China Attractions
in Beijing
Real ticket prices, subway exits, and honest comparisons. A guide built for actually planning your trip.
Written by the China Attractions in Beijing Editorial Team · Updated September 2026 · Every attraction visited firsthand
Jump to the 3-day itinerary
Your 3-Day Trip
Yes, 3 days is enough for Beijing's essentials: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen on day 1, the Great Wall on day 2, gardens and temples on day 3. Here's the proven plan.
Day 1
Forbidden City & Tiananmen
4-5 hours · Line 1
Walk the palace halls, stand in the world’s largest square, and climb Jingshan for the rooftop panorama at sunset.
Forbidden City guide →Day 2
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Full day · driver
Cable car up, 23 watchtowers west, then the toboggan down. Forest views with a fraction of Badaling’s crowds.
Mutianyu guide →Day 3
Gardens & Temples
Two districts, one plan
Morning tai chi at the Temple of Heaven, afternoon on Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, evening on Guijie Street.
Summer Palace guide →How to Plan
Planning a Beijing trip takes one hour if you do it in the right order: pick dates, copy an itinerary, budget the cost, sort visa and payments. Four steps below.
Pick dates
Apr-May & Sep-Oct are best. Skip Oct 1-7 Golden Week.
Month-by-month →Copy itinerary
Day 1 palace. Day 2 wall. Day 3 gardens — done.
3-day plan →Know the cost
Free to CNY 100 per attraction. Our price table is always current.
Compare prices →Sort logistics
Visa, subway card, translation app, passport. Handle before you fly.
China prep →Must-Do Experiences
The five unmissable sights are the Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and Jingshan Park at sunset. Each has a full guide with prices, best times, and crowd-beating tips.
Forbidden City
CNY 40-603-4 hours · Tiananmen East
Great Wall at Mutianyu
CNY 40-454-5 hours · Dongzhimen (Bus)
Temple of Heaven
CNY 10-152-3 hours · Tiantan Dongmen
Summer Palace
CNY 20-303-4 hours · Beigongmen
Beihai Park
CNY 10-152-3 hours · Beihai North
Great Wall at Badaling
CNY 35-403-4 hours · Deshengmen (Bus 877)
Lama Temple
CNY 251.5-2 hours · Yonghegong
National Museum of China
Free2-4 hours · Tiananmen East
Jingshan Park
CNY 21-2 hours · Nanluoguxiang
Ming Tombs
CNY 40-603-4 hours ·
798 Art Zone
Free2-3 hours · Wangjingnan
Tiananmen Square
Free1-2 hours · Tiananmen East
Bell & Drum Towers
CNY 301-1.5 hours · Shichahai
Nanluoguxiang Hutong
Free1-2 hours · Nanluoguxiang
Beijing Zoo
CNY 15-202-3 hours · Beijing Zoo
Attraction Comparisons
Stuck between two sights? Our honest side-by-side guides settle the classics.
Badaling vs Mutianyu
The two most famous Great Wall sections — crowds, scenery, cable car, and the toboggan.
Read the comparison →Forbidden City vs Summer Palace
Power vs pleasure — the two grandest imperial sites and how they reward you differently.
Read the comparison →Summer Palace vs Beihai Park
One vast destination garden, one central interlude — which fits your itinerary.
Read the comparison →Lama Temple vs Temple of Heaven
Living faith vs imperial ritual — atmosphere, the Buddha, and the Hall of Prayer.
Read the comparison →Before You Commit
Honest answers. No marketing spin.
Is Beijing worth visiting?
For history and food lovers, absolutely — it’s a top-three China destination. Honest pros and cons inside.
Honest assessment →How much does it cost?
3-day: free to CNY 300 depending on style. Real 2026 prices.
Budget breakdown →Too much to choose?
Mutianyu or Badaling? Palace or garden? Our comparisons settle the classics.
See comparisons →When to Visit
The best months to visit Beijing are April–May and September–October: 10–25°C, clear skies, and manageable crowds. Here's how every season compares — and the one week to avoid.
Spring
Mar-May · 15-25°C
Best overall
Clear skies, blooming gardens. April and May are ideal for the palace and the Wall.
Summer
Jun-Aug · 28-35°C
Hot but lush
Museums and lakeside Summer Palace shine. Start Great Wall days by 7am.
Autumn
Sep-Nov · 10-20°C
Best photos
Golden ginkgo, perfect Wall weather. Avoid Oct 1-7 Golden Week.
Winter
Dec-Feb · -10-5°C
Quiet & cheap
A third of the crowds, half-price hotels, and snow on the Forbidden City.
Where to Stay in Beijing
First-time visitors should stay in Dongcheng District: it's walking distance from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen, and every other major sight is one subway ride away. Here's how the four main areas compare.
Dongcheng District
Historic heart. Walk to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen, and Wangfujing.
Hutong / Gulou
Courtyard guesthouses near the Drum & Bell Towers. Wake up to jianbing and chess.
Chaoyang / Sanlitun
Modern Beijing. Rooftop bars, embassy dining, international hotels.
Wangfujing
Shopping boulevard with a 10-minute walk to the palace.
Pre-Trip Checklist
Six things every Beijing visitor should do before arriving.
Most visitors need an L tourist visa. 54 countries qualify for 144-hour transit without a visa.
Released 7 days online, sold out in minutes in peak season. Passport number required.
Download a translation app
Google Translate or Baidu with offline packs. Subway is English-friendly, restaurants rarely are.
Any subway station. Tap on metro, buses, and some taxis.
Best: April-May and September-October. Avoid National Day week.
Always carry your passport
Required for attraction entry, hotels, and police checks. Originals only.
What to Eat in Beijing
Start with three dishes: Peking duck, copper-pot hot pot, and zhajiangmian noodles — they define Beijing eating. Street breakfast (jianbing, CNY 8-15) fills in the rest.
Peking Duck
Crispy skin, thin pancakes, hoisin. A tableside ritual as much as a meal.
Beijing Hotpot
Copper chimney pot, thinly sliced mutton in a clear goji broth.
Dumplings & Noodles
Zhajiangmian, lamian, and boiled jiaozi. Cheap, fast, everywhere.
Street Food
Jianbing, tanghulu, lamb skewers. Follow the longest local line.
Teahouses
Jasmine, pu’er, and oolong in a century-old courtyard.
Food Tours
Small-group hutong walks with 10+ tastings and a guide who knows the stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
?How many days do I need to see Beijing’s main attractions?
?Do I need a visa to visit Beijing?
?Mutianyu or Badaling — which Great Wall section should I visit?
?How do I book tickets for the Forbidden City?
?Is it easy to get around Beijing without speaking Chinese?
?What should I do after visiting the Forbidden City?
Sources
“The Forbidden City is the imperial palace complex in the center of the Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924.”
- • The Palace Museum (dpm.org.cn) — Forbidden City tickets and policies
- • Beijing Subway (bjsubway.com) — fares and station information
- • UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
- • Visit Beijing — official municipal tourism portal
Prices verified monthly against official sources. Last checked August 2026.