Beijing Travel Guide

Beijing, a city full of charm and historical heritage, is like an endlessly fascinating book, with every page hiding countless surprises. Today, I’ll bring you a super practical guide to immerse yourself in Beijing’s popular attractions and start an unforgettable journey in the capital! Preparation ● Documents: ID card, student ID (don’t forget if you have discounts). ● Clothing: Beijing has distinct seasons, so prepare clothes accordingly. Spring and autumn have big temperature differences between morning and evening, bring a jacket; summer is hot, be sure to protect yourself from the sun; winter is cold, pack thick cotton clothes, scarves, and gloves. ● Others: Charger, power bank, camera, umbrella, common medicines. Itinerary Day 1: Tiananmen Square - Palace Museum - Jingshan Park ● Morning: Get up early to watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square 🇨🇳 and feel the solemn atmosphere. Then take photos nearby and visit the Monument to the People’s Heroes and Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. ● Noon: Find a nearby restaurant to taste old Beijing zhajiang noodles. Recommended: Haiwanju, with chewy noodles and rich sauce 😋. ● Afternoon: Visit the Palace Museum, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with magnificent architecture and countless cultural relics. It’s recommended to book tickets in advance on the official website and enjoy every detail with an audio guide. ● Evening: Exit the Palace Museum from Shenwumen Gate; across the street is Jingshan Park. Climb Wanchun Pavilion on Jingshan Hill to overlook the entire Palace Museum and Beijing’s central axis. The city under the sunset is as beautiful as a painting 🌆. After descending, you can stroll around Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, enjoy snacks, and shop. Day 2: Badaling Great Wall - Olympic Park ● Morning: Head to the Badaling Great Wall. You can take the suburban railway S2 line or bus 877 from Deshengmen. “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” Climb the Great Wall to feel its grandeur and historical weight. ● Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant near the Great Wall, try farmhouse dishes, with rainbow trout as a local specialty. ● Afternoon: Return to the city and visit Olympic Park to see the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center). These two modern buildings have unique designs and look even more dazzling when lit up at night. ● Evening: Dine at a restaurant near Olympic Park, then take a walk along the lakeside to enjoy the night view. Day 3: Summer Palace - Old Summer Palace - Nanluoguxiang ● Morning: Visit the Summer Palace, the royal garden of the Qing Dynasty, with beautiful lakes and mountains, and unique buildings like the Long Corridor and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. You can take a boat tour on Kunming Lake to experience royal leisure. ● Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant near the Summer Palace, try imperial pastries and Peking duck. ● Afternoon: Head to the Old Summer Palace, once a magnificent royal garden. Although only ruins remain today, you can still feel its former glory. Learn about that humiliating history and remember the national shame. ● Evening: Go to Nanluoguxiang, a hutong with old Beijing charm, featuring many specialty snacks, creative shops, and bars. Here you can taste various delicacies and buy souvenirs. Food Recommendations ● Peking Duck: Quanjude and Da Dong are famous old brands. The duck skin is crispy and the meat tender, served with thin pancakes, shredded scallions, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce—super satisfying with every bite. ● Hot Pot Lamb: Donglaishun’s hot pot lamb is known for its tender meat and clear copper pot broth. Sesame sauce is the soul of the dish. ● Old Beijing Snacks: Douzhi (fermented mung bean milk), jiaoquan (fried dough rings), ludagun (glutinous rice rolls), aiwowo (sweet glutinous rice balls), tanghuoshao (sugar fire cakes), etc. You can try them at Huguosi Snack Street. Accommodation Suggestions ● Near Wangfujing: Convenient transportation, close to Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, and other attractions, with complete surrounding facilities. ● Near Qianmen: Many hotels and homestays with old Beijing characteristics, allowing you to experience the charm of old Beijing, and convenient for travel. Notes ● Book tickets for attractions in advance, especially popular spots like the Palace Museum and Badaling Great Wall, to avoid delays. ● Beijing traffic is congested; try to use public transportation. ● Respect local culture and customs, travel civilly. Everyone, pack your bags quickly and start a spontaneous trip to Beijing!