The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling, mist rising from the valleys
Destination · China

Beijing

the imperial capital of the Ming and Qing

Beijing has been China's main imperial capital for 600 years. The Forbidden City sits at the centre, the Great Wall climbs the ridges two hours north, and the hutong lanes behind the Drum Tower still hold courtyard life.

Signature moments

Why people
come to Beijing.

01

What to see

Vermilion eaves and yellow-tile roofs inside the Forbidden City, Beijing

Forbidden City(Palace Museum)

The heart of imperial China, the Forbidden City served as the home of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Behind its towering crimson walls lies the world's largest preserved imperial palace complex, where centuries of history, ceremony and tradition unfolded. Walking through its magnificent halls, intricate courtyards and ornate gardens offers a fascinating glimpse into China's imperial past. Every palace, pavilion and gateway reflects the grandeur, symbolism and craftsmanship that defined one of history's greatest empires.

For the best experience, we begin early to enjoy the palace before the busiest crowds arrive. With an expert guide, you'll uncover the fascinating stories, hidden symbolism and royal traditions behind these walls.

The Great Wall at Jinshanling stretching across the mountains

Mutianyu & Jinshanling Great Wall(Great Wall of China)

Stretching across mountains and ridgelines, the Great Wall stands as one of humanity's greatest engineering achievements.

Visiting both Mutianyu and Jinshanling offers two distinct perspectives: beautifully restored battlements at Mutianyu and the rugged, atmospheric beauty of Jinshanling. Towering watchtowers, sweeping mountain views and centuries-old stone pathways showcase the remarkable scale of this ancient defensive system. Whether walking restored sections or quieter, less-travelled stretches, every step reveals the Wall's extraordinary history and enduring legacy.

We set out early to experience the Wall in the peaceful morning light, before larger tour groups arrive. With ample time and expert guidance, you'll enjoy breathtaking scenery while discovering the stories behind one of the world's most iconic landmarks.

The blue-tile-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Temple of Heaven(Tiantan Park)

Built as the sacred site where emperors prayed for good harvests, the Temple of Heaven is one of China's finest masterpieces of imperial architecture.

Its perfectly balanced design reflects ancient Chinese beliefs in harmony between heaven and earth. Beyond its iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, peaceful gardens and centuries-old cypress trees create a tranquil atmosphere where local residents gather for tai chi, music and traditional activities. The temple remains a remarkable symbol of Chinese philosophy, spirituality and craftsmanship.

Arriving in the morning allows you to experience both the serenity of the temple grounds and the vibrant local culture that fills the surrounding park.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense rising above Longevity Hill across Kunming Lake, Summer Palace, Beijing

Summer Palace(Yiheyuan)

The Summer Palace is China's best-preserved imperial garden, combining graceful pavilions, elegant bridges and tranquil lakes against a backdrop of rolling hills.

Once the royal family's summer retreat, it remains a masterpiece of classical Chinese landscape design. Strolling along the famous Long Corridor, exploring ornate halls and cruising across Kunming Lake reveal the refined lifestyle of China's imperial court. Every garden, pavilion and pathway was carefully designed to create harmony between architecture and nature.

Our visit is carefully timed to enjoy the gardens at their most peaceful, allowing you to fully appreciate the beauty, history and artistry of this magnificent royal retreat.

The first courtyard at Yonghegong, the Lama Temple, with the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, Beijing

Lama Temple(Yonghe Temple)

One of Beijing's most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, the Lama Temple blends imperial architecture with vibrant religious traditions.

Incense drifts through magnificent prayer halls adorned with intricate carvings, colourful murals and golden statues. The temple's greatest treasure is its extraordinary 18-metre-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha, carved from a single sandalwood tree. Visitors experience both the spiritual atmosphere of an active place of worship and the remarkable artistry of Qing Dynasty craftsmanship.

With an expert guide, you'll gain insight into Tibetan Buddhism, imperial history and the enduring traditions that make this one of Beijing's most fascinating cultural landmarks.

The carved stone columns of the Xiyang Lou ruins at Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, Beijing

Yuanmingyuan(Old Summer Palace)

Once regarded as the "Garden of Gardens," Yuanmingyuan was the most magnificent imperial garden ever created in China.

Although much of the palace was destroyed during the 19th century, its elegant ruins remain a powerful reminder of both imperial splendour and historical resilience. Wandering among tranquil lakes, landscaped gardens and the remains of European-style palaces offers a unique perspective on China's rich cultural heritage. The site tells a compelling story of artistic achievement, loss and preservation.

Our visit provides time to explore the expansive grounds while discovering the remarkable history behind one of China's most significant historical sites.

The view from Wanchun pavilion in Jingshan Park looking south over the Forbidden City along Beijing's central axis

Jingshan Park(Jingshan Imperial Park)

Rising directly north of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park offers one of Beijing's most spectacular panoramic viewpoints.

From the summit, visitors enjoy breathtaking views across the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City and the modern skyline beyond. Originally created from the earth excavated to build the palace moat, the park has served as both an imperial garden and an important historical landmark for centuries. Its peaceful pathways and ancient pavilions make it one of Beijing's favourite places to relax.

We visit at the ideal time to enjoy sweeping city views and unforgettable photo opportunities while learning about the fascinating history surrounding Beijing's imperial centre.

Houhai Lake at Shichahai, Beijing, the Drum Tower lit at night with hutong rooftops along the shore

Hutong Walk & Shichahai at Dusk(Historic Beijing Neighbourhoods)

Step beyond Beijing's grand monuments and into the city's oldest neighbourhoods, where narrow hutong lanes preserve the rhythm of traditional local life.

Hidden courtyards, family homes and charming alleyways reveal a side of Beijing that has changed little over generations. As evening approaches, the nearby Shichahai lakes come alive with lantern-lit cafés, waterside teahouses and lively local gatherings. The blend of historic architecture and vibrant modern culture creates one of Beijing's most atmospheric experiences.

An evening walk offers the perfect opportunity to experience authentic local life, discover hidden corners and enjoy the relaxed charm of old Beijing after the daytime crowds have faded.

A converted Bauhaus factory hall in Beijing's 798 Art District, a contemporary art installation visible through the open shutter doors

798 Art District(Dashanzi Art District)

Once a collection of state-owned factories, the 798 Art District has transformed into Beijing's vibrant centre for contemporary art and creative culture.

Industrial warehouses now house innovative galleries, designer studios, cafés and striking public art installations. The district offers a fascinating contrast between historic industrial architecture and cutting-edge artistic expression, showcasing the creativity and energy of modern China. Every corner reveals new exhibitions, sculptures and thought-provoking works from both established and emerging artists.

With time to explore at your own pace, you'll experience one of Beijing's most dynamic cultural destinations, where history, creativity and contemporary life come together in a truly unique setting.

02

What to eat

A whole Peking duck on the carving board, lacquered skin sliced and laid beside pancakes, scallion and sweet bean sauce

Peking duck(Beijing kaoya)

Beijing's most iconic dish and one of the great table rituals in Chinese cuisine, Peking duck has been served in the capital for over six centuries, codified at imperial-era restaurants like Quanjude.

The skin comes lacquer-dark and shatter-crisp, sliced at the table and wrapped in paper-thin pancakes with spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce. The fat melts against the warm bread, the sauce turns savoury, the duck does the rest.

We choose a respected Beijing duck house that fits the day's route, and confirm the table and duck order before you arrive. The meal is paced from the carving of the skin to the closing soup, so it lands as a proper Beijing dinner rather than a quick stop.

A copper Beijing hotpot with its chimney smoking, sliced lamb shoulder and sesame dipping sauce around it

Lamb hotpot(shuan yangrou, the copper-pot version)

Beijing's defining winter dish and a tradition that traces back to the Mongol courts of the Yuan dynasty, lamb hotpot brings the table together around a single copper pot.

The broth is kept clear and barely seasoned so the lamb leads, slices dropped in for ten seconds and lifted tender. The dipping sauce makes it Beijing: nutty sesame paste, fermented tofu, leek flower, scallion and coriander, blended at the table.

We schedule lamb hotpot when the season suits it, often as a warm close to a Great Wall day or a winter evening in the city. The table is booked at a traditional copper-pot house, so the lamb and broth come the old way rather than a generic hotpot setup.

A bowl of Beijing zhajiangmian, wheat noodles topped with fermented soybean paste, cucumber and bean sprouts

Zhajiangmian(Beijing's defining noodle bowl)

Beijing's most beloved noodle bowl and the city's go-to comfort food, zhajiangmian has been a hutong staple for generations.

Hand-cut wheat noodles arrive warm and chewy, topped with a dark, glossy sauce of pork belly slow-cooked in fermented soybean paste. Stir in fresh cucumber matchsticks and crisp bean sprouts, and the bowl finishes salty, savoury and cool against the rich sauce.

We keep this as a small, paced tasting rather than a long street-food march. Two or three stops are chosen by what is freshest that morning, with time to sit between each, so the route feels like a local breakfast rather than a snack crawl.

03

Shows and experiences

A Peking opera performance, a warrior character in painted face and Qing-dynasty armour on stage

Peking opera(at Huguang Guild Hall)

China's most refined performance tradition, Peking opera has been the country's classical stage art for over 200 years.

The form took shape in Beijing after the four Anhui troupes entered the capital in 1790, combining music, song, dance, mime and acrobatics into a single discipline. It remains the highest classical performance form in Chinese theatre, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Your guide will brief the story and the face-paint colours before the curtain, so the first scene is not a puzzle. We book seats at a performance night that suits your route, with a clear view of the stage and the English subtitles.

A Beijing acrobatics performance, a performer balanced on a stack of chairs under stage lights

Beijing acrobatics(the city's acrobatic tradition on stage)

Chinese acrobatics is one of the oldest performance arts in the country, with roots going back more than 2,000 years.

The Beijing schools are considered among the finest in the world, training generations of performers in tumbling, balance, contortion and high-wire work. The form is staged nightly in a polished hour-long show that suits children and adults alike.

We schedule the show on a clear evening earlier in your stay, so the energy of the night lands against a calmer day. Tickets are booked for centre-row seats with a clear line of sight, and hotel pickup is arranged so the walk to your seat is short.

An imperial Qing court banquet table at the Yuxiandu Imperial Cuisine Museum, Beijing, dishes laid out for the evening service

Yuxiandu Imperial Cuisine Museum(museum, performance, and a Qing court banquet)

A rare living museum of China's imperial cuisine, Yuxiandu opens the Qing court kitchen and the Manchu-Han banquet tradition to the modern visitor.

The galleries set out the hierarchy of the imperial household, the etiquette of the table and the dishes the emperors actually ate. The evening continues with a court-style performance and a multi-course imperial banquet drawing on Qing dynasty recipes.

We arrange the museum tour first and the imperial banquet second, so each course arrives with its context already in your head. The table is held with a clear sight line to the performance, and dietary notes are passed to the kitchen in writing before you arrive.

How long to stay

Recommended
5 to 7 days.

  1. Central axis

    Day 1: Imperial Beijing

    Begin in the open sweep of Tiananmen Square, then walk north through the Meridian Gate into the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing. Give the palace the whole morning: the great halls first, then the quieter side courtyards. After lunch, climb Jingshan for the classic view south over the golden roofs. As evening falls, join the strollers on Wangfujing, Beijing's best-known shopping street.

    Morning

    1. Stand in Tiananmen Square as the city wakes

    2. Walk the Forbidden City from gate to gate

    Afternoon

    1. Climb Jingshan for the view over the palace

    Evening

    1. Stroll Wangfujing as the lights come on

  2. Huairou

    Day 2: The Great Wall at Mutianyu

    Private car northeast, roughly ninety minutes

    An early start beats the tour buses to Mutianyu, where the Wall climbs through wooded hills northeast of the city. Ride the cable car up and start along the ramparts while they are quiet. The afternoon is yours to walk further between the watchtowers, with the toboggan run a fun way down. Back in the city, the day ends the way Beijing ends a Wall day: Peking duck, carved at the table.

    Morning

    1. Ride the cable car up to Mutianyu's ramparts

    Afternoon

    1. Walk the watchtowers at your own pace

    Evening

    1. Return to the city for a Peking duck dinner

  3. Haidian

    Day 3: Imperial Gardens and Shichahai

    Private car to the city's northwest

    Spend the morning at the Summer Palace, walking the 728-metre Long Corridor beneath Longevity Hill, with a boat across Kunming Lake when the season allows. Continue to Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, where carved stone ruins stand among quiet lakes and willows. As evening falls, the Shichahai lakes take over: cross Yinding Bridge, follow the shore around Houhai, and settle in at a waterside cafe as the lights come on.

    Morning

    1. Walk the Long Corridor at the Summer Palace

    Afternoon

    1. Wander the ruins and lakes of Yuanmingyuan

    Evening

    1. Cross Yinding Bridge at Shichahai

    2. Follow the lakeshore around Houhai

  4. Old city

    Day 4: Temple of Heaven and the Hutongs

    Begin at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests and locals now fill the cypress park with tai chi and song. Spend the afternoon in Nanluoguxiang and the hutong lanes either side of it, where courtyard life carries on a metre from the crowds. As dusk settles, finish beneath the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, the two old timekeepers at the north end of the city's old north-south axis.

    Morning

    1. Start early at the Temple of Heaven

    Afternoon

    1. Browse the lanes of Nanluoguxiang

    2. Wander the quieter hutongs either side

    Evening

    1. See the Drum Tower

    2. Finish beneath the Bell Tower

  5. Chaoyang

    Day 5: Modern Art and Olympic Beijing

    Trade imperial Beijing for the contemporary city. Spend the morning gallery-hopping through 798, an art district built into factory halls from the 1950s. In the afternoon, head to Olympic Green to see the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, the two landmark venues of the 2008 Games. Stay as the light fades: the park is at its best after dark, when the stadiums light up.

    Morning

    1. Gallery-hop through the 798 Art District

    Afternoon

    1. Walk Olympic Green

    2. See the Bird's Nest up close

    3. See the Water Cube

    Evening

    1. Stay for the Olympic Park night lights

  6. Tongzhou

    Day 6: Universal Beijing Resort

    Private car east to Tongzhou

    Universal Beijing Resort fills this day. Arrive as the gates open and take the headline rides early, before the queues build. The afternoon runs at your own pace through the shows and themed lands, with time to repeat a favourite. Stay into the evening if the energy holds, then head back to the city for a late, easy dinner.

    Morning

    1. Take the headline rides before the queues build

    Afternoon

    1. Follow the shows and themed lands at your own pace

    Evening

    1. Stay into the evening, then head back to the city

  7. Old city south

    Day 7: Local Beijing and Farewell

    Keep the last day gentle. Spend the morning in Beihai Park, an imperial lake garden where the White Dagoba rises over the water and rowing boats drift below. In the afternoon, browse Qianmen Street, then duck into Dashilan, the old shopping lanes just off it. As night falls, take a farewell walk under the Qianmen lights, with the gate tower glowing at the head of the street.

    Morning

    1. Spend the morning in Beihai Park

    Afternoon

    1. Browse Qianmen Street

    2. Poke through the old shopfronts of Dashilan

    Evening

    1. Take a farewell walk under the Qianmen lights

When to go

When to visit,
and how it feels.

Daily max (°F)36°43°56°70°81°87°89°87°80°67°51°39°
Rainfall (mm)2692236721701135429142
CrowdsQuietCrowdedQuietSteadyBusySteadyBusyBusySteadyCrowdedQuietQuiet

April

Mild · Dry · Steady

Warm and green at last. The Qingming holiday in early April brings one short peak.

Temperature and rainfall are China Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991 to 2020. Crowd levels follow the Chinese public-holiday calendar and daily booking caps at the major sites.

The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling, mist rising from the valleys
Everonia
the imperial capital of the Ming and QingBeijing

A seven-day itinerary, with practical notes for every day.

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Best time

September to October; April to May

Days needed

5 to 7 days

Where it sits

First stop of most China trips

Before you enquire

Questions worth
answering early.

  • Three to five for most trips. Three covers the imperial spine: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven. Four lets you add a hutong morning and the Summer Palace. Five brings in the Lama Temple, a longer Wall hike at Jinshanling, or an afternoon at 798 for the contemporary city. Fewer than three and you will spend the last day wishing you had it. The seven days on this page are the full plan we draw from. A Universal day or a slower garden day fills the sixth and seventh.

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Portrait of Jack Guo

Jack Guo

Your travel specialist

Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.

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