4 Days in Beijing and the Great Wall: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for golden palace roofs, a wall that rolls over green mountains and imperial gardens built around a huge lake. This 4-day plan is for first-time visitors who want Beijing’s big icons without rushing. You get one full day each for the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace, plus a fourth day for the Temple of Heaven and the lakes and lanes of old Beijing.

The pace is steady, not frantic: one main sight in the morning, a lighter stop in the afternoon and a relaxed evening. Several big sights need advance booking with your passport, so a little planning before you fly saves a lot of stress. Plan less, see more.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Central axis	Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park
2	Huairou District	Mutianyu Great Wall (Badaling as an alternative)
3	Northwest Beijing	Summer Palace, Olympic Green in the evening
4	South and centre	Temple of Heaven, Qianmen, Beihai Park, Shichahai lakes

Important: the Palace Museum closes on Mondays (except statutory holidays), and so do the separately ticketed halls at the Temple of Heaven. Make sure Day 1 and Day 4 don’t land on a Monday. The Great Wall day works well as your Monday.

Day 1: The imperial heart of Beijing

Morning

Kick off your Beijing adventure at Tian’anmen Square, the huge plaza at the centre of the city. It’s 880 metres long and 500 metres wide, flanked by the National Museum of China to the east and the Great Hall of the People to the west. Entry is free, but you must reserve in advance. The official channels include the WeChat mini program “Tian’anmen Square Visit Reservation” and the Jingtong mini programs on WeChat and Alipay. It’s open 05:00-22:00. The nearest stops are Tian’anmendong and Tian’anmenxi on Subway Line 1.

From the square, walk north through Tian’anmen Gate to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum). Completed in 1420, it was home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors. The complex covers more than one million square metres, so wear comfortable shoes.

• Tickets: CNY 60 from 1 April to 31 October, CNY 40 from 1 November to 31 March. The Treasure Gallery and the Gallery of Clocks cost CNY 10 each.
• Pre-book: there are no same-day tickets. Book in advance on the Palace Museum’s official website or WeChat mini program. Tickets are tied to your name and ID, so use your passport details.
• Hours: admission opens at 8:30. Last admission is 16:10 in peak season and 15:30 in low season.

We suggest arriving close to 8:30 and following the central axis north. The three great halls of the Outer Court come first, then the Inner Court palaces, then the side courtyards if your legs allow.

Afternoon

You leave the palace by its north gate. Jingshan Park is directly across the road, so it’s only a short walk. Climb the hill for the classic view back over the palace roofs. The ticket is a tiny CNY 2 (CNY 10 during exhibition periods). The city lists the “Visiting Beijing Parks” WeChat account as the only official online ticketing platform, with timed slots up to 7 days ahead. Hours are 6:30-20:00 in low season (last entry 19:30) and 6:00-21:00 from April to October (last entry 20:30).

Evening

Take it easy after a big day on your feet. Have dinner near your hotel or wander a nearby hutong lane. Save some energy, because tomorrow starts early.

Day 2: The Great Wall at Mutianyu

Morning

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for. Mutianyu is a Ming dynasty section of the Wall with closely spaced watchtowers and battlements on both sides. More than 96 percent of the area is covered in vegetation, so the scenery in autumn is stunning. It sits about 73 km from the city, so set off early.

By public transport: take Express Bus 916 from the Dongzhimen Public Transport Hub to the Huairoubeidajie stop. Then change to bus H23, H3 or H71 and get off at Mutianyujingqu. Check live journey times in a map app on the day, because traffic varies a lot.

Hours:

• Peak season, 16 March to 15 November: 7:30-18:00 Monday to Friday, 7:30-18:30 at weekends.
• Off-peak, 16 November to 15 March: 8:00-17:30.
• Ticket sales stop one hour before closing.

Tickets: the adult Wall ticket is CNY 40 (concessions CNY 20). Pre-book on the official Mutianyu website: you choose a date and time, enter your passport details, pay with an overseas credit card and receive a QR code by email.

Afternoon

Inside the scenic area you have three options: walk up, ride the enclosed cable car, or take the chairlift up and the alpine slide down. The Wall ticket doesn’t include the shuttle bus, cable car, chairlift or slide. For current prices, check the official site.

The official Visit Beijing listing suggests about 4 hours here. That’s enough to walk between several watchtowers and still enjoy the views without hurrying.

Evening

Head back towards Dongzhimen. You’ll be ready for a hearty dinner and an early night.

Alternative: Badaling. If you’d rather use a famous section that doesn’t need booking, Badaling is about 60 km northwest of Beijing. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tickets are sold on site. Adults pay CNY 40 from April to October and CNY 35 from November to March. It’s open 06:30-16:30 in peak season and 07:30-16:00 in the off season.

Day 3: The Summer Palace and the Olympic Green

Morning

This is your day for lakeside strolls and imperial gardens. Ride Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen (North Palace Gate) or Xiyuan (East Palace Gate) for the Summer Palace. It’s about 15 km from central Beijing. This imperial garden was built in 1750 and rebuilt and renamed by the Qing court in 1886. About three quarters of its area is water, laid out around Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake.

• Tickets: admission is CNY 30 from April to October and CNY 20 from November to March. The combined ticket, which adds the separately charged sights, is listed at CNY 60 in peak season and CNY 50 in the off season.
• Booking: foreign visitors can book 1-7 days ahead on the “Summer Palace” WeChat official account using a passport. There’s also a ticket service window at the park gate.
• Hours: peak season, the gates are open 6:00-19:00 and the park closes at 20:00. Off season, the gates are open 6:30-18:00 and the park closes at 19:00.

We’d start at the East Palace Gate area, climb Longevity Hill for the views, then walk along the lakeshore.

Afternoon

Keep exploring: the gardens are big enough to fill the day happily. In the off season, the separately charged sights inside close on Mondays and take last entry at 16:30, so visit those first.

Evening

Head to the Olympic Green area at the northern end of Beijing’s central axis. The Olympic Forest Park and the 2008 Games venues look great as the lights come on. Allow time for the subway ride across the city.

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, old lanes and lakes

Morning

Your last day saves some beautiful sights for the finale. Get up early for the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420. Emperors came here to offer sacrifices and pray for good harvests.

• Hours: the park is open 6:00-22:00 (last entry 21:00). The separately ticketed halls are open 8:00-18:00, Tuesday to Sunday (last entry 17:30).
• Tickets: the official listing shows a high-season admission ticket at CNY 15 and a universal combo ticket at CNY 34. A passport admission ticket is listed at CNY 20. Prices can change by season, so check when you book.
• Booking: foreign visitors can book 1-7 days ahead on the “Temple of Heaven” WeChat account and enter with their passport. There’s also a ticket office on site.

Get the combo ticket if you want to go inside the famous halls.

Afternoon

Have lunch around Qianmen, then take the subway or a taxi north to Beihai Park. It’s one of China’s oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens and sits just west of Jingshan Park. For the current ticket price, check the official parks listing.

Evening

Walk north from Beihai to the Shichahai lakes and the hutong lanes around them for a relaxed last evening in Beijing.

Getting there and getting around

Visa and entry: entry rules depend on your nationality and change from time to time. Before you book, check the official requirements on the National Immigration Administration website (https://en.nia.gov.cn) and with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.

From Beijing Capital Airport (PEK): the Capital Airport Express costs RMB 25 into the city. You can change to Subway Lines 10 and 12 at Sanyuanqiao, Lines 2 and 13 at Dongzhimen, or Line 5 at Beixinqiao.

From Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX): the Daxing Airport rail line runs between Caoqiao and the airport in about 19 minutes. For current fares, check the official site.

Taxis: use the official taxi queue at the terminal. For current fares, check the official site.

Subway: the subway is the easiest way to link this itinerary. You’ll mainly use Line 1 (Tian’anmen) and Line 4 (Summer Palace). For current fares and payment options, check the official Beijing Subway site (bjsubway.com).

Where to stay

• Dongcheng, around Wangfujing and Dongsi: central and close to the Forbidden City. Good for first-timers who want to walk to Day 1 sights.
• Around Dongzhimen: handy for both the Capital Airport Express and Express Bus 916 to Mutianyu. Good for Great Wall day.
• Shichahai and the Gulou area: hutong lanes, lakes and evening strolls. Good for travellers who want old-Beijing atmosphere.
• Qianmen: close to Tian’anmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Good for an early Day 4 start.

Budget

Entry tickets for this plan come to roughly CNY 170-220 in total, depending on season and options. Shuttle buses, cable cars, transport, hotels and food are extra.

Item	Typical cost
Tian’anmen Square	Free (reservation required)
Forbidden City	CNY 60 (Apr-Oct) / CNY 40 (Nov-Mar)
Treasure Gallery, Gallery of Clocks	CNY 10 each
Jingshan Park	CNY 2 (CNY 10 in exhibition periods)
Mutianyu Great Wall ticket	CNY 40 adult
Mutianyu shuttle, cable car, slide	Check the official site
Badaling (alternative)	CNY 40 (Apr-Oct) / CNY 35 (Nov-Mar)
Summer Palace	CNY 30 / 20, combined CNY 60 / 50
Temple of Heaven	CNY 15 admission, CNY 34 combo (high season)
Beihai Park	Check the official site
Capital Airport Express	RMB 25
Subway, taxis, Daxing rail line	Check the official site
Hotels and meals	Not included, varies widely

Practical tips

• Book in this order: Forbidden City first, because tickets are limited. Then Tian’anmen Square, Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.
• Carry your passport every day. Bookings are real-name, and some entrances check your ID against your ticket.
• Install WeChat before you travel. The Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Jingshan Park and Tian’anmen Square all take bookings through WeChat accounts or mini programs.
• Mind the seasons: many sights switch hours on 1 April and 1 November. Mutianyu switches on 16 March and 16 November.
• Mobile data: sort out roaming or an eSIM before you land. Your tickets, maps and QR codes all live on your phone. Check that your usual apps work in mainland China.
• Money: ask your bank whether your cards work in China. Carry a backup payment method.
• Footwear: expect long walks in the palaces and steep steps on the Wall.

Heads-up

A few things catch visitors out. None of them should spoil your trip.

• No same-day Forbidden City tickets. If you turn up without a booking, you won’t get in, so book online before you travel.
• Monday closures. The Palace Museum and the Temple of Heaven halls close on Mondays (except statutory holidays). In the off season, so do the separately charged sights at the Summer Palace.
• Book only through official channels. The city names the WeChat accounts as the official ticketing platforms for municipal parks. For Jingshan, “Visiting Beijing Parks” is the only official online channel. Skip unofficial sellers.
• Tian’anmen Square needs a reservation. It’s free, but you have to book through the official channels.
• Mutianyu tickets are not interchangeable. The cable car and the chairlift/slide are run by two separate companies, and their tickets don’t work on each other. If you buy a round-trip cable car ticket, you come back down the same way. The shuttle service area is about 3 km from the Wall ticket gate, and the shuttle ticket is sold separately.
• Late arrivals. Mutianyu stops selling tickets one hour before closing. Badaling closes at 16:00 in the off season.
• Read your government’s travel advice for China before you go, for example the UK’s (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china).

FAQ

Which Great Wall section is best for a first visit?

Mutianyu suits most first-timers: it has well-kept watchtowers, green scenery and an enclosed cable car. Badaling is the alternative if you want tickets on site with no booking.

Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?

Yes. The Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets. Book on the official website or WeChat mini program with your passport details.

What day should I avoid for the Forbidden City?

Monday, because it closes except on statutory holidays.

How much time do I need at Mutianyu?

The official Visit Beijing listing suggests about 4 hours on site, plus travel time from the city.

Can I buy Summer Palace tickets at the gate?

Yes, there’s a ticket service window at the park gate. Foreign visitors can also book 1-7 days ahead on the “Summer Palace” WeChat account.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are lovely. The official Visit Beijing listing gives April to October as the best time for Mutianyu.