5 days in Beijing: the plan with a buffer day

If you have 5 days in Beijing, the best addition to the four main sights is not another sight: it is a buffer day. Here is why, and how to use that day if nothing goes wrong. The full day-by-day plans are in our Beijing itinerary.

Why a buffer day

• Forbidden City tickets can sell out. They go on sale 7 days before the visit date, around 20:00 Beijing time, and don’t count on buying at the gate: booking in advance is the only reliable way to get in. A free day gives you a second date to try.
• The Great Wall depends on the weather. On the toboggan at Mutianyu: the toboggan only goes down, and it closes in rain and snow. A spare day lets you move the trip.

Put the buffer day in the middle of the stay, so you can still use it for either.

Ideas for the free day

• A guided tour: a food tour, a private tour or a city highlights tour. See Beijing tours.
• A quieter hutong: Wudaoying Hutong, with cafés and small shops. Remember: most courtyards are private homes: stay on the public lanes, do not enter a courtyard unless you are invited, and ask before photographing residents.
• A view over the palace: Jingshan Park, just north of the Forbidden City, gives a view over the palace roofs.

Want more?

With 7 days you can add a second Great Wall section: see 7 days in Beijing.