The Perfect 3-Day Beijing Itinerary

Day 1: The Imperial Core

Start at Tiananmen Square at sunrise for the flag-raising ceremony. The square opens around 5am in summer. The flag-raising is brief but memorable - a military honor guard marches across the square to raise the flag exactly at sunrise. Arrive by 4:45am in summer to clear security and get a decent viewing spot.

After photos, walk north through the Tiananmen Gate into the Forbidden City. Enter through the east gate (Donghuamen) instead of the main Meridian Gate to skip the worst of the queue. Allocate 3-4 hours. Don't try to see everything - focus on the central axis (Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony) and pick one side gallery. The Treasure Gallery in the northeast corner is worth the extra ticket if you enjoy decorative arts.

Exit through the north gate and climb Jingshan Park's hill directly across the street. The park entrance is CNY 2. It's a 10-minute climb to Wanchun Pavilion, and the panoramic view of the Forbidden City at sunset is the most photographed view in Beijing for good reason. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a railing spot.

Dinner: Walk 10 minutes east to Siji Minfu Roast Duck on Dengshikou Street. Expect a wait (30-45 minutes at peak), but it's worth it. Budget CNY 150-200 per person.

Tip: Book Forbidden City tickets online at least 3 days in advance (7 days in peak season). You must enter your passport number. No on-site ticket sales.

Day 2: The Great Wall

Depart by 7:30am. Book a driver the night before (your hotel can arrange this, budget CNY 600-800 round trip) or take Bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then a local taxi to Mutianyu. The journey is about 1.5 hours each way. Choose Mutianyu over Badaling for fewer crowds, gentler paths, and the toboggan slide.

Take the cable car up (CNY 100 round trip, enclosed gondola) and walk westward toward Tower 14. Spend 2-3 hours hiking between watchtowers. The views improve as you move away from the cable car station. By Tower 18, you'll likely have the Wall largely to yourself. Take the toboggan slide down from Tower 6 - it's a 1,580-meter metal track winding through the forest, and it's genuinely fun for all ages.

Return to the city by mid-afternoon. Rest at your hotel for an hour - you'll need it after hiking. In the early evening, head to Nanluoguxiang hutong for dinner and boutique shopping. Skip the main lane and explore the east-side alleys like Mao'er Hutong for quieter courtyard architecture and family-run dumpling shops.

Dinner: Guijie Street (Ghost Street) is a 10-minute walk from Nanluoguxiang. The entire street is lined with red lanterns and restaurants open past midnight. Try the crayfish at any busy spot, or Huajiayiyuan for Beijing cuisine in a courtyard setting.

Tip: Pack snacks, water, and sunscreen. The Wall has limited food options and prices are high. Wear proper walking shoes - even the restored sections have uneven stones.

Day 3: Temples, Art, and Farewell

Start at Temple of Heaven by 7:30am. Buy the through ticket (CNY 15) to access the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. But before entering the ticketed area, spend 30 minutes in the surrounding park - this is where you'll see hundreds of locals practicing tai chi, performing Peking opera arias, playing traditional instruments, and doing calligraphy with water brushes on the pavement. Sunday mornings are the most vibrant.

After the Temple of Heaven (plan 2 hours total), take the subway 20 minutes north to Lama Temple (Yonghegong station, Exit C). This is Beijing's most active Tibetan Buddhist temple and a completely different atmosphere from the imperial grandeur you've seen so far. Incense fills the air, monks chant in the halls, and the 18-meter sandalwood Maitreya Buddha in the final hall - carved from a single tree brought from Nepal - is genuinely awe-inspiring. Allocate 1.5 hours.

Farewell dinner: For your last meal in Beijing, two options. Splurge: Dadong Roast Duck on Tiantan Road (near Temple of Heaven, refined version of Peking duck, CNY 200-300 per person). Casual: Wangfujing Night Market area for a street food crawl, or any restaurant on Guijie Street for crayfish and cold beer.

Tip: Pack your bag in the morning and check out before heading to Temple of Heaven. Most hotels will hold luggage. This saves you rushing back before a flight.