Beijing pairs imperial grandeur — the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall on its doorstep — with hutong alleyways and a sharp-edged contemporary art and food scene. It's the political and cultural heart of China and demands several days to do justice to.
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Quick facts
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai
Currency
¥ CNY
Language
Mandarin
City transfer
~45 min
Airport Express Train / Metro / Taxi / Bus
Best time to visit
best weatherdeals available
Don't miss
Jinshanling Great Wall section — skip Badaling entirely. This 90-minute train-then-bus journey northeast gets you to a partially restored, uncrowded stretch where you can walk for hours between crumbling towers. Go on a weekday in autumn for golden hillsides and virtually no other tourists.
Arrive at the Forbidden City at opening (8:30am) and head immediately to the rear gardens (御花园) — the 9,000-room complex empties out here. Most tour groups never make it past the main halls, so the rockeries and pavilions at the north end feel almost private.
Eat breakfast at a streetside jianbing stand in the hutongs near Nanluoguxiang — the egg-and-scallion crêpe costs ¥8 and is the most authentic meal you'll have all trip. Ask for 'la de' (辣的) if you want chilli sauce.
Rent a shared bike (Meituan or Hellobike apps, ¥1.50/30min) and cycle the Second Ring Road canal path at dusk — this is how Beijingers actually get around, and the light on the water by the drum tower at golden hour is genuinely stunning.
Weekend itinerary · 3 days
Day 1
Forbidden City & Jingshan Park
Enter from the south (Tiananmen Gate) at 8:30am to beat the crowds. Walk the full north-south axis, then climb Jingshan Park — the hill directly behind — for the best panoramic view of the golden roofscape. Takes about 3 hours total.
Houhai Lake hutong walk
Take a slow wander through the hutongs north of the lake — Yandai Xiejie and the lanes branching off it have survived largely intact. Hire a pedicab if your legs need a rest (negotiate the price before getting in, aim for ¥30-50 for 30 minutes).
Drum & Bell Towers at sunset
Climb the Drum Tower (¥20) as the city turns orange — the view of hutong grey tiles stretching to the horizon with the Bell Tower below you is one of Beijing's classic sights. Drum performance runs every 30 minutes.
Da Dong Roast Duck (Tuanjiehu branch)
The best Peking duck in the city at a manageable price point — the skin is impossibly thin and crisp, and the modern setting avoids the tourist-trap atmosphere of many competitors. Book online a day ahead.
Day 2
Temple of Heaven at dawn
Arrive at 6am when the park opens and elderly Beijingers fill the grounds doing tai chi, sword dancing, and group singing — it's one of the most quietly extraordinary spectacles in Asia. The circular Altar of Heaven itself opens at 8am.
Panjiayuan Antique Market
This weekend flea market (open Saturday and Sunday, busiest 8-10am) is the place for Chairman Mao memorabilia, Cultural Revolution posters, jade, ceramics, and calligraphy. Everything is negotiable — open at half the asking price.
798 Art District
Take Metro Line 14 to Jiangtai, then a short taxi to these converted Bauhaus factory buildings now housing galleries, studios, and design shops. UCCA Gallery is worth the entrance fee; the outdoor sculpture is free to wander.
Siji Minfu (四季民福)
A neighbourhood favourite for Peking duck without the tourist markup — queues can be long so arrive before 11:30am or after 1:30pm. The fried lotus root and wonton soup are excellent sides.
Day 3
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
The Qing emperors' lakeside retreat in the western suburbs is spectacular and often overlooked in short itineraries. Take a rowing boat on Kunming Lake for ¥60, walk the Long Corridor, and climb to the Pavilion of Buddhist Incense for views back across the lake.
Wangfujing Snack Street
The famous pedestrian street is touristy but fun — the scorpion-on-a-stick stalls are mainly for photos, but the side lane Donghuamen Night Market has genuinely good lamb skewers, stinky tofu, and bing tanghulu (candied hawthorn) worth trying.
Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong)
This working Tibetan Buddhist temple in the northeast of the city smells of juniper incense and contains a staggering 18-metre sandalwood Buddha carved from a single tree. Visit in the late afternoon when it's quieter and the light slants through the incense smoke.
Lost Heaven (花马天堂, Dongcheng branch)
Yunnan minority cuisine in a beautifully designed space — the wild mushroom dishes, crossing-the-bridge noodles, and Yunnan ham are outstanding. A world away from the standard Beijing restaurant experience.
Travel tips
- →Apply for the 144-hour transit visa if eligible to skip the full visa process
- →Visit Mutianyu rather than Badaling for a less crowded Great Wall section
- →Install a VPN before arriving since Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked
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