2 day itinerary for Beijing

Itinerary

Here's an ideal itinerary for 2 days in Beijing, including the top 10 things to do:

Day 1:

1. Start your day early and head to the iconic Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Spend some time taking in the grandeur of the square and its surrounding buildings, including the National Museum of China and the Great Hall of the People.
2. From there, walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace to enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of China. Spend a few hours exploring the palace complex, which includes over 900 buildings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. For lunch, head to the nearby Wangfujing Snack Street, where you can sample a variety of traditional Beijing street food.
4. After lunch, take a taxi or public transportation to the Temple of Heaven, a complex of religious buildings and gardens where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would come to pray for good harvests. Don't miss the iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
5. In the evening, head to the Houhai Lake area, where you can enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants and bars overlooking the water.

Day 2:

1. Start your day by visiting the Great Wall of China, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. There are several sections of the wall near Beijing, but the most popular is the Badaling section. You can take a bus or hire a private driver to get there.
2. After visiting the Great Wall, head back to the city and have lunch at one of the many restaurants in the Sanlitun area, a trendy neighborhood known for its international cuisine and shopping.
3. In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, a beautiful imperial garden and palace complex that was used as a summer retreat by the emperors. Don't miss the iconic Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake.
4. For dinner, head to the Donghuamen Night Market, where you can sample a variety of exotic street food, including scorpions, starfish, and more.
5. End your day by watching a traditional Chinese acrobatics show at the Chaoyang Theatre, a popular venue for acrobatics performances in Beijing.

I hope this itinerary helps you make the most of your time in Beijing!