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How many days in Beijing? 4 days of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and hutongs
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Beijing has been China's capital for most of the last 800 years, and it holds seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and sections of the Great Wall. Four days is the right length: one for the imperial centre, one for the Wall, one for the temples and palaces, and one for the old hutong alleys and the Lama Temple. Prepare well: most sights require advance online booking with your passport, and you will need Chinese payment and map apps.
Short answer
Three days covers the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. The fourth adds the Summer Palace and the hutongs.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Tiananmen and the Forbidden City
Morning. Cross Tiananmen Square (passport check and advance booking) to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum, about 60 yuan; book online up to 7 days ahead with your passport; closed on Mondays). Walk through the great halls of the Ming and Qing emperors along the central axis to the Imperial Garden.
Afternoon. Exit north and climb Jingshan Park for the view over the golden roofs of the Forbidden City, then walk to Beihai Park, with its white dagoba on an island.
Evening. Eat Peking duck at a famous restaurant such as Siji Minfu (near the Forbidden City) or Da Dong.
Allow 3-4 hours in the Forbidden City; the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery are extra tickets but worth it.
Day 2: The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Morning. Go to Mutianyu (about 1.5 hours by car or tour), a restored section of the Great Wall in forested mountains, less crowded than Badaling. Take the cable car or chairlift up (about 100-140 yuan with entry).
Afternoon. Walk along the Wall between the watchtowers (towers 6 to 23), then come down on the toboggan slide. Have lunch in the village below.
Evening. Return to Beijing and have hot pot or jiaozi (dumplings) for dinner.
For a wilder experience, hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu with a guide, or visit Jinshanling.
Day 3: The Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace
Morning. Go early to the Temple of Heaven park, where locals practise tai chi, dance and play cards. See the round Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall and the Circular Mound Altar.
Afternoon. Visit the Summer Palace, the imperial retreat on Kunming Lake: walk the 728-metre painted Long Corridor, climb Longevity Hill and take a dragon boat across the lake.
Evening. Walk through the Qianmen pedestrian street and the Dashilar hutongs.
Buy a 'through ticket' (lianpiao) to enter all parts of the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.
Day 4: Hutongs and the Lama Temple
Morning. Visit the Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong), a Tibetan Buddhist temple with a Buddha 18 metres tall carved from a single sandalwood tree, and the nearby Temple of Confucius.
Afternoon. Explore the hutongs (old alleys of courtyard houses) by bike or rickshaw around Houhai, the Drum and Bell Towers and Nanluoguxiang. Visit the 798 Art District, galleries in former factories.
Evening. Have a drink by the lakes of Houhai, and watch an acrobatics show or Peking opera.
Many hutong tours include lunch with a local family.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 2 and 3.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the high-speed train to Xi'an (about 4.5-6 hours) for the Terracotta Army, or to Shanghai (about 4.5 hours).
Where to stay in Beijing
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hutong hostels around Dongcheng | Courtyard houses, cheap, central. | 250-450 yuan |
| Mid-range | Wangfujing / Dongcheng | Walk to the Forbidden City, metro lines. | 600-1,200 yuan |
| Mid-range | Courtyard hotels near Houhai | Traditional siheyuan atmosphere. | 700-1,400 yuan |
| Comfort | Wangfujing / CBD luxury hotels | International luxury hotels. | 1,800-4,000 yuan |
Getting around
The Beijing Subway is cheap, fast and in English. Taxis and DiDi are cheap. Distances are huge; plan one area per half-day. The Airport Express connects Capital Airport (PEK); Daxing Airport (PKX) has a fast train to the city. Many travellers are eligible for visa-free transit or visa-free entry; check current rules.
What to eat in Beijing
Try Peking duck (roast duck carved at the table, eaten in pancakes with spring onion and sweet sauce), jiaozi (dumplings), zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), jianbing (crêpes for breakfast), lamb skewers, and copper-pot hot pot. A street snack costs 10-20 yuan; a Peking duck dinner 200-400 yuan per person.
Best time to visit
April to May and September to October are best, with mild weather and clear skies. Summer is hot and humid (30-35°C); winter is cold and dry (around −5 to 5°C) but the Great Wall in snow is beautiful. Avoid the national holidays (Golden Week in early October and the Spring Festival), when sights are packed.
Month-by-month weather for Beijing →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | 150 yuan | 450 yuan | 1,400 yuan |
| Food & drink | 80 yuan | 200 yuan | 500 yuan |
| Sights & activities | 60 yuan | 200 yuan | 500 yuan |
| Local transport | 20 yuan | 60 yuan | 300 yuan |
| Total per person, per day | about 310 yuan | about 910 yuan | about 2,700 yuan |
Approximate 2026 prices in Chinese yuan. Set up **Alipay** or **WeChat Pay** with your foreign card before arrival; most places do not accept cash or foreign cards.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?
Yes: tickets are sold only online, up to 7 days ahead, with your passport number, and they sell out in busy periods. Tiananmen Square also requires a reservation.
Which section of the Great Wall is best?
Mutianyu for restored scenery and fewer crowds; Badaling is closest but busiest; Jinshanling and Jiankou are wilder.
Do Google and WhatsApp work in China?
No, without a VPN or a roaming eSIM. Download offline maps (or use Amap/Baidu), a translation app and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival.
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities now have visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit. Check the latest rules for your passport.
Is Beijing safe?
Very safe. Watch for tea-house and art-student scams around tourist areas.
Is Beijing good for families?
Yes: the Great Wall toboggan, the Summer Palace boats, pandas at the Beijing Zoo and acrobatics shows.
How do I get to Xi'an?
By high-speed train from Beijing West station (about 4.5-6 hours) or a 2-hour flight.
Can I visit Beijing on visa-free transit?
Many nationalities can use China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if they arrive from one country and leave for a third country, and stay within the permitted regions, which include Beijing. You must show an onward ticket. Rules and eligible countries change, so check before you fly.
How do I pay in Beijing as a foreigner?
Install Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive and link your Visa or Mastercard; most shops, taxis and restaurants now accept them from foreigners. Carry some cash as a backup, as small vendors may not accept foreign cards in the apps.
Is a guide useful at the Forbidden City?
Yes: signs explain little about the history, and the complex has around 980 buildings. A licensed guide or the official audio guide brings the halls, emperors and ceremonies to life, and helps you plan a route that avoids the busiest courtyards.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Asia trips. Prices, booking and visa rules are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Palace Museum, Great Wall and Chinese embassy websites before travelling.
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