Beijing 3 Days Guide: Imperial Gardens, Great Wall Majesty & Ming Dynasty Legacy
From Forbidden City to Badaling—A Time-Traveling Journey Through Beijing’s Imperial Soul
Preparation before departure
Route Overview
- Day 1 Tiananmen Square (1.5 hours)
- The Palace Museum (3 hours)
- Jingshan Park (1 hour)
- Day 2 Summer Palace (3 hours)
- Old Summer Palace (2 hours)
- Tsinghua University/Peking University (1 hour)
- Day 3 Badaling Great Wall (4 hours)
- Ming Tombs (2 hours)
Budget estimate
$140-$210 per person
Hotels
Jingyuan Courtyard Hotel(Book on Trip.com) Experience old Beijing culture in a traditional courtyard setting.Hotel supports English
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing(Book on Trip.com) Located in the city center, convenient transportation, and rich surrounding attractions.Hotel supports English
Must-eat foods
Peking Duck:Classic choices include Quanjude and Bianyifang.
Zhajiangmian:A local specialty, recommended at Haiwanju.
Hot Pot:Popular choices include Donglaishun and Jubao Yuan.
Douzhi and Jiaoquan:Traditional Beijing breakfast, experience authentic flavors.
Tour route details
Day 1 | Tiananmen Square + The Palace Museum + Jingshan Park
Tiananmen Square (approx. 1.5 hours)
The largest city square in the world, visit the Monument to the People's Heroes, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, etc. Take Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East Station.
<a href="https://www.gotochinanow.com/custom/the-palace-museum/2946" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #ff9800; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; font-weight: bold; transition: all 0.3s ease;" onmouseover="this.style.color='#333333'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='3px';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#ff9800'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='2px';"> The Palace Museum👈 </a>(about 3 hours)
Admission:$17.61,
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The largest and best-preserved wooden structure ancient architectural complex in the world, learn about Ming and Qing history. Walk from Tiananmen Square.
Jingshan Park(about 1 hour)
Admission:$31.11,
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The best place to overlook the entire Forbidden City, the park also features the site where Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself. Walk from the north gate of the Forbidden City.
Accommodation Guide
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing(Book on Trip.com) (about 1.4km from Forbidden City)
the hotel supports English
Food Guide
** (Shuan GBeijing Hotpotuo)** (approx. $15-$25 per person)
Donkey Burger (Lü Rou Huo Shao) (approx. $4-$6 per person)
Special Gifts
Palace snacks: such as "court candy", "almond cake", "dragon beard cake", etc., packaging retro palace style
Day 2 | Summer Palace + Old Summer Palace + Tsinghua University/Peking University
<a href="https://www.gotochinanow.com/custom/the-summer-palace/2951" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #ff9800; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; font-weight: bold; transition: all 0.3s ease;" onmouseover="this.style.color='#333333'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='3px';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#ff9800'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='2px';"> Summer Palace👈 </a>(about 3 hours)
Admission ticket is about $30.00,
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The largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, visit Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, etc.Take Line 4 of the subway to Beigongmen Station.
<a href="https://www.gotochinanow.com/custom/yuanmingyuan-park/2954" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #ff9800; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; font-weight: bold; transition: all 0.3s ease;" onmouseover="this.style.color='#333333'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='3px';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#ff9800'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='2px';"> Old Summer Palace👈 </a>(about 2 hours)
Admission ticket is about $1.38,
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Once known as the "Garden of Gardens," learn about historical changes. Take a taxi or bus from the Summer Palace, about 15 minutes.
Tsinghua University/Peking University (about 1 hour)
Top universities in China, experience the academic atmosphere. Take a taxi or bus from the Old Summer Palace, about 10 minutes.
Accommodation Guide
The Lakeview Hotel(Book on Trip.com)
(about 610m from Peking University)
the hotel supports English
Food Guide
Sugar Calabash (approx. $2 per person)
Douzhi(Fermented Mung Bean Milk) (approx. $2-$3 per person)
Jiaoquan(Crispy Fried Dough Rings) (approx. $2-$3 per person)
Special Gifts
Old Summer Palace Souvenirs，The statue of the animal head of the Chinese zodiac
Day 3 | Badaling Great Wall + Ming Tombs
<a href="https://www.gotochinanow.com/custom/badaling-great-wall/2948" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #ff9800; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 2px; font-weight: bold; transition: all 0.3s ease;" onmouseover="this.style.color='#333333'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='3px';" onmouseout="this.style.color='#ff9800'; this.style.textDecorationThickness='2px';"> Badaling Great Wall👈 </a>(about 4 hours)
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Badaling Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a representative section of the Great Wall of China. Take Line 2 of the subway to Jishuitan Station, then transfer to bus 877.
Ming Tombs(about 2 hours)
Admission Ticket: About $13.49,
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The Ming Tombs are the burial site of thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and are the largest and best-preserved royal cemetery in China. Take a taxi or bus from Badaling Great Wall, about 30 minutes.
Accommodation Guide
Orange Hotel(Beijing Badaling store)(Book on Trip.com) (about 1.6km from Badaling Great Wall)
the hotel supports English
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