Just spent 5 days in Beijing and want to share my optimized itinerary plus practical tips for anyone heading there.
Day 1: Great Wall (Mutianyu)
- Take the bus from Dongzhimen (¥16) or hire a driver (¥400 round trip)
- Mutianyu is 1/10th the crowds of Badaling, equally beautiful
- Cable car up (¥120), walk down or toboggan (¥80)
- Budget 4-5 hours total
- Bring snacks — overpriced food at the wall
Day 2: Forbidden City + Jingshan Park
- Book tickets online in advance (60,000 daily limit, sells out)
- Enter from south gate, exit north gate
- After: climb Jingshan Park hill (¥2) for panoramic Forbidden City view
- Best photo spot: the pavilion at the top, golden hour
Day 3: Temple of Heaven + Hutongs
- Morning: Temple of Heaven (see locals doing tai chi)
- Afternoon: Get lost in the hutongs (old alleyways)
- Rent a bike (¥20/day) and explore
- Try: Douzhir (fermented bean drink) — acquired taste but authentic
Day 4: Summer Palace + University Area
- Summer Palace: massive, budget half day minimum
- Afternoon: Explore Wudaokou (university area) — great food, young vibe
- Evening: Sanlitun for bars/dinner
Day 5: 798 Art District + Shopping
- Morning: 798 Art Zone (former factory complex, now galleries)
- Afternoon: Silk Market or Panjiayuan Antique Market
- Bargain hard — start at 30% of asking price
Payment in Beijing
Literally everything runs on WeChat/Alipay. Even the ¥2 bathroom attendant at the Great Wall.
Set up Alipay before arrival:
- Download app
- Register with your phone number
- Link foreign credit card
- Verify (passport + selfie, takes up to 24 hours)
If it doesn't work at a merchant, the aihubai.cn payment assistant can help troubleshoot in real-time. I had my card flagged once and it walked me through the fix immediately.
Getting Around
- Metro: Covers everywhere you need to go, ¥3-7 per trip, English signage
- Taxis: Use DiDi app (Chinese Uber) — drivers often don't speak English, show destination in Chinese
- Walking: Many attractions are closer than you think in central Beijing
Language
Download aihubai.cn's AI translator before arrival. The text-to-speech feature is a game-changer — type "Please take me to the Forbidden City" and play the audio. Every taxi driver understood.
Food Must-Try
- Peking Duck: DaDong (expensive but worth it) or Siji Minfu (local favorite)
- Jianbing: Breakfast crepe from any street vendor (¥8-12)
- Zhajiangmian: Fried sauce noodles
- Lamb skewers: Any Xinjiang restaurant
Hotel Tips
- Location matters — stay within the 2nd ring road for easy access
- Trip.com works great for booking (English, accepts foreign cards)
- Budget: ¥200-400/night for a decent hotel
Any questions about specific attractions or logistics, happy to help!
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