So you’ve got one day in Beijing. There’s no way you’ll get around all of the city’s top-billed sights, so you’re going to have to prioritize. Here’s a suggested itinerary for a solitary day of sightseeing in the Chinese capital.
The itinerary below is fairly action-packed, with an early start. If you don’t think you can get up that early, or want to take things at a more leisurely pace, then leave out Qianmen and make a brisk pace through Jingshan Park, heading straight for the hill climb and view over the Forbidden City.
7:30 am
Qianmen
Begin your day in Beijing at Qianmen, just south of Tian’anmen Square. Also known as Zhengyangmen, or Zhengyang Gate, Qianmen was on the path the emperor used to set off from the imperial palace (the Forbidden City) to go to the Temple of Heaven to perform rites.
Qianmen is now a busy commercial area. Qianmen Dajie was controversially “modernized” a few years ago, but in spite of the somewhat phony “old Beijing” atmosphere, the area still retains a semblance of its old charm. Go to Dashilan’r for a quick walk, and look out for some traditional snack stalls if you need a bite for breakfast.
8:30 am
Tian’anmen Square
A short walk north from Qianmen is Tian’anmen Square. Contemplate the square and its vastness, along with the surrounding architecture (Great Hall of the People to the west, National Museum of China to the east, Tian’anmen Gate and the Forbidden City to the north, and the Monument to the People’s Heroes and Mao’s Mausoleum right in the center of the square). You can visit each of these, but you’ll spend the whole day in Tian’anmen Square if you do, so move speedily on to the Forbidden City – by far the most rewarding.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: None specifically, but the square is strictly closed to visitors more or less from dusk until dawn.
Note: Security checks are in operation at entrances to Tian’anmen Square. You may be asked to put your bag through a scanner or show a guard the contents, and you may even be asked to present your passport (a copy will probably suffice).
9 am
The Forbidden City
The grand imperial palace, home to emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, is a must-see highlight for every first-time visitor to Beijing. The complex is huge, with halls to visit along its central axis and rooms off in either wing of the complex. Even if you ignore most of the exhibits and simply walk through, stopping for the odd glance at one of the prayer halls or to take a photo, it’ll take you around an hour to get from south to north gate.
Admission (some exhibits require purchase of additional tickets): 60 yuan (April 1 to October 31); 40 yuan (November 1 to March 31). Ticket office closes one hour prior to closing time.
Opening hours: 8:30 am-5 pm (April 1 to October 31); 8:30 am-4.30 pm (November 1 to March 31).
12 noon
Lunch
Bring your own and enjoy it inside Jingshan Park (see below). Alternatively, stop in at one of the restaurants on the street by the east gate of Jingshan Park.
12:30 pm
Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park is directly north of the Forbidden City, although there is no south gate so you will have to go around the east or west sides upon leaving the Forbidden City. The park’s “Coal Hill,” where the last Ming emperor hung himself, allows for incredible views of the Forbidden City and across the city to the distant mountains. On a clear day, that is.
Admission: 10 yuan
Opening hours: 6:30 am-9 pm
3 pm
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is home to one of the four altars where China’s imperial family once offered ritual sacrifices to the gods. (The others – Ditan, Ritan and Yuetan – are all now also parks.) The altar itself is remarkable, but the Temple of Heaven is a lovely park in its own right. The park is huge, so choose one area to explore if your time is limited (as it’s likely to be, on this itinerary!).
Admission: 15 yuan (April 1 to October 31); 10 yuan (November 1 to March 31);.joint ticket (includes access to all halls inside the park): 35/30 yuan. Ticket office closes one and a half hours prior to closing time.
Opening hours: 8 am-5:30 pm (April 1 to October 31); 8 am-5 pm (November 1 to March 31).
6 pm
Dinner: Wangfujing Snack Street
Super-touristy, yes. What everyone in Beijing eats? Not really. But a must-see, at least once. This night market stretches west from the north end of Wangfujing Dajie, and gives you the chance to try (or gawk at) traditional Chinese snacks including bingtang hulu (hawthorn fruit or other fruit coated with sticky syrup), yangrou chuan’r (barbecued mutton skewers), tripe and zhajiang mian (noodles with soybean paste). However, the market is more commonly featured in international media for its “weirder” items, including silkworms, scorpions on sticks, skewered snakes and other delicacies that nobody in Beijing really eats.
Another suggestion, though more time-consuming, is to have Peking duck at Quanjude (just off Wangfujing Dajie) then a quick walk through the night market to snack on a few items.
7 pm
Shopping: Wangfujing Dajie
Wangfujing Dajie may look like the commercial heart of the city, with shopping malls and bright lights, but Wangfujing is a place where few Beijingers actually shop or hang out. Most of the foot traffic at any given time is probably mostly tourists. That shouldn’t stop you having a quick walk around, but move on to Shichahai before too long.
9 pm
Nightlife: Shichahai/Houhai
Shichahai (or Houhai, which is the most lively part of the Shichahai chain of lakes) is one of Beijing’s best-known nightlife haunts. As a tourist, there’s no shame in enjoying the lakeside views, the people-watching (and the people watching) and stopping in at one of the bars for a quick beer. For a better bar experience, get a cab along to the nearby Gulou area, where Beijing’s hipsters convene, and visit one of the more credible establishments in the area around Nanluogu Xiang.
