Articles

Beijing Classic Three-Day Tour

Best Season: All year round

Route Overview

D1 Tiananmen Square (1.5 hours) → Qianmen Street (1.5 hours) → Quanjude (Qianmen Branch) (1 hour) → Forbidden City (3 hours) → Jingshan Park (1 hour)
D2 Temple of Heaven (2.5 hours) → Lama Temple (2 hours) → Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum (1.5 hours) → Guijie (2 hours)
D3 Prince Gong's Mansion (2.5 hours) → Shichahai (3 hours) → Nanluoguxiang (optional choice, 1.5 hours) → Shichahai Bar Street (2 hours)

Tips

D1

Travel Tips

Morning

In the morning, go to Tiananmen Square and experience the majesty of this largest square in the world. (If you want to see the flag-raising, you must arrive early, because the flag-raising time coincides with the sunrise time, so you must check the information in advance and arrive at least an hour in advance.) After seeing the Heroes Monument, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People and other buildings, You can go shopping around Qianmen, feel the style of the old Beijing shopping streets, and have lunch here by the way.

Tiananmen Square (1.5 hours) -> Walk for 15 minutes-> Qianmen Street (1.5 hours) -> Walk for 5 minutes-> Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (Qianmen Branch) (1 hour)
image of Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square

image of Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street

image of Quanjude (Qianmen Branch)

Quanjude (Qianmen Branch)

Afternoon

After lunch, you can take the bus back to the vicinity of Tiananmen Tower and start your afternoon visit to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is quite large with many scenic spots, so it's best to do some homework before visiting, or follow a tour guide to listen to the explanations. After exiting from the north gate of the Forbidden City, you will arrive at Jingshan Park. Climbing Jingshan will allow you to see the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and a 360-degree view of Beijing. If you still have energy, you can stroll around the alleys in the surrounding area at dusk to experience the most authentic life of the common people in Beijing.

The Forbidden City (3 hours) -> 5-minute walk-> Jingshan Park (1 hour)
image of The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City

image of Jingshan Park

Jingshan Park

Transportation Guide

As the capital, Beijing's urban transportation is very developed. Subway and bus are the most commonly used means of transportation for tourists. After arriving in Beijing, it is strongly recommended to get a "Municipal Transportation Smart Card" in the subway station, which can be used for subway, bus, and some urban rail transit. Today's transportation mainly relies on walking. After touring around Qianmen-Dashilar, if you want to go back to Tiananmen to visit the Forbidden City, you can take bus 2/59/120 from Dashilar bus station to get off at Tiananmen East Station.

Dining Guide

Beijing has been a cosmopolitan city with a mix of ethnic groups for hundreds of years, hence the variety of snacks here is unique and rich in both salty and sweet flavors. Although Beijing cuisine is not included in the eight major cuisines, the reputation of Beijing's food has long been spread abroad, with freshness and suitability being the common characteristics of Beijing cuisine. Qianmen Street gathers many time-honored brands such as Quanjude and Dong Lai Shun, as well as the flagship stores of other Beijing delicacies. The restaurants are always packed with people. The Dazhalan Hutong nearby is a gathering place for many characteristic snacks. If you want to taste delicacies like "baodu" and "lu zhu," visiting here is definitely the right choice.

image of Quanjude (Qianmen Branch)

Quanjude (Qianmen Branch)

Roast Duck

image of Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant (Qianmen Langfang Ertiao Branch)

Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant (Qianmen Langfang Ertiao Branch)

Roast Duck

image of Qianmen Story Restaurant

Qianmen Story Restaurant

Beijing Cuisine

image of Courtyard Creative Cuisine (Dianmen Branch)

Courtyard Creative Cuisine (Dianmen Branch)

Creative Cuisine

Accommodation Tips

There are so many delicious foods nearby, walking distance to the old Beijing Dong Lai Shun hot pot, Si Ji Min Fu roast duck restaurant, and a 15-minute drive to Guijie. Stroll and eat all the way to the Forbidden City

D2

Travel Tips

Morning

This morning, head to the Temple of Heaven for a visit. The scenic area has four entrances in the southeast, northwest, southwest, and northeast directions. It is recommended to enter from the south gate and exit from the north gate, which allows you to visit in the order of the Circular Mound Altar, the Echo Wall, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, to obtain the best viewing experience.

Temple of Heaven (2.5 hours)
image of The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven

Afternoon

In the afternoon, visit the Yonghegong area. As the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing and the former residence of Emperor Yongzheng, the popularity and grandeur of Yonghegong are unparalleled by other Buddhist temples, making it very much worth a visit. After visiting Yonghegong, you can go to the Confucius Temple and the Imperial Academy across the street. It is highly recommended to follow an internal guide for the visit, otherwise, many details cannot be fully understood on your own.

Yonghegong (2 hours) -> Walk for 8 minutes-> Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum (1.5 hours)
image of Lama Temple

Lama Temple

image of Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy Museum

Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy Museum

Evening

After visiting the attractions, you can come to the vicinity of Guizhai Street for a big meal in the evening. Here, you can find delicious food from all over the country, mainly with a spicy flavor, and each restaurant has its own signature dishes. When you are out late at night, the bustling Guizhai Street with its bright lights will definitely let you feel another charm of Beijing.

Guijie (2 hours)
image of Guijie Street

Guijie Street

Transportation Guide

Today's itinerary primarily relies on the subway for transportation. To visit the Temple of Heaven, take the subway line 5 and exit at Tiantan East Gate Station from Exit A2. After finishing the visit to the Temple of Heaven, you can continue to take the subway line 5 to Yonghegong Station, and the attraction is right at Exit C. The rest of the day's itinerary can be completed on foot.

Dining Guide

As one of the landmark buildings of old Beijing, the various foods around the Temple of Heaven are also full of hidden treasures. From hot pot to various specialty snacks, the emphasis is on high cost-effectiveness and a common people's temperament. Guizhai Street is a 24-hour feast for the palate within the capital city. Within a kilometer-long street, a series of restaurants and eateries encompass flavors from Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, and Hunan, including hot pot, barbecue, and other delicacies, with spicy crayfish, mouth-watering bullfrog, and grilled fish being the most famous. Red lanterns hang high on Guizhai Street, which has become the trendsetting indicator for the most popular food in Beijing.

image of Nanmen Shuanrou (Nanmen Branch)

Nanmen Shuanrou (Nanmen Branch)

Hot Pot

image of Lao Ciji Kou Douzhi Store (Temple of Heaven Branch)

Lao Ciji Kou Douzhi Store (Temple of Heaven Branch)

Snacks

image of Hu Da Restaurant 24h (Gaiji Street Main Branch)

Hu Da Restaurant 24h (Gaiji Street Main Branch)

Spicy Crayfish

image of Huajia Yiyuan (Siheyuan Headquarter)

Huajia Yiyuan (Siheyuan Headquarter)

Beijing Cuisine

image of Suppose in Chengdu, the beautiful frog hotpot (Gaiji Street Branch)

Suppose in Chengdu, the beautiful frog hotpot (Gaiji Street Branch)

Fish Hotpot

image of Qi Xun Ba Zhao Yu Yu Cai Restaurant

Qi Xun Ba Zhao Yu Yu Cai Restaurant

Beijing Cuisine

Accommodation Tips

There are so many delicious foods nearby, walking distance to the old Beijing Dong Lai Shun hot pot, Si Ji Min Fu roast duck restaurant, and a 15-minute drive to Guijie. Stroll and eat all the way to the Forbidden City

D3

Travel Tips

Morning

In the morning, visit the residence of "China's first big corrupt official" He Shen - Prince Gong's Mansion. The layout of this mansion is even higher than the specifications of the Forbidden City from some perspectives. It is recommended to follow the tour guide to visit in detail, otherwise you will miss many interesting stories and details.

Prince Gong's Mansion (2.5 hours)
image of Prince Gong's Mansion

Prince Gong's Mansion

Afternoon

After lunch, you can visit Shichahai for sightseeing. There are numerous small attractions here, such as the former residences of Song Qingling and Guo Moruo, which are all located here. You can also stroll along Yandaixie Street to experience the profound local atmosphere and the rich characteristics of old Beijing. Heading northeast, you will see the landmark building of old Beijing - the Bell and Drum Towers. If you are not tired, you can go to the crowded Nanluoguxiang to have a look. The alleyways on both sides of the alley have a lot of history to talk about. In the evening, you can enjoy the night view by Houhai, and if you are interested, you might as well experience the bar culture here.

Shichahai (3 hours) -> 5-minute walk-> Nanluoguxiang (optional choice, 1.5 hours) -> 10-minute walk.-> Shichahai Bar Street (2 hours)
image of Shichahai

Shichahai

image of Nanluoguxiang

Nanluoguxiang

image of Shichahai Bar Street

Shichahai Bar Street

Transportation Guide

The Prince Gong's Mansion is located on the west side of Shichahai. After getting off at Beigongmen Station on Line 6 of the subway, walk north for 300 meters to arrive. The Shichahai-Bell and Drum Tower-Nanluoguxiang area can be completed on foot. This area can also be visited by rickshaw, and the rickshaw drivers will take you to the alleys and tell you old Beijing stories. Regular rickshaws have a service price list, which clearly lists the tour route, tour time, and the cost for each visitor.

Dining Guide

Shichahai/Nanluoguxiang area retains the old customs and history of old Beijing, and here naturally there are many time-honored brands. The bars by the sea are also the highlights of this place now. Many high-quality characteristic restaurants are hidden in the alleys around here. If you can't find something you like to eat here, it's really difficult.

image of Ju De Hua Tian Barbecue Season (Shichahai Main Store)

Ju De Hua Tian Barbecue Season (Shichahai Main Store)

Zhu Zi Grilled Meat

image of Dong Xing Shun Bao Du Zhang

Dong Xing Shun Bao Du Zhang

Fried Tripe

image of Tongheju (Shichahai Branch)

Tongheju (Shichahai Branch)

Shandong Cuisine

image of Yaoji Fried Liver Restaurant (Gulou Branch)

Yaoji Fried Liver Restaurant (Gulou Branch)

Stir-fried Liver

image of Richang Restaurant (Dianmen Headquarter)

Richang Restaurant (Dianmen Headquarter)

Cantonese Cuisine

image of Wen Yu Cheese Shop (Nanluoguxiang Branch)

Wen Yu Cheese Shop (Nanluoguxiang Branch)

Cheese

image of Houhai No. 5

Houhai No. 5

Bar

image of East Coast Jazz Bar

East Coast Jazz Bar

Bar

Accommodation Tips

Tsinghua University-Beijing University-Zhongguancun area is the educational/technological center of Beijing, with convenient transportation, where the subway line 4 and many bus lines intersect. In addition to many well-known schools, there are also attractions such as the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace nearby. It is recommended to stay here for the latter half of the trip in Beijing.