A Beijing itinerary with the Forbidden City and a Great Wall day
Beijing's big sights need planning: the Forbidden City uses timed tickets that need your passport, it closes on Mondays, and Great Wall sections differ a lot in crowds and steepness. This prompt has your todo.is agent pick the right wall section for you and order the imperial sights so you are not crossing the city twice.
The prompt
- Plan a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Beijing itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] in [MONTH], staying near [AREA]. Include the Forbidden City (with when and how to book passport-linked tickets), Tiananmen Square, Jingshan Park, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple and a hutong area like Nanluoguxiang or Shichahai. For the Great Wall, recommend the best section for us among [WALL SECTIONS] and how to get there. Add one Peking duck dinner and one evening like [EVENING]. Tell me which apps I need (payments, maps, ride-hailing) and how they work for foreign visitors. Email me a PDF. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "4". Three days is tight; four gives the wall its own day.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "a couple on their first China trip", "family with kids aged 9 and 12".
- [MONTH]: E.g. "October". Spring and autumn are best; avoid national holiday weeks if you can.
- [AREA]: E.g. "Wangfujing", "Dongcheng hutongs", "Sanlitun".
- [WALL SECTIONS]: E.g. "Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Badaling", or "suggest one for families".
- [EVENING]: E.g. "an acrobatics show", "Peking opera", "night walk at Houhai".
Example result
- Beijing in 4 days, a couple in October
- Staying near Wangfujing · first trip to China
- Before you go
- • Forbidden City tickets are released online days ahead, linked to your passport, and sell out in busy weeks. It is closed on Mondays except some holidays.
- • Set up a mobile payment app with an international card, a maps app that works in China, and a ride-hailing app. Ask your agent for a step-by-step guide.
- Day 1: The imperial axis (Tuesday)
- • Morning: Tiananmen Square (security checks, bring your passport), then the Forbidden City from the south gate. Plan 3 to 4 hours.
- • Exit north and climb Jingshan Park for the view back over the golden roofs.
- • Evening: Peking duck dinner, carved at the table.
- Day 2: Great Wall at Mutianyu
- • Private car or tour bus (about 1.5 hours each way).
- • Restored, less crowded than Badaling, and good for most fitness levels. Cable car or chairlift up; toboggan down if you like.
- • Walk west toward the steeper towers for quieter views.
- • Evening: rest, then a short walk around Wangfujing.
- Day 3: Temples and hutongs
- • Early morning: Temple of Heaven park, where locals do tai chi, sing and play cards. Then the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
- • Afternoon: the Lama Temple, then walk to the Confucius Temple nearby.
- • Late afternoon: rickshaw or bike through the hutongs around Shichahai and Houhai lake.
- • Evening: an acrobatics show, or dinner by Houhai.
- Day 4: Summer Palace
- • Morning: the Summer Palace: the Long Corridor, Kunming Lake by boat, Longevity Hill.
- • Afternoon: the 798 Art District, or the Olympic Park to see the Bird's Nest lit up at dusk.
- Good to know
- • Carry your passport every day; many sights and trains need it.
- • Spring brings occasional dust; October is usually clear and mild.
- • Check opening days and ticket rules on official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, month, hotel area, wall sections and evening idea.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent checks ticket rules, picks a wall section and emails a PDF with an app setup list.
- Ask follow-ups like "remind me when Forbidden City tickets open" and book everything yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Ask your agent for a reminder on the day Forbidden City tickets release for your date. They go fast in holiday weeks.
- Choose Mutianyu for a mix of views and comfort, Jinshanling for fewer people and more hiking, and skip Badaling on weekends.
- Avoid the October Golden Week and Chinese New Year if you can. Crowds and prices jump.
- Set up payment and maps apps before you fly. Many places don't accept foreign cards directly.
Beijing itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Beijing? Three days covers the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and a Great Wall trip. Four or five days lets you add the Summer Palace and hutongs at a relaxed pace.
- Which Great Wall section is best from Beijing? Mutianyu is the best all-round choice: restored, scenic, with a cable car and fewer crowds than Badaling. Jinshanling suits hikers who want wilder views.
- Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance? Yes. Tickets are sold online with your passport number and often sell out, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Can my agent plan Beijing and Shanghai together? Yes. Ask for both and it will add the high-speed train between them, with timings and booking links.
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