Beijing 3-Day Itinerary: The Perfect First-Timer Guide
Three days in Beijing is enough to see the highlights if you plan well. This itinerary covers the Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutongs, and the best food — optimized to avoid crowds and maximize your experience.
Day 1: Imperial Beijing
- Morning (7:30am): Forbidden City — Book tickets 7 days in advance online. Enter from Meridian Gate, exit from North Gate.
- Lunch: Quanjude or Siji Minfu for Peking duck
- Afternoon: Jingshan Park (climb for panoramic view of Forbidden City), then Beihai Park
- Evening: Houhai Lake area for dinner and bars
Day 2: The Great Wall
- Morning (6:30am): Mutianyu Great Wall — Less crowded than Badaling, 1.5 hours from city. Take the cable car up, toboggan down.
- Lunch: Brickyard Retreat (near Mutianyu) or local farmhouse restaurant
- Afternoon: Return to city, visit 798 Art District
- Evening: Sanlitun for dinner and nightlife
Day 3: Culture & Food
- Morning: Temple of Heaven — Go early to see locals doing tai chi
- Lunch: Wangfujing Snack Street (avoid the tourist trap section, go to the local food court)
- Afternoon: Hutong tour by rickshaw or walking — Nanluoguxiang, Drum and Bell Towers
- Evening: Ghost Street (Guijie) for spicy crayfish and late-night dining
Essential Tips
Pro Tip: Book Forbidden City tickets exactly 7 days in advance at 8:00pm Beijing time — they sell out in minutes. Bring your passport everywhere. The subway is the fastest way to get around.
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