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. 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 — best light in the afternoon.
- 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 from Lama Temple) if you like contemporary art and galleries, or the Summer Palace (Line 4) if you’d rather end on 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 (e.g. distant tombs) — 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