Beijing has worn many names—Zhongdu, Dadu, Beiping—but for most of the last seven centuries it has been China’s beating political heart. Emperors orchestrated ceremony here; revolutionaries redrew the future on these vast squares. Today, imperial palaces stand beside glassy towers, and ancient hutong lanes hum with cafés, galleries, and noodle steam.

For travelers, Beijing delivers marquee icons—the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven—alongside absorbing neighborhoods that reward wandering and photography. Food is a highlight: lacquered roast duck, hand-pulled noodles, cumin-scented skewers, and delicate imperial snacks. Markets brim with curios, tea, pearls, and tailored silks.

Practical notes: Many museums and the Forbidden City close on Mondays; carry your passport for ticketing and hotel check-in. Subways are fast and inexpensive, and foreign cards now work in Alipay/WeChat Pay. Autumn and spring offer crisp skies; winter is cold but crowd-light; summer is lush and lively.

Beijing

Beijing is a city of grand axes and intimate alleys. Start with Tiananmen Square’s monumental scale, then step into the vermilion gates and gilded beams of the Forbidden City. North, climb Jingshan Park for the best panorama in town. To the northwest, lakes and pavilions ripple through the Summer Palace; to the northeast, the 798 Art District paints factory chic with contemporary art.

• Top sights: Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling), Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, 798 Art District, Drum & Bell Towers, Olympic Park (Bird’s Nest).
• Dining highlights: Roast duck at Siji Minfu or Da Dong; dumplings at Xian Lao Man; Yunnan flavors at Dali Courtyard; late-night street snacks around Wangfujing and hutongs. Craft brews at Jing-A Taproom.
• Where to stay (mid-range focus; budget and splurge included):
  • Search apartments: VRBO Beijing
  • Hotel deals: Hotels.com Beijing
  • Splurge: The Peninsula Beijing (all-suite classic glam, walkable to Wangfujing); The Opposite House (design-forward haven in Sanlitun).
  • Best value: New World Beijing Hotel (rooftop bar, near Temple of Heaven); Novotel Beijing Peace (near Wangfujing, consistent comfort).
  • Budget: 365 Inn Beijing (social, central to Qianmen); or check reviews for 365 Inn Beijing Qianmen.
• Getting in & around:
  • Flights: Compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Nonstops to PEK/PKX: 11–13h from U.S. West Coast (~$650–$1100 RT in shoulder seasons), 3–4h from Tokyo/Seoul (~$180–$380), 5–6h from Southeast Asia (~$150–$350).
  • Trains in China: To/from Shanghai 4.5–6h, Xi’an 4.5–6h, Tianjin 30–60m via high-speed rail; check schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains.
  • Airports to city: PEK Airport Express to Dongzhimen ~25–30m (≈¥25); PKX Daxing Express to Caoqiao ~19m (≈¥35). Taxis/ride-hailing to central Beijing 45–75m depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Tiananmen, and Wangfujing Night Shots

Morning: Fly into Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX). For competitive fares and good schedules, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Grab a simple breakfast before arrival to maximize your afternoon—onboard congee or a croissant keeps you moving.

Afternoon: Check in near Wangfujing or Qianmen for easy sightseeing. Stroll Tiananmen Square’s vast expanse—great for wide-angle photography of the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Great Hall. If you’re eager for culture and it’s not Monday, pop into the National Museum of China for a quick survey of bronzes and Silk Road treasures (carry your passport for entry).

Evening: Head to Wangfujing. For dinner, book roast duck at Siji Minfu (Qianmen or Wangfujing) for crispy skin carved tableside, or Da Dong (Wangfujing) for a contemporary take with fruit wood roasting. Wander the snack streets for photography—candied hawthorns, sesame pastries, and neon-lit stalls. For a night shot, frame the “Egg” (National Centre for the Performing Arts) reflected in its pool, then toast your first night at Jing-A Taproom (Xingfucun) with a Flying Fist IPA.

Day 2: Great Wall at Mutianyu + Summer Palace Lakes

Morning & Early Afternoon (featured tour): Ride to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for sweeping, photogenic ramparts without the biggest crowds. This half-day option lets you save energy for the palace gardens later:

Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall Lift Way Up & Toboggan Down

You’ll ride a cable car up, walk watchtowers with views of orchards, then choose a fun toboggan down. Plan 1.5h drive each way; on-site costs are modest if not included (entrance ≈¥60, shuttle ≈¥15, cable/toboggan ≈¥120–¥180).

Lunch: Stop at Xinshuangquan Farmhouse near Mutianyu for chestnut chicken, trout, and village-style stir-fries—hearty, affordable, and close to the Wall.

Afternoon: Return to town and unwind at the Summer Palace. Walk the Long Corridor’s painted beams, glide by dragon boat on Kunming Lake, and photograph the 17-Arch Bridge at golden hour. Museums in the complex are small but evocative, and the willow-lined paths are made for portraits.

Evening: Explore the Drum & Bell Towers and Houhai Lakes. Dine at Dali Courtyard (set Yunnan menu in a serene courtyard) or Yaoji Chaogan for Beijing comfort food like zhajiangmian. For a low-key nightcap, try Capital Spirits for baijiu flights—an eye-opening taste of China’s fiery national spirit.

Day 3: Forbidden City, Jingshan View, 798 Art, and Hutong Eats

Morning (featured tour): Dive deep into court stories and symbolism with a small-group walkthrough that includes your entry—ideal for history lovers and photographers wanting the best angles.

4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

Note: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays—swap with Day 4 if needed. Carry your passport; tickets are real-name.

Coffee break: Walk five minutes north to Jingshan Park and sip at a nearby café, or detour to Soloist Coffee Co. (Dashilar) earlier for single-origin pour-overs in a restored hutong space.

Afternoon: Climb Jingshan’s hill for the classic bird’s-eye of palace roofs. Then head to the 798 Art District for contemporary galleries, street installations, and industrial-chic photo backdrops. Refuel at Voyage Coffee (flagship roastery) or CAFEX for espresso & light bites; browse design shops and the UCCA Store for creative souvenirs.

Evening (featured tour): Taste Beijing the local way on a hutong food crawl that hits family-run gems tourists rarely find. Expect savory pancakes, stir-fried dishes, dumplings, and local beers—come hungry and curious.

Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants

Alternative DIY dinner if you skip the tour: Zhang Mama for punchy Sichuan classics (mapo tofu, peppercorn-laced chicken), or Mr. Shi’s Dumplings for pan-fried jiaozi in every filling under the sun.

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Markets, and Departure

Morning: Catch dawn tai chi and choral singing at the Temple of Heaven park—photogenic rituals in soft morning light. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its deep blue tiles. Grab a hot jianbing (savory crepe) from a street cart near the gates, or a flat white at Metal Hands Coffee (Wudaoying) after.

Late Morning to Early Afternoon: Visit the Lama Temple (Yonghe), Beijing’s grand Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Incense curls past towering Buddha statues—stay respectful and unobtrusive when photographing. Stroll Wudaoying Hutong for indie boutiques and design-forward shops.

Lunch: Feast on hand-made dumplings at Xian Lao Man (Andingmen) or noodles at Noodle Bar by TRB if you want something polished yet comforting.

Afternoon (shopping + departure): If it’s a weekend morning, the Panjiayuan Antique Market is a trove of calligraphy, ceramics, and curios (haggle politely). On weekdays or for fixed hours, try the Silk Street Market for tailored suits and silk scarves or Hongqiao Pearl Market for pearls and electronics—bargaining expected. Pick up your bags and ride the Airport Express (PEK ≈25–30m; PKX ≈19m to Caoqiao) or a taxi to catch your afternoon flight booked via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Optional Add-On (if you want one more guided highlight):

If you prefer a small-group combo day that hits city icons plus the Wall without shopping stops, consider:

Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest

Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Cheat Sheet

• Breakfast/Coffee: Metal Hands (Wudaoying; specialty pours), Soloist Coffee Co. (Dashilar; beans + pastries), Voyage Coffee (798; roastery vibes).
• Lunch: Xinshuangquan (Mutianyu farmhouse), Xian Lao Man (dumplings), Noodle Loft or neighborhood noodle shops for hand-pulled lamian.
• Dinner: Siji Minfu or Da Dong (roast duck), Dali Courtyard (Yunnan set menu), Zhang Mama (budget-friendly Sichuan), Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (casual feast).
• Nightcaps: Jing-A Taproom (craft beer), Capital Spirits (baijiu tasting), lakeside bars around Houhai for relaxed views.

Practical Tips for a Smooth, Budget-Savvy Trip

• Closures: Forbidden City and many museums close Mondays. Swap Day 3/4 if needed.
• Tickets: Real-name bookings often required—carry your passport. Forbidden City peak pricing ≈¥60 (Apr–Oct), off-peak ≈¥40.
• Transit: The subway is fast and bilingual; taxis are metered. Rush hour is 7:30–9:30 and 17:00–19:30.
• Payments: Alipay/WeChat Pay now accept foreign cards; cash still useful for small snacks and markets.
• Photography: Best light at Great Wall is early morning or late afternoon; Jingshan Park is superb at sunset. Ask before photographing people in hutongs.
• Budget: With a mid-range budget, plan ¥350–¥500/day for meals, metro, and admissions; tours and specialty dinners add on as desired.

Bonus for museum lovers: If you have extra time, the Capital Museum offers excellent rotating exhibits on Beijing’s archaeology and folk culture; check opening days and reserve free tickets in advance.

Beijing rewards curiosity: imperial courts and courtyard lanes, panoramic walls and placid lakes, markets and modern art. With this 4-day plan, you’ll see the classics, eat brilliantly, and bring home gallery-worthy photos—while keeping your budget balanced and your days unhurried.