Beijing Travel Guide
Walk Through 3,000 Years of Imperial History
Plan Your Beijing Trip
Day 1
- Tiananmen Square
- Forbidden City
- Jingshan Park
Day 2
- Mutianyu Great Wall
- Return to city by late afternoon
- Evening stroll along Wangfujing pedestrian street or grab dinner at a local Peking duck restaurant
Day 3
- Temple of Heaven
- Explore hutongs near Nanluoguxiang
- Houhai Lake area at dusk
Top Things to See in Beijing
Easy Day Trips from Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城)
The most beautifully restored Great Wall section, surrounded by forested ridges and watchtowers.
Jinshanling Great Wall金山岭长城
A wild and scenic Great Wall section popular with hikers and photographers.
Badaling Great Wall八达岭长城
The most famous Great Wall section, just 20 minutes by high-speed train from central Beijing.
Gubei Water Town古北水镇
A rebuilt water town beneath Simatai Great Wall, famous for night tours and hot springs.
Chengde承德
Qing Dynasty imperial Mountain Resort and the Putuo Zongcheng Temple (Little Potala Palace).
Shilinxia (Stone Forest Gorge)石林峡
Dramatic gorge with hiking trails and a thrilling UFO glass viewing platform over the valley.
Longqing Gorge龙庆峡
Limestone cliffs, boat rides through a narrow gorge, and a spectacular winter ice lantern festival.
Best Time to Visit Beijing
15–25°C
Warm , clear skies, spring blossoms
30–35°C+
Hot and humid , with occasional thunderstorms
Cool, dry, golden light — many consider this the best time
often below freezing
Cold and dry , but dramatically fewer tourists
⚠️ Avoid China's National Day holiday (October 1–7) and Chinese New Year (late January/early February) — major attractions become overwhelmingly crowded and many shops close.
Mutianyu Great Wall is about 70 km northeast of central Beijing. The most convenient public transport option is the tourist bus from Dongzhimen, or Bus 916 Express to Huairou North Avenue followed by a short local transfer or taxi to the scenic area. A direct tourist shuttle also runs from selected city pickup points during peak season.
Journey time: 1.5–2 hrs. Mode: Bus 916 Express + H23/H24.
Read Full Step-by-Step Transport Guide →- The Beijing Subway is extensive, affordable (¥3–9 per ride), and reaches almost all major attractions. Download the Beijing Metro app or use Apple Maps.
- Didi (China's Uber) is cheap and widely available. Use the Didi mini-program inside WeChat or Alipay — no separate app needed.
- Taxis are metered and reasonably priced. Have your destination written in Chinese characters to show the driver.
- For the Great Wall, take a bus from Dongzhimen (for Mutianyu) or Deshengmen (for Badaling). Tourist buses also depart from Qianmen area.
- Biking is popular in the hutongs. Shared bikes (Meituan, Hello Bike) are available everywhere — just scan with your phone.
3–5 days is ideal. 3 days covers the essential highlights (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven). Add a 4th day for the Summer Palace and 798 Art District. A 5th day lets you explore hutongs in depth, visit the Lama Temple, or take a second Great Wall hike.
Related Reading
Information verified: Verified · High confidence · Last checked August 18, 2026 · Cross-referenced against Palace Museum Official Ticketing Mini-Program, Mutianyu Great Wall Official Website & Badaling Great Wall Official Website +7 more.
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