20/08/2026
Why Is Beijing the One City Where You Can "Travel 3,000 Years" in Just Four Days?
Four days β Forbidden City + Great Wall + Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + National Museum. Bring passport, comfy shoes β Beijing is for walking.
π― Day 1 β Forbidden City + Jingshan + Beihai
8:30 Forbidden City: Peak 60 RMB ($8.3), off-season 40 RMB ($5.5). Book 7 days ahead at 8pm on mini-program β sells out fast. Closed Mondays. No shade, 3-4 hrs. Treasure Gallery +10 RMB ($1.4).
14:00 Jingshan: 2 RMB ($0.3) β 5-min climb for panorama.
16:00 Beihai: Entry 5 RMB ($0.7), combo 15 RMB ($2.1) β boating + White Pagoda.
Evening: Wudaoying Hutong β skip Nanluoguxiang. Cost ~77 RMB ($10.6).
π Day 2 β Mutianyu Great Wall + Bird's Nest/Water Cube
8:30 Mutianyu Wall: Ticket 45 RMB ($6.2), cable car round-trip 140 RMB ($19.3). Fewer crowds than Badaling. Downside: windy, uneven steps β wear trainers.
Transport: "Mu Bus" 80 RMB ($11) return, departs 8am.
19:00 Bird's Nest/Water Cube: Exterior free β best after dark. Cost ~265 RMB ($36.5).
π Day 3 β Temple of Heaven + National Museum
9:00 Temple of Heaven: Combo peak 34 RMB ($4.7), off-season 28 RMB ($3.9). Last entry 4:30pm. Hall of Prayer a must.
13:00 National Museum: Free, book 7 days ahead at 5pm on mini-program. Open 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays. Bring passport.
Dinner: Qianmen Bianyifang duck (120 RMB/$16.6). Cost ~154 RMB ($21.2).
π³ Day 4 β Summer Palace + Hutong
9:00 Summer Palace: Combo peak 60 RMB ($8.3), off-season 50 RMB ($6.9). Enter New East Gate, take boat (40 RMB/$5.5) β Foxiangge is a must. Downside: too big β focus on Long Corridor, Foxiangge, Suzhou Street.
14:00 Shichahai: Rickshaw tour (60-80 RMB/$8.3-11). Cost ~160 RMB ($22).
β Total ~656 RMB ($90), excl. accommodation/meals. Stay near Dongsi or Qianmen (200-500 RMB/night). Subway best β download "Yitongxing" app. Book all attractions in advance β especially Forbidden City and National Museum. Avoid jade/tea scams. Summer scorching β umbrella + sunscreen + water.
β Would your first stop be the Forbidden City or the Great Wall?