Activities in Beijing

Beijing's big sights are huge and far apart, so plan one major site per half day and leave room to walk. Four days cover the essentials, with one full day for the Great Wall. The main thing to arrange in advance is tickets: popular sites use real-name online booking, and they can sell out, especially on weekends and holidays.

Imperial Beijing

Forbidden City. Book ahead with your passport details, and allow three to four hours. You enter from the south and leave by the north gate, so you can't easily double back. It's normally closed on Mondays except on some holidays. In November 2026, guides listed entry starting from about ¥40 in the low season, rising in the April to October peak.

Jingshan Park. Right across from the north gate, this small hill gives the classic view over the palace roofs. It's a short climb and an easy next stop, especially late in the afternoon.

Temple of Heaven. Come in the early morning, when local people gather in the park for tai chi, singing and card games. The inner halls need a combined ticket if you want to see them, and some may close on Mondays. Allow two hours.

Summer Palace. Lakes, covered walkways and hills on the northwest edge of the city. Give it a half day, and choose a boat if you'd like a break from walking. Line 4 of the subway stops near the north gate.

Beihai Park and Houhai. An older imperial garden north of the palace, which is calmer than the Summer Palace. It connects well with a late-afternoon walk around the Houhai lakes and nearby hutongs.

The Great Wall

Which section to choose. Mutianyu suits most first-timers, with restored walls, fewer crowds than Badaling, and a cable car. Badaling is the closest and busiest. Jinshanling is farther away and better for keen walkers. Avoid unrestored wild sections unless you're with an experienced guide.

How to plan it. Treat it as a full day, since the round trip to Mutianyu can take three to four hours or more in traffic. Leave early, wear good shoes and bring water and sun protection. In November 2026, reseller listings showed Mutianyu tickets starting from about US$13, so check whether transport and the cable car are included.

Culture and food

Hutongs. These old lanes are still lived in. Explore the quieter areas around Shichahai or Wudaoying rather than the crowded Nanluoguxiang, and take care with photos of people's homes. Rickshaw tours can be fun, but agree on the price and route first.

Peking duck. Popular restaurants can have long waits, so reserve or go early. Half a duck is usually enough for two, depending on what else you order.

798 Art Zone. Galleries, studios and cafés in former factories in the northeast. Many galleries close on Mondays, so check before you go.

Evening shows. Acrobatics and Peking opera both work well after a long day of walking. Opera performances for visitors are often shorter and easier to follow.

A realistic four-day plan

Day 1. Forbidden City in the morning, Jingshan Park afterwards, and a duck dinner.

Day 2. A full day at the Great Wall, with a quiet evening.

Day 3. Temple of Heaven early, then a hutong walk and Houhai by late afternoon.

Day 4. Summer Palace in the morning, then 798 Art Zone or an evening show.

Practical advice

Bring your passport. Many sights check it against your booking, and it's often needed at the gate. Book each site separately and double-check the date.

Payments and apps. Set up a mobile payment app before you arrive and carry some cash. Many foreign apps don't work well in mainland China, so download offline maps and translation tools first.

When to go. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summers are hot and winters cold but often clear. Avoid the national holiday in early October and Lunar New Year if you can, because sites get extremely crowded.