Beijing 5-Day Itinerary Recommendation

📍Itinerary Overview Day 1️⃣—MUJI Hotel ➡️ Jingshan Park ➡️ Shichahai ❇️ Capital Airport Line 👍 Take the airport line and transfer once; the MUJI Hotel is right across from Qianmen Station. Convenient and avoids traffic jams. Fare: 25 RMB, free for children under 1.3 meters. ❇️ Jingshan Park Originally planned to climb the hill for a view of the Forbidden City. According to tips, entering from the west gate allows for a quick ascent. 💣 Took a taxi from the hotel, but the driver mentioned traffic control and could only drop us nearby. Ended up circling for half an hour and walking nearly an hour to reach Jingshan Park. 😮💨 ❇️ Shichahai Planned to have dinner and stroll around Shichahai, but ended up at the driver's favorite Old Beijing Hot Pot. 💣 Took a taxi from Jingshan Park to Shichahai, but the driver again mentioned traffic control and kept recommending Old Beijing Hot Pot. Asked him to drop us at the nearest subway station, but he claimed there was a half-hour queue to enter the station. Eventually, we went to the hot pot restaurant. 😡 💣 The hot pot broth was spicy, and switching to clear broth cost an extra 50 RMB. 😒 The taste was as expected. 🙂↕️ Later checked reviews and found many others had similar experiences. 😮💨 Day 2️⃣ Great Hall of the People ➡️ Tiananmen Square ➡️ National Center for the Performing Arts ➡️ Dashilan ➡️ Siji Minfu ❇️ Attractions around Tiananmen Square require reservations. The Great Hall of the People and the square are easy to book, but the National Museum requires exhibition tickets, and the Tiananmen Tower is extremely hard to reserve. All these places are crowded. Security checks take nearly an hour; without bags, it’s faster.‼️ Remember to bring your ID card‼️ ❇️ National Center for the Performing Arts 👍 Accessible by subway. Free performances and guided tours. Admire the architectural design. Less crowded, great for photos. Day 3️⃣ Mutianyu Great Wall ➡️ Bird’s Nest & Water Cube ➡️ Yuxiandu ➡️ Youbang Hotel ❇️ Mutianyu Great Wall 👍 Less crowded and scenic. Take the cable car to Tower 14, then walk to Tower 6 for the slide ride. Quite fun! ❇️ Yuxiandu 👍 Imperial banquet experience with hours of immersive activities. Includes costumes, performances, and a great atmosphere. ❇️ Youbang Hotel Located in Haidian District. A new, clean hotel with family rooms. Day 4️⃣ Summer Palace ➡️ Tsinghua University ➡️ Wukesong Shopping District ❇️ Summer Palace 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Extremely crowded, even taking photos is difficult. Hire a guide for professional and high-quality explanations. 👍 ❇️ Tsinghua University Requires reservations. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan residents need to email for booking. 🧑🧑🧒🧒 Queue for an hour to enter. Hire a current student for guided tours. Day 5️⃣ Return Home 💡Tips: 🔺 Book attractions early. Avoid packing the itinerary too tightly and allow time for queues. 🔺 Taxi drivers often have tricks and traffic jams. Use public transport instead, and choose hotels near subway stations. 🔺 Many trendy streets are similar, mostly offering roast duck, preserved fruits, fridge magnets, etc.