3 DAYS IN BEIJING: THE ULTIMATE ITINERARY
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Most western tourists are far less familiar with Beijing and what to see and do there than with other major cities, like London or New York. So it is much harder to come up with a good itinerary for a visit. Hopefully, this post will help you to choose between the many sights and attractions in this fascinating city!
I am going to be honest here – even though I have been watching C-dramas for a while now, I had only a hazy idea of Beijing. And the only attractions I could have named prior to my trip were the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square!
So I was quite surprised to realize that Beijing indeed has lots and lots of sights well worth a visit. I guess it isn’t surprising given the size of the city but many of the sights are less well known overseas so I am probably not the only one that doesn’t have a list of must-see attractions already picked out.
As it is, there are way more great sights in Beijing than anyone can cram into a three day visit. But many visitors will only have three (or even less) days so I have come up with what I think is a great itinerary. It includes the absolute must-sees as well as a mix of other attractions.
Some General Info about this Beijing Itinerary
As with any tightly-packed city trip, seeing everything suggested here will be fairly exhausting. While Beijing has great public transit and you can easily get from one attraction to the next, many of the attractions require a lot of walking.
My recommendation: Be prepared to cut something or skip portions if necessary. Better to enjoy just 75% of a sight than to force yourself to see everything!
While I loved Beijing’s impressive cultural sights, I do think you can have too many palaces, monuments, and museums. This itinerary mixes the city’s biggest attractions with some more low-key activities, like shopping, parks, and people-watching. To me, that is not only more enjoyable but also gives a more accurate impression of a place than just checking off the most famous attractions.
Overall, following this itinerary will be quite inexpensive. You can get everywhere via the very cheap public transit system and the entrance tickets aren’t very expensive either. There are only a few suggested activities that are on the costly side – and if your budget is tight you can easily skip those!
Are you planning your trip to Beijing and wondering where to stay? Read my post with recommendations on booking a hotel in China!
Optimized three-day Beijing itinerary
Day One – Forbidden City, Wangfujing, Olympic Park
Morning: Visit the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square
The Forbidden City (also called Palace Museum) and nearby Tian’anmen Square are definitely Beijing’s most famous attractions. Located in the center of the city they are an absolute must-see. The Forbidden City is of course the location of the old palace of the former Chinese emperors – a huge collection of courtyards, government buildings, living quarters, gardens, walkways, and exhibitions.
A visit however requires some pre-planning! You need to pre-book your tickets for both Palace Museum and Tian’anmen Square. While tickets may be available on the day this is far from certain! I bought my ticket for the Forbidden City on Trip.com and would recommend this. You can order ahead and will be notified once the tickets have been procured. Tickets go on sale a week ahead of time so best order at least that far ahead.
Tickets for Tian’anmen Square are free and can be ordered a week ahead via WeChat. To my shame I never managed to figure out WeChat and therefore did not manage to see Tian’anmen Square. Clearly I will have to go back to Beijing to make up for this!
Your options to get a ticket for Tian’anmen Square (aside of mastering WeChat) include getting a combo ticket with other attractions via Trip.com or booking a Palace Museum tour that includes a visit to the square. I have also heard that some hotel concierges/receptions can procure tickets but have not tried this.
Tip: Plan ahead for visiting the Forbidden City. Either reserve your tickets well in advance or book a tour.
In general, I would visit the Forbidden City on your first day, however the Palace Museum is closed on Mondays so if your first day is a Monday you can just switch day one and day two of the itinerary.
The Forbidden City is vast and there is so much to see! Be prepared for a fairly exhausting morning. While visiting on your own is easy enough, I actually recommend taking a tour of both Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square. That way you won’t have to concern yourself with the tickets and will see the highlights without burning out.
But if you prefer independent touring it isn’t difficult. Check out my detailed post about visiting the Forbidden City with all my tips and recommendations. The most crucial one: Don’t forget to bring your passport as it serves as your ticket!
Tip: Always have your passport with you. It serves as your ticket at several attractions.
For this itinerary I recommend you book the morning session and get to the entrance as close to opening time as you can. Especially in the summer this will also help you to beat the heat somewhat!
Tip: Visit early in the day to beat the heat and crowds!
Lunch time: Make your way to Wangfujing Street (Lunch)
After visiting the Forbidden City you will leave the palace complex through the northern gate. If you spent about 3 hours inside the palace area (you could easily spend all day!), it should now be around noon.
Alternative/Addition: If you took far less time and/or still have a lot of energy, cross the street and visit Jingshan Park. You can just buy an inexpensive ticket at the entrance. Climbing the hill towards the pavillion on top will give you a great view over the Forbidden City!
Follow the crowds and turn to the right at the main street, Jingshan Front Street. Make your way towards Wangfujing Ave (use Amap or Baidu Map to find your way). Along the way you will pass a large number of food stalls and smaller restaurants.
Tip: Do not waste your time looking for the Wangfujing Snack Street often recommended in older blogs though – it no longer exists!
This area is extremely touristy. However, the vast majority of tourists are Chinese. So even though it is a touristic area the restaurants are still authentically Chinese. This is a great time to grab some lunch!
Afternoon: Enjoy Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
Not counting the lunch break walking from the Gate of Divine Prowess (the northern exit from the Forbidden City) to the Wangfujing Pedestrian Street should take about 30 minutes.
So what is Wangfujing Pedestrian Street? For some reason I expected to see narrow alleys, traditional buildings, and a typical touristic “old town”. I am not sure why I thought this as it is not at all the case. Instead, Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is a wide pedestrianized street lined by smaller shopping malls, big stores, and the occasional souvenir shop. Basically a modern city shopping street.
However, it is still distinctly Chinese and does make a good counterpoint to all the history and palace grounds in the morning. It is a great place to buy souvenirs, browse in stores to compare Chinese offerings to what you have at home, and to people-watch. If you didn’t eat on your way there you can find plenty of restaurants in the malls. As so often, food courts are usually located in the basement.
Evening: Check out the Olympic Park Area (optional)
To be quite honest, I was way too exhausted after touring the Forbidden City to still do something else in the evening. And if you feel the same there is nothing wrong to just enjoy Wangfujing Street and then call it a day (there is a lot more walking to come in the next two days).
However, if you still have energy I highly recommend taking the subway to the Olympic Park Area! Ideally you would get there while it is still daylight so you can see the buildings both by day and by night!
At the northern end, Olympic Park is an actual park with trees and green. However, the southern end is a very wide and very long paved area lined with stadiums built for the Olympics.
For me, visiting this area in the evening was a real highlight. First, the buildings are quite unique and especially at night with the lights on make for great photos! Secondly, it is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese life and people-watch. You will see families on strolls, couples on dates, and plenty of people playing games or performing.
There is an underground mall as well as a huge number of food and drink stalls. During my visit I enjoyed a fountain show as well as some live-music. A great place to just wander and enjoy the evening. No tickets or pre-planning needed!
Alternative: If you had enough walking in the morning and are looking for a unique, more stationary experience I would book one of the Royal Banquet Dinner Shows. This includes dinner, various performances, and offers an option for wearing traditional Chinese costumes – perfect if you enjoy historical C-dramas. Unfortunately, I did not do this as my budget didn’t allow for it this time but it sounds amazing!
Day Two: Temple of Heaven, Hutongs, Shichahai
Morning: Visit the Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is another of Beijing’s more famous attractions and was one of my favorites. I probably enjoyed it even more than the Forbidden City as it was not quite as exhausting but still very interesting.
While tickets are sold at the gate, I prebooked my entrance ticket via Trip.com and would recommend doing so if you are only in town for a couple of days to avoid any disappointment. Basically, the Temple of Heaven combines three different types of attractions: the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and adjacent Circular Mound Altar, a beautiful park, and various smaller palace buildings.
It is hard to say what I enjoyed most: the temple itself or the vibrant park atmosphere. The Temple is quite imposing – I especially loved the swallows (I think?) swooping by. It made me feel I had stepped straight into a historical C-drama!
However, Chinese parks have a very unique charm and Temple of Heaven is one of the best. As you walk along the wide paths you will see many, many locals living their best live. They are playing ball games, practising tai-chi, swirling around ballroom-dancing, singing opera, playing instruments, flying kites, doing intricate line dances… Many of the participants are seniors but you will see people of all ages!
If you are in a rush you can probably see the main sights here in 1.5 to 2 hours but I highly recommend to take a bit more time. Buy an ice-cream, sit on a bench, watch some of the performances, check out the smaller palace buildings (like the kitchen or pavillions), and enjoy this oasis in the middle of a bustling city.
What about lunch? There are some food outlets inside Temple of Heaven park. Alternatively, you could pick up some snacks and treats at a convenience store in the morning and sit on a bench for a small picnic. Or, if you prefer you can eat near Lama Temple. There are various restaurants close by.
Early Afternoon: Visit Lama Temple (optional)
Lama Temple has a very distinct style with intricate woodwork
Take the metro from Temple of Heaven park straight to Lama Temple station. If you have enough energy and didn’t spend too long at the park you can check out this famous Buddhist temple. I wouldn’t call it an absolute must-see (you can read exactly what I thought in my Lama Temple post) so whether or not to include it depends on what kind of a traveler you are.
Variation: If you don’t feel like visiting a temple (or if you are a very efficient tourist and have time for an extra attraction) you could visit the Confucian Temple and Imperial College right next to Lama Temple. It looked very interesting from the outside and is on top of my list of things to see on a future trip to Beijing.
Afternoon: Beijing’s Hutong Area
Beijing’s Hutong Area makes for a relaxed stroll
Stroll through Beijing’s Hutong Area
After the Lama Temple, slowly make your way through the hutongs towards the Bell and Drum Towers. Hutongs? If you – like me before my trip – have no clue what those are: Hutongs are the alleys lined by distinct courtyard style houses, usually made of grey bricks, common in some areas of Beijing. While I wouldn’t necessarily call them beautiful, they are definitely different and quite charming.
As you wander along the streets you will see some areas that have been gentrified and mostly house boutiques, shops, hotels, and restaurants. Other streets though are more authentic with trash cans, scooters, and bustling life spilling out into the street.
Variation: Walking from Lama Temple to the Bell and Drum Towers at a leisurely pace should take just under an hour. If you had enough of walking already you can take the subway from Lama Temple to Shichahai. This won’t save you much time but definitely some steps!
Bell and Drum Tower
The Bell and Drum Towers are connected by a small park. Both make great photo ops and are of historic significance. You can climb up on the Bell Tower – it looked like tickets were sold right there. (I walked by and meant to come back but never managed).
Shichahai is a great tourist destination
Late afternoon/evening: Shichahai Scenic Area
Not far from the Bell and Drum Tower you will find Shichahai Scenic Area. This is basically a leisure/relaxation spot around the shores of a fairly big lake. Here you will find many scenic views with small boats, quaint bridges, and traditional buildings.
Especially on the weekends this is a very bustling area with crowds of tourists and a lot going on. It is excellent for people watching and a great place for dinner. There are many, many food stalls as well as traditional restaurants and bars. One of my favorite places in Beijing!
Day Three: New Summer Palace and Shopping
The New Summer Palace is another must-see in Beijing
Morning: Explore Beijing’s New Summer Palace
My top recommendation for your third day is a visit to the New Summer Palace, one of the most famous sights in Beijing. It is located a bit further outside the city center but is easy to get to via public transit (and the tickets are inexpensive). You can just buy your ticket at the gate so no need to preplan too much.
Tip: If possible start your touring fairly early in the day to beat the heat (and crowds).
The New Summer Palace was originally built between 1749 and 1764 by the Chinese Emperor. Just like the nearby Old Summer Palace, it was largely destroyed by the British and French in 1860. However, unlike the Old Summer Palace the new one has been rebuilt so you can see the beautiful old buildings.
Now, the New Summer Palace is indeed worth a visit and very beautiful. However, it is yet another attraction requiring quite a bit of walking. The biggest feature is the huge Kunming Lake (you can take a boat across) but there are many other things to see!
Tip: Many of the buildings and gardens are built on hills and there are quite a lot of steps. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and pace yourself.
Again there are plenty of restaurants and food outlets at the New Summer Palace so you can easily find something that appeals to you.
Variation: Beijing’s New Summer Palace is gorgeous. But if you feel like less walking (or if you want a change from palace buildings and gardens) you could instead spend your morning either at Shougang Park (family fun with a steampunk vibe) or the 798 Art Zone (museums, art installations, and cute boutiques). If one of these sounds tempting, check out my posts about Shougang Park or the 798 Art District to find out more!
Shopping is big in Beijing
Afternoon: Check out one of Beijing’s hip malls
After the New Summer Palace, take the metro back to town and spend the rest of the day checking out a mall and getting any souvenirs you are still missing. Beijing has a huge variety of malls – there is one for any taste. Some are very upscale with mostly designer stores, some are basically museums with art installations everywhere, and others are geared to fun and entertainment.
All the malls also have extensive food courts/restaurants floors. Whether you are looking for hot pot, sushi, Korean BBQ, pizza, or anything else – you are sure to find it at a mall.
For your last afternoon/evening I would recommend visiting Taikoo Li in Sanlitun. This outdoor mall is somewhat similar to LA’s Grove and definitely the place to be seen! This mall had the most impressive designer outlets (just by the looks of them – I did not go in!) and was very busy with quite a number of foreign tourists and a lot of young people!
But what about the Great Wall of China?
My itinerary assumed that you have three full days to spend within Beijing itself. However, if you only have three in total I do recommend a tour of the Great Wall (you can read all about the tour I went on in my Mutianyu post). It is such a big bucket-list item that you will likely regret it if you don’t go.
I would either replace the visits to Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple or the New Summer Palace with an organized bus tour to the Great Wall. There are also Great Wall combo tours that include a short visit to the New Summer Palace. This may be an option if you hate the idea of missing out on anything.
What if you have more than 3 days for Beijing?
Congratulations – you are in luck! Beijing has more to see and do than can be covered in three days. Or a week. Or even a month. So filling a couple of extra days is easy. Check out my list of the 20+ best things to do for ideas!
Beijing – the ideal City Trip
Beijing really deserves to be ranked as a top destination for a city trip alongside places like London or New York. In addition to the world-famous Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square, there are many more palace buildings, museums, parks, leisure areas, and shopping venues.
My three day itinerary covers the main bucket-list items but also some lesser known attractions. You will not only see historical buildings (though there are quite a lot of those) but also experience modern life in this vibrant and fun city!
