Forbidden City

Beijing is a city of imperial scale, modern convenience, long distances, and very full days. A first-time visitor should plan by district and transport corridor, not by collecting isolated pins on a map. The best five-day rhythm is: Imperial centre: Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, and Jingshan Park. Temple of Heaven, Qianmen, Dashilar, and Beijing food. One full day at the Great Wall. The Summer Palace and the university district. Hutongs, a museum, and a flexible neighborhood day. This guide assumes an independent traveler who wants the highlights without changing hotels every night. It can also be adapted for families, older travelers, and short visa-free stopovers. ...

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. ...