How to Plan the Perfect Beijing Itinerary: 3, 5 & 7-Day Routes for 2027

Planning a Beijing itinerary can feel overwhelming. The city has 3,000 years of history, six UNESCO World Heritage Sites within city limits, and a food scene that alone could fill a week. This guide gives you three complete, tested Beijing itinerary options (3, 5, and 7 days) plus a layover plan — with exact opening hours, ticket prices, restaurant picks, and transport costs for every single stop. Every detail here is what we share with paying guests on our private tours.

Beijing Itinerary at a Glance

INSIDER TIP: The ideal Beijing trip length is 5 days. Anything shorter and you'll be rushing through the Forbidden City. Anything longer and you'll start running out of “must-see” sights and should consider day trips to Xi'an or Tianjin instead.

Before You Go: What Every Traveler Needs to Know

1. Visa & 240-Hour Transit Policy (Updated 2026)

Citizens of 57 countries (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.) can visit Beijing visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting through Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Daxing Airport (PKX). You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region within 240 hours. This is perfect for a short Beijing travel plan or Beijing layover itinerary — you can even do the full 7-day Beijing one week itinerary on a transit visa.

2. Best Time to Visit Beijing

3. Essential Apps & Prep

• VPN: Download and set up BEFORE you arrive — Google, Facebook, Instagram are all blocked

• DiDi (Chinese Uber): Download the app and add your international credit card. Cheaper and safer than taxis.

• Metro Man: Best English subway map and route planner app

• Pleco: The best Chinese dictionary — essential for reading menus and signs

• SIM Card: Pick up at the airport — ¥50-100 for a 7-day tourist SIM with data

• WeChat Pay / Alipay: Most convenient payment, but requires Chinese bank account. International credit cards work at major hotels/restaurants.

Where to Stay in Beijing: Best Neighborhoods for Your Itinerary

Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions in your Beijing day by day plan. Stay in the wrong area and you'll waste 1-2 hours a day on the subway.

Top 4 Neighborhoods Compared

INSIDER TIP: Book your hotel near a Line 2 or Line 5 subway station for maximum convenience. These are the only lines that cross the city center and connect to every major sight. Avoid hotels far west (Haidian) or far east (Tongzhou) — you'll spend hours commuting.

Getting Around Beijing: Complete Transport Guide

Subway (Best for Budget Travelers)

The Beijing subway has 24 lines and 450+ stations — it's the fastest and cheapest way to get around. Trains run 5:30am-11:30pm (some lines until 12:30am on weekends).

DiDi (Chinese Uber — Best for Convenience)

• Download the app, add your passport number and international credit card

• Prices: ¥15-30 across town (peak hours ¥5-10 more)

• Set your pickup point in the app — drivers almost never call

• Choose “Express” for normal rides, “Premier” for nicer cars

• Never take street taxis — they're more expensive, often refuse short rides, and many don't speak English

Airport Transfers

INSIDER TIP: From PEK Terminal 3, take the Airport Express to Dongzhimen (¥25, 30 min) and switch to subway. It's faster than a taxi during rush hour and costs 1/5 the price. From PKX (Daxing), the high-speed airport train is amazing — 160km/h, 20 minutes to Caoqiao station.

Other Transport Options

• Buses: Extensive network but hard for tourists (no English). Only use if you have the right app.

• Bicycle share: Meituan Bike and Hello Bike everywhere. ¥1.5 for 30 min. Scan with WeChat/Alipay.

• Electric scooters: Not as common as in southern China. Not recommended for tourists.

• Walking: Central Beijing is very walkable. Forbidden City → Tiananmen → Qianmen = 30 min pleasant stroll.

Beijing Food Guide: What to Eat & Where on Your Trip

No Beijing travel plan is complete without eating your way through the city. Beijing cuisine is hearty, savory, and full of history. Here are the dishes you absolutely must try, and exactly where to get them.

12 Must-Try Beijing Dishes

Restaurant Recommendations by Area

Forbidden City / Wangfujing Area

Siji Minfu Roast Duck — Forbidden City Branch📍 Near the north gate of Forbidden City | 💰 ¥180-280/person | ⏰ 11am-9:30pmMust-order: Crispy roast duck (¥198/half, ¥298/whole), boiled cabbage with dried shrimp, mustard duck web

Huguosi Snacks — Wangfujing Branch📍 Wangfujing Street | 💰 ¥20-50/person | ⏰ 6am-9pmMust-order: Aiwo wo, lvdagun, wandouhuang (pea cake), zhajiangmian — classic Beijing snacks all in one place

Sanlitun / Chaoyang Area

Da Dong Roast Duck — Sanlitun📍 Taikoo Li South, Sanlitun | 💰 ¥300-500/person | ⏰ 11am-2:30pm, 5-9:30pmMust-order: “Super-lean” roast duck (¥298/whole), foie gras with cherry sauce, braised sea cucumber

Hai Di Lao Hotpot — Sanlitun📍 3/F, Taikoo Li | 💰 ¥150-220/person | ⏰ 10am-2amMust-order: Pork bone broth + spicy split pot, fresh lamb rolls, hand-pulled noodles (free noodle dance show!), fish tofu

Hutong / Gulou Area

Jubaoyuan Hotpot — Niujie📍 Niujie (Muslim quarter), Line 7 Guang'anmennei | 💰 ¥120-180/person | ⏰ 11am-10pmMust-order: Fresh hand-cut lamb, sesame dipping sauce, sesame pancakes — best value hotpot in Beijing

Bao Du Feng — Qianmen📍 Qianmen Street | 💰 ¥60-100/person | ⏰ 11am-9pmMust-order: Baodu (mixed tripe plate), sesame sauce, crispy pancake — classic Beijing Muslim food

Food Streets & Night Markets

• Gui Jie (Ghost Street): 24-hour food street near Dongzhimen. Best for lamb skewers, crayfish, and late-night eats. Avoid Wangfujing Snack Street — overpriced and touristy.

• Niujie (Muslim Quarter): The best place for halal food. Go during Ramadan for the night market.

• Wudaoying Hutong: Hip cafe and brunch street near Gulou. Great for coffee and light meals.

• Sanlitun Soho: Underground food court with everything from cheap noodles to fancy desserts.

INSIDER TIP: Want the real Peking duck experience? Go to Siji Minfu, not Quanjude. Quanjude is the historic brand, but Siji Minfu has better duck, better service, and better prices. Arrive at 11am sharp for lunch — there's always a 1-2 hour wait otherwise.

Shopping & Souvenirs: What to Buy in Beijing

What to Buy in Beijing

Best Markets & Shopping Areas

• Panjiayuan Antique Market: Open Sat-Sun 7am-5pm. The biggest antique/curio market in China. Go early! Most items are reproductions, but you can find real treasures if you know what you're looking for.

• Hongqiao Pearl Market: 5 floors of pearls, silk, jewelry, and souvenirs. Start at 30% of asking price and work up. Top floor has better quality pearls.

• Xiushui (Silk Street): Near Yong'anli subway. Famous for knock-off designer bags, clothes, and silk. Fun for the bargaining experience, but quality varies wildly.

• Liulichang Culture Street: Traditional Chinese calligraphy, ink stones, scrolls, and antiques. More authentic and less touristy than other markets.

• Taikoo Li (Sanlitun): Modern mall with international brands. Good for regular shopping, not souvenirs.

INSIDER TIP: Bargaining rule of thumb at markets: start at 25-30% of the asking price and be prepared to walk away. Vendors will always call you back if you're close. Never pay more than 50% of the original price. And remember — if it's too good to be true (a “real” Rolex for ¥500), it's definitely fake.

Entertainment & Nightlife on Your Beijing Itinerary

Shows & Performances

Nightlife Areas

• Sanlitun: The main bar/club district. Everything from fancy cocktail bars to dive bars to mega-clubs. Best for a night out.

• Houhai / Shichahai: Lakefront bars with live music. More relaxed vibe, great for a drink by the water. Touristy but pleasant.

• Gulou / Wudaoying: Hipster bars, craft beer, and speakeasies. Best for a more local, alternative crowd.

• Workers' Stadium (Gongti): Club district — Mix, Elements, One Third. Big name DJs, bottle service, late nights.

INSIDER TIP: For first-timers, we recommend the Red Theater acrobatics show over Peking opera. The acrobatics are universally impressive and don't require understanding Chinese. Peking opera is an acquired taste — it's very stylized and the singing can be jarring if you're not used to it.

The 3-Day Beijing Itinerary: Classic Highlights for First-Time Visitors

This 3 day Beijing itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to see the absolute best of Beijing without rushing from dawn to dusk. Every day includes specific restaurant picks, exact opening hours, and transport details.

Day 1 — Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City → Jingshan → Hutong Evening

Morning: Forbidden City Area

8:00am — Tiananmen Square (free, 20-30 min). Enter via east side for shorter security lines.8:45am — Walk to Meridian Gate (south entrance of Forbidden City), 5 min walk.9:00am — Enter Forbidden City when it opens (¥60 peak / ¥40 off-season + ¥10 Treasure Gallery + ¥10 Clock Gallery).Route: Meridian Gate → Supreme Harmony → Central Axis → Treasure Gallery (east) → Clock Gallery → Imperial Garden → Exit Shenwu Gate (north).

🍽️ Lunch (12:30-1:30pm): Siji Minfu Roast Duck (Forbidden City North Branch)📍 2-min walk from Shenwu Gate (north exit) | 💰 ¥180-280/person | ⏰ 11am-9:30pmOrder: Half a roast duck (¥198) if 2 people, whole duck (¥298) if 3+. Add boiled cabbage with dried shrimp (¥38) and mustard duck web (¥48).

Afternoon: Jingshan + Beihai + Hutong

2:00pm — Jingshan Park (¥2). Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for the best aerial view of the Forbidden City. 20 min up, 20 min down.3:00pm — Beihai Park (¥10 entry + ¥5 Qionghua Island). Walk across the bridge to the White Dagoba. Rent a rowboat if the weather is nice (¥80/hr for 2 people).4:30pm — Exit Beihai north gate → Walk 10 min to Shichahai / Nanluoguxiang area.5:00-7:00pm — Wander Nanluoguxiang hutong and Yandai Xiejie. Try street snacks: bingtanghulu (¥10), Beijing yogurt (¥12), stinky tofu (¥15 — if you're brave).

🍽️ Dinner (7:30pm): Hai Wan Ju Zhajiangmian📍 Near Ganjiakou (or try Huguosi Snacks closer to Shichahai) | 💰 ¥40-60/personOrder: Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste, ¥28), fried pork tenderloin (¥48), cold cucumber salad (¥18). The classic Beijing meal.

INSIDER TIP: The Forbidden City is ENORMOUS — wear your most comfortable shoes. You'll easily walk 12-15km on Day 1. Skip the west side galleries if you're short on time; the central axis + east side (Treasure Gallery) are the must-sees.

Day 2 — Great Wall of China (Mutianyu) + Ming Tombs

Morning: Great Wall at Mutianyu

7:00am — Hotel pickup (private car or group tour). Private car: ¥800-1,200/day. Group tour: ¥350-500/person.8:30am — Arrive Mutianyu. Buy tickets at the counter: ¥45 entry + ¥20 shuttle RT + ¥140 cable car RT (or ¥140 chairlift+toboggan).9:00am — Take cable car to Tower 14. Walk east: Tower 14 → 15 → ... → 20 → 21 → 22 → 23 (highest point). Turn around and walk back. Each direction takes ~1.5 hrs at a moderate pace.11:30am — Take the toboggan down (¥100 one way). 1,680m long, pure fun. This is the #1 thing visitors remember.

🍽️ Lunch (12:30pm): Local Farm Restaurant near Mutianyu📍 Several restaurants near the parking lot | 💰 ¥60-100/personOrder: Fish hotpot in iron pot (¥88-128), farm vegetables (¥25-35), corn pancakes (¥15). Simple but delicious home-style food.

Afternoon: Ming Tombs or Return to City

Option A (History buffs): Ming Tombs — Dingling (¥60, 1 hr visit). The only Ming tomb with an excavated underground palace. Interesting if you're into imperial history, but skip it if you're tired — most travelers find it underwhelming.

Option B (Recommended): Head back early — Return to Beijing by 2-3pm. Rest at hotel, then go for a relaxed evening walk in Sanlitun or Wangfujing.~4:30pm — Arrive back at hotel. Rest for 1-2 hours — you'll be tired from all the Great Wall walking!

🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Hai Di Lao Hotpot (Sanlitun)📍 3/F, Taikoo Li South, Sanlitun | 💰 ¥150-220/person | ⏰ 10am-2amOrder: Split pot (half pork bone / half spicy, ¥68-88), fresh lamb rolls (¥48), beef rolls (¥48), fish tofu (¥32), mushrooms (¥28), hand-pulled noodles (free show!). The best service you'll ever experience.

INSIDER TIP: Do NOT take public bus to Mutianyu on a short Beijing itinerary. Bus 916 + minibus takes 2.5 hours each way — you'll lose 5 hours to transport. Book a private car or small group tour. The ¥400-500 cost saves you hours and stress.

Day 3 — Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + Farewell Dinner

Morning: Temple of Heaven

8:00am — Arrive Temple of Heaven, west gate (¥34 combined ticket).8:15am — Walk through the park. Watch locals doing tai chi, fan dancing, playing badminton, and singing opera — this is real Beijing morning life.9:00am — Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests opens. This is the iconic blue-roof circular building — the most photographed spot in the temple.9:45am — Echo Wall + Imperial Vault of Heaven.10:30am — Exit through south gate.

🍽️ Brunch (11:00am): Huguosi Snacks (nearby branch)💰 ¥30-50/person | Try: a selection of Beijing snacks — aiwo wo, lvdagun, wandouhuang, spring rolls.

Afternoon: Summer Palace

12:30pm — Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station (North Palace Gate). 40 min from Temple of Heaven area.1:00pm — Enter Summer Palace north gate (¥60 combined ticket peak / ¥50 off-season).1:15pm — Walk up to Tower of Buddhist Incense (best viewpoint). Then descend to the lakeside.2:30pm — Walk the Long Corridor (728m long, 14,000 paintings — each one is different!).3:30pm — Take a dragon boat across Kunming Lake to the south side (¥50/person, 20 min). Magical experience.4:30pm — Visit Suzhou Street (small merchant street built in the style of a water town).5:30pm — Exit east gate or south gate.

🍽️ Farewell Dinner (7:00pm): Quanjude Roast Duck (Qianmen) or Da DongQuanjude Qianmen: 📍 Qianmen Street | 💰 ¥250-350/person | The original historic brand (established 1864).Da Dong: 📍 Various locations | 💰 ¥300-500/person | More modern, “super-lean” duck, fancier presentation.Order: Whole roast duck, duck soup, crispy duck skin with sugar (starter).

INSIDER TIP: On your last day, keep your luggage at the hotel (most will hold it for free after checkout). If you have an evening flight, leave the Summer Palace by 4pm and head directly to the airport from there — it's closer than going back to the city center first.

The 5-Day Beijing Itinerary: Our Most Recommended Route

This 5 day Beijing itinerary is what we recommend to 80% of our guests. It includes everything from the 3-day plan, plus time for food exploration, art, and a more relaxed pace. This is the Beijing day by day plan that balances must-see sights with real local life.

Day 1 — Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City → Jingshan → Hutong Walk

Same as Day 1 of the 3-day plan, but at a more relaxed pace. Tiananmen Square (free, enter east side for shorter lines), then Forbidden City (¥60 peak/¥40 off, book 7 days ahead on WeChat, closed Mondays). Add the Palace Museum ceramics gallery (west side) if you have time. Dinner at a hutong restaurant instead of zhajiangmian — try Bao Du Feng for traditional Beijing Muslim food.

Day 2 — Great Wall (Mutianyu) + Hongluo Temple

Great Wall in the morning (same as Day 2 of 3-day). Mutianyu (¥45 entry + ¥20 shuttle + ¥140 cable car/toboggan, 7:30am-6pm). On the way back, stop at Hongluo Temple (¥54 entry, 1.5-2 hrs visit). A beautiful 1,600-year-old Buddhist temple in the mountains with stunning ginkgo trees in autumn. Much less touristy than the city temples. Return to Beijing by 5-6pm.

Day 3 — Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace + Acrobatics Show

Same as Day 3 of the 3-day plan, but add an evening show. Temple of Heaven (¥34 combined, park 6am-10pm, buildings 8am-5:30pm). Summer Palace (¥30/¥60 combined, 6:30am-8pm, enter North Palace Gate on Line 4).

🎭 Evening: Red Theater Acrobatics Show📍 44 Xingfu St, Chongwenmen | 💰 ¥280-580 depending on seat | ⏰ 7:30pm nightly, 80 minBook tickets online in advance (CTrip or Trip.com). The 7:30pm show is the most popular. Arrive 20 min early. Kids love it — no language barrier, just pure spectacle.

Day 4 — Lama Temple + Hutong Deep Dive + Food Tour

9:00am — Lama Temple (Yonghegong, ¥25, 9am-5pm, closed some Buddhist holidays). The most active Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing, home to an 18m-tall sandalwood Buddha. Very atmospheric — incense, monks, worshippers. 1-1.5 hrs.10:30am — Confucius Temple + Imperial College (¥30, 1 hr). Two historic sites side by side. Very quiet and peaceful. The ancient cypress trees are beautiful.11:30am — Walk to Wudaoying Hutong (10 min from Lama Temple).

🍽️ Lunch (12:30pm): The Tides or another Wudaoying cafeWudaoying is Beijing's “hippest” hutong — full of indie cafes, brunch spots, and boutique shops. Try Voyage Coffee for great coffee, or Susu for Vietnamese food in a courtyard setting.

2:00pm — Rickshaw hutong tour (¥150-200/person, 1 hr) through Shichahai area. Visit a local family's courtyard siheyuan home — they'll serve you tea and tell you about hutong life.3:30pm — Beihai Park boat ride (if you haven't done it yet) or tea ceremony at a local tea house (¥80-200/person).5:00pm — Drum and Bell Towers area. Climb the Drum Tower (¥30) for a great view of the hutong rooftops.

🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Gui Jie (Ghost Street) Food Crawl📍 Dongzhimen Inner Street | 💰 ¥80-150/person for a food crawlWhat to try: Lamb skewers (¥3-5 each), crayfish (¥88-128/jin), spicy bullfrog, beer. Walk from one end to the other, sampling at different stalls. The whole street is red lanterns — very atmospheric at night.

Day 5 — 798 Art District + Sanlitun Shopping + Farewell

10:00am — 798 Art District (free entry, galleries ¥20-80 each, 10am-7pm, Line 14 to Jiangtai). 3-4 hours of galleries, street art, industrial architecture, and design shops.Don't miss: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (¥60-100), the big graffiti walls, 798 Factory original buildings, and all the boutique design shops.1:30pm — Lunch inside 798. Try Beijing Pie Company for pot pies, or any of the hip cafes.

3:00pm — Sanlitun Taikoo Li for shopping. International brands, local designers, beauty stores, and the famous Uniqlo.5:00pm — Last-minute souvenir shopping. Stop at a Daoxiangcun shop for Beijing pastries to take home (fuling jiabing, lvdagun, etc.).

🍽️ Farewell Dinner (6:30pm): Jing Yaa Tang or Din Tai Fung (Sanlitun)Jing Yaa Tang: Modern Beijing cuisine in the Opposite House hotel | 💰 ¥200-350/person | Fancy but excellent.Din Tai Fung: Taiwanese soup dumplings | 💰 ¥100-150/person | Consistently excellent xiaolongbao.

The 7-Day Beijing Itinerary: Complete Cultural Immersion

Our Beijing one week itinerary is for travelers who want to go beyond the surface. You'll see a second Great Wall section (the photographer's favorite), take a day trip to an imperial summer retreat, and have time to explore neighborhoods you'd miss on a shorter trip.

Days 1-5: Same as the 5 Day Beijing Itinerary Above

Add one or two of these bonus experiences on days you have extra time:

• National Museum of China (free, book ahead — massive collection of Chinese history)

• Capital Museum (free, excellent Beijing history exhibits, less crowded than National Museum)

• Beijing Zoo + Panda House (¥19 — pandas are always a hit, go before 9am when they're most active)

• Houhai Lake bar district (evening drinks by the lake, very pleasant in summer)

• Liulichang Culture Street (calligraphy, antiques, scrolls — great for art lovers)

Day 6 — Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Sunset (Full Day)

The most magical day of the entire Beijing travel plan — a wild, unrestored Great Wall section paired with a charming canal town.

10:00am — Depart hotel. Private car or tour: ¥800-1,200/day. Simatai is 120 km NE of Beijing, ~2 hrs drive. Alternatively, take the express bus from Dongzhimen to Gubei Water Town (¥48, 2 hrs).12:00pm — Arrive Gubei Water Town (¥140 entry, 9am-6pm water town / 9am-9pm night tickets available). A beautifully reconstructed canal town at the foot of Simatai. Explore alleys, dye workshops, lantern-lit streets, and traditional courtyard shops.12:30pm — Lunch in the water town. Try bridgehead noodles (¥35-50), roasted rainbow trout (¥60-80), or local farmhouse dishes. Many restaurants line the main canal.

2:00pm — Take the cable car (¥90 one way) or hike up to Simatai Great Wall (¥40 entry). This is the only section of the Great Wall that preserves its original Ming Dynasty appearance — wild, unrestored, and dramatically steep. Hike the eastern section from Tower 2 to Tower 8 (best views, ~1.5 hrs). The wall here clings to knife-edge ridges — the most spectacular and least crowded of all Beijing sections.4:30pm — Descend and return to Gubei Water Town. The town transforms at dusk — lanterns light up along the canals, and the Great Wall glows gold in the sunset light.5:00-6:30pm — Sunset over Simatai Great Wall from the water town — the highlight. Watch the wall turn from gold to deep amber against the mountains. Best spot: the bridge near the yongshun dye house, or the rooftop terrace of any canal-side cafe.

🍽️ Dinner (7:00pm): Canal-side Restaurant in Gubei Water Town📍 Along the main canal | 💰 ¥80-150/personOrder: Roasted trout (¥60-80), braised pork belly, stir-fried mountain vegetables, local rice wine. Eat outdoors by the lantern-lit water — unforgettable atmosphere.

8:00pm — If staying overnight in Gubei, catch the water town night show (free with town entry, 7:30-8:30pm) — music, fountains, and projected lights on the ancient buildings.8:30pm — If returning to Beijing: express bus back (last bus ~9pm, ¥48) or private car. Arrive Beijing ~10:30pm.

INSIDER TIP: For the full experience, stay one night at a guesthouse inside Gubei Water Town (¥500-1,200/night). You'll get exclusive night access to a section of Simatai Great Wall — the only place in China where you can walk the Wall at night under the stars. Book guesthouses 1-2 weeks in advance via Trip.com. Wear comfortable hiking shoes — Simatai's uneven steps and steep drops require good grip.

Day 7 — Xi'an Day Trip or Relaxed Beijing Exploration

Option A: Xi'an — Terracotta Army & Ancient City Wall (UNESCO World Heritage)

6:00am — High-speed train from Beijing West to Xi'an North (G trains, 4.5-5.5 hrs, ¥515-840 each way). Book early on 12306.cn or Trip.com — popular trains sell out fast. Alternatively, fly Beijing→Xi'an (2 hrs, ¥500-1200).11:00am — Arrive Xi'an North. Taxi/metro to Terracotta Warriors site (1 hr, ¥120-150 by taxi or metro Line 2 + bus 5(306) for ¥7).12:00pm — Terracotta Army (¥120, 8:30am-5:30pm Mar-Nov / 8:30am-5pm Dec-Feb). Three pits + Bronze Chariots hall. Start at Pit 1 (the iconic one), then Pit 3, then Pit 2. Hire an audio guide or English-speaking guide at the entrance (¥150-200) — it makes a huge difference. 2.5-3 hrs.3:00pm — Lunch at Muslim Quarter. Try yangrou paomo (pita bread in lamb soup, ¥30-50), roujiamo (Chinese burger, ¥10-15), and biangbiang noodles (¥20-30).4:00pm — Walk to the Drum & Bell Tower (¥30 combined). Climb up for panoramic old-city views. 30 min.4:30pm — Xi'an Ancient City Wall (¥54, 8am-10pm). Rent a bike (¥45/2 hrs) and cycle the 14km loop on top of the wall — the best way to see it. 1-1.5 hrs.6:00pm — Taxi/metro back to Xi'an North Station. Grab dinner or snacks from Muslim Quarter to-go.7:00pm — High-speed train back to Beijing. Arrive ~11:30pm-midnight.

INSIDER TIP: Xi'an is a long day trip — 4.5+ hours each way by train. For a more relaxed experience, consider extending to an overnight stay and returning on Day 8 morning. If you prefer a shorter day trip, fly (2 hrs each way, ¥500-1200) and book the earliest morning / latest evening flights. Either way, book transport tickets at least 3-5 days in advance.

Option B: Relaxed Beijing Day (if Xi'an is too much travel)

• Sleep in, then visit Panjiayuan Antique Market (Sat-Sun only) — the biggest antique market in China. Great for souvenirs and people-watching.

• Afternoon tea at The Peninsula Beijing (¥300+/person) or a traditional tea house in a hutong.

• Last-minute shopping: silk at Hongqiao Pearl Market, tea at Maliandao Tea Street, antiques at Liulichang.

• Farewell Peking duck dinner.

Beijing Layover Itinerary: 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit (10 Days)

If you're passing through Beijing on your way to another country, you can use China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy (10 days) to see the city without applying for a visa. This Beijing layover itinerary is optimized for different lengths of transit:

INSIDER TIP: For the 240-hour visa-free transit, your flight must arrive in Beijing and depart from a different country/region. For example: Tokyo → Beijing → Paris works. But Tokyo → Beijing → Tokyo does NOT. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan count as “different” for transit purposes. With 10 full days, you could even do Beijing + a day trip to Shanghai or Xi'an by high-speed rail.

Sample 2-Day Beijing Layover Itinerary

Layover Day 1 — Arrive + Forbidden City + Wangfujing

• Morning: Arrive at PEK/PKX, clear immigration (use the 240-hour transit lane)

• Midday: Airport Express to city (¥25, 30-40 min). Check into airport hotel or city hotel.

• Afternoon: Forbidden City (if arriving early enough) or Temple of Heaven

• Evening: Wangfujing dinner + walk. Try roast duck at Siji Minfu if you have time.

Layover Day 2 — Great Wall Half Day + Depart

• Early morning: Book a private car for a half-day Great Wall trip (Badaling is closest — 60 min by S2 train or car)

• ~9am-12pm: Badaling Great Wall (cable car up, walk down — 2-3 hrs). Entry ¥40 + cable car ¥140 RT.

• 1pm: Head back to airport (allow 2 hrs for return + traffic buffer)

• 3-4pm: Arrive at airport for evening departure

Final Advice: Build Your Perfect Beijing Travel Plan

Every traveler is different. Use these itineraries as a starting point and customize based on your interests: