Beijing was the first place I ever had the opportunity to visit that was outside of my own country. Full of history and culture so different to my own as a U.S. citizen, my love for travel was solidified with this trip to China. Overall, our tour of the country included stops in Dalian, Chongqing, Xian, Huangshan, Shanghai, and the Yangtze River - but first we started in Beijing. Below is our recommended travel guide. 3 days Beijing, travel guide!
1. Wangfujing Snack Street
Travel Guide for 3 Days Beijing, best tourist spot #1:
The first place we visited when we stepped off of the plane, Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街) is a great way to dive straight into Chinese food-culture, with many dishes available that starkly contrast western cuisine. Steamed buns. Baodu. Snake kebabs. Fried scorpions. I personally was not that adventurous, but with the (quite literally) lively array of unfamiliar snacks to choose from, Wangfujing Snack Street has become a popular tourist destination for those visiting Beijing. What to see in Beijing!
A full 3 days Beijing Travel Guide.
Things to do in Beijing China
2. The Summer Palace
3 days Beijing, tourist spot #2:
Originally exclusive to Chinese royal families during their "summer retreats," the Summer Palace (颐和园) is now accessible to the public and remains the best way to escape into nature within the bounds of Beijing. Today it is known as one of the largest and best-maintained imperial gardens in the world, and was definitely one of my favorite places to get pictures. Developed to reflect the Chinese philosophy of creating balance between man and nature, the Summer Palace is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage site as a "masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design." 1 to 3 day trip in Beijing
Entrance tickets to the Summer Palace cost 30 yuan (about $5 US dollars) during the busy season. For things to do for a day trip to Beijing, read more!
3. The Forbidden City
Our full 3 days Beijing travel guide, spot #3:
The Forbidden City (故宫), so named because it was originally forbidden for common citizens to enter, served as the imperial residence of the Chinese royal families when they were not vacationing at the Summer Palace. Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden city is surrounded by both a 10-meter high wall and 52-meter wide moat meant to bar entrance to those who were not welcome. The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties housed 24 emperors over the span of 500 years, and today the Forbidden City is also noted as another UNESCO World Heritage site. American tourist in Beijing:
Entrance tickets to the Forbidden city cost 60 yuan (about $10 US dollars) for one adult during the busy season. This is one of the best things to do for three days in Beijing.
4. Jingshan Park
Your 3 days Beijing travel guide, spot 4:
Right across from the Forbidden City is Jingshan Park (景山公园). Initially part of the imperial city, Jingshan Park was separated from the rest at the beginning of the 20th century to allow for new city infrastructure, landing the park on the outer limits of the Forbidden City's walls. The temple at the top of the park's central hill houses a large golden Buddhist statue and provides a great lookout over Beijing that showcases just how far the city stretches. What to see in Beijing in 1 day or 3 days depending on your trip.
Do you have 3 days in Beijing? Read our full 3 day Beijing travel guide below.
5. The National Center for the Performing Arts
Your 3 days Beijing travel guide, stop 5:
Looking to move on to something constructed in this century? The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA or "The Giant Egg" for short) was built in the early 2000s and is located adjacent to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the center of Beijing. One of the largest performing arts centers in the world, the NCPA houses an opera house, concert hall, theater, and exhibition spaces. A portion of the structure is also located underground, with transparent ceilings that look up to the pond above it.
If there are no remaining seats available when you go to visit, the NCPA also offers walking tours through its halls and exhibitions. Adult tickets are 30 yuan (about $5 US dollars).
6. Tiananmen Square
Your 3 days Beijing travel guide, stop 6:
Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) is the city square in the center of Beijing, filled with more historical relevance than I could ever fit into a blog post and well worth a visit for anyone interested in sites with great cultural impact. Beijing attractions and sightseeing below.
The best tourist spots for three days in Beijing.
Perhaps most notably, this city square was the location of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests. Initiated and lead by a group of students, these protests called for constitutional due process, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and democracy in China. The group of activists grew in size through weeks of demonstrations, with upwards of a million people estimated to have shown support after about a month of protests. Martial law was soon declared by the Chinese government, and around 250,000 troops were mobilized to Beijing to address the activists. On June 4th and 5th, troops (accompanied by tanks) opened fire on the protesters with assault weapons. The number of victims is still unknown, but it is estimated that thousands of unarmed protesters were killed. It was from these protests that the iconic "Tank Man" photo resulted, still a well-known symbol of defiance today.
The best 3 days Beijing travel guide.
The location of another public display of history, Tiananmen Square is also home to the mausoleum of former Chairman to the Communist Party, Mao Zedong. Globally known for his extreme propaganda tactics and massive death tolls during the Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward, Mao Zedong is not as universally criticized within China itself. In fact, hundreds of citizens visit his tomb each day to pay their respects and bring the former chairman flowers. The atmosphere around the mausoleum is pointedly quiet.
How to see Beijing in three days: read more.
7. The Bird's Nest
The best 3 days Beijing travel guide, stop #7:
The Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest (鸟巢), hosted the 2008 Olympic Games. Easily recognized by its architecture, the stadium's design was actually chosen through a competition won six years before the city's first time hosting. The round shape of the building is meant to represent heaven, and its distinct pattern is meant to resemble the Chinese crazed-pottery style. If you ever had "visit an Olympic stadium" on your bucket list, this is your chance to cross it off. Fun 3 days Beijing tourist guide!
Full travel guide for your 3 days Beijing tour through China.
8. The Temple of Heaven Park
The best 3 days Beijing travel guide, stop #8:
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Temple of Heaven (天坛) park is where the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors would perform ceremonies worshipping Heaven and praying for good harvests. The park is constituted of an altar complex of gardens and religious buildings and temples. How to spend three days in Beijing China?
Entrance to the park is 15 yuan (about $3 US dollars). 3 days Beijing tourist guide.
9. The Great Wall of China
A fun 3 days Beijing travel guide, stop #9:
Last but obviously not least, the Great Wall of China. The Badaling section of the Great Wall is about an hour and a half's drive from Beijing, but worth the trip. I'm not exactly sure what i was expecting to see before visiting, but the Great Wall definitely surpassed all expectations. The best word I can think to describe it as is "impressive." Since the Wall is built atop steep mountains, be prepared for a workout if you choose to climb it - I was sweating heavily by the end of the public path (also beware that the steps are very uneven, so pay attention as you go). A great three days in Beijing!
The Great Wall of China was declared as one of the New Wonders of the World in 2007. Entrance to the Badaling location costs 40 yuan (about $6.50 US dollars).
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