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THE 10 BEST Beijing Tours & Excursions

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1. Private All-Inclusive Day Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

2. All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Tour

3. Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest

4. Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Bus Tour (8:00am/10:00am)

5. Great Wall at Gubeikou and Jinshanling Private Sunset Tour

6. 4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

7. Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With Speaking-English Driver

8. Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants

9. Private 4-Hour In Depth Walking Tour to the Forbidden City

10. 2-Day Beijing Highlights Small-Group Tour

11. Temple of Heaven Ticket

12. Private Night Sightseeing Tour of Beijing

13. Beijing Forbidden City Admission Ticket Pre Booking Service

14. Full-Day Small-Group Great Wall Hike: Simatai West to Jinshanling

15. Beijing Private Tour to Temple of Heaven, Panda House and Summer Palace

16. 4-Hour Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City

17. Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English-Speaking Driver

18. Beijing Private Tour of Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City

19. Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

20. Old Beijing Dinner Tour

21. Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

22. Private Layover Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Temple of Heaven

23. Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum

24. Beijing Private Day Tour of Forbidden City and Great Wall at Mutianyu

25. Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing

26. Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour

27. Half Day Private Tour to Summer Palace in Beijing

28. Private trip to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace by English Driver

29. All Inclusive Private City Tour to Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City and Summer Palace

30. Private Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with A Guide

What travelers are saying.

Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Bus Tour (8:00am/10:00am)
Private All-Inclusive Day Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall
4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants
Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With Speaking-English Driver
Catherine Lu Tours
China Highlights - Beijing
Discover Beijing Tours
Sunflower Tours China
Beijing Layover Tour
Young Pioneer Tours
Jenny's Guide & Driver Service
Beijinger Kitchen Cooking Class
Greatwall Trekclub Tours
Beijing Walking Tours
UnTour Beijing Food Tours
Beijing Hikers
Our Beijing
Beijing Tour Guide
Simon Service

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Latest reviews

If you want to make the most of your visit, this tour will be ideal for you. Matt was an excellent tour guide. He arrived 15 minutes earlier, gave extensive explanations to all my questions, and told me very interesting details all the time. He adapted the visit to my needs and interests leaving room for photos and shopping. Moreover, he helped me sort out an issue with my card in a shop going there in person several days after the tour. I could not have chosen a better city tour. ¡Many thanks!

26 excursions and activities in Beijing

Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven Private Tour

Mutianyu Great Wall Day Trip

China eSIM Card

If your phone is compatible with eSIM cards and you'd like to stay online during your trip to China, grab your card with internet access today!

Private Beijing City Tour

798 Art Zone Tour

Great Wall of China Private Day Trip

Transfers in Beijing

Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Private Day Trip

Forbidden City Guided Tour

Tiananmen, Forbidden City, and Hutongs Tour

Historical & Modern Beijing Tour

Private Food Tour: Nanluoguxiang Night Market

Civitatis Travel Insurance

Confucius Temple, Beihai Park, and Capital Museum

Beijing & Shanghai Tour Package: 7 Days

Gastronomy Tour of Beijing

China Tour Package: 12 Days

18-Day Tour Package: Beijing, South Korea & Japan

Beijing Layover Tour

Archeological Private Day Trip

Private Shopping Tour of Beijing

Tianjin Private Day Trip

Trans-Siberian Railway: Beijing to St. Petersburg

Trans-Siberian Railway: Beijing to Moscow

Travel from China to Russia across Mongolia and embark on an adventure you won't forget on this journey from Beijing to Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway .

Beijing Electric Bike Tour

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Experience your favourite side of Beijing by stirring your passions on a guided themed tour, such as a shopping tour to all kinds of markets, a charmming village tour, or enjoy a Chinese cooking class in a traditional courtyard home. Remember if you can not find a perfect tour for you on our site, we will be happy to customize and create a trip to meet your groups needs.

Beijing Hutong Tour

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One Day in Beijing Itinerary – Top Things to Do in Beijing, China

It is hard to conceptualize a city like Beijing unless you experience it first-hand. With almost 22 million people milling around, going about their daily lives, ambitious urban projects underway in the background, all one well-oiled machine, working in perfect harmony day after day, growing and expanding with layers of culture and history over three millennia. Jam-packed with ancient sites and marvels of modern architecture, Beijing, the sprawling capital of China, is representative of everything modern China is about – the good and the bad. Reminders of former imperial glory such as the magnificent Forbidden City stand side-by-side with Tiananmen Square, the site of Mao Zedong’s mausoleum and a permanent reminder of the communist revolution that transformed China’s political and cultural identity. But Beijing is so much more – with numerous exciting cultural events happening year-round, with attractive art exhibitions, picturesque gardens, sprawling architectural complexes, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in or around the city, including The Great Wall, a timeless man-made wonder meandering through the surrounding valleys and mountains. If China is the future, then Beijing is both its prow and its anchor, at the forefront of all new developments, but still deeply rooted in history and centuries-old cultural identity.

WHAT’S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BEIJING?

There are two major things to take into account when choosing when to visit Beijing. One of them is the weather, and the other one the Chinese national holidays that you will have to try to plan your trip around in case you want to avoid high hotel rates and long waiting lines basically everywhere you go. The weather in Beijing is relatively typical, with four distinct seasons . The spring is quite short and windy, the summers are long and hot, the autumn pleasant and cool, and the winter long and freezing. To avoid the extremes (37 °C/99 °F in August and July, -15 °C/5 °F in January), the best time to visit Beijing is either between March and May or September to October .

Overall, autumn is the best season due to warm, dry and sunny days and pleasant, cool evenings. As for the holidays, steer clear of International New Year, Chinese New Year, Qing Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day) in April, Labor Day (May 1 st ), Dragon Boat Festival in June, Mid-Autumn Festival in September, and the National Holiday (October 1 st -7 th ). The reason why these holidays may be a poor choice are the high prices and overcrowded public areas. However, if you are a fan of festivals, you might as well give it a go.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT BEIJING

With history going back 3,000 years , Beijing is among the oldest cities in the world, close to the same age as London. The area of Beijing is also one of the oldest inhabited areas, with recovered fossils of the Peking Man (Homo Erectus) indicating that human ancestors inhabited the area from 770,000 to 230,000 years ago. Today, the fossils can be seen at the Peking Man World Heritage Site at Zhoukoudian. During the course of its history, Beijing had many names , such as Jicheng (‘City of Ji’), Beiping (‘Central Peace’), Yanjing (Capital of Yan’), Zhongdu (‘Central Capital’), Nanjing (‘Southern Capital’), Dadu (‘Great Capital’), and many others.

The name Beijing, meaning ‘Northern Capital’ , was the city’s 16 th name, adopted in 1403. As mentioned earlier, Beijing has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, parts of the Great Wall, and the Grand Canal, also known the Jing–Hang Grand Canal among the Chinese. When it comes to lesser-known facts, in 2022, Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and the Winter Olympic Games when the 2022 Winter Olympics are held there.

ONE DAY IN BEIJING ITINERARY

Follow this guide and make the most of your trip even if you’re short on time. These are the top sights and things to do on your one day in Beijing.

Plan to Start Your Day Early

In order to have enough time for all the top things to do in Beijing, you will have to start your day early, around 6 AM . While it may seem too early, almost all visitors recommend getting to the most popular landmarks early in the day. In the afternoon, sometimes it is near-impossible to come close to a popular attraction.

For example, the Temple of Heaven sees most of its visitors around 3 PM. It is hard to predict how long you’ll have to wait in line in order to see a landmark or enter a museum, which is why you’ll have to take the wait times into consideration and make reservations in advance whenever you can to make your one day in Beijing as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Visit the Temple of Heaven First

Located in the southeastern part of central Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is a famous imperial temple complex built in 1420 . Occupying 267 hectares (660 acres), the Temple of Heaven (with the surrounding complex) is the largest religious building in China. In the past, it was used for prayer by the Ming and Qing emperors during annual ceremonies. Today, there are several playgrounds and recreation grounds within the complex, making it a popular destination for families and adults looking to relax or work out. Some of the side buildings and open spaces host regular presentations, choral shows, ethnic dances, and so on. The complex is open 6AM–8PM , although the central building closes earlier, at 4PM.

Explore Tiananmen Square

One of the most important places to see in Beijing after the Temple of Heaven is Tiananmen Square , situated almost directly to the north. If you hail a taxi, you can get there in 15 minutes, while walking the entire 3.7 km stretch may take around 45 minutes. The square is one of the largest city squares in the world , notable for its impressive 37m obelisk and other landmarks such as the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and others.

Mao’s embalmed body is housed in the Memorial Hall, which is symbolic since Mao proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tiananmen Square on October 1 st 1949 . The anniversary is still celebrated on the square, attracting up to 1 million people, all of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder. In the West, the square is famous for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests or the June Fourth Incident as the Chinese call it, which produced (among other things) the iconic “Tank Man” image, now a widely recognizable symbol of civil disobedience. Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, you are required to show your passport upon entering the square.

Consider Visiting the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

If you want, you can enter the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and see his embalmed body in a crystal coffin. Depending on who you ask, the experience can be described as eerie, ridiculous, or exciting, but it is undoubtedly among the more unusual things to do in Beijing. There is a huge queue that forms every morning, but it moves fast, and you have about a minute in the Central Hall to feel the atmosphere of reverence and the heavy weight of history hanging over the place.

Take a Trip Back in Time at the Forbidden City

The next stop, the legendary Forbidden City , is located about 1.4 km north of Tiananmen Square, so you can easily get there in 15 minutes or less on foot. The Forbidden City’s monumental entrance is just across Chang’an Avenue. Formerly an enormous imperial palace reflecting the unlimited power and wealth of the Chinese emperors from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty ( between 1420 and 1912 ), the Forbidden City was more than just a lavish, opulent home. It as the de-facto seat of government and the most important political center in the country.

With 980 buildings in total, the complex occupies 72 hectares (more than 180 acres). A perfect example of traditional Chinese architecture, the Forbidden City has exerted an immense influence on the culture and architecture of the entire region in Asia, way beyond the borders of imperial China. Due to its immeasurable significance, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, with a special emphasis placed on the Forbidden City being the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures anywhere in the world .

Explore the Palace Complex and the Museum

Today, the Forbidden City is managed by the Palace Museum (since 1925), with an unparalleled collection of ancient artefacts and artwork, containing the original imperial collections, as well as numerous priceless pieces that have been added since. You need to come prepared, knowing that the place will be very crowded. After all, 15 million visitors admire the exhibitions every year. It is worth it, though, and the audio guide is available in multiple languages, providing for an informative, exciting experience.

There is one thing you absolutely must do in Beijing, however. Always book everything in advance . You can buy the tickets to the Forbidden City here . After exploring the Forbidden City, stick around for a couple of minutes and check out the nearby Beihai Park, a gorgeous former imperial park with a large lake. In the vicinity, there are several “Hutong” streets. Hutong are a particular type of street/narrow alley usually associated with Beijing, formed by joining old courtyard residences and forming a neighborhood.

Take a Taxi to Lama Temple

Lama Temple is a colorful, masterfully built Buddhist temple on 12 Yonghegong Street, approx. 20 minutes by car from the Forbidden City due north. The temple was built in 1694 as a series of beautiful pavilions with bronze statues, incense burners, and a large fifty-four-foot high Buddha statue made from Tibetan sandalwood. The temple is a great place to seek refuge from the large spaces and hordes of tourists at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. You will love the serenity of the spread-out courtyards and halls .

If you want to see everything, it may take as much as an hour and a half, but you should just take a leisurely stroll, relax and feel the atmosphere, and move on as soon as you feel ready, in order to save some time for all of the other things to do in Beijing.

Choose a Nearby Restaurant for Lunch

After a hectic morning and a few moments of repose at Lama Temple, it should already be around 2 PM. Since you’ll probably feel pretty famished by then, plan to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. There are many great restaurants in Beijing, but not all of them serve food that is very popular among Westerners. Luckily, there’s a great option just across the street from Lama Temple .

King’s Joy Beijing is an upscale restaurant specializing in vegetarian and vegan food inspired by local Chinese and Asian cuisine. The restaurant is a favorite among Beijing’s elite, frequently attracting celebrities and dignitaries with creative menu entries such as sweet and sour monkey’s head mushrooms, savory tofu kebabs, and sushi-inspired dragonfruit rolls -all of them completely meat-free, yet compromising nothing when it comes to taste and diversity.

If you are just looking for a quick bite , however, the nearby KFC will do the trick, especially if you are not in the mood for experimentation and crave the reliability of an American fast-food chain.

Visit the Summer Palace

Located almost 19 km from King’s Joy Beijing and Lama Temple, the Summer Palace is another famous Beijing landmark that is best reached by car/taxi. It takes about 30 minutes to get to this stunning lakefront palace, formerly a cloistered retreat for members of the Chinese imperial family. The palace was first built in 1750, but was later mostly destroyed in the war of 1860. It was eventually completely restored in 1886, remaining to this day an exemplary masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design.

What makes the Summer Palace truly special is how artificial features such as palaces, pavilions, bridges, and temples perfectly complement the natural characteristics of the landscape, forming one harmonious whole with the open water and the lush green hills. Due to its unique aesthetic value and significance as an impressive symbol of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the Summer Palace was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1998 .

Go for a Short Walk to Kunming Lake

While at the Summer Palace , take the time to explore the palace grounds and the surrounding scenic spots, including numerous temples, bridges, secluded gardens, and narrow paths. Take a short walk south and admire Kunming Lake , the central lake on the palace grounds. It is a pretty shallow man-made lake, but it covers a large area – 2.2 square kilometers (0.8 sq. mi), nearly three quarters of the grounds.

The predecessors of Kunming Lake, Xihu Lake and Wengshan (Jar Hill) had been used for irrigation over a period of three-and-a-half millennia before being developed into a reservoir for the capital in 1291. When the gardens around the Summer Palace were being created, 10,000 laborers were put to work on digging up and expanding the lake. When you look upon the serene waters and the large expanse that the lake is covering, it is hard to imagine that this could be the work of human hands.

Go for a stroll along the lake and explore the area until nightfall. The long land bridge separating Kunming Lake and West Lake diagonally is a perfect spot to snap some amazing photos of the Summer Palace from across the water, especially around sunset, with golden rays of sunshine falling over the ornate rooftops.

Try the Original Peking Duck

Trying the legendary Peking duck is one of those things that you absolutely must do in Beijing. A famous dish that has been prepared since the Imperial era, Peking duck is characterized by its crisp, thin skin and special seasoning. For the ultimate roasted duck in Beijing, whether you are looking for the traditional experience (mostly just skin, very little meat), or a contemporary take on the renowned dish, visit Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant. The interior feels very 80s, and you can tell that it doesn’t try to impress with upscale décor and touristy bells and whistles. Instead, the focus is on the food itself, and, seeing as a lot of locals go there, they must be doing something right.

If you are looking for unusual things to do in Beijing and you’d love to try something completely new, order the duck intestines with green pepper or chili sauce or the braised duck gizzard. The restaurant is located on 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong in Dongcheng Qu district). You can get there by hopping aboard the Subway Line 4 Daxing Line from Beigongmen. Hiring a taxi may be a good option, too.

WHERE TO STAY IN BEIJING?

Beijing Hotel NUO Forbidden City

33 East Chang An Avenue, Block B, Dongcheng

A beautiful historical property with a supreme location, Beijing Hotel NUO Forbidden City showcases the timeless charm of Old China, at the same time uncompromisingly featuring all the modern amenities expected from a hotel of its rank, including an indoor pool with a spa, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen satellite TVs. The rooms are beautifully furnished, with gorgeous and tasteful period furniture complimenting the hotel’s classic French-Orient architecture .

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City

No.16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng, 100006 Beijing

With chic design elements inspired by traditional concepts, Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City lives and breathes the true spirit of Beijing as a modern metropolis still firmly rooted in its history. The hotel feels clean and fresh with its straight lines, smooths surfaces, and airy open spaces bathed in natural light. Staying at Hotel Kapok – Forbidden City is a joy due to its perfect location (just 200 m from the Forbidden City, hence the name) and numerous amenities, including a spa with a fitness center, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels in each room. The property is the perfect starting point for exploring the city, made easier by bicycle and car rentals available at the property for all guests.

Beijing 161 hotel LeZaiNanluo Boutique Hotel

No. 3, Shajing Hutong., Dongcheng, 100009 Beijing

A charming hotel that feels very warm and welcoming due to its many design elements made of stone and wood, Beijing 161 hotel LeZaiNanluo Boutique Hotel seems to sprout from Beijing’s gardens and gorgeously manicured parks. While not as close to the city center as the previous two entries, this property is stilly very well connected. It is located less than 500 m from Nanluoguxiang Subway Station (Line 6 & 8), with the forbidden city just a 10-minute drive away. All of the rooms are well-appointed, spacious, and fitted with flat-screen cable TVs and air conditioning. You can enjoy a view of the garden from your room or enjoy some time outside on the hotel’s sun terrace.

Simple Family Beijing

Floor 16, Unit 1, Yongli International Building West Block, No. 21 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang

Although Simple Family Beijing is a bit peripheral, you will fall in love with its amazing visuals, whether you choose to stay in a room with a private bathroom or the cleverly decorated tent area, with ethnic elements and small details meant to remind you of camping in the wilderness. The tipi-like tents will wake up the kid inside you, like you are at your friend’s house for a sleepover and you are building forts. The friendly, accommodating staff at the front desk speak both Russian and English , making things much easier in case you don’t speak Mandarin.

DAY TRIPS FROM BEIJING

There are so many things to do in Beijing that you will never be able to do it all if you’ve only got one day to spend. And Beijing is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the surrounding area has to offer. If you choose to extend your stay and spend more than one day in Beijing, here are some ideas on how you might spend your time. Obviously, doing the Great Wall tour from Beijing is a must.

The Great Wall of Badaling is a particularly famous portion of the Great Wall that rises to 3,282 feet and can easily be reached on a day trip from Beijing. This section of the wall is the best-preserved and the most complete and is quite easy to climb compared to some other sections. When it comes to other Beijing day tours, a lot of the best ones can be done by air.

For example, there is the Day Trip to Chengdu from Beijing by Air , as well as the Full Day Tour of Shanghai from Beijing by Air. In case you want to see two of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China in one day, consider the Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing. For an overview of these and other Beijing day tours with recommendations and special offers, check out this article.

EXTRA TIPS FOR VISITING BEIJING

-Most businesses nowadays in China accept credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, although UnionPay is still the more widely accepted card scheme. Nevertheless, you will still need to carry cash – in some parts, it is the only payment method.

-In the same vein, don’t expect that you will be able to pay with dollars or euros. The only currency that vendors will consider is the yuan , the official Chinese currency.

-Also, notify your bank if you intend to travel to China and use your cards there. Otherwise, your cards may get cancelled mid-trip due to “suspicious activity”.

-If you don’t speak Mandarin, you may want to print the name of your hotel and its address as it is written in Chinese characters . Google Maps screenshots of the hotel’s location also help if you want your taxi driver to know where you’re going.

– Beijing is a safe city to visit in spite of its huge size. Pickpocketing isn’t exceedingly common, and foreigners aren’t specifically targeted.

– Don’t drink the tap water in Beijing and other parts of China as it is not safe to drink.

-Blowing your nose in public is considered very impolite in China. – Consider getting a local SIM card to avoid steep international roaming charges.

PIN FOR LATER!

If you have any other propositions for this One Day in Beijing Itinerary, feel free to share them in the comments below!

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Anca is a travel writer and the founder of One Day Itinerary - the biggest collection of travel itineraries for those who are time-limited or just want to maximize their time while traveling. Although she easily becomes homesick for Croatia, she thinks travel is essential to her happiness. She has traveled to more countries than she is years old and doesn’t plan on changing that fact. In her travel guides she aims to inspire people to travel whenever they have a spare day (or two).

Great itineary and this is really helpful, could you also let us know as to how we can commute between these places ? is walking possible for few places and alternate with bus/taxi ?

Thank you for your comment! We’d definitely recommend the subway since it is the fastest and it covers most of the popular destinations of the city.

Destinations

Travel Guide

4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package

How to enjoy a Beijing vacation in a leisure and unique way?

This 4 days tour takes you to visit the best and featured highlights of Beijing in a single trip and explore the glorious past and present of Beijing in one go. Apart from Beijing's time-honored landmarks – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall, you will take a special visit to 798 Art Zone to enjoy different galleries and admire the most outstanding architectures in Olympic Park. Taking flights (and train) arrival and departure into consideration, this trip also perfectly match your possible longer China trips to Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, Tibet, Zhangjiajie, etc.

 Type : Private Tour
 Tour Code : CD-BT-04
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
 Trip Length : 4D/3N
 Theme : Architecture / Culture

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Be picked up by private car and English-speaking guide upon your arrival and enjoy a worry-free transfer to hotel and different attractions;
Not only visit unmissable collection of imperial architectures of Forbidden City, but also appreciate a bird's-eye vista of the whole palace from Jingshan Park;
Hike along the man-made wonder – Mutianyu Great Wall which is renowned for its Ming Dynasty watchtowers and stirring views;
Visit interesting numerous art galleries, graffiti walls and many cool restaurants and cafes in 798 Art Zone;
Explore modern architectures in Olympics Park, including world-famous Bird's Nest and Water Cube;
Get some perspective of the old Beijing's local life by strolling or riding a rickshaw on Hutongs and experience traditional Chinese art by learning paper cutting.
Trip Itinerary
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Day 1 Beijing Arrival Airport or Railway Station Pick Up

Ni Hao, welcome to Beijing, the iconic city as well as the capital of China! You will be met by your local tour guide at the arrival hall of Beijing Capital Airport, or railway station, then be escorted to check in your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to relax. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide. Arrival Ideas : At present, there are many international and domestic flights to Beijing. Besides, you can take a high speed train to this capital city from Shanghai (5-6 hrs), Xian (5.5 hrs), Guangzhou (8-9.5 hrs), etc. Tour guide picked up our clients at Beijing airport

Day 2 Beijing (B, L) Tiananmen Square - Forbidden City - Summer Palace

After breakfast, start to explore the historical face of Beijing with a brief visit to Tiananmen Square , now the largest city plaza in the world. Tiananmen Gate on the northern side of the square was the site where Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Stepping into the Tiananmen, you will see one of the world's five most important palaces - Forbidden City (Palace Museum) , a huge palace complex of more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties lived. Pass through various doorways in this magnificent structure to admire the beautiful and well-preserved buildings decorated with yellow-glazed tile roofs, white marble bases and splendid colorful paintings. After Forbidden City exploration, take a short visit to Jingshan Park where you can get a nice shot of one watchtower of Forbidden City and take a panoramic view of Forbidden City. After lunch, drive to the outskirts of Beijing to spend an enjoyable time in the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Stroll around ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges and corridors while feasting your eyes on the vast lotus in Kunming Lake and the colorful paintings in the Long Corridor. Optional activities: 1) You can watch a wonderful Kungfu Show in the Red Theater (Hong Ju Chang) which usually starts at 19:30; 2) Enjoy the classic Chinese art performance of Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater during 19:30-21:00. The Forbidden City Overall View from Jingshan Park Woo's group visited Tiananmen Square The Fudol Couple visited Summer Palace with China Discovery

Day 3 Beijing (B, L) Mutianyu Great Wall - 798 Art Zone - Bird's Nest & Water Cube

This morning, you will drive about 70km (about 1.5 h) to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World - Great Wall . The less-crowded Mutianyu , a well-preserved segment of Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty, lives up to all of your nice expectations. You'll take a cable car to ascend the Great Wall, then hike the most beautiful and interesting part of Mutianyu. It's a wonderful experience to climb up its rising towers to enjoy scenic views and take brag-worthy photos of the wall wriggling along mountain ridges. After the exciting time, descend Mutianyu Great Wall by cable car. (Note: If energy permits, you can hike up or down which takes about 40 minutes to climb steps. Please tell your likes to your travel consultant.) After Great Wall exploration, drive about 65km (1.5 hours) to 798 Art Zone to get an artsy vibe which stands in contrast to the old atmosphere of Beijing's other historic sights. It is an open air gallery to discover street art, new trends, exhibitions and many cool shops. Lastly, drive back to Beijing City, and take a short stop at the Beijing Olympic Vill age to view the magnificent Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the outside. Lastly, be escorted back to your hotel. Recommended optional activities: Enjoy an exciting and safe toboggan ride (about 2~3mins) down Mutianyu Great Wall. Sara's family from Australia visited Mutianyu Great Wall in December 2023 Our customers visited Bird's Nest in 2019

Day 4 Beijing Departure (B, L) Temple of Heaven - Hutong - Beijing Departure

After breakfast, drive to the imperial site – Temple of Heaven . It was originally used to pay homage to Heaven and pray for harvest, now becomes a bustling place for locals to take part in traditional activities, such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, etc. Then, hop on a rickshaw to experience Beijing Hutongs - small alleys made of neighboring quadrangle dwellings. Shuttle among different Hutongs to feel the old Beijing life style, meet various antique shops and small boutiques, feel the historical changes of Beijing, and also pay a visit to a local family's home in the traditional Hutongs. ( Optional Activity: If you're interested and have the time, consider participating in a class on China's Traditional Paper Cutting in the Hutong area. You'll have the opportunity to learn the art of cutting common motifs and characters, guided by a skilled Paper Cutting teacher.) Your Beijing tour is now about to end. Your tour guide will escort you to catch your flight/train to next destination. Carsha's group from USA experience Hutong Richshaw in Beijing in September 2019 Fantastic View of Temple of Heaven Shared by Our Guest Daniel

Recommended Add-on Options

Xian , as the capital of 13 ancient China dynasties, is filled with amazing historic and cultural wonders.

With only 2~3 days , you can travel the best highlights of ancient capital Xian at an enjoyable pace. One day for arrival and relaxing, another day to visit the famous Terracotta Warriors , Ancient City Wall , Local Snack Street - Muslim Quarter . An extra day for visiting to the symbol of Xian - Big Wild Goose Pagoda , and having an educational learning in Shaanxi History Museum . The rest time is free for departure.

Our guests get viewed by the countless Terracotta Warriors

Shanghai, regarded as the Oriental Paris, is the best place to experience East-meet-West Culture, find hidden tradition within modernity.

Generally speaking, you can spend Day 1 exploring the popular landmarks of Shanghai, such as the Shanghai Museum , Yu Garden , Nanjing Road , the Bund , and Shanghai World Financial Center Tower . The Day 2 is for you to explore deep into the city of Shanghai (such as Wukang Road , Tianzifang or Jade Buddha Temple ) and departure.

The quotation for this trip is from $485 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. 2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels. 3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025. 4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (4-star standard);
Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary;
Domestic flights (economy class) and high-speed trains (second class) as listed in the itinerary;
Airport (and train station) pick up and drop off;
Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels;
All meals as listed( “B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
Accident insurance;
Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

China visa;
Personal expenses;
Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
Single Room Supplement;
Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary;
Recommended optional activities;
Flights or trains not listed in the itinerary;
Excess Baggage Charges;
Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Hi dear Vivien,

our journey is about to end. We are on our way to Guilin airport. It has been an awesome trip indeed. Each destination was well chosen and everything went smoothly. I am super happy for my sister and me to be able to experience such a wonderful travel through the most stunning landscapes in China. Thank you for the perfect organization. And thank you for the nice gift we got in Guilin. Really appreciate it.

My sister with her fan. We also got a beautiful stamp and ink. Thank you very much!

just want to record our thanks to you for your good planning, coordination and arrangement for our recent holidays to Dali, Lijiang and Xianggelila. The tour guides and drivers were warm and friendly and we felt safe, and enjoyed the trip very much.

All the best to you.

Janet/Richard/Claire

1. Yes - questions were promptly addressed to my satisfaction. Excellent service overall.

2. The local guide is knowledgeable and has good command of English. He's also patient, considerate, and takes good care of his customers.

Hi Samantha,

Sunrise was very nice and checked us in to a nice room at 8:30 am. It’s been a while since we were in Shanghai, and it is a wonderful, clean city that’s very vibrant. It has been sunny and warm the last four days.

Dear Wing Zeng,

My family and I have now arrived safely back at home in Bangkok. We had a wonderful time on the cruise, and we would like to thank you very much for assisting us on the whole process, from booking the cabins to arranging transportation from Jingzhou to Maoping port. We are very impressed with your service.

As for your questions, here is my response:

1A: Wing Zeng always responds to our emails very promptly. At the beginning when I planned to book the cruise, Wing Zeng has been very patient to respond to all my questions about the cruise itinerary and the cabin types. I am very happy with her service.

2A: With Wing Zeng's help, our tour arrangements were very smooth. Our family travel with one senior and one small child, so we were very careful about transportation to and from the port. On the day of embarkation, Wing Zeng helped us book a van transfer directly from our hotel in Jingzhou to the port, which made the embarkation process very smooth and enjoyable.

3A: Definitely. I highly recommend your service to anyone who wants to take the Yangtze cruises.

4A: I'm very satisfied with your service. Our travel consultant is very helpful and professional.

5A: It would be nice if you could give a little warning that the water level in Chongqing might be too low around this time of year. Originally, our cruise was scheduled to end at Chongqing Chaotianmen port. But because of the low water level, we had to disembark somewhere else and took a 2-hour drive to Chaotianmen. The cruise arranges the transfer smoothly and it worked out fine in the end. But if this is something that happens usually around this time of year, it would be nice to be given a little warning beforehand.

Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Photo gallery of this trip

Tour guide picked up our clients at Beijing airport

Most Important Beijing Travel Notes

Beijing, altogether with Tianjin and Hebei has implemented 144-Hour Visa-free Transit to visitors from 53 countries with valid travel document & connecting (flight, ship, trains) tickets to a third country/region. These countries include 25 European Schengen Visa Agreement countries (Austria, Germany, Italy…), 14 Other European countries (Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland…), 6 America countries (United States, Canada, Brazil…), 2 Oceania countries (Australia and New Zealand) and 6 Asian countries (South Korea, Japan, Singapore…).

The itinerary in this tour can be customized according to your own interests and needs. Usually, Mutianyu Great is the top recommended among several sections of Great Wall in and around Beijing, because it's less crowded, fully-restored and quite family-friendly. If you want to explore the primitive appearance of Great Wall and want a memorable hiking experience in lesser known sections, you can also choose Simatai, Jiankou, Jinshanling, etc. It is also available to choose some other attractions based on your interest. Besides, you can visit a local family in Beijing Hutongs, or take part in some other interested activities. If you have any personal travel ideas, feel free to tell us.

Beijing, the capital and No.1 tourist destination of China, is equipped with numerous hotels and restaurants for your choice. Undoubtedly, every traveler can stay in Beijing with great comfort. There are enough luxuries hotels with good location and best value. It is also easy to find many comfortable 4-star hotels and economical hotels. You can choose one hotel according to your tour itinerary and budget. Beijing also offers a large number of choices of food – from multi-course cuisine to various street food to satisfy your taste bud.

As the capital of China, Beijing enjoys a well-developed transportation system to be reached from both international cities and domestic cities. There are many daily flights from Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, etc.), America (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, etc.), Asia (Singapore, Tokyo, Taipei, Macao, etc.) and Oceania to Beijing. It is also quit convenient to take a domestic flight to Beijing from more than 120 cities in mainland China, including the frequent flights from some other popular gateway cities - Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu.

With a temperature monsoon climate, Beijing enjoys four distinctive seasons. It has warm spring (March ~ May), hot summer (June ~ August), cool autumn (September ~ November) and cold winter (October ~ December). Visiting Beijing in different seasons allows you to see different featured scenery, but the best time to visit Beijing is spring and autumn because you can enjoy the most comfortable weather. It is also important to avoid visiting Beijing in China's big festivals, including May Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon's Boat Day and National Day when most of the scenic areas will be crowded and it will be common to meet traffic jam.

If you have more days in China, you are strongly suggested to extend your tour to another two top tourist destinations – ancient Xian and modern Shanghai, which presents China's past and future. A tour combining these three cities will help you get a first panoramic view of China. For more wonderful experience, you can visit Guilin to see breathtaking Karst landscape or take a Yangtze River cruise to enjoy a comfortable holiday.

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A Perfect Beijing Itinerary For First Timers 2023

Beijing is a fantastic city – full of traditional culture and history, loaded with modern lifestyles and technology. Whether you’re making the most of your visa-free transit period or you’re looking to spend a considerable amount of time here, this jam-packed Beijing itinerary will introduce you to China’s crazy capital!

Banner Title

Necessary Spacing

Here’s our top 5-day itinerary that covers the best things in the city. Pick and choose the activities if you haven’t got that much time!

Day 1: Visit Qian’man Street for shopping, then explore Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City with an official guide
Day 2: Wander around the Summer Palace and take a hutong tour (or you can choose a food/beer tour instead too! )
Day 3: Hike the Great Wall – so many options but the best all-round section is Mutianyu
Day 4: Visit the famous Olympic Park and the edgy 798 Art District
Day 5: Pick up some beautiful antiques at Panjiayuan Market then go bar hopping in Sanlitun

Travelling to Beijing

Travelling to China is not something many people even consider unless they have a layover there. Even then, a lot of people decide to stay in their airport hotel and escape as quickly as they can.

There are plenty of great layover tours specifically designed for a quick visit but if you do have more time, then this is the post you need to fully explore the city!

It’s not surprising that not everyone wants to visit – exploring a huge country like China can be daunting as it’s not as tourist-friendly as many other cities in Asia! The language barrier, the local food and the complex culture can seem like great reasons to avoid China, but honestly, it’s such a fun place to travel.

Beijing is especially interesting because of its history dating back literally thousands of years. Plus, there’s the Great Wall! No, you can’t see it from space but why would you need to when you can climb it yourself?

We spent four years living in Beijing (we were teaching English !) but we still didn’t see everything that the city has to offer. We did, however, create and follow this exact Beijing travel itinerary as if we were newbies so that it would be easy for readers like you to use.

Of course, Beijing isn’t the only place to see in China , but it’s a great place to start if you only have a limited time in the country!

One day in the city definitely isn’t enough, so we have put together a 3 day Beijing itinerary to see all of the best sights and activities. We’ve also added in more things to do in Beijing if you’re staying for more than three days!

Hopefully, you’ll get to see all the beautiful places with this Beijing itinerary – check out this complete guide before you go to make sure you’re prepared and download these apps to make your Chinese trip easier!

I’ve added options for people who like to explore without a guide, and for those who would prefer to book a tour too! There are benefits to both so keep an eye out for the activities that you might not normally think of doing, with or without a guide!

1 – 3 Day Beijing Itinerary

Historical landmarks tours + walking streets.

Fresh off the aeroplane, you’ll want to stretch your legs and take a leisurely walking tour through Qian’men. Start at the subway station, walk south through the central Beijing hutongs and through the famous Dashilan Commercial Street.

You can book tickets for a walking tour here , so you can learn about the history of this part of the city.

Many people walking down a market street

Here you can purchase anything China-related, so this is the time to pick up gifts for those back home. The prices here are mostly non-negotiable, however, they are also some of the most reasonable in the whole city. The cost of living in Beijing is low, so if you’re here as a tourist then you can find some great bargains!

At the end of the road, you will find yourself at Qian’men Street, the central road leading back towards Tian’anmen Square. Walk north towards the Qian’mem gatehouse and pass directly underneath.

Across the road will be Mao’s Mausoleum. Here you can go inside and see the preserved body of the revered leader. Regardless of what he did in life, this is definitely a unique experience.

A government style building with pillars surrounding it

On the other side of the mausoleum is the infamous Tian’anmen Square. It truly is a massive open area. On the right is the museum of China and in the middle is the memorial to all the fallen soldiers in World War 2. At the far end of the square is the imposing entrance to the Forbidden City. This is the first time you will understand the sheer scale of the palace.

A typical example of chinese architecture but very large

Upon entry just follow the crowds to the ticket offices inside the Meridian gate. You really can get lost inside this palace so have a good look around. If you are happy to explore by yourself, buy your tickets here . You can also use a self-guided audio tour like this .

You could easily spend 3 to 4 hours wandering around, peeking in random doors or gardens you might stumble across. There’s a lot of fascinating history and culture to learn about so don’t rush yourself. Keep going north through the whole palace and you’ll eventually get to the North Exit, which is also called the Gate of Divine Prowess.

You can also join a small group tour – you won’t be hassled to buy tickets or pushed into tea scams if you’re with a guide so it’s not a bad idea! Click here to book your space.

In front of you is a very out a place hill inside of Jingshan park.

A temple on top of a hill at the back of the forbidden city

It’s very cheap to get inside, and after walking to the top of the hill you get a spectacular view over the top of the Forbidden City you have just walked through. Hopefully, you get a low pollution day and get some nice photos, unlike we did!

A view of the forbidden city from a hill covered in pollution

It is very difficult to put a time on this first day. Some people might walk straight through all of the areas and it takes 3 or so hours.

If you decide to go into every attraction, do some shopping, see the museum and really get a feel for the places it could easily take 7-8 hours! Take this day at your own pace and enjoy soaking it all in!

Dumplings on a bamboo basket being steamed

A fantastic way to end your first day in Beijing is to eat at a Peking duck restaurant. The most famous is Quanjude and you’ll find branches all over the city. Eating Peking duck is quite a theatrical affair – the chef will wheel the food out on a trolley and carve it before you.

There will be lots of different dishes brought to your table for you to try too, as well as the traditional accompaniments for your main meal.

Summer Palace

To get to the famous Summer Palace, you can jump onto a boat and take an Imperial Waterway Cruise from the Beijing Exhibition Centre and take in the views from the water. The ride takes you past the zoo but I wouldn’t recommend visiting as the animals are treated terribly.

The Summer Palace is absolutely beautiful all year round and is very big. I would advise taking some food for a picnic if the weather permits.

Explore with a guide if you are interested in finding out all about this World UNESCO site or just buy your tickets to the park in advance here and visit by yourself.

A boat amongst lillies in the summer palace

Hutong Tour

The hutongs in Beijing are full of hidden gems and interesting people. Hutongs are residential areas that consist of narrow lanes, with the houses being built in a courtyard fashion.

However, there are also shops and restaurants scattered throughout Beijing’s hutongs, and they are really fun to explore. Some have become more famous than others, such as Nanluoguxiang, Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street (Yandai Xiejie) and Wudaoying.

Pre-book a hutong tour and you’ll be taken to the most popular places. If you’re on a strict time schedule, then that might be the best idea as you’ll be driven around and there won’t be any time wasted wandering down some weird alley and into someone’s kitchen.

However, if you have more time, then you could definitely spend a day wandering up and down yourself, getting lost and finding cool spots that aren’t overcrowded yet.

We recommend starting in Nanlouguxiang, walking up to Houhai Lakes and passing through Yandai Xiejie. Then, get on a subway up to Andingmen station and see Wudaoyaing. You can then take a look at the Lama Temple if you fancy.

Many people down a hutong looking at shops

You’ll find countless rooftop bars, posh restaurants, local street vendors and much more to entertain yourself for the whole day. You certainly won’t go hungry and with plenty of cocktail happy hours to be found, you’re also likely to get fairly drunk!

Hike the Great Wall of China

You absolutely cannot appreciate a Beijing itinerary without visiting the Great Wall! It’s an astounding piece of defensive architecture, and the photos don’t do its vastness justice.

You’ve got a couple of options of where to go on the Wall as it is actually over 13,000 miles long! Clearly, you won’t be hiking the whole thing but you’ll need to choose the best section for your preferred type of day trip.

The great wall in Beijing winding through the hills

The four most popular hiking routes are listed below. Each section of the Great Wall is different, whether that’s because of the facilities, difficulty or scenery. Take a look at the comparison table below to work out which is the best part for you to visit.

When you visit the Great Wall, make sure that you take plenty of water with you. The vendors will charge you around 5 times more than the price should be because they know that you’ll need to stay hydrated!

Visiting Badaling Great Wall

If you’re looking for a relatively easy hike to a popular section of the wall, then go to the very well known and one of the most well-restored sections, Badaling. You’re almost guaranteed to be surrounded by tourists (mostly local as this section is popular with Chinese people).

You might feel safer around other people so Badaling is a great place to go if you want to mingle with others on your hike.

Book a tour here for a full-day tour including lunch.

If you’re planning to visit the Wall alone, make your way to subway line 2 and travel to Jishuitan Station and take the short walk to Deshengmen bus station. I would advise using a map app on your phone so you can find the Deshengmen bus station from the subway as it is a 10-minute walk.

Man with red backpack standing looking out over the Great Wall of China

Then find bus 877, which will be obvious because of the queues of people. I have read that there are many fake 877 busses en route to the bus station. If there is someone trying to convince you to get on the bus then it is almost certainly a fake – just follow the signs and people, or ask someone wearing an official uniform!

Bus Timetable:

The bus costs around 12RMB (£1.35/$1.80).

Alternatively, you can take the train from Huangtudian Railway Station straight to Badaling Railway Station. It takes roughly the same amount of time as the bus and will cost you 7 RMB. To get to the station take subway line 8 or 13 and get off at Huoying. The train station is roughly 100m away if you leave from Exit G4.

At Badaling, there is a cable car that you can ride up to the top to take in the scenic views, as well as a pulley ride that you can experience for an added fee.

There are plenty of restaurants and shops but these are unsurprisingly overpriced.

For those of you who prefer to learn about the history of this section from a local guide, then join a tour like this.

Visiting Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu is essentially the best all-round section of the Great Wall. It is beautifully restored, there are fewer people and there are a few restaurants around the entrance if you forget to bring your own food. There’s even a toboggan which I think is the best way to descend the Great Wall!

This excellent tour to Mutianyu has almost 1000 5-star reviews, so it’s a great one to choose if you don’t want to make your way to the Wall alone!

It’s a little bit more difficult to get the Mutianyu independently because there isn’t a direct public bus, but it’s definitely doable. You can also buy return coach transfer tickets here in advance – you just need to turn up at the meeting point and get on the bus.

You’ll need to get to Dongzhimen subway station first (via line 2, 13 or the Airport Express). The subway and the bus station are in the same huge building, so find the Bus Transfer Hall and you’ll need to get on bus 916 Express.

It will cost you 12 RMB and should take just over an hour. You can pay cash or use your transportation card.

Winding Great Wall through the forest in Beijing

You need to get off the bus at Huai Rou Bei Da Jie (it’s the 15th stop). The bus will announce the destination in English but most people will get off here anyway.

You can then get a local bus (H23) from Mutianyu Roundabout and then walk to the ticket centre, or choose to take a taxi. Be careful of the scammers – only take a metered cab. It should cost around 40 RMB for a taxi and 3RMB for the bus. For super detailed instructions on taking this second local bus, take a look at this website .

There are also cable cars here at Mutianyu, and it’s the most wheelchair-friendly section.

If you’re travelling to Beijing with kids then we recommend choosing Mutianyu to hike, as it’s not too difficult and it’s the safest due to the high-quality restoration. The toboggan, or luge, is also really fun and isn’t too fast or scary.

If you’d prefer to take a guided tour to this part of the Wall, then click here to find out more and book your spot.

Visiting Simatai Great Wall

You should visit Simatai if you want to explore the Great Wall at night time. There are official tours and it’s well lit, meaning that it’s much safer than scaling a random part of the wall alone!

This part of the wall is also not very restored so it is very much unchanged since the time of being built. It’s pretty wild and steep in places though so you can actually take a cable car up if you’d prefer.

You can also only climb this part of the wall if you buy a reserved ticket here . Book at least 10 days in advance so that you’re guaranteed a space. You can also wander around Gubei Water Town as this part of the Wall is right next to it.

Girl with red backpack wearing shorts doing peace sign on Beijing Great Wall

There are a few food vendors on the wall but I wouldn’t recommend relying on them for a full cheap meal. Bring your own or, if you’re going into the town then you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving food there.

To get to Simatai, make your way to Dongzhimen Subway station, which can be accessed via lines 2 and 13. You can then take the tourist bus or a local bus. It takes around 2 hours and the tourist bus times are as follows:

The local bus is 980 but you’ll have to transfer onto bus 51 at some point, and the bus station can be difficult to find. For in-depth instructions, if you really want to take this bus, use this website .

Visiting Jiankou Great Wall

If you are looking for a more authentic and wild Great Wall hiking experience, then visit Jiankou. There are no food vendors and definitely no cable cars here!

This tour is a great option if you want to see the wilder parts of the Great Wall without it being dangerous!

Camping on this part of the Wall would be an adventure, but be prepared for some tough climbing ahead! You’ll also have to pay between 5 – 10 RMB to the local villagers to start this hike.

There are small villages surrounding Jiankou where you can find food but most definitely take your own just in case. I wouldn’t recommend hiking this part in hot weather as you’d need to carry so much water and you don’t want to be running out!

You can also hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu , or vice versa, and that will roughly take around 4 – 5 hours as you’ll be covering a distance of 6 miles (10km).

Unsurprisingly, there are no direct buses to Jiankou. You can take a bus from Dongzhimen Station, and then take a local bus to one of the small villages.

Or, you could hire a driver to take you to the village. That way, you are guaranteed a quick and easy return journey to Beijing. Not only that but someone local also knows where you are so if you get into any trouble they could send for help!

Here are the bus times from Dongzhimen:

Once you’re in Yujiayuan, you have two choices. You can pick which village you want to start your hike from. Getting from Xizhazi Village to the actual Wall only takes around half an hour, so many people pick that option.

However, getting a taxi from Yujiayuan station to the village will cost approximately 120RMB. If you would rather have a cheaper taxi ride, go to Wofo Mountain Villa. There are more restaurants and accommodation options here, and it will cost you around 65RMB to get there from the station.

All of the prices of public buses will be 50% cheaper if you use a Beijing Transportation Card, which we do recommend. They’re easy to get form any subway station with a booth. You have to add a 20RMB refundable deposit and then you’re good to go. It makes getting around the city super easy as you can use it for the subway too (although the price won’t change on the trains).

5 Day Beijing Itinerary

If you’ve got more time in the city or you want to skip a few of our suggestions because you’ve already done them, we’ve added in two extra days of activities for you. As you can now get 6 days visa-free in Beijing, this is a perfect amount of time to give you a day of recovering from the flight!

A 5 day Beijing itinerary allows more time to explore local attractions and either find new restaurants or return to those that you’ve already enjoyed! You could even take a couple of day trips from Beijing.

Temple of Heaven

Travel down to Tiantan East Gate station on subway Line 5 to reach the Temple of Heaven. This is another famous and very large temple complex that is beautiful to have a walk around.

You can buy your admission ticket in advance here if you’re travelling in the high season.

798 Art District

If you’re into art, this is the place to be. In fact, even if you’re not into art, this area is a really interesting part of the city and we would highly recommend taking a visit. You’ll find galleries, museums, quirky shops, tattoo studios, art exhibitions and more here.

Walking around with a guide is great fun because they’ll be able to find the most unique places!

It’s best to get the subway (Wangjing South on Line 14) and then hail a taxi to the actual district, as there’s no direct public transport there.

Large bull tatue with stone man hanging on the end in 798 Art District Beijing

You could spend at least a few hours wandering around the exhibitions and studios. There are bars and restaurants too but most will close around 6ish to be prepared to eat before then or wait until you get back into the city centre.

Olympic Park

The famous Olympic park, built for the 2008 games, has some great architectural structures to marvel at. You’ll find the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube (particularly impressive at night time), as well as the Forest Park.

You can spend a few hours here, as there is 2.6 square miles of land and water to explore! There are two gardens – the Northern and the Southern – that you can enjoy. Hire a bike, take a small boat cruise or even get some tennis lessons with a training partner!

Get here by jumping on Line 8 on the subway, and get off at the Olympic Sports Centre, or South Gate of Forest Park. Or, take a walking tour like this one.

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Plenty of people visit markets in Beijing and find cheap fake goods or tacky souvenirs. If you want something a little more special, then go to Panjiayuan Market. This is where you’ll find the locals, and you can buy some incredible artwork and locally made crafts.

If you don’t speak Chinese, or this is your first time in China, you might find it a little overwhelming in the market! You can take a shopping tour with a guide to help you navigate the language barrier and stop people trying to rip you off just because you’re a tourist!

There are artists painting simple pieces that you can buy there and then, and there are also beautifully hand-woven embroidery pieces too.

Of course, not everything is unique, and there will some items that are extremely highly-priced but there is room for a little haggling, especially if you’re buying more than one item from a vendor.

However, only haggle if you don’t think the item is worth what you are paying. So many times I have seen people haggle for pennies and it can be insulting. Of course, do it if you feel you are being ripped off but don’t be rude!

Brightly coloured trinkets from an antique market - jewellery and purses in the background with man wearing blue shirt in forgeound

There are a couple of food stalls in and around the market where you can buy cheap and tasty rice meals. Panjiayuan Antique Market is open every day from 8.30am – 6pm during the week,and from 4am – 6pm on weekends.

However, only the permanent shops are open on weekdays, and the market stalls are only open on the weekends.

To get to the market, get to Panjiayuan Subway Station on line 10 and leave via Exit B.

If you’re here to party and shop for western brands, then Sanlitun is where you need to go. This area has heaps of bars, restaurants and shops that wouldn’t look out of place in London.

You’ll usually pay higher prices around here, but if you’re looking for something particular then you can’t complain.

You’ll easily find H&M, Nike, Adidas , Mac and the Apple Store. There’s also an abundance of foreign food – pizza places, Mexican restaurants, cocktail bars and more.

Sanlitun is not the place to go if you want to experience local and traditional Chinese culture, but it’s definitely worth a visit.

The closest subway station is Tuanjiehu on line 10 – use Exit A and turn right at the crossroads. The swarms of foreigners will guide you to where the action is happening!

Alternatively, take Exit D and follow the same road in the same direction – you’ll find more hidden restaurants and bars to hang out in.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Beijing?

Planning your Beijing itinerary involves a few careful considerations because the timing of your visit could really make or break your whole experience!

The first thing that I advise you to do is to AVOID CHINESE NEW YEAR! Before you do any kind of research, find out when the Chinese New Year falls and scratch it out on your calendar.

Not only are flights hideously more expensive around this time, Beijing pretty much shuts down because the locals go to their hometowns to visit their families. China travel is near impossible during the new year.

Yes, there will be fewer crowds, but that’s mainly because they wouldn’t be able to eat at any restaurants! There are also a lot of extremely loud firecrackers being let off across the city for over a week, so that could get annoying!

Another time to definitely avoid Beijing is National Week. Unlike Chinese New Year, it falls at the same time every year so you have no excuse to get it wrong!

National Day is the 1st October and is a public holiday across China. People celebrate the founding of The People’s Republic Of China on that day, and the 6 days following it.

This time though, Beijing gets an influx of domestic tourists because it’s the capital and there are so many links to the country’s history there. Lines for attractions will be extra-long and it’s almost impossible to get a train ticket during this time.

Basically, try to avoid any public holiday in China because you’ll have an experience that is not a true reflection of the country.

Visiting Beijing in winter is also not ideal. During the winter, temperatures regularly fall below -5° Celsius (23°F). The coldest day we saw was during January and it was -17° Celsius but luckily we were travelling south to Thailand that day!

It rarely snows during the colder months as the air is so dry, but you might see some flurries.

The worst thing about Beijing in winter is the pollution and the air quality. There will be days that you are advised not to go out and the air will be a gross yellowy-brown. Other times, you’ll see perfect blue skies and the air will be crisp.

However, airfare and hotel prices will be cheaper so that’s something to think about when planning your Beijing itinerary.

The summer in Beijing is hot and sticky. There are some outdoor pools to cool off in, and some gorgeous parks to picnic in, however, so summer is still an okay time to visit Beijing. Be prepared for intense thunderstorms though!

Spring and autumn are the perfect times to visit Beijing because the temperatures are not too warm and not too cold. The air is clear and you’ll experience fewer thunderstorms.

What To Pack For A 3 day Beijing Itinerary

You should be able to buy any clothes and toiletries that you need whilst you’re in Beijing, so don’t overpack. However, as you’ve already read, the seasons can vary drastically so your packing list will differ depending on the time of year that you choose to come.

Our Top Pick

Travel Camera

Panasonic LUMIX ZS70K

*See the full guide to this beauty right here!*

If you don’t have a camera then I HIGHLY recommend the Panasonic Lumix ZS70K . It is an affordable point-and-shoot camera that can be picked up and used by anyone of any ability. The camera captures gorgeous images and surprisingly excellent video whilst fitting in your pocket. The main difference between this and your phone’s camera is that it also has an incredible optical zoom so you won’t miss any of the shots you need to take. Check it out here.

Hand Luggage

Wrangler 20″

People can go WAY overboard when buying hand luggage when you really don’t need to spend a lot of money. We recommend going for something sturdy and affordable like the Wrangler 20″ . It’s exactly what you would expect from hand luggage but also comes with a neat charging trick. If you have a power bank, you can connect the power bank from inside the case and charge your phone from a port on the outside! Check it out on amazon here.

Osprey Arcane

For city exploring and shorter hikes, you’ll need a decent day pack. We recommend one like Osprey’s Arcane , as not only can it hold a 15″ laptop, water bottle and everything else you would need day to day but it is also incredibly stylish (we think). We have used Osprey for loads of different bags over the years and they have all been perfect. Check out the Osprey Arcane on Amazon here.

Multi Adapter

EPIKA Worldwide

If you’re worried about powering your devices on your trip then the simple solution is to take this EPIKA worldwide travel adapter. We have used it all over the world and it has worked flawlessly. Being able to charge up to 5 devices by USB (4 USB-A’s + 1 USB-C) plus a full power outlet socket is incredibly useful and works as an all-in-one solution. Check it out on Amazon here.

Menstrual Cup

We all know that tampons and pads are bad for the environment (not to mention uncomfortable and expensive!) so get yourself familiar with a reliable menstrual cup, like this one from Sirona . These can be reused for up to 15 years – think of the money and plastic waste you’ll save! Made from medical-grade silicone, Sirona’s cup is designed for comfort, sustainability and protection. Click here to choose the right size for you.

Anker 10,000mAh

If you’re worried about your devices losing power throughout the day then we recommend the Anker 10,000mAh power bank . Anker actually makes quite a few power banks but this one comes with a USB-C and USB-A port which means that you’ll be able to charge any of your devices regardless of connection. The 10,000mAh capacity is enough to completely charge an iPhone 12 twice so you should be good for a number of days with this beast. Have a look at the price here.

For a comprehensive breakdown of this list go to our budget savvy packing list guide .

If you are exploring this Beijing itinerary during the winter, you’ll need a few extras too. It also might mean that you pack a few more layers so you might need a bigger bag.

Looking at the average temperatures in Beijing in winter, then a warm coat is definitely something you’ll need! If you’re travelling from southeast Asia then this is going to be a difficult item to keep with you. However, I really don’t recommend going to northern China without one, so perhaps you could use vacuum pack bags like these to save space in your luggage.

If you are buying a new winter coat, choose one that is water and windproof, like this warm ski jacket.

Onto the dreaded pollution masks! They look ridiculous, they mess up your make-up (or so I’m told!) and they aren’t the most comfortable item you’ll ever buy. However, if you wear a pollution mask for a day, when you take it off you’ll see the brown dust inside the filter and realise how important they are!

You shouldn’t have to wear one every day, but on those hazy days, you should make an effort to if you’re outside.

When buying a mask, don’t be that person who thinks a tiny bit of fabric over your mouth is going to protect you. You need to choose a mask that specifically filters out PM 2.5 , because those are the tiny air particles that can sneak past fabrics and flimsy paper masks into your lungs.

It’s so dry in Beijing in winter that you will notice your lips becoming chapped quite quickly. You can pick up Vaseline or any type of lip balm in a healthy and beauty shop like Watsons, but remember that they won’t be cruelty-free because of China’s animal testing laws. If you want to bring a lip balm that hasn’t been tested on animals, try this vegan one from Hurraw.

Your head and ear will thank you for wearing a warm hat like this thick knitted number during your Beijing travels! Don’t be fooled by those clear blue skies and leave the hotel without it – the reason the sky is clear is that the wind has blown the pollution away so a hat is a must!

A really useful feature of warm gloves is being touchscreen compatible. The technology wasn’t that great when it first came out but toasty gloves like these unisex thermals really are handy when you’re using apps on your phone to help you whilst you’re in China!

Where To Stay During Your Beijing Itinerary

Beijing has lots of different accommodation options, from luxury apartments to local hutong rooms.

The neighbourhoods do vary in Beijing, but realistically the subway system is so good that you’ll be able to visit all of the cool attractions and things to do wherever you stay. Here’s a brief overview of the best places to stay in Beijing though, so that you can pick what suits you best.

Qian’men

We recommend staying in Qian’men if you’re a first time visitor to Beijing as lots of the main tourist attractions are accessible from here. Not only that, but accommodation tends to be cheaper around here.

It’s full of history as the ancient Forbidden City sits 2km north from the subway station, with the journey surrounded by other important features such as Tian’anmen Square, Mao’s mausoleum and the Monument to the People’s Heroes.

Lots of scarves hanging up outside the shop

There are plenty of shopping opportunities too – you can pick up cheap but decent souvenirs in the local shops.

Recommended hotel in Qian’men:

New World Beijing Hotel

With its sleek and clean rooms, complimentary toiletries and free WiFi, the New World Beijing Hotel near Qian’men Street is the perfect place to rest after long days of sightseeing.

There’s a lovely indoor swimming pool, a spa centre and a sauna. Rooms have bathtubs, iPod docking stations and a gorgeous rootfop bar!

Book your room here or look at the reviews below first!

Check Out The Reviews Of New World Beijing Hotel Here

When researching things to do in Beijing, you’ve probably stumbled across the infamous Wangfujing Street. You’re probably imagining yourself snacking on scorpions, starfish and seahorses o sticks, just like the locals do, right?

Well, unfortunately, it was a bit of a tourist trap and you’re more likely to find the locals eating at KFC! Of course, there will be some nutters eating these weird snacks, but if you really want to try authentic Beijing food you should be on the lookout for dumplings, BBQ lamb skewers and sweet + sour pork!

The market is actually under construction anyway but you’re better off not visiting!

When we first arrived in Beijing, we ventured down this street in search of local food and ended up with a sub-par spring roll, which we spent £6 on!! Looking back, we were ridiculously naive so don’t make the same mistakes as we did! That being said, Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is still a great place to explore.

There are plenty of good restaurants, shops, bookstores and souvenir places you can wander around. There’s a subway station directly outside the commercial street so you will be able to access the rest of Beijing easily.

If you are interested in checking out the local food scene without being ripped off, then take a tour like this with a friendly guide and learn all about Chinese cuisine!

Recommended hotel in Wangfujing:

Park Plaza Beijing

Relax after a busy day at the hotel spa with a massage, enjoy a cocktail or two a the bar or wind down in the gym. Enjoy the privacy of your own room and bathroom, and take in the gorgeous city views.

You’re only a short walk away from the subway, but also close to a lot of the action too!

Click here to check prices and availability.

Check Out The Reviews Of Park Plaza Beijing Here

Dongzhimen/Sanlitun

The heart of the bar scene in Beijing, Sanlitun is a great place to stay if you’re here to party! There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops in this area, and many of those are western names you’ll recognise. Go shopping at H&M, grab a burger at McDonald’s and sip on a Guinness at Paddy’s Irish Bar.

Or, if you have actually come to Beijing for a true Chinese experience then you can still indulge in an authentic Chinese meal, brave some baijiu (China’s version of hell a white spirit) and dip into the local branded shops.

There’s also the famous Worker’s Stadium where you can catch a game of football. Support Beijing Guo’an (the ones in green) if you want to make any friends!

Recommended hotel in Dongzhimen:

Holiday Inn Express

Stay here if you don’t want to be kept awake all night by party-goers, but you don’t have to travel for an age to get back once you’ve had your fill of happy hour cocktails!

Breakfast is included in the room rate, there’s free WiFi and a fitness centre for guests to enjoy. It’s a recognisable and reliable brand – you can’t go wrong!

Book a room here or check out the reviews first below!

Check Out The Reviews Of Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen Here

This area is famous for the large Hòuhai lake, along with another two smaller lakes that are surrounded by hutongs (narrow historic alleyways with courtyard homes), bars, restaurants and shops.

The area has a much more traditional Chinese feel to it compared to Sanlitun, so come here if you want to try to see how the locals live. There is also plenty of street food for you to try along the way too!

Boats on Houhai Lakes to Enjoy On A Beijing Itinerary

Recommended hotel in Shichachai

Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel

Only 5 minutes away from the lakes, this boutique hotel offers everything from shadow puppet performances, to complimentary breakfast and dumpling-making classes.

Not only that, but the accommodation is beautifully decorated, and the staff are on hand 24/7 to help you with anything you need.

Check Out The Reviews Of Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel Here

How To Get Around Beijing

Somewhat surprisingly, Beijing is an incredibly easy city to navigate. As a short stay traveller, you have a couple of options that I’ve listed below.

Paying by card is less common in China – usually locals and foreign expats use WeChat to pay for everything. Unless you have WeChat and have linked it to a Chinese bank account, you should be prepared to pay for everything in cash just in case!

If you’re in Beijing for a short while and want to explore the city without going underground or adding to the pollution problem, then a bike-sharing app is the way forward.

Mobike is the most foreign traveller friendly as you can download it in your home country and attach your own bank account to it. You won’t be able to miss these bikes as they’re bright orange and dumped pretty much everywhere around the city. The bikes are usually piled high outside subway stations too.

Once you’ve downloaded the app and added your bank account, simply find a bike, scan the QR code on the app and off you go. Once you’ve finished your journey, put the bike somewhere thoughtful (i.e. not in the middle of the path like everybody else seems to do!) and lock it. You’ll hear 3 beeps which mean that your journey is complete and Mobike is calculating your costs.

Most apps don’t require a deposit anymore, and your journeys will cost you 1.5RMB per ride.

Read More: Download These Helpful Apps Before You Visit Beijing

It is extremely easy to get around Beijing using the subway system. As it’s relatively new (it opened almost 100 years after the London Underground with a huge expansion in the early 2000s), the trains are tall and wide enough to enjoy a comfortable ride. Also, they’re air-conditioned as standard which makes a big difference in the sweaty summer!

The stations also are all very clearly marked with overground signs for all exits, which have English and colour coordinated labels too. When you are on the platform, there are Chinese and English signs for you to read, so you can’t really go wrong.

When you first enter a Chinese subway station, go to the counter and ask for a Transportation Card. They will need a 20RMB deposit, but once you’ve got it you can top it up when you like and avoid queuing every time you need a ticket.

A journey on the subway will cost from between 3 RMB to 9RMB, and you can check out how much it will be either on this awesome website (which also has a handy free app) or by checking one of the ticket machines.

The subway will almost always be quicker than a taxi as it avoids the traffic, but it can be awkward getting to certain places if a transit line is closed.

These little cabs are perfect for getting from A to B if you can’t be bothered to walk, but it’s too close to justify a taxi! Flag one down and be prepared to be ripped off, and then to haggle! A five-minute journey should cost no more than 10RMB if you’re in a busy part of the city.

Make sure you agree on the price beforehand and you can usually pay in either cash or by scanning the WeChat QR code if you have the app.

If you’re concerned about safety, then no, these aren’t ideal but generally, they stick to the side of the road, are clearly seen by drivers and aren’t travelling fast enough to cause any damage if you did bump into something.

The least tourist-friendly but also the cheapest mode of transport, buses in Beijing run frequently and and offer 50% off the ticket price if you use a transportation card. However, they will also have a box for your change if you want to pay cash.

Unless you know of a specific bus stop that you need to get to, it can be difficult to take a bus because there is no English on the bus stop sign.

There is an English announcement, however, so if you can listen out for your destination and remember where you have to get off on your return journey then buses in Beijing can be a good way to get around to places further away from subway stops.

It will cost you 2RMB for the first 6 miles and then 1RMB for every 3 miles after that. The prices are also capped at 12RMB however long you are on the bus for. Remember to beep your transportation card at the front of the bus and scan it again when you get off so that your journey can be registered.

Taxis (hailing and app Didi – China’s Uber)

Unlike most city taxis, Beijing’s cabs are also really affordable. The main problem with them is that they tend to take a long time to get anyway because of the traffic in the city.

However, if you don’t want to be lugging bags back to your hotel and you want to be dropped off directly outside, then just hail a cab. Make sure you find an official one – you’ll recognise them by their two-tone pattern and hopefully a light on behind the windscreen indicating that they’re free.

Check that the cab has a meter before you get in, and that it is starting on 13RMB. Have your destination written down in Chinese just in case your driver can’t understand you (it’s highly likely that they won’t speak English).

Do not get into a taxi that isn’t the standard two-tone colour. It’s a “black taxi” and they’re illegal. They’ll charge hideous rates and could even be dangerous.

In a taxi, you’ll be charged 13RMB for the first 2 miles, and then 2RMB per 1.4 miles after that during the day. After 11pm there’s a 20% increase in this fee, but either way your taxi ride will be cheap. If the driver is going at a slow-speed (in rush hour for example) then more will be added, or if you go further than 9 miles there will be extra charges. However, the extra costs shouldn’t make too much of a difference. For example, an hour’s journey from the airport to the centre of Beijing shouldn’t cost you any more than around 100 – 120 RMB.

Another way to grab a taxi in Beijing is to use their online ordering service similar to Uber, which is Didi. The only downside to this is that you have to be able to pay on the app, which means that you need a Chinese bank account.

As a tourist, you won’t have one of these but if you’re visiting Beijing from another part of China as an expat then it’s a great way of getting a cab, especially for those early morning/late night airport pickups.

A lot of taxis in Beijing have their seat belts cut out. I can’t explain it – no one really seems to know or care why they do it, so just watch out. These drivers are also not known for their slow and careful manoeuvring , so if you’re a nervous passenger, perhaps the subway would be a better choice for you!

Beijing is such a cool city and there is so much more to see and do that this itinerary. However, if you’re short on time then these are definitely the best things to do in the city!

Depending on your accommodation choices, Beijing is also the perfect place to explore on a budget as everything can be done cheaply or even for free, and you can take advantage of easy transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tours in beijing.

Taking a tour in Beijing is a good idea if you are short on time as it leaves nothing for you to organise. You might also prefer a tour if you aren’t comfortable with taking local buses further out of the city. Here are a few of my favourites:

What are some must-dos in Beijing?

If you are only spending 3 days in Beijing, then I recommend visiting the Great Wall as a priority. The Forbidden City is also a must-see, as well as Tian’anmen Square.

Which airport will I fly into?

Beijing has two airports – Beijing Capital International (PEK) and the newly built Beijing Daxing International airport (PKX).

Is it easy to travel around Beijing?

Yes! Pick up a subway card at a station booth and top up the card as and when you need it. The subway in Beijing is quick, cheap and reliable, plus the signs are in English!

How long should I spend in Beijing?

As foreigners can now get 6 days in Beijing visa-free, I would recommend spending at least 3 here. If you have the time and money though, it would be ideal for you to take advantage of the full 6 days by following our itinerary! Spending just under a week here is perfect because you can take a day to rest or enjoy the city at a slower pace.

Have you used this Beijing itinerary? Is there anything decent that I’ve left out? Let us know if you have any other Beijing travel tips in the comments below!

Click on the image below to repin this post!

Beijing is a fantastic city - full of traditional culture and history, loaded with modern lifestyles and technology. This jam-packed Beijing itinerary will introduce you into China's crazy capital and show you the best bits! Beijing Itinerary | Things To Do In Beijing | Visit China | Asia | Great Wall of China | #beijing #china #beijingitinerary #greatwall #visitchina #asia #chinatravel #beijinghistory #beijingfood

China is a very peaceful and nice place. Peoples are very friendly there. All the places in Beijing were very attractive and I’m very excited to visit these places. Recently I had to China with my family for 8days.

It is a great place to be!

16 Day Trips from Beijing (2023/2024)

Beijing is the best gateway city for understanding China with its unparalleled richness of iconic Chinese architecture, and it is an excellent springboard for other interesting China destinations.

If you are wondering how best to experience more of China from Beijing in a fulfilling but quick way, especially if you are based in Beijing , this article will help you find out the best 16 places for day trips from Beijing.

1. The Mutianyu Great Wall Section

Features: less crowded, the most child-friendly Great Wall section

Mutianyu is the l ongest fully-restored Great Wall section open to tourists. It is less crowded than the Great Wall at Badaling and is popular with foreign tourists.

At Mutianyu, a chairlift, cable car, and toboggan are available, and children can easily ascend/descend the wall with these. You can walk at your own pace to appreciate the beautiful scenery and take photos. If you enjoy picnics in the great outdoors, you should enjoy one there.

How to get there: Mutianyuis about 73 kilometers (45 miles) from Beijing, or 1½ hours'driving.

You could add a visit to the Forbidden City in the same day. The Forbidden City is the best place to learn about the history of China's Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasty rulers, as it was home to 24 emperors in the two dynasties.

With an expert guide, the stories about the emperors and concubines will make the Forbidden City come alive for you.

The Top 10 Great Wall Sections near Beijing could all make great Beijing day trips.

2. The Terracotta Warriors (Xi'an) by Train

Features: hundreds of ancient life-size terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots in battle array

The Terracotta Army is one of the most famous attractions in China. It was constructed to accompany the tomb of China's first emperor to guard him in the afterlife.

There are thousands of detailed life-size terracotta statues of soldiers, representing the troops who guarded the first emperor — Qin Shi Huang. They were molded in sections, fired, then assembled and painted.

How to get there:

High-speed train is the best way, which takes 4½–6 hours. Flights are less recommended as the time needed is similar, but flights are more stressful and expensive.

Compared to trains, you would waste you a lot of time on getting to/from airports and checking in/out.

At least 2 hours' visiting time is needed for the Terracotta Army, so you should take the first train from Beijing to Xi'an (G89 06:53–11:24) to visit the site properly. When going back, you could take the G90 train (18:26–22:52)

You can book a private tour with us to make full use of your time. When you arrive in Xi'an, your guide will pick you up and escort you directly to the Terracotta Army. After the tour, you will be driven back to the railway station.

See How to Plan a Beijing and Xi'an Trip (Itinerary, Cost, Transportation)

1-Day Private Xi'an Tour .

3. Shanghai by Train

Features: iconic building clusters around the Bund,prosperous modern China

Beijing and Shanghai are the most famous two China cities that most foreign tourists want to visit. Compared to Beijing's rich cultural and historical atmosphere, Shanghai has a modern and fashionable ambiance.

For a classic day trip in Shanghai,first, you should go to Yu Garden , which is another symbol of Shanghai, to see the classical Chinese beauty and the difference between Western and Chinese gardens.

Then explore the French Concession and learn about the colonial past of Shanghai, appreciating the elegant residences. Before going to the railway station, you must pay a visit to the Bund and experience the prosperous Nanjing Road.

How to get there: High-speed train is the most recommendedway, which takes around 4½ hours.

You should arrive in Shanghai before 12pm to ensure plenty of time to explore the highlights of the city. The suggested trains are G1 (Beijing 07:00–11:30Shanghai) and G28 (Shanghai 19:00–23:29 Beijing).

The best option for visiting Shanghai is to join in our 1-Day Shanghai Layover Tour which includes railway station/airport transfers. You can save a lot of time otherwise spent finding a taxi or metro train links.

Features: foreign and Chinese architecture, international commercial city

Tianjin, along with Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing , is one of China's four municipalities . Tianjin has long been a transport hub for international commerce , and so a great deal of history has accrued in the city.

For a day trip to Tianjin, you must visit the Five Ancient Avenues and Porcelain House , which well represent foreign and Chinese architecture there.

The Five Ancient Avenuesare a sight not to be missed, from which you can have a view of Tianjin's rare architectural treasure, which was left by Western nationsfrom 1860 to1903. A jumble of fascinating buildings seemingly from various countries are brought together uniquely inthis small area.

The Porcelain House is a traditional French building furnished with antiques. It is located on Tianjin's Chifeng Road.There you can find exquisite pieces of porcelain ware, as well as stone items of white marble, crystal, agate, and other decorative materials.

If you still have spare time in Tianjin, arelaxing experience is toenjoy a 360-degree view of modern Tianjin from the Eye of Tianjin — Tianjin Yongle Ferris Wheel. >>See more interesting things to do in Tianjin .

How to get there: Tianjinis 120 kilometers from Beijing or 25 minutes by bullet train.

5. The Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottos (Datong)

Features: amazing cliff-face architecture, medieval Buddhist artwork

The Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes are the must-sees in Datong. Both of them represent Buddhist masterpieces.

The Hanging Monastery — a Buddhist temple built on a cliff face — is considered to be a work of art as well as a marvel of medieval engineering. The whole temple is a wooden frame structure. It was constructed by drilling holes into the cliffside and inserting beams into the holes up to 2–3 meters (7–10 feet) deep.

The Yungang Grottoes are superb Buddhist artistic achievements from the 5th to the 6th century.Theystretch some 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) continuously from east to west and are one of the Four Famous Grotto Complexes in China.

First, you need to get to Datong prefecture.A high-speed train service between Beijing and Datong is available, with a travel time of around 2 hours.

You are suggested to catch the first train to depart Beijing (G2503, 08:10–10:00), and go back on the last train (G2520, 19:00–20:24).

4-Day Datong Hanging Temple and Pingyao tour

6. The Juyongguan Great Wall Section

Features: most wheelchair-friendly Great Wall (within the lower level of the fort), closest section to Beijing

Also called the Great Wall at Juyong Pass , it was considered one of the three most important fortified passes in the whole length of the Great Wall. It is famous for big battles against Jurchens and Mongols, and then later against the Japanese.

There is a 9.5-meter-tall (31-foot-tall) platform that can be visited. It was built by the Yuan Dynasty in 1342. There are still Mongolian and Uyghur inscriptions on it. The top of the highest part of the wall has a wonderful panoramic mountain scenery view.

There are no lifts or cable cars. Instead of doing the "long hike" of 2½ km (1½ miles) on the Wall on the west side, you can take the shorter east side wall, which is 1½ km (1 mile) long, and only ascends about 200m (700 ft).

Another option is to just walk around the valley bottom fort from the entrance, and not climb up the hill.

Juyongguan is 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Beijing, 1½ hours' drive. It is much more recommended to take a private tour , so that you are able to visit the Ming Tombs or another Great Wall Section as they are also north of Changping District.

7. The Jinshanling Great Wall Section

Features: half restored and halfwild, most beautiful GW scenery, lovely hiking

The Great Wall at Jinshanling is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall with many original features. It got its name because it was built on the Greater and Lesser Jinshan ('Gold Mountain') Ranges.

Jinshanling is the most popular Great Wall hiking section, because it is relatively isolated and offers great views. You can get the most out of China's legendary landmark as you tread across the wall's centuries-old stone steps or walk through the ruins of an ancient watchtower.

The hiking on the Wall takes about 3 hours.Forthe bestday trip to Jinshanling, you should start very early in the morning, say 7:00, and return home very late.

How to get there: It is 2½ hours' drive from Beijing.

1-Day Great Wall Hiking: from Simatai to Jinshanling
1-Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour

8. The Simatai Great Wall Section

Features: originalappearance,only section open for a night tour

Simatai's section is the best among the Great Wall sections that retain their original appearance .The wall is divided east-west by Simatai Reservoir, with 16 towers east and 23 towers west.

The eastern part of Simatai's Great Wall seems perilousness as it was built along steep mountain ridges.

Hiking is a great experience at Simatai's Great Wall. A popular route is to ascend and descend east Simatai: fromalong the reservoir (1.5 km), via East Tower 1, up to East Tower 10 (where there is a cable carstation nearby) takes about 2 hours.

Simatai is the only Great Wall section that is lit up at night and open for touring. After a day's hiking, you can enjoy thewell-lit Great Wall in the evening,it is less crowded, making for a pleasant, atmospheric, andeasyeveningwalk in a special setting.

For an evening tour there, you should start very early from Beijing and plan to arrive back very late, for example, from 7:00 am to 11:30 pm.

How to get there: It's120 kilometers (75 miles) from Beijing, 3 hours' drive.

>> Find out more interesting things to do on the Great Wall.

9. Chengde Summer Resort

Features: expansive Chinese royal gardenarchitecture and landscaping

Chengde Summer Resort, also called Chengde Summer Palace, is where emperors of China's Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) spent their summers to escape the summer heat in Beijing.

It is the largest surviving royal garden in China, occupying an area of 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles), twice the size of the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The architectural style is more like one of the classical gardens in the 'South of the Yangtze River' area, because the two most successful emperors of the Qing Dynasty loved the scenery of that area, represented by today's Suzhou and Hangzhou.

To have a day trip to Chengde, you are suggested to start at 8:30 in the morningfor the drive of about 3 hours to get to Chengde.

Then, have some Chengde food: taste some typical local snacks of Chengde, such as almond tea, almond tofu, and stir-fried doughballs.It is suggested to spend 2 hours in the summer resort in the afternoon.

How to get there: Chengde Summer Resort is in Hebei Province, 3 hours' drivingnorth of Beijing.

You may find inspiration from our 3-Day Chengde Tour with Gorgeous Great Wall

10. The Eastern Qing Tombs

Features: underground palaces, largest imperial mausoleum, less crowded

Short for Eastern Royal Tombs of the Qing Dynasty, Eastern Qing Tomb covers an area of 80 square kilometers, is the largest existing imperial mausoleum complex with the most appropriate layout in China.

Construction of the Eastern Royal Tombs of the Qing Dynasty began in 1661 and lasted for 247 years. Five emperors, 15 queens, 136 concubines, three princes, and two princesses were buried there.

It is less touristy and much quieter than the 13 Mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty, which are closer to Beijing.

You will see magnificent "palaces" and halls on the grounds, and you can also go into the underground "palaces" where the coffins of Emperor Qianlong and the 'Dragon Lady' Cixi lie.

How to get there: The site is in the city of Tangshan, Hebei Province, 125 kilometers (80 miles) east of Beijing — about 3 hours' driving.

11. The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

Feature: the largest collection of Homo erectus fossils

Also called Peking Man Museum or Zhoukoudian Anthropological Museum, it has the l argest collection of Homo erectus fossils of any single site.

The fossils at houkoudian represent about 40 individuals and account for about one-third of the fossils from the species worldwide.

Among the bones discovered were five skullcaps, numerous facial and cranial elements, and 147 teeth. The most famous of these remains is cranium XII, which is commonly referred to as "Peking Man."

How to get there: It is located southwest of Beijing, 46 kilometers (29 miles) from the downtown area.

12. Tanzhe Temple

Features: an ingenious layout of temple architecture, most well-known and worshipped by visitors

Tanzhe Temple was the first temple to be built after the introduction of Buddhism to Beijing.

With an inner temple area of 25,000 square meters (about the size of a city block) and an outside temple area of 112,000 square meters (5 city blocks), Tanzhe Temple is grand in scale.

It has received many tourists and pilgrims throughout its history. You can still see a great number of people worshipping there every day. You can also wander around to see the ancient ginkgo and magnolia trees and appreciate the temple's architectural style.

Most travelers like to combine it with Macro Polo Bridge as they are on the same walking route. If you are interested in bridge architecture or listening to China-Japan history, it is worthy of astop.

How to get there: Itis about 20 kilometers (6 miles) west ofdowntown Beijing.

13. Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan)

Features: beautiful landscape, maple leaves in fall

Xiangshan Park was a royal garden,and it has 900 years of history. In the 10th year of the Emperor Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1735), Jingyi Garden was set up there, which consists of 28 scenic sports and was known as the famous 'Three Hills and Five Parks'in the suburbs of the city.

It features a beautiful landscape , especially in fall, when the maple leavesmake you feel like you are walking in a sea of red. Apart from the beautiful scenery, you can appreciate imperial architecture and visit temples and memorials.

The best time to visit is in mid-October,whenthe maple leaves begin to fall and you can join in the Fragrant Hills Red Leaves Festival .

How to get there: It is in Haidian District, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the city center. Contact us for a tailor-made day trip with private transport.

14. Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge (Shilinxia Gorge)

Features: glass sightseeing platform,forest views with a waterfall, stone pillars

The number one highlight of this site is the glass sightseeing platform . Claiming three world records, the walkway is supposedly the world's largest glass platform with a circular surface area of 415 square meters (4,470 square feet).

Protruding 33 meters (108 feet) over the cliff edge in Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge , it is also the longest in the world. The third record is for the first time aviation titanium was usedin the construction of a "building".

How to get there: The gorge is 100km (60 miles) east of Beijing city —a 2-hour drive.

15. Qinglongxia Scenic Resort

Features: forest park, outdoor activities

Qinglongxia ('Green Dragon Gorge') Scenic Resort is a good place for people to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy a quiet atmosphere, and return to nature. You can take a boat trip to appreciate the beautiful scenery alongside the river.

You can go swimming, play football or volleyball, or sunbathe on the beach in summer. A variety of exciting activities are often provided such as bungee jumping, rock climbing, and downhill racing.

How to get there: Itis located in Huairou District, 65 kilometers (40 miles) or about a 1-hour drivenorth from central Beijing.

16. Nanshan Ski Resort

Features: Skiing, hiking, water fun, harvest activities

Nanshan Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in northern China. You can enjoyall four seasons at the resort: skiing in winter, hiking in spring, playing in the water in summer, and joining in with the harvest in autumn.

How to get there: It is in Miyun County, which is 78 kilometers (50 miles) northeast from central Beijing —1½ hours'driving.

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Taiwan's Former President Meets Xi Jinping in Historic Visit to Beijing

Ma Ying-jeou, the former President of Taiwan, embarked on an 11-day tour across China, culminating in a rare meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This rendezvous, reported by state broadcaster CCTV, marks a pivotal moment in cross-strait relations, representing the first instance since 1949 that a former Taiwanese president has been hosted in Beijing by China’s paramount leader.

The backdrop to this meeting is rich with political nuance. Following the exodus of Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang (KMT) to Taipei after their defeat in the Chinese Civil War, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have followed starkly divergent paths. While Taiwan has evolved into a vibrant democracy, the People's Republic of China has pursued a model of centralized autocracy under the Communist Party. Yet, the symbolic meeting between Xi and Ma, a proponent of closer ties with China, unfolds at a time of escalating tensions and declining Taiwanese identification with China.

Navigating a Widening Political Divide

Xi Jinping's opening remarks to Ma Ying-jeou underscored a call for unity under the "one China" principle, emphasizing a shared Chinese identity and opposition to Taiwan independence. This stance, however, collides with the prevailing sentiment in Taiwan, where the allure of a shared Chinese identity has significantly diminished. The island's democratic trajectory, exemplified by the election of Lai Ching-te, a vocal advocate for Taiwan’s sovereignty, signals a firm rejection of Beijing’s overtures and pressure tactics.

Beijing's aggressive posture, characterized by military provocations and diplomatic isolation efforts, has not only failed to sway Taiwanese public opinion but has arguably fortified the island's resolve to maintain its distinct democratic identity.

Strategic Implications and Regional Dynamics

The timing of Ma Ying-jeou's visit, intentionally coinciding with significant diplomatic activity in Washington, hints at Beijing's intent to signal its unwavering stance on Taiwan amidst growing international concern over its assertiveness. This meeting also serves as a strategic counter-narrative to the burgeoning security cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, highlighting the cross-strait divide as a central issue in broader regional dynamics.

Furthermore, Ma's trip underlines Beijing's preference for engagement with Taiwan under conditions acceptable to the Communist Party. By showcasing its openness to dialogue with figures like Ma, who align with its "one China" principle, Beijing aims to isolate the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its supporters, portraying them as outliers in the cross-strait relationship.

The geopolitical chess game extends beyond the Taiwan Strait, influencing and being influenced by the strategic interests of major regional and global powers. The US-led summit with Japan and the Philippines, focused on collective security concerns, including those related to Taiwan, exemplifies the interconnected nature of regional security architectures and the pivotal role of Taiwan therein.

Within Taiwan: Reactions and Reflections

The visit of Ma Ying-jeou to Beijing, particularly his meeting with Xi Jinping, has ignited a spectrum of reactions within Taiwan, reflecting the island's complex internal dynamics and diverse perspectives on its relationship with China. As a figure advocating for closer ties with the mainland, Ma's diplomatic endeavors are scrutinized through the lens of Taiwan's fiercely guarded sovereignty and the contentious political divide that characterizes its domestic politics.

For the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which currently holds the presidency and champions Taiwan's distinct identity and autonomy, Ma's visit is largely seen as an inconsequential gesture by a political retiree. The DPP's stance is predicated on the belief that such overtures to Beijing do not alter the status quo but instead serve as fodder for China's propaganda efforts aimed at undermining Taiwan's sovereignty.2

Conversely, the Kuomintang (KMT), of which Ma is a senior member, faces a conundrum. On one hand, the party seeks to celebrate what it perceives as a successful engagement with China, highlighting its purported ability to foster cross-strait dialogue and maintain peace. On the other hand, the KMT is acutely aware of the Taiwanese electorate's apprehensions about getting too close to China, necessitating a delicate balance in its response to Ma's visit.

The Taiwanese public's sentiment, particularly among younger generations, further complicates the narrative. Increasingly identifying as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, this demographic views Ma's emphasis on shared Chinese cultural and historical ties with skepticism, if not outright opposition. This shift in identity underscores a broader societal trend away from the unification narrative and towards a stronger affirmation of Taiwan's independence and uniqueness.

International Dimensions and Future Prospects

Beyond Taiwan's shores, Ma Ying-jeou's visit to Beijing echoes through the corridors of global diplomacy, underscoring the strategic importance of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region's security architecture. The meeting occurs against the backdrop of intensified US-China rivalry, with Taiwan emerging as a critical flashpoint in this geopolitical tug-of-war.

The United States, Taiwan's most significant ally, watches these developments closely, balancing its commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act with the imperative of managing its complex relationship with China. Washington's approach is indicative of a broader international consensus that, while supportive of Taiwan's democratic governance and de facto independence, remains cautious of provoking Beijing.

Looking ahead, the prospects for cross-strait relations remain uncertain. While Ma's visit symbolizes a potential channel for dialogue, the fundamental disagreements between Taiwan and China—most notably on the issue of sovereignty and the "one China" principle—persist. These ideological impasses, coupled with Taiwan's evolving identity and the shifting sands of international politics, suggest that the path towards any form of reconciliation or understanding will be fraught with challenges.

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THE 10 BEST Beijing Tours & Excursions for 2024 (with Prices)
These experiences are best for tours in Beijing: Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Daily Bus Tour (8:00am/10:00am) Private All-Inclusive Day Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall; 4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City; Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants
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THE TOP 10 Beijing Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)
Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. 346. Enhance your sightseeing experience in Beijing on a full-day tour of the city's most captivating sights. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, immerse yourself in the ancient mystery of the Forbidden City; absorb the majestic ...
THE TOP 10 Beijing Day Trips (w/Prices)
A: The best Day Trips in Beijing according to Viator travelers are: Great Wall of China at Mutianyu Full-Day Tour Including Lunch from Beijing. Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer. Full-Day Small-Group Great Wall Hike: Simatai West to Jinshanling.
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4-Day Beijing Private Tour; 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour with Skiing in a 2022 Olympic Winter Games Venue; 1-Day In-Depth Beijing Culture Tour; 3. Discover Imperial Beijing at the Forbidden City. Tian'anmen Square is about 3 km (2 miles) further north from Qianmen Street — about 45 minutes walking. We suggest you take a taxi (10 minutes) to get ...
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Great Wall Day Tours. Half-Day Great Wall at Mutianyu Hiking Tour. For the first-time visitor to Beijing. Price US$ 98 p/p. Details. One-Day Simatai West to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour. Get the best view of the most essential part. Price US$ 146 p/p. Details.
Beijing Tours 2024/2025: Customized Trips & Day Tours
Normally, a 4-day Beijing tour with a private car and a personal guide is about 600 USD per person in the low season, based on a group of 2 people and a 4-star hotel. The cost for a top Beijing day tour starts from around 120 USD per person. Please see the recommended Beijing tour packages below for reference: 4-Day Beijing Private Tour
Top 10 Beijing Day trips 2024
Beijing Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and Olympic Park Day Tour. 4.4 200+ booked. Private group. Easy refund. US$ 77.55. Klook's choice. Private Temple of Heaven & Tai Chi Half Day Tour in Beijing. 4.8 200+ booked. Private group.
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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. 346. Enhance your sightseeing experience in Beijing on a full-day tour of the city's most captivating sights. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, immerse yourself in the ancient mystery of the Forbidden City; absorb the majestic ...
Beijing Day Tour: The Forbidden City and Juyongguan Great Wall
Gallery. S$ 58.20S$ 72.79. Currently unavailable. Find things to do in Beijing. Get 20% off when you book the Complete Beijing Tour for a limited time only through Klook! Take a hike on one of the best-restored sections of the Great Wall at Juyongguan, located about 50km north of Beijing. Explore the home of Chinese Emperors of centuries ago at ...
Top 10 Day Tours In Beijing, China
These are the top 10 day tours in Beijing, China. 1. Explore the stunning Great Wall and the Ming Tombs (from USD 198.0) Your exciting trip will start at 8am, when your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Beijing and will drive for about 1.5 hours to reach the Great Wall.
Activities, Guided Tours and Day Trips in Beijing
2,421 travellers. Free cancellation. This tour visits the three essential sights in Beijing in one day: the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Perfect for a layover. 8 hours English Guided tours and free tours. per group. US$ 200.
One Day in Beijing, China: Itinerary & Where to Go in 24 Hours
Loosen up with Tai Chi at the Temple of Heaven Park. A great place to start your day in Beijing is the Temple of Heaven Park. The park opens at 6am. Arriving early in the morning, you'll catch large groups—young and old—practicing the Tai Chi. It's a relaxing way to loosen up and start your day right.
Discover Beijing Tours: Beijing Day Tours
Discover Beijing Tours established by a team of tour specialists working for long years and specialized in customized tours, offers in-depth regional knowledge for planning and arranging complete vacations in Beijing and China. ... Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Start from 156USD P/P. Beijing Private ...
One Day in Beijing Itinerary
Hotel Kapok - Forbidden City. No.16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng, 100006 Beijing. With chic design elements inspired by traditional concepts, Hotel Kapok - Forbidden City lives and breathes the true spirit of Beijing as a modern metropolis still firmly rooted in its history. The hotel feels clean and fresh with its straight lines, smooths surfaces, and airy open spaces bathed in natural light.
Top 10 Beijing Day trips 2024
Temple of Heaven Architectural Marvel Half Day Tour (9:00am) Easy refund. Instant confirmation. S$ 41.45. Beijing | One-day tour of Badaling Great Wall [Night tour of Badaling Great Wall/Appreciate the charm of the night view of the Great Wall] New Activity. Easy refund. Instant confirmation. S$ 38.60.
Beijing Tours 2024 & 2025
2 Day Chengde Tour. 2 Day Luoyang Tour (Longmen Grottoes & Shaolin Temple) 3 Day Datong & Pingyao Tour. Beijing Private Tour Packages. Choose from a thoughtfully curated selection of multi-day Beijing tours, ranging in duration from two day tours right through to five day tours. Understanding that time is a premium, our multi-day Beijing tours ...
4 Days Classic Beijing Tour Package
This 4 days tour takes you to visit the best and featured highlights of Beijing in a single trip and explore the glorious past and present of Beijing in one go. Apart from Beijing's time-honored landmarks - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Great Wall, you will take a special visit to 798 Art Zone to enjoy ...
THE TOP 10 Beijing Half-day Tours (UPDATED 2024)
A: The best Half-day Tours in Beijing according to Viator travelers are: 4-Hour Small Group Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. Private 4-Hour In Depth Walking Tour to the Forbidden City. 4-Hour Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City. Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour.
A Perfect Beijing Itinerary For First Timers 2023
1 - 3 Day Beijing Itinerary Day 1 Historical Landmarks Tours + Walking Streets. Fresh off the aeroplane, you'll want to stretch your legs and take a leisurely walking tour through Qian'men. Start at the subway station, walk south through the central Beijing hutongs and through the famous Dashilan Commercial Street.
16 Top Day Trips from Beijing
How to get there: First, you need to get to Datong prefecture.A high-speed train service between Beijing and Datong is available, with a travel time of around 2 hours. You are suggested to catch the first train to depart Beijing (G2503, 08:10-10:00), and go back on the last train (G2520, 19:00-20:24).
2-Day Beijing Itinerary
Things to see: imperial living and governing quarters, valuable artworks, and traditional gardens Time needed: at least 2-3 hours Location: the center of Beijing, north of Tian'anmen Square Open: 8:30am-5:30pm or 8:30am-5pm off-peak; closed on Mondays Entry: 60 yuan April-October; 40 yuan November-March.
Taiwan's Former President Meets Xi Jinping in Historic Visit to Beijing
Ma Ying-jeou, the former President of Taiwan, embarked on an 11-day tour across China, culminating in a rare meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This rendezvous, reported by state broadcaster ...
Yellen Chides China Over 'Coercive' Moves Against US Firms
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen chided China for "unfair" treatment of American and other foreign companies and said its factories risk producing more than the world can easily absorb, as she ...