With a wealth of historical and cultural attractions, world-class dining, epic nightlife, and plenty of options for outdoor adventures on the outskirts of the city, you could spend a year in Beijing and not do it all. For most travelers, though, you’ll probably only get a few days to explore the Chinese capital. To make the most out of your visit, it’s best to give yourself at least three full days in Beijing. As such, add a day on each end for travel in and out of the city. Make sure you get some good rest on your first night, because day one is jam-packed.

Temple of Heaven

It’s your first full day in Beijing, so you might as well make the most of it. As Beijing was planned on a south-north axis, your epic day of sightseeing will take you right along this path. Start your day off early in the morning at the Temple of Heaven (天坛 – tiān tán), where you’ll spot locals doing tai chi and you can see the impressive temple, which was used in Imperial times to offer up sacrifices. It can be reached by subway on line 5, by local bus, or of course by cab.

Around Tiananmen

From there, head to Qianmen Street (前门大街 – qián mén dà jiē) and dip down some of the side alleyways. These are more authentic than the modernized main street, and you’ll be able to find a cheap Beijing breakfast – soybean milk, steamed stuffed buns, fried dough, and porridge. Next up, check out Tiananmen Square (天安门广场 – tiān’ān mén guǎng chǎng). If you’re so inclined, you can get there at sunrise to see the daily flag raising, or you can stand in line to see the body of Chairman Mao. Around Tiananmen, you’ll find both the National Museum (国家博物馆 – guó jiā bó wù guǎn) and the Planning & Exhibition Hall (规划展览馆 – guī huà zhǎn lǎn guǎn). The former is free and is full of interesting exhibits; the latter costs 30 RMB to enter and features an incredible model of Beijing on a 1:750 scale.

Forbidden City and Jingshan Park

Across from Tiananmen, you’ll find the Forbidden City (故宫 – gù gōng). Buy a ticket and head in to see where many emperors of China once called home. This massive compound can be done in around two hours, but if you try to see everything inside it might take three to four. Exiting out the north entrance takes you right to Jingshan Park (景山公园 – jǐng shān gōng yuán), another great place to spot locals doing their thing – dancing, playing cards, flying kites, and more. It was here that the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen, hung himself from a tree after fleeing the Forbidden City. At the top of the “Coal Hill,” you’re treated to a breathtaking view of Beijing, both new and old. Of course, this is only true on clear days – Beijing’s famous air pollution limits the view most of the time.

Explore the Hutongs

From the west side of Jinghsan Park, you can hop on local bus #5 and take it to the Drum Tower (鼓楼 – gǔ lóu). Near the bus stop, you’ll find both the Drum and Bell Towers, Beijing’s ancient clocks. You might as well get the double ticket and see both towers. There’s a drum performance up in the tower a few times a day that is not to be missed, and from both towers you’ll get a nice view of old Beijing neighborhoods and the famous alleyways, called hutong (胡同 – hú tòng) in Chinese. Since you’ll be tired, you should stop to relax, drink a cup of tea (or coffee), and get some lunch. There are plenty of places to do so around the Drum Tower, so take your pick. Sculpting in Time, a nice little café, and 4 Corners, a Vietnamese restaurant around the corner, both come recommended.

Hou Hai

After lunch, a short walk will take you to Hou Hai (后海 – hòu hǎi), a man-made lake in the center of the city. In the warmer months, you can rent a boat to cruise around the lake, and in winter you can go ice-skating. Year round, bicycles are also available for rent. Cruise around the three lakes, take in the sunset, and get out of there before all the bars turn on their offensively loud music and send out their pushy and obnoxious workers to draw in customers.

Olympic Park

With the sun down, it’s a good time to head north to take in the sights of modern Beijing at the Olympic Park. From the Hou Hai area, it’s best to just get a cab there. At night, the Bird’s Nest (鸟巢 – niǎo cháo) and Water Cube (水立方 – shuǐ lì fāng) are both illuminated in a sea of neon light. Outside, it’s like the Olympics never ended, with hordes of Chinese tourists posing for pictures and plenty of touts selling knick-knacks and photography services.

Peking Roast Duck

Having seen the emperor’s former residence in the Forbidden City and playground in Hou Hai, it’s time to eat like the emperor. Head to Da Dong, one of Beijing’s most famous restaurants, to eat the imperial bird – Peking roast duck (北京烤鸭 – běi jīng kǎo yā). While you wait for a table, grab a free glass of house wine and watch the master chefs at work preparing this fantastic fowl. The menu here is like a novel, so take your time and order up a few dishes to complement your duck. When the bird is ready, they’ll take it out to your table and carve it up right in front of you. It’s an incredible dining experience that is a must-do in Beijing.

Craft Beer

Although Beijing has never been known as a city for craft beer lovers, that is changing rapidly. Over the past few years, a handful of local breweries have popped up, pouring tasty micro-brews for crowds of thirsty customers. Try a flight of five tasty beers at Slow Boat, sample a pint of Honey Ma Blonde at Great Leap, or try a really strong IPA at Jing A to wind down one hell of a day in the Chinese capital.

Nightlife

If you’re a night owl and you just have to take in some of the city’s nightlife, your options are plentiful. Whether you want to rock out with local bands, drink fancy cocktails, get crazy in a club, or just wander around drinking cheap beers in the street, the night is your oyster in Beijing.

Day One Itinerary

• *Temple of Heaven

• Qianmen Street for breakfast

• Tiananmen Square

• Planning & Exhibition Hall OR National Museum

• Forbidden City

• Jingshan Park

• Drum & Bell Towers

• Hou Hai

• *Olympic Park

• Roast Duck at Da Dong

• Drinks at a local brewery

• *Nightlife

*I realize that this is an action-packed day that may leave most people sleeping in the street before it’s over. That being said, the items with an asterisk (*) can be omitted, in my humble opinion. While the Temple of Heaven and Olympic Parks are both cool, they can be scrapped in favor of spending more time in the other spots and not tiring yourself out. If you have more time in Beijing, you can go back and visit these places whenever you feel like it. Obviously, the same goes for the nightlife. I realize that most people would rather relax in their hotel after that kind of day, but what can I say… we like to party, sorry if you don’t.