Beijing Travel Guide - Complete 5-Day 4-Night Guide

“Beijing as China’s capital has magnificent Great Wall⛰️, solemn Forbidden City🏯, mysterious Tsinghua and Peking Universities🏢, and mouth-watering snacks🍝.” Beijing attracts countless visitors with its long history, rich cultural heritage, and modern urban charm. This article provides a complete Beijing travel guide to help you plan an unforgettable trip.

Why Choose Beijing?

Beijing is located in northern China on the North China Plain, the capital of the People’s Republic of China and an ancient capital with over 3000 years of history. Here you’ll find:

• World-class cultural heritage: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan, and many other historical sites
• Magnificent natural landscapes: Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, and other world wonders
• Rich cultural heritage: Imperial palaces of Ming and Qing dynasties, courtyard houses, hutong culture
• Modern urban charm: Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, CCTV Tower, and other modern architecture

Each season offers different beautiful scenery, earning it the reputation “Ancient capital of a thousand years, modern Beijing.”

Best Time to Visit

Seasonal Characteristics

Spring (March-May):

• Mild climate, bright sunshine
• Cherry blossoms and peach flowers in full bloom
• Relatively fewer tourists, peaceful atmosphere
• Perfect for outdoor activities and photography

Summer (June-August):

• Lush greenery, most beautiful royal gardens
• Peak tourist season
• Higher temperatures, sun protection needed
• Great for evening tours and summer retreats

Autumn (September-November):

• Best tourist season, clear skies and pleasant climate
• Fragrant Hills covered with red leaves, breathtakingly beautiful
• Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, and other attractions at their best
• More crowded, advance booking required

Winter (December-February):

• Off-season discounts
• See Forbidden City covered in snow, uniquely charming
• Lower temperatures, warmth needed
• Perfect for experiencing Beijing’s traditional Spring Festival culture

Recommended Duration

A 5-day 4-night itinerary allows for in-depth exploration of Beijing’s main attractions.

Classic 5-Day 4-Night Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing - In-Depth Forbidden City Tour

• Accommodation: Hotel within Third Ring Road
• Morning: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City Museum in-depth tour
  • Tiananmen Square: One of the world’s largest city squares
  • Forbidden City Museum: World’s largest and most complete wooden palace complex
  • Explore the mysteries of the Forbidden City, experience Ming and Qing imperial palace history and culture
• Afternoon: Temple of Heaven Park → Qianmen Street
  • Temple of Heaven Park: Ming and Qing emperors’ sacrificial altar
  • Qianmen Street: Beijing’s traditional commercial street
• Food: Beijing roast duck, zhajiangmian

Easily start your Beijing journey, experiencing the capital’s historical and cultural atmosphere.

Day 2: Badaling Great Wall - Olympic Park

Morning: Badaling Great Wall

• One of the Eight Wonders of the World, experience “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man”
• Recommend advance ticket booking, choose cable car up and down
• Capture magnificent Great Wall scenery

Afternoon: Olympic Park

• View Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) exterior
• View Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) exterior
• View Ice Ribbon (National Speed Skating Oval) exterior
• Witness the glory of 2008 Beijing Olympics and China’s strength

Accommodation: Hotel within Third Ring Road
Food: Beijing specialty dinner

Day 3: Summer Palace - Yuanmingyuan - Tsinghua & Peking University

Morning: Summer Palace

• One of China’s Four Great Gardens, model of Chinese royal gardens
• Longevity Hill architecture elegant, Kunming Lake vast
• Stone bridges in various shapes, exquisitely delicate

Afternoon: Yuanmingyuan - Tsinghua & Peking University

• Yuanmingyuan Ruins: Experience the historical vicissitudes of the “Garden of Gardens”
• View Tsinghua University exterior: China’s top university
• View Peking University exterior: Century-old prestigious school
• Experience the atmosphere of China’s higher education

Accommodation: Hotel within Third Ring Road
Food: Beijing copper pot hot pot

Day 4: Flag-Raising Ceremony - Hutong Culture - Nanluoguxiang

Early Morning: Flag-Raising Ceremony

• Watch Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony, experience solemn moment
• Recommend arriving early to secure the best position

Morning: Hutong Culture Experience

• Stroll through Beijing hutongs
• Visit courtyard houses
• Experience old Beijing’s living atmosphere

Afternoon: Nanluoguxiang

• Experience artistic atmosphere
• Shop for unique handicrafts
• Taste traditional snacks: Men Ding meat cakes, fried liver, etc.

Evening: Wangfujing Street

• Night tour of Wangfujing, experience modern Beijing’s prosperity
• Shopping and snacks

Accommodation: Hotel within Third Ring Road

Day 5: Free Time - Departure

Morning: Free Time

Choose based on personal interest:

• 798 Art Zone: Admire modern art works
• Sanlitun: Experience fashionable shopping and nightlife
• Shichahai: Experience old Beijing’s hutong culture

Afternoon: Trip Ends

Arrange transfer according to flight/train time, ending pleasant Beijing journey.

Transportation

Getting to Beijing

By Air:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
• Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
• Airport shuttle, subway direct to downtown

By Train/High-Speed Rail:

• Beijing Station (regular trains)
• Beijing West Station (high-speed rail)
• Beijing South Station (high-speed rail)
• Beijing North Station

By Bus:

• Beijing Long-Distance Bus Station
• Connects to all regions nationwide

City Transportation

Subway:

• Extensive subway network
• Recommend purchasing transport card for convenience
• Covers all main attractions

Bus:

• Dense routes
• Affordable fares

Taxi/Ride-Hailing:

• Convenient and fast
• May encounter traffic during peak hours

Shared Bicycles:

• Suitable for short distances
• Eco-friendly and convenient

Accommodation Recommendations

Accommodation Within Third Ring Road

Advantages:

• Convenient transportation, close to attractions
• Many dining and shopping options
• Rich nightlife

Recommended Areas:

• Wangfujing/Qianmen Street: Close to Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square
• Dongcheng District: Strong historical and cultural atmosphere
• Xicheng District: Close to Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang
• Chaoyang District: High modernization, close to Bird’s Nest

Hotel Types

• Business Hotels: Convenient and comfortable
• Courtyard Hotels: Experience traditional Beijing culture
• Boutique Hotels: Personalized and design-oriented
• Youth Hostels: Economical and affordable

Booking Tips:

• Peak season (National Day, summer vacation, Spring Festival): Book 1-2 months in advance
• Choose hotels with free cancellation
• Pay attention to location and transportation convenience

Ticket Information

Main Attraction Tickets

Forbidden City Museum:

• Peak season (April 1 - October 31): 60 RMB/person
• Off-season (November 1 - March 31): 40 RMB/person
• Requires advance reservation, daily visitor limit

Badaling Great Wall:

• Ticket: 40 RMB/person
• Cable car round trip: 140 RMB/person
• Recommend advance booking

Temple of Heaven Park:

• Ticket: 15 RMB/person
• Combo ticket (includes Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests): 34 RMB/person

Summer Palace:

• Ticket: 30 RMB/person (20 RMB in off-season)
• Combo ticket: 60 RMB/person (50 RMB in off-season)

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park:

• Ticket: 10 RMB/person
• Combo ticket (includes Western-style buildings): 25 RMB/person

Olympic Park:

• Exterior viewing free
• Entrance to Bird’s Nest, Water Cube requires tickets

Discount Policies

• Children under 6, seniors over 70: Free
• Minors 6-18, students, seniors 60-70: Half price
• Disability certificates, military IDs eligible for discounts

Booking Methods

• Official WeChat account reservation
• Scenic area ticket window purchase
• Ctrip, Qunar, and other platforms
• Recommend advance booking to avoid queues

Must-Visit Attractions

Forbidden City Museum

• Characteristics: Imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties, world’s largest and most complete wooden palace complex
• Best tour: Avoid holidays and weekends
• Highlights: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Mental Cultivation, Treasure Gallery
• Photography tips: Red walls and golden tiles, perfect for ancient architecture shots

Tiananmen Square

• Characteristics: One of the world’s largest city squares
• Best tour: Early morning flag-raising ceremony
• Highlights: Monument to the People’s Heroes, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Badaling Great Wall

• Characteristics: One of the Eight Wonders of the World
• Best tour: Spring and autumn seasons
• Highlights: Northern and southern sections each have unique features
• Tour tips: Can take cable car to save energy

Temple of Heaven Park

• Characteristics: Ming and Qing emperors’ sacrificial altar
• Best tour: All day
• Highlights: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, Circular Mound Altar

Summer Palace

• Characteristics: One of China’s Four Great Gardens, model of Chinese royal gardens
• Best tour: Spring and summer seasons
• Highlights: Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, Long Corridor, Marble Boat

Yuanmingyuan

• Characteristics: Once the “Garden of Gardens”
• Best tour: Experience historical vicissitudes
• Highlights: Western-style building ruins, Grand Waterworks

Olympic Park

• Characteristics: Venues of 2008 Beijing Olympics
• Best tour: All day
• Highlights: Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Ice Ribbon

Nanluoguxiang

• Characteristics: One of Beijing’s most famous hutongs
• Best tour: Afternoon and evening
• Highlights: Courtyard houses, cultural and creative shops, specialty foods

Food Recommendations

Beijing Roast Duck

Recommended Restaurants:

• Quanjude (old brand)
• Bianyifang (old brand)
• Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant
• Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant

Specialty: Crispy outside and tender inside, served with thin pancakes, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce

Zhajiangmian (Noodles with Soybean Paste)

Recommended Restaurants:

• Haiwanju
• Fangzhuanchang Hutong 69 Zhajiangmian

Specialty: One of old Beijing’s most famous noodle dishes

Douzhi (Fermented Bean Drink)

Recommended Places:

• Huguo Temple Snacks
• Lao Cigikou Douzhi Store

Specialty: Beijing traditional snack with unique flavor

Other Specialty Foods

• Copper Pot Hot Pot: Old Beijing hot pot with fresh mutton
• Men Ding Meat Cakes: Beef and scallion filling, crispy outside and tender inside
• Fried Liver: Pork liver and intestines, served with mashed garlic
• Tanghulu (Candied Hawthorn): Sweet and sour snack
• Lüdagun (Rolling Donkey): Traditional glutinous rice pastry
• Fuling Cake: Imperial pastry

Food Street Recommendations

• Qianmen Street: Traditional snack gathering place
• Wangfujing Snack Street: Various Beijing specialty snacks
• Nanluoguxiang: Fusion of art and food
• Guijie: Late-night food paradise
• Huguo Temple Snack Street: Beijing traditional snacks

Photography Tips

Best Shooting Times

• Early morning: Soft light, perfect for shooting ancient architecture
• Evening: Setting sun, Forbidden City brilliant golden
• Avoid noon: Strong light, easy to overexpose
• After snow: Forbidden City covered in snow uniquely charming

Photography Suggestions

• Forbidden City’s red walls and golden tiles make excellent backgrounds
• Use symmetrical composition for ancient architecture
• Capture Great Wall’s layered beauty
• Hutong humanistic photography capture living atmosphere

Recommended Shooting Spots

1. Tiananmen Square: Flag-raising ceremony
2. Forbidden City: Hall of Supreme Harmony, corner towers, red walls
3. Badaling Great Wall: Magnificent and spectacular city walls
4. Summer Palace: Kunming Lake, Long Corridor
5. Temple of Heaven: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall
6. Hutongs: Courtyard houses, old Beijing life

Shopping Recommendations

Unique Souvenirs

• Forbidden City Cultural Products: Exquisite Forbidden City merchandise
• Beijing Cloisonné: Traditional handicrafts
• Daoxiangcun: Traditional pastry gift boxes
• Old Beijing Cloth Shoes: Comfortable cloth shoes
• Beijing Opera Masks: Traditional art souvenirs
• Beijing Erguotou: Beijing specialty liquor

Shopping Location Recommendations

• Wangfujing Street: Large shopping street
• Xidan: Modern shopping centers
• Sanlitun: Fashionable and trendy shopping
• Nanluoguxiang: Cultural and creative products and shops
• 798 Art Zone: Art derivative products

Shopping Tips

• Prices higher in Wangfujing Snack Street, compare at multiple shops
• Recommend buying local specialties at regular stores
• Beware of fake products to avoid being scammed

Practical Travel Tips

Pre-Trip Preparation

1. Documents

   • ID card (required)
   • Student ID, senior card, etc. for discounts

2. Clothing

   • Spring/Summer: Light jacket + long sleeves + sun protection
   • Fall/Winter: Down jacket + thermal underwear
   • Comfortable walking shoes (attractions require lots of walking)
   • Northern weather dry, pay attention to moisturizing

3. Other Items

   • Sunscreen (strong UV)
   • Sunglasses
   • Hat or scarf
   • Insulated water bottle
   • Common medications
   • Power bank
   • Camera/phone
   • Face masks (public places)

Money-Saving Tips

1. Transportation:

   • Apply for transport card, enjoy discounts
   • Prioritize subway travel
   • Avoid taxi during peak hours

2. Accommodation:

   • Choose Third Ring Road subway line
   • Avoid peak season travel
   • Advance booking for early bird discounts

3. Dining:

   • More economical to dine outside scenic areas
   • Try local snacks, good value
   • Avoid expensive restaurants in scenic areas

4. Tickets:

   • Book online in advance, note discount policies
   • Consider Beijing tourism annual pass
   • Some attractions have combo ticket discounts

Safety Reminders

• Keep valuables safe, beware of theft
• Crowded attractions, pay attention to personal safety
• Northern weather dry, drink plenty of water
• Follow scenic area rules, civilized touring
• Pay attention to traffic safety, follow traffic rules

Important Notes

Scenic Area Tour Notes

• Forbidden City: Requires advance reservation, daily visitor limit, don’t be late
• Great Wall: Pay attention to warmth and safety, mountain paths steep
• Tiananmen Square: Requires security check, pay attention to items carried
• Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan: Large area, recommend comfortable shoes

Environmental Protection

• Don’t litter, practice “leave no trace” tourism
• Don’t graffiti on cultural relics
• Protect ancient architecture and environment
• Follow scenic area rules

Respect Local Culture

• Learn about Beijing’s history and culture
• Respect traditional customs
• Pay attention to etiquette in religious venues
• Respect local residents’ living habits

Avoiding Tourist Traps

• Don’t trust touts at airports and stations
• Choose legitimate travel agencies and guides
• Ask about prices before consuming to avoid being overcharged
• Compare prices when shopping
• Beware of low-price tour groups

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Beijing suitable for independent travel or group tours?
A: Both have advantages. Independent travel is more flexible and allows in-depth exploration. Group tours are more convenient, suitable for first-time visitors or those with tight schedules.

Q: How many days needed to fully explore Beijing?
A: At least 3 days, recommend 5-7 days for in-depth exploration of main attractions including Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, etc.

Q: Which season is most beautiful for Beijing?
A: Autumn (September-November) is Beijing’s most beautiful season, clear skies and pleasant climate. More crowded, advance booking required.

Q: How to book Forbidden City tickets?
A: Book through Forbidden City official website, official WeChat account, or travel platforms. Requires advance reservation, daily visitor limit.

Q: How to get to Badaling Great Wall?
A: Take direct bus or choose one-day tour group. Recommend cable car up mountain to save energy.

Q: What are the must-eat foods in Beijing?
A: Must-eat: Beijing roast duck, zhajiangmian, douzhi, copper pot hot pot, Men Ding meat cakes, etc.

Q: Is Beijing transportation convenient?
A: Very convenient. Subway extends in all directions, covers all main attractions and transportation hubs.

Q: Do you need a tour guide?
A: Recommend based on personal needs. If you want in-depth understanding of history and culture, choose professional guide. Self-guided tourists can also use scenic area audio guides.

Summary

Beijing is a must-visit destination in life. The reputation “Ancient capital of a thousand years, modern Beijing” is well-deserved. Whether spring’s flowers blooming throughout the city, summer’s lush greenery, autumn’s colorful foliage, or winter’s Forbidden City covered in snow, each season has unique charm.

Here you’ll find world-class cultural heritage, magnificent natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and modern urban charm. Plan your itinerary in advance and prepare well. We believe you will leave unforgettable memories in this great city!

---

Wishing you a pleasant trip to Beijing! If you have any questions, please leave a comment.