Beijing, the heart of China, is a living museum where imperial palaces stand beside modern skyscrapers, and ancient alleyways hum with contemporary energy. This 3-day itinerary distills the best of the city—from the grandeur of the Forbidden City to the serenity of the Great Wall, from Peking duck feasts to trendy hutong cafes—letting you touch both China’s glorious past and dynamic present.
Beijing’s Top Sights & Scenic Glimpses
- Forbidden City(Photo: Scarlet walls + golden roofs glowing at dawn, Hall of Supreme Harmony framed by a ginkgo tree) – 600-year-old imperial palace, once off-limits to commoners
- Mutianyu Great Wall(Photo: Stone steps winding up green peaks, watchtowers piercing a cloudless sky) – Lush, less-crowded section of the world-famous defense wonder
- Tian’anmen Square(Photo: National flag waving, Monument to the People’s Heroes at the square’s heart) – World’s largest public square, a symbol of Beijing
- Shichahai Hutongs(Photo: Rickshaw on cobblestones, elders chatting by red-lit courtyard gates) – Historic lanes where old Beijing life thrives
- Olympic Bird’s Nest & Water Cube(Photo: Steel “nest” beside blue bubble-like cube, sunset gilding their surfaces) – 2008 Olympic icons, modern architecture at its best
- Temple of Heaven(Photo: Circular blue-tiled hall against green trees, locals practicing tai chi nearby) – UNESCO site where emperors prayed for harvests
- Summer Palace(Photo: Seventeen-Arch Bridge stretching over Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill in the distance) – Imperial garden with stunning lake views
