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72 Hours in Beijing ๐จ๐ณ | The Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary
Beijing 3-Day Itinerary: Best Attractions & Travel Tips
Planning a trip to Beijing? ๐จ๐ณ Join us as we spend 72 hours exploring China's incredible capital, sharing the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors.
From ancient temples and imperial palaces to modern landmarks and hidden gems, we'll show you everything we experienced during our three...
Planning a trip to Beijing? ๐จ๐ณ Join us as we spend 72 hours exploring China's incredible capital, sharing the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors.<br>From ancient temples and imperial palaces to modern landmarks and hidden gems, we'll show you everything we experienced during our three days in Beijing, along with our honest tips and recommendations to help you plan your own trip.<br>๐ Temple of Heaven<br>๐ Bell & Drum Towers<br>๐ Summer Palace<br>๐ Beijing Zoo<br>๐ Olympic Park & Bird's Nest Stadium<br>๐ Jingshan Park<br>๐ Tiananmen area<br>๐ Hongqiao Market<br>๐ Beijing World Mall<br>...and much more!<br>Whether you're visiting Beijing for the first time or looking to make the most of a short trip, this guide covers the best attractions, useful travel tips and everything we'd recommend after exploring the city ourselves.
Join Kieran and Ollie on a whirlwind 72-hour Beijing adventure! From the serene Temple of Heaven to the bustling Hongqiao Market, they uncover the city's ancient wonders and modern marvels. This action-packed itinerary delivers honest tips and insider recommendations, making it the perfect guide for first-time visitors. Get ready to explore Beijing like never beforeโtemples, markets, palaces, and pandas await!
Planning a trip to Beijing? ๐จ๐ณ Join us as we spend 72 hours exploring China's incredible capital, sharing the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors.<br>From ancient temples and imperial palaces to modern landmarks and hidden gems, we'll show you everything we experienced during our three days in Beijing, along with our honest tips and recommendations to help you plan your own trip.<br>๐ Temple of Heaven<br>๐ Bell & Drum Towers<br>๐ Summer Palace<br>๐ Beijing Zoo<br>๐ Olympic Park & Bird's Nest Stadium<br>๐ Jingshan Park<br>๐ Tiananmen area<br>๐ Hongqiao Market<br>๐ Beijing World Mall<br>...and much more!<br>Whether you're visiting Beijing for the first time or looking to make the most of a short trip, this guide covers the best attractions, useful travel tips and everything we'd recommend after exploring the city ourselves.
In this detailed 72-hour Beijing itinerary, travel couple Kieran and Ollie share their first-time experience exploring China's capital. They begin with a smooth arrival at PEK Airport, using DD (the Chinese Uber) to reach their hotel. Their first stop is the Bell and Drum Towers, where they learn these were the city's ancient timekeeping center. After climbing steep stairs, they enjoy panoramic views and then wander into a nearby hutong street, snacking on a yogurt cheese bun and a beef pie.<br><br>Next, they visit Beihai Park, one of China's oldest imperial gardens, with its iconic white pagoda. They marvel at the lotus-shaped boats on the lake. Later, they head to Wangfujing Street, a massive pedestrian shopping area, where they try tanghulu (candied strawberries) and watch a 3D advertising screen. They note the snack street seemed closed but still enjoyed the vibe.<br><br>Day two starts early at Beijing Zoo. Kieran and Ollie emphasize booking tickets on WeChat for just ยฃ2 per person instead of ยฃ20 on third-party sites. They head straight to the panda house, where they watch four giant pandas eating bamboo and a special treat. One panda comes close to the glass, delighting the crowd. They also see elephants, lions, and monkeys, though they note some enclosures could be larger. The zoo is a bargain at ยฃ2.20 per person.<br><br>From there, they take a DD to the Temple of Heaven, entering through the quiet west gate. They explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Circular Mound Altar, where the emperor once prayed for harvests. Kieran shares fun facts about the emperor's rituals. The complex is vast and stunning.<br><br>Their next stop is Hongqiao Market, famous for pearls and haggling. They buy fridge magnets, a panda bauble, jade, and a money dragon, paying about 60% off the starting price. They note the sellers were not aggressive as described online. Then they visit China World Mall, where they check out the DJI flagship store and spot the iconic TV tower shaped like a pair of shorts.<br><br>Day three begins at the Summer Palace. They arrive through the north gate to avoid crowds and see the Foxiang Pavilion, built without nails. They learn about its history and the lucky number 8 in its design. The lake and 17-Arch Bridge are beautiful, but the site gets very crowded by mid-morning. They then head to the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, marveling at its size and learning it was reused for the 2022 Winter Olympics. They walk underneath the structure and see the Olympic Park.<br><br>Their final stops include Jingshan Park, where they climb to an observation deck for a stunning view of the Forbidden City. The hill was man-made from the moat soil. They also walk along Qianmen Street, a historic commercial street, trying snacks like an imperial cake and a golden thread beef patty. They end their trip with a Peking duck dinner at Dali, recommended by a food tour guide. The duck is crispy and juicy, served with pancakes and condiments.<br><br>To wrap up, Kieran and Ollie offer six essential tips for first-time visitors: download WeChat and Alipay before arriving (watch for 3% fee on large purchases), use quieter entrances to attractions, avoid booking local attractions through third-party sites (use WeChat mini-programs), download a translation app like DeepL, use DD taxis (very cheap), and stay within the inner rings of Beijing to avoid long travel times. They conclude that Beijing exceeded their expectations and they highly recommend visiting.
Kieran and Ollie pack three days into Beijing with a whirlwind of pandas, palaces, and Peking duck. From climbing the Drum Tower to watching a panda chomp bamboo, they uncover the city's imperial past and modern buzz. Their honest tips on using WeChat, dodging tourist traps, and finding the quietest entrances make this an essential guide for any first-timer.
Kieran and Ollie explore Beijing's top attractions in three days, from pandas at the zoo to the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, sharing honest tips and a s
72 Hours in Beijing: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary with Pandas and Palaces
1:07:03 Download WeChat and Alipay before you arrive, link an international credit card, but watch out for a 3% fee on purchases over 200 yuan. Split payments to avoid the fee.
1:07:49 Use quieter entrances to attractions to avoid long queues. For example, the north gate of the Summer Palace was much less crowded than the east gate.
1:08:21 Avoid booking local attractions through third-party sites like Trip.com; they can charge 10x more. Use WeChat mini-programs or buy at the gate.
1:09:31 Download a translation app like DeepL to read menus and signs. It's handy for taking photos of text and getting instant translations.
1:10:01 Use DD taxis โ they are incredibly cheap. A 45-minute ride cost about ยฃ7.50, much cheaper than the UK.
1:10:12 Stay in Beijing's inner rings (ring three or closer) to avoid long travel times. Traffic can be heavy, and distances are much larger than they appear on a map.
1:07:03 Download WeChat and Alipay before you arrive, link an international credit card, but watch out for a 3% fee on purchases over 200 yuan. Split payments to avoid the fee.
1:07:49 Use quieter entrances to attractions to avoid long queues. For example, the north gate of the Summer Palace was much less crowded than the east gate.
1:08:21 Avoid booking local attractions through third-party sites like Trip.com; they can charge 10x more. Use WeChat mini-programs or buy at the gate.
1:09:31 Download a translation app like DeepL to read menus and signs. It's handy for taking photos of text and getting instant translations.
1:10:01 Use DD taxis โ they are incredibly cheap. A 45-minute ride cost about ยฃ7.50, much cheaper than the UK.
1:10:12 Stay in Beijing's inner rings (ring three or closer) to avoid long travel times. Traffic can be heavy, and distances are much larger than they appear on a map.
0:00 Introduction and travel to Beijing
2:49 Bell and Drum Towers
11:12 Beihai Park
13:55 Wangfujing Street food
17:36 Beijing Zoo and pandas
30:01 Temple of Heaven
40:29 Summer Palace
50:10 Bird's Nest Stadium
54:01 Jingshan Park view
1:05:26 Top tips for Beijing
0:00 Introduction and travel to Beijing
2:49 Bell and Drum Towers
11:12 Beihai Park
13:55 Wangfujing Street food
17:36 Beijing Zoo and pandas
30:01 Temple of Heaven
40:29 Summer Palace
50:10 Bird's Nest Stadium
54:01 Jingshan Park view
1:05:26 Top tips for Beijing
How do you get tickets for Beijing Zoo?
You can book on WeChat for about 2 pounds per person, which is much cheaper than third-party sites.
What's the best way to get around Beijing?
Use DD, it's like Uber but super cheap. A 45-minute ride costs about 7.50 pounds.
Are WeChat and Alipay easy to use for foreigners?
Yes, but you need to link an international credit card and watch out for a 3% fee on purchases over 200 yuan.
