There are so many things to do in a city that even if you live there you may not get to see it all. This was the same for our stay in Beijing and we had a list a mile long on what to see in Beijing. We wanted to see as much as we could in Beijing and in the heat as well. We had a full 5 days in Beijing and we were going to make the best of that time.
Whether Beijing is your only destination in China with a 144-hour visa or you have other cities on your China itinerary we have put together this Beijing travel guide for you to get as much out of your time there as possible.
We had friends visiting us in China from Australia and we wanted to make it epic for them as well as us. There was just so much to see so this is what we did during our 5 days in Beijing.
Is Beijing worth a visit on my trip to China?
Many people will tell you that Beijing is a busy tourist city and we have to agree but there are times when you will be the only Western tourist at a place when you visit China especially if you independently travel there as we did. Most tourists are domestic tourists.
They are orderly and respectful but personal space is not something that they are used to so you might feel very claustrophobic at some of the sights in Beijing.
All of the places below we have visited in Beijing and we believe they should be a part of any Beijing Itinerary.
Learn More: If you are planning a trip to China, there are some things you need to know. Use our epic guide to make sure you have everything you need before you leave home for your vacation in China
How to spend an epic 5 days in Beijing China
Unlock the secrets of Beijing’s rich history and vibrant culture with our guide on how to make the most of an unforgettable 5-day adventure in China’s capital city.
Day 1 in Beijing
After you have had a rest and hopefully a good night’s sleep in your Beijing accommodation it is time to hit the ground running with a visit to the Summer Palace first.
Summer Palace
This was one of the first places we decided to visit in Beijing. It is a beautiful park that has just under 3 kilometres of parkland and was an Imperial park in the Qing Dynasty. The main sites people like to visit are Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake but as you wander you can find many different types of bridges, temples, halls and pavilions to explore.
Being such a large compound, it is divided into different sections. You can buy an entry ticket that only gets you access to the Palace grounds or you can buy a full ticket that gets you access to every other attraction (like Longevity Hill) called a ‘Through Ticket’ within the Palace grounds.
As you go you can decide what extra entries you want to pay for if you only get the Palace entry ticket. The Summer Palace is one of the best things to see in Beijing on your 5 days in Beijing trip.
| Ticket | Cost |
| Palace gardens | 30Y |
| Longevity Hill | 10Y each |
| Boat ride on Kunming Lake | 40Y each |
| Through Ticket | 60 Y |
| Children under 1.2m | Free |
We decided with the crowds we would just purchase the entry ticket to visit the Summer Palace and then if we wanted to go up to the top of Longevity Hill to the Tower of Buddhist Incense we would pay for that as we went.
We highly recommend a trip up to the top of the Tower of Buddhist Incense. The views from there over Kunming Lake have to be one of the best things to see in Beijing. It is about 180 steps to the top though.
We also took a short boat ride on Kunming Lake. It was sort of like a little ferry to Nanhu Island, and the kids loved it. It also gave great views of Longevity Hill and the 17 Arch Bridge. If you are travelling in Beijing with children this will be a great place for them to have a bit of fun on the water.
Time needed at the Summer Palace
We spent 4.5 hours at the Summer Palace and we saw only the Palace, Longevity Hill, The