How to spend 4 days in Beijing
The traditional part of the city is a must visit and travel to another era while the rest of the city is mostly packed by oversized buildings and enormous building blocks. I stayed 4 days, and I visited the most essential parts. Nevertheless, I recommend you if you have time to spend 1-2 days more as it has a lot to offer.
Great Wall of China
You cannot leave Beijing without visiting the Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world. The most well preserved part of the Wall is located one hour and a half distance from Beijing by bus and is called Mutianuy. It is advisable to take the funicular that can take you up to number 14 (Otherwise you need about 40-50 minutes to arrive at part 14 on foot), and from there the most iconic and difficult route is to arrive at part 20, the highest of this side of the Wall. It took us about 2 hours to reach this point while the last part is composed by many high steps called the hero steps. As per Chinese saying ‘’ You are not a hero until you climb the Great Wall.’’ So be heroes by climbing it. The view totally worths the effort.
Forbidden City
One of the most important sightseeing’s of Beijing is without doubt the Forbidden City. A whole city full of symmetrical palaces and gardens in which you could spend easily half day admiring the architecture and feeling like you are the protagonist of the Last Emperor. You may buy the tickets at the official site https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/ up to 7 days prior to your visit with your passport details (your passport is your ticket to enter the City). As the tickets tend to sell out very quickly, there are other sites from which you can prebook your tickets with a higher price though. For foreign tourists lately the option of buying the same day your ticket seems to be also available outside of the Palace. If you go later, you may avoid the huge lines for entering depending on the season of visiting.
Jingshan Park
At the north side of the Forbidden City, it is located a lovely park with the most stunning view to the interior of the Forbidden City and to whole Beijing. While climbing up the hill, five beautiful pavilions arise and enrich the whole climbing experience. At the bottom of the hill there is a very nice and calm park with bonsai trees where you can also walk around.
Summer Palace
Summer Palace is a little further from the center of Beijing City, but it is worth visiting. There are four entrances and metro stations near to them. The enormous area that the Palace covers, is composed by a marvelous park and imperial garden, a huge lake with little boats that you can rent to see all its sides, different buildings, pagodas, little palaces and pavilions. It is worthy to go up the stairs up to the Longevity Hill and admire the view. There are two options for the tickets: the combined one that give access to every building in the Palace Area and the simple one that gives access to the main area, and you need to buy an extra ticket for the building that you are interested in visiting. Once more your passport is your ticket to the Palace.
Hutongs
Hutongs are little narrow traditional streets with old short houses, little stores and restaurants. You may find them in many places around the city center and the Forbidden City part and offer a very complete Chinese experience in the China’s Capital. Hidden in one of Beijing’s Hutongs I found the tastiest Beijing Duck and Chinese restaurant (Liu's Family And Restaurant, 8 Meishuguan E St, Dongcheng, Beijing,100009 https://maps.app.goo.gl/1WLizFzf9BNCVGAV7).
Qianmen Street
At the south part of the Tiananmen square and exactly outside of the Qianmen Metro Station there is a whole world of hutongs, street food, little shops, markets, restaurants. It is the ideal place to experience the Chinese culture and a great opportunity for shopping and souvenirs (always with lot of bargains. Chinese people love to bargain and are quite tough at it). Don’t miss the opportunity to try the caramelized fruits called Tanghulu (especially the grapes- which are my personal favorites).
Temple of Heaven
At the end of Qianmen Street at the left, stands the Temple of Heaven, a marvelous temple considered one of the best achievements of Chinese architecture. You need to prebook your tickets though to avoid missing it.
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