Beijing Itineraries Trip Planning & Itineraries

Day One: The Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square

If your time in Beijing is limited, get steeped in the ancient history of the city's most culturally significant relics by focusing on Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Start your day at Tiananmen Square, where billowing red Communist Party flags share the sky with the kites of Beijing residents over a vast and open expanse. If time allows, join the queue to view the late dictator's preserved body in a glass coffin.

Then head across the street to the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, and spend the rest of the day exploring the colorful gardens, palaces, halls, and relics of the 588-year-old complex that first opened to visitors in 1924, unveiling imperial secrets held behind walls closed for 500 years.

Day Two: The Great Wall

Although it's a myth that the Great Wall can be seen from the moon, it's easy to believe upon gazing at the length of it, which disappears into the horizon. Located on the southern edge of the Mongolian Plain and several hours from Beijing, a hike along the Wall offers sweeping views of grasslands, plateaus, and mountains along the ridge of jaggy mountains. Just be prepared for the steep slopes and massive steps - walking the Great Wall is a bit of a workout.

Many people visit the wall at Badaling with tour groups, but for those looking to escape the crowds, there are several segments of the wall that see a much smaller number of tourists, such as the 10 km stretch between Jinshanling and Simatai. Plan a full day for this excursion, and keep evening plans to a minimum, you'll be exhausted if you do any hiking at the wall.

Day Three: The Temple of Heaven and The Summer Palace

From USD $78.00

Expand your historical tour of Beijing to the iconic Temple of Heaven, located a few km south of Tiananmen Square. It's just one of several important buildings in the Temple of Heaven's complex of Taoist buildings that served the religious purposes of Ming and Qing emperors. Start your day here - a ticket includes access to all buildings.

Spend the rest of the day at the Summer Palace, known as the once-upon-a-time playground for the imperial court, who came here to escape the heat of summer. The palace includes temples, gardens, pavilions, and lakes and deserves the better part of a day to take in the artifacts and ornate beauty of an ancient, royal 'summer home'.

Day Four: Hutong Alleyways

Conclude your experience of ancient Beijing with a tour of historical neighborhoods known as hutong-communities built around maze-like, narrow streets that crisscross Beijing from East to West, lined with a jumble of street vendors, shops, and traditional courtyard homes.

You can explore the hutong on a guided tour, such as the Capital Museum and Hutong tour, but walking or bicycling on your own is also a great way to delve into the city's quickly disappearing past.