Three days is enough for a memorable first taste of Beijing, but not enough to see everything. The most efficient plan is to group the imperial centre together, spend one full day on the Great Wall, and use the last day for Temple of Heaven and the historic southern city. This guide assumes two or three nights in one central hotel.
For payment, apps, internet, maps, and general reservation instructions, read the China Travel Essentials guide. For a slower trip, use the five-day guide; for a deeper visit, use the seven-day guide.
Last checked: 11 September 2026. Prices, opening hours, and reservation rules can change. Re-check official pages before paying.
At a glance
| Day | Main plan | Overnight area |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tiananmen area, Palace Museum, Jingshan, Wangfujing or Shichahai | Central Beijing |
| Day 2 | Mutianyu or Badaling Great Wall | Central Beijing |
| Day 3 | Temple of Heaven, Qianmen, Dashilar, Beijing food | Central Beijing |
Choose the right three-day version
- Choose Mutianyu for mountain scenery and a more scenic wall experience.
- Choose Badaling for easier independent rail access and a more developed visitor system.
- If the Great Wall is not a priority, replace Day 2 with the Summer Palace and National Museum. This is less tiring and better for a rainy or extremely hot day.
Before the trip
Book the Palace Museum first. It currently uses real-name reservations, opens tickets at 20:00 seven days before the visit, does not sell same-day tickets, and is normally closed on Mondays. The official Palace Museum international ticket page currently lists CNY 60 in high season and CNY 40 in low season, with separate CNY 10 tickets for the Treasure Gallery and Gallery of Clocks.
Also prepare:
- passport and the same passport number used for reservations;
- a hotel that accepts foreign guests and completes registration;
- working data through roaming, eSIM, or a local SIM;
- Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, and a local map app;
- the Chinese names of your hotel and all attractions;
- CNY 300–500 in cash as a backup.
Day 1 — Imperial Beijing
Suggested schedule
- 07:30–08:15: breakfast and travel to the Tiananmen area;
- 08:15–09:00: security checks and entry procedures;
- 09:00–12:30: Palace Museum, entering at the Meridian Gate;
- 12:30–13:30: lunch after leaving the museum;
- 13:30–15:00: remaining palace halls if your ticket and energy allow;
- 15:00–16:00: Jingshan Park for the view over the Forbidden City;
- Evening: Wangfujing, Dongdan, or Shichahai dinner.
Tiananmen and the Palace Museum
Tiananmen Square is a security-controlled public area. The current entry and reservation arrangements may change for public holidays, ceremonies, or special events. According to the Beijing 12345 official FAQ, a valid reservation for a designated site such as the National Museum may also support entry to the square during the relevant morning or afternoon session. Check the current notice shortly before the visit.
Bring your passport. Do not bring knives, drones, large luggage, or restricted items. Allow more time than the walking distance suggests.
The Palace Museum is entered at the Meridian Gate (午门) and normally exited at the Gate of Divine Might (神武门). These are far apart, so tell your driver the exact gate rather than simply saying “Forbidden City.”
Jingshan and dinner
Jingshan is a high-value, short visit after the Palace Museum. The official listing lists adult admission at CNY 2 and online time-slot tickets through the “Visiting Beijing Parks” WeChat account.
For dinner, choose according to energy:
- Peking duck: Siji Minfu, Quanjude, Bianyifang, or Da Dong; expect queues and a larger bill;
- Hutong meal: noodles, dumplings, or small dishes around Shichahai and Gulou;
- International options: Sanlitun has the broadest range, but it is farther from the imperial centre.
Day 2 — The Great Wall
Treat the Great Wall as a full day. A central Beijing hotel to the wall and back commonly takes 8–11 hours door to door.
Option A: Mutianyu
Mutianyu is the scenic choice. The official city listing currently gives adult base admission as CNY 45 and discounted admission as CNY 25; shuttle buses, cable cars, and toboggan products may be separate. Check the official Mutianyu website or official WeChat account before departure.
Suggested rhythm:
- 06:30–07:00: depart after breakfast;
- 09:00–10:00: arrive and enter;
- 10:00–13:00: walk the wall, using the cable car or shuttle if appropriate;
- 13:00–14:00: lunch near the scenic area;
- 14:00–16:00: continue only if weather and fitness are good;
- 17:30–19:30: return to Beijing.
Private transport or a licensed day tour is easiest for a first visit. If using DiDi, agree on the return arrangement in advance; do not assume the driver will wait.
Option B: Badaling
Badaling is a good alternative for travelers who value independent railway travel and a more developed visitor infrastructure. The official Badaling page currently lists adult admission as CNY 40 in high season and CNY 35 in low season. Confirm holiday arrangements before leaving; the official listing currently says tickets can be purchased on site.
What to wear and carry
Wear shoes with grip, carry water, and bring a light layer even in warm weather. The wall is exposed to sun and wind, and some sections have steep or uneven steps. Do not add another major attraction that evening.
Great Wall backup
If rain, wind, poor visibility, or exhaustion makes the Wall unattractive, switch Day 2 to the Summer Palace and a museum. The official Summer Palace page lists CNY 30/20 main-park admission and CNY 60/50 combination tickets for peak/off season.
Day 3 — Temple of Heaven, Qianmen, and food
Suggested schedule
- 07:30–09:30: Temple of Heaven;
- 09:30–10:30: travel toward Qianmen;
- 11:00–12:30: early lunch around Qianmen or Xianyukou;
- 12:30–15:30: Qianmen Street, Dashilar, and nearby hutongs;
- 15:30–17:00: Liulichang or a café break;
- Evening: dinner or an optional Peking Opera performance.
Temple of Heaven
The official Temple of Heaven page currently lists:
- adult park admission: CNY 15 in high season and CNY 10 in low season;
- adult combination ticket: CNY 34 in high season and CNY 28 in low season;
- park hours generally 06:00–22:00 in high season and 06:30–22:00 in low season;
- main paid attractions generally open 08:00–18:00 in high season and 08:00–17:00 in low season;
- major paid attractions normally close on Mondays;
- foreign visitors can reserve with a passport through the official ticketing account.
The combination ticket includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound Altar. Line 5’s Tiantandongmen Station is usually the most convenient east-side approach.
Qianmen food route
Qianmen is a practical final-day district because it combines food, historic streets, and souvenirs. Try small portions of:
- Peking duck;
- zhajiang noodles;
- copper-pot lamb hot pot;
- shumai and steamed buns;
- yogurt, tanghulu, sesame cakes, or a traditional snack plate.
Planning budgets are approximately CNY 30–80 per person for a casual meal, CNY 80–180 for a comfortable sit-down meal, and CNY 200–500+ for a well-known roast-duck or upscale dinner.
Where to stay for three days
Stay in Dongdan/Wangfujing or Qianmen/Chongwenmen if the imperial centre is your priority. Choose Gulou/Shichahai for hutong atmosphere and evening walks. Choose Sanlitun/Dongzhimen for restaurants and nightlife, accepting longer trips to the Palace Museum.
Before paying, confirm that the hotel accepts foreign passports, can complete registration, and has a clear Chinese address for DiDi.
Three-day ticket checklist
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 7+ days before the Palace Museum | Reserve the Palace Museum at the official release time |
| 1–7 days before Temple of Heaven | Reserve through the official parks or Temple of Heaven account |
| Before the Great Wall day | Confirm weather, transport, ticket inclusions, and return pickup |
| 24–48 hours before every visit | Re-check hours, closures, entrance, passport, and QR code |
What to skip on a three-day trip
Do not try to combine the Palace Museum, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace in one day. Do not change hotels just to be closer to the Wall unless you specifically want a suburban overnight. Do not plan nightlife after the Great Wall unless your group has unusual energy.