If you only have one full day in Beijing and would like to feel, touch and...
Jul 26, 2023Published
6 min readReading time
Beijing TravelGuide topic
If you only have one full day in Beijing and would like to feel, touch and see the essential Beijing, you may check out this quick guide to Beijing one-day itinerary below, our suggested self-guide itinerary to plan your own memorable Beijing Day Tours.
This itinerary takes you for a walk along Beijing axis from south to north and appreciate the harmony of the city design which took its form in Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming ( 1368-1644) Dynasties.
For Beijing airport layover day tours or airport transit short tours, please check out Beijing layover tours.
Get up early and have a bite, and get to the east gate to Temple Heaven by taking the subway line 5 or to the south gate to Temple of Heaven by taking Beijing taxi.
Walking from the south gate ( or east gate ) through the north gate, visit the 500-year-old temple within a huge park, hence the official name for Temple of Heaven: Temple of Heaven Park ( Tiantan Park).
Temple of Heaven was constructed in 1420 AD during the Ming Dynasty as a site for the emperors to offer sacrifices to heaven.
The Hall of Pray for Harvest above the Wall
Temple of Heaven is now actually a park. Early in the morning there are a great number of retired people who come here to hang out with friends and do morning exercises, playing Taichi ball, doing ribbon dancing, ballroom dancing, playing cards and dominoes and writing calligraphy with water brush pens on the ground. There are also music and singing...
Doing Tai Chi early morning in Temple of Heaven Park
Qianmen and Hutongs
Now you exit from the north gate to the Temple of Heaven and turn left (west) along Tiantan Road for 15 minutes walking, then turn right at Qianmen Street and walk north to Qianmen Pedestrian Street.
Walking on the Qianmen Pedestrian Street
Please notice, to get to Qianmen Pedestrian Street, you have to pass over a flyover to the east side of the Church you will see.
Dazhalan is a sub-street along Qianmen Pedestrian Street
After finishing your exploration on Qianmen Street, you head north and pass through Zhengyangmen Tower ( Arrow Tower) and then walk through a Beijing Subway tunnel to Tiananmen Square.
Immersing yourself in the center of Beijing
Take a half hour or more time taking pictures and immersing yourself in the center of Beijing or even China.
Walk through an underground tunnel again from Tiananmen Square up to the Gate of Heaven Peace (Tiananmen Tower), where Chairman Mao declared the People’s Republic On October 01, 1949. You pass under Mao’ Portrait and enter Forbidden City .
Forbidden City
The grandeur imperial palaces for the emperors in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Forbidden City is a must see highlight for every first time visitor to Beijing.
Gate of Supreme Harmony inside Forbidden City
Be prepared for crowds of people like you visiting this complex. So you go from the south gate to its north gate. Your visit usually will take 2-3 hours.
Jingshan Park ( Jingshan Hill)
Jingshan Park is unmissable for your Beijing Day Tour. Jingshan just sits across the north gate to Forbidden City . After finishing your visit to Forbidden City from south to north, you exit from Forbidden City’s north gate.
Walking out of the north gate, you raise your head, you will find a pavilion with three-layered eaves perched on a hill in Jingshan Park, a perfect place to have a panoramic view of Forbidden City and the city of Beijing.
Jingshan Park is not to be missed a visit during your Beijing Day Tours
The main road between the north gate area of Forbidden City and the south gate of Jingshan Park is full blocked. To get across to the south gate to Jingshan Park , you just turn left for 20 meters and take the underground pass.
Line up at the ticket window by the gate to Jingshan Park for the tickets: RMB 2 per person. Opening hours: 6am – 8pm all year round.
Beihai Park
After Jingshan Park , you are supposed to walk west to its neighbour – Beihai Park. Beihai Park is very often neglected by many visitors.
Often dubbed as Winter Palace by westerners, Beihai Park is the oldest imperial garden in the world as well as one of the largest in China.
The White Dagoba on Qionghua Isle becomes an important landmark of the city.
Beihai Park is well-known for its beautiful gardens, the maze in the stone cave, temples and pavilions. Atop the Jade Island in Beihai Park, White Dagoba becomes an important landmark of the city.
Public Bars at Shichahai
After the tour of Beihai Park, you exit from the north gate to Beihai park, then you come to the most famous night hangout in Beijing – Shichahai, where a cluster of bars and restaurants are dotted along the banks of the lake.
People mill along the bridge with weeping willows glowing with shining sunset in Shichahai
If you are fed up with the gentrification in Beijing; if you lose interest in modern Beijing; if you feel sad about the fact that Beijing is becoming less like Beijing; if you want to see a traditional Beijing, and if you try to find a quiet place in the busy Beijing, come to Shichahai! Tired? Have a drink in one of the bars.
Guojie Food Street
Are you hungry? Take a cab to the nearby Guijie, Ghost Street , a 1442-meter long gourmet street, located within Dongzhimennei Dongcheng District, running from the east of Dongzhimen Bridge.
Eating seeds outside on benches and waiting for a seat in Ghost Street
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Beijing guided tours:
Car Rental in Beijing Beijing Day Tour Beijing Tour Packages Beijing Winter Tour Great Wall Tour Beijing Tours China City Tours China Tour
