A three-day Beijing tour with parents: Climb a unique Great Wall, sample local Beijing snacks, and take photos of the Pangu Seven Stars at night!

Number of days：3 days
Time: August
Average cost: 2000 yuan
With whom：parents and children
The author went to these places: Tiananmen Chongwenmen Qianmen Nanluoguxiang Bell and Drum Tower Lama Temple Imperial College Temple of Confucius Beijing Forbidden City National Museum Capital Museum Great Wall Ming Tombs Tiananmen Square Temple of Heaven Mutianyu Great Wall Olympic Park Bird's Nest Water Cube Summer Palace Tsinghua University Peking University Monument to the People's Heroes Duanmen Meridian Gate Zhonghe Hall Baohe Hall Shenwu Gate Jingshan Park Circle Hill Echo Wall Danbi Bridge Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest Drum Tower Pangu Seven Stars Hall of Renshou Dehe Garden Buddhist Incense Pavilion Shifang Kunming Lake Nanhu Island Central Academy of Drama
Updated: 2020.04.04

Pre-Departure Preparations:

Before arriving in Beijing, you need to prepare and research your travel plans, making all necessary reservations:

1. Try to choose a hotel near a metro station in the city center, near Tiananmen Square. Chongwenmen or Xuanwumen are recommended for convenient transportation, dining options, and reasonable prices. Staying near Qianmen is not recommended, as it can be crowded, prices are high, and the crowds are often mixed. Another recommended accommodation is near Jiaodaokou and Beixinqiao, located in Dongcheng District. It borders Nanluoguxiang and Houhai Bell and Drum Tower to the west, and the Lama Temple, the Imperial College, the Temple of Confucius, and Guijie Street to the east. This area is also known for its numerous Beijing hutongs. Those who enjoy staying in traditional Beijing courtyard houses should research and find a good place to stay.

2. Attraction Reservations: The first attraction that requires reservations is the massive Forbidden City, which requires real-name reservations, so it's best to book in advance. Other attractions do not require reservations. A visit to Beijing is a must, but museums are a must. Reservations can be made on each museum's official website. My recommendations include: the National Museum (a must-see), the Natural History Museum (for those interested in animal and plant specimens, including large dinosaur specimens; it also houses a small aquarium), the Military Museum (for those interested in military matters), and the Capital Museum (a great place to deepen your understanding of Beijing). Honestly, Beijing has convenient transportation, but the only attractions in the suburbs are the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. A day trip to the Great Wall is definitely worth a try. Avoid getting ripped off. Many flashy tours, especially those that include everything for just a few dozen yuan, are risky, so choose with caution. Planned itinerary: Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Natural History Museum. Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park (Bird's Nest and Water Cube).
Day 3 Itinerary: Summer Palace, Tsinghua University, Peking University.

Day 1 Beijing City Tour:

After breakfast at the hotel, arrive at Qianmen Subway Station at around 8:00 am to see Tiananmen Square, the heart of the motherland, and pay homage to the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Memorial Hall, and the Tiananmen Gate Tower, which fully demonstrate the solemnity and majesty of the capital. Feel it:

Even in Beijing, taxis are incredibly difficult to find. I sincerely recommend using Didi. Remember, parking isn't allowed at Shenwu Gate, the Forbidden City's exit. Instead, walk 100 meters east to the East Gate of Jingshan Park, where parking is permitted.

After boarding the taxi, head straight to the Natural History Museum, located at the west gate of the Temple of Heaven. There are many restaurants in this area; find one that looks good and appeals to you, and fill your stomach first.

The children were quite interested in this area, and we loved it too. Many of the exhibits were new to us, so we spent quite a bit of time there. There are many animal specimens, the origins of humanity, a giant dinosaur, and an aquarium. The visit took two hours. Admission is free, but reservations are required on the official website in advance.

Day 2: Great Wall of Beijing Tour

Because the Great Wall is quite far away, public transportation or taxis (which are quite expensive) aren't suitable. When I was researching, I looked up a lot of day trips to the Great Wall. The first question was: which section should I go to, Badaling or Mutianyu? We ultimately chose Mutianyu. The scenery is essentially the same, and both have cable cars. If you're traveling with children, don't even think about hiking; that's not practical. Most importantly, Mutianyu is less crowded.

I searched China-TravelNote for day trip options and found many. We ultimately chose the Mutianyu Great Wall through bus, departing from Dongsishitiao Station. It costs 80 yuan per person round trip, with children half price and infants free. We arrived at Dongsishitiao Station before 8 AM. Buses departed between 7 and 8 AM. We exited Exit C (it was Exit C, but we went to Exit A, which was a bit of a loop). We were greeted by several staff members in red vests at the entrance of the Swiss Apartment. Each person had a seat. We arrived at Mutianyu Great Wall in less than an hour and a half. All cable car tickets were available for purchase on the bus. The onboard guide provided historical insights and anecdotes along the way, creating a wonderful atmosphere. There was no shopping or additional attractions, and we were exempt from the shuttle bus fare, saving 15 RMB. Tickets were also reasonably priced at 40 RMB per adult. Upon arrival, the guide explained the route, how to get back to the meeting point, and the time. I loved this kind of independent travel; I didn't have to worry about others and could just explore on my own. They have their own lounge at the Great Wall, two large floors, where you can relax and enjoy free hot water and tea. They also have a buffet on the second floor for 60 RMB per person. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. This is a truly reputable establishment within the scenic area! There are buses returning from 2pm until 3pm, and they leave in a continuous stream, leaving when they are full. We boarded the bus at 2:20pm and arrived in the city at 3:40pm, which was very fast!

After returning to the city, we took the subway Line 2 to Gulou Street Station, then transferred to Line 8 to Olympic Sports Center Station. The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube were right there. We hadn't originally planned to visit them inside, as the night view was more stunning. It's worth mentioning that there's also the Pangu Seven Star Hotel, which is also beautiful at night. After checking in and taking a few photos, we returned to the hotel to rest.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Beijing

I don't like to get up early, so I took the subway Line 4 to Xiyuan Station at 8am. From there, it's about a 10-minute walk to the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace, which is also the main entrance to the Summer Palace. Similar to the Temple of Heaven, you can buy a ticket or scan a QR code to enter the park directly. The price is cheap at 30 yuan for adults. After entering the park, you'll find the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. To your right, you'll find the Well of Longevity, the water from which the Empress Dowager drank exclusively. Next to it is the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, where the Empress Dowager once attended operas. It's quite charming. Although there's a 5-yuan entrance fee, the architecture of the opera house is beautiful, and you can even see chime bells. After exiting, follow the Well of Longevity further into a small courtyard (I can't quite recall its name), but it's said to have been the residence of Li Lianying, the "Little Leo." Further on, you'll find the Hall of Joyful Longevity, the Empress Dowager's bedroom. Passing through the Hall of Joyful Longevity, you'll reach the Long Corridor, filled with numerous paintings depicting historical events. You'll pass the Tower of Buddhist Incense along the way, and if you're fit, I recommend going up to see it—it's truly beautiful. At the other end, you'll find the Marble Boat, also known as the Qingyan Boat. Take some photos there, then take a boat across Kunming Lake to the Bronze Bull, Nanhu Island, and the 17 Empty Coins. The scenery on the lake is quite beautiful. Exit through the Xinjian Palace Gate. The entire journey takes about 3.5 hours.

Tips for the Trip:

1. Bring some cash, as some attractions don't accept WeChat or Alipay.
2. If your child can get an ID, it's best to get one. If not, a photocopy of their household registration page will also work. Many places will require this, especially those requiring reservations.
3. Don't trust hawkers; there are legitimate shops or taxi stands near every attraction.
4. If you don't have Didi or "Delicious Food Without Waiting" apps, download them on your phone in advance to avoid waiting in line. 5. Traveling carries risks, so choose carefully to avoid skimping on cheap options and end up with a big loss.

Local Cuisine:

Here are a few restaurant recommendations based on your taste:

1. A must-try Beijing roast duck experience is to bring back the spirit of "climbing the Great Wall and eating roast duck." (I learned this from my tour guide.) My first roast duck recommendation is Si Ji Min Fu; the duck is delicious and the service is excellent. My second recommendation is Da Dong Roast Duck; it's excellent except for the price, which is a bit high. My third recommendation is 1949 All-Duck Season. As for the time-honored Quanjude, I just had a few negative reviews.

2. The number one Beijing hot pot restaurant is Niujie Jubaoyuan Hot Pot Restaurant; the second is Nanmen Shabu Shabu, which is better than Donglaishun.

3 Other restaurants: Old Beijing Noodle King is near the Chongwenmen subway station. Didi Taxi can be found at No. 56 Dongxinglong Street. The Old Beijing Noodle King, where Nicholas Tse secretly visited, is at No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Hutong, next to Nanluoguxiang and the Central Academy of Drama. If you're not afraid of waiting, you can try it.
Yaoji Fried Liver is right next to the Drum Tower and next to Guijie Street. Niujie Street, the Muslim Street, also has many snacks you can try on your own.

That's all for now. I hope this helps you. Have fun. Remember to like and bookmark this post!