Beijing Itinerary: Example Day Routes & Trip Planning
Content reviewed 2026-06-30
Stay4–5 days
Best seasonApr–May / Sep–Oct
BudgetMid
WalkingHigh
✓ you want capital-city planning, major Chinese collections, the Great Wall and food that is easy to order.
! you have fewer than three full days, dislike advance reservations, or cannot manage long walks and many steps.
Palace courtyards, Jingshan and old-city water · 1 day
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MORNING · 08:30
Palace Museum 故宫博物院
Enter at Meridian Gate and keep the first half of the visit on the central axis.
→ {"en"=>"After exiting Shenwu Gate, cross the street · about 2 minutes on foot", "zh-Hans"=>"神武门出后过街 · 步行约 2 分钟"} -
AFTERNOON · 14:00
Jingshan Park 景山公园
Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for the roofscape and north-south axis.
→ {"en"=>"Bus 5 or 58, or bike · about 20 minutes", "zh-Hans"=>"公交 5 / 58 路或骑行 · 约 20 分钟"} -
LATE AFTERNOON · 16:00
Shichahai 什刹海
Walk from Wanning Bridge to the Drum Tower through public hutong streets.