Beijing, Route First

Beijing is China's capital, where the imperial palace and the Great Wall sit in the same city. The sights are spread out, so how you group them shapes your whole trip. This guide covers each key site and how to reach it.

The Forbidden City runs on reservations, and which Great Wall section you pick changes the difficulty and the view. Here is a section comparison and a 5-day outline.

The bottom line: one day each for the palace and the Wall

Give the Forbidden City and the Great Wall a day each. Both involve long walks, and packing them into one day is exhausting.

The Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven each take half a day.

Key sights: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen

The Forbidden City lies beyond Tiananmen Gate, running in a straight line from the Meridian Gate in the south to the Gate of Divine Prowess in the north.

• It operates on advance online reservations and admits visitors by passport.
• Tiananmen Square has security checks, and crossing may require a reservation.
• Climbing Jingshan Park north of the palace gives a full view over the Forbidden City.

Comparing Great Wall sections

Getting there: air and rail

Beijing has two airports, Capital International and Daxing International. Both connect to the city by airport rail, shuttle bus, and taxi.

High-speed trains leave from Beijing South and Beijing West stations. Shanghai is about four and a half hours away, and Xi'an runs four and a half to five hours.

Getting around: metro and bus

Beijing's metro is extensive and cheap, though security checks at major stations add time.

• Line 1: Tiananmen East and West, near Wangfujing
• Line 2: central loop
• Line 8: Olympic Park, near Nanluoguxiang
• Line 4: toward the Summer Palace

Rush hour is packed, so plan sightseeing around it.

Suggested 5-day itinerary

Food and practical notes

Beijing's staples include roast duck, zhajiangmian, lamb hotpot, and douzhi. Hutongs and the Wangfujing area serve a wide range of local dishes.

• Spring can bring dust storms and haze.
• Winters are cold and dry, with strong indoor heating.
• The Forbidden City is often closed on Mondays, so check your dates.