Beijing in depth · 5 days

Independent arrival-day options: Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Nanluoguxiang or Sanlitun. Choose one area according to your arrival time; parks, exhibitions and purchases may require payment.

The Tiananmen /ˈtjɛnənmən/ (also Tian’anmen, or the Gate of Heaven-Sent Peace, is the entrance gate to the Forbidden City palace complex and Imperial City in the center of Beijing, China. It is widely used as a national symbol. Planning note: Tiananmen Square access and Palace Museum admission are separate arrangements. The Palace Museum requires advance booking and normally closes on Mondays. With a substantial palace visit, treat Prince Gong’s Mansion as an alternative or an extra day, not a guaranteed same-day stop.^[9]

First built during the Ming dynasty in 1420, Tiananmen was the entrance to the Emperor’s residence, of which all visitors to the palace walked through. In 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China from the balcony, of which now features a large potrait of him. Tiananmen is located to the north of Tiananmen Square, and is separated from the plaza by Chang’an Avenue.

The Temple of Heaven (simplified Chinese: 天坛; traditional Chinese: 天壇; pinyin: Tiāntán) is a complex of imperial religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1998 and was described as “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations…” as the “symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.” Planning note: The Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven are on different sides of Beijing. Give each its own day if you want more than a quick visit; keep Shichahai as an optional evening walk.

Badaling (Chinese: 八达岭; pinyin: Bādálǐng) is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall of China, approximately 80 kilometers (50 mi) northwest of Beijing’s city center, in Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing municipality. The fortifications here date from the Ming period, along with a military outpost reflecting the location’s strategic importance. The highest point of Badaling is Beibalou (北八樓), approximately 1,015 meters (3,330 ft) above sea level.

Badaling formed part of the Ming defensive system protecting the approaches to Beijing and the Juyongguan area. Its towers and ridgeline illustrate how the wall used the mountain terrain.

The portion of the wall at Badaling has undergone restoration, and in 1957, it was the first section of the wall to open to tourism. Now visited annually by millions, the immediate area has seen significant development, including hotels, restaurants, and a cable car.

Check flights or trains available for your actual departure date. Add the National Museum only if you have secured admission and can still leave a generous transfer buffer; the final day is not a full sightseeing day.