Beijing is a capital of contrasts: a 3,000‑year story told in vermillion gates and glass towers, in dawn tai chi and neon-lit bar streets. Emperors once ruled from the Forbidden City; today, artists show at 798 while cyclists thread hutong lanes. You can spend a morning among pines at the Temple of Heaven and a sunset looking over a sea of palace roofs from Jingshan Park.

Highlights cluster around the city core—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Beihai—while the Great Wall unfurls through the mountains to the north. Food is a headline act: lacquered Peking duck, coal-fired mutton hotpot, hand-pulled noodles, and late‑night crayfish along Ghost Street. Coffee culture thrives too, from indie roasters near the Drum Tower to design-forward cafes in 798.

Practical notes: Many major sights require your passport for ticketing and entry, and some museums (including the Forbidden City) are closed Mondays. The subway is fast and inexpensive; rides are typically under $1–$2. Mobile payments dominate, though cash and cards are increasingly accepted at larger venues. Spring and autumn bring crisp skies; winter is dry and cold; summer is hot—pack accordingly.

Beijing

Why go: Imperial grandeur, living hutongs, world-class cuisine, and easy access to the Great Wall—Beijing anchors any China trip.

• Top sights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, 798 Art District, Olympic Green.
• Neighborhoods to know: Qianmen/Dashilar for heritage shopfronts; Gulou/Houhai for lakes and hutongs; Sanlitun for dining and nightlife; Wangfujing for shopping; 798 for contemporary art.
• Classic bites: Peking duck, zhajiangmian noodles, mutton hotpot (shuanrou), jianbing breakfast crepes, and northern-style dumplings.

Where to stay (handpicked): Design-forward and central options put you near the subway and major sights.

• The Opposite House (Sanlitun creative hub): Check availability
• The Peninsula Beijing (palatial suites, Wangfujing): Check availability
• New World Beijing Hotel (great value near Temple of Heaven): Check availability
• Novotel Beijing Peace (Wangfujing convenience): Check availability
• 365 Inn Beijing (budget near Qianmen): Check availability or see reviews: 365 Inn Beijing Qianmen

Browse more stays: Apartments and houses on VRBO Beijing or hotels on Hotels.com Beijing.

Getting in: Fly into PEK (Capital) or PKX (Daxing). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport Express trains and Daxing Airport Express connect quickly to the subway; taxis to central Beijing typically take 45–75 minutes depending on traffic.

Getting around: The subway reaches all major sights. For Great Wall trips, join a tour or hire a driver; high-speed trains to Badaling depart Beijing North (30–40 minutes). Check Chinese rail on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Qianmen Gateways, and Old Beijing Flavors

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Stretch your legs along Qianmen pedestrian street, framed by the Zhengyangmen gate tower and heritage shopfronts. Duck into Dashilar’s alleyways for timeworn courtyard architecture and indie boutiques.

Evening: Kick off with Peking duck—choose Siji Minfu (crispy skin carved tableside; try the sesame-sugar dip), Da Dong (leaner roast, creative sides), or historic Quanjude. Nightcap around Houhai lake: Jing-A Taproom for craft ales or Slow Boat Brewery for Beijing’s classic Monkey’s Fist IPA. If you’re jet-lagged, a lantern-lit stroll over the arched bridges does wonders.

Day 2: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, and Sunset Over the Palaces

Morning: Start at Tiananmen Square to read the city’s scale, then enter the Forbidden City (book ahead—passport required). For guaranteed timed entry, reserve via Forbidden City Ticket Booking.

Trace the axis from the Gate of Supreme Harmony to the intimate Palace of Tranquil Longevity; don’t miss the Nine-Dragon Screen.

Afternoon: Exit north to Jingshan Park; the brief climb rewards you with Beijing’s best panorama. Walk or pedal a rental boat on nearby Beihai Park. Lunch options: Najia Xiaoguan (home-style Manchu dishes—try the honeyed lotus and braised sea cucumber) or Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (pan-fried pockets, classic vinegar dip).

Evening: Dinner in the hutongs: Nalan Restaurant for traditional Beijing fare (sautéed shredded pork with Beijing sauce), or Jing Yaa Tang at The Opposite House for refined roast duck and dim sum. Cultural night idea: acrobatics at Chaoyang Theatre or a Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre.

Day 3: Great Wall at Mutianyu—Towers, Pines, and a Toboggan Ride

Spend a full day at the less-crowded Mutianyu section, flanked by orchards and soaring mountain views. An easy, excellent option is the MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall Guided Bus Tour with multilingual guides, fast-track entry, and lunch.

Expect 8–9 hours door-to-door and 1.5–2 hours’ driving each way. Ride the cable car up and zip down the famous toboggan, or hike between watchtowers 14–23 for classic ridge-line shots.

Evening: Back in town, warm up with Beijing shuanrou (mutton hotpot). Try Dong Lai Shun (Wangfujing institution—paper-thin mutton, sesame paste dip) or go Sichuan-style at Xiaolongkan Hotpot (choose a mild/medium broth if you’re spice-shy). Post-dinner, stroll Sanlitun and drop by Jing-A or Great Leap Brewing for a nightcap.

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, and Ghost Street Late-Night Eats

Morning: Arrive early at the Temple of Heaven to watch locals practice tai chi and shuttlecock. Explore the echo-friendly Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Imperial Vault. Nearby, browse the Hongqiao (Pearl) Market for souvenirs—haggle with a smile.

Afternoon: Head to the Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong), one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important sites outside Tibet—don’t miss the 18‑meter sandalwood Maitreya. Cross to the Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy (Guozijian), then refuel along Wudaoying Hutong at Metal Hands Coffee (hand-pour specialists) or Voyage Coffee (house roasts and airy interiors).

Evening: Feast on Dongbei and Beijing late‑night favorites along Guijie (Ghost Street): look for red lanterns and try spicy crayfish, cumin lamb, and pickled cabbage hotpot. Good picks include Jin Ding Xuan (dim sum and seafood) or Huda (crayfish specialists). If you prefer vegetarian fine dining, King’s Joy near Lama Temple crafts seasonal tasting menus.

Day 5: 798 Art District and a Hutong Food Adventure

Morning: Explore the 798 Art District, a former military electronics complex turned creative hub. Pop into contemporary galleries, street-art alleys, and design shops. Coffee breaks abound—try At Café (industrial-chic) or Café Flatwhite (Kiwi-style espresso).

Afternoon: Continue through 798’s courtyards, then unwind in nearby Chaoyang Park with a lakeside walk. Lunch at Najia Xiaoguan (another branch near 798) or go northwestern at Xibei Youmian Cun (buckwheat noodles and grilled lamb kebabs).

Evening: Join a delicious small‑group ramble through lesser‑known lanes on the Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour.

Expect jianbing hot-off-the-griddle, lamb skewers, sesame desserts, and neighborhood stories that bring the lanes to life.

Day 6: Summer Palace Serenity and Olympic Green Lights

Morning: Take the subway to the Summer Palace, the Qing dynasty’s lakeside retreat. Walk the Long Corridor, climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense, and ferry across Kunming Lake to the dragon-head boat for views back to Longevity Hill.

Afternoon: Return city-side for a tea break: try a gongfu tasting at a traditional teahouse near Houhai. If you’re into markets and it’s a weekend, detour to the Panjiayuan Antique Market (early morning is best) for calligraphy brushes, porcelain, and vintage posters—bargaining expected.

Evening: Head to the Olympic Green at dusk to see the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube glow. Dinner nearby at Haidilao (beloved service and customizable hotpot) or go upscale at King’s Joy if you didn’t earlier. Night owls can circle back to Gulou for live music in intimate venues.

Want a wilder Wall day instead? Swap today for a dramatic mountain hike and lantern-lit water town on the Jinshanling + Simatai & Gubei Water Town Private Tour (full day/evening).

Day 7: Lakeside Calm, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Ease into the day with congee, steamed buns, and fried dough sticks at Huguosi Snack Bar (a local go‑to for traditional Beijing breakfasts). Stroll the white dagoba at Beihai Park or visit Prince Gong’s Mansion for classical gardens and shadowed pavilions.

Afternoon: Grab a final bowl of zhajiangmian near the Drum Tower, pick up gifts (fine teas, bamboo bookmarks, cloisonné), and transfer to the airport or station. For flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; for China rail (if continuing onward), check Trip.com Trains. Safe travels!

Eating & Coffee Shortlist (Save This):

• Peking duck: Siji Minfu, Da Dong, Quanjude.
• Hotpot: Dong Lai Shun (Beijing mutton), Haidilao (choose your spice), Xiaolongkan (Sichuan).
• Regional flavors: Xibei Youmian Cun (Northwest), Qin Tang Fu (Shaanxi noodles), Hong Bin Lou (Halal classics).
• Cafes: Metal Hands Coffee, Voyage Coffee (Gulou/Wudaoying), Café Zarah (brunch), At Café and Café Flatwhite (798).
• Nightlife: Jing-A Taproom, Slow Boat Brewery, Great Leap Brewing; lakefront bars around Houhai for mellow views.

Logistics & Local Tips

• Tickets: Major sites increasingly require real-name booking with passports; book a day or two ahead in peak seasons.
• Closures: Many museums (including the Forbidden City) close on Mondays; verify hours around public holidays.
• Getting around: Subway is best; taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful. Keep your hotel name and destination written in Chinese characters.
• Money: Mobile payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay) are ubiquitous; big venues accept cards; cash still works but is less common.
• Great Wall choices: Mutianyu (family-friendly, cable car, toboggan), Jinshanling (scenic, more hiking), Badaling (most accessible, busiest).

Alternate/Combo Tours if you prefer guided days: Consider these popular options that combine city icons with the Wall:
- Best Mini Group: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Sq, Great Wall, Hutong

Seven days in Beijing let you move from palace halls to mountain ramparts, from incense-wreathed temples to back‑alley noodle shops. With this itinerary you’ll taste, see, and feel the city’s rhythm—ancient, creative, and very alive.

Whether you come for the Great Wall or the food, you’ll leave with a deeper sense of China’s capital and plenty of reasons to return.