Beijing recommended itinerary and district to stay

Question

Hi all, I am planning a 14-days trip to Beijing in November with my elderly folks. My intention is sight-seeing and trying the local cuisine. However, it seems that 14-days to Beijing seems excessive. I need some help and advice from the experts here.

1) For Beijing, how many days are recommended (for travelling at a relaxed pace)?

2) Besides Beijing, which other cities(eg. Tianjin, Chengde etc) do you recommend? I thought of Xi-an but its a 6-hr ride, so not too sure whether it make sense for me.

3) In Beijing, which district and which metro lines do you recommend staying? I've seen reommendations such as Wangfujing and Qianmen but there are others who recommended areas around Dongcheng or third ring area. Kindly advise.

4) In Beijing, are there any morning market(zao-shi) which sells tons of local breakfast, similar to those in dong-bei? I've difficulty finding those morning markets online.

Appreciae your advice and suggestions. Thanks.

Answer

Hi,

For a 14-day trip to Beijing with elderly companions, a relaxed pace is definitely important. Here’s a detailed guide to help you plan your stay, sightseeing, and accommodation.

1) Recommended days in Beijing:

For sightseeing at a relaxed pace, 5–7 days in Beijing is sufficient. This allows for visiting major attractions like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Hutongs, and a day trip to the Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling section).
If you want to include slower activities like local markets, street food exploration, parks, and tea houses, consider adding 1–2 extra days.
Extra days can be used for light day trips outside the city or simply to rest and enjoy local cuisine.

2) Recommended cities nearby:

Tianjin: About 30–40 minutes by high-speed train. It’s a compact city with colonial architecture, food streets, and museums. Very suitable for a day or 1–2 nights trip.
Chengde: Famous for the Imperial Mountain Resort and temples. It’s about 3–4 hours by car or train from Beijing, can be done as a 1–2 night trip. Suitable if you enjoy scenic and historical sites.
Xi’an: While fascinating for the Terracotta Army and ancient city walls, it’s a 6-hour high-speed train ride or 1.5-hour flight. If the priority is comfort and relaxed travel with elderly companions, it may be better to fly rather than take the train, or skip if you want less travel stress.
Other nearby options: Qingdao (beach and seafood, ~5 hours by train), Datong (Yungang Grottoes, ~3–4 hours by train) if you want historic sites beyond Beijing.

3) Recommended districts and metro lines in Beijing:

Dongcheng District: Central, includes Wangfujing, Qianmen, Forbidden City, and many Hutongs. Well connected via Metro Line 1 and 2. Ideal for first-time visitors and sightseeing.
Xicheng District: Quieter but still central, near Beihai Park and financial district. Metro Lines 2, 4, and 6 serve the area.
Chaoyang District (near Sanlitun or CBD): Slightly further from historical sites but closer to modern shopping, restaurants, and embassies. Metro Lines 10 and 6 are useful here.
Overall, staying near Line 1 or 2 is convenient for sightseeing and transfers. Wangfujing or Qianmen areas are highly recommended for walking access to major attractions.

4) Morning markets (zao-shi) and local breakfasts:

Dongsi Zao Shi: Popular traditional breakfast street market, offers jianbing (savory pancakes), baozi (steamed buns), and soy milk.
Huguosi Street: Known for congee, dumplings, and other northern Chinese breakfast specialties.
Local Hutongs: Many alleys around Qianmen and Dongcheng have small breakfast stalls open early (6–9am), offering soy milk, steamed buns, dumplings, and fried dough sticks.
Visiting larger local wet markets like Sanyuanli Market in Chaoyang can also be interesting, but these are less focused on breakfast.

Summary:

Plan 5–7 days in Beijing for a relaxed itinerary.
Consider short trips to Tianjin or Chengde rather than Xi’an if you prefer minimal long-distance travel.
Stay in Dongcheng or Xicheng districts near Metro Lines 1 or 2 for convenience.
Morning street markets and Hutongs provide excellent local breakfast experiences similar to northeastern China.

This approach balances sightseeing, comfort for elderly travelers, and the enjoyment of local cuisine.