Beijing
See how the places connect before choosing days
A first Beijing trip is easier when you understand the tradeoff between the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, hutong time, and imperial gardens before choosing the day-by-day pace.
Scenery
Beijing scenery beyond the postcard wall
Culture
Beijing culture from palace courts to hutong lanes
Food
What to eat in Beijing beyond Peking duck
Start with Beijing by interest
Where things are
Separate the Forbidden City, the Wall, and hutongs before choosing days
Beijing works better when the central walking day, the Great Wall day, and hutong evenings are separated. That keeps the Forbidden City from being squeezed and stops the Wall from becoming a rushed half-day transfer.
Questions before you go
How many days in Beijing?
Beijing changes with trip length. Start with the version closest to your dates, then read the daily route.
This route balances the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and hutong time without turning the trip into a rush.
With one extra day beyond the classic route, you can add a museum, temple, or 798 without compressing the essentials.
This version slows the classic route down and leaves room for museums, temples, or a nearby monastery day.