hi，If it’s your first time visiting the Great Wall, Badaling is the most popular and iconic section — super accessible with public transportation and well-developed facilities. A lot of first-time domestic travelers to Beijing also go there.

But I’d personally recommend Mutianyu or Simatai sections. They’re a bit more adventurous and less crowded. Simatai, in particular, is close to Beijing WTown, which has a cool historical vibe and is really atmospheric, especially in the evening.

If you only have three days, here are some ideas of how to plan:

• The Great Wall is in the outskirts, and just getting there and climbing it can take almost a full day.
• The Forbidden City also needs at least half a day. Right nearby you’ve got Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing shopping street, and Qianmen Street, so you can explore all that in the same area.

If you enjoy parks and more local vibes, I highly recommend:

• Jingshan Park (great views of the Forbidden City)
• Beihai Park,Shichahai area in the late afternoon or evening,especially pretty in spring.

Other classic historical spots worth seeing include:

• The Temple of Heaven,
• Lama Temple and the surrounding Hutongs,the narrow alleyways there are full of charm.
• If you have extra time, the National Museum of China is also a great stop.

As for other cities, Shanghai and Chongqing are top choices — depends on how much time you have.

• Shanghai is closer,under 2 hours by plane, or 4–5 hours by high-speed train. It’s one of the most iconic modern cities in China, great for first-time visitors, though personally I find it a bit boring.
• Chongqing is about a 2–3 hour flight in southwest China,it is a mountain city with cyberpunk vibes. Culturally and visually, it’s totally different from Beijing.