Beijing with Kids: The Best 5-Day Family Itinerary (2026 Guide)
Beijing is the kind of city that makes you feel small in the best possible way.
We moved here from Auckland and I still get the feeling of being small walking past the Forbidden City on a Tuesday morning like it’s nothing. The scale of this place never gets old.
If you’re visiting Beijing with kids for the first time, this itinerary is exactly what I wish someone had handed me. Not the guidebook version — the real one, from a mum who lives here. It is totally doable with kids and this 5-day itinerary is for families who are ready to make magical memories on their next adventure to the Jing.
Let’s dive in!
Nic x
Why Beijing with Kids is Easier than You Think?
- The metro is cheap, clean and easy to navigate with English signage throughout
- Major attractions are relatively clustered – you can do Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park in one day on foot (keep in mind, they are BIG on their own so bring good walking shoes)
- Food options range from local dumplings to international chains – fussy eaters are well catered for
- Beijing has the brand-new Universal Studios theme park, which is genuinely world-class
- Most hotels are excellent value compared to Western Cities
📋 Before you go – Grab my favourite recommendations
Planning a trip to China? Checkout my favourite recommendations for making your trip to China, easy and enjoyable.
Before You Go: Must-Have Apps
💳 Carry your Passports on You at ALL TIMES
Most attractions will require you to have your passport on you. This is key! If you forget your passports at the hotel, you may be declined from entering.
💳 Payment Apps
China is a primarily a cashless society, but they also aren’t very card friendly. You can still use cards at most of the big international hotels or department stores, but you will need to download 1 of 2 payment apps.
They are Alipay or WeChat.
As a tourist, I would recommend setting up and using Alipay.
Make moving and exchanging money overseas easy
Sign up for a Wise Debit Card and link it to your Alipay before leaving home, making it super easy to access your cash as soon as you land. For more information, checkout my post here on Alipay and WeChat.
Download and setup your payment app before leaving your home country to save on verification challenges once you’re in China.
- Alipay: Easiest to use as a foreigner (it has in-built translation!)
- WeChat Pay: Most popular among locals (can be difficult to move funds into and use with WeChat)
The 5-Day Beijing Family Itinerary
Day 1: Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City
Start where China starts: Tiananmen Square.
It’s enormous. Genuinely, absurdly enormous. Kids tend to either love the scale of it or ask when lunch is — either reaction is valid.
Walk straight through into the Forbidden City. Allow at least three hours. The sheer scale of the imperial palace is the attraction — don’t worry about seeing every courtyard. Pick a route, stick to it, and let the kids lead occasionally.
- Essential: Book Forbidden City tickets online well in advance – they sell out fast
- Tip: Bring snacks. The food inside is overpriced. Stop by any 7/11 for a packet of chips and water.
- Bonus: Jingshan Park directly behind has a hill with the best view of the Forbidden City rooftops. Totally worth the climb.
🎟️ Book Forbidden City, Skip-the Line tickets via Klook
The queue for walk-up tickets can be brutal. Klook has skip-the-line entry options that are worth every penny – especially with tired kids.
Day 2: The Great Wall Adventure
No Beijing trip is complete without it. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: which section you visit matters enormously.
We’ve done the ones close to Beijing and Mutianyu is the best (the best for families — has a cable car and a toboggan down), and that’s the one I recommend every time.
- Best for Families: Mutianyu, has cable car going up, toboggan down and less crowded than Badaling
- Easiest Access: Badaling, close to Beijing, most touristy but still impressive
- For Adventurers: Jinshanling, stunning, more of a hike – save this for when kids are older.
My number 1 tip is to book a private driver. If you’d like help organising the driver we use (everytime) send me a quick enquiry:
🎟️ Book a Great Wall Tour via Klook
If you’re looking for a more traditional tour (including English speaking guides) then a day trip through Klook is your best option – return transport from central Beijing included, all tickets included. Save yourself a headache and about 200¥.
Day 3: Universal Studios Beijing
Shanghai has Disneyland. Beijing has Universal Studios — and it opened in 2021, making it the newest Universal park in the world.
We visited to celebrate my husband’s birthday, which meant managing a 5-year-old who is under most of the height limits and definitely not a fan of loops. (See the full honest review here)
Short version: it’s spectacular, even for young kids. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter alone is worth the trip and if you’ve got little ones they will love Kung Fu Panda land.
- Harry Potter: Butterbeer + Hogsmeade = worth every yuan
- Kung Fu Panda Land: Entirely indoors – brilliant for hot summers or cold winters days
- Minion Land: Perfect for under 5’s: gentle rides, big visuals
- Transformers Area: The Decepticoaster is intense – check height limits on the app
- Food: Is expensive. Pack snacks to save costs and hangry meltdowns
🎟️ Book Universal Studios Beijing Tickets via Klook
Klook has the best prices for Universal Studios Beijing tickets. We also recommend looking at the hotel package – staying at the Universal Studios Grand Hotel gets your early park entry which is a genuine game-changer.
Day 4: Temple of Heaven + Hutong Tour
The Temple of Heaven is underrated. Tourists rush to the Forbidden City and overlook this one — which means it’s calmer, more beautiful, and full of locals doing tai chi and flying kites in the park surrounding it.
Buy a cheap jianzi (Chinese hacky sack) from a vendor and join in. The locals love seeing kids try. This is one of those simple travel moments that ends up being everyone’s favourite memory.
Afternoon: book a hutong tour. Cycling through Beijing’s ancient alleyways with kids is chaotic and brilliant in equal measure.
Book a Hutong Rickshaw or Cycling Tour via Klook
We booked a Hutong rickshaw tour through Klook that included a dumpling-making class. Kids absolutely loved it – and it handles all the logistics so you’re not navigating alleyways on your own.
Day 5: Summer Palace + Departure
The Summer Palace is Beijing’s most beautiful spot and the perfect slow final day. Boat rides on the lake, wandering the covered walkway, watching the locals.
If you’re flying home, do the Summer Palace in the morning and head to the airport after lunch. It’s about 45 minutes to the airport depending on traffic — account for Beijing traffic and leave more time than you think you need
Where to stay in Beijing with Kids
For your first visit, I recommend staying near Wangfujing or Dongcheng – these are both central, walkable to the big city attractions, and have easy metro access to everywhere else.
Book your Beijing Hotel via Trip.com
Trip.com consistently has better prices than international booking sites for Beijing hotels. Filter by family rooms and check the map view to make sure you’re central. Most hotels offer complimentary breakfast, which is often a good mix between traditional Chinese and western food.
What to Pack for Beijing with Kids
Beyond the obvious (nappies, snacks, wipes, patience), here’s what we actually used:
❓ FAQs
Q: Is Beijing stroller-friendly?
A: It’s hit and miss. The malls and modern areas (like Universal Studios) are great. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City have lots of stairs and high thresholds, so a carrier is better for babies/toddlers.
Q: What about the air quality?
A: It has improved massively in recent years! Blue skies are common now. However, it’s always good to check the AQI app in the morning, especially during winter or raining season.
Q: What’s the best way to get around?
A: The Beijing Metro is world-class—cheap, clean, and English signs everywhere. For convenience with tired kids, DiDi (ride share) is also very affordable.
Beijing with Kids: The Honest Verdict
Beijing is not a “dip your toe in” kind of city. It grabs you.
Three years in and it still surprises me. The history is staggering, the food is extraordinary, and raising kids here has given them a view of the world that no classroom ever could.
Plan well, book your tickets in advance, and give yourself more time than you think you need. It will still not be enough.
Until next time,
Nic x
Ready for Universal Studios?
Read our honest review of Universal Studios Beijing with a 5-year-old. The good, the expensive and whether it’s actually worth it with young kids.
Planning a trip to China?
Don’t get stuck without the right tools. From VPN’s to booking hotels and fast trains, we have everything you’ll need listed in our tool kit.
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