Parents' 3-Day Beijing Trip: Climb a Different Great Wall, Savor Local Snacks, and Capture the Night View of Pangu Seven Star!
Pre-trip Preparations:
Before arriving in the capital, you need to do your homework and plan your itinerary. Book everything that needs booking:
1. For hotels, try to choose one close to a city center subway station and Tiananmen, ideally near Chongwenmen or Xuanwumen. These areas have convenient transportation, easy dining, and moderate prices. I don't recommend Qianmen area as it's crowded, prices are high, and the crowd is very mixed. Another area I recommend is around Jiaodaokou and Beixinqiao, in Dongcheng District. To the west are Nanluoguxiang, Houhai, and the Drum and Bell Towers; to the east are Yonghe Temple, Guozijian (Imperial College), Confucius Temple, and Gui Street. It's worth noting that this area is full of Beijing hutongs. If you like staying in a traditional Beijing courtyard house, dig deeper and find a nice one to stay in.
2. Attraction reservations: The first attraction that requires reservation is the Forbidden City, the vast imperial palace. Real-name reservation is required, so book well in advance. Other attractions don't need reservations. For museums, how can you come to Beijing and not visit a museum? You can reserve on each museum's official website. I personally recommend: National Museum of China (must-visit), Beijing Museum of Natural History (if you like animal and plant specimens, big dinosaur skeletons, and there's also a small aquarium inside), Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution (for military enthusiasts), and Capital Museum (to deepen your understanding of Beijing).
3. Booking a Beijing day tour: To be honest, Beijing's transportation is very convenient. The Great Wall and Ming Tombs are in the suburbs, so you might only need a Great Wall day tour. Avoid scams; many flashy tours, especially those that claim to include everything for just a few dozen yuan, are risky. Be extra careful when choosing.
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Beijing Museum of Natural History.
Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park (Bird's Nest and Water Cube).
Day 3: Summer Palace, Tsinghua University, Peking University.
Day 1: Exploring within the city
After breakfast at the hotel, we arrived at Qianmen subway station around 8 a.m. We first visited Tiananmen Square, the heart of the nation, and paid respects to the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and Tiananmen Gate, all exuding the solemnity of the capital.
From Tiananmen Square, take the underpass to the opposite side, pass through Duanmen (Upright Gate), and you'll reach the Meridian Gate (Wumen). Tickets were pre-booked (adults 60 yuan), no need to exchange; just scan your ID card to enter and see with your own eyes where the emperors conducted state affairs. I even did some research beforehand: the imperial palace of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Legend says that the Jade Emperor in heaven had 10,000 chambers in his palace; to show humility, the earthly emperor built 9,999.5 rooms. It took skilled craftsmen from all over the country 14 years to build this immense palace.
It is truly magnificent and awe-inspiring. Heading north, you'll see the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Here's a tip: after the Hall of Preserving Harmony, don't continue straight north; follow the signs and turn east to the Treasure Gallery. Why? Because the Treasure Gallery not only has treasures but also air conditioning! Traveling with kids, honestly, even if we're just skimming, we need a cool spot to rest. You can see rare treasures here, but unfortunately, you can only admire from afar—none belong to us, haha. After leaving the Treasure Gallery, it's a short walk to the exit—Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Might). The whole visit took about 3.5 hours.
Even in big Beijing, taxis are hard to find. I sincerely recommend using ride-hailing apps like Didi. Remember, at the Forbidden City exit Shenwumen, parking isn't allowed. Walk 100 meters east to the east gate of Jingshan Park and set your pickup there; it's a spot where cars can stop.
After getting in the car, we headed straight to the Beijing Museum of Natural History, located at the west gate of the Temple of Heaven Park. There are many restaurants around; just pick one that looks good and suits your taste, and fill your belly first.
Kids are really interested in this place, and we adults loved it too. Many exhibits we saw for the first time. We spent quite a while there—lots of animal specimens, human origins, a huge dinosaur skeleton, and a small aquarium. It took about 2 hours. Admission is free, but you need to reserve online in advance.
After the museum, it's very close to the west gate of the Temple of Heaven, but I don't recommend entering from there because the sightseeing spots are too far away. You can take a bus or a taxi (again, Didi is better than waiting for a regular taxi) to the south gate of the Temple of Heaven. That's a better starting point to save energy and not miss the beautiful buildings. The park is lush with trees and vegetation, including many ancient trees. We didn't find the "Xiaoping Tree" planted by Deng Xiaoping; maybe we saw it but didn't recognize which one it was.
Tickets can be bought next to the entrance, or you can scan a QR code to purchase. There are signs with the QR code by the ticket window, very convenient. A combination ticket for adults is 34 yuan, and it's worth it; a general entrance ticket alone won't let you see much. First, visit the Circular Mound Altar, then the Echo Wall (you can't hear anything due to the crowds), cross the long Danbi Bridge, and you'll reach the main structure, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. After that, exit from the east gate of the Temple of Heaven; right outside is the subway station. No need for Didi this time—just head back to the hotel to rest. The whole visit took about 2 hours.
Day 2: Great Wall Excursion
Since the Great Wall is far from the city, public transport or taxi isn't ideal (taxi would be expensive). I had researched many Great Wall day tours, and the first decision was which section: Badaling or Mutianyu? We ultimately chose Mutianyu because the scenery is similar, both have cable cars, and hiking with kids is unrealistic. Most importantly, Mutianyu is much less crowded.
For the day trip, I searched on Ctrip and found many options. We picked a direct bus to Mutianyu Great Wall departing from Dongsi Shitiao subway station. Round trip: 80 yuan per adult, children half price, infants free. Arrive at Dongsi Shitiao station before 8 a.m. (buses run continuously from 7 to 8 a.m.). When you exit from Exit C (it's Exit C! We mistakenly went out Exit A and had to walk around), you'll see many staff in red vests waiting at the entrance of the Swiss Apartment building. Everyone gets a seat. It takes less than one and a half hours to reach Mutianyu. You can buy all tickets on the bus, including entrance and cable car. A tour guide on board tells stories and history, creating a nice atmosphere. There's no forced shopping or extra stops, and it even saves the shuttle bus fee (15 yuan). The entrance fee is reasonable: adults 40 yuan. Upon arrival, the guide explains how to get around and where and when to meet. I loved this kind of free travel—no need to stick with a group, everyone explores on their own. They have a lounge on the Great Wall, a two-story building, quite spacious. You can rest, enjoy free hot water and tea, and there's a simple buffet on the second floor—60 yuan per person, tasty and reasonably priced, a rare honest vendor in the scenic area! Return trips run from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m., also continuous. Buses depart when full. We got on at 2:20 p.m. and arrived back in the city by 3:40 p.m.—very fast!
"You’re not a true man until you’ve climbed the Great Wall, but once on the Great Wall, you’re soaked in sweat!" We took the cable car directly to Watchtower 14 and then climbed towards Watchtower 20. It was stunningly beautiful and almost deserted, very comfortable.
Back in the city, we took subway Line 2 to Gulou Dajie station, then transferred to Line 8 to Olympic Sports Center station. Right outside are the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. We hadn't planned to go inside; the night view here is more impressive. Worth mentioning is the Pangu Seven Star Hotel nearby, which is also beautifully lit at night. We snapped a few photos and headed back to the hotel to rest.
Because we had kids, we didn't plan to visit the Ming Tombs—after all, they are tombs. So we only did the Great Wall, and Mutianyu is well worth it. Without the tombs, we had plenty of time. Truly, "Mutianyu, the most beautiful section of the Great Wall"—it lives up to its reputation!
Day 3: Exploring the City
Not being early risers, we took subway Line 4 at 8 a.m. to Xiyuan station. A short 10-minute walk from the exit leads to the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace, the main entrance. Similar to the Temple of Heaven, buy a ticket or scan a QR code to enter. It's cheap: 30 yuan for adults. After entering, you'll see the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. Turn right to find the Yan Nian Well; it's said the Empress Dowager only drank water from this well. Nearby is Dehe Garden, where the Empress Dowager used to watch operas. Nice place, although there's an extra 5-yuan fee, the grand theatre building is beautiful, and you can see ancient bells. Exiting and following the Yan Nian Well further, there's a small courtyard—I forgot its name—rumored to be the living quarters of Li Lianying (the famous eunuch). Further ahead is the Hall of Joyful Longevity, the Empress Dowager's residence. Through it, you'll reach the Long Corridor, adorned with countless paintings, each depicting a historical story. Along the way, you'll pass the Tower of Buddhist Incense; if you have the energy, climb up for a stunning view. At the other end is the Marble Boat (also called Qingyan Boat). Snap a photo, then take a boat across Kunming Lake to the Bronze Ox, near South Lake Island and the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The lake scenery is lovely. Exit through the New Palace Gate. The whole visit takes about 3.5 hours.
From the New Palace Gate, take a Didi back to Xiyuan subway station, where there are plenty of restaurants. Choose one to fill up, then take the subway two stops to Peking University East Gate station. Queue up for campus entry (free but requires advance reservation, ideally about 10 days ahead, as slots fill quickly and sometimes it's closed). After visiting Peking University, right opposite is Tsinghua University. Also free but requires reservation. The entire tour takes about 4 hours. Then return to the subway station and go back to the hotel.
Warm tip: Tsinghua and Peking University have specific visiting hours, so plan accordingly.
Travel Tips:
1. Bring some cash, as some attractions don't support WeChat or Alipay payment.
2. If possible, get an ID card for your child; if not, a photocopy of the household registration booklet page works too. Many places require it, especially for reservations.
3. Don't trust street vendors hawking goods; each scenic spot has official shops and taxi stands nearby.
4. If you don't have Didi and "Meiwei Buyongdeng" (a restaurant queue app), download them on your phone in advance to save time.
5. Travel with caution and choose wisely—don't be tempted by small gains only to suffer big losses.
Here are some restaurant recommendations you can choose according to your taste:
1. When in Beijing, you must have roast duck and take home the spirit of 'climb the Great Wall, eat roast duck' (as our guide taught us). For roast duck, I recommend Siji Minfu first—the duck is delicious and service is great. Second, Dadong Roast Duck—everything is good except the price, it's quite expensive. Third, 1949 Quanjuye. As for the old brand Quanjude, I'll just say 'hehe.'
2. For Beijing-style hot pot, I recommend Jubaoyuan on Niujie Street first; second, Nanmen Shuanrou, which is better than Donglaishun.
3. Other restaurants: Old Beijing Zhajiangmian King near Chongwenmen subway station (Didi to 56 Dongxinglong Street). The one Nicholas Tse secretly visited is at Fangzhuanchang Hutong No.69, near Nanluoguxiang and the Central Academy of Drama—try it if you don't mind queuing. Yaoji Chaogan is right next to the Drum Tower and also on Gui Street. Muslim area Niujie has many snacks to try.
That's all, hope it helps. Have fun! And don't forget to like and save!
