8-Day Beijing Tour

Go Sightseeing Guide

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When we first arrived in the imperial capital, our trip of course had to start from the world's most majestic Tiananmen Square and the most royal Forbidden City. If you want to watch the flag-raising ceremony at the square, you must go early, because the flag-raising time coincides with the sunrise time, so you must check the information in advance and arrive at least an hour in advance. After seeing the Heroes Monument, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Great Hall of the People and other buildings, you can go to the Forbidden City for a tour.

The Forbidden City is a large area with many tourist attractions. It is best to do some homework before visiting, or follow the tour guide to listen to the explanation. From the north gate of the Forbidden City, you will arrive at Jingshan Park. Climbing Jingshan, you can see the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the 360-degree panoramic view of Beijing. If you still have energy, you can go to the surrounding alleys to stroll around and experience the most authentic urban life in Beijing.

Tiananmen Square (1.5 hours) → 5 minutes walk → Forbidden City (3 hours) → 5 minutes walk → Jingshan Park (1 hour) → 10 minutes walk → Beijing Quanjude (Qianmen Store) (1 hour)

Transportation Tips

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As the capital, Beijing has very developed urban transportation. Subways and buses are the most common means of transportation for tourists. After arriving in Beijing, it is strongly recommended to apply for a [Municipal Transportation Card] at the subway station. The card can be used for subways, buses and some urban express trains.

Today's transportation is mainly done on foot. After eating near Qianmen, if you want to go back to the Tiananmen Tower to visit the Forbidden City, you can take bus No. 2/59/120 at Dashilan Bus Station and get off at Tiananmen East Station.

Dining Guide

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Beijing has been an international metropolis with a variety of ethnic groups for hundreds of years, so the snacks here are unique and rich in salty and sweet flavors. Although Beijing cuisine is not included in the eight major cuisines, the reputation of Beijing cuisine has long been spread abroad, and freshness, fragrance and taste are the common characteristics of Beijing cuisine.

After visiting Tiananmen Square, you can consider having lunch at Qianmen Street in the south. There are many old brands like Quanjude and Donglaishun and other Beijing delicacies here, and the restaurants are always crowded. There are many special snacks in the nearby Dashilan Hutong. If you want to eat fried tripe, stewed pork and other delicacies, you can't go wrong here.

There are relatively few restaurants near Jingshan Park, and most of them are royal in style. Places like Ice House Courtyard directly use the "cold storage room" of the Qing Dynasty and are definitely worth a visit.

Accommodation Guide

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The Tiananmen-Forbidden City-Qianmen-Wangfujing area is the central area of Beijing, with a large number of hotels of various grades. Many popular attractions in Beijing are also located in the above area and can be easily reached. In addition, Metro Lines 1 and 2 pass through the area, which greatly facilitates tourists' travel.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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Daytime

As the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing and the former residence of Emperor Yongzheng, the popularity and elegance of the Lama Temple are unmatched by other Buddhist temples and are well worth a visit. After visiting the Lama Temple, you can visit the Confucius Temple and the Imperial Academy across the street. It is strongly recommended to follow the internal tour guide, otherwise you will not be able to fully understand many details by yourself. After that, you can go to the literary Wudaoying Hutong to visit various cafes, book bars and boutique shops.

Lama Temple (2 hours) → 8 minutes walk → Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum (1.5 hours) → 10 minutes walk → Wudaoying Hutong (1 hour)

Evening

After visiting the scenic spots, you can go to Guijie Street for a big meal at night. Here are delicacies from all over the country, mainly spicy flavors, and each restaurant has its own signature dishes. When you play late at night, the lively Guijie Street with brilliant lights will definitely make you feel another great charm of Beijing.

Guijie Street (2 hours)

Transportation Tips

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Today's itinerary is mainly completed by subway. If you want to visit the Lama Temple area, take Metro Line 5 to Lama Temple Station and exit from Exit C to reach the scenic spot. The rest of the day's itinerary can be completed on foot.

Dining Guide

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Guijie Street is a 24-hour carnival food place in Beijing. On the street less than 1 km long, there are a series of restaurants and eateries, covering a variety of Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, Hunan hot pot, barbecue and other flavors of food, of which spicy crayfish, frog and grilled fish are the most famous. The big red lanterns hanging high on Guijie Street have become the weather vane of the most popular food in Beijing.

Accommodation Guide

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The Tiananmen-Forbidden City-Qianmen-Wangfujing area is the central area of Beijing, with a large number of hotels of various grades. Many popular attractions in Beijing are also located in the above area and can be easily reached. In addition, Metro Lines 1 and 2 pass through the area, which greatly facilitates tourists' travel.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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morning

In the morning, we will visit Prince Gong's Mansion, the residence of Heshen, "China's No. 1 Corrupt Official". The architectural layout of this mansion is even higher than that of the Forbidden City from some perspectives. It is recommended to follow the guide's explanation and visit carefully, otherwise you will miss many interesting stories and details.

Prince Gong's Mansion (2.5 hours)

afternoon

After lunch, you can go to Shichahai for a visit. There are many small attractions here, including the former residences of Song Qingling and Guo Moruo. You can also go to Yandaixie Street to experience the deep urban customs and rich old Beijing characteristics. Go northeast and you will see the landmark building of old Beijing - the Bell and Drum Tower. If you don't feel tired, you can go to the crowded Nanluoguxiang. The alleys on both sides of the alley have a lot of history to tell.

Shichahai (3 hours) → 5 minutes walk → Nanluoguxiang (optional, 1.5 hours)

Transportation Tips

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Prince Gong's Mansion is located on the west side of Shichahai Lake. After getting off at Beihai North Station on Metro Line 6, walk 300 meters north to arrive.

The Shichahai-Bell and Drum Tower-Nanluoguxiang area can be completed by walking. You can also take a human-powered tricycle to visit the area. The driver will take you around the hutongs and tell you stories about old Beijing. Regular human-powered tricycles have a service price list that clearly lists the tour route, tour time, and the cost for each tourist.

Dining Guide

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Shichahai/Nanluoguxiang area retains the folk customs and history of old Beijing. There are many time-honored shops here, and the bars on the beach are also the highlight here. There are many high-quality specialty restaurants hidden in the surrounding alleys. It is really difficult to find something you like to eat here.

Accommodation Guide

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Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhongguancun are the educational/technological centers of Beijing. The transportation is convenient, and Metro Line 4 and many bus lines intersect here. In addition to many well-known universities, there are also scenic spots such as the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the second half of your trip to Beijing.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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Daytime

We went to visit the Temple of Heaven this morning. The scenic area has four entrances and exits: east, south, west and north. It is recommended to enter from the south gate and exit from the north gate, so that you can visit the Circular Mound Altar, the Echo Wall and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in order to get the best sightseeing experience.

Temple of Heaven (2 hours)

Evening (optional)

If you still have energy, you can come to the Bird's Nest/Water Cube at night to enjoy the night view. It should be noted that these two attractions are not open to the public at night and can only be viewed from the outside.

Bird's Nest (0.5 hours) → 8 minutes walk → Water Cube (0.5 hours)

Dining Guide

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As one of the landmark buildings in old Beijing, the various delicacies around the Temple of Heaven are also full of hidden talents. From hot pot to various special snacks, the emphasis is on high cost-effective civilian temperament.

Accommodation Guide

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The Tiananmen-Forbidden City-Qianmen-Wangfujing area is the central area of ​​Beijing, with a large number of hotels of various grades. Many popular attractions in Beijing are also located in the above area and can be easily reached. In addition, Metro Lines 1 and 2 pass through the area, which greatly facilitates tourists' travel.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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During the day, go to 798, the most fashionable modern art district in Beijing, to experience various avant-garde art and multicultural atmosphere. It is recommended not to come too early, because many shops may not be open... The more worthwhile places to visit are: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Ruoshuitang Oil-Paper Umbrella, Locomotive Square, Pure Persian Art Museum, etc.

In the evening, you can go to Sanlitun, the most talked-about shopping district in the capital. Sanlitun can be roughly divided into two areas, north and south. The north area is high-end, with the world's top food and major luxury brands gathered here; the consumption level in the south area is more civilian. In addition, Sanlitun is also the area where beautiful women in Beijing are most frequented~

Beijing 798 Art District (3 hours) → 0.5 hour taxi ride → Sanlitun Taikoo Li (2 hours)

Transportation Tips

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The traffic conditions near 798 are poor. A more convenient way to get there is to take Metro Line 14 and get off at Jiangtai Station. After exiting from Exit A, take a bus at Jiangtai Road North Subway Station to Dashanzi Road South or Wangyefen Station and then walk west.

If you go to Sanlitun, it is recommended to take a taxi directly because the traffic is also troublesome. If you take public transportation, get off at Tuanjiehu Station on Metro Line 10, and walk about 500 meters west along Workers' Stadium North Road to arrive.

Dining Guide

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As an art park, the restaurants in 798 often have a somewhat uninhibited cultural atmosphere. In addition to the recommended restaurants, you may want to explore more in the park. Some unique small restaurants will definitely surprise you.

The food and beverage in Sanlitun North District is of a high standard, and the nearby Beixiao Street is home to many niche delicacies. In addition, the bar street is also a major feature of this place.

Accommodation Guide

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Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhongguancun are the educational/technological centers of Beijing. The transportation is convenient, and Metro Line 4 and many bus lines intersect here. In addition to many well-known universities, there are also scenic spots such as the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the second half of your trip to Beijing.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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morning

The Yuanmingyuan scenic area is quite large, so it is best to take half a day to visit. The scenic spots in the park mainly include the cultural landscape in the east and the natural scenery in the west. It is recommended to enter the scenic area from the south gate (get off at Yuanmingyuan subway station), so that you can first visit the most important attractions such as the twelve zodiac animals and the ruins of the Western Building, then go west along the Fuhai Coast to visit many natural landscapes, and finally leave from the Zaoyuan in the southwest corner.

Old Summer Palace (3 hours)

afternoon

If you want to visit Tsinghua, it is best to enter from the west gate of the school. In this way, you can rent a campus bicycle and visit every corner of the campus conveniently and labor-savingly. Recommended tour route: Tsinghua West Gate - Moonlight over the Lotus Pond - Shuimu Tsinghua - Great Hall - Tsinghua Academy - Second School Gate - Tsinghua West Gate.

Tsinghua University (2 hours)

Transportation Tips

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To go to Yuanmingyuan, you can take Metro Line 4 and get off at Yuanmingyuan Station.

If you want to go to Tsinghua University, you can start from Yuanmingyuan subway station and walk about 400 meters east.

To go to the Bird's Nest/Water Cube, take Metro Line 8 and get off at Olympic Sports Center Station.

Dining Guide

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Zhongguancun/Tsinghua and Peking University are densely populated, so there is no shortage of good food. Here are some highly rated restaurants in the area.

Accommodation Guide

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Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhongguancun are the educational/technological centers of Beijing. The transportation is convenient, and Metro Line 4 and many bus lines intersect here. In addition to many well-known universities, there are also scenic spots such as the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the second half of your trip to Beijing.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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Today's itinerary is similar to yesterday's. It will take half a day to a whole day to visit the Summer Palace. The best route for about 3 hours is: East Palace - Renshou Hall - Wenchang Courtyard - Yulan Hall - Yiyun Hall - Leshou Hall - Long Corridor - Paiyun Hall - Buddhist Incense Pavilion - Stone Boat - Farming and Weaving Scenic Area - Ruyi Gate. The building complex in the front hill of Wanshou Mountain is the essence of the whole park and must not be missed.

If you visit Peking University in the afternoon, you should enter from the southeast gate (registration documents are required), and head west to visit the library, Weiming Lake, Boya Tower, Cai Yuanpei statue and other attractions, and finally leave from the highly photographed west gate of Peking University.

Summer Palace (4 hours) → 10 minutes by subway → Peking University (2 hours)

Transportation Tips

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To go to the Summer Palace, you can take Metro Line 4 and get off at Beigongmen Station and enter the park directly. If you want to enter from Donggongmen, you need to get on the subway at Beigongmen Station and get off at Summer Palace Station.

If you want to go to Peking University, take Metro Line 4 and get off at Peking University East Gate Station.

Dining Guide

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Zhongguancun/Tsinghua and Peking University are densely populated, so there is no shortage of good food. Here are some highly rated restaurants in the area.

Accommodation Guide

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Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhongguancun are the educational/technological centers of Beijing. The transportation is convenient, and Metro Line 4 and many bus lines intersect here. In addition to many well-known universities, there are also scenic spots such as the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the second half of your trip to Beijing.

Go Sightseeing Guide

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morning

Today we are going to Badaling to climb the Great Wall. It should be noted that there are two routes for visiting the Badaling Great Wall, the south and the north, and the scenery of each route is different. Taking the cable car can save a lot of time. If you have enough energy and time after visiting Badaling, you can visit the Ming Tombs. It is recommended to visit Dingling first, because it is the only tomb in the Ming Tombs that has been opened. If you have time, you can go to see Changling, where Zhu Di, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, is buried.

Badaling Great Wall (3-4 hours) → 1 hour by bus → Ming Tombs (auto option, 2.5 hours)

Transportation Tips

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There are many ways to get to the Badaling Great Wall, and you can choose according to your own situation.

[Bus]: Take bus 919 at Deshengmen Station and get off at Badaling Forest Park to reach the scenic area. The fare is 12 yuan. There is a discount if you use the municipal transportation card. If there is no traffic jam, you can arrive within an hour.

[Train S2 Line]: The ticket price is 6 yuan, you need to take the train at Beijing North Railway Station, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the scenic spot. Although it takes a relatively long time, the environment is comfortable, and you can see the Great Wall scenes such as Juyongguan and Shuiguan on the train.

[Self-driving]: You can take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway to Badaling from the city. If there is no traffic jam, it will take about 1 hour to arrive. If the road is congested, it may take about 2 hours.

If you want to go to Ming Tombs Scenic Area from Badaling, you can take the corresponding bus to Dagongmen Station at Badaling Great Wall Bus Station, which takes about 1.5 hours to arrive. If you drive by yourself, you need to drive about 40 kilometers, which takes about 1 hour. It is more convenient to return to downtown Beijing from Ming Tombs/Changping, and you can take the Changping Line of the subway.

Dining Guide

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Badaling Great Wall is a suburban attraction, so it is not convenient to eat around it. It is recommended to bring some dry food with you for emergency. If transportation is convenient, you can go to Changping City for lunch.

Accommodation Guide

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Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhongguancun are the educational/technological centers of Beijing. The transportation is convenient, and Metro Line 4 and many bus lines intersect here. In addition to many well-known universities, there are also scenic spots such as the Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the second half of your trip to Beijing.