6 Days in Beijing: Essential Itinerary 🏯

**DAY 1: Spiritual Beijing & Historic Neighborhoods 🏮**
Start at **Guangji Temple** (FREE) - a magnificent 1071 Buddhist temple with unique relics and stunning architecture. Visit **Church of the Savior** (FREE) - Gothic spires contrasting traditional Chinese buildings. Explore **Emperor Temple of Past Dynasties** (20¥) where emperors worshipped ancestors. Browse **Baita Drug Store** (FREE) showcasing traditional Chinese medicine. End at **Xisi Hutongs** (FREE) - traditional alleyways with authentic Beijing snacks like jianbing and zhajiangmian.

**DAY 2: Imperial Gardens & Cultural Performances 🌸**
Morning at **Summer Palace** (28-34¥) - UNESCO World Heritage site with Long Corridor's 14,000 painted scenes, Kunming Lake boat rides, and Longevity Hill views. Visit **National Library of China** (FREE) - world's largest library with 41 million items. Explore **Temple of Heaven** (15¥) - Ming Dynasty masterpiece where emperors prayed for harvests. Evening at **Red Theatre** (180-680¥) for spectacular "Legend of Kung Fu" acrobatics show.

**DAY 3: Spiritual Sites & Confucian Wisdom 🌊**
**Lama Temple** (25¥) - stunning Tibetan Buddhist temple with 26-meter Buddha statue carved from sandalwood. Adjacent **Confucius Temple** (30¥) honors China's greatest philosopher with ancient stone tablets. Evening explore **Nanluoguxiang** - trendy hutong with shops, cafes, and traditional architecture.

**DAY 4: Imperial Majesty & Iconic Landmarks 🏰**
**Forbidden City** (40-60¥) - magnificent palace complex housing 24 emperors over 500 years with 9,999 rooms. Plan 3-4 hours exploring Hall of Supreme Harmony, Imperial Garden, Clock Exhibition Hall. Walk **Tiananmen Square** (FREE) - world's largest public square. Climb **Jingshan Park** (2¥) for panoramic Forbidden City sunset views.

**DAY 5: Great Wall Adventure & Water Town Romance 🏔️**
**Simatai Great Wall** (40¥) - most scenic authentic section with breathtaking mountain ridge views. **Gubei Water Town** (140¥) - romantic canals combining traditional architecture with modern amenities, featuring night illumination of both water town and Great Wall.

**DAY 6: Modern Entertainment 🎢**
**Universal Studios Beijing** (418-748¥) - world-class theme park with Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Transformers, Minions, plus unique Chinese elements and exclusive attractions.

**ESSENTIAL TIPS 💡**
Transport: Subway (3-9¥), Didi taxi, bike sharing
Food: Peking Duck (Quanjude/Dadong), Wangfujing Street snacks, Mongolian hotpot
Culture: Remove shoes in temples, ask before photographing people
Budget: 200-300¥/day (budget), 400-600¥/day (mid-range), 800¥+ (luxury)
Best seasons: Spring/Autumn for perfect weather

Book Forbidden City advance! Download translation apps! 🇨🇳✨
# Beijing