Day 1: The Great Wall. For first-time visitors, the two best sections are Mutianyu and Badaling. Mutianyu is less crowded and better suited to families and older travelers — it's well-restored, has a cable car and even a toboggan ride down, and sits about 1.5 hours from central Beijing. Badaling is the most famous and complete section, closer to the city (about 70 km) and easily reached by public transport, but noticeably busier, especially on weekends. A basic Mutianyu ticket runs about 40-45 yuan, while a round-trip cable car and toboggan package runs up to 200 yuan. Book online in advance to avoid long gate queues.
Day 2: The Forbidden City. Built between 1406 and 1420, this former imperial palace requires foreign visitors to make a real-name reservation online using their passport number, and — usefully — foreign passport holders can book up to 7 days ahead, more flexibility than is offered to domestic visitors. Your passport itself is your ticket at the gate, so keep it on hand. If online tickets sell out, same-day purchase with your passport at the ticket office is sometimes possible, but don't count on it during peak season. Budget at least half a day for the main halls, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, then finish by climbing Jingshan Hill opposite the palace for the best panoramic view over its golden rooftops.
Day 3: The Temple of Heaven. This elegant circular temple complex — where emperors once prayed for good harvests — sits inside a large park where you'll see Beijing locals doing morning tai chi and group exercise, a nice window into everyday local life. Entry is also via a QR e-ticket tied to your passport; no paper ticket needed. In the afternoon, visit one of the nearby old hutong neighborhoods, such as Nanluoguxiang — narrow traditional alleys that show what Beijing looked like before the skyscrapers.
Practical tip: book all three tickets (Wall, Palace, Temple) online at least a week ahead. The official Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven websites sometimes require a Chinese account, so it's often easier to use a trusted international booking platform that accepts foreign passports directly. Getting between the three sites is easy via subway or apps like Didi (China's Uber equivalent), which integrates smoothly with mobile payment.