Beijing
The capital and the single strongest draw for Western tourists — Great Wall, Forbidden City and 3,000 years of imperial history on one subway map.
Best time
April–May and September–October
Suggested stay
4–5 days
Getting there
Fly into Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX). High-speed trains to Shanghai (~4.5–6 h), Xi'an (~4.5–6 h) and Chengdu (~7.5 h).
Don't miss in Beijing
The experiences Western travelers rate highest here.
Great Wall — Mutianyu
The bucket-list icon without the Badaling crush — restored Ming battlements, a toboggan descent, and 360° mountain views. Western travelers' #1 must-do in China.
Great Wall — Badaling
The most famous, fully restored section, climbing steeply over the Jundu Mountains — reachable by high-speed train from Beijing.
Forbidden City
The 980-building imperial palace where 24 emperors ruled for five centuries. Book tickets days ahead — it sells out.
Temple of Heaven
The blue-tiled Ming masterpiece where emperors prayed for good harvests — surrounded at dawn by locals singing, dancing and practicing tai chi.
Summer Palace
A vast imperial garden-resort of lakes, pavilions and the 728-m Long Corridor — Beijingers' favorite weekend escape.
Tiananmen Square
The world's largest public square, flanked by the Forbidden City to the north and Mao's mausoleum to the south.
Hutong Alleyways
Get lost in the grey-brick lanes of old Beijing — courtyard homes, snack stalls, and pedicabs around Nanluoguxiang and Houhai.
Peking Duck Dinner
The 600-year-old signature dish — lacquered, carved tableside, and eaten in pancakes with scallion and sweet bean sauce.
Keep exploring
More destinations at the same level of the journey.
Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Army — the ancient capital every history-loving Westerner comes for.
Shanghai
China's gateway city and the #1 inbound destination for both American and European visitors — colonial waterfront meets Blade Runner skyline.
Guilin & Yangshuo
The karst landscape on the 20-yuan note — the scenery Westerners picture when they imagine 'China'.
Chengdu
Pandas, hotpot and teahouse life — the laid-back Sichuan capital that became a top-5 inbound city in 2025.