BEIJING TRAVEL ITINERARY: 4 DAYS

If you read my Xi’an guide then you’ll love reading about my Beijing trip too! I was invited to Xi’an and Beijing with Shangri-La Hotels where we explored Xi’an for two days and spent four days in Beijing. There is so much to see and do. Since this was my first time in Beijing, I had to see all of the major sites. My Beijing travel itinerary for four days include the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven and many other things you must do.

From Xi’an to Beijing our group flew with Hainan Airlines and it was a quick two-hour flight! If you plan to visit either city I suggest adding both cities to your itinerary!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Visitors need to apply for a visa in advance. I applied for my visa in NYC which took about 5 days. This site has useful information about the visa application. What I needed for my visa application:
1. A printed copy of my application in capital letters
2. A printed copy of my flight and hotel confirmation
3. Copy of passport
4. 1 passport photo glued to the application (must be new unless the passport is under 6 months old)
Exchange currency a few days before your trip at your local bank or you can also exchange currency at China World Hotel (Shangri-La Hotel) if you’re a guest
Bring toilet paper as most public bathrooms do not offer this
Bring hand sanitizer
Sign up for a Virtual Personal Network (VPN) as China blocks many major websites such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. I used ExpressVPN
Best time to visit is Spring and Autumn months. It can get very crowded and hot in the summer
Bring an adapter/converter for China
Consider using a tour guide. We had a tour guide booked directly through China World Hotel, Beijing

WHERE TO STAY

China World Hotel, Beijing is a Shangri-La Hotel located in the heart of Beijing’s central business district. The property is attached to one of the largest malls in Beijing, China World Mall. Two other Shangri-La properties (China World Summit Wing & Hotel Jen) are also attached to this complex so you can imagine how big this place is! The hotel is about 40 minutes away from the Beijing Capital International Airport and has a subway station right outside the property.

The hotel has recently refurbished 126 Horizon Club rooms along with the new Horizon Club Lounge. I stayed in the new room which has great views of the city!

There is a total of five restaurants and bars at China World Hotel, Beijing: Aria, Summer Palace, Scene a Cafe, The Sweet Spot, and Lobby Lounge.

DAY 1

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The temple was visited by the Emperors for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. I recommend visiting first thing in the morning because it gets crowded!

DINNER AT GRILL 79

With breathtaking views reaching all the way to the rooftops of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, Grill 79 located at China World Summit Wing is a must! It’s located on the 79th floor.

DRINKS AT ATMOSPHERE

The Atmosphere is the highest bar in Beijing located on the 80th floor of China World Summit Wing. With stunning views of Beijing, it’s the perfect bar for a date night or a night out with friends because they play great music and the cocktails are delicious.

DAY 2

THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Forbidden City is the world’s largest and best preserved imperial palace complex. It’s called the Forbidden City because it was off-limits to the public for 500 years, the palace was home to two dynasties of emperors, The Ming and the Qing dynasty.

It gets very crowded even if you arrive right when it opens. Tip: head to the corners for fewer crowds. Please note you may need your passport with you when purchasing tickets in person. 80,000 visitors are allowed daily and tickets can sell out in the summer months. If you’re visiting in the summer, I recommend purchasing advance tickets online.

TIANANMEN SQUARE

Tiananmen Square is a city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City.

SUMMER PALACE

Summer Palace was once a summer resort for the royal family. We did not hike to the top but if you have time, I suggest hiking to the top for some breathtaking views!

PEKING DUCK AT THE RED CHAMBER

When visiting Beijing, visitors must try the Peking duck! We had Peking duck at The Red Chamber located at China World Summit Wing and it was probably the best Peking duck I’ve ever had!

DRINKS AT BEERSMITH

Beersmith is the only gastropub in the Guomao area. It’s located at Hotel Jen. They have a great selection of seasonal beers and the atmosphere is really fun!

DAY 3

GREAT WALL OF CHINA (MU TIANYU SECTION)

The Great Wall of China is part of the 7 World Wonders. It’s been on my bucket list for years and I’m so happy to finally check this off my list! We arrived right when it opened at 8 am and visited the Mu Tianyu section which is supposed to be the best area and has fewer crowds. We took a cable car up to the top of the wall and a toboggan down which was super fun!

LUNCH AT SUMMER PALACE

Head back to the hotel and have lunch at the Summer Palace at China World Hotel. Summer Palace combines classic Cantonese and light, creative Huaiyang cuisines.

TOUR 798 ART DISTRICT

Center for Contemporary Art, showing established and emerging Chinese artists.

DAY 4

GALAXY SOHO

Galaxy Soho is built by Zaha Hadid Architects. If you have time, visit this unique complex. It’s a shopping and office complex.

Images by @cz_capture

PAGE ONE BOOKSTORE

This bookstore is called Page One (Qianmen) and it’s the coolest bookstore I’ve been to!

The picture above is with @cailaquinn & @elonatheexplorer. Thank you to @cz_capture, @t7prince, @sspa1717 for these images.

DONGHUAMEN (WANGFUJING) NIGHT MARKET

Night markets in China are great experiences. I did not get a chance to do this but if you have time, it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts or try candy-coated strawberries.

I hope you found my Beijing travel itinerary helpful. I loved the culture, history, the food and excited to plan a trip back soon! Thank you to Shangri-La Hotels for a great week exploring Xi’an and Beijing.