Beijing in 5 Days: Palaces, Hutongs and the Great Wall

Destination: Beijing, ChinaCreated by: Moo_The_TrotterLast updated: 11th October 2026
Five days in Beijing give its palaces and temple grounds the attention they deserve. This first visit combines imperial history with hutong streets and a full day at the Great Wall, returning to the same city base.
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Day 1 — Imperial centre
Image of Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square

Public Plaza
Start at the square before entering the Forbidden City from the south. Reserve square entry through its official booking service; it is separate from the Palace Museum ticket. Keep this a short visit before the larger palace walk.

Palace Museum

Museum, Museum Gallery
Spend the morning and early afternoon in the Forbidden City, walking from the Meridian Gate towards the northern exit. Book an official ticket in advance; the museum is normally closed on Mondays. Continue to Jingshan after leaving the palace.

Jingshan Park

Park
Climb the hill in Jingshan Park for the view back over the Forbidden City’s roofs. This is the natural finish to the palace day, immediately north of its exit, rather than another long museum visit.
Day 2 — Temples and old Beijing

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Attraction, Core Attraction
Make the Temple of Heaven the main morning visit, including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and surrounding grounds. The park paths are part of the experience; have lunch before continuing towards the old shopping streets.

Pearl Market

Mall, Market Shopping
Browse Hongqiao Market beside the Temple of Heaven if you want a shopping break. Shorten this stop if markets are not a priority, then take the subway or a taxi towards Qianmen and Dashilan.

Dashilan

Attraction, Core Attraction
Spend the afternoon walking the old commercial streets around Dashilan and Qianmen, with shops and traditional façades along the way. This is the neighbourhood part of the day after the larger temple visit.

Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant

Restaurant, Chinese Restaurant
Li Qun Roast Duck is the dinner option in the hutong streets east of Qianmen. Choose a roast-duck meal here if that interests you; the day’s sightseeing is the Temple of Heaven and Dashilan walk.
Day 3 — Great Wall at Mutianyu

Mutianyu Great Wall

Attraction, Core Attraction
Use the full day for Mutianyu, with a return transfer from Beijing arranged before departure. Ride up to the wall and walk between several watchtowers, then return to the city for dinner. Keep other major sights off this day.
Image of Mutianyu Great Wall with return transport

Mutianyu Great Wall with return transport

Experience · Beijing
Use the MuBus day trip for the journey from Beijing to Mutianyu and back. The outing includes Wall admission; cable-car and toboggan options depend on the ticket chosen. This is the whole of Day 3, with the Wall card marking the sight itself.
Day 4 — Summer Palace gardens

Summer Palace

Attraction, Core Attraction
Spend the day at the Summer Palace, walking the Long Corridor, lakefront and hillside paths. Have lunch within the outing and explore one part of the grounds thoroughly. The Old Summer Palace is an alternative day, rather than a second enormous park afterwards.
Day 5 — Temples and hutongs
Image of Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)

Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)

Place of Worship, History Landmark
Start at the Lama Temple for its courtyards, halls and large Buddha statue. Walk south-west towards the Imperial College afterwards, then spend the afternoon among the hutong streets and towers.
Image of Imperial College (Guozijian)

Imperial College (Guozijian)

Historic Site
Visit the historic Imperial College precinct after the Lama Temple, with the neighbouring Confucian Temple forming part of the same area. Have lunch nearby before walking west towards the Drum and Bell Towers.

Drum tower

Attraction, Core Attraction
Visit the Drum Tower for its historical timekeeping role and views across the old city. Pair it with the neighbouring Bell Tower, then walk into the smaller hutong streets rather than heading straight to another district.

Bell tower

Attraction, Core Attraction
The Bell Tower stands beside the Drum Tower, so visit the pair together. The surrounding lanes are the reason to stay in the area afterwards, with a walk towards the streets around Nanluoguxiang.

South Luogu Alley

Attraction, Core Attraction
Nanluoguxiang is the busy shopping lane at the centre of this hutong area. Walk the side streets as well as the main alley, then finish with dinner nearby; the quieter lanes give a different view of the neighbourhood.
Optional extras
Image of Old Summer Palace Park

Old Summer Palace Park

Attraction, Core Attraction
Choose Yuanmingyuan instead of the Summer Palace if you are interested in the ruined imperial gardens and their history. Give it the same Day 4 slot, rather than trying to cover both large sites in one afternoon.
Image of Beihai Park

Beihai Park

Attraction, Core Attraction
Use Beihai for another lakeside walk if you prefer outdoor time to a museum. It pairs geographically with the imperial centre, but works best on a separate afternoon after the full Forbidden City visit.
Image of National Museum of China

National Museum of China

Museum
Choose the museum for a deeper look at Chinese history, using a separate half day or replacing another large visit. Reserve entry through the museum’s official service; the palace and Great Wall days already have their own main outings.