Beijing in 5 Days: The Only Guide You'll Need
A no-nonsense 5-day Beijing itinerary covering all the highlights â from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall, with real food recs and transit tips.
Trip Highlights
Day-by-Day Itinerary
5 Days in Beijing
Chairman Mao Memorial â Tiananmen Square â Forbidden City â Jingshan Park
Start with Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (free, opens 8AM, bring your ID). Cross to Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate. Pro tip: rent an audio guide â it turns the palace from 'just old buildings' into something incredible. End at Jingshan Park (ÂĽ2) for the legendary sunset view over the Forbidden City rooftops.
National Museum of China â Temple of Heaven
Morning at the National Museum (free, reservation required) â head straight to the B1 main exhibition hall first, that's where it gets crowded. Afternoon at Temple of Heaven â the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is genuinely stunning in person. Buy the combo ticket if you want to enter the Qinian Hall area; the basic gate ticket won't get you in. Tip: enter from the North Gate if it's afternoon, so you reach the main hall before the 4:30 PM ticket cutoff.
Summer Palace â Old Summer Palace â Tsinghua & Peking University
Summer Palace (é˘ĺĺ) â China's grandest imperial garden. It's massive, so wear comfy shoes. Then walk to the nearby Old Summer Palace (ĺćĺ) â the Western Mansion ruins are hauntingly beautiful. Finish with a stroll through Tsinghua University and Peking University campuses â both require advance booking.
Great Wall (Badaling) â Bird's Nest & Water Cube
Take the high-speed train from Qinghe Station or Beijing North to Badaling Great Wall Station â way better than a tour bus. The Wall is steeper than you'd expect. If Badaling feels too crowded, Mutianyu (prettier scenery) or Jinshanling (more rugged, fewer people) are great alternatives. On your way back, stop by the Bird's Nest and Water Cube â worth a quick photo stop.
Yonghe Lama Temple â Prince Gong's Mansion â Shichahai â Nanluoguxiang
Yonghe Lama Temple â Beijing's most magnificent Tibetan Buddhist temple, absolutely worth the visit. Then Prince Gong's Mansion (ćçĺş) for a taste of how Qing Dynasty royalty lived. Walk along Shichahai lake and end at Nanluoguxiang for snacks and souvenir shopping.
Getting Around
- Getting to Beijing: Fly into Capital Airport or Daxing Airport; high-speed trains arrive at multiple stations â all connected to the subway.
- Within the city: The subway is your best friend. Get a transit card via Alipay. Buses require you to tap on AND off. Ride-hailing apps (Didi) work great â just avoid the unlicensed cars lurking near tourist spots. For short hops, shared bikes are everywhere.
Where to Eat
Beijing staples you shouldn't miss:
- Zhajiangmian (ç¸é ąé˘) â thick wheat noodles with savory soybean paste
- Copper pot hotpot â try Jubao Yuan or Nanmen Sharou. The sesame dipping sauce is everything.
- Peking Duck â Quanjude for the classic experience, Siji Minfu for the lake-view ambiance, Da Dong for a more refined take
- Tanghubing (çłć˛šéĽź), Luzhu huoshao (ĺ¤ç ŽçŤç§), Chao gan'er (çč) â old Beijing street breakfast
- Douzhi'r (čąćąĺż) with jiaoquan â a true Beijing icon. Fair warning: most visitors find it... challenging. But locals love it.
- Sweets: Wandou huang (čąčąéť), LĂź da gun (銴ććť), Tanghulu (çłčŤčŚ)
Where to Stay
- Qianmen / Dashilan â top pick! Walking distance to Tiananmen, saves you tons of transit time
- Shichahai / Nanluoguxiang â hutong vibes, lively nightlife, bars and live music
- Xidan / Dongdan â transit hubs with great shopping, solid middle ground
- CBD / Guomao â high-end hotels, modern luxury
- Near Universal Studios â if the theme park is your priority
đşď¸ This guide is part of the Beijing Map Pack
Get the offline map with GPS-calibrated pins for all locations in this guide â plus 6 more map layers including food, CityWalk routes, and survival essentials.
