China’s capital city is a bustling and busy place but also holds a lot of beauty in its culture and architecture. It’s grown immensely over the last decades and has become an international hub for travellers both domestic and foreign. The city has been able to adapt to the number of travellers they receive by introducing 72-hour lay-over visas for those transiting onwards. This makes it an ideal city to take a quick tour of during your stay. Here is the perfect way to spend a day in Beijing.
Beijing’s Airport is roughly 30 km’s from the city center. There are a few options to get into the city such as train, bus or Black Lane Cars. When looking for a hotel in the city center you may want to consider staying in the Wangfujing district. It’s close to many of the tourist attractions and has a wide range of hotels from budget to luxury. This area is filled with plenty of shops full of the items tourist are looking. You won’t have any difficulty filling your suitcase with gifts and souvenirs. This area is also home to Wangfujing Snack Street that has lots of Western and Eastern delights. The street located on the west side is the perfect place to hit after all the shopping because you will likely be pretty famished from all the hustle and bustle.
From Beijing, you have a few options to visit the Great Wall of China. Two of the most popular place to visit are Mutianyu or Badaling. Each takes about half a day so if you prefer to visit both that’s an option just be prepared to spend a long full day. This is a must when visiting the capital city if you have not seen the wall before. It is simply mesmerizing.
Once back in the city be sure to make a stop at the Temple of Heaven. This Sacred temple is an incredible building full of history. While in the area the summer Palace is a must see if there in summer of course. In the winter it isn’t quite as stunning.
Another activity that can take as much or as little time as you’d like is the forbidden city. If you are a history buff, you’ll enjoy this immensely. If you still have energy at the end of all this make sure to grab a pint at Great Leap brewing located in the city center and the perfect place to start a night.