Beijing Travel Forum

I am planning to spend 5 days in Beijing with my family (wife and 2 childrew, 12 and 6). I would like to visit the following places and would like to get some suggestion to ensure the schedule is not too tight.
1. Forbidden City
2. Tianiman square
3. Lama Temple
4. Great Wall at Mutainyu
5. Summer Palace
6. Temple of Heaven
7. Panda zoo and arqualium
8. Bird nest, water cube, CCTV tower, Beijing oprea theatre
9. acrobic show
10.Really good Peking duck.

Thanks.

Do you really have 5 full days, or does that include flights in and out?
Suggest that you drop the zoo and aquarium.
Are you wanting to see an opera performance, or just the theatre?!
BTW, watch your spelling... I counted at least 6 in your post!

My thoughts are Forbidden City - fantastic 1/2 day at least.
Tiananmen Square - just a big open space to be seen before you go into forbidden city 1/2 hour.
Llama Temple did not see.
Great Wall - probably most of a day, but an absolute must, can be hot if you want to do walking.
Summer Palace - gorgeous for a couple hours.
Temple of Heaven another must see for a couple of hours at least.
Did not see Zoo and Aquarium; water cube or tower.
The Beijing Opera was a fantastic experience, very unique and the Acrobats are sensational too.
My biggest disappointment in China was the famous Beijing duck. It was served with great flourish at the table, and the surroundings were excellent but the duck was just not crispy and tasty as I have known so often in the UK and other places. Hope you have better luck

My stay was not as long as yours so I am sure you will be able to see the places you mention with careful planning. Just don't forget shopping opportunities, I recommend markets rather that the for tourists 'Friendship Stores'

Have a great trip.

First of all, I have to apologize for my spelling mistake. I am going to spend 4-1/2 days in Beijing. I am planning on leaving Beijing for Xian on a night train on my last day.

Regarding the Opera Theatre, I just want to see the new Beijing Opera Theatre. I heard that it is a gorgeous building.

Regarding the Zoo, my daughters would like to see the Pandas. That is the only reason that I am going to the Zoo. If I am not going to the Zoo, where else will you suggest me to go visit?

I am also planning to going to visit Wangfujing Street the same day I go to Forbidden City.

I am trying to plan an itinerary to avoid wasting time on transportation. In another word, are there any places that I should visit at the same day?

Thank you for all your advise.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to help you do. But what dates would you be arriving and leaving?
I think it's called the National Theatre, not Opera Theatre. The one in Tiananmen Square, yes?
The conditions of Chinese zoos (for the animal occupants) are usually very dismal. I'm not sure if that would affect your daughters' enthusiasm and mood for seeing the pandas. You might want to save those for another trip when you can visit Chengdu, Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Shanghai!

Day 1 Tian`anmen,Natianal Grand Theatre(which is Beijing Opera Theatre that you called). Square,Forbidden City,walking around Hutong Area or ride by pedicabs.
Day 1 Great Wall at Mutianyu,Bird nest, water cube,(The Olympic area is on you way back from the Wall).Lama Temple,Acrabatics
Day 3 Beijing Zoo,arqualium .These two are very close to each other.take a boat from Beijing Zoo to Summer Palace.
Day 4 Temple of Heaven, shopping
Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant.
you`d better find an Enlish speaking driver or find a guide and hire a driver with children travel in Beijing.the traffic is terrible and crowded every where bu public transportation.

Why do so many Chinese seem to think that foreigners are incapable of travelling independently in China and need to be molly-coddled?!
I really don't see why this family is obliged to hire a English-speaking driver and/or guide for the duration of their stay in Beijing. They have children with them but I don't think all 4 members of this family are babies.

First of all, thanks for everybody who made suggestion or trying to make suggestion for my itinerary so far.

I am going to arrive in Beijing on the evening of June 7. I am not planning to go anywhere that day besides checking into the hotel which is close to Temple of Heaven. I am planning to leave on June 12 evening on a night train to go to Xian.

FYI, I am planning to hire a driver on the day going to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. I am planning to take the public transportation otherwise. I heard that it is quite convenience to take the subway in Beijing.

I just saw the James’ suggestion. I am wondering is there enough time to visit the Zoo and the Summer Palace on the same day.

Again, thanks for all your assistance.

Good, you've provided some helpful information.
Seriously though, I wouldn't recommend that you see the pandas in Beijing. Read what I already said earlier about this topic.
Sat 7/6: arrive Beijing, check-in hotel
Sun 8/6: Panjiayuan market, Temple of Heaven, Yonghegong Lamasery, dinner at Gui Jie (Ghost Street)
Mon 9/6: Mutianyu Great Wall, hutong tour, Peking duck dinner (suggest Da Dong restaurant)
Tue 10/6: Tiananmen Square, National Theatre, Forbidden City, acrobat performance
Wed 11/6: Summer Palace, Olympic structures
Thu 12/6: Beijing zoo, evening train Beijing West -- Xi'an
I would give a full day for Summer Palace.

I whole heartedly agree with Ellyse as to the not needing an english speaking guide/driver in China!
We had a driver/guide at the Great Wall, whom we used for the sake of transportation and ease of guidance.
Aside from that, traveling throughout China independently is VERY EASY!!!

We did 3 days (wish we'd had a week)

Our itinerary is on our pages but, we did

Great Wall Mutianyu/Tianemen Square (as posters mention, big open space - that's it).
Wanfujing food court and shopping at night

Day two: Summer Palace, Confuscious temple, hutongs (QianMen district), shopping at Silk Market and dinner.

Day three: Forbidden City, Bei Hai Park area and Hutongs. Dinner overlooking the lake.

Aside from the Great Wall, we did not need a guide. Do your research, read a lot, ask questions (many speak English, even broken English) and please learn basic, polite words and phrases so you too can interact with the locals.
Finally, we met (on line) a student in Beijing who, in exchange for practice of English and Spanish, she accompanied us to BeiHai area.
She would not take money for her time and we treated her to dinner. It was a lovely way to get to know someone!
*(Do watch out for "students" soliciting similar services outside the main areas and tourist spots).

Thank you for all your information.