3-Day Beijing Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Spend one day in the old city, one day at the Great Wall and one day at the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Put the Forbidden City on the day you can secure a ticket.
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Day 1: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park
Start at the Meridian Gate for your reserved Palace Museum visit. Allow a morning or more for its courtyards and halls. Afterward, visit Jingshan Park for a view over the palace roofs, or spend the rest of the day exploring Qianmen and Dashilanr. If your trip includes a Monday, check the museum calendar before fixing the order of your days.
Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall
Set aside most of the day for a round trip to Mutianyu in Huairou. Arrange transport both ways, and decide which entrance and uphill route suit your group before choosing tickets. The scenic area sells admission separately from rides, though some packages combine them. Check the operator’s opening notice and the weather before you leave.
Day 3: Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Begin at the Temple of Heaven and check whether your ticket includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Cross town to the Summer Palace in the afternoon for a walk along Kunming Lake. If you prefer a slower day, pick one park and spend the rest of the afternoon in a neighborhood near your hotel.