The same building blocks, stacked by how much time you have. Two rules baked into every version: book the Forbidden City exactly 7 days out, and never fight the holiday crowds.
3 days The essential Beijing
Day 1 · Imperial core
Morning
Tiananmen Square (advance reservation required), then enter the Forbidden City from the Meridian Gate — you booked 7 days ago, right?
Afternoon
Exit north, climb Jingshan Park's hill for the classic overhead view of the golden roofs, then wander into the Shichahai lakes and hutongs.
Evening
Peking duck dinner — book Siji Minfu or similar a day or two ahead.
Day 2 · The Great Wall
Morning
Early start to Mutianyu (about 1.5–2h). Cable car up, walk the towers — mornings beat both crowds and haze.
Afternoon
Return mid-afternoon; recover over coffee in a hutong café near Nanluoguxiang, or browse the Drum & Bell Tower area.
Evening
Lamb skewers and local beer in the Gulou neighborhood.
Day 3 · Heaven & the hutongs
Morning
Temple of Heaven at opening time — tai chi hour is the best free show in Beijing.
Afternoon
Choose your finale: Summer Palace's lakeside pavilions, or 798 Art District if you're museum-inclined.
Evening
Wangfujing or a jianbing crawl for your last-night snack tour.
The hutong wander on Day 1 or 3 — real courtyard life, not a restored showcase alley.
5 days Add breathing room
Days 1–3 as above, then:
Day 4 · Summer Palace & university quarter
Morning
The Summer Palace properly: Long Corridor, Kunming Lake, and the Marble Boat (2–3 hours minimum).
Afternoon
Nearby Peking University / Tsinghua area cafés, or the Old Summer Palace ruins next door.
Evening
Hotpot night — Beijing-style copper pot (shuan yangrou) is the local variant.
Day 5 · Art, markets & modern skyline
Morning
798 Art District galleries while they're quiet.
Afternoon
Panjiayuan antiques market (weekends are best) or the Silk Market if you want to practice haggling.
Evening
CBD skyline at dusk — the CCTV Tower area photographs best in the blue hour.
With this many days, you'll be riding the subway daily — numbered door markers on the platform show where the doors will actually line up.
7 days The full immersion
Days 1–5 as above, then:
Day 6 · Deeper Wall or day trip
Morning
A quieter Great Wall section (Jinshanling for hikers) — or a high-speed rail day trip to Tianjin (30 min each way).
Afternoon
Continue the hike or explore Tianjin's Italian-style quarter before the return train.
Evening
Rest night — you've earned a hotel-neighborhood dinner.
Day 7 · Your Beijing
Morning
Fill the gaps: Lama Temple's incense clouds, the National Museum, or Beihai Park's white dagoba.
Afternoon
Souvenir run (tea, chopsticks, seal carving with your name) and a last hutong wander.
Evening
Early pack-up if you fly from PKX — Daxing airport is far south; allow 60–90 minutes.
Yes, for the icons: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and a hutong evening all fit in three well-planned days. It's tight but satisfying — our 3-day plan above is deliberately paced to avoid burnout.
What must be booked in advance?
Forbidden City tickets (released 7 days ahead, passport required, closed Mondays), Tiananmen Square reservation, and popular duck restaurants. The Great Wall needs no advance ticket for Mutianyu on ordinary days, but book transport the night before.
Should I do the Great Wall on my first day?
Day 2 is smarter. Day 1 jet lag plus a 5:30am alarm is a rough combination — use day 1 for the city core, then hit the Wall fresh.
How much will this itinerary cost?
Excluding hotels: roughly ¥300–500 per person per day covers attractions, metro/DiDi, and good meals at local prices. Run your numbers in our budget calculator for your travel style.
Verified 2026-07-05. Booking rules (especially the Forbidden City's 7-day window) change occasionally — re-check before travel.
