Originally Posted by
HansGolden
I have a 12 hour layover in PEK. 5a-5p. Any suggestions for something in addition to the Great Wall? Also, would you suggest arranging for private car or just using taxi?
Would recommend hiring someone like Simon (see BJ taxi forum).
He has clean car, speaks fluent english and makes intelligent friendly conversations during the trip, helps you buy the tickets and even come up in gandola to the wall to take your pix and advice you where and how much to walk along the wall. Even lends you his spare phone with his phone programmed for contacting him while on GW (and absolutely no mention of stopping at any shops)
Depending on the day of the week, you might be able to do something more but doing GW alone in non-hurried manner with reliable driver is something I would do during 12 hour layover (try to be back at airport 3 hours before flight so that you do have some buffer)