If there is one city that has truly left me speechless, it is BeijingBetween its imperial history, the mix of modernity and tradition, the incredible food and the contrast between the ancient hutongs and futuristic skyscrapers, every day in the Chinese capital was a different adventureIn this post I tell you What to see in Beijing in 7 days, with the essentials that you can't miss. In addition, I will share with you my Best tips, updated prices and how to get there to each place, so you can make the most of your trip.
Before you travel, check this guide with Things you need to know before visiting China. It will help you with topics such as Visas, VPN, transportation, and local culture.
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Day 1: The Forbidden City - Tiananmen Square – A journey to the imperial heart 🏯
The first day in Beijing has to start at its most iconic place: the Forbidden City. During 500 years, only emperors and their court could enter this palace of 980 buildings, where the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled.
When crossing the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you feel the weight of history. Every pavilion, every statue and every red roof They tell stories of emperors, concubines, and eunuchs. If you love history, you'll love this place.
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Line 1 (Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West stations).
💰 Price: ¥60 (€8).
⏰ Schedule: 08:30 – 17:00 (closed Mondays).
🎟️ Recommended experience: Guided tour of the Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Line 1, Tiananmen East or West stations.
💰 Price: Free
As you leave the Forbidden City, right in front of you is the Tiananmen Square, famous for both its history and its imposing sizeThere you find the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, he National Museum of China and the Tiananmen Gate, with the iconic portrait of Mao. This is one of the squares largest in the world, with more than 440,000 m².
Day 2: The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu – A dream come true
No trip to China is complete without walking through the Great Wall of China, one of the most impressive places to see in Beijing. I chose the section Mutianyu because it is less crowded and its mountainous landscapes are incredible.
📍 How to get there:
1️⃣ Express bus 916 from Dongzhimen + local taxi.
2️⃣ Organized excursion with a Spanish-speaking guide (easier).
💰 Price: Entrance ¥60 (€8) + cable car/slide ¥120 (€16).
⏰ Schedule: 08:00 – 17:00.
🎟️ Recommended experience: Great Wall of China Tour
Dreamer Tips:
- Go up by cable car and go down by slide (an epic experience!).
- Bring water and comfortable shoes, there are many stairs.
- Visit early in the morning to avoid tourists.
Day 3: Hutongs, Lama Temple and Liulichang – The essence of Beijing
Hutongs: traditional Beijing
The hutongs These are old neighborhoods with narrow alleys that represent the essence of Beijing. In them, you can experience local life and try homemade dumplings and walk through streets full of history.
📍 How to get there: Nanluoguxiang Subway (Line 6).
💰 Price: Free.
🎟️Recommended experience: Guided tour of Beijing's hutongs
Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
It is the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. Its Maitreya Buddha is notable 18 meters high, carved from a single sandalwood log.
📍 How to get there: Yonghegong Lama Temple Metro (Line 2 or 5).
💰 Price: ¥25 (€3.50).
🎟️ Purchase your ticket in advance to enter the Lama Temple.
Liulichang Cultural Market
If you love Chinese art and calligraphy, you can't miss it. Liulichang Cultural Market, a street full of traditional shops selling brushes, ink and antiques.
📍 How to get there: Hepingmen Subway (Line 2).
💰 Price: Free.
Day 4: Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven
He Summer Palace It's one of the most beautiful places to see in Beijing. It was Empress Cixi's retreat, and its Kunming Lake and ancient pavilions create an atmosphere of absolute tranquility.
Later, I went to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for good harvests. Today, it's a perfect place to see locals. doing tai chi.
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Beigongmen (line 4) for the Summer Palace / Tiantan Dongmen (line 5) for the Temple of Heaven.
💰 Price: ¥30-60 (4-8€) for the Summer Palace, ¥35 (5€) for the Temple of Heaven.
🎟️ Recommended experience: Private tour of the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace
Day 5: Universal Studios Beijing 🎢
After so much history, I deserved a day of pure fun in Universal Studios Beijing. This park opened in 2021 and has thematic areas from Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Minions, Transformers and of course a beautiful area dedicated to Kung Fu Panda!! The truth is that it is surprising and the studios are great, along with Universal in Japan, they are some of our favorites.
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Universal Resort (line 7).
💰 Price: From ¥528 (approx. €70).
🎟️ Dreamer Advice: Buy yours Universal Studios Beijing tickets in advance.
Day 6: National Museum of China and Wangfujing Street
After several days visiting temples and palaces, I decided to dedicate the sixth day to Immerse yourself in Chinese history at the National Museum of China and then explore Wangfujing Street, Beijing's most vibrant shopping street.
National Museum of China – A journey through 5,000 years of history
Located in the Tiananmen Square, this is one of the museums largest in the world. With more than 1 million historical pieces, is the best place to understand the evolution of China from prehistory to the present day.
What impressed me most:
- The ancient bronzes from the Shang Dynasty, more than 3,000 years old.
- The stone Buddha of the Tang Dynasty, a gigantic statue of more than 6 meters.
- Exhibitions on the Chinese Revolution and Mao Zedong, fundamental to understanding modern Chinese history.
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Tiananmen East (Line 1).
💰 Price: Free (but you need to show your passport).
⏰ Schedule: 09:00 – 17:00 (closed Mondays).
Wangfujing Street – Beijing's most vibrant street
After the story, I headed to Wangfujing Street, Beijing's most iconic shopping street. Here you can find luxury shops, night markets and exotic food stalls.
The best:
- Night market with local snacks such as scorpion skewers.
- Souvenir shops and typical Chinese products.
- Department stores such as Beijing Department Store and technology stores.
📍 How to get there:
🚇 Metro: Wangfujing (Line 1).
💰Price: Free.
Day 7: Xi'an Tour – The Terracotta Warriors, a journey through time
To close my adventure in Beijing with icing on the cake, I decided to make one day trip to Xi'an to see one of the most impressive archaeological wonders in the world: The Terracotta Warriors.
The Terracotta Warriors – An immortal army
This army of more than 8,000 life-size figures was discovered in 1974 by some peasants who were digging a well. He was buried next to the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, to protect him in the afterlife.
Terracotta Warriors Curiosities:
- Each warrior is unique and has different facial features.
- They were originally painted with bright colors, but the air has worn them down.
- More figures are still being excavated., so the discovery is still in progress.
📍 How to get there:
🚅 Beijing – Xi'an bullet train: 5 hours of travel.
🚇 Subway in Xi'an: From the station Lintong, where the warriors are.
💰 Price: ¥120 (16€).
⏰ Schedule: 08:30 – 17:00.
🎟️ Recommended experience: Terracotta Warriors and Xian Wall Tour
📌 Dreamer Advice: If you want to do the excursion in a single day, it is best to take the bullet train early in the morning and return at night.
Dreamer Extras: My favorite places to stay and eat in Beijing
Where to stay in Beijing: Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing
For one central location with easy access to the city's main attractions, I recommend the Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing.
📌 Why I loved it:
- Location in Wangfujing, close to the subway and the Forbidden City.
- Comfortable and modern rooms.
- The people at the reception spoke English quite well.
- Good value for money.
Where to eat in Beijing
Just one comment: the food in Beijing is delicious! We loved everything we tried; everything had a unique flavor and we were pleasantly surprised.
One of the most emblematic dishes of Beijing is the Peking duckAnd where we liked it the most is in a restaurant where they prepare it in a spectacular way. Four Seasons Minfu Roast Duck delicious!!
Another restaurant that we really liked and went back to was Green Tea Restaurant (Wangjing New World), the trip favorite definitely.
Traveling to Beijing is much more than seeing monuments, it is Feel the history, get lost in its streets and be surprised by every cornerI hope this guide helps you enjoy every moment of this incredible city.
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