In this page we describe a four-day programme which makes for an excellent first journey to Beijing, the capital of China. It is a cultural itinerary focusing on the city’s main landmarks and cultural treasures.
The article is the result of numerous journeys taken in different seasons over the span of more than 10 years. As a consequence, when we give suggestions as to how to choose the destinations and allocate time, we have a clear understanding of the priorities that most people might have.
Each day of the journey is given a full description, which includes tips for possible modifications and variations.
At the end we give a few suggestions on how to modify the itinerary and extend it.
Visit to Beijing: 4-day itinerary
Time is limited but in four days you can get a beautiful picture of the modern capital of China and get to know the landmarks which have become symbols of the main historical periods that shaped the city.
A four-day stay allows to visit much of the most important cultural treasures of Beijing with some room for variations and improvisation margin.
Day 1: Summer Palace, ShiChaHai
The first day is devoted to the Summer Palace and ShiChaHai, a scenic area near the Forbidden City. You can get around by subway (it is recommended to buy a magnetic transportation card; see details below).
Summer Palace
The Summer Palace (颐和园, YiHeYuan) is an expansive imperial recreational residence. It was built in 1750 for the benefit of Emperor QianLong.
Following ravages and pillage by French and British invaders, who did not even spare the even more valuable and magnificent Old Summer Palace (or YuanMingYuan), large scale restoration works took place under the reign of Empress CiXi.
The scenic site is centred on a small mountain, the Longevity Hill, and a large pond, the Kunming Lake. It comprises a great variety of elegant buildings (pavilions, bridges, terraces, worship halls), gardens and as well as an interesting collection of artistic artefacts. The scenes were made to incorporate the surrounding natural landscape in harmony.
The Summer Palace lies in HaiDian District. It can be reached from the centre by subway (Line 4) in around 30 minutes.
ShiChaHai
North-west of the Forbidden City is ShiChaHai (什刹海), a historic scenic area centred around three lakes surrounded by a lush vegetation. Around the lakes are quite a few hutong quarters where you can see traditional courtyard houses. The popular NanLuoGuXiang (南锣鼓巷) lies east of ShiChaHai. Non far are other ancient buildings such as the Bell Tower (钟楼) and Drum Tower (鼓楼).
Variations
If you want to discover the university city, on the way back to the centre from the Summer Palace you add a short detour for a visit to Haidian district. Here are many of the country’s most prestigious universities. Some of them house interesting museums and can be accessed.
If you are a student of Mandarin do not miss the bookshop of the University of Language and Culture (北京语言大学, BeiJing YuYan DaXue).
You can then choose to spend the night in WuDaoKou (五道口), a popular night-life spot among foreign and Chinese students.
Day 2: National Museum of China, Forbidden City
The second day is devoted to the National Museum of China and the Forbidden City. The two sites are close to each other but keep in mind that they are very large and there is a lot of walking involved. The effort will be rewarded with the exceptional opportunity of getting to know works of a immense artistic and cultural value.
National Museum of China
The National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆, ZhongGuo GuoJia BoWuGuan) is an extraordinary introduction to the culture and history of China. It would take some days to visit it in a proper way.
For a half-day (3-4 hour long) visit we suggest focusing on the section dedicated to Ancient China. Here are on display a great number of ancient relics and works of art of exceptional importance and beauty. Explanations are complete and the presentation is engaging.
Forbidden City
The Purple Forbidden City (紫禁城, ZiJinCheng; also known as 故宫, GuGong, “Palace Museum”) is an expansive imperial residence which was the seat of power during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The magnificent complex among the largest and finest models of palatial architecture in China’s modern history. Impressive for its scale, beauty, importance and artistic value of its buildings and cultural treasures, it is a destination not to be missed and it should be visited with the support of a competent guide or at least after proper learning and study.
The Forbidden City was built by Emperor ZhuDi between 1406 and 1420. Located in the geographical centre of the Beijing, in its spatial arrangements the imperial residence was built in accordance with the traditional principles of urban planning formulated in Ancient China. The symmetric layout features is centred upon a central axis and distinguishes between an outer court (at the front) and an inner court (at the rear). The buildings, whose appearance and decoration reflects their rank in the hierarchy of functions are separated by landscaped courtyards.
The halls along the central axis are supreme models of beauty and harmony and they are not to be missed main destination of any visit itinerary.
Major architectures in the outer court are the Meridian Gate, (午门, WuMen), the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿, TaiHeDian), the most important hall where the enthronement ceremonies took place, the Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿, ZhongHeDian), where the emperor would rest before performing his duties, the Hall of Preserved Harmony (保和殿, BaoHeDian), where imperial exams took place.
Through the Gate of Heavenly Purity (乾清门, QianQingMen) one gets access to the Inner Court. Here are the Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, QianQingGong), living quarter, later used for ceremonies, the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union (交泰殿, JiaoTaiDian), the resting place for the empresses, the Palace of Earthly Tranquillity (坤宁宫, KunNingGong), used by the imperial couple after the wedding.
All buildings have elegant roofs with distinctive yellow glazed tiles, the only exception being the library, the WenYuanGe (文渊阁) whose roof is black, a colour associated with water and thus supposed to keep fire away.
Of great interest also the religious buildings whose architecture often beautifully combines different styles (of Han, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan origin).
The collection of artefacts housed by the Forbidden City is impressive. It includes paintings, works of calligraphy, porcelain, bronzes, ritual objects, sculptures, books and precious documents. What you can see on site is only a part. A substantial portion of it is now in Taipei.
A wonderful view of the Forbidden City, Tian’AnMen Square and the centre of Beijing can be had from the summit of JingShan Hill (景山). Located in front of the northern gate of the Forbidden City, this is a picturesque artificial hill dotted with graceful pavilions and the best place where you can conclude your visit.
Day 3: Beijing, Great Wall of China
The third day in Beijing is dedicated to a visit to the Great Wall of China (长城, ChangCheng). Depending on which section you choose to visit, different programmes are possible.
As it is recommended to visit the Great Wall by taking part in a guided tour, your choice will somewhat depend on the general programme offered.
Excursion to the Great Wall
These are the main section that you can easily visit on a day-excursion from Beijing:
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BaDaLing (八达岭), the closest and most visited section of the Great Wall, located within the borders of Beijing Municipality. It was built during the Ming Dynasty Period. It features imposing, wide walls with large fortification works and watch towers. Winding up along the ridges of a rugged mountain landscape, it is a beautiful sight. While very impressive, it is not the best choice for those who seek to satisfy their fascination with ruins. Over-crowding is also a major drawback in this choice. Nearby the Great Wall Museum provides detailed information on the history, function and construction of the wall. BaDaLing can be reached by bus and train. A very convenient option is offered by a high-speed train service from Beijing North Station (北京北站, BeiJingBeiZhan) that takes around 35 minutes at a cost of 30 yuan. Another advantage for those with little mobility is the lack of steep paths and the presence of a cable car and other services;
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MuTianYu (慕田峪), a beautiful section of the Great Wall located in the Municipality of Beijing, first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty. The natural landscape of the area, dominated by forests, is very beautiful and the architecture of the section, which comprise numerous watchtowers in different configuration and style, is very elegant. Restoration works here have been more discreet and respectful of the material reality. This section offers a perfect balance between beauty of the context, authenticity of the architecture, easiness in reaching and visiting the site. A landmark not to be missed is the ZhengGuan Terrace (正关台, ZhengGuanTai), a rare defensive structure resulting from the combination of three watchtowers. From the point of access you can reach it by hiking or by chairlift and a fun toboggan track can be used for the descent. MuTianYu is popular but usually not too crowded. Independent travelling by bus is possible. A special bus line leaves from DongZhiMen Station, a main subway station in the centre of Beijing. The journey lasts less than 2 hours and costs 30 yuan;
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SiMaTai (司马台), a beautiful section where restoration works have been limited to consolidation. Consequently the wall here is often in a state of ruin, which makes the scenery particularly fascinating. The work is built through a dramatically changing terrain and features an interesting variety of configurations and technical solutions. Watchtowers exhibit different styles. The Simatai section is close to GuBei (古北水镇), a quaint ancient water town that be reached by bus from DongZhiMen Station in Beijing in around 2 hours at a price of 50 yuan.
There are many other sections but these are the most popular and most tour operators include them in their programmes.
Again, when making a choice you should consider the overall programme. In some cases visits to the Great Wall are coupled to other visits. Typical pairings are the following:
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BaDaLing and Ming Tombs;
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SiMaLian and GuBei water town.
Depending on which sections of the Great Wall you choose to visit, you may have some extra time available in the evening. You can use it to visit one of the optional destinations we have listed in the previous paragraph (Day 12).
Alternatively, you can also consider a simple relaxing walk along the WangFuJing Avenue (王府井大街) or QianMen Avenue (前门大街), popular avenues full of restaurants and shops, or an evening visit to the iconic Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, NiaoChao) the 2008 Olympic Stadium.
Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Temple of Confucius
The last day, perfect coronation of the journey, is dedicated to three temples of great spiritual, cultural and historical importance.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven (天坛, TianTan) is a large ancient temple of paramount historical, cultural, artistic and spiritual importance located in the centre of Beijing.
It was the site where important rituals where performed by the emperors of China. As such the place of worship has always had a central role in the Chinese civilization.
The temple comprises a number of buildings of exquisite architecture and beauty arranged along a central axis. The layout, constructive solutions, morphology and decorations of the halls and auxiliary structures reflect core principles of the Chinese traditional cosmology and bear testimony to the greatness of the ensuing civilization.
The beautiful temple is set in perfect harmony amid an expansive park which is integral part of the site. The temple was built in 1420 under the rule of the Ming Dynasty as the site of rituals for Heaven Worship.
The encircling wall separates the temple from the profane world. It is made of parts of different shapes, rectilinear and circular. The square shape alludes to Earth while the round one is a symbol of Heaven. This symbolism is also replicated many times throughout the area.
The main buildings are aligned along a north-south central axis. The path, the Sacred Way, is made by a monumental walkway marked by elegant gates, the DanBi Bridge.
At the southern end is Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛, HuanQiuTan), which is stricto sensu the Temple of Heaven, i.e. the place where Heaven Worship rituals took place. The altar is the centre of a large three-level marble platform lavishly decorated. The composition resonates the number nine, a symbol for the emperor.
A long and monumental path leads from the Circular Mound Altar through elegant gates to the Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇, HuangQingYu), the hall where the Gods’ tablets were stored.
The path eventually leads to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿, QiNianDian). With its elegant round shape and the distinctive triple-layer roof, the iconic architecture is a masterpiece for the perfect combination of beauty and symbolism.
Numerous auxiliary buildings are located to the east and west of the central axis. They include the Imperial Kitchen, the Palace of Abstinence and other small scale constructions.
How to reach the Temple of Heaven
The easiest way to reach the Temple of Heaven is in most cases travelling by subway. The TianTanDongMen Station (天坛东门站, TianTanDongMenZhan) lies east of the temple. It is served by Line 5.
Where to stay in Beijing
For a short visit it is recommended to find an accommodation in the centre or at least near the major subway lines, which for the purpose of tourism are Line 1, 4 and 5.
Popular tourist spots with a large number of hostels and cheap hotels is QianMen, south of Tian’AnMen Square. Around WangFuJing Avenue, east of the Forbidden City, is a wide range of mid-range to high-end.
Further away from the city but still an excellent location strategically served by Line 1 and Line 5 is Dongdan. Here are a few hostels and good value-for-money hotels.
Some of the city’s finest and most atmospheric hotels set inside ancient traditional courtyard houses can be found near ShiChaHai, south-west of the Forbidden City, an area occupied by lakes and parks.
The night-life spot for foreigners is SanLiTun and the most popular university district is WuDaoKou.
Orientation, how to get around in Beijing
Beijing is immense but getting around is not too difficult provided you have based yourself in the centre or at least in an area served by major subway lines.
The subway offers the most convenient way of getting around. Rides are incredibly cheap and you can reach almost all places of interest (at least all the places mentioned in this page) by subway.
Taxis usually use the metre and rides are quite cheap.
This itinerary is ideally part of a two-week journey to China. See: China suggested 2-week itinerary.
