Everything a first-timer needs — Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and the hutongs — strung together at a relaxed pace. Mornings for the big sights, afternoons for easy strolling and street food; about 15k steps a day. Stay near Qianmen or Wangfujing so the subway gets you everywhere.
Itinerary
Tiananmen · Forbidden City · Jingshan
- Tiananmen SquareSight
Arrive before 8am for thin crowds and good light, then head straight into the Forbidden City.
- The Forbidden CitySight
Enter at Meridian Gate, exit at the north gate; don't miss the three great halls, the Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery — allow 3–4 hours.
- Jingshan ParkSight
Directly opposite the exit; climb Wanchun Pavilion for the classic top-down view over the Forbidden City, best at sunset.
- Qianmen Street & DashilanFood
Dinner among old-Beijing institutions — try zhajiangmian and explosive-fried tripe.
Mutianyu Great Wall (full day)
- Mutianyu Great WallSight
Greener and far less crowded than Badaling. Cable car up, toboggan down to save your legs — leave half a day to wander.
- Jiankou viewpointSight
If you're fit, add this wild, unrestored stretch for the postcard shot — mind your footing.
Summer Palace · Old Summer Palace
- Summer PalaceSight
Enter at the East Gate and walk the Long Corridor along Kunming Lake to the Tower of Buddhist Incense — the gold standard of imperial gardens.
- Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)Sight
Afternoon among the ruins of the European palaces — atmospheric ginkgo and lotus in autumn.
- WudaokouFood
University district with loads of dinner options — Korean BBQ, hotpot and cozy bars.
Temple of Heaven · Hutongs · Nanluoguxiang
- Temple of HeavenSight
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Echo Wall are must-sees; come early to catch locals doing tai chi.
- Shichahai & NanluoguxiangSight
Wander the hutongs and courtyard homes; duck into the smaller lanes away from the most commercial stretch.
- Ghost Street (Gui Jie)Food
Late-night food strip — spicy crayfish and bullfrog; the later it gets, the livelier it is.
National Museum · Wangfujing · departure
- National Museum of ChinaSight
Free but book ahead; national treasures like the Houmuwu Ding — half a day is plenty.
- Wangfujing & WF CentralSight
Souvenirs and one last good meal, then head for the airport or station.
Tips
1) Book the Forbidden City, National Museum and Temple of Heaven in advance — the Forbidden City sells out fast, so grab a morning slot ~7 days ahead. 2) Skip crowded Badaling; Mutianyu or Jinshanling are far quieter — a private car round-trip is the easiest. 3) The subway is packed at rush hour; travel between sights off-peak. 4) Alipay/WeChat Pay work everywhere — install Amap and DiDi before you go. 5) For roast duck, Siji Minfu and Da Dong beat the tourist chains — take a number early.