Three nights in Beijing and you see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. The China National Tourism Administration lists Beijing as the country’s most visited destination. Five nights and you see Beijing. The hutong neighborhoods at 7am when locals do tai chi and buy breakfast. The Summer Palace at dusk. A proper Peking duck dinner at Siji Minfu.
The difference between a visitor and a traveler in Beijing is usually two extra days. Full city guide: Beijing Travel Guide.
5-Day Beijing Itinerary
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| Day 1 | Arrive. Check in. Walk hutong area. | Yonghegong Lama Temple and Guozijian Street. | Nanluoguxiang for drinks. |
| Day 2 | Forbidden City (book in advance). 3h. | Jingshan Park. Wangfujing walk. | Peking duck dinner at Siji Minfu. |
| Day 3 | Great Wall at Mutianyu. Full day. | Full day Great Wall. | Back by 6pm. Rest. |
| Day 4 | Temple of Heaven (book in advance). 2h. | Summer Palace. 3h. Metro Line 4. | 798 Art District or Houhai bar area. |
| Day 5 | Jingshan Park view at sunrise (optional). Hutong walk. | Free. Shopping at Silk Market if interested. | Depart or relax. |
Day by Day
Day 2: Forbidden City
Book your timed-entry ticket through the Forbidden City WeChat mini-program at least 3 to 4 days ahead. In peak season (May, October, July to August), book 2 weeks ahead. Enter from the south (Tiananmen Square side). Walk the central axis. The main sequence of halls takes 2 hours. Allow 30 more minutes to explore the side courts. Exit north into Jingshan Park and climb to the Five Pavilion hilltop for the full aerial view.
Day 3: Great Wall
Mutianyu is the right section. Not Badaling. Cable car up (¥65). Walk the restored section for 1.5 to 2 hours. Toboggan or cable car back down. Lunch in the village below. Back in Beijing by 5pm. Full comparison of wall sections: Which Great Wall Section to Visit.
Day 4: Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven in the morning (metro Line 5 to Tiantan East). Book tickets via WeChat. Allow 2 hours. The circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the iconic building. The park around it is where elderly Beijingers exercise, play cards, and sing Beijing Opera. Walk among them. Afternoon: Summer Palace (metro Line 4 to Beigongmen). Walk the Long Corridor along Kunming Lake. Climb the hill to the Tower of Buddhist Incense for views over the lake.
Day 5: Hutong and departure
Your last morning in Beijing. Walk through a hutong neighborhood without a plan. The area between Drum Tower and Shichahai is the best for this. Eat street breakfast at a jianbing cart. Buy tea from a shop that is not targeting tourists. Leave Beijing with the right version of the city in your memory.
Where to Eat in Beijing
| Meal | What to Order | Where |
| Breakfast | Jianbing egg crepe, ¥10 to ¥12 | Street carts, 6:30 to 9:30 AM anywhere |
| Lunch | Zha jiang mian noodles or dumplings | Any local restaurant 100m from any major site |
| Peking duck dinner | Order the skin first, eat with pancake and hoisin | Siji Minfu (book ahead on weekends) |
| Late snack | Lamb skewers over charcoal, ¥3 to ¥5 each | Night market stalls after 9pm |
Frequently Asked Questions
For all Beijing site details: Beijing Travel Guide. For fitting Beijing into a wider China trip: 7-Day China Itinerary. For Great Wall section comparison: Which Great Wall Section?.