Things to know before you go:
1) Do not drink the water. It is not suitable for consumption; this includes brushing your teeth, drinking fountain drinks, or having ice cubes. Buy bottled.
2) Toilet paper is a luxury. Not all public restrooms have it, and even when they do, they'll probably keep it near the sinks. You are expected to take what you will need into the stall with you.
3) Traffic is terrible. It takes hours to drive 30 miles in Beijing, and since drivers use both sides of the road, it is not uncommon to get stuck in gridlocked traffic. Take the metro when you can. When you can't, be sure to have your destination written down in Cantonese as most taxi drivers do not speak English.
4) Smog is real, and it is terrible. A decent hotel will not only display the smog index for the day, but will likely sell masks at the front desk as well.
A Beijing hotel displays the air quality and masks for sale
When I went to Beijing, I carefully designed my schedule to ensure there was plenty of time for everything. Based on my travels, here's what I suggest....
Afternoon 1:
You've just landed, and you're tired. But you don't want to waste your precious little time sleeping! Why not enjoy an activity sitting down? Try catching a show at the opera house, or a guided city bus tour.
Morning 1:
You're jet lagged, so you've just woken up at 4 a.m. Good! The hotel breakfast buffet most certainly opens around 6 a.m., so use that jet lag to your advantage. By 7:30 a.m. you'll be ready to hit the town. Lucky for you a lot of places open around 8 a.m. Go to the Beijing Zoo to see the world famous pandas. Be sure to visit the aquarium (located on the same property) starting at 10 a.m.
Afternoon 2:
Now is the time to go to the Forbidden City. Once the home of the emperor, the Forbidden City is a huge (no really, huge) palace open to the public. While you can't go in most of the buildings, you can walk where the rich and powerful once walked, and see the great throne room. The Forbidden City closes around 5 p.m., so don't spend too much time on lunch before heading over. Lines tend to be long, but it is well worth the wait.
If you have time, while you're in the area visit the Gong and Bell towers as well.
Morning 2:
Still jet lagged? Not a problem. The Great Wall awaits! Mutianyu is about 45 miles (2 Beijing driving hours) away, is not too touristy, and opens around 8 a.m. Hire a driver to take you there and back -- pay half upon arrival and half on your return to ensure the driver waits for you. Plan to spend a whole day at the wall -- bring water and a snack. While 45 miles seems a short distance, with traffic as it is it will take hours to get to, and back from, this famous attraction.
Afternoon 3:
If you make it back from the wall sooner than you expected, use your time shopping in the silk district.
Morning 3:
Beat the crowds and head over to the Summer Palace early, where the emperor's wives once lived. The Summer Palace opens around 8 a.m., and it can take all day to wander through the temples, the gardens, and around the lake.
Afternoon 4:
This is it! Your final afternoon! Did you run out of time and miss an attraction? Did you forget to get a trinket for Uncle Zach? Now is the time to right these wrongs.
Morning 4:
You've seen the major sites and your plane is leaving this afternoon. You'll need to plan for at least an hour metro ride to the airport, and you still need to pack. But if there is anything you simply mst see again, or someone you've forgotten to get a gift for, now is your last chance. Use your time wisely!
A final note: At the Airport
Security is going to take a long, long time. Your carry-on items will likely be X-rayed twice, and don't be surprised if you are selected for either a pat-down or a manual search through all of your belongings at security and/or the gate.
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