Beijing
Beijing is one of the four municipalities of China. This megacity is
a mix of winding Hutongs, modern business hubs, national buildings –
but also stunning scenic areas and the renowned Great Wall of China.
Itinerary Highlights
/ hutongs
Beijing has an abundance of old laneways that cannot be removed for the building of modern structures. These are cool places to find bars, vintage shops and local food.
/ badaling great wall
80km from Beijing city centre, this part of the Great Wall is found in a more remote village with breath-taking views and crowd-free wall walks.
/ 798 art zone
This is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown. Explore countless galleries, street art, bars and coffee shops in this huge art zone.
/ national historic spots
This ancient capital is home to countless famous scenic spots. The history stretches back 3 millennia and monuments and museums to show for it are sprawled all over Beijing.
Suggested Itinerary
Recommended time (4 days +)
*NOTE: Beijing has a lot of tourist attractions regarding national
history – you can spend much longer here exploring them all.
Day 1
Badaling Ancient Great Wall
From Beijing North or Qinghe Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall Railway Station
20rmb
20 mins
RECOMMENDED ACCOMODATION
Badaling Alai Hostel
(located 100m from scenic area entrance)
It is a 7km drive from the Railway Station and there are no buses so you must get a taxi.
20rmb
10 mins
Leave your things at the hostel and head for the scenic area.
The entrance has a paved road that you follow until you reach the Great Wall.
54rmb
15 min walk
If you push past the restored and easier sections, you can walk seemingly endlessly. Parts of this hike are very steep, so if you push on you’ll have even less people around you.
Peak season 9:00am – 4:00pm
Off season 9:00am – 4:30pm
Day 2
Longqing Gorge
Ask the hostel to drop you at the Railway Station and take the fast train to YanQing
10rmb
15 mins
After that, take Bus Y40 to Longqing Xia Lukou
2rmb
40 mins
Walk to the entrance of the scenic area and buy your ticket.
150rmb entrance, river cruise and cave entrance
The last train is around 5pm, so either do the journey above in reverse
OR
take Bus 43 from Longqing Xia to Guishui Beijie Nan & then Bus 919 back.
*Bring snacks and water with you as the hostel kitchen supplies are limited depending on the season. For a shop – walk down the road 1km to the tunnel entrance, take Bus 919 to Xibozi and then walk back.
Day 3
To get to Beijing city you can either do the route to Badaling in reverse with the fast train
OR
take Bus 919 to DeShengMen and then make your way to your accommodation.
2 hours
RECOMMENDED ACCOMODATION
365 Inn
When back in town, explore the preserved hutongs that sprawl all over the city.
If you stay in Xicheng District you’ll be inside these hutongs, full of cool coffee shops, bars, art galleries and more!
Keep the artsy vibes going and visit 798 Art Zone.
From Xicheng
Lingjing Metro Line 4 to Ping’an Li
then Line 6 to Jintai Lu
then Line 14 to Jiang Tai
1 hour
Follow the main road for 20 minutes and you’ll find the Art Zone.
Walk through the buildings for different exhibition – some free, others with a fee.
Day 4
This day can be filled with touristy sight seeing.
1. The Forbidden City
2. Temple of Heaven
3. Summer Palace
4. Tiananmen Square
5. Palace Museum
You can spend a few days exploring these places, so pick and choose depending on your time.
The main thing to remember is that Beijing is a very big city, and getting around takes a lot of time (so factor travel times into everything).
In the evening, head to Qianmen Street for food and drink options.
*NOTE: If you visit Beijing during major holidays, tickets for these places can be sold out for WEEKS. Book in advance!
Weather in Beijing
- Winter is long and very cold, but it doesn’t snow much due to the dry air.
- Spring is windy and dry and warms up quickly.
- Summer is very hot and humid.
- Autumn is cool but the days are full of sunshine and blue skies.
Transit options BEST for Beijing
- Beijing Railway Station
- Beijing South Railway Station
- Beijing North Railway Station
- Beijing Capital International Airport
