Quick Day in Beijing
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,266
Quick Day in Beijing
Alright well thank you for those of you that helped in my previous thread on 10 hours in Shanghai. Unfortunately Malaysia axed the flight we needed to be on to go there so we'll be flying to Beijing instead. The flight lands in Beijing at 12:20AM so my question is, what's best for a hotel? We want to see some of Beijing before our 4:50PM flight the next day so I'm not sure if it's best to take a taxi late night and stay downtown or to stay near PEK?
I've been to Beijing once but it was pouring rain and I spent most my time at the Great Wall, not Beijing. So, recommendations for such a short stay? Going to guess starting with the Forbidden City is a good start?
I've been to Beijing once but it was pouring rain and I spent most my time at the Great Wall, not Beijing. So, recommendations for such a short stay? Going to guess starting with the Forbidden City is a good start?
#2




Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: China and Canada
Posts: 1,894
I would stay in town in order to get an early start.
Try to get to the Temple of Heaven early (like before 7am). Next head to the Forbidden city. You need to head to the airport before 2pm (earlier if you need to get your luggage). If you still have time when you exit the FC you can climb Jingshan just across the street or head to the Drum Tower area.
Try to get to the Temple of Heaven early (like before 7am). Next head to the Forbidden city. You need to head to the airport before 2pm (earlier if you need to get your luggage). If you still have time when you exit the FC you can climb Jingshan just across the street or head to the Drum Tower area.
#3




Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Programs: UA 1K (1mm), Marriott Titanium, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 433
Coming into Beijing that late should at least mean no traffic into the city if you decide to go straight downtown. At least the next morning you can get an early start to walk around Beijing after breakfast.
As for sightseeing, you take the subway to Tiananmen East stop and walk around Tiananmen. See the Forbidden City in the morning and then go to a Peking Duck place for lunch. Maybe you can squeeze the Temple of Heaven but nothing else in that short of a day.
Consider that traffic can be unpredictable in Beijing so make sure you leave early enough. Some folks say the airport express is dependable although with luggage can be a pain on the subway.
As for sightseeing, you take the subway to Tiananmen East stop and walk around Tiananmen. See the Forbidden City in the morning and then go to a Peking Duck place for lunch. Maybe you can squeeze the Temple of Heaven but nothing else in that short of a day.
Consider that traffic can be unpredictable in Beijing so make sure you leave early enough. Some folks say the airport express is dependable although with luggage can be a pain on the subway.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
I would use just the subway (but that's based on the luggage I guess), quick and reliable. Take an hotel close to the Forbidden city and have an early start there, Imperial Garden (magnificent view), Tiananmen square and that's pretty much it, take the subway to the airport.
The taxi time to the airport is really unpredictable at that time of the day (I mean for the afternoon)
The taxi time to the airport is really unpredictable at that time of the day (I mean for the afternoon)

