples, Hutongs, and Modern Beijing

Morning: The Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple (8:00 AM – 12:30 PM)

8:00 AM — Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

The Temple of Heaven is where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed the annual Heaven Worship Ceremony to pray for good harvests. The architecture is sublime — the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a triple-tiered circular building with a blue-tiled roof, is among the most recognizable images of Beijing.

• Tickets: ¥34 (combined ticket, peak season); ¥28 (combined, off-season). Park only: ¥15.
• Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM (park); 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (buildings, summer).
• Transportation: Subway Line 5 to Tiantan East Gate Station.

What to see:

1. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿): The icon. No nails were used in its construction — it’s held together entirely by interlocking wooden brackets (dougong).
2. Echo Wall (回音壁): A circular wall where whispers carry from one side to the other. Fun to test.
3. The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛): An empty three-tiered marble terrace where the emperor prayed. Stand in the center and speak — the acoustic effect is eerie.

The park experience: The Temple of Heaven is set within a large public park, and at 8:00 AM, it’s full of locals exercising. Tai chi groups, elderly men singing Peking opera at the top of their lungs, couples practicing ballroom dancing, and groups playing cards. It’s a window into Beijing daily life that’s as valuable as the architecture. Spend at least 2 hours here.

10:30 AM — Head to the Lama Temple

Take subway Line 5 north (4 stops) to Yonghegong Station. The Lama Temple (Yonghegong) is a 2-minute walk from the station.

10:45 AM — Lama Temple (雍和宫)

A functioning Tibetan Buddhist lamasery, the Lama Temple is both spiritually active and visually stunning. The incense is thick, the chanting is audible, and the 18-meter sandalwood Buddha statue (carved from a single log) is awe-inspiring.

• Tickets: ¥25.
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• Dress code: Modest clothing (cover shoulders and knees) out of respect.

Spend 1–1.5 hours here. Don’t miss the side halls, where you can watch monks at prayer.

Afternoon: Hutong Exploration and 798 Art Zone (12:30 PM – 7:00 PM)

12:30 PM — Lunch near the Lama Temple

The area around the Lama Temple has excellent local eateries. Gongde Lin is a long-standing vegetarian restaurant (¥60 per person). Baochao Hutong has several small noodle shops. Or try You Yi Yuan for traditional Beijing snacks (¥30 per person).

1:30 PM — Hutong Walk: Wudaoying and Nanluoguxiang

From the Lama Temple, walk south into the hutong neighborhoods. Start with Wudaoying Hutong — a narrower, quieter, more authentic version of the famous Nanluoguxiang. It’s full of courtyard cafes, indie bookstores, and boutique shops.

Then walk south into Nanluoguxiang itself. Yes, it’s commercialized — the main street is lined with chain stores and bubble tea shops — but the side hutongs (Mao’er Hutong, Baochao Hutong, Ju’er Hutong) retain their authenticity. Wander these side alleys. You’ll see elderly residents playing mahjong in doorways, laundry hanging overhead, and the occasional hidden courtyard hotel with a cafe tucked inside.

Tip: If you want a guided experience, several companies offer hutong rickshaw tours (¥200–¥300). They’re touristy but fun, and the rickshaw wallahs know the history. Search on [GetYourGuide affiliate link] for options.

4:00 PM — Head to 798 Art Zone

Take a Didi from Nanluoguxiang to the 798 Art Zone (Chaoyang District). The ride takes 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.

4:30 PM — 798 Art Zone (798艺术区)

Housed in a decommissioned military factory complex (originally built with East German assistance in the 1950s), 798 is Beijing’s contemporary art hub. Massive repurposed industrial buildings house galleries, designer boutiques, cafes, and sculpture gardens.

• Cost: Free to enter the district. Individual galleries may charge ¥10–¥30.
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Some galleries closed on Mondays.
• Highlights: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (the most prestigious), Beijing Tokyo Art Projects, and the massive sculptures scattered throughout the complex.

Spend 2 hours here. Even if you’re not an art person, the industrial-chic atmosphere and the people-watching (Beijing’s creative class in full display) are worth it.

Evening: Sanlitun Nightlife and Farewell Dinner (7:00 PM – Late)

7:00 PM — Dinner in Sanlitun

Sanlitun is Beijing’s nightlife and fashion hub. It’s where beautiful people go to see and be seen. The dining options are excellent:

• Made in China (Grand Hyatt Beijing): Upscale Chinese. The Kung Pao chicken is legendary. ¥300 per person.
• TRB Hutong: French fine dining in a renovated courtyard near the Forbidden City. ¥800+ per person.
• The Local: A popular gastro-pub in Sanlitun with good burgers and craft beer. ¥150 per person.

8:30 PM — Drinks and Nightlife

After dinner, explore Sanlitun Taikoo Li (the open-air shopping complex). It’s beautifully lit at night and great for people-watching. For drinks:

• Cafe de la Poste: A French-style brasserie and bar. Great wine list, cozy atmosphere.
• Great Leap Brewing: Beijing’s original craft brewery. Multiple locations; the original is in a courtyard in Doujiao Hutong (take a Didi).
• Mokihi: A tiki-themed cocktail bar in Sanlitun. Fun, loud, strong drinks.

10:00 PM — Acrobatics Show (Optional)

If you have energy left, catch the Chaoyang Theater acrobatics show. It’s a 1-hour spectacle of contortion, plate-spinning, and aerial silk performances. Book via your hotel or [Klook affiliate link]. Tickets: ¥180–¥680.

Late — Return to Hotel

Take a Didi back to your hotel. You’ve just completed three intense, incredible days in Beijing. Sleep well — and start planning your return.

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Alternative: 2-Day Express Itinerary

If you only have two days, here’s the compressed version:

Day1 (Same as above)

• Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Peking duck dinner.

Day2

• 6:30 AM: Depart for Great Wall (Mutianyu).
• 4:00 PM: Return to city. Visit Temple of Heaven (2 hours).
• 7:00 PM: Farewell hot pot dinner in Guijie (Ghost Street).

This is rushing it — but it’s doable.

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Practical Tips for This Itinerary

Book Forbidden City tickets 7 days in advance. They sell out, especially on weekends and holidays.

Wear your most comfortable shoes. You’ll walk 25,000+ steps per day.

Bring a power bank. Your phone will be your camera, map, translator, and payment device. It will die by 6 PM without a backup.

Carry passport copies. You need your passport (original) for the Forbidden City and some museums. Carry a photocopy separately in case.

Learn to use Didi. The subway is great, but after a long day of walking, a Didi back to your hotel is a gift.

Hydrate. Beijing is dry. Drink more water than you think you need.

Be flexible. If the AQI (air quality index) is above 200, consider rescheduling the Great Wall day. The Wall is no fun in heavy smog.

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Last updated: July 2026