Beijing in 3 days:Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace itinerary

The temple sits in Dongcheng District, south of the city center. Take Beijing Subway Line 5 to Tiantiandong Gate (Temple of Heaven East Gate) station, which puts you right at the East Gate. Line 8 also stops nearby. Most first-time visitors prefer entering through the South Gate to walk the historic north-south axis in its intended order (Round Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Danbi Bridge, then the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests), but any of the four gates (north, south, east, west) gets you into the park itself.

The subway is the simplest route. Take Line 5 to Tiantandongmen Station (天坛东门, "Temple of Heaven East Gate"). The market is a short walk away on the same road, opposite the temple's east entrance.

Take the subway to Wangfujing Station, which is served by Line 1 and Line 8, and follow the signs to Wangfujing Street. The bookstore stands on the pedestrian stretch, so you can walk to it without dealing with traffic. The Forbidden City is roughly a kilometre west, which makes the shop an easy stop before or after the palace.

The park's south gate faces the Forbidden City's Shenwumen (North Gate) directly across the street, making it the natural next stop after a palace visit. Line 8 subway's Shichahai station is a 15-minute walk northwest; Line 6's Beihai North station is closer, about 10 minutes.

The mansion sits at 17 Qian Hai Xi Jie in Xicheng District, on the western shore of Qianhai (the southern part of Shichahai Lake). The easiest approach is by subway to Ping'anli Station (Line 4 or Line 6) or Beihai North (Line 6), then a 15–20 minute walk east through the hutongs, part of the appeal is getting slightly lost among the courtyard homes on the way in.

The complex sits at 4 Jing Shan Qian Jie in Dongcheng District, immediately north of Tiananmen Square. The nearest subway stops are Tiananmen East or Tiananmen West on Line 1, both a short walk to the south entrance, though because of security checks around the square it's often easier to approach from the north via Jingshan Front Street if you're coming from that side. Bicycles and rideshares can't drop you right at the gate. Expect a 10-15 minute walk from wherever you're set down.

The nearest subway stop is Tian'anmen East or Tian'anmen West, both on Line 1, from either, it's a walk across Tiananmen Square and under the Chairman Mao portrait at the Gate of Heavenly Peace to reach the Forbidden City's ticket entrance near Wu Men. Security screening here is airport-style, so budget extra time. The complex sits in Dong Cheng District, and once you exit north at Shenwu Gate you're a few minutes' walk from Jingshan Park, whose central hill gives you the classic postcard view down over the palace's golden roofs.

The easiest approach is by subway to Beigongmen Station on Line 4, which puts you right at the North Palace Gate. Xiyuan Station, also on Line 4, is a short walk from the New Summer Palace Gate if you'd rather start on the western side and work around the lake. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy here too, but drop-off traffic around the East Gate gets thick on weekends, so the subway is usually faster.