Beijing Travel

Your Ultimate 3-Day Beijing Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

摘要

Three days to explore Beijing’s iconic landmarks, delicious local food, and hidden gems—designed for first-time foreign travelers to maximize fun without stress. Includes essential tips for transport, tickets, and cultural etiquette.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day1: Ancient Royal Heritage – Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City

Morning: Start with Tiananmen Square (open 5AM-10PM, free entry—bring your passport for security checks). Snap photos of the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Great Hall of the People.

Then head to the

Forbidden City

(China’s imperial palace for 500 years).

Critical Alert:

Book Forbidden City tickets

7 days in advance

online (official website/app). Walk-ins are not allowed, and tickets sell out quickly in peak seasons (spring/autumn).

Rent an English audio guide (¥40) to learn about the palace’s history.

Lunch: Try Peking Duck at a nearby restaurant (Quanjude is famous, but local spots like Da Dong offer better value).

Afternoon: Climb Jingshan Park (5 mins from Forbidden City) for a panoramic view of the entire palace complex.

"Jingshan Park is my go-to spot for Forbidden City photos—you get the whole red-roofed maze in one frame!"

Day2: Great Wall & Summer Palace

Morning: Visit Mutianyu Great Wall (1.5hrs from downtown—less crowded than Badaling, with cable cars and toboggans).

Take a tour bus or subway + taxi to reach there.
Choose cable car up (¥120 round trip) and toboggan down (¥100)—perfect for families or casual hikers.

Spend 2-3 hours hiking the wall (wear comfortable shoes!).

Lunch: Eat braised pork with potatoes or vegetable dumplings at a local restaurant near the wall.

Afternoon: Explore the

Summer Palace

(China’s largest imperial garden). Rent a boat to cruise Kunming Lake or walk along the Long Corridor (decorated with 14,000+ paintings).

Day3: Hutongs & Temple of Heaven

Morning: Wander Nanluoguxiang Hutong (traditional alleyways). Rent a bicycle or take a rickshaw tour to see courtyard houses.

Try street snacks like jianbing (Chinese crepe) or doujiang (soy milk) from local vendors.

Afternoon: Visit the

Temple of Heaven

(where emperors prayed for good harvests). Don’t miss the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests—its circular roof with blue tiles is iconic.

Evening: Optional—watch an acrobatics show (Tianqiao Acrobatics Theatre is popular) or try hot pot for dinner.

Essential Travel Tips

Transport:
Buy a
Beijing Subway Card
(¥20 deposit + load cash) at any subway station—covers subways and buses (cheap & convenient).
Language:
Learn basic phrases: "Ni hao" (hello), "Xiexie" (thank you), "Duo shao qian?" (how much?). Use translation apps like Google Translate for tricky parts.
Weather:
Best times to visit: March-May (spring) or September-November (autumn). Summer is hot; winter is cold but less crowded.
Etiquette:
Don’t touch people’s heads (rude in Chinese culture) and always ask before taking photos of locals.