Ready-made trips · China
Beijing in 5 days
The Forbidden City and the view from Jingshan, the Temple of Heaven and Qianmen, hutong lanes, and a day on the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
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- Length
- 5 days
- Best time
- April to May, September to October
- Pace
- Moderate
- Day trips
- Great Wall at Mutianyu
Five days in Beijing: The Forbidden City and Jingshan; The Temple of Heaven, Qianmen and Tiananmen, plus a day trip to Great Wall at Mutianyu. Each full day is one our team has planned, to be walked in order around usual opening hours, with lunch and dinner suggestions close to the stops.
Day by day
1National Museum of ChinaArrival
- When you arriveNational Museum of ChinaChina’s national museum on Tiananmen Square, free with a passport booking.Tip: Book a free timed slot with your passport; the Ancient China galleries are the highlight.
Lunch nearby: Liqun Roast Duck or Quanjude Qianmen
Dinner: Wangfujing Snack Street or Da Dong Wangfujing
2The Forbidden City and Jingshan
- MorningForbidden CityHistoric imperial palace complex.Tip: Tickets are sold only online, in your passport name, up to 7 days ahead, and sell out; bring the passport you booked with.
- AfternoonJingshan ParkHilltop views over Forbidden City.Tip: A hill just north of the Forbidden City offering the best panoramic view down over its rooftops — a good, relatively quick complement to a Forbidden City visit.
- If you have timeBeihai ParkHistoric lake park near Forbidden City.Tip: One of the oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens in China, genuinely centered around a large lake with a distinctive white pagoda.
Lunch nearby: Siji Minfu or Temple Restaurant Beijing
Dinner: Mr Shi’s Dumplings or Siji Minfu
3The Great Wall at MutianyuDay trip to Great Wall at Mutianyu
- MorningGreat Wall (Mutianyu)Scenic and less crowded Great Wall section.Tip: Less crowded than Badaling and has a toboggan ride down as an alternative to walking back — a genuinely fun, faster descent option.
Lunch nearby: Mutianyu Village Restaurants
Dinner: Mutianyu Village Restaurants
4The Temple of Heaven, Qianmen and Tiananmen
- MorningTemple of HeavenImperial temple for ceremonies.Tip: Come early to see locals doing tai chi, singing and playing cards in the park; the halls close on Mondays.
- AfternoonQianmen StreetA rebuilt old shopping street south of Tiananmen, with century-old food brands.Tip: Quanjude’s original Peking duck restaurant is here.
- EveningTiananmen SquareWorld’s largest public square.Tip: Entry needs a free passport-name reservation and a security check; the flag is lowered at sunset.
Lunch nearby: Quanjude Qianmen or Liqun Roast Duck
Dinner: Siji Minfu or Wangfujing Snack Street
5A Last Morning in the HutongsLast morning
- Before you leaveHutong Alleys (Nanluoguxiang)Traditional narrow alleys.Tip: Genuine traditional Beijing alleyways, now blending historic architecture with boutique shops — a good way to see old Beijing amid modern development.
Lunch nearby: Mr Shi’s Dumplings or Temple Restaurant Beijing
Dinner: Siji Minfu or Mr Shi’s Dumplings
Where to stay
Shichahai & the Hutongs
Courtyard hotels in the hutongs by the Houhai lakes.
Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang stations (line 8 and 6).
Dongcheng
The old imperial centre around the Forbidden City, Wangfujing and the hutongs.
Lines 1, 5 and 8; Wangfujing and Dongsi stations.
Qianmen
South of Tiananmen, near the Temple of Heaven.
Qianmen station (line 2 and 8).
Everything in the plan is ready to book
The full plan has a map of each day, directions between stops, opening hours, restaurant choices, hotels in these areas and tickets, tours and trains linked to book with the provider you choose.
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