Beijing Itinerary: 1-Day, 3-Day & 5-Day Plans (Copy & Use)

Grab a jianbing (savory crepe, 8-12 CNY) from a street vendor, or doujiang + youtiao (soy milk & fried dough sticks) at any local breakfast shop. You need energy for the day ahead.

The world's largest public square, 44 hectares. See the Monument to the People's Heroes and photograph the iconic Tiananmen Gate. Skip the Mao Mausoleum today (1-2 hour queue).

Walk the central axis through the three Great Halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony. Then explore the Inner Court and Imperial Garden. Exit through the north gate (Shenwumen).

Cross the street from the Forbidden City's north exit. Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for a breathtaking panoramic view over the golden rooftops of the entire palace complex.

Head into the alleys around Yandai Xiejie (Tobacco Pipe Lane) near Houhai. Try zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste, 25-35 CNY) or jiaozi (dumplings, 30-45 CNY). Look for places packed with locals.

Where emperors prayed for good harvests. Focus on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (the iconic triple-tiered circular building), the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound Altar. Between sites, watch locals doing tai chi and singing in groups.

Historic pedestrian shopping street south of Tiananmen. Browse traditional shops, try snacks. Look for Duyichu — a famous shaomai restaurant with 250+ years of history.

Head to Siji Minfu on Qianmen — consistently top-rated, fair prices, English menus. Half duck: 98-148 CNY. Add cucumber salad (18 CNY) and stir-fried greens (28 CNY). Arrive before 6:30 to avoid long waits.

Walk 5 minutes north from Qianmen to see the square beautifully illuminated. Completely different atmosphere after dark. 20-30 minutes, then subway back to hotel.

Walk the vast square, see the Monument to the People's Heroes, photograph Tiananmen Gate. Passport ready for security.

With 3 days, you have room to breathe. Walk the central axis, then detour into the western route (Hall of Mental Cultivation) and the eastern route (Nine Dragon Screen + Treasure Gallery). Don't miss the Imperial Garden at the north end.

Panoramic view over the Forbidden City's golden rooftops from Wanchun Pavilion.

Charming hutong street with traditional restaurants and trendy cafes. Try Baozi Pu for steamed buns or a local noodle shop.

One of the oldest imperial gardens in China. The White Dagoba on Qionghua Island is lovely. Or head back to hotel for a rest.

Beijing's most famous shopping street. Browse the Snack Street, then try Donglaishun for traditional hotpot (100-150 CNY/person) or explore surrounding restaurants.

Walk west along Beijing's grand central boulevard. See the illuminated government buildings and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (the "Giant Egg").

Eat at your hotel. Depart by 7:00 AM.

Take the cable car up (or walk 40-60 min). Walk the section from Tower 14 to Tower 23 — the most scenic stretch. Westward toward Tower 23 is less crowded with dramatic views.

Take the famous toboggan ride down (100 CNY) — a metal sled on a track through the forest, genuinely fun. Eat at a local Chinese restaurant in the village for hongshaorou and stir-fried dishes.

Arrive 4:00-5:00 PM. Rest at hotel, shower, recover.

Da Dong (Dongcheng) for the upscale experience (250-350 CNY/person), or Siji Minfu near Tiananmen for excellent quality at lower prices (120-200 CNY/person). Reserve Da Dong in advance.

Visit early to see locals doing morning exercises, singing, and practicing tai chi — one of the most authentic experiences in Beijing. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound Altar.

Wander the historic alleyways around Nanluoguxiang and Gulou Dongdajie. These narrow lanes of courtyard houses date back to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Get happily lost in the side alleys.

Eat at Yandai Xiejie (Tobacco Pipe Lane) or try Mr Shi's Dumplings in Baochao Hutong for handmade dumplings.

Beijing's most beautiful park: 290 hectares, three-quarters water. Climb the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, walk the Long Corridor (728m with 14,000 painted scenes), see the Marble Boat and Seventeen-Arch Bridge.

Willow-lined lake surrounded by bars, restaurants, and hutong alleys. Walk the lakeshore, enjoy lantern reflections, and settle into a lakeside restaurant for hotpot or grilled fish.

Beijing's contemporary art hub in decommissioned 1950s military factories. 300+ galleries, studios, design shops. The contrast between socialist-era architecture and avant-garde installations is striking.

AT Cafe for Western-Chinese fusion (60-100 CNY/person), or budget noodle shops (30-50 CNY).

See the Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the 2008 Olympics. The stunning exteriors are free to view from the Olympic Green. Then walk through Olympic Forest Park — the largest urban park in Beijing, a local favorite that most tourists skip.

Beijing's most famous food street — 1.4 km, 100+ restaurants, thousands of red lanterns. The specialty: mala xiaolongxia (spicy crayfish). Try Huajia Yiyuan — the spicy crayfish feast is legendary (98-168 CNY/serving).

Beijing's most spectacular active Buddhist temple. Originally a Qing prince's residence, converted to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in 1744. The highlight: an 18-meter Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of white sandalwood (Guinness record).

5-minute walk from the Lama Temple along beautiful Guozijian Street. The Confucius Temple has 198 stone tablets inscribed with the names of 51,624 scholars who passed the imperial examinations.

800-meter hutong with shops and cafes. The real gems are the side alleys — Mao'er Hutong, Yuer Hutong, Qinlao Hutong — where you'll find hidden courtyards, tiny galleries, and local life. Grab a tanghulu (candied hawthorn, 10 CNY) and a Beijing yogurt in a ceramic jar (8 CNY).

Try The Georg for elegant farm-to-table in a restored courtyard (150-250 CNY/person), or small restaurants along Nanluoguxiang for noodles and dumplings (30-60 CNY/person).

A hidden treasure most tourists overlook. Over 1,000 years old (older than the Forbidden City). Cross to Qionghua Island for the White Dagoba, find the Nine Dragon Screen, and explore the Five Dragon Pavilions over the water.

Climb the Drum Tower for a panoramic view of hutong rooftops — the best vantage for understanding old Beijing's layout. Drumming performances every 30 minutes.

Find a traditional tea house in the Gulou area. Sample jasmine, pu-erh, oolong, and longjing teas. A relaxing wind-down before your final evening.

End your journey with one last duck feast. Try somewhere different from Day 2:

• Quanjude — Most famous name (est. 1864). Whole duck: 268-338 CNY
• Liqun Roast Duck — Hidden hutong gem, traditional brick oven. ~220 CNY. Reserve ahead
• Bianyifang — One of Beijing's oldest, dating to 1416

Walk along the moat of the Forbidden City — the walls are beautifully lit at night, and the corner towers reflecting in the water make for a perfect farewell photograph.