All citiesBeijing Things to do and walking itinerary
China Beijing travel guide
29 things to do in Beijing, where to stay, airport transfers, 1 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Beijing
- Forbidden City — Chinese imperial palace in Beijing (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Tiananmen Square — public square in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Temple of Heaven — imperial complex of religious buildings in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- National Museum of China — museum in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Zhongnanhai — imperial garden in central Beijing, China (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Mausoleum of Mao Zedong — final resting place of Mao Zedong, former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 15 min)
- National Centre for the Performing Arts — opera house in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Niujie Mosque — mosque in Beijing (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Jingshan Park — urban park (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Beihai Park — an imperial park, built in Song Liao Jin dynasties, adjacent to the Forbidden City in Beijing (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Monument to the People's Heroes — monument in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Yonghe Temple — tibetan lama temple in Beijing (visit ≈ 90 min)
- St. Joseph's Church, Beijing — church building in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Zhengyangmen — city gate (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — catholic cathedral in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Capital Museum — museum in Xicheng, Beijing, China (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Temple of Earth — building in Dongcheng District, China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Church of the Saviour — church in Beijing (visit ≈ 30 min)
- National Art Museum of China — art museum in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Fayuan Temple — building in Xicheng District, China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- White Cloud Temple — sacred architecture (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Beijing Temple of Confucius — the second largest Confucian Temple in China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Temple of the Sun — building in Chaoyang District, China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Temple of the Moon — temple in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Zhongshan Park (Beijing, China) — park in Beijing (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Deshengmen — city gate in Beijing (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Miaoying Temple — Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Prince Gong's Mansion — building in Beijing, China (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Beijing city fortifications — ancient walls and towers around Beijing (visit ≈ 60 min)
2-day Beijing walking itinerary
Starting point: Wangfujing / Dongcheng. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.5 km · 12,790 steps · 2 h 6 min on the way): Forbidden City → Jingshan Park → Beihai Park → Zhongnanhai
- Day 2 (≈ 7.6 km · 10,200 steps · 1 h 42 min on the way): National Centre for the Performing Arts → Mausoleum of Mao Zedong → Tiananmen Square → National Museum of China
Where to stay in Beijing
- Wangfujing / Dongcheng: Near the Forbidden City, shopping street and metro.
- Nanluoguxiang / Gulou: Hutong lanes and courtyard boutique hotels.
- Qianmen: Walk to Tiananmen, historic shopping street.
- Sanlitun: Modern malls, bars and international food.
- Guomao (CBD): Skyscrapers and upscale chain hotels.
- Houhai: Lakeside, lively bars at night.
Getting from the airport to Beijing
- Capital (PEK): Airport Express metro line ≈ 25 min
- Daxing (PKX): Daxing Airport Express line ≈ 20 min
Getting around
The metro is fast and cheap; ride with a QR code via Alipay or WeChat Pay. Use DiDi for taxis.
Classic places to eat
- Siji Minfu: Wrap the Peking duck in thin pancakes; book ahead.
- Quanjude Qianmen: Wood-fired Peking duck since 1864.
- Liqun Roast Duck: Family-run duck roaster inside a hutong.
- Donglaishun: Copper-pot lamb shuan yangrou hot pot.
- Huguosi Snacks: Traditional Beijing sweets and snacks.
- Yaoji Chaogan: Liver stew chaogan and baozi near Gulou.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- King’s Joy — 3 MICHELIN stars, Vegetarian
Romantic views
- Jingshan Park (Sunset): From the hilltop pavilion you see the roofs of the Forbidden City from above.
- Houhai Lake (Evening): Lanterns glow and boats drift along the willow-lined lake.
- Summer Palace Seventeen-Arch Bridge (Sunset): The bridge turns golden as the sun sets over Kunming Lake.
- Beihai Park (Afternoon): You can row on the lake and look up at the White Dagoba.
Day trips
- Summer Palace — 15 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting Beijing
- Fine: Drug offences carry extremely severe penalties, including death.
- Fine: Photographing military sites and some official buildings, or flying drones without permits, is banned.
- Fine: Smoking is banned in enclosed public places in major cities.
- Warning: Carry your passport; if staying in a private home you must register with police within 24 hours.
- Warning: Unauthorised protests and religious activities are banned; check official travel advice.
- Warning: The Tibet Autonomous Region needs an extra entry permit.
- Emergency: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119
- Plugs: A/C/I, 220V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use boiled or bottled.
- Tipping: Tipping isn't customary.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: China, Wikivoyage — China, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Beijing travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Beijing?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 5 days for the top 16 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Summer Palace).
- What are the top things to do in Beijing?
- Highlights: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, National Museum of China and Zhongnanhai. The map has 29 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Beijing?
- Wangfujing / Dongcheng: Near the Forbidden City, shopping street and metro. Other options: Nanluoguxiang / Gulou, Qianmen, Sanlitun, Guomao (CBD) and Houhai.
- How do you get from the airport to Beijing city centre?
- Capital (PEK): Airport Express metro line ≈ 25 min · Daxing (PKX): Daxing Airport Express line ≈ 20 min
- How do you get around Beijing?
- The metro is fast and cheap; ride with a QR code via Alipay or WeChat Pay. Use DiDi for taxis.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Beijing?
- According to the last known data there are 1 starred restaurants: King’s Joy (3 stars). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Beijing?
- Emergency: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119.
- Do you tip in Beijing?
- Tipping isn't customary.
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