Here’s an Image Itinerary for 24 hours in Beijing, China. First option is to get to the Great Wall of China. If you land early enough, you can do a Day Tour with a group for relatively cheap. Most seemed to leave the City by 8am or 10am. If you arrive later though, your best option is likely a private tour and those aren’t cheap in comparison. Instead, you can head into the City of Beijing and use the Metro to check out lots of visitor attractions, City, nature, temples, and history.
For a first stop in the City, visit the Temple of Heaven. In hindsight, this place is massive and you may actually want to spend less time here by just visiting the inner ring or Hall of Prayer.
For more details, check out another page specifically on this must-do attraction of the Temple of Heaven. The Temple is named such on the Metro or also goes by the name of Tiantandongmen Station. Further North, if you have time, is another great Temple option named Lama Temple.
Hop back on the Metro to get to your next stop at the National Museum of China or the National Art Museum Station.
From the National Museum of China, head West for the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts for awesome architecture. Then just North is Tiananmen, the Imperial Ancestral Temple and Meridian Gate, part of the Forbidden City and The Palace Museum.
Further North, or West of the National Art Museum, you can also witness the grand Forbidden City and The Palace Museum with the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, protected by a moat or the Tongzi River. North West is also the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, as you walk West along Jingshan Front Street.
Adjacent to the National Art Museum are also some cool buildings in the Civil Aviation Information Building and Jiade Artistic Centre.
Jingshan Park is just north of the Forbidden City, while Beihai Park, Beihai Bridge and the Middle Sea are seen as you continue further West on Jignshan Front Street to Wenjin Street.
Here are a few pics from the Forbidden City and the North neighbouring Jingshan Park in Beijing, China.
The Metro is super simple to use. Only note is it takes small bills, not even 20 yuan. Most trips are only 3 to 5 yuan, and the banknotes accepted are only 5 or 10. You’ll use the Metro to connect to the Daxing Airport Express which is 35 yuan one way.
If you’re laying over, a great hotel option with shuttle service every 30 minutes is the Hilton Garden International Airport Hotel.
