Beijing is China’s imperial heart — palaces, temples, and the Great Wall, all reachable on a tight schedule. Here’s how to see the best of it in one to three days, no tour group required.
Where to stay
Base yourself near the Dongcheng / Wangfujing area to be walking distance from the Forbidden City and on a direct subway line. Browse Beijing hotels on Booking.com or Agoda.
Getting there
Beijing has two airports and is a major high-speed rail hub. Book trains and flights in English on Trip.com — the rail station from most southern cities is Beijing South.
Day 1 — Imperial core
- Tiananmen Square early to beat the crowds
- Forbidden City (book tickets online in advance — they sell out)
- Jingshan Park at sunset for the classic view over the palace rooftops
Day 2 — The Great Wall
- Mutianyu is the best section for first-timers: cable car up, toboggan down, fewer crowds than Badaling
- A guided half-day trip handles transport for you — compare options on Viator or Klook
- Back in the city, dinner of Peking duck
Day 3 — Temples & hutongs
- Temple of Heaven in the morning (watch locals doing tai chi)
- Wander the Houhai lake hutongs by foot or rickshaw
- Optional: Summer Palace if you have extra energy
Where to eat
Beijing’s signature is Peking duck, but the old-school snacks are worth seeking out too:
Peking duck — Beijing’s signature, carved tableside and wrapped in thin pancakes with scallion and sweet sauce.
- Siji Minfu (四季民福) — the local-favourite for Peking duck; superb quality and long queues, with branches near the Forbidden City and Wangfujing.
- Quanjude (全聚德) — the historic original (since 1864) for traditional hung-oven duck; touristy but iconic.
- Da Dong (大董) — a modern, refined take, known for its ultra-crisp “super-lean” duck.
- Yaoji Chaogan (姚记炒肝) — a humble Gulou institution for old-Beijing breakfast (stewed liver and baozi).
Popular duck houses fill up — book ahead. For more, see the northern food guide and the Michelin guide.
Short on time? An 8–10 hour layover plan
With China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, even a long layover is enough for a taste of Beijing.
- Airport ↔ city: about 45 minutes each way from Capital Airport (PEK) via the Airport Express + metro or Didi; allow ~60 minutes from Daxing (PKX).
- Buffer: allow about an hour to clear immigration, and aim to be back 3 hours before an international departure — with the centre 45–60 minutes out, that travel time is what to watch.
- That leaves ~4–5 hours in the city. Suggested loop: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City (2–3 hrs), then a quick Peking duck lunch nearby before heading back. (Skip the Great Wall — it’s too far for a layover.)
Quick tips
- Set up mobile payments and a VPN at home — you’ll want WeChat Pay for everything from the subway gate to the duck house
- The subway is cheap, clean, and signed in English
- Bring your passport — it’s required to enter major sights
