How Many Days in Beijing: Itinerary Ideas for 1-7 Days

Beijing, as China's capital, is often the first stop for a trip to China. How many days to spend here depends on your travel style. For a relaxed pace to see the must-visit sights, 4 days is enough. A 5 to 7-day stay offers more time to explore Beijing's art, technology, theme parks, and more, offering a richer experience.

If you have more than a week, use Beijing as a starting point to explore other cities, such as Xi'an, Shanghai, or Zhangjiajie, to discover more of China's wonders.

Read this article, and you will get a clear plan.

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• 1-2 Days in Beijing
• 3-4 Days in Beijing
• 5-7 Days in Beijing
• 1 Week+ Itinerary in Beijing

1-2 Days in Beijing: A Quick Taste

If you're short on time, we recommend a one-day itinerary that focuses on Beijing's top two attractions: the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

However, if you'd like to immerse yourself further in the city's vibrant culture and lifestyle, we suggest spending an additional day exploring Beijing's neighborhoods (hutongs) or indulging in a food tour.

• Day 1: Visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
• Day 2: Discover the hutongs or enjoy a food tour

Forbidden City

If you're just transiting through Beijing Airport, see our 10 Things You MUST Know about Beijing Layovers. If you have at least an 8-hour layover, consider taking a Great Wall Stopover Tour.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance. We are here to help manage your tour arrangements, private transportation, hotels, and anything else you need to make your Beijing itinerary hassle-free.

3-4 Days in Beijing: A Classic Highlights Tour

For a first-time visit to Beijing, we recommend planning for 4 days. This duration is just right to cover the must-see attractions without feeling rushed. You could experience both the grandeur of royal palaces and the local life in hutongs and parks. The pace is relaxed yet enriching.

Here's a suggested 4-day itinerary for Beijing:

• Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
• Day 2: Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Hutongs
• Day 3: Visit the Temple of Heaven and the Mutianyu Great Wall
• Day 4: Visit the Summer Palace and depart from Beijing

On Day 1, if you arrive early, take a stroll near your hotel, visit Wangfujing for shopping, or enjoy the night views of the Water Cube and Bird's Nest. If you arrive late, simply rest.

On Day 2, you'll explore the heart of Beijing. These centrally located attractions are easy to visit in one day. In the morning, experience the solemnity of the capital and its royal palaces. In the afternoon, visit the hutongs to see everyday life. This day offers both royal splendor and a taste of native lifestyle.

Hutong

Day 3 features a "relaxed to awe-inspiring" switch between two World Heritage Sites.

Start with the park in the morning, where you could enjoy a leisurely pace and watch locals exercise. Save your energy for the afternoon visit to the Great Wall. Mutianyu is less crowded and scenic, ideal for families, with cable cars and slides for easy access. This arrangement lets you experience the Wall's magnificence at your best.

Our guestes visited the Temple of Heaven

On Day 4, slow down the pace. The garden offers expansive views and is easy to explore, providing a perfect end to your trip.

The Summer Palace

In the evenings, Beijing offers a variety of activities. You could enjoy a show like a Kung Fu show, acrobatics, or Peking Opera, or explore local cuisine. Find more choices on Beijing's Nightlife.

In this 4-day plan, you could efficiently use your time without rushing between attractions or feeling exhausted from a packed schedule. If you're interested, see our 4-Day Emperor's Tour of Beijing Tour.

5-7 Days in Beijing: In Depth Experience

If you want to explore Beijing more, consider adding 1-3 days. This allows you to cover iconic landmarks and dive into the city's culture and surrounding nature.

For example, you could hike and camp on the Great Wall, experience modern Beijing, and try local daily favorites for a diverse itinerary.

• For families with children: Add a day for Universal Studios Beijing, Beijing Zoo, or Pop Mart City Park.
• For a deep Great Wall experience: Spend 1-3 days hiking and camping.
• For food lovers: Spend a day on a food tour or enjoy a royal banquet at Gongyan (宫宴).
• For art enthusiasts: Add half a day for the 798 Art District.
• For a taste of new China: Add half a day to experience drone delivery or self-driving cars.
• For nature lovers: Add a day for Shilin Gorge or Longqing Gorge.

Longqing Gorge

Here's a suggested 7-day itinerary for Beijing:

• Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
• Day 2: Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and enjoy a royal banquet
• Day 3: Visit the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace
• Day 4: Visit Jinshanling Great Wall and take a night tour of Simatai Great Wall
• Day 5: Visit Gubei Water Town
• Day 6: Visit Hutongs, enjoy a food tour, and watch a Peking Opera
• Day 7: Visit Wangfujing and depart from Beijing

This 7-day plan starts with Beijing's history and culture. Day 2 lets you experience the magnificence of imperial architecture and the atmosphere of a palace banquet.

Gongyan

Day 3 offers a relaxed walk through historic sites and gardens.

Days 4-5 extend from the city to natural and ancient town scenery. Experience the majesty of the Jinshanling by day and the tranquility of Simatai by night. In the town, you could try fabric dyeing, kite making, or take a boat ride to enjoy the peace away from the city.

Activities in Gubei Water Town

On Day 6, explore local life with authentic snacks and traditional performances. The last day at Wangfujing offers souvenir shopping and a taste of Beijing's modern energy.

This itinerary is flexible. If there are places you particularly like, want to spend more time at, or prefer not to visit, that's perfectly fine. The most important thing is your enjoyment. We can customize a free and easy trip for you.

Read more on Beijing's Attractions and Things to Do.

Get more ideas on Beijing tours and Great Wall Tours.

1 Week+ Itinerary in Beijing

If you have a week or more, you could extend your trip from Beijing to nearby cities and explore diverse destinations.

If you're interested in culture and history, pair Beijing with Xi'an. Visit the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors and well-preserved city walls. We suggest 4 days in Beijing and 3 days in Xi'an. See our 7-Day Beijing & Xi'an Highlights Tour.

Terracotta Army

To experience the vibrancy of a modern metropolis, head to Shanghai. Enjoy panoramic views from the Oriental Pearl Tower, or stroll along the Bund to see the blend of old and new architecture. We suggest 4 days in Beijing and 2 days in Shanghai. See our 6-Day Beijing and Shanghai Tour.

Shanghai

Nature lovers should not miss Zhangjiajie, the setting for the movie Avatar, known for its stunning peaks and misty valleys. We suggest 4 days in Beijing and 4 days in Zhangjiajie. See our 8-Day Best of Beijing and Zhangjiajie Tour.

Zhangjiajie

For a weekend trip from Beijing, consider Datong or Luoyang.

Both cities offer incredible sculpture art. If you prefer ancient architecture, visit Datong to see the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple. See our 10-Day China Culture Relics Classic Tour.

If you're more interested in Chinese Kung Fu, head to Luoyang to see the Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes. See our 8-Day Beijing, Luoyang, and Xian Tour.

Beijing is the gateway city for exploring China. We also offer a variety of rich itineraries starting from Beijing. Check out Best China Tours.