The imperial capital: 3,000 years of history with a futuristic skyline. Budget 3–5 days.
Top sights
- Forbidden City — book online 1–7 days ahead via the official WeChat mini-program (passport required); closed Mondays. Half a day minimum
- Great Wall at Mutianyu — the best restored section, toboggan ride down. Take the 916 bus from Dongzhimen or a direct tourist shuttle; avoid the crowded Badaling section
- Temple of Heaven — go at 7am to watch locals doing tai chi and ballroom dancing
- Summer Palace — imperial gardens around Kunming Lake, combine with the Old Summer Palace ruins
- Hutongs — wander Nanluoguxiang's side alleys or take a rickshaw tour around the Bell and Drum Towers
4-day plan
- Day 1: Tiananmen area → Forbidden City → Jingshan Park (sunset view over the palace roofs)
- Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall day trip → Olympic Park at night
- Day 3: Temple of Heaven → Panjiayuan antique market → acrobatics show
- Day 4: Summer Palace → hutong walk → Peking duck dinner
Eat
Peking duck (Siji Minfu is the local favorite — reserve ahead), zhajiangmian noodles, lamb spine hotpot, and breakfast jianbing crepes from street stalls.
Practical
- Stay near Line 2 (the loop line) — Qianmen, Wangfujing, or Gulou areas
- Everything big requires advance booking now: Forbidden City, National Museum, museums
- The airport express plus metro covers all airport transfers