Why go
Beijing is big, flat and grid-planned, so the classic mistake is trying to see everything. Group sights by area: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen one day, the Temple of Heaven and hutongs the next, the Great Wall on a full day out.
The subway is clean, cheap and signs every station in English. DiDi (China's Uber) is the easiest way to cover the gaps, especially to and from the Great Wall.
- Forbidden City — book tickets 7 days ahead, enter from the south gate at 8:30
- Great Wall at Mutianyu — 1.5h drive, cable car up, toboggan down
- Summer Palace lake walk at golden hour
- A hutong food crawl in the Gulou area
Where to go
The Forbidden City needs a half day and a booked ticket. Walk north through Jingshan Park for the classic rooftop view. The Summer Palace is a great half-day — arrive before 9am to beat the tour buses. For the Great Wall, Mutianyu is the best balance of scenery and crowds; Badaling is the most famous but packed.
What to eat
Peking duck is the ritual meal — book a proper roast-duck house (Quanjude for history, Siji Minfu for local favourites) and learn the wrap-and-dip drill. For street food, head to the Gulou and Nanluoguxiang hutongs: jianbing (savoury crepes) at breakfast, lamb skewers at night.
Getting there
- Airport Express from PEK/Daxing to city centre in 30–45 min
- Role
- Capital of China
- Metro
- 27 lines, ~1,100 km
- Great Wall distance
- ~70 km from city centre
