1 Day in Beijing: Everything You Should Know

Only spending 1 day in Beijing? What should you do? Just select a cheap 1-day tour to casually visit parts of Beijing or look around the attractions near you? You could also possibly go to a good local restaurant and have a great meal consisting of local specialties. As a matter of fact, you can arrange to have a wonderful day, even if you do only have 1 day in Beijing. You can experience the highlights of the city. Read on to find out more details about your 1-day trip to Beijing.

Top 10 Things to Do in Beijing in 1 Day

  1. Have a Beijing-style breakfast in a local restaurant.
  2. Visit the world’s largest public square – Tian'anmen Square – in the morning.
  3. Step into China's largest and best-preserved ancient palace complex — the Forbidden City.
  4. Conquer the greatest engineering triumph of China — the Great Wall.
  5. Try to communicate with the local people.
  6. Take pictures as a great way to remember your trip.
  7. Try some local dishes, such as Beijing roast duck.
  8. Taste various snacks at bustling night markets.
  9. Enjoy a view of Beijing at night.
  10. Select some gifts to take back home.

1-Day Itinerary in Beijing

This is a classic itinerary planned in accordance with our One-Day VIP Beijing Highlights Tour for first-timers to Beijing. Exploring the Forbidden City and the Great Wall within one day may seem as though you’d be in a great hurry but you can do them both easily if you follow the itinerary below.

6am to 7:30am: Get Up and Have Breakfast

Beijing breakfast Beijing breakfast

Rising early is a must if you want to experience many activities in one day. After getting ready, a nice local breakfast is a good way to store some energy for the day. Choose your favorite food or try different combinations.

The most common Beijing breakfasts you will find are a fermented bean drink, sesame cakes, crispy fried rings, oil cake, Niangao, fried cake, tofu jelly, tea soup, roasted sweet potato, wontons, and steamed buns.

  • Cost: about 10 yuan per person
  • Where to eat: You can easily find breakfast establishments near your hotel. Ask for more details from one of the staff members at your hotel.

7:30am to 8:30am: Visit Tian'anmen Square

Tian'anmen Square Tian'anmen Square

Located in the heart of Beijing, Tian'anmen Square is 440,000 square meters in size and is the largest public square in the world. You can catch the flag-raising ceremony at sunrise if you wake up early, although this may make you feel too tired later on if you take part in a whole day's trip.

  • Admission: free
  • Location: East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District

8:30am to 11:30am: Explore the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City in Beijing The Forbidden City 

Walk across Tian'anmen Square to reach the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is opened to the public at 8:30am every morning except for Mondays, when it is closed. Don't try to travel through the length and breadth of the Forbidden City within a few hours because there are 9,999 rooms in total. It would make sense to hire a guide and visit six to 10 well-selected palaces. The most famous palaces in the Forbidden City include the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

  • Admission: 60 yuan from April 1st to October 31st; 40 yuan from November 1st to March 31st
  • Location: 4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District

11:30am to 1:30pm: Have Lunch and Drive to the Great Wall

Find a local restaurant to have lunch in after visiting the Forbidden City. In order to save time for your hike, you should try to finish your lunch within 1 hour. It takes about 1 hour to drive from downtown Beijing to the Great Wall. Have a rest during the drive and prepare for your hiking activity.

1:30pm to 4:30pm: Hike the Great Wall at Mutianyu

The Great Wall of China consists of many sections. The Mutianyu, Juyongguan, Jiankou, and Badaling sections of the Great Wall are famous and close to downtown Beijing. Among these sections, Mutianyu is highly recommended.

The Juyongguan and Jiankou sections are also very good but are not as convenient to get to, especially when your time is limited. Badaling is popular with Chinese people and you'll become frustrated among such huge crowds. 

The Great Wall at Mutianyu The Great Wall at Mutianyu

Taking a round-trip cable car will help you save a lot of time and you can pay attention to the highlights and take pictures. If you are in normal physical condition, 3 hours is enough time to climb to the top tower of the Great Wall at Mutianyu and return to your vehicle. Slow your pace if you prefer to see more scenery along the route.

4:30pm to 8pm: Return and Have a Big Meal

You may be exhausted after a whole day’s trip. A big meal is a nice reward after a long-distance hike. If you love Chinese food, Beijing cuisine will satisfy you, from the famous Beijing roast duck to the delicious Mongolian hot pot. Various local snacks will dazzle your eyes. Eating in Beijing, you can't miss these top 10 foods and top 10 snacks.

Beijing Sanlitun Beijing Sanlitun

8pm to Midnight: Relaxing Nightlife

Relax in the local bars or have a nighttime stroll if you still have some energy left. Nighttime brings out the other side of Beijing. This capital is solemn and bustling during the daytime while the nighttime is also interesting. Due to the low crime rate in China, 8pm in Beijing is just the beginning of the nightlife. Drinking in a small bar, tasting local snacks at the night markets, or selecting some gifts to take back home with you are good ways to end your day.

Useful Travel Tips

  1. Where to stay? Your hotel should be close to the places you want to visit because you can never predict how long you will be stuck on the road due to poor traffic conditions. Generally speaking, the hotels within the 4th Ring Road of Beijing are convenient.
  2. How much will it cost to travel in Beijing for 1 day? Beijing's public transportation is advanced, and there are various hotels and restaurants. With prices ranging from 200 to 10,000 yuan, how much the trip costs depends entirely on how much you want to spend.
  3. Getting around in Beijing: The subway is convenient in Beijing, especially during peak times. If your time is limited, hiring a driver or taking a taxi will be more suitable for you.
  4. Buy the admission ticket to the Forbidden City in advance. In order to save time queuing, buy your tickets in advance.
  5. Take a high-speed train at Beijing South Railway Station. Arrive at the train station at least 1 hour before your checking in time.
  6. Take a flight at Beijing Capital International Airport. It takes about 1 hour to get from downtown Beijing to the airport. Between 6am and 10pm, you can take the subway or Airport Express bus to get there while you should take a taxi at night.

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