What to do in Beijing in 5 days
Prices checked in October 2026
Beijing is huge and very cheap for food and transport. In five days you see the imperial palaces, a well-kept stretch of the Great Wall and the traditional alleys.
Itinerary
Day 1: the imperial heart
- Tiananmen Square (bring your passport).
- Forbidden City (book with your passport, days ahead).
- Jingshan Park to see the palace from above.
Day 2: the Great Wall
- Mutianyu: fewer crowds than Badaling and well restored.
- Go up by chairlift or cable car and come down on the toboggan.
- Peking duck for dinner.
Day 3: temples and hutongs
- Temple of Heaven early (locals practise tai chi).
- Lama Temple.
- Nanluoguxiang hutongs and Houhai lakes.
Day 4: the Summer Palace
- Summer Palace and Kunming Lake.
- Afternoon in the 798 Art District.
Day 5: modern Beijing
- Olympic Park (Bird's Nest and Water Cube).
- Shopping in Wangfujing or Sanlitun.
Approximate prices
- Forbidden City (high / low season)≈ ¥60 / ¥40
- Great Wall at Mutianyu (entry + cable car)≈ ¥40 + ¥120–140
- Temple of Heaven (full ticket)≈ ¥34
- Summer Palace (full ticket)≈ ¥60
- Metro ride¥3–10
- Bowl of noodles / Peking duck for two¥20–40 / ¥250–400
- Hostel bed / 3-star hotel (night)¥100–180 / ¥400–700
Prices change: confirm on the official website before paying. Those marked ≈ are approximate.
Budget per person
Lodging, food, transport and tickets for 5 days, excluding flights.
Budget
Whole trip
US$ 275–US$ 400
Per day: US$ 55–US$ 80
Balanced
Whole trip
US$ 600–US$ 900
Per day: US$ 120–US$ 180
Premium
Whole trip
US$ 1,400–US$ 2,250
Per day: US$ 280–US$ 450
Tips
- Check the visa requirements for your passport before buying the flight.
- Almost everything is paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay, which accept foreign cards: set them up before you travel.
- Google and many Western apps don't work: download offline maps and a translator.
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