Fly from Hong Kong to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Daxing Airport (PKX); the flight takes roughly 3–3.5 hours. Allow about 1–1.5 hours after landing for immigration and baggage, then take an official airport taxi or prearranged car to Novotel Beijing Peace in Wangfujing. The drive is usually around 40–70 minutes from PEK and can take 1–1.5 hours or more from PKX, depending on traffic. Confirm which airport is on your ticket before arranging the pickup. The hotel is near Dengshikou Station on Metro Line 5, a handy base for central Beijing. October is generally cool and dry; bring layers and a light jacket for the evening.
After checking in, take an easy stroll along Wangfujing Street—about 1.5 hours is plenty after a travel day. Department stores and many shops stay open into the evening, though hours vary; browse the snack shops too, but check ingredients carefully if you have dietary restrictions. For dinner, head to Din Tai Fung, Xinyuanli for dumplings, noodles and vegetable dishes. It’s outside the immediate Wangfujing area, so allow roughly 20–30 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing car, traffic permitting; budget about CNY 100–180 per person. If your flight or transfer runs late, keep the evening flexible and check the restaurant’s closing time before setting out.
Start early at Tiananmen Square; from central Dongcheng, allow about 15–30 minutes by taxi or metro, plus time for security checks. Entry is free, but advance real-name reservations may be required for both the square and nearby sites, and arrangements can change—check the official channels shortly before your visit. Bring passports for all three of you and arrive around your reserved time; plan roughly 1–1½ hours here.
Walk to the south entrance of The Palace Museum (Forbidden City) and allow 3–4 hours to explore its courtyards and main halls, exiting at the north gate. Tickets are limited and should be booked through the official channel as soon as your booking window opens; entry is generally timed, and the museum is normally closed on Mondays. The scale is enormous, so wear comfortable shoes, carry water and consider a simple lunch or snack break inside if available. From the north exit, it’s a short walk to Jingshan Park; climb to the hilltop pavilion for a fine view back over the palace. Allow about an hour, and check the day’s closing time before you go.
For dinner, head to Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant, Dengshikou. It’s a popular spot, so expect a queue at peak dinner time; joining the waitlist early or arriving before the rush can help. Budget around CNY 120–200 per person. Roast duck is the specialty, but vegetarian options may be limited—ask staff what can be prepared without meat, and confirm ingredients when ordering.
Arrive at Temple of Heaven around 8:00 a.m., when the park is lively with locals practising tai chi, dancing and playing music. Allow about 2½ hours for the park paths and ceremonial buildings; the park generally opens early, while the main sights open later, so check the current schedule and ticket options before you go. The easiest metro stop is Tiantan Dongmen on Line 5. After your visit, Hongqiao Market is just across the road: browse its jewellery, pearls, souvenirs and household goods for about an hour. Prices are negotiable, so compare a few stalls and bargain politely; check opening hours before setting out.
Walk or take a short taxi to Duyichu Shaomai Restaurant in the Qianmen area for lunch. It’s known for shaomai dumplings; ask staff which fillings are vegetarian, as dishes and preparation may vary. Budget roughly CNY 50–100 per person. Spend the afternoon wandering Qianmen Street and Dashilan, where restored shopfronts, snack stalls and traditional stores make for an easy, unhurried couple of hours. It’s a good area for gifts and souvenirs; prices can vary considerably between shops, so compare before buying.
Stay in the Qianmen area for dinner at Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, a familiar choice for Beijing roast duck. Budget around CNY 150–250 per person and consider reserving or arriving early to avoid a wait. If anyone in your family is vegetarian, check the menu and preparation with the restaurant beforehand rather than assuming there will be a substantial meat-free meal. After dinner, take a relaxed stroll along the lit-up commercial streets, then return to your hotel by taxi or metro.
From Wangfujing, take Metro Line 8 to Shichahai—around 20–30 minutes, typically CNY 4–6—and begin with an easy hour beside the lakes. The lakeside paths are free to wander; take your time with the old courtyard-house views rather than trying to cover every lane. Then stroll to Yandai Xiejie, a compact historic street for browsing small shops and picking up a snack. Prices vary, so check before buying souvenirs, and expect the lane to get busier toward midday.
Continue on foot to Nanluoguxiang for about 1½ hours. The main alley is lively and commercial, but the quieter side hutongs are where the neighbourhood feels more lived-in; please keep voices down and avoid entering private courtyards. For lunch, head to King’s Joy. It’s known for creative plant-based Chinese cooking; budget roughly CNY 200–350 per person and reserve ahead. Restaurant details and service can change, so confirm it is open and book for your date before setting out.
After lunch, take a taxi or Didi to the Drum Tower of Beijing—allow roughly 10–20 minutes depending on traffic—or walk in about 25–35 minutes if you’d like to see more hutong streets. Set aside an hour to climb the tower and look over the rooftops; check the current last-entry time before you go, as it can vary by season. Admission is typically around CNY 30, but confirm the current ticket price and hours.
Leave your Dongcheng hotel around 7:00–7:30 a.m. in a prearranged round-trip car to Mutianyu Great Wall; the drive usually takes 1½–2 hours each way, but traffic can stretch it. Confirm the pickup point, return time and whether tolls or parking are included. At the visitor centre, follow the day’s signs for ticketing and shuttle buses, then choose how you’d like to reach the wall: the cable car or chairlift options save energy for walking. Allow 4–5 hours here, and wear shoes with good grip—the stone steps can be uneven and steep.
Have a relaxed meal at a restaurant in the Mutianyu village area, near the visitor centre, before the drive back. Expect about CNY 60–120 per person. Menus often include vegetable dishes, but cooking may involve meat stock, lard or shared woks; ask clearly about ingredients, and use a translation app if needed. Keep lunch leisurely, but agree on a pickup time with your driver.
Return to Dongcheng by car, allowing another 1½–2 hours and some flexibility for traffic. After a long day outdoors, take a breather at the hotel before heading to Haidilao Hot Pot, Wangfujing for dinner. It’s a lively, family-friendly choice where you can order vegetables and tofu alongside meat, with a broth to suit your preferences; budget roughly CNY 100–180 per person and allow 1½–2 hours. Check the branch’s current hours and consider reserving or joining the waitlist ahead of time, especially at dinner.
After yesterday’s Great Wall outing, give yourselves a gentler start and aim to reach Summer Palace around 9:00–9:30 a.m. Plan on three to four hours among Kunming Lake, the gardens and historic buildings; it’s a large site, so choose a few areas rather than trying to cover every path. Entry is typically around CNY 30 in the busy season, with separate tickets sometimes needed for individual attractions; check current hours and ticket rules before you go. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring a light layer for breezy lakeside paths.
Stay within the grounds for Suzhou Street, the canal-side lane lined with small shops and snack stops. Allow about 45 minutes to browse, and check whether the street and its attractions are open on the day—some areas may have separate admission or seasonal hours. From there, take a taxi or Didi to Tsinghua University (roughly 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic). Visitor access requires advance registration and rules can change, so confirm that your family is approved before making the trip; if access is granted, allow about 1½ hours for a relaxed campus walk.
Head to Wudaokou for dinner, a lively student neighborhood with plenty of casual places to eat. Indian Kitchen is a handy choice for familiar Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes; budget roughly CNY 100–180 per person, and check current opening hours or reserve if you’re arriving at peak dinner time. Taxis or Didi are the simplest way to get there from campus; after dinner, keep the evening easy rather than adding another major stop.
Aim to reach the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) around 9:00 a.m. Photograph the landmark from the outside first; tours and interior access can vary, so check the venue’s current schedule before setting out. Allow about an hour. Then walk to the neighbouring National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) for a look at its distinctive bubble-like exterior. If you want to go inside, check which exhibitions or attractions are operating and leave 1–2 hours; tickets and opening times can change.
Take a relaxed walk through Beijing Olympic Park, which gives you room to pause between the big venues. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes—the grounds are broad, and the best plan is to wander rather than race across the entire site. For lunch, choose a café or casual restaurant around the Olympic venues; options and opening hours vary, so check what’s open on the day.
Head to Sanlitun Taikoo Li by metro: from the Olympic Park area, take Line 8 toward Beitucheng, then Line 10 toward Tuanjiehu, allowing roughly 30–40 minutes and CNY 4–7 per person. Spend about 1½ hours browsing the shops and contemporary architecture; the district is especially pleasant as the lights come on. Finish at Migas Mercado for Spanish dishes in a lively setting. Budget around CNY 150–250 per person, and consider booking ahead for dinner.
Allow 30–45 minutes to pack and check out of Novotel Beijing Peace. Ask the front desk to store your bags until departure, and keep passports, flight details and essentials with you. Then take a relaxed final stroll around Donghuamen—about an hour is plenty for a last look and a few small gifts or packaged snacks. The old night-market food stalls are no longer a dependable attraction, so treat this as a neighborhood wander rather than a food stop.
Head to a café around Wangfujing for brunch, allowing about an hour and roughly CNY 50–100 per person. Maan Coffee is a convenient casual option for coffee, sandwiches and light meals; menus and opening hours can vary, so check the day’s listing before setting out. Leave time to return to the hotel, collect your luggage and use the restroom before the airport transfer.
For your 6:40 p.m. flight to Hong Kong, confirm whether you’re departing from Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)—they’re on opposite sides of the city. For PEK, leave central Beijing around 2:00–2:30 p.m. by taxi or Didi (typically 45–75 minutes, about CNY 100–180, depending on traffic), or use the subway and Airport Express (around 60–90 minutes, roughly CNY 30). Allow more travel time for PKX and follow your airline’s check-in guidance; traffic can be unpredictable, so don’t leave the hotel later than planned.
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