Beijing has been China’s capital for most of the last 800 years. It is the city of imperial palaces and the gateway to the Great Wall.
What to see in Beijing
The great imperial sights and the Wall take two days; the third is for the neighborhoods.
The Forbidden City
The palace of the Ming and Qing emperors for almost 500 years: courtyards, throne halls and gardens, with nearly a thousand buildings. Today it is the Palace Museum.
Tickets are booked online with your passport, and it closes on Mondays except holidays.
The Great Wall
Mutianyu, an hour and a half from the center, is one of the prettiest and least crowded sections, with a cable car up and a toboggan down. Badaling is the closest and busiest.
The Temple of Heaven
Where emperors prayed for good harvests, with the round, blue-roofed hall. In the morning the park fills with people doing tai chi, dancing and playing games.
The Summer Palace
Imperial gardens around Kunming Lake, with the painted Long Corridor and the Marble Boat.
The hutongs and the Lama Temple
The traditional alleys around Houhai, best seen by pedicab, and the Lama Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet.
Beijing in 3 days
This is the Beijing part of our China tours.
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Day 1
Imperial Beijing
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the view from Jingshan Hill.
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Day 2
The Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven
A morning on the Wall at Mutianyu and, on the way back, the Temple of Heaven; Peking duck for dinner.
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Day 3
Summer Palace and hutongs
The Summer Palace in the morning and the Houhai hutongs by pedicab in the afternoon.
Best time to visit Beijing
April, May, September and October bring clearer skies and pleasant temperatures.
- Jan Cold
- Feb Cold
- Mar Good
- Apr Ideal
- May Ideal
- Jun Very hot
- Jul Very hot
- Aug Very hot
- Sep Ideal
- Oct Ideal
- Nov Good
- Dec Cold
Avoid Golden Week (October 1–7), when the Forbidden City and the Wall are packed. Summer is hot and winter very cold and dry, though the snow-covered Wall is a unique sight.
Where to stay in Beijing
The center, inside the Second Ring Road, is the most convenient.
- Wangfujing and Dongcheng
- Minutes from the Forbidden City, with large hotels and the Wangfujing shopping street.
- Qianmen
- South of Tiananmen, with restored pedestrian streets and easy access to the Temple of Heaven.
- A hutong hotel
- Courtyard houses (siheyuan) turned into boutique hotels, for traditional Beijing.
- Sanlitun and Chaoyang
- Modern Beijing, with international restaurants and nightlife.
Tips for visiting Beijing
Beijing is very safe. What matters is preparing bookings, payments and connectivity.
- Book with your passport: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square require advance booking with your passport number.
- Pay by phone: install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your card before the trip.
- Google and WhatsApp do not work on local connections; use an eSIM or your carrier’s roaming.
- Sturdy shoes for the Wall: the steps are steep and uneven.
Entry requirements for Beijing
China’s entry requirements apply to Beijing.
For a sightseeing tour, US and Mexican citizens need a tourist (L) visa. The 240-hour visa-free transit only applies if you leave for a third country.
See the full entry requirements in the China guide
Official sources: Chinese Visa Application Service Center · U.S. State Department travel advisories
Our tours with Beijing
All our China tours start in Beijing, with Spanish-speaking guides. Prices per person in a double room, without international flights.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Beijing?
Three days: one for the Forbidden City and Tiananmen, one for the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven, and a third for the Summer Palace and the hutongs.
Which section of the Great Wall should you visit?
Mutianyu is one of the prettiest and least crowded, with a cable car. Badaling is closer but gets far more visitors.
Do you need to book the Forbidden City?
Yes, tickets are booked online with your passport and sell out in high season. On our tours, entry is included.
Where should you stay in Beijing?
In Wangfujing or Dongcheng, minutes from the Forbidden City, or in a boutique hotel inside a hutong.
