How I Spent 3 Days in Beijing, China [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is one of the world’s oldest and most historically significant cities. With over 3,000 years of recorded history, it has been the capital of several Imperial dynasties.

Today, the city has developed into a modern metropolis with massive and unique skyscrapers and is a major center for artificial intelligence, robotics, biotech, and aerospace.

Although I have traveled to Beijing once before, it has been nearly a decade since my visit during National Week in 2015. So when the opportunity to visit China arose in March 2025, my wife and I made sure to make the most of it by visiting Beijing, one of my favorite cities in the world.

Here’s an in-depth look at how we spent 3 days in Beijing, China.

Arriving in Beijing, China

Beijing is served by 2 international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).

Beijing Daxing International Airport is the newest international airport in Beijing, approximately 29 miles (46 kilometers) south of Beijing. The airport serves many international destinations, with an emphasis on flights to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and a few destinations in Europe.

Meanwhile, Beijing Capital International Airport is 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Beijing. It is one of the busiest airports in terms of passenger traffic and serves both domestic and international flights, including all flights from the U.S.

You can fly nonstop between several U.S. airports and Beijing (PEK) on 3 airlines:

Where To Stay in Beijing

Beijing is a massive city with many accommodations, from budget hostels to luxury 5-star hotels. However, the city’s major tourist attractions are spread out, making it more challenging to choose which neighborhood to stay in.

Fortunately, the city has nearly endless hotels across every major U.S. hotel chain, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG.

Wangfujing

Thanks to its central location in the Dongcheng district, Wangfujing is among the best places to stay for foreigners. It is a bustling hub with many different shops, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife venues.

With its central location, Wangfujing is near many of Beijing’s top attractions and famous landmarks, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Wangfujing Pedestrian Street.

The area also has many of Beijing’s most luxurious hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, Peninsula Beijing, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Regent Beijing, and the Grand Hyatt Beijing.

Sanlitun

Sanlitun, a neighborhood in the Chaoyang District, is Beijing’s nightlife and entertainment district. It is filled with numerous bars, beer gardens, lounges, and nightclubs. The area is popular with young locals, so you can expect many more English speakers.

There are many guest houses and local hotels in Sanlitun. Of course, there are also luxury hotels, including the InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun and Conrad Beijing.

Guomao

Guomao is a neighborhood in Beijing’s Central Business District, the city’s financial center. The area has many luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and world-class shopping malls.

The CBD has some of Beijing’s best hotels, including JW Marriott Hotel Beijing, Fairmont Beijing, Park Hyatt Beijing, The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, and the St. Regis Beijing, where we stayed.

Day 1

The popularity of many important tourist sites (like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City) in Beijing now means people must purchase tickets in advance. Since we’d prepared for this, we had our tickets before arriving in the city.

After arriving early at Beijing South Railway Station from Shanghai, we headed straight to the St. Regis Beijing. We took advantage of Beijing’s efficient metro system, one of the world’s most extensive subway systems, with 23 lines, more than 400 stations, and over 435 miles (700 kilometers) of track.

Tiananmen Square

After leaving the hotel, we started the day by heading to Tiananmen Square, a city square and one of the most famous sites in Beijing, particularly in recent history. Tiananmen Square was the setting of many political events, most famously the 1989 pro-democracy protests that resulted in a police and military crackdown and the deaths of hundreds.

Tiananmen Square is also where Mao Zedong proclaimed the foundation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Today, it is a representation of China’s history and political power on full display.

Tiananmen Square is massive, spread across over 215,000 square meters (about 3.7 acres). It contains numerous historical buildings, including the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

Tiananmen Square itself is free to enter, but advance registration is required. Police heavily guard the square, and visitors must present their passports and undergo a security and bag check. It can get extremely busy, so it’s important to plan ahead.

The easiest way to get tickets is via the Tiananmen Square WeChat mini program at least a day in advance. Tiananmen Square is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., however, each landmark has its own visiting hours.

The Forbidden City

Next, we visited the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s most significant cultural sites. It is in the heart of Beijing, just north of Tiananmen Square.

The Forbidden City was constructed between 1406 and 1420 by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. It is the best-preserved example of traditional imperial architecture in China and provides excellent insight into Beijing’s ancient past. Over nearly 500 years, it served as the seat of power of 24 emperors.

The massive complex is called the Forbidden City because entry to the palace was strictly forbidden to commoners. Entering without a proper invitation would result in severe punishment.

Over 1 million workers were involved in the construction of the Forbidden City. The massive complex includes nearly 1,000 buildings and 9,999 rooms.

The palace complex has many important buildings, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

The Palace Museum is closed on Mondays (except for national holidays). Like at Tiananmen Square, visitors must purchase tickets. You can do so directly on the Palace Museum website or via WeChat.

You cannot purchase same-day tickets. Tickets can be booked from 8 p.m. up to 7 days before the visit, and they are only valid on the day of the visit. 

From April 1 to October 31 (peak season), tickets cost ¥60 ($8.30) per person. From November 1 to March 3 (off-peak), tickets cost ¥40 ($5.50) per person.

To enter the Palace Museum, visitors must bring the IDs they used to book their tickets to the south gate for check-in.

Jingshan Park

Next, we headed to Jingshan Park, a beautiful and historic public park and garden, directly north of the Forbidden City, to catch the sunset.

Jingshan Park was created in the 13th century during the Yuan Dynasty. It served as an imperial garden, and numerous palaces and pavilions were built for the emperor to make sacrifices to his ancestors.

The highlight of Jingshan Park is its panoramic view. From this viewpoint, you can see the entire Forbidden City to the south.

You can also see the Bell and Drum Tower to the north.

Jingshan Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. between April and October and from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. between November and March. Tickets for Jingshan Park cost ¥10 ($1.40).

Hot Tip:

You’ll find lots of great tours and excursions in Beijing on Viator, one of our favorite activity booking platforms.

Day 2

After a busy first day visiting some of Beijing’s main attractions, we wanted to spend the second day visiting temples and learning more about Beijing’s history.

Beihai Park

We began the day by heading to Beihai Park, one of China’s oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens. The park has over 1,000 years of history and dates back to the Liao Dynasty.

Beihai Park covers an area of about 175 acres (70 hectares) and has numerous historically significant structures, palaces, and temples throughout its grounds. However, much of the park is taken up by its massive central lake.

One of Beihai Park’s main highlights is the White Dagoba. It was built in 1651 by Emperor Shunzhi (the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty) on the former site of the Palace in the Moon, where Kublai Khan received Marco Polo.

The White Dagoba was destroyed in an earthquake and has since been reconstructed twice. The current structure is 120 feet (37 meters) high and features 2 bronze canopies and 14 bronze bells. Inside, there are numerous Buddhist scriptures.

Beihai Park also features several temples and pavilions throughout the grounds.

Beihai Park is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April through October and from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November to March. Admission tickets cost ¥20 ($2.80) from April through October and ¥10 ($1.40) from November to March.

Lama Temple

Next, we headed to the Lama Temple, Beijing’s most famous Tibetan Buddhist temple, and one of the most important outside Tibet.

It was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty as part of the city wall for Emperor Yongzheng. Years later, Yongzheng’s son, Emperor Qianlong, sent for more than 300 Tibetan monks and housed them in the palace. Since then, it has served as a temple and monastery.

The temple blends Han Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian architecture. It has 5 main halls, each filled with various Buddha statues. It also has the largest wooden Buddha in the world, a 26-meter (85-foot) Maitreya Buddha statue carved out of a single white sandalwood tree trunk.

The temple is still active, and many local Chinese Buddhists burn incense and pray here throughout the day. Visitors can buy incense at various places around the temple and are encouraged to burn it between halls. 

Lama Temple is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission costs ¥25 ($3.45). It is a short walk from Yonghegong station, a stop on metro lines 2 and 5.

Temple of Confucius

Next, we headed to the Temple of Confucius, less than a 10-minute walk from the Lama Temple. It is the second-largest Confucian temple in China, after the one in his hometown of Qufu.

The temple was initially built in 1302 for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors who paid homage to Confucius, an iconic Chinese philosopher, and served as an imperial place of worship. 

The temple underwent several expansions throughout the centuries, showing the importance given to Confucius and his teachings. It is also right next to Guozijian, the highest educational institution established by the state.

The temple features several courtyards aligned along a central axis and numerous buildings with traditional Chinese architecture. One of the many courtyards is lined with nearly 200 stone tablets, with the names of more than 50,000 advanced scholars of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Various festivals and cultural events are held at the temple yearly, all of which celebrate traditions and heritage. One important festival, the Confucius Memorial Ceremony, is held every year on September 28 to honor Confucius. Traditional performances and rituals take place during the festival.

The Temple of Confucius is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays (except national holidays). Admission tickets cost ¥30 ($4.20).

Day 3

For our last day in Beijing, we decided to visit a couple more historic sites before heading to a popular shopping area.

Temple of Heaven

We started the final day by visiting the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most iconic landmarks and a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty architecture. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and was once imperial China’s most important ceremonial site.

The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 as a place for emperors to perform rituals to pray for good harvests and heaven’s blessings. Today, it is considered China’s most significant and best-preserved Ming and Qing-era building complex for heaven-worshipping ceremonies.

The Temple of Heaven complex includes several buildings, but the most famous is the massive Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It is a triple-gabled circular hall that was entirely made with wood without a single nail. The building symbolizes harmony between heaven and earth.

The Temple of Heaven is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission tickets cost ¥34 ($4.70) per person.

Wangfujing Pedestrian Street

For our last night in Beijing, we went to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street to shop. It is the biggest and busiest shopping street in Beijing, with hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as numerous shopping malls.

You can find almost anything you could imagine here, including souvenirs, tea, books, clothing, shoes, flowers, and beauty products.

Many restaurants and street food vendors are also on the street and in the surrounding alleyways. Some of the restaurants have windows where you can see chefs preparing food.

Dining in Beijing

Beijing is a great food city and is well-regarded for its fantastic cuisine. As the capital of China for centuries, Beijing’s cuisine is influenced by traditions from all over the country.

Beijing’s cuisine heavily features dough-based foods, like noodles, buns, and pastries. It also tends to be less spicy than most other parts of the country.

Peking Duck

Beijing roast duck, or Peking duck, is arguably Beijing’s most iconic dish. It is best known for its tender meat and thin, crispy skin. It is typically served with pancakes, hoisin sauce, scallions, and cucumber slices.

Jiaozi

Jiaozi, a type of dumpling, are a popular northern dish, particularly during family gatherings and festivals. They are typically boiled or steamed and are filled with pork, beef, lamb, or vegetables. They are commonly served with a soy sauce, vinegar, and chili dip.

Zhajiang Mian

Zhajiang mian, commonly called Beijing noodles, are wheat noodles topped with fermented soybean paste sauce, minced pork, and shredded vegetables.

Mongolian Hot Pot

Mongolian hot pot is another popular dish with a history that dates back over 1,000 years. It typically features lamb, but it can be made with many other meats. The meat is thinly sliced to ensure it cooks quickly and evenly. The soup is also less spicy than it would be in most of the rest of the country.

Final Thoughts

Beijing is truly one of the best cities in the world and has a ton to offer everyone who visits. Although the city is as historic as any, it has become quite modern and does an excellent job of blending the old and the new.

I cannot wait to revisit Beijing soon, as I consider it one of my favorite cities worldwide. Hopefully, next time, we will have more time to take a day trip to the Great Wall of China.