Traveling Beijing with Parents: 4 Days 3 Nights No-Tiring-Legs Guide (Highly Praised)

This Dragon Boat Festival holiday, my partner and I decided to bring both our parents to travel in Beijing! After all, every elder probably longs to visit the capital! This itinerary was highly praised by the elders—great fun, delicious food, and plenty of rest! 🏨 Accommodation: Jinlong Hot Spring Hotel (near Jianguomen Station on Line 2) 🚇 Transportation: Combination of taxi + subway (prepare subway QR codes for elders in advance) 📅 Daily Itinerary 📍DAY 1: Old Beijing First Experience 11:30 Land and head straight to Ziguangyuan (Jianguomen branch) *Must order: Vinegar Mushu + Peking Duck! For 6 people, 350+ RMB, very filling 15:30 Prince Gong’s Mansion (Heshen’s mansion!) *Book in advance: "Prince Gong’s Mansion Museum" official WeChat, 10 days ahead 💰40 RMB/person *Prince Gong’s Mansion closes entry at 16:10 17:00 Shichahai to watch sunset + night view (too crowded, personally just so-so) 🥙 Dinner: Yingfulou Hot Pot (60 RMB per person! Same as Wang Yuan’s favorite, really delicious!) 📍DAY 2: Palace Museum Marathon + Night Scenery Check-in 🍳 Breakfast: Qingfeng Steamed Dumpling Shop (stir-fried liver with buns is amazing) 8:30 Deep tour of the Palace Museum (under renovation, but personally doesn’t affect viewing, see previous post for details) *Book tickets: "Palace Museum" mini program, grab tickets 7 days in advance! *Take subway to Jinyu Hutong → enter from Donghuamen to skip lines 💡Key tip! Remember to spend 350 RMB for official guided tour (worth the price!), after security check you’ll see the guide booking spot 🙌 Return to hotel to rest for 2 hours 16:00 Tiananmen Square (book via "Tiananmen Square" mini program) 18:30 Night view of Bird’s Nest and Water Cube 🍐 Dinner: Xiao Diao Li Tang (get a number in advance on Dianping!) 📍DAY 3: Royal Garden Light Hiking 9:00 Summer Palace (book via "Summer Palace" official WeChat, 7 days ahead) *Elder-friendly route: enter from North Palace Gate → Wisdom Sea → Long Corridor → Marble Boat → exit East Palace Gate, tested 2 hours no stairs! Idle Fish guide for 6 people costs 325 RMB 16:00 Temple of Heaven *Book via "Temple of Heaven Park" official WeChat, free for 60+ years old! (Temple of Heaven is undergoing large-scale renovation, consider swapping this spot) 🍖 Dinner: Tongye Grilled Meat (sizzling and fragrant, amazing) 🎁 Souvenir: Daoxiangcun near the hotel (many fakes! Look for the "Sanhe" logo!) 📍DAY 4: Exciting Finale 9:30 Military Museum (dads will be thrilled!) *Book via "Military Museum" official website, 5 days in advance 🍗 Lunch: Siji Minfu (can get a number in advance on Dianping) 💁‍♀️ Summary: 1️⃣ Always carry your ID card, every attraction requires scanning; 2️⃣ Attractions must be booked in advance; (see image 2) 3️⃣ Most attractions do not allow lighters, they will be confiscated and can be reclaimed at the exit; 4️⃣ Remember sun protection and drink plenty of water! 5️⃣ The Palace Museum, Tiananmen, and Temple of Heaven are all under renovation; the first two don’t affect viewing, the last one can be skipped in my opinion; 6️⃣ If traveling with elders and kids, it’s highly recommended to hire a guide, much better than just rushing through!!! This time the guide really saved me, otherwise I wouldn’t have understood everything myself.