🏯 Beijing

📋 Trip Overview
12 Days · Nov 7–18, 2026 · 2 Bases · 11 Nights
Updated: 2026-11-04 (Wednesday) 05:16 am
✈️ Flights
RouteDateTimesFlight No.
KUL → PKX (Beijing Daxing)Sat, Nov 700:50 → 07:00 · Non-stop 6h10mMH318 ↗
PKX → KULWed, Nov 1809:30 → 16:00 · Non-stop 6h30mMH319 ↗
⚠️ Red-eye start:
  • Depart 00:50 → be at KLIA T1 by ~22:30 on Fri Nov 6.
  • Same timezone UTC+8 at both ends. No clock change.
  • Sleep 3–4 h on the plane.
🏨 The 2 Bases
BaseDatesAreaWhy
1 · City Core (BOOKED)Nov 7–17
10 nights		建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn (国贸四惠东地铁站店) · 朝阳区高碑店乡半壁店村惠河南街1088号Unpack once for 10 nights — confirmed. 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng station:
• Line 1 / 八通线 at the door
• Universal: 13 stops direct, ~25 min
• 天安门东 8 stops · 王府井 7 stops
• West-side days: 40–55 min — that is the trade
2 · Bathhouse ResetNov 17–18
1 night		East 4th Ring / Tonghui River 通惠河 (曲水兰亭 四惠店 Sìhuì Diàn)• Thermal pools + massage recovery
• Dinner included
• Private overnight suite 客房
• Direct 05:15 expressway run to Daxing
Why one city base for 10 nights:
  • Unpack Nov 7. Repack Nov 17 at the bathhouse.
  • Every day trip — Great Wall Nov 10, Tianjin Nov 12, Universal Nov 16 — starts at the same hotel door.
  • No mountain base. No transfer day. No 134 km round trip.
Base 1 (booked & confirmed): 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn — 惠河南街1088号, 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
  • Line 1 / 八通线 spine: Universal 13 stops (~25 min) · 天安门东 8 · 王府井 7.
  • The bathhouse sits on the same street.
  • West-side days (Summer Palace, Maliandao, 牛街): 40–55 min by car. Budget for it.
🧭 Geography audit — is anything out of place?
Verdict2 bases, 1 hotel change, 11 nights.
  • Nothing crosses the city twice.
  • You unpack exactly once.
  • Every day trip starts and ends at the same hotel.
The full audit — all 9 routes checked
Base 1 → 2
  • Nov 17: shopping ends central.
  • Walk the bags 3 minutes down 惠河南街 — both bases share the street.
  • Still placed for the 05:15 airport run.
Nov 10 — the wall
  • Mutianyu is a day trip, not a base.
  • 75 km NE · ~1.5 h each way · charter door-to-door.
  • Back at the hotel by 15:15, evening free.
  • A 3-night wall base would cost 3 hotel changes. Not worth it.
Nov 8, 9 & 15 — sunset maths
  • Sunset is 16:52. Dark by 17:15.
  • Summer Palace alone: 4–5 h, 10,000–14,000 steps. 圆明园 after it = Western Mansions in the dark.
  • Nov 9 plan: 钓鱼台 ginkgo 08:00 → Summer Palace 09:45–15:00 → hotel by 16:30. 圆明园 optional, only before the palace.
  • Nov 8: tea street + 牛街 + 法源寺 share one SW cluster. One direction, done before dark.
Nov 13 — the tight one
  • Forbidden City 08:30 → 景山 Jǐngshān ¥2 → NAMOC 14:30–16:00 (last entry 16:00 = 90-min visit) → opera 19:30 at 虎坊桥 Hǔfángqiáo.
  • Palace closes 16:30 — the morning slot is fixed.
  • NAMOC must be 14:30 or the day breaks.
Nov 14 — market moved
  • 红桥市场 (天坛路9号) sits opposite the Temple of Heaven East Gate.
  • It belongs on Day 8: 天坛 Tiāntán → 红桥 → 潘家园 (10-min Didi, Sat peak) → Qianmen.
  • Day 11 = relaxed final shopping day.
Nov 11 — one pass, Wednesday
  • Square BEFORE the museum. NMC sits on the square's east edge.
  • Museum-first = security cordon twice, 45–60 min each.
  • Correct order: square (morning slot) → museum → north exit onto 东长安街 → 南池子 duck → 前门.
  • Wednesday, not Sunday: museum slot easier, cordon queue half, weekday.
Nov 16 — the Monday
  • Theme park is the right Monday use.
  • Forbidden City, National Museum, Capital Museum all close Mondays.
  • Universal runs daily, 15–35 min queues vs 90–120.
  • Line 1/八通线 direct from 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng — 13 stops, ~25 min.
Prices corrected
  • 天坛 Tiāntán 联票 combo: ¥28 low season (peak ¥34 联票 / ¥15 大门票)
  • 天坛 大门票: ¥10 low season
  • 颐和园 Summer Palace 联票 ¥50
  • 故宫 Forbidden City ¥40
  • 景山 Jǐngshān ¥2
  • 恭王府 Gōngwángfǔ ¥40
  • 慕田峪 门票 ¥45 + 摆渡车 ¥15
  • 环球影城 Universal 1-day: ¥418–748 by tier
  • 游船 boats stopped Nov 2
One thing to know
  • NCPA flamenco 《飞越弗拉明戈》 ran Nov 6–7 only — before you land.
  • NCPA adds new shows every November week. Check chncpa.org before you fly.
📍 Base 1 — 建国璞隐酒店 · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng (booked)
Short answer
  • Booked: 建国璞隐酒店, 惠河南街1088号 — a 四惠东 address on Line 1 / 八通线.
  • Transport rows in this plan follow this base.
Why it works
  • Line 1 / 八通线 → 环球度假区: 13 stops, no change, ~25 min.
  • Bathhouse (Base 2) on the same street — 3-min walk.
  • Line 1 crosses 王府井 and 天安门东 with zero transfers.
The wall day
  • Mutianyu: 75 km NE. Private charter, not a train.
  • Charter picks up at the hotel door → East 4th Ring → 京承高速 north.
Line 8 ⭐
  • The tourist spine: 北土城 Běitǔchéng → 奥林匹克公园 Àolínpǐkè Gōngyuán → 鼓楼大街 Gǔlóu Dàjiē → 什刹海 Shíchàhǎi → 南锣鼓巷 Nánluógǔxiàng → 中国美术馆 Zhōngguó Měishùguǎn → 金鱼胡同 Jīnyú Hútòng → 王府井 Wángfǔjǐng → 前门 Qiánmén → 天桥 Tiānqiáo.
  • From 四惠东: Line 1 + transfer, or Didi ~30 min.
  • Reference map only — Line 1 is your line.
Line 1 ⭐
  • Your line. From 四惠东:
  • 天安门东 8 stops (square + NMC) · 王府井 7 stops.
  • 东单 → Line 5 for 雍和宫 / 天坛东门.
  • 八通线 through-run → 环球度假区 13 stops (~25 min).
  • 北京南: 西单 → Line 4, ~35 min.
Distances
  • 王府井 APM + WF Central: 7 stops Line 1
  • 天安门东 (square + NMC): 8 stops
  • 中国美术馆 (NAMOC): 东单 → Line 5
  • 雍和宫 Yōnghégōng + 国子监 Guózǐjiān: 东单 → Line 5, ~30 min
  • 什刹海 Shíchàhǎi: Didi 25 min
  • 簋街: Didi 25–50 min (Sunday worse)
  • 湾子 (马连道 tea street): Didi 35–45 min
  • 琉璃厂: Didi 20 min from 潘家园 (Day 8)
Tianjin day
  • 北京南站 = Line 4.
  • From 四惠东: Line 1 → 西单 → Line 4. One change, ~35 min.
  • Fixed-departure train = no traffic risk.
Airport morning
  • Nov 18 you sleep at the bathhouse (East 4th Ring, on the expressway).
  • Base 1 never serves the airport.
Alt: 王府井 / 金宝街
  • Lines 1 + 8, shopping downstairs.
  • 故宫 午门 Wǔmén ~20-min walk · APM + WF Central 2 min · 金宝街 3 min · 隆福寺 food street 10 min.
  • Best if shopping is the priority; weaker for Universal.
  • Your booked base wins: 13 stops direct (~25 min). Opera 虎坊桥: ~30-min Didi.
Alt: 平安里 (4/6/19)
  • Transit-max option.
  • Line 19 = only line to 大兴机场 (05:30 first train, ¥35, 19 min).
  • Line 4 direct to 北京南 + 颐和园.
  • Only worth it with a hutong hotel. Not needed — you are booked at 四惠东.
My pick
  • 建国璞隐酒店 · 四惠东 (BOOKED) — all 10 nights.
  • Universal direct; easy Didi/metro for west sights.
  • 王府井 only if you want shopping downstairs.
  • Do not move base for a line you will not use.
📅 Schedule
DayDatePlanBase
17 Nov Sat✈️ MH318 lands PKX 07:00 → City Hotel · nap & rest · 🌆 Shichahai & Yandai Xiejie sunset stroll1
28 Nov Sun🍵 马连道 tea wholesale → 🥢 牛街 Niujie → 🛕 法源寺 Fayuan Temple1
39 Nov Mon🍁 钓鱼台 Ginkgo 08:00 → ⛵ 颐和园 Summer Palace 09:45–15:00 → hotel 16:30, rest1
410 Nov Tue⛰ Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城 Mùtiányù Chángchéng) Day Trip — 07:45 charter → chairlift/toboggan → back by 15:301
511 Nov Wed🇨🇳 天安门 Tiān’ānmén + 国家博物馆 (ONE security pass) → 🦆 Siji Minfu duck → Qianmen / Dashilar1
612 Nov Thu🚄 Tianjin 天津 day trip — 五大道 Wǔdàdào + 古文化街 Gǔ Wénhuà Jiē + 意式风情区 Yìshì Fēngqíng Qū + 海河 blue hour (C2026 19:56 return)1
713 Nov Fri🏯 故宫 Forbidden City 08:30 (resv Nov 6, 20:00) → 景山 Jǐngshān → 🖼 NAMOC → 🎭 opera1
814 Nov Sat⛩ 天坛 Tiāntán 07:00 → 💎 红桥市场 Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng → 🏺 潘家园 (Sat peak) → 刻章 Liulichang seal → 便宜坊 Duck1
915 Nov Sun🛕 雍和宫 Yōnghégōng + 国子监 Guózǐjiān 09:30 → 🍜 五道营 lunch → 🎨 798 艺术区 → 🦐 簋街 Guijie crayfish1
1016 Nov Mon🎢 Universal Studios Beijing (off-peak weekday, Line 1/八通线 direct from 四惠东)1
1117 Nov Tue🛍 Relaxed souvenir shopping (Wangfujing) → 🛀 Bathhouse 曲水兰亭 Qūshuǐ Lántíng 14:00 check-in1→2
1218 Nov Wed✈️ MH319 — pre-booked Didi 05:15 → PKX 09:30 → KUL 16:002
Museum Mondays:
  • Nov 9 + Nov 16 are Mondays. Forbidden City, National Museum, Capital Museum close Mondays.
  • Nov 9 = Summer Palace (a park). Nov 16 = Universal. Both open Mondays.
  • NAMOC needs a weekday → Friday Nov 13. That day is tight by design.
📆 Booking To-Do — tick as you go
  • All times Beijing = KL time (UTC+8, no conversion).
  • Tick a row — it saves on this device.
  • Every booking is real-name: passport number + physical passport.
⏰ Same-day queue alarms — miss the minute, eat elsewhere
Nov 11 · 10:25四季民福 Sìjì Mínfú remote queue opens 10:30. WeChat mini-program 四季民福烤鸭店 → 排队取号 → 南池子店 → 小桌 table. 10:20: go up to the ground-floor atrium — B1 cellular is weak.
Nov 15 · 16:45胡大 Húdà WeChat queue — trigger from 798 or the cab, before the 簋街 Sunday crush.
Nov 17 · eveningDidi 预约 for 05:15 — pre-book tomorrow's airport car tonight. Do not improvise at 05:00.
🎫 Full booking reference — every row, prices + fine print
WhatBook onTime (Beijing)Notes
Tianjin C-train (Nov 12)✅ Bookedpaid Nov 3✅ BOOKED — C2007 北京南 09:10 → 天津 09:47 · C2026 天津 19:56 → 北京南 20:33 (37 min each).
¥54.5 二等座 · e-ticket, physical passports at the gate.
Haihe lights: dusk 17:05, river lights 17:30 — C2026 gives you ~2.5 h of them.
Universal Studios (Nov 16)NOWany指定单日门票 — date-locked, buy it.
4 tiers ¥418/¥528/¥638/¥748, 90-day rolling calendar. Monday ≈ mid-tier.
Official app / mini-program, or Klook. 优速通 optional from ¥190.
Tiananmen Square (Nov 11)Nov 412:00Free · WeChat 天安门广场预约参观 Tiān’ānmén Guǎngchǎng Yùyuē Cānguān.
1–7 days ahead, slots daily at noon. Both passports.
Take the MORNING slot — square first = one security pass.
National Museum (Nov 11)Nov 417:00Free · WeChat 国家博物馆 Guójiā Bówùguǎn.
Released exactly 7 days ahead: Wed Nov 4, 17:00.
09:00–11:00 slot. Wednesday ≫ easier than Sunday.
Pre-save both passport numbers + full names first.
中国美术馆 NAMOC (Nov 13)Nov 616:00 — FIRSTFree · WeChat 中国美术馆 Zhōngguó Měishùguǎn · 7 days ahead at 16:00.
09:00–17:00, last entry 16:00.
Book this FIRST — opens 4 h before the palace.
Forbidden City (Nov 13)Nov 620:00¥40 low season · WeChat 故宫博物院 Gùgōng Bówùyuàn · 7 days ahead, 20:00 sharp.
Add 珍宝馆 + 钟表馆 (¥10 each) in the same booking — ¥60 total.
Low season: closes 16:30, last entry 15:30.
Take the earliest slot — Friday slots go in minutes.
Mutianyu charter + tickets (Nov 10)Nov 7–8anyTickets OPEN NOW — online-only, 7-day window (Nov 10 opened Nov 3). Bundle: 门票 ¥45 + 摆渡车 ¥15 (mandatory, separate) + 缆车/索道/滑道. Official mini-program, both passports.
Charter door-to-door ~¥550–650 round trip — book Nov 7–8: Trip.com / Klook 私人包车 or hotel driver. Real-name.
曲水兰亭 private suite 客房NOW — window closinganyFills 2–3 weeks out; Nov 17 is inside that window.
四惠店, 惠河南街1070号 (Chaoyang).
Confirm: overnight room, not a day pass.
Liyuan Theatre opera (Nov 13)Nov 10–12any¥280–580 · 19:30, ~1 h · Trip.com / Klook / concierge.
Venue: Line 7 虎坊桥 Hǔfángqiáo. Plays Wed–Sat.
恭王府 Prince Gong's Mansion (optional)Optionalany¥40 · online only, no on-site window.
08:30 open, last entry 16:10, closes 17:00 · closed Mondays.
Optional — skipped: 法源寺 is the plan. Sun Nov 8 = the backup slot.
潘家园 PanjiayuanNowanyFree entry, no booking.
Sat Nov 14 daytime = every dealer out, blanket stalls active.
Wed + Fri night market 10:00–23:00 — skipped (one visit is enough).
刻章 custom seal (Nov 14)Nowany琉璃厂 carvers, no booking. 寿山石/青田石 ~¥60–150 with carving. Ready in ~40 min.
朝阳剧场 acrobaticsNov 10–16any《国韵传奇》· 中国杂技团 · 16:00–20:00 daily · ¥120–270 · 东三环北路36号.
德云社 Déyúnshè crosstalkNov 10–16any¥100–280 · 19:30 most nights · 三里屯剧场 / 天桥剧场 / 广德楼戏园 · Trip.com or 大麦.
Night show (optional)Nov 10–16anyNCPA 《飞越弗拉明戈》 ran Nov 6–7 only — before you land. Check chncpa.org for your dates.
All real-name — every booking needs each traveller's passport number exactly as printed. Carry physical passports.
Parks (天坛, 颐和园, 圆明园, 雍和宫; 八达岭 dropped it Aug/Oct 2026) cancelled the reservation rule, not real-name ticketing — you still buy with a passport number.
🛂 Visa & Documents
VisaMalaysian passport = visa-free 30 days per entry (China–Malaysia mutual exemption, valid through 2026). 12-day trip ✓.
Passport
  • 6+ months validity.
  • Physical copy for every ticket check, hotel check-in, train gate, Mutianyu real-name gate.
Onward ticketKeep the KUL return e-ticket on your phone — immigration may ask.
🌡️ Weather & the heating gap
DowntownNov 7–17: highs 10–13°C · lows 0–4°C. Warm in sun, cold in shade or wind.
The wall (Nov 10)
  • −2 to 4°C on the ridge, wind-chill lower. Mutianyu = 600 m, Huairou.
  • Enclosed 缆车 cabin beats the open chairlift. Toboggan = no wind felt.
  • Wear: windproof shell + fleece + beanie + gloves.
Heating
  • Beijing central heating (暖气) starts ~Nov 15.
  • Nov 7–14 indoors can be cold — confirm the hotel has independent heating. Ask for an extra blanket.
  • Bathhouse and malls are warm.
Pack
  • Windproof shell (the wall item) · fleece · thermal base layers
  • Beanie + gloves + scarf · down jacket
  • Lip balm + moisturiser (dry) · sunglasses · thermos
🍁 Autumn bonus
  • Your dates sit mid-ginkgo season.
  • 钓鱼台银杏大道: Oct 15 – Nov 20, Nov 9 = peak. Scheduled 08:00 — empty street, raking light.
  • 香山红叶: Oct 16 – Nov 15 — Line 4 北宫门 + bus 563, 15 min from Summer Palace. Second leaf option instead of 圆明园.
💳 Money & Apps — set up BEFORE flying
AlipayLink Malaysian card (Visa/MC). Works at 95% of places, street vendors included.
WeChat PaySame setup. Booking mini-programs run inside WeChat — fund it too.
Metro QRBeijing subway QR via Alipay/WeChat. No Chinese bank account needed. ¥3–9/ride.
12306Rail app for the Tianjin train. Register with passport; pay via Alipay/WeChat/foreign card.
VPNInstall before arrival. Google/WhatsApp/Instagram blocked; VPN sites blocked after landing.
MapsAmap 高德地图 (English) · Apple Maps works · Google Maps does not.
TranslateGoogle Translate + Chinese offline · WeChat built-in translate for menus.
🎯 My take on your plan — the reasoning
1. One wall day, done properly, beats two rushed ones
Why
  • Mutianyu is the wall to do: 70% original Ming stone, forested, 23 watchtowers, few crowds, closest to the city at 75 km.
  • Badaling = 70% tour buses + rebuilt brick.
  • One day: charter, chairlift up, toboggan down, home 15:15.
Timing
  • Nov 10 = Tuesday → emptiest wall day.
  • Start the toboggan by 13:00.
  • Behind at Tower 14? Turn there. You still get the best of it.
2. Forbidden City on Nov 13 is a HALF day — plan for it
Hours
  • Low season (Nov 1–Mar 31): open 08:30, last entry 15:30, closes 16:30.
  • Morning visit, not a full day.
Do
  • 08:30 entry → 3–4 h inside → exit 神武门 Shénwǔmén.
  • 景山 Jǐngshān ¥2 — golden-roof panorama.
  • NAMOC 14:30–16:00.
  • Liyuan opera 19:30, 虎坊桥 Hǔfángqiáo.
3. Tianjin Nov 12 — booked: C2007 out, C2026 back
⚠ Window
  • 12306 = 15 days ahead incl. travel day; Nov 12 went on sale Oct 29.
  • Booked Nov 3: C2007 09:10 → 天津 09:47 — full day ahead.
  • C2026 return 19:56 → 北京南 20:33 — catches the blue-hour Haihe lights.
Station
  • Pick 天津站 Tiānjīn Zhàn, not 天津西 — central, walkable to 意式风情区 + Hai River.
  • 二等座 ¥54.5 · ~300 trains/day.
Thursday bonus
  • 五大道 mansion museums close Mondays.
  • Thursday = full set open.
Backup12306 候补 waitlist — auto-buys when a seat frees.
4. One hotel for 10 nights is the real win
Why
  • Unpack Nov 7 → repack Nov 17 at the bathhouse.
  • Wall, Tianjin, Universal all start and end at the same door.
  • No luggage days, no transfer day, no 134 km round trip.
What you give up
  • Simatai night wall + Jinshanling hike.
  • Each costs a base change or a rushed day. Mutianyu in daylight is the better wall.
5. The Mutianyu charter is the one booking that needs lead time
When
  • Nov 7–8 for the Nov 10 wall day (2–3 days prior).
  • Trip.com / Klook 私人包车 or hotel driver. ~¥550–650 round trip.
  • The driver waits — no clock.
Tickets
  • Buy the bundle in one order: 门票 ¥45 + 摆渡车 ¥15 (mandatory, separate — park sits 4 km from the car park) + 缆车/索道/滑道.
  • Real-name, passport number.
  • Tuesday = no weekend crush.
Budget alt
  • 慕巴士 直通车 from 灯市口 / 和平西桥 ¥80 each way.
  • 916快 from 东直门 + Huairou bus.
  • Cheaper, fixed 08:00 departure, no flexibility.
6. 曲水兰亭 四惠店 is the right Base 2
Where
  • 惠河南街1070号, Chaoyang — East 4th Ring / Tonghui River corridor.
  • ~50–60 min expressway to Daxing at 05:15.
Alt
  • 水裹汤泉 (your Chengdu favourite) has Beijing branches.
  • 曲水兰亭 = the more premium format.
7. One car booking for the whole trip, not four
Charter
  • Mutianyu, Nov 10 — the only one.
  • Everything else: metro, Didi, or train.
  • Nov 18 airport = Didi 预约 from the bathhouse (10 min to the expressway).
Book today
  • Tianjin train (Nov 12) + Universal ticket (Nov 16) — both on sale, both date-locked.
  • Wall charter waits until Nov 7.
8. Universal on Monday — the right call, and how to play it
Why Monday
  • Museums close Mondays — a museum day was impossible anyway.
  • Universal opens daily, 15–35 min queues vs 90–120.
Get there
  • 四惠东 → Line 1/八通线 direct → 环球度假区: 13 stops, ~25 min.
  • Exits B/C/D → 7-min walk to CityWalk security.
  • Be at the gate 09:00 for a ~10:00 open — the best queue-cut of the trip.
优速通?
  • Probably not on a Monday.
  • Single-item ¥190 起 — only if 变形金刚 runs long in the app.
Dinner
  • CityWalk: free entry, no park ticket.
  • Eat after the gates close; skip park restaurants.
Get back
  • Line 1/八通线 direct → 四惠东, ~25 min. Last train ~22:50; be on the platform 22:15.
  • Didi ¥120–180 — book before you exit the park (Tongzhou surge after 21:00).
9. Three quiet best-values in Beijing
Tea
  • 马连道: 35–45-min Didi from the hotel (metro: Line 1 → 西单 → Line 4 → 菜市口 → Line 7).
  • Wholesale capital of China: rock oolongs, raw + aged pu'erh, gaiwans, 紫砂 teapots.
  • Source prices, free tasting at the wooden tables. Tea for the family at a fifth of airport price.
Market
  • One Panjiayuan visit: Sat daytime, Nov 14 — every dealer out, blanket stalls active.
  • Wed/Fri night markets (to 23:00, desk lamps) exist — skipped. One visit is enough.
Seal
  • The one souvenir made for you: 寿山石/青田石 block + your Chinese name hand-chiselled.
  • ~¥60–150, ready in 40 min. Fits in a pocket.
10. Swaps if something slips
Nov 9Summer Palace too busy → 明十三陵 Ming Tombs (定陵 underground palace). Quieter Monday, 1.5 h north.
Nov 10Bad weather on the wall → 缆车 up + straight down. Legitimate 2-h visit; you still see the wall.
Nov 8
  • Already the light day: tea, street food, one free temple.
  • Tired legs → tea + 牛街, skip 法源寺 Fǎyuán Sì (450 m, free, but still 450 m).
Nov 14Markets mobbed → 陶然亭公园 + 湖广会馆 (Qing guild-hall acrobatics). Quieter, on the way back.
Nov 12
  • Weather turns → 明十三陵 or a 什刹海 hutong day instead.
  • Train tickets refundable before departure.
🍜 Where LOCALS eat — not the tourist traps
The rule for Beijing
Look for
  • No English menu + a queue of people who work there.
  • Real food districts: 牛街 Niujie, 鼓楼 Gulou, 平安里, back-alley hutongs.
The trap
  • English menus, "Old Beijing Cuisine" signs, door-hovering staff = 2–3x price.
  • Walk 200 m off any tourist strip.
🥇 牛街 Niujie — the best food street in Beijing
Why
  • Hui-Muslim quarter, 1,000 years of food. Half the street halal, queues are local families.
  • Line 19, 2 stops from 平安里.
Must eat
  • 聚宝源 Jùbǎoyuán — lamb copper-pot hotpot, the legend. WeChat queue 16:00 for 18:00. ¥80–120/pp.
  • 白记年糕 Báijì Niángāo — the best 年糕, sweet + soft. Window purchase, ¥28.
  • 洪记小吃 Hóngjì — 羊杂汤 + 炸糕, the worker's breakfast.
  • 宝记豆汁店 Bǎojì Dòuzhī Diàn — the good douzhi.
  • 宫廷香酥牛肉饼 Gōngtíng Xiāngsū Niúròubǐng — flaky beef pastry, best in the city.
Extra
  • 买牛肉饼 + 糖火烧 for the 980 bus back.
  • Muslim street — no pork, dress modestly.
🥈 鼓楼 Gulou — the 老北京 breakfast street
WhyOne block, same shops for 100 years, all good. This is where Beijing eats breakfast.
Must eat
  • 姚记炒肝 Yáojì — "要想吃炒肝，鼓楼一拐弯". 炒肝 + 灌肠 + 包子, eaten standing, ¥20–30.
  • 方砖厂69号 — hutong 炸酱面 ¥20, noodles mixed at the table.
  • 门框胡同百年卤煮 — 卤煮火烧: offal + tofu + bread in garlic broth, ¥35, genuinely local.
  • 百年义利 — old-school bakery.
🥉 护国寺小吃 Hùguósì — the snack institution
WhyBranches citywide, cash, no frills, zero tourists. The reference point for Beijing snacks.
Must eat
  • 豌豆黄 (yellow pea cake) · 艾窝窝 (glutinous rice bun) · 豆面糕 · 爆肚 (if brave).
  • 豆汁 + 焦圈 at the branch near Gulou, not a mall — the mall one is diluted.
🥈 磁器口 / 前门 — old brands, mostly local
Must eat
  • 爆肚冯 Bàodǔ Féng — real blanched tripe + sesame sauce, ¥60.
  • 小肠陈 Xiǎocháng Chén — the canonical 卤煮.
  • 便宜坊 Biànyìfáng — 焖炉 duck, 600-year sealed-oven style.
  • 全聚德 — 挂炉 duck, the 1864 original.
  • 南门涮肉 — copper-pot lamb near Temple of Heaven, no tourist markup.
Modern Beijing worth a splurge
Where
  • 大董 Dà Dǒng — modern roast duck, fine-dining plating, ¥300+/pp.
  • 四季民福 Sìjì Mínfú — the locals' duck; 南池子 branch overlooks the palace moat.
  • 曲廊院 (东四十一条) — creative Chinese in a hidden courtyard.
  • 局气 — fashionable Beijing dishes done well.
NoteDa Dong + Siji Minfu need WeChat waitlists 3–4 h ahead. Others: walk in.
Street-level Beijing, eaten standing
Snacks
  • 糖葫芦 candied hawthorn ¥5–10 — November is the season.
  • 烤红薯 roasted sweet potato ¥5 · 煎饼 crepe · 卤煮火烧.
  • 豌豆黄 · 驴打滚 · 艾窝窝 · 冰粉 (Chengdu-style cold jelly — here too).
Take home
  • 稻香村 pastry boxes ¥40+ · 张一元 / 吴裕泰 tea · 御食园 sweets.
  • Vacuum-packed 全聚德 duck.
🎭 Shows — what plays in November
Answer to "千古情 / 张艺谋-style spectacular?"
Short answer
  • No 千古情 in Beijing — that brand lives in Hangzhou/Sanya/Chengdu.
  • Beijing's equivalent: live performance on smaller stages.
  • 北京国际戏剧展演季 (Oct–Nov) imports 120 productions from 20 countries.
⚠ Flamenco
  • 《飞越弗拉明戈》 (Sara Baras Ballet, Spain) at 国家大剧院 NCPA: 19:00 Nov 6 + Nov 7 only.
  • You land Nov 7. You cannot catch it.
Instead
  • Check chncpa.org + whlyj.beijing.gov.cn weekly calendar in your last week before flying.
  • NCPA: new shows every November week (opera, ballet, theatre, concerts, ¥80–300).
Fixed shows
  • 梨园剧场 Peking Opera Nov 13 19:30 (¥280–580, Line 7 虎坊桥).
  • 德云社 crosstalk Nov 8–16 (¥100–280).
  • 朝阳剧场 acrobatics Nov 10–16 (¥120–270).
  • 湖广会馆 大驾光临 — acrobatics + 评书, 300-year Qing guild hall.
🤺 Acrobats — the real thing
朝阳剧场
  • 《国韵传奇》 — 中国杂技团, the national troupe.
  • 东三环北路36号 · 16:00–20:00 daily · ¥120–270. The one worth your time.
红剧场《绝技秀之蜀国英雄》 — Sichuan Suining troupe · 14:30/16:10/17:40 daily. Cheaper, more traditional.
湖广会馆《大驾光临》 — acrobatics + 评书, 300-year Qing guild hall near Qianmen. Most atmospheric venue.
🎙 Crosstalk 相声 — the local evening default
德云社
  • 三里屯剧场 (三里屯SOHO) ¥100–280 · also 天桥剧场, 广德楼戏园, 学院路剧场.
  • 19:30 most nights, 14:00 matinee.
  • No English — laugh where the room laughs.
Also
  • 老舍茶馆 Lǎoshě Cháguǎn — 京味相声专场 16:30 · 《四季北京·茶》 19:50 · 《茶馆》 play 19:30 Nov 6.
  • Tourist-adjacent, but the tea is genuine.
Immersive & large-format
首钢园
  • 2026 戏剧展演季 immersive district: script readings, street parades, light shows on the cooling towers.
  • Free entry · 六工汇 food hall · near 鸟巢. Check the calendar for your dates.
Others
  • 《北平404列车》 immersive theatre (夜莺剧场, 14:30/18:30).
  • 天坛南门剧场 concerts at the Temple of Heaven south gate.
  • 梨园剧场《北京梨园京剧串烧》19:30.
How to check
  • Official weekly list: whlyj.beijing.gov.cn (北京市文化和旅游局) — every venue, every show, updated weekly.
  • Source of truth. Not Trip.com. Check in your last week before flying.
⚠ One thing NOT to plan around
Badaling night
  • 八达岭夜长城 ran Apr 30 – Oct 6, 2026. Closed in November.
  • Your Mutianyu day (Nov 10) is the right wall anyway.
只此青绿
  • 水立方 Water Cube 千里江山图 hit 1,000th show Oct 6–11; its Nov run is in Guangzhou.
  • Skip it.
🥢 Signature dishes — try once
北京烤鸭 — three styles, eat two
挂炉open-oven: 四季民福 (locals' pick) · 全聚德 (1864 original)
焖炉sealed-oven: 便宜坊 Biànyìfáng — 600-year technique, totally different
Modern大董 — ¥300+/pp
铜锅涮肉 — copper-pot lamb hotpot
Where
  • 聚宝源 (Niujie, the legend) · 东来顺 (1903) · 南门涮肉.
  • Sesame dip 麻酱 + hand-cut lamb. ¥80–120/pp.
  • Perfect after a cold ridge morning.
豆汁 Dòuzhī + 焦圈 — the dare
What
  • Fermented mung-bean drink. Sour. Acquired.
  • 宝记豆汁店 (Niujie) or 老磁器口 (Temple of Heaven north gate). ¥3–5.
  • Once, after real sleep.
卤煮 + 爆肚 + 羊蝎子
What
  • 卤煮 pork offal in garlic broth (小肠陈, ~¥35).
  • 爆肚 blanched tripe (爆肚冯, ~¥60).
  • 羊蝎子 lamb-spine hotpot — 北京 style, ~¥90/pp.
Tianjin, if you go (Nov 12)
Eat
  • 耳朵眼炸糕 fried rice cakes · 十八街麻花 twisted dough.
  • 狗不理包子 (touristy, historic) · 煎饼果子 — the original, train-platform breakfast.
🚇 Transport Guide — the lines that matter
✈️ PKX 大兴 Daxing Airport ↔ City
Express大兴机场快线 · ¥35 · 19 min to 草桥 Caoqiao · every ~8–10 min → Line 10 or Line 19
Didi/taxi¥120–180 · 50–70 min · easiest with luggage at 07:00
To hotel (Nov 7)
  • Didi/taxi ¥120–180 · 45–70 min — take it with luggage after the red-eye.
  • Express ¥35 → 草桥 = cheaper, but 3 legs with bags at 07:00.
Return (Nov 18)
  • 09:30 flight → be at PKX 06:30 (3 h intl check-in).
  • Leave 曲水兰亭 05:15 by pre-booked Didi (预约 the night before).
  • Expressway run — no metro at that hour.
🚐 The Great Wall day trip (Nov 10)
Charter
  • ~¥550–650 door-to-door round trip.
  • Depart 07:45 → Mutianyu ~09:15 → back ~15:15.
  • Book 2–3 days prior: Trip.com / Klook 私人包车 or hotel driver.
Distance
  • 75 km NE, Huairou 怀柔 · ~1.5 h each way.
  • Closest Great Wall section to Beijing.
Budget alt
  • 慕巴士 直通车: 灯市口 / 和平西桥, ¥80 each way.
  • 916快 from 东直门 (first 05:50) + Huairou bus.
  • Cheaper · fixed 08:00 departure · no flexibility.
On site
  • 门票 ¥45 + 摆渡车 ¥15 mandatory (separate; park 4 km from car park).
  • 缆车 enclosed cabin, west line, double ¥140 (to Tower 14).
  • 东线 chairlift + 滑道 combo ~¥200 · 滑道 alone ¥100.
Hours
  • 旺季 (to Nov 15) 07:30–18:00 · 淡季 (Nov 16+) 08:00–17:30.
  • Nov 10 = 旺季 hours. Full day.
🚇 Beijing Metro — the lines that matter
Hours~05:00–23:00 · ¥3–9 by distance · QR via Alipay/WeChat · traffic-free
Line 19 ⭐
  • Only line to 大兴机场. 牡丹园 → 北太平庄 → 积水潭 → 平安里 → 太平桥 → 牛街 Niujie → 新发地 → 草桥 Cǎoqiáo → 大兴机场.
  • 草桥 transfer corridor 05:10 · first airport train 05:30 · ¥35 · 19 min.
  • Only relevant if you base at 平安里.
Line 8 ⭐
  • The tourist spine: 北土城 → 奥林匹克公园 → 鼓楼大街 → 什刹海 → 南锣鼓巷 → 中国美术馆 → 金鱼胡同 → 王府井 → 前门 → 天桥.
  • From 四惠东 needs a hop (Line 1 + transfer, or Didi). Line 1 is your spine.
Line 4安河桥北 → 北宫门 (颐和园) → 圆明园 → 动物园 → 西直门 → 新街口 → 平安里 → 西单 → 宣武门 → 北京南 (Tianjin trains) → 大兴线
Line 5天通苑北 → 雍和宫 → 北新桥 → 东四 → 灯市口 → 东单 → 崇文门 → 天坛东门
Line 1
  • Your line. 天安门东 (square + NMC) → 王府井 → 四惠 (bathhouse).
  • Line 1 + 八通线 through-run since Aug 2021: one train from 王府井 to 环球度假区 — 21 stops, no transfer.
Line 2Loop: 前门 · 鼓楼大街 · 东直门 · 雍和宫 · 积水潭 · 西直门 (→ Line 4/13)
Line 7 ⭐
  • 北京西站 · 湾子 · 达官营 · 广安门内 · 菜市口 · 虎坊桥 Hǔfángqiáo (梨园剧场 opera; ~30-min Didi from base) · 桥湾 · 磁器口 · 广渠门内 …
  • 7号线东延 also reaches 环球度假区 — but from 四惠东 your direct ride is Line 1/八通线, 13 stops, ~25 min.
Line 14798 district: 望京南 / 高家园 · also 北京南
Airport line大兴机场线 — 草桥 ↔ 大兴机场 · 19 min · ¥35 · first train 05:30 from 草桥
Universal
  • 环球度假区站: Line 7 + 八通线. Exits B/C/D → 7-min walk to CityWalk security.
  • 市区定制公交: 国贸 / 三里屯 / 东直门 / 草桥 / 北京站 → resort, 07:00–20:40, one seat per person.
Rush hour07:30–09:30 + 17:30–19:30 = very crowded. Plan museum mornings around it.
💳 Payment
AlipayLink Malaysian card before flying — easiest for foreigners
CashRarely needed. ATM fallback: 中国银行 / ICBC
Tax refund离境退税 at PKX before immigration — receipts + goods, ¥500+ per store
Day 1 of 12 · Saturday
7th November 2026
✈️ Land PKX 07:00 → City Hotel (建国璞隐 · Jiànguó Púyǐn, 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng) · Nap & Rest · 🌆 Shichahai (什刹海 · Shíchàhǎi) & Yandai Xiejie (烟袋斜街 · Yāndài Xiéjiē) Sunset Stroll
🛬 Red-eye arrival — the city, not the mountains
✈️ Flight KUL → PKX (Beijing Daxing)
吉隆坡 Jílóngpō = Kuala Lumpur · 大兴国际机场 Dàxīng Guójì Jīchǎng = Beijing Daxing International Airport
FlightMH318 · Malaysia Airlines · A330-300 — daily
DepartKUL Terminal 1 · Sat Nov 7 · 00:50. Be airside by ~23:20 Fri Nov 6; counters close 23:50
ArrivePKX Daxing · 07:00 same morning · non-stop 6h10m · UTC+8 both ends. One terminal: arrivals, immigration, bags in one hall
Track liveTrip.com — MH318 live status ↗ · check the night before + the morning
Sleep3–4 h on the plane. Today stays light
🚕 07:00–09:30
🛬 PKX → City Hotel (建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng)
大兴机场快线 = Daxing Airport Express · 草桥 Cǎoqiáo = Caoqiao (transfer hub)
Option ADidi / taxi direct ¥130–180 · 55–70 min — take it with luggage. Show the driver: 建国璞隐酒店, 朝阳区高碑店乡半壁店村惠河南街1088号
Option B — MetroDaxing Express ¥35 → 草桥 (19 min) → Line 10 国贸 → Line 1 四惠东 → 10-min walk or 2-min Didi. Cheaper; 3 legs with bags
Do firstActivate Alipay + WeChat Pay + Beijing metro QR before you land. Set up at home
🏨 09:30–15:30
🏨 Bag drop + real sleep
Check-inStandard 14:00. Drop bags at the bell desk; ask for early room
NapHard cap: wake 15:30. A 5-hour nap kills the first evening
EatHotel breakfast or a simple 面馆 bowl nearby. Nothing adventurous
16:00–19:30 · 25–30 min Didi
🌆 什刹海 Shíchàhǎi + 银锭桥 + 烟袋斜街 Yāndài Xiéjiē
什刹海 Shíchàhǎi = Shichahai lake · 银锭桥 = Silver Ingot Bridge · 烟袋斜街 Yāndài Xiéjiē = Yandai Xiejie
Why here25–30 min Didi, ~¥35. After a red-eye, take the car. Best first evening: no plan, a lake, lantern lanes
Route万松老人塔 Wànsōng Lǎorén Tǎ → 后海 Houhai willow banks → 银锭桥 (sunset over the lake ~17:05) → 烟袋斜街 craft street → hutongs behind it
Walk it twiceThe lanes are the thing, not the lake. Go in, get lost 20 min, come back out
Food方砖厂69号 炸酱面 ~¥20 (10 min from 鼓楼大街, Line 8) · 门框胡同百年卤煮 ¥35 · local dumplings
Early nightTomorrow is light (tea + food street + free temple). Monday after = 10,000 Summer Palace steps. Sleep
🍽️ Day 1 Food — light, hot, local
Dinner方砖厂69号 炸酱面 ~¥20 — noodles mixed at the table. Or dumplings from any hutong shop
DrinkHot 豆浆 or 酸梅汤 from a street cart
SkipDuck, hotpot banquets, alcohol. Proper duck comes Nov 11, rested
TipEat EARLY — 鼓楼 stalls fill by 18:30
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn (四惠东 Sìhuìdōng)
Night 1 of 10. One hotel for the whole city block
Day 2 of 12 · Sunday
8th November 2026
🍵 Maliandao Tea City (马连道茶城 · Mǎliándào Cháchéng) → 🥢 Niujie Muslim Quarter (牛街 · Niújiē) → 🛕 Fayuan Temple (法源寺 · Fǎyuán Sì)
🍵 09:00–11:30 · wholesale prices
马连道茶叶一条街 — Beijing Tea Street
北京国际茶城 Běijīng Guójì Cháchéng = Beijing International Tea City · 马连道 Maliandao · 湾子站 Wanzi (Line 7)
Getting thereDidi ¥50–70 · 35–45 min — take it; you haul tea boxes all day. Metro fallback: Line 1 → 西单 → Line 4 → 菜市口 → Line 7 湾子站, ~45 min
What1,500 m of tea shops — the wholesale tea district. Rock oolongs, raw + aged pu’erh, white teas
How it worksSit at the carved wooden tea tables and taste — free, no obligation. Most shops brew Gongfu-style in a gaiwan
Which floorSkip the ground-floor entrance shops (tourist markup). Go to 3rd/4th floors of 北京国际茶城 — brand agents + bulk wholesalers
BuyingTeaware at wholesale: gaiwans, 紫砂壶 teapots, vacuum-sealed packs. Drink 3–4 free rounds, chat, then buy at source price
EtiquetteNo pressure at the tables. Polite exit after a good tasting = buy a 250 g vacuum pack or a tasting cup
PracticalBring a tote for the carry-back
🥢 11:45–14:30 · the pilgrimage
牛街 Niujie — the best food street in Beijing
牛街 Niújiē = Niújiē · Hui-Muslim quarter · Line 19 牛街 station
Getting there7-min Didi east, ~¥15, 2 km. Metro: Line 7 one stop 广安门内 → virtual transfer → Line 19 牛街. 北京西站 is NOT on Line 19
Lunch聚宝源 Jùbǎoyuán — hand-sliced lamb, copper pot, the legend since 1937. Opens 10:30, ¥80–120/pp. Queue? Take a number, eat street food while you wait
Street food
  • 满记烧饼 — hot sesame beef flatbreads
  • 白记年糕 — sweet purple rice cakes, ¥28
  • 洪记小吃 — 羊杂汤 + 炸糕
  • 宫廷香酥牛肉饼 — flaky beef pastry, best in the city
Also宝记豆汁店 — the douzhi dare: fermented mung-bean drink, sour, older than the hutongs
DressMuslim street — no pork, dress modestly
🛕 14:45–16:00
法源寺 Fayuan Temple — the quiet ten minutes
法源寺 Fǎyuán Sì = the old Buddhist temple on the same street · 教子胡同
Why here450 m up the same street from 聚宝源. Founded 645 AD (Emperor Taizong, memorial to fallen soldiers); seat of the Chinese Buddhist Academy; oldest well-kept Buddhist temple in Beijing
OpenFree · no reservation · Mon–Sun 09:00–16:00. 毗卢殿 = rare Ming clay relief of 500 arhats. The calmest ten minutes of the trip
Vs 恭王府
  • 恭王府: ¥40, online-only, ~6.5 km north (前海西街) — Line 8 straight to 什刹海站 or Line 6 北海北, both + 10-min walk.
  • 法源寺: free, 450 m, saves your legs. Open 08:30–17:00, last entry 16:10 if you ever pivot.
  • Default = 法源寺; hotel by 16:30.
🌆 16:30–20:30 · tea rides in the trunk
Dashilar / 北京坊 evening → early dinner near Qianmen
大栅栏 Dàzhàlán = the great fence · 北京坊 = Beijing Fun · 15 min by Didi from 法源寺
Why Dashilar什刹海 was last night. You are already SW with tea + pastry boxes — 15-min Didi drops you into the lantern street, bags riding in the boot
Drop-off法源寺 closes 16:00 → tea in the Didi boot → Dashilar (~15 min, ¥20). No hotel detour: 建国璞隐 is 13 km east; crossing town twice kills the evening. Zero-energy alt: canal strip at 高碑店 (盛世龙源, 10-min walk from hotel)
The walk前门大街 → 大栅栏 → 北京坊 — lanterns, glowing tram tracks, Page One open late. The most photogenic 800 m after dark; past 21:00 on a November Sunday it is yours
Early dinner爆肚冯 at 磁器口 (real blanched tripe, ¥60) · 小肠陈 卤煮 ¥35 · 都一处烧麦 前门大街 (since 1738, ¥50–70)
Then homeBack by 21:30. Next three mornings start early: Mon 07:30 ginkgo · Tue 06:45 wall · Wed 08:30 museum. Tonight: buy sleep
🍽️ Day 2 Food — wholesale + street food
Lunch聚宝源 铜锅涮肉 — hand-sliced lamb, 麻酱 dip, copper pot. ¥80–120/pp. Opens 10:30
Snacks满记烧饼 flatbread · 白记年糕 ¥28 · 洪记小吃 羊杂汤 + 炸糕 · 宫廷香酥牛肉饼
Carry homeTea. 马连道 source prices: gaiwans, 紫砂 pots, vacuum pu’erh for the family — boxes straight into the boot
Drink酸梅汤 from a cart to cut the lamb
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 2 of 10. Full day, nothing booked, home by 21:30
Day 3 of 12 · Monday
9th November 2026
🍁 Diaoyutai Ginkgo (钓鱼台银杏大道 · Diàoyútái Yínxìng Dàdào) 08:00 → ⛵ Summer Palace (颐和园 · Yíhéyuán) 09:45–15:00
🍁 08:00–09:00 · peak gold, empty street
钓鱼台银杏大道 Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue
银杏 = ginkgo · the golden tunnel on 钓鱼台南路
Why firstOct 15 – Nov 20; Nov 9 = peak. Morning only: empty street, raking light through the canopy
Getting thereDidi ¥80–110 · 40–50 min from 四惠东, leave ~07:15. West side = longest haul from this base; the car still beats 3 metro changes
Metro altNot worth it from 四惠东 (3 changes). If Didi fails: Line 1 → 木樨地 Mùxīdì → 12-min Didi
RouteSingle 600 m walk under the canopy. End-to-end, then back through it
AfterDidi to 颐和园 东宫门 (¥40, 20 min). Do not re-do the metro — keep the hours for the palace
Distance钓鱼台 → 颐和园: ~20 min Didi, 10 km. Metro = 3 changes + 50 min. The car buys the morning
⛵ 09:45–15:00
颐和园 Summer Palace — give it 5 hours
长廊 = Long Corridor (728 m painted) · 昆明湖 = Kunming Lake · 万寿山 = Longevity Hill · 十七孔桥 Shíqīkǒng Qiáo = Seventeen-Arch Bridge
Ticket¥20 gate / ¥50 联票 low season (Nov 1–Mar 31). Take the ¥50 — includes 佛香阁 + 苏州街. ¥60 = 旺季 price, not yours
HoursLow season: park 06:30–19:00 · 园中园 interiors 08:30–17:00
⚠️ Boats游船 stopped Nov 2, 2026 — no lake crossing. Walk the shore + Long Corridor; budget the extra hour
Route东宫门 East Gate (Line 4 西苑站 Xīyuàn Zhàn, exit C2, 10-min walk) → 仁寿殿 → lake → 728 m Long Corridor west → 万寿山 up to 佛香阁 → north slope down → 石舫 Marble Boat → shore east → 十七孔桥 → out 新建宫门
Exit
  • 新建宫门 finishes the lakeshore loop → Didi back ¥60–80, 35–45 min (recommended) after 12,000 steps.
  • Tired? Bail north via 北宫门 Běigōngmén (Line 4 at the gate) — 新建宫门’s nearest station is 3.5 km away.
No-ferry mathsFerries stopped → Marble Boat → 十七孔桥 → 新建宫门 = +3.5 km on foot. At the Marble Boat, decide: push the south loop, or bail north via 北宫门 (Line 4)
Loading10,000–14,000 steps, 4–5 h. Your biggest walking day — do not add 圆明园
Monday tipWeekday, low season, no tour groups; museums shut anyway
⚠️ The sunset trap — read before 圆明园
圆明园 Old Summer Palace — optional, and only FIRST
西洋楼 = Western Mansions ruins · 大水法 = the stone arch remains
The trapNov 9 sunset = 17:04; dark by 17:15. Summer Palace first (4–5 h) = Western Mansions in pitch dark. The best thing there is unlit stone
Ticket¥10 gate + ¥15 西洋楼遗址 = ¥25. Opens 06:00; tickets stop ~17:30 Nov–Dec
If you want it圆明园 FIRST 08:00–09:30 (daylight, empty) → Line 4 two stops (圆明园 → 西苑 → 北宫门) → Summer Palace 10:00–15:00. The only order that works
My callDrop it. Ginkgo 08:00 + palace 09:45 + tomorrow’s 6 km wall = enough. A third park is how you hurt yourself
Swap instead香山红叶 (Line 4 北宫门 + bus 563, 15 min) beats 圆明园 — higher, better colour, on the way
🏨 15:00–16:30
Back to the hotel — rest the legs
Walk outLeave 15:00. Today = 10,000–14,000 steps; the corridor alone is 728 m
RestHotel by 16:30. Shower, legs up, nothing else — tomorrow is the wall, 07:45 charter
What you didGinkgo at 08:00 in full gold + five palace hours on a weekday. The peak of the trip
🍽️ Day 3 Food
BreakfastNo 豆汁 dare before the palace — 07:30 start. 护国寺小吃 豌豆黄 + 驴打滚 on the way instead
Lunch苏州街 cafés inside = overpriced. Pack convenience-store snacks; eat properly back in town
Dinner饺子 dumplings or braised eggplant + noodles near the base — light after 10,000 steps
AlsoHeavier option: 南门涮肉 天坛店 copper pot, 11:00–22:00, ~¥101/pp (save room — duck is Nov 11)
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 3 of 10. Pack light tonight — the wall is tomorrow
Day 4 of 12 · Tuesday
10th November 2026
⛰ Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城 · Mùtiányù Chángchéng) — Chairlift (索道 · Suǒdào), Ridge Walk & Toboggan (滑道 · Huádào)
🎟️ BOOK NOW — tickets online-only, 7-day window
🚌 07:45 → Mutianyu (慕田峪 Mùtiányù) → 15:15 back
慕田峪 Mùtiányù = Mùtiányù · Huairou 怀柔 · ~75 km NE
CharterPrivate charter door-to-door ~¥550–650 round trip. Trip.com / Klook “慕田峪长城一日游” + 私人包车, or hotel driver. Depart 07:45 → car park ~09:15. The driver waits — no clock
Budget alt慕巴士 直通车 from 灯市口 / 和平西桥 ¥80 each way, or 916快 from 东直门 + Huairou bus. Cheaper; fixed 08:00; no flexibility
Book earlyTickets: BUY NOW — online-only (no window), sold up to 7 days out; Nov 10 opened Nov 3. Bundle 门票+摆渡车+缆车/索道/滑道 via the official 慕田峪长城 mini-program, both passports. Charter: Nov 7–8. Tuesday = no weekend crush
Tickets长城门票 ¥45 + 摆渡车 ¥15 (mandatory, separate — park 4 km from car park). 缆车 enclosed west-line double ¥140 · 东线 chairlift + 滑道 combo ~¥200 · 滑道 alone ¥100. Check the on-site board
⛰ 09:15–13:30 · the wall
慕田峪长城 Mutianyu Great Wall
敌楼 = watchtower · 好汉坡 Hǎohànpō = "Hero Slope" high point at Tower 20 · 滑道 Huádào = alpine toboggan
Getting upCar park → mandatory shuttle ¥15 → 东线 open chairlift (吊椅 Diàoyǐ) to the Tower 6 area
The routeRidge WEST from Tower 6 → 14 → 20 if legs allow. 6→14 gentle; 14→20 = 好汉坡, 450+ uneven steps on the steepest ridge, 鹰飞倒仰 photo frame at the top
Tower 14 checkTower 14 = the natural turnaround. Cable-car terminus, iconic wide panorama. Push to 20 only if knees are 100% — Summer Palace was yesterday. Turn at 14 = full toboggan finale anyway
ClockToboggan by 13:00. 6→20→back = 3–3.5 h wall walking; 6→14→back = 2–2.5 h, same finale
Toboggan gap1.5 km luge needs a clear track. Slow rider ahead at the dispatch gate? Wait 45 s before pulling the lever
The toboggan滑道 = 1.5 km alpine slide, up to 40 km/h, Tower 6 → base. Fastest descent in China. Trousers not skirt; brake lever = your speed
Why MutianyuBadaling = 70% tour buses + rebuilt brick. Mutianyu = 70% original Ming stone, forested, 23 watchtowers, 15% the crowds. Closest wall to the city: 75 km, ~1.5 h
Cold−2 to 4°C on the ridge, wind-chill lower. Enclosed 缆车 > open chairlift. Shell + fleece + beanie + gloves; gloves ON for the toboggan
Also长城无人机表演 — drone shows over the wall at dusk some days. Ask the driver about Nov 10
🥘 13:30–14:30
Countryside lunch at the village foot
虹鳟鱼 = rainbow trout (hóngzhuānyú)
Eat虹鳟鱼 grilled rainbow trout — the Mutianyu specialty, whole grilled, ~¥88–120. Farm-raised, safe bet
AlsoScallion flatbreads · tomato + egg · wild mushrooms · 玉米粥 — all farmhouse
Cost¥40–80/pp. Cash fine; cards unreliable at small places
VegetarianSay 素 for mushrooms — pork versions are everywhere
🚗 14:30–15:30
Back to the city
Depart15:30 from the car park → hotel door ~16:30. The driver waited all day
⚠️ Driver trickHuairou drivers may refuse the 75 km run into the city. Fix: change the Didi drop-off to Line 17 未来科学城北站 (京承高速 edge, ~45 min, ~¥110) — Line 17 runs straight down the east side to 工人体育场. 北苑站 (Line 13) works the same
AfternoonFree. 06:30 wake + 4 h wall + 2.5 h car = rest. Or walk 什刹海 in late light
Dinner饺子 or braised eggplant + noodles near the base — nothing heavy
TonightNothing scheduled. Recovery evening before Tiananmen + NMC tomorrow — booked Nov 4, already yours
🍽️ Day 4 Food — mountain fuel
BreakfastHotel breakfast before 07:00 — congee, buns, egg. Climb on empty = no
LunchFarmhouse lunch above (¥40–80)
SnackThermos + chocolate on the wall — nothing to buy up there
Dinner护国寺小吃 spread, or 姚记炒肝 late 炒肝 + 灌肠 + 包子 at 鼓楼大街, standing, ¥20–30
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 4 of 10. Tomorrow: Tiananmen Square & National Museum — Ancient China gallery
Day 5 of 12 · Wednesday
11th November 2026
🇨🇳 Tiananmen Square (天安门广场 · Tiān’ānmén Guǎngchǎng) + National Museum (中国国家博物馆 · Zhōngguó Guójiā Bówùguǎn) → 🦆 Siji Minfu Duck (四季民福 · Sìjì Mínfú) → Dashilar (大栅栏 · Dàzhàlán)
🎟️ BOOK NOV 4 — Square 12:00, NMC 17:00 CST
Two reservations, ONE security pass
预约 = real-name reservation · both free, both need passport numbers
Square firstWeChat 天安门广场预约参观 · 12:00 Wed Nov 4 · morning slot. Square FIRST, then museum = security cordon exactly once
Then museumWeChat 国家博物馆 · 7 days ahead at 17:00 → window = Wed Nov 4. 09:00–11:00 slot goes first; Wednesday ≫ easier than Sunday
Before bookingPre-save both passport numbers + full names in each profile — then the form is two taps. Typing numbers mid-release = how you lose the slot
BringPHYSICAL passports, both. No passport = no entry
🇨🇳 08:30–11:30
天安门广场 Tiān’ānmén Guǎngchǎng + 中国国家博物馆 National Museum of China
人民英雄纪念碑 = Monument to the People’s Heroes · 古代中国 = "Ancient China" gallery (B1)
Why square firstNMC sits on the square’s east edge. Museum-first = cordon twice (45–60 min each). Wednesday cordon ≈ half of Sunday’s
EnterLine 1 → 天安门东 (east, museum side) → underground walkway into the square — skips the surface queue. Not 天安门西 (far west, museum behind you)
Museum
  • 2 M artefacts: 3,000-year bronze ding cauldrons, Han jade burial suits.
  • Escalator straight down to B1 “Ancient China”. Skip the ground-floor photo halls.
  • 2 h in the basement = the whole visit.
  • 10:20 — escalator back up to the ground-floor atrium: B1 cellular is weak. Trigger the 10:30 queue from the atrium.
ExitNorth exit onto 东长安街 → 南池子 duck → Forbidden City moat. One direction, zero backtrack
Also长城博物馆, square’s west side — free, small, 30 min
🦆 12:00–13:30
四季民福 南池子店 — duck with the moat view
南池子大街 Nánchízǐ Dàjiē 11号 · the branch whose window overlooks the palace moat
Why hereThe branch worth the queue — moat view + 10 min north of the museum exit. No extra travel
OrderHalf duck + 鸭饼 + sugar-sauce dish. ~¥150–200/pp
QueueRemote queue opens 10:30 — pull a 小桌 (A-table) for 2 at 10:30 sharp. Mini-program 四季民福烤鸭店 → 排队取号 → 南池子店. Busy days geofence to 5 km — museum is 1.2 km south, you are inside. Alarm 10:25
Technique挂炉 open-hearth: duck hangs over a 枣木 flame until glass-crisp. Carved tableside; eat with 鸭饼 + scallion + sweet-bean sauce. Dip plain skin in fine sugar — the connoisseur move
Note烤鸭 roasts ~40 min — order early, browse the moat while you wait
The comparisonDuck twice, on purpose: 挂炉 here (open flame, crisp) vs 焖炉 at 便宜坊 Nov 14 (sealed oven, softer, juicier). Same bird, 600 years of argument. Pick a side
14:30–21:00
前门 Qianmen + 大栅栏 Dashilar + 明城墙遗址公园
大栅栏 Dàzhàlán = the great fence, old commercial alley · 北京坊 = Beijing Fun
Afternoon明城墙遗址公园 — real 1419 Ming wall + 古观象台 Ancient Observatory. 15 min from Qianmen, ¥10-ish, zero crowds
Beijing Fun北京坊 bookshop + rooftop terraces + Page One
EveningDashilar lanterns + lit tram tracks
Food爆肚冯 (tripe + sesame sauce, ¥60, 磁器口) or 小肠陈 卤煮 ¥35. Save duck for Day 8 — 焖炉 at 便宜坊 Nov 14
Tea house老舍茶馆 on 前门西大街 — 1988 landmark on the old 两分钱 big-bowl-tea spot. Free to enter; performances ¥88–158
🍽️ Day 5 Food — the big duck day
Lunch🦆 四季民福 南池子 — moat view, half duck ~¥150–200/pp. Alarm 10:30 — queue opens then, not before
Snack糖葫芦 ¥5–10 — November is the season; the sugar shell is perfect in the cold
Dinner老舍茶馆 — 前门西大街正阳市场3号楼, next to Dashilar, 10:00–22:00. Free entry; 演出大厅 shows ¥88–158 (四季北京·茶, 曲艺团京味鼓曲). 5-min walk from the duck
Quick backupSkip the teahouse → 爆肚冯 (¥60, 磁器口) or 都一处烧麦 outside Qianmen
Drink燕京啤酒 on draught + 酸梅汤 chaser
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 5 of 10. Tomorrow: Tianjin day trip
Day 6 of 12 · Thursday
12th November 2026
🚄 Tianjin (天津 · Tiānjīn) Day Trip — Wudadao (五大道 · Wǔdàdào) + Ancient Culture Street (古文化街 · Gǔ Wénhuà Jiē) + Italian Style Town (意式风情区 · Yìshì Fēngqíng Qū) + Haihe River (海河 · Hǎihé)
🎟️ BOOK NOW — on sale since Oct 29
北京南 → 天津 · 30–37 min
北京南站 = Beijing South · 天津站 Tiānjīn Zhàn = Tianjin Station · 城际 = intercity C-train
✅ BookedPAID + CONFIRMED Nov 3. C2007 out 09:10 · C2026 back 19:56. E-ticket — passports at the gate
Trains~300/day, every 10–15 min · C-trains 30–37 min · 二等座 ¥54.5, 一等 ¥88
Trains ✅C2007 北京南 09:10 → 天津 09:47 · C2026 天津 19:56 → 北京南 20:33 — 37 min each
App12306 (register with passport) or Trip.com
Backup12306 候补 waitlist — auto-buys when a seat frees
⚠️ Station天津站 Tiānjīn Zhàn, not 天津西 — central, walkable to 意式风情区 + Hai River
PassportsPhysical passports at the gate — rail gates check ID vs booking
🏛 10:15–13:00
五大道 Wǔdàdào — Five Great Avenues
民园广场 Mínyuán Guǎngchǎng = Minyuan Square
WhatBest-kept European architecture in China: British, French, Italian, Spanish villas, 1920s–30s concession era, tree-lined
HowTaxi 天津站 ~15 min, ¥20. 民园广场 = the shot; tandem bike or horse carriage for the streets
FreeYes — public district. Mansions ¥20–50 each
Must马场道 + 睦南道 = the two prettiest
ThursdayEverything open — mansion museums close Mondays; Thursday = full set
🏮 13:30–15:30
古文化街 Ancient Culture Street
泥人张 Nírén Zhāng = clay figurines · 年画 = New Year prints · 杨柳青年画 Yángliǔqīng Niánhuà
What5A pedestrian street, Qing-style shopfronts: 泥人张 clay figurines, kite workshops, 年画 woodblock prints, teahouses over the street
TimingShops wind down ~17:00 — hence before the Italian Town, not after
Eat here耳朵眼炸糕 + 十八街麻花 — buy boxes home
🇮🇹 16:00–18:00
意式风情区 + 海河 + 世纪钟 Shìjì Zhōng
意式风情区 = Italian Style Town · 世纪钟 = Century Clock · 天津之眼 = Tianjin Eye ferris wheel
Italian TownFormer Italian concession — cafés, 梁启超故居, terraces. Best light = the last hour before river lights
Hai River海河 waterfront · 世纪钟 at the station · 天津之眼 across the river (¥70 ride, free view)
Blue hourDusk ~17:05, Haihe lights ~17:30. Walk 意式风情区 → 解放桥 → 世纪钟 — European facades + lit bridges, the best free view in Tianjin, 400 m from the station gate
Return ✅C2026: 天津 19:56 → 北京南 20:33. Hotel ~21:15 via Line 4 → Line 1. ~2.5 h of lit riverfront after the 17:30 lights
DinnerBefore the train: 罾蹦鲤鱼 Zēngbèng Lǐyú (crispy carp, bone and all) or 八珍豆腐 — Tianjin home-style. Terraces 10 min from the platform
NoteThursday = everything open. 五大道 museums = the only Monday-closed things; you are not there Monday
🍽️ Day 6 Food — Tianjin specials
Breakfast煎饼果子 jiānbǐng guǒzi — the original, street cart near Tianjin Station, ¥8–15. Do not skip
Lunch狗不理 Gǒubùlǐ baozi (山东路 original; touristy but historic) or a local 面馆 in the Italian Town
Snacks耳朵眼炸糕 + 十八街麻花 — boxes home
DinnerBeijing, near base: 护国寺小吃, or 便宜坊 前门 焖炉 duck if you skipped it Nov 11
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 6 of 10. Big day tomorrow — Forbidden City, closes 16:30
Day 7 of 12 · Friday
13th November 2026
🏯 Forbidden City (故宫 · Gùgōng) 08:30 → 🌄 Jingshan Park (景山公园 · Jǐngshān Gōngyuán) → 🖼 NAMOC (中国美术馆 · Zhōngguó Měishùguǎn) → 🎭 Peking Opera (梨园剧场 · Líyuán Jùchǎng) 19:30
🎟️ BOOK NOV 6 — 20:00 palace + 16:00 NAMOC
Two reservations, one day
故宫 Gùgōng = Forbidden City · 中国美术馆 = NAMOC
Forbidden CityWeChat 故宫博物院 · 7 days ahead, 20:00 sharp, for Fri Nov 13 · ¥40 low season · earliest slot
NAMOCWeChat 中国美术馆 · 7 days ahead, 16:00, same Nov 13 · free · 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:00
Before bookingPre-save both passports + full names in each profile. Friday palace slots go in minutes
BringPHYSICAL passports. Add the optional galleries when booking
🏯 08:30–12:30
故宫 The Forbidden City — the big one
午门 Wǔmén = Meridian Gate (only entrance) · 神武门 Shénwǔmén = north exit · 三大殿 = Three Great Halls
HoursLow season Nov 1–Mar 31: open 08:30, last entry 15:30, closes 16:30. Morning visit; the slot sets your entry
Route午门 → 三大殿 (太和殿 Hall of Supreme Harmony) → 后宫 Inner Court → 御花园 → out 神武门 north
Exit protocol神武门 = the only tourist exit. No cab on the ring road — 景山公园’s gate is across the street
Add-ons珍宝馆 +¥10 · 钟表馆 +¥10 — both worth it, buy with the ticket
Beat the bunchThe crowd funnels at the central 三大殿. Go the other way: 午门 → east gallery corridor → 钟表馆 + 珍宝馆 first — quiet courtyards, then loop back to the throne rooms
RulesPassport = ticket. Big bags stored left of Meridian Gate
Why 08:30First slot = empty courtyards, best light on the gold roof tiles
🌄 12:30–14:00
景山公园 Jǐngshān — THE postcard view
万春亭 Wànchūntíng = Wanchun Pavilion · the hill behind the palace
Ticket¥2 — literally two yuan. Best value in Beijing
HoursNov–Mar: 06:30 open, last entry 19:30, closes 20:00. Empty at opening; you come 12:30
What15-min climb → golden-roof panorama over the palace. One of China’s great views
LightEarly afternoon, sun behind you = the palace glows. Go before the light drops
Retirees万春亭 terrace = the retirees’ choir — over-60s, belts on, voices across the valley. A hobby, not a show, and the most Beijing thing in the city. Card players + tai chi below all day
🖼 14:15–16:00
中国美术馆 NAMOC — National Art Museum of China
五四大街一号 · Qi Baishi · Xu Beihong · 国画 = Chinese painting
Walk15 min east from 景山东门: 地安门东大街 → 美术馆东街 → 五四大街. Flat, handsome 1930s frontage
WhatFree, world-class: Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, 国画 hall, ink-painting galleries. The one big museum you have NOT done
TimingLast entry 16:00 STRICT; galleries clear 16:30. Arrive 14:15 = 100 min. Zero buffer if 景山 lingers — keep it to 90 min; late? the 国画 hall alone is worth it
FreeReservation required (booking card above)
🎭 18:00–20:30
北京梨园剧场 Líyuán Jùchǎng — Peking Opera
京剧 Jīngjù · 永安路175号 前门建国饭店1层 · Line 7 虎坊桥, exit C
What19:30, ~1 h, English subtitles, mask-changing + acrobatics. Beijing’s first tea-house theatre (1990)
RouteLine 7 虎坊桥站 exit C → 300 m south to 永安路 — NOT Qianmen. From 四惠东: Didi ~30 min, ¥40–50 (the sane option); metro = Line 1 → 西单 → Line 4 → 菜市口 → Line 7
Seats¥280–580 (280 rear, 380/480/580 top tiers with tea + pastry; promos ¥180–480). ¥280–380 = the sweet spot, sightlines all work. Book now — Fri Nov 13 is a Wed–Sat night; good seats go. Trip.com / Klook / concierge
Pre-showOpera-dress photos ¥100+ — cheesy, fun, once
Alt湖广会馆 大驾光临 (虎坊路3号, same corner) — acrobatics + 评书, 300-year Qing guild hall, ¥100–200, several shows daily
🍽️ Day 7 Food
Lunch四季民福 南池子 moat-view branch, 10 min from the north gate — if not had Nov 11. Else 便宜坊 前门 (焖炉)
DinnerPre-opera 18:00 near 虎坊桥: 爆肚冯 (¥60) or 湖广会馆 food
LateOpera ends 20:30 → 后海 bar street 10 min away
Drink青岛啤酒 in a 燕京 bottle — the tea-house serves it in a clay pot
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 7 of 10. The heaviest city walking day is done
Day 8 of 12 · Saturday
14th November 2026
⛩ Temple of Heaven (天坛 · Tiāntán) 07:00 → 💎 Hongqiao Pearl Market (红桥市场 · Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng) → 🏺 Panjiayuan Flea Market (潘家园 · Pānjiāyuán) → 刻章 Liulichang Seal Carving (琉璃厂 · Liúlíchǎng) → 便宜坊 Bianyifang Duck
⏰ Temple of Heaven is a 07:00 start
天坛 Temple of Heaven — go EARLY
祈年殿 Qíniándiàn = Hall of Prayer · 回音壁 Huíyīnbì = Echo Wall · 圜丘 Yuánqiū = Circular Mound
TimingPark gates 06:00 — enter 南门 or 东门. 07:15 pine woods between the gates: retiree choirs, sword dancers, tai chi, ribbon spinning, water calligraphy on the flagstones
Inner gates祈年殿 + 回音壁 open 08:00 sharp — morning light, no crowds
Ticket¥10 大门票 (grounds) / ¥28 联票 low season — take the ¥28 联票: the only ticket that opens 祈年殿 + 皇穹宇 + 回音壁 + 圜丘. 旺季 = ¥34 联票 / ¥15 大门票
Inner hours园中园 opens 08:00 → park life 07:00–08:00, halls 08:00–09:30
No reservation天坛 dropped mandatory booking 15 Aug 2026 — walk up, or pre-buy WeChat 畅游公园 / 天坛 with passport (no queue). Real-name ticketing still applies
Photo祈年殿 blue triple-eaved roof from the east-side steps, morning light from your left
MetroLine 5 天坛东门 (from 东四 / 灯市口), or Line 8 → 永定门外 for the south gate
⏰ Across the street from the East Gate
💎 红桥市场 Hongqiao Pearl Market
天坛路9号 — opposite 天坛公园东门 · 10:00–19:30
Why hereDirectly across the road from the East Gate. Walk out of the park, into the market. Zero transit
WhatPearls (the specialty: freshwater + cultured, upper floors), jade, tea sets, silk, fans, seals, antiques
BargainAsk, then counter at 30–40% of asking. Upper floors talk; street level = tourist price
Hours10:00–19:30, peaks late morning. Arrive 10:00 — opening, best stock upstairs
PearlsSkip floors 1–2 (electronics/apparel) → 3rd/4th-floor pearl halls: loose Edison freshwater + Akoya strands + jade
On sitePick pearls from tray bins → in-house jewellers drill + mount on 18K gold/silver while you wait, 15–30 min. Counter 30–40% under first quote
⏰ Saturday = full antique market
🏺 潘家园 Panjiayuan Antique Market
鬼市 = "ghost market" roots · bargain from 30% of asking
WhatBeijing’s giant flea market: jade, scrolls, beads, chairs, Mao memorabilia, dubious “Ming” everything
Weekend ruleSat/Sun = every dealer out; weekdays = half-empty. Today is the day ✓
Getting there10-min Didi from 红桥 (¥15–25) — both in the 天坛/南中轴 area, NOT the same place; 潘家园 2 km SE. Line 10 潘家园站 also works
Time boxCap it at 90 min. Pearls + antiques back-to-back melts the brain — if 红桥 already delivered, walk through, don’t hunt
Next stopDidi 潘家园 → 琉璃厂东街 (~20 min, ¥40) for seal carving before shops shut; Dashilar dinner after
BargainPoint → laugh → offer 30% → settle 40–50%. Walk away — it works. Alipay fine
Timing11:15–13:30 = peak; cools after 13:30
⏰ 14:30–17:00 · the one souvenir worth making
琉璃厂 Liulichang — custom stone seals
琉璃厂 = the scholar street · 刻章 Kèzhāng = seal carving · 寿山石 / 青田石
Getting thereDidi 潘家园 → 琉璃厂东街, ~20 min, ¥40 — do NOT zigzag via Qianmen first (saves an hour of southern ring traffic). After carving: 12–15 min walk east into Dashilar. Metro: Line 7 虎坊桥 walk, or Line 2 和平门 exit C1 + 500 m south
WhatGrey-brick scholar shops: calligraphy, inkstones, brushes, seal stones. The carvers are the reason: pick 寿山石 or 青田石, the artisan hand-chisels your Chinese name
Price~¥60–150 stone + carving. Ready in ~40 min — watch them work while you wait
ScriptAsk for 篆书 Zhuànshū seal script. Style: 白文 báiwén (阴刻 — carved in, white on red) = classical Han, or 朱文 zhūwén (阳刻 — raised red) = scholar style. Write your name in 汉字 on the order pad. Shops line 琉璃厂东街
Stone pick青田石 = clean sharp edges; 寿山石 = warmer red/honey tones. Pick by look; both carve well
WhyBest cheap personalised souvenir in China. Pocket-sized, hand-cut, genuinely yours — nothing like it at any airport
Also browsingInkstones 硯, brushes, 印泥 seal paste, letter paper. Skip the tourist ink sets
17:30–21:00
前门 Qianmen + 北京坊 + 大栅栏 Dàzhàlán
明城墙遗址公园 = Ming City Wall Relics Park · 北京坊 = Beijing Fun
Afternoon明城墙遗址公园 (1419 wall + 古观象台) — 15 min from Qianmen, ¥10-ish, zero crowds
Beijing Fun北京坊 bookshop + rooftops + Page One
EveningDashilar lanterns + lit tram tracks
Dinner便宜坊 前门 — 焖炉 sealed-oven duck. ¥120–180/pp. A 600-year technique; the reason the restaurant is 300 years old
Note便宜坊 = 焖炉, the opposite of Nov 11’s 挂炉. Brick oven preheated with 秫秸 sorghum stalks → fire raked out → duck cooks on residual wall heat alone: softer, plumper, juicier, delicate skin. The older technique
🍽️ Day 8 Food — market day
Breakfast豆汁 dare day: 老磁器口豆汁店 near the temple north gate — ¥3–5, sour, weird, once. You have slept; do it
Lunch南门涮肉 near the Temple of Heaven — locals’ copper-pot lamb. Or 炸酱面 in the lanes behind 红桥市场
Snack糖葫芦 from a cart outside 红桥 — ¥5–10, sugar shell perfect in the cold
DinnerQianmen: 便宜坊 焖炉 duck or 烤肉宛 1682 炙子烤肉. Walk it off on Dashilar
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 8 of 10. One more full day, then the theme park
Day 9 of 12 · Sunday
15th November 2026
🛕 Lama Temple (雍和宫 · Yōnghégōng) + Imperial Academy (国子监 · Guózǐjiān) → 🍜 Wudaoying (五道营 · Wǔdàoyíng) Lunch → 🎨 798 Art Zone (798艺术区 · Qībājiǔ Yìshùqū) → 🦐 Guijie Crayfish (簋街 · Guǐjiē)
🛕 09:30–11:30
雍和宫 Yonghe Temple + 国子监 Guózǐjiān / 孔庙 Kǒngmiào
雍和宫 = Lama Temple · 国子监 = Imperial Academy · 孔庙 = Confucius Temple
Lama Temple¥25 · free incense at the entrance, light it at each hall · the 18 m sandalwood Maitreya Buddha in the last hall
Next door孔庙国子监 combo ¥30 — ancient exam halls, cypresses, stele forest. Shaded, calm
Getting thereLine 2 / Line 5 雍和宫. From 四惠东: Line 1 → 东单 → Line 5 direct, ~30 min, one change. Line 6 does not go there
TimingBoth open daily — flexible. Morning light in the 孔庙 stele forest is why early
On foot五道营胡同 runs along the temple’s south side — craft shops, cafés, rooftops. 5 min from the gate
☕ 11:30–13:00 · lunch
五道营胡同 Wǔdàoyíng — lunch along the temple wall
五道营 = Wudaoying Hutong · the lane on the temple’s south side
Walk5 min from the temple gate — no transit
WhatCraft shops, small galleries, coffee, rooftop terraces. Hutong-stroll Beijing without tour groups
Lunch豆面胡同 / 雍和宫西门 stalls — 卤煮, 炸酱面, 烤串, 羊肉串. Or 素虎 Sùhǔ, the vegan Buddhist canteen — ¥40 for a dozen dishes, the correct meal beside a temple
TimingEat early, before the 798 rush
🎨 13:30–16:30
798 艺术区 — Beijing’s Chelsea
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art · M WOODS 木木美术馆 · Bauhaus factory halls
Getting thereDidi ~30–40 min, ¥40–55 (~13 km up the expressway). Metro is weak here: Line 12 高家园 (5–10 min walk) or Line 14 望京南 (15 min). One straight car beats 3 transfers
What1950s East-German factory halls → galleries: UCCA (flagship, paid shows ¥60–120), M WOODS, dozens free, murals, sculptures, design shops
Plan2–3 h: UCCA + current show, then wander. The buildings + street art are half the point
⚠️ Leave by 16:30Galleries close 17:00–18:00; many shut Mondays (Nov 15 = Sunday, open). Last admissions 30 min before close
CafésExcellent mid-gallery espresso
🦐 17:30–20:00
簋街 Guijie — spicy crayfish, the night out
簋街 Guǐjiē = "Ghost Street" · 东直门内大街 · 胡大 = Hú Dà
Why hereThe real Beijing night out — 2 km of restaurants east of 东直门; 胡大 = the crayfish institution people queue an hour for
Order胡大饭馆 小龙虾 (麻辣 or 蒜香) + 牛蛙 + 烤串 · ¥135/pp. Trigger the 胡大 WeChat queue ~16:45 from 798 or the cab — do not wait for arrival
Getting thereDidi: off-peak 25 min ¥45–55; Sunday 16:30–17:30 inbound = 40–50 min (Airport Expressway + North rings congested). Drops you at 胡大 on 东直门内大街. Metro = clumsy (Line 14 → 6 → 2/5, 45+ min). Take the car
Also炙子烤肉 charcoal lamb at 烤肉季 什刹海 branch — Didi 10–15 min from 簋街 (no direct metro east-west here)
AltNo crayfish? 隆福寺 food street (Line 8, 10 min) — restored 1920s arts complex, far less touristy than Sanlitun
🍽️ Day 9 Food — the crayfish night
Lunch五道营 outside the temple — 素虎 vegan canteen ¥40, or 卤煮 + 烤串 stalls
Snack烤红薯 ¥5 — the November street icon
Dinner胡大 小龙虾 + 牛蛙 ¥135/pp · queue remotely on arrival window — 18:00 queue = 1 h
Drink燕京啤酒 draught — the only correct pairing for 麻辣 crayfish
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 9 of 10. Last city night — Universal tomorrow, bathhouse after
Day 10 of 12 · Monday
16th November 2026
🎢 Universal Studios Beijing (北京环球度假区 · Běijīng Huánqiú Dùjiàqū) — Full Off-Peak Weekday
🎟️ BUY THE DATED TICKET NOW — date-locked
北京环球影城 Universal Studios Beijing
环球度假区 Huánqiú Dùjiàqū = Universal Resort · 通州 Tongzhou
Ticket指定单日门票 — dated; Nov 16 locked. Official app / WeChat / Alipay mini-program (or Klook / Trip.com). from ¥418; Monday should land ¥418–528
Price tier4 tiers on a 90-day rolling calendar: 淡季日 ¥418 / 平季日 ¥528 / 旺季日 ¥638 / 特定日 ¥748. Monday ≈ ¥528; winter-holiday season (opens mid-Nov) can push dates up — check the live calendar before paying
优速通 ExpressOptional, priced by date: 单项 ¥190 起 · 3项 ~¥420 · 5项 ~¥560 · 14项全项 ¥900–1500. Monday: probably skip — buy the ticket only; add single-item if 变形金刚 runs long
Night events冬季假日 season (2025: Nov 14 → Jan 4): Christmas theming, often longer evening hours. Confirm the calendar in the app before you fly
🚇 08:15 departure
Getting there — one train, no changes
环球度假区站 = Universal Resort Station · Line 1 / 八通线 direct
From 四惠东Line 1 / 八通线 through-train → 环球度假区站: 13 stops, no transfer, ~25 min via 高碑店 · 传媒大学 · 双桥 · 通州北苑 · 梨园. The single biggest win of this base
From 王府井Line 1 direct (through-run since Aug 2021, no change at 四惠/四惠东): 21 stops, ~48–50 min
WalkExits B, C or D → 7-min walk to CityWalk security
Be earlyGate by 09:00 for a ~10:00 open. 45 min early = the best queue-cut of the day
Backup市区定制公交: 国贸 · 三里屯 · 三元桥 · 安贞桥 · 东直门 · 西直门 · 草桥 · 北京站 → resort, 07:00–20:40, one seat/person. Resort loop 7:10–9:30 + 17:30–21:30
🎢 09:00–18:30 · seven lands
The park
哈利·波特的魔法世界 = Wizarding World · 变形金刚基地 = Transformers Metrobase · 功夫熊猫盖世之地 = Kung Fu Panda · 侏罗纪世界努布拉岛 = Jurassic World · 未来水世界 = WaterWorld · 小黄人乐园 = Minion Land · 好莱坞 = Hollywood
⚠️ Rope-drop: turn LEFT
  • 75% of the crowd sprints RIGHT to Hogwarts. You go left.
  • 1) 霸天虎过山车 Decepticoaster 09:05–09:20 — walk on, 0–5 min.
  • 2) 火种源争夺战 Battle for the AllSpark 09:25–09:45, next door.
  • 3) Jurassic 09:50–11:00: 侏罗纪世界大冒险, then 飞越侏罗纪 Jurassic Flyers.
  • 4) Hogwarts 11:15–12:30 — the mob drains to ~20 min.
Flyers virtual queue飞越侏罗纪 can run a free 预约等候卡 virtual queue via the official mini-program on peak days. Monday = usually plain standby; check the app on entry
Single rider 单人通道霸天虎过山车 + 哈利·波特与禁忌之旅 both run single-rider lines. Adjacent-row OK? A 30-min queue drops under 5 — lap the Decepticoaster three times before the crowd parks
Lockers霸天虎: stow everything. Free biometric lockers outside the queue — phone, coins, loose glasses in before lining up
Harry Potter禁忌之旅 Forbidden Journey + 环球魔速摩托车. Ride after 11:00, walk the queue slowly: Dumbledore’s office, portrait hall, Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom are part of it
ButterbeerOrder it frozen from the Hogsmeade barrels — the tap version goes flat fast
Transformers霸天虎过山车 = the queue magnet; the 3D ride beneath it is excellent
Jurassic World侏罗纪世界大冒险 boat ride with animatronics + 侏罗纪飞行 Flyers. Both genuinely good
Kung Fu PandaIndoors + fully heated = the 13:00–15:00 cold-afternoon slot. Ride Journey of the Dragon Warrior (flume); grab something warm
Dragon show驯龙高手：不可驯服 at 环球辉煌剧院 — flying Toothless animatronic, live acrobatics. Check showtimes on entry; seat 20 min before curtain
Monday perkWaits 15–35 min vs 90–120 on weekends — ride everything twice
StrategyFour headliners in the first two hours (Forbidden Journey, Decepticoaster, Jurassic Adventure, Dragon show) → eat → loop the rest
Winter note未来水世界 WaterWorld closes seasonally (early Dec recent years); 花车巡游 suspended Aug 31 – Nov 6 — check the app for Nov 16
Closed Mondays?No — Universal opens daily. Monday closures = the museums. Exactly why the park owns this Monday
🌃 19:00
环球城市大道 CityWalk dinner, then home
北京环球城市大道 = Universal CityWalk Beijing
CityWalkFree entry, no park ticket — eat after the gates close; restaurants run past park shut
Getting backLine 1/八通线 direct → 四惠东, ~25 min. Last train ~22:50 — platform by 22:15 (check the app)
Gate alert⚠️ At 环球度假区 follow signs for 1号线/八通线 (往四惠东方向) — NOT the Line 7 gates (those head south to 北京西站). The mezzanine splits the lines
Alternative市区定制公交 → 国贸 / 东直门, 07:00–20:40, one seat/person — cheapest if still running
TaxiDidi ¥120–180, 50–70 min. Book before you exit the park — Tongzhou surge bites after 21:00
🍽️ Day 10 Food — theme park
BreakfastHotel, or 煎饼果子 cart near the base. Nothing heavy
In the park三把扫帚 三把扫帚扒猪扒包 (Three Broomsticks pork burger) · 功夫面馆 noodles · 落霞餐厅 (Chinese) · 面面俱到 (noodle bar). Book a table in the app
SnackHogsmeade butterbeer (frozen) · El Potato Head hot dog · Painted Apple candy
DinnerCityWalk after close — 环球影城大酒店 明珠餐厅, 十六铺 seafood, Noodle House. No ticket, no queue
Drink环球啤酒 garden — cold, cheap, earned after 10 h on your feet
🏨 Overnight — Base 1 · 建国璞隐酒店 Jiànguó Púyǐn · 四惠东 Sìhuìdōng
Night 10 of 10. Bathhouse tomorrow
Day 11 of 12 · Tuesday
17th November 2026
🛍 Wangfujing Shopping (王府井 · Wángfǔjǐng) → 🛀 Qushui Lanting Bathhouse (曲水兰亭 · Qūshuǐ Lántíng) 14:00 Check-in
☀️ Morning — sleep in
Final shopping, no rush
王府井 APM · WF Central · 稻香村 Daoxiangcun
Sleep inNo alarm. 10,000 park steps yesterday, and every day before
CheckoutStandard 12:00 — settle the bill, walk bags to 曲水兰亭 (same street, 3 min) before town. Check-in there 14:00
Shopping王府井 APM + WF Central — 7 stops Line 1 from 四惠东, direct. 稻香村 boxes ¥40+ · 张一元 / 吴裕泰 tea · 故宫文创 merch · vacuum 全聚德 duck
PaceOut 11:00–12:00 → bags 3 min down 惠河南街 → shop unhurried. No 13:30 rush, no backtrack
Note红桥市场 moved to Nov 14 (Temple of Heaven). Today = pure shopping, no market, no queue
🛀 14:00 onwards
Transfer to 曲水兰亭 Qūshuǐ Lántíng — Base 2
四惠店 Sihui branch · 惠河南街1070号 · East 4th Ring / Tonghui River
TransferSame street. 惠河南街1070号 vs your hotel 1088号 — 3-min bag walk, or 2-min Didi if cold. The base move is a stroll
Check-inPrivate overnight suite 客房 — real beds, full privacy, not a day-pass recliner. Confirm the overnight-room rate
What you get汤泉 hot springs · scrub/massage · unlimited food + drinks · rest areas · overnight room
Book2–3 weeks out — 客房 fills on weekends + mid-week corporate retreats
🌙 Evening
Bathhouse evening — eat, soak, sleep early
DinnerBathhouse buffet included or cheap — eat big, you fly tomorrow
SoakHot pools → scrub rooms → cold plunge if present
SleepLights out 22:00. The 05:15 alarm comes fast
PackDown jacket worn on the plane = half a suitcase free. Thermos emptied for security
⚠️ AirportPre-book tonight’s Didi 预约 for 05:15. Confirm checkout + the car at the door
🍽️ Day 11 Food — the reset
LunchWangfujing food court or 东来顺 — light; you eat again at the bathhouse
DinnerBathhouse buffet — 曲水兰亭’s food reviews genuinely good
Fruit bar果吧 included, unlimited — imported cherries, mangoes, Häagen-Dazs bar
LateNothing. Sleep
🛀 Overnight — Base 2 · 曲水兰亭 客房 四惠店 Sìhuì Diàn
Last night in Beijing. 05:15 alarm
Day 12 of 12 · Wednesday
18th November 2026
✈️ Flight MH319: Daxing Airport (大兴国际机场 · Dàxīng Guójì Jīchǎng) 09:30 → Kuala Lumpur (吉隆坡 · Jílóngpō) 16:00
⏰ THE critical morning — no improvising
✈️ Checkout & transfer to PKX
大兴 = Daxing · MH319 departs 09:30 · intl check-in closes 08:30
FlightMH319 · Malaysia Airlines · A330-300 — the aircraft that brought you in, turned around. PKX 09:30 → KUL T1 16:00
Track liveTrip.com — MH319 live status ↗ · check Nov 17 night + morning
Option A — DidiLeave 05:15, pre-booked Didi (~¥150–200, 50–70 min) from 曲水兰亭 → 大兴机场高速 direct. Two alarms
Option B — Metro ⭐No traffic, ¥35: Line 1 四惠 → 国贸 → 换乘 Line 10 → 草桥 → 大兴机场线. 草桥 corridor opens 05:10, first airport train 05:30, 19 min. ~70 min total. The fallback if Didi falls through
At airportTax refund (离境退税) before immigration — ¥500+ purchases with forms: passport + receipts + goods in hand
LandingKUL T1 16:00. Home by dinner
🧳
Departure checklist
Night beforeDidi 预约 booked · alarms set · passport + boarding pass + refund receipts in ONE pocket
MorningOut with bags by 05:30. Take everything — no bell desk to return to
On youDown jacket (bulkiest) worn · thermos emptied for security
Checked bagStays in the car — no 05:15 repacking
🍽️ Day 12 Food
BreakfastAirport — PKX proper options airside. Last 豆浆油条 on Chinese soil
PlaneSleep. Earned
Home16:00 KUL — 肉骨茶 sounds right
✈️ HOME — 12 days, 1 wall, 2 bases, 1 bathhouse