Beijing, as the capital city, is typically the first stop on a China trip. Are you wondering how to schedule an itinerary that suits your needs and allows you to make the most of your holiday in Beijing? Here are some suggestions for shaping your Beijing itinerary based on our extensive trip-planning experience.
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How Long to Spend in Beijing
Generally speaking, we recommend spending at least three to five days to explore Beijing for an authentic and relatively complete experience.
If you have more than five days, you might consider extending your trip to Beijing's surrounding areas. Popular destinations include:
- Xi'an (for two days): Best for learning about Chinese history
- Luoyang and Shaolin Temple (for two days): Seeing grottoes and martial arts
- Datong and Pingyao (for four days): Featuring grottoes, temples, and ancient towns
- Chengde (for two or three days): Famous for its huge royal garden
For layovers or if you have a limited time of fewer than three days, the itinerary might include only Beijing's most highlights — the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Albee Ning Surreal China Trip
Albee Ning with China Highlights never fails to create the perfect vacation!!! She listens and understands what interests us and provides a guided tour that is surreal. We will remember and share the marvellous memories of this experience for the rest of our lives!! Thanks for everything Albee!!! (Including our dinner together by the elephant in Guilin!!) more
Oct 2024, Mike and Lucy
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Well organised and interesting
Tom was very helpful and knowledgeable. The walk along the Wall was well planned and really enjoyable. The visit to the Summer Palace and Forbidden City were memorable with excellent guiding more
Oct 2024, Robin
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Tour of Beijing
Tom from China tours guided us for a hike on the Jiansanling section of The Great Wall and then a one day tour of Beijing including Forbidden City Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. He was very friendly and accommodating from the begin. He answered all of our questions about Chinese history and culture and gave great explanations of the history of all the monuments we visited. The restaurants he chose and dishes he recommended were very tasty on both days. I would recommend him very highly to anyone looking for an English language tour in Beijing and particularly for people interested in history. more
Oct 2024, Sam M
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Beijing in 3-5 Days (Most-Chosen)
Spending three to five days in Beijing is most recommended. It could cover most highlights and gives you a comfortable pace, especially if you are seeking some cultural or food experience. You could spend two to three days on must-see attractions and one to two days for experiential activities.
There are many interesting experiences you could try in Beijing. For families, practicing Tai Chi in the Temple of Heaven with a master or visiting a local family where kids could learn to write Chinese calligraphy are options.
If you are interested in communicating with locals and experiencing local lifestyles, visiting a local market or exploring a Beijing neighborhood/hutong is an excellent way.
- Day 1: Visit the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven
- Day 2: Go Great Wall hiking, then stay a night by the Wall at Gubei Water Town
- Day 3: One-day tour in Gubei Water Town with hands-on experiences like tie-dying and kite-making.
- Day 4: Explore a Beijing neighborhood and try local food
- Day 5: Visit the Summer Palace and depart
If you are traveling with kids or aren't keen on a long walk, we could also arrange a cable car ride to the Great Wall. If you want a more quiet and romantic environment, we could also arrange a sunset tour of the Great Wall for you, and prepare a picnic.
Gubei Water Town could be an alternative option if you don't have enough time.
Our service is personalized to your needs, interests, travel length, and other requirements. Here are more Beijing itinerary ideas:
- 5-Day Beijing Family Tour
- 4-Day Beijing Private Tour
- 6-Day Beijing Winter Tour with Skiing in a Winter Olympic Cluster
Beijing in 1-2 Days (Layovers or Time-Smart Choice)
If you're tight on time, we recommend a one-day itinerary that focuses on Beijing's top two attractions: the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
However, if you want to immerse yourself further in the city's vibrant culture and lifestyle, we suggest spending an additional day exploring Beijing's neighborhoods (hutongs) or indulging in a food tour.
- Day 1: One-day trip to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
- Day 2: A discovery tour of hutongs or a food tour
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require assistance. We are here to help manage your tour arrangements, private transportation, hotels, and anything else you need to make your Beijing itinerary hassle-free.
Side Trip Itineraries from Beijing
If you have more than five days, you might consider extending your trip from Beijing. There are several options for different interests.
1. Beijing and Xi'an and Shanghai Itinerary
Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are known as the "Chinese golden triangle," which takes approximately seven to eight days to explore. In this itinerary, you will see the essence of China:
- Days 1‒3: Beijing
- Days 4‒5: Xi'an
- Days 6‒7: Shanghai
In Xi'an, complement visiting the Terracotta Warriors with a special, hands-on experience of crafting your clay warrior. You could also learn about Chinese history by visiting a history museum and its 600-year-old City Wall.
A tour to the Bund is a must in Shanghai. Step into the old Bund buildings that will bring you their golden age and backstories. Go up to the top of Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China, to overlook the whole city. Take a cruise on the Huangpu River to see its skyline rise above you.
2. A Tour to Luoyang and Shaolin Temple from Beijing
If you are a big fan of Chinese kung fu, you couldn't miss a trip to Shaolin Temple. Luoyang regarded as one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, is famous for the Longmen Grottoes.
- Day 1: Luoyang (visit Longmen Grottoes)
- Day 2: A trip to Shaolin Temple with a kung fu show
Spending one day is enough to visit Shaolin Temple, and Luoyang's highlight could also be visited in one day. But if you have enough time, you can also spend an extra day in Luoyang to see its famous peonies. April is the best time to see them.
It takes a four-hour bullet train journey from Beijing to Luoyang, and it's about 1.5 hours' drive from Luoyang to Shaolin Temple. We will help arrange transportation when booking with us.
3. A Datong and Pingyao Tour from Beijing
If you're interested in Chinese civilization and culture, Datong and Pingyao, stops between Beijing and Xi'an, are great choices.
They are one of the origins of the Central Plains culture (the main body of Chinese culture). You could spend two days in each place without missing their highlights:
- Days 1‒2: Datong (visit grottoes and temples)
- Days 3‒4: Pingyao Ancient Town
In Datong, visit the Yungang Grottoes, one of the biggest Buddhist grottoes in China. Marvel at the magical Hanging Temple. You could climb up to find out why it was built on a cliff.
In Pingyao, you could find the first draft bank in China. Visit an interesting museum — the Armed Escort Company Museum and learn about why it was built and how it was run.
4. A Trip to Chengde from Beijing
After learning about the imperial past in Beijing, if you still want to know more about the royal families' life and stories, Chengde is the ideal choice, especially in summer. For a richer experience, we recommend spending about three days on a visit to Chengde:
- Day 1: Jinshanling Great Wall
- Day 2: Chengde Mountain Retreat
- Day 3: Gubei Water Town
If you've been to the Great Wall, you could choose to go directly to Chengde Mountain Retreat. Chengde Mountain Retreat was where emperors spent their holidays in the summer. You could enjoy its cool weather, exquisite lakes, and pavilions, and also try some local snacks.
When back to Beijing from Chengde, visit Gubei Water Town. Walk around the town and try many interesting hands-on experiences, such as kite-making and tie-dying.
Tour China With Us
All our tours are customized to your needs, interests, travel length, and other requirements. Our private tours are designed to be the most convenient and fulfilling option for your trip to Beijing or China. We would create an itinerary according to your flight times, interests, and anything else you might need.