A week in and around Beijing

I am contemplating a week in Beijing. I have been to China about 10 times, but never to Beijing. I'd imagine about 3-4 days in the capital, and I would love to make an overnight visit to one of the not-so-touristy parts of the Wall (i.e. NOT Badaling).

How would you plan a week in the Beijing area? Looking for something not too fast-paced, and split our time evenly between the city and places outside the city. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks!

H_B

I have been to China about 10 times

Where have you been in China and what did you enjoy there?

I'd imagine about 3-4 days in the capital

Beijnig is chock full of things to see. The top sites will have you solidly booked for 3 days. On day 4 you can start getting to lesser known and trafficed sites.

I would love to make an overnight visit to one of the not-so-touristy parts of the Wall

Overnight at the wall is illegal, but there are tour operators that do it anyway. There are also some that hike you off the wall, to someplace that has water and a kitchen for the overnight.

split our time evenly between the city and places outside the city.

Define outside the city? Most of the great wall is technically inside Beijing municipality. The summer palace and fragrant hills are also well within the municipality. Even Cuandixia is in the city. Are you just talking about inside the 4th ring road, and all of these places would be 'outside the city', or are you planning day trips to Tianjin and Chengde?

Where have you been in China and what did you enjoy there?

Shanghai, Hangzhou, Putuoshan, Zhujiajiao, Chengdu, Leshan, Urumqi, Turfan, Guilin, Yangzhou, Shenzhen, Canton, Macao, HK....

I enjoy a lot of different things, variety, real life, not artificial tourist experiences.

Beijnig is chock full of things to see. The top sites will have you solidly booked for 3 days. On day 4 you can start getting to lesser known and trafficed sites.

I presume you mean 'sights'.
I'm not too fussed about seeing all the top sights. I just want to see the city, show my daughter (for whom this will be the first time in China) what urban China looks like. 3 days will be fine.

Overnight at the wall is illegal, but there are tour operators that do it anyway. There are also some that hike you off the wall, to someplace that has water and a kitchen for the overnight.

Well, I don;t want to sleep on the wall. I read about staying overnight in towns that are near the wall. Surely there are options?

Define outside the city? Most of the great wall is technically inside Beijing municipality. The summer palace and fragrant hills are also well within the municipality.

I find it hard to believe that all 8800km of the Wall are inside Beijing municipality.

In any case, i don;t care about administrative divisions. I am looking for variety. An urban experience in Beijing and a small town/rural experience for balance. I'd like this to be relatively easily reachable from Beijing city center, but i don;t care about what administartive unit it falls under.

Thanks!

I guess my question is really:
How would YOU spend a week in the Beijing area?

I would go to some of the terrific parks, particularly the one at temple of heaven and Behai. The confucious monastery and lama temple, both reached from Yonghegong metro station, the lakes and the area around Shichahai, wander around some of the hutongs. I always go to Beijing's art museum ( not far from Dongsi metro) and love the Capital museum (muxidi metro) and the performing arts centre is a fabulous building, worth getting a ticket to go inside. I love the Culture Palace next to the Forbidden city too. You could go out to the edge of the city to see Marco Polo bridge and you will see a lot about how many Beijingers live, particularly in the little village next door.

Thank you @violets !

Well Forbidden city is definitely one of the top sites, but it's worth a visit. Don't be in a hurry, take some some time to explore the palace. About 80% of the palace is opened to the public now, go up the inner city walls, go check out all the exhibitions, visit the east and west palaces. After you exit the back entrance, hike up Jinshan for a view of the palace. Then take a stroll at Beihai park and see the white pagoda. The next day you can visit museums. There are plenty of museums within the central city area. The temple of heaven is a good place to visit, then to Yonghe temple (the lama temple), then to the Imperial college and Confucius temple. Or visit the Bell and Drum towers, then to Nanluogu Xiang for a meal.

As for the great wall, visit the Mutianyu part, or, there is a part of Badaling that rarely gets any visitors. It's called Badaling Ancient Great Wall, only transportation there is by car. Get a driver in the city, or at a local travel agency, or get a taxi after you exit the train station. (I waited 30 min for a taxi last time, and remember to get the taxi driver's phone number so you can call him when you are done, taxis don't go there). There is also another interesting site I recommend just outside the city in Yanqing county, the Ancient Cliff House (Guyaju). Again this site rarely gets any tourists, and it's the largest cliff residence discovered in China so far.

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