Beijing Travel Guide 2026: Five Days, the Great Wall and What to Book Ahead
PEANUTMO Beijing Guide
Beijing has the densest concentration of major historical sights in China, and the most logistics to go with them. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace all need advance booking and a full slot in your day. Plan properly and it is unforgettable; improvise and you will spend the trip queueing or discovering that tickets sold out three days ago.
Why Beijing, and what you are trading off
Nowhere else gives you six hundred years of imperial architecture, a wonder of the world and a living hutong neighbourhood within an hour of each other. The trade-off is that Beijing is spread out, most headline sights require a timed reservation, and one of them — the Great Wall — eats an entire day on its own.
Allow four to five days. Three is possible but rushed, and you will end up skipping either the Wall or the Summer Palace.
The sights worth your time
- The Great Wall. Mutianyu is the usual choice for visitors — restored, accessible, less crowded than Badaling. Jinshanling is wilder and better for photographs but a longer drive. Budget the whole day either way.
- The Forbidden City. Book a timed entry well ahead; it regularly sells out. Enter from the south, exit north, and continue up Jingshan Hill for the view back over the roofs.
- Temple of Heaven. Go early. The park fills with locals doing tai chi, calligraphy and choir practice, which is more interesting than the building itself.
- Summer Palace. Half a day. Best in good weather — much of it is lakeside walking.
- Hutongs. Wander around Nanluoguxiang or, better, the quieter lanes off it. This is where Beijing feels like a city rather than a monument.
- 798 Art District. A change of pace if you have a spare afternoon.
A five-day route
What it costs
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Slightly cheaper than Shanghai for equivalent quality. Staying near a metro line matters more than staying central. |
| Metro | Cheap and extensive, though the city is larger so journeys are longer. |
| Great Wall day trip | The largest single expense of the trip if you book a private car; much cheaper by public bus. |
| Attraction tickets | Modest individually, but they add up across five days. |
| Food | Street food and local restaurants are very cheap; Peking duck at a well-known restaurant is not. |
Practical notes
- Book everything you can in advance. The Forbidden City in particular. This requires a working data connection and usually a wallet app.
- Air quality varies. Check before committing to a full outdoor day, and keep an indoor option in reserve.
- Distances are deceptive. Two sights that look close on a map can be forty minutes apart. Do not stack more than two major sights in a day.
- Winter is genuinely cold and summer genuinely hot. Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons.
- Watch for the tea-house scam around Tiananmen and Wangfujing — friendly strangers inviting you for tea or to an art exhibition.
Getting online
Beijing runs on apps more than most cities, because almost every major sight needs a reservation made through one. A standard local SIM connects to the domestic network, where many of the services you normally use are not reachable — including the maps app you will want for those deceptive distances.
Our China eSIM uses a China Mobile profile routed internationally, so Google Maps, Instagram, WhatsApp, LINE and YouTube work normally, with no VPN and nothing to configure. Install it at home over Wi-Fi and activate after you land.
Frequently asked questions
Which Great Wall section should I visit?
Mutianyu for most visitors — restored, well served by cable car, and less crowded than Badaling. Jinshanling if you want dramatic photographs and can handle a longer journey and rougher paths.
How far ahead do I book the Forbidden City?
As early as you can. Timed slots are released in advance and popular dates sell out. Do not plan to buy at the gate.
How many days do I need in Beijing?
Four to five. Three means dropping either the Great Wall or the Summer Palace.
Is Beijing walkable?
Individual districts are, but the city as a whole is not. Use the metro for anything more than a neighbourhood.
When is the best time to visit?
September to early November, or April to May. Avoid the first week of October and Lunar New Year, when domestic travel peaks.
Related reading
A four-day route for first-time independent visitors.
What to confirm before you fly and what not to pack.
