Do have a stopover in Beijing? Do you want to know what to see in Beijing in 1 day? You’ve come to the right place, you have a ready plan to explore. You will know how to go through the control to leave the airport for 24 hours and how to commute in Beijing. Places which we visited: Temple of Sun, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Wangfujing Snack Street.
- Before trip
- Add all described places here as “your places” in google maps. You can save them by clicking follow.
- Download google maps offline instruction here.
- Pack yourself and go.
Layover in Beijing
5:00 Arrival
- Once you have landed, you must complete the arrival card and line up in appropriate queue to leave the airport and get a 24-hour visa to visit Beijing.
- Head to the passport control on the right side of the airport hall. Do not go to a window with the words “transits” or “transfers” unless you prefer to stay at the airport.
- After getting the stamp, you need to get on the automatic train, which will transport you to the main hall of Terminal 3 (T3-C), where you can catch the Airport Express.
- You will get to Dongzhimen station by Airport Express (cost 25 yuan). After you have to go literally 2 minutes to the subway. Look for a logo like that:
- Buy tickets at the ticket machine to Jianguomen station – Line 2 (cost about 2 yuan per ride)
8:00 Temple of Sun
- After leaving the subway we bought Mo Mo with vegetables – similar to polish dumplings from a food stall near the road. The most delicious Mo Mo we’ve ever eaten (about 3 yuan).
- Take a walk from the Jianguomen station to the Temple of the Sun. About 15 minutes.
- We got there very early and we were happy about it. In the morning Chinese practices yoga, dance and meditate in groups of sometimes 100 people to warm up on these cold mornings.
9:00 Temple of Heaven
- From Jianguomen station to Chongwenmen (line 2) and after to Tiantan East Gate (line 5).
- 15 minutes walk to Temple of The Heaven (etrance costs 15 yuan + 20 yuan to see The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests).
12:00 Tiananmen Square
- From Tiantan East Gate station to Dongdan (line 5), then to Tian’anmen East (line 1).
- There is no entrance fee for the Tiananmen square, but you have to go through the control. Provisional scans of all things and you’re already at one of the most popular places in Beijing.
13:00 Forbidden City
- We really like this place, but it’s very crowded. (ticket’s price – 60 or 40 yuan depends on the season).
15:00 Wangfujing Snack Street
- From Forbidden City, North Gate to Wangfujing street is 30 minutes walk. On the way, we stopped at McDonald’s to warm up in one the mall
- Wangfujing Snack Street it’s a small street that deviates from the main alley. We marked it on google map. Here the link.
- Here you will find all kinds of beetles, scorpions, snails and other crustaceans. Totally worth seeing!
18:00 Return to the airport
- From Wangfujing station you will get to Jianguomen (line 1) after to Dongzhimen (by line 2), and then by Airport Express to the Terminal 3 at the airport.
Useful tips
- The requirement for a 24-hour visa is a departure ticket from Beijing. Have it printed with you at the airport.
- Phe first Airport Express train leaves at 6:22 from Terminal 3C and then runs every 10 minutes. Here Subway map
- Dress up very, very warmly if you are going in the winter. There is no heating at the airport…
- Make sure that you downloaded google offline maps. Unfortunately, in China, rarely anyone speaks English, so you must be on your own. Chinese words on signs will not help you.
- We chose the city, but if you want to visit only the “Chinese Wall” it is possible.
Remember to save all points described above as “your places” in Google maps. Just open this link and click “follow”. If you have any questions feel free to ask us at [email protected] or you can find us on Facebook. Have fun and enjoy your trip! Marta & Wojtek