The Best in 5 Days

The Best in 5 Days

On Day 1, start at Tiananmen Square, the heart of modern China and the entry point to the spectacular Forbidden City. Explore the former imperial palace to your heart's content. In the afternoon, take a guided pedicab ride through a hutong to the Drum and Bell Towers. Have Peking duck for dinner, perhaps at the Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, located in an old courtyard house a few blocks southeast of Tiananmen Square.

On Day 2, head straight for the vast grounds of the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing's most important historical sights. Visit the Lama Temple and the nearby Confucius Temple, too. Save two or three hours in the afternoon for shopping at Beijing Curio City and the Silk Alley Market in the Chaoyang District. Have dinner or enjoy a nightcap in the Sanlitun area.

Set aside Day 3 for a tour to the Thirteen Ming Tombs and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, where a cable car offers a dramatic ride to the summit.

On Day 4, visit the rambling Summer Palace, and then spend a few hours at the nearby Old Summer Palace, an intriguing ruin. In the evening, plan to see a Beijing Opera performance, or hit the restaurants and bars in the bustling Houhai area.

On Day 5, hire a car and visit the spectacular Eastern Qing Tombs, where a "spirit way" lined with carved stone animals and unrestored templelike grave sites rest in a beautiful rural setting. Wear walking shoes and bring a lunch. The drive takes five hours round-trip, so get an early start.