A day in Beijing: where to go, what to do, what to play?

Suggested schedule for a day in Beijing: where to go, what to do, what to play?

To have enough time to experience all of the things to do in Beijing, you’ll have to start your day early. The time will be around 6 am. Although it may seem a bit early, going now is the best time to get to the most popular spots.

The reason is that if you go in the afternoon, tourists are very crowded at this time. Sometimes you can’t get close to famous spots.

However, depending on the time (of the day) you are in Beijing, adjust the tour schedule accordingly. If you are transiting in Beijing within 24 hours, you should choose some places in the suggested itinerary below to visit. Note that in that case, you should “leave” time to return to the airport on time before the airport gate time to avoid being caught.

Beijing one day tour itinerary – Option 1

As mentioned above, to go sightseeing, the earlier you get up, the easier it will be to go to famous spots and less crowded.

Visit Temple of Heaven

The first point to visit in the day is Thien Tan. Temple of Heaven is located in the southeast of central Beijing. This is a famous royal temple complex built in 1420. The Temple of Heaven is the largest religious building in China, covering 267 hectares.

In the past, Thien Dan was used by the Ming and Qing emperors to perform annual ceremonies. Today, it has a number of playgrounds and entertainment areas that are very popular with families and visitors.
Several adjacent buildings and open spaces are used to host regular presentations. Choir show, ethnic dance, etc. The temple is open until 6 pm. Particularly, the central building closes at 4pm.

Explore Tiananmen Square

One of the must-see places in Beijing after the Temple of Heaven is Tiananmen Square. The square is located almost directly to the north. If you take a taxi from Thien Dan temple, it only takes 15 minutes. If walking, the length of the road is 3.7 km; takes about 45 minutes.

Tiananmen Square is one of the largest city squares in the world. The square is notable for its impressive 37m memorial and other landmarks such as the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and others.

The square is famous for the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Currently, if you want to visit the square, you must show your passport.

Visiting Mao Zedong Mausoleum

After visiting Tiananmen, you can enter the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall if you wish. His body is preserved in a crystal coffin. Usually there are a lot of tourists lining up to visit. However, this item also moves very quickly. You will have about a minute in Central Hall to remember.

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

The entrance of the Forbidden City is just across Chang’an Avenue. It was formerly a huge palace reflecting the endless power and wealth of the Chinese emperors. The Forbidden City is more than just a lavish home. It also represents the government and the most important political center in the country.

With a total of 980 buildings, the complex occupies 72 hectares. The Forbidden City is a perfect example of traditional Chinese architecture. It has had a tremendous influence on the culture and architecture of the entire region in Asia, far beyond the borders of China. Because of that great significance, it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

Explore the Palace and Museum Complex

The Forbidden City is managed by the National Palace Museum (since 1925). It has an unparalleled collection of antiquities and ancient artwork, containing original royal collections, as well as countless priceless works.

It has 15 million visitors every year. That proves that there are a lot of tourists stopping by every day so you have to be prepared. However a visit to the museum is extremely worthwhile.

It has 15 million visitors every year. That proves that there are a lot of tourists stopping by every day so you have to be prepared. However a visit to the museum is extremely worthwhile.