Tour Beijing with Us
Beijing, one of China’s true ancient capitals, is the must-see destination for tourists visiting China. Beijing houses many famous historical sites like Forbidden City, Hutongs, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and so on. Besides these famous attractions, Beijing also boasts famous cuisine and snacks, making it a haven for foodies.
So when you visit China, don’t miss Beijing. Many young tourists are eager to travel independently with a backpack and anxious to discover some secluded places and other well-known sites. So you need to do a bit of patient exploration to tap into its history.
How to start your independent trip to Beijing? The following is a five-day itinerary in Beijing.
Your Unforgettable Trip to Beijing
You tour will start with your arrival in Beijing. If you get to Beijing in the morning, you can rest in hotel and then roam the area near your hotel.
On the second day, you can pay a visit to Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square. You can first visit Tienanmen Square and its free sites, and after about an hour, you can take a quick walk across Tienanmen to the north to get to the entrance of Forbidden City.
Forbidden City is China’s largest and best-preserved complex of ancient buildings, so-called because it was off limits for 500 years, when it was steeped in stultifying ritual and Byzantine regal protocol. The otherworldly palace was the home to two dynasties of imperial rulers until the Republic demoted last Qing emperor to a has-been.
In the afternoon, you can take a taxi to Temple of Heaven which is a little more than a mile (2 kilometers) from Tienanmen Square. Or as an option in the afternoon, you can visit Shichahai which features the ancient Siheyuan and a combination of the ancient building with the beautiful natural view. In the evening, you can drink in the Houhai Bar Street of Shichahai.
On the third day, you can spend your entire day in climbing Badaling Great Wall, the most-photographed and most-visited attraction. It is about 43 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Beijing. The incredible scenery yields classic views of the impressive wall snaking into the distance over undulating hills.
How to get there: The easiest and most reliable way is on Bus 919 (Y12, 80 minutes, every 30 minutes from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm) from the old gate of Deshengmen, less than half-a-mile (500 meters) east of the Jishuitai subway stop. Ask for 919 branch line. A taxi to the wall and back is a minimum of Y400.
On the fourth day, you can choose to visit Ming Tombs or not. If you plan to visit Ming Tombs, you have to get up early in the morning to take bus You1, You5 at Qianmen or You2 at Beijing Stop, You3 at Dongdaqiao or You4 at Yongdingmen to get Ming Tombs. If you are not interested in Ming Tombs, you can alternatively visit Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven/Lama Temple (if you didn’t visit on second) in the morning. In the afternoon, you can stroll along Hutong areas by rickshaw or on foot.
On the fifth day, you can shop in Wangfujing or Panjiayuan Antique Market in the morning. After lunch, head to Beijing International Airport to your next destination.