Forbidden City

Ming and Qing imperial palace complex at the center of Beijing. Advance booking required; mostly closed Mondays; allow 3-4 hours.

Summer Palace

Imperial garden landscape around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Peak and off-season hours apply; Metro Line 4 access; allow 2-4 hours.

Temple of Heaven

Imperial sacrificial altar and park with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Paid attractions close earlier than the park; mostly closed Mondays.

Great Wall near Beijing

UNESCO World Heritage fortification with several Beijing-area sections. Badaling for easy access, Mutianyu for scenery, Jinshanling for hiking.

Badaling Great Wall

Classic restored Wall section with official seasonal hours and tickets. No reservation required; on-site ticketing is available. Peak ticket CNY 40; off-season ticket CNY 35.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Scenic Wall section in Huairou District with cable-car and chairlift options. Peak ticket CNY 45; seasonal night tours may be available.

National Museum of China

Major national museum on Tiananmen Square with free real-name reservation. Closed Mondays except holidays; book up to 7 days ahead.

Lama Temple

Active Tibetan Buddhist temple known as Yonghe Gong. Admission CNY 25; seasonal closing times; go early for quieter visits.

Hutongs

Traditional lane neighborhoods that show Beijing's courtyard-city history. Explore Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang, Bell and Drum Towers.

Shichahai

Lakeside hutong area with Houhai, Yinding Bridge, and Prince Gong's Mansion nearby. Good walking route with strong evening atmosphere.

Nanluoguxiang

Famous hutong area with shops, food, and restored lanes. Central location; crowded evenings; easy to combine with Shichahai.

798 Art Zone

Contemporary art district in repurposed factory buildings. Free district entry; gallery hours vary; good rainy-day option.

Olympic Park

Bird's Nest and Water Cube area from the 2008 Games. Event hours vary; good evening walk; easy to combine with 798 Art Zone.

Beijing Zoo

Large urban zoo with pandas and botanical gardens. Peak ticket CNY 15; Panda House included in combined ticket; good family stop.

3-Day Beijing Itinerary

A realistic first-timer route balancing palaces, parks, hutongs, and the Wall. Day 1 central Beijing, Day 2 Great Wall, Day 3 temples and hutongs.

5-Day Beijing Itinerary

A slower route with museums, art, Olympic Park, and day-trip options. Add National Museum, 798, Olympic Park, and extra park time.