Three days is just enough to see Beijing’s big three — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the hutongs — if you plan around the city’s geography. Beijing is huge: crossing town takes 45–90 minutes, and the Great Wall is a half-day trip on its own. This itinerary groups everything by area so you’re not zig-zagging.
A few rules baked into the plan:
- Book the Forbidden City 7+ days ahead — it sells out and entry is passport-gated.
- Big ticketed sights close around 17:00 (last entry ~16:00), so do them in the morning.
- Set up Alipay before you arrive so you can pay for taxis, snacks and tickets from minute one.
Day 1 — The Imperial Core
Everything today is walkable or one short subway hop apart.
- 09:00 — Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City. Enter via the Meridian Gate. Give it 3–4 hours; walk the central axis, then drift into the side palaces.
- 13:00 — Lunch near Jingshan. A casual local spot to refuel.
- 14:30 — Jingshan Park. Five minutes across the street from the Forbidden City’s north gate. Climb to the pavilion for the postcard view back over the golden roofs.
- 16:00 — Temple of Heaven (15–20 min by car), or a slower stroll if you’re tired.
- Evening — Wangfujing for dinner and people-watching.
Day 2 — The Great Wall (full day)
The Wall is the one thing you don’t rush. Treat it as the only major activity today.
- Mutianyu is the best pick for most first-timers: restored but less mobbed than Badaling, with a cable car up and a toboggan down. It’s 1.5–2 hours each way from the city, so leave by 07:00–07:30 and you’ll be back around 13:00–14:00.
- Badaling is closer (1–1.5 hours) and easiest by public transport, but it’s the most crowded.
- Back in the city by mid-afternoon, keep it light: a hutong walk or an early dinner near your hotel.
💡 Door-to-door, a Mutianyu trip is 5–6 hours. Don’t try to bolt another big sight onto Wall day.
Day 3 — Hutongs, Lakes & Modern Beijing
- Morning — Lama Temple (Yonghegong), Beijing’s most atmospheric working temple.
- Late morning — Nanluoguxiang & the Gulou/Houhai hutong cluster. These all sit within walking distance of each other — the real, lived-in Beijing of grey-brick alleys, courtyard cafés and Shichahai’s lakes.
- Afternoon — 798 Art District (20 min by car) if you like contemporary art, or the Summer Palace (Line 4) for imperial gardens and lake views.
- Evening — Peking duck. Your one can’t-miss Beijing meal. Book ahead at a sit-down restaurant.
What to skip on a first 3-day trip
- Trying to do the Forbidden City and the Great Wall on the same day — physically impossible to do well.
- Three separate Wall sections — pick one.
- Far-flung day trips — save them for a longer visit.
Make it yours in 30 seconds
This is the classic route — but the right plan depends on your pace, budget and food preferences (halal, vegetarian, no-pork, and more). Our free Telegram assistant @beijing_travel_tutor_bot builds a personalized day-by-day Beijing itinerary around your interests, with realistic timing and restaurant picks. Open Telegram and send /plan.
Leave a Reply