Beijing in 1 Day: all you need to know

China's capital is a giant metropolis visited by tourists from all over the world, especially for a tour to the Great Wall of China from Beijing, but it is also home to many tourist attractions that make it a very interesting destination in itself.

If you're only in the city for a day, don't worry, because you'll be able to do many of the things to see and do in Beijing.

The one-day itinerary in Beijing starts at Tiananmen Square, one of the most important squares in the country, as it is where the People's Republic of China was proclaimed and has been the scene of important historical events.

It is in the centre of Beijing, where many of the city's attractions are located, but you should be aware that it is always guarded, so you must present your passport and show your bags to enter.

Tiananmen Square is one of the largest squares in the world, measuring 880 by 500 metres, and you can walk around it on your own or on one of the guided tours of the city of Beijing.

What to see in Tiananmen Square

Among the attractions you can see in Tiananmen Square are the following: - Monument to the People's Heroes: a tribute to the heroes who gave their lives in the revolutionary struggles.

• Tian'anmen Gate: is located north of the square and displays the portrait of Mao Zedong.
• National Museum of China: the third largest in the world.
• Mao Zedong Mausoleum: it houses the embalmed body of the communist leader who founded the People's Republic of China.
• Great Hall of the People: built to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic.
• Beijing's First Railway Station

If you want to get to know Tiananmen Square in depth and not miss any detail, my advice is to book a guided tour that will not leave you indifferent.

More information

• Location: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.
• Opening hours: daily from 5am to 10pm.
• Admission: free.
• Recommendations: carry a passport, as it must be presented for entry.

After visiting Tiananmen Square, you can visit the Forbidden City, a palace complex of 114 buildings where 24 Chinese emperors lived and ruled for 500 years, between the 15th and 20th centuries, and which has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is located opposite Tiananmen Square, so you can get there on foot.

Touring the Forbidden City can take about 2-3 hours, as it covers about 72 hectares.

You can buy your ticket in advance on the Forbidden City website or hire a tour where a guide will explain all the ins and outs of this architectural wonder. Oh, and by the way, don't forget to show your backpack and passport when you enter.

What to see in the Forbidden City

Among the attractions not to be missed are:

• Tiananmen Gate: located to the north and is the gateway to the City.
• Carved marble staircase: its reliefs and mythological motifs are truly dazzling.
• Yuhuyuan Imperial Garden: 7000 m2 space with artificial hills, pavilions, flowers, terraces, halls and temples.
• Gate and the Hall of Supreme Harmony: the most important hall in the city.

The entrance fee does not include a visit to the Treasure Gallery or the Nine Dragons Wall, nor does it include an audio guide in your own language, but you can buy them for a little extra. So, if you want to get to know the Forbidden City in depth, I recommend that you sign up for a guided tour so that you don't miss anything.

More information about the Forbidden City

• Location: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.
• Opening hours: daily from 8:30am to 5pm. From November to March closes at 4pm. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry fee: around €8 in high season, which runs from April to October, and around €6 in low season, which runs from November to March.
• Recommendations: carry documentation, as you will have to go through controls to enter. Check if it is open before going on the website of the Forbidden City.

Another of Beijing's must-see attractions is the Temple of Heaven, one of the most important and largest temples in China. It is located about 5 km from the Forbidden City and can be reached using the underground line in a few minutes.

The Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and the tour can take about 2 hours. Besides the Circular Altar, don't miss the Harvest Prayer Hall, the Emperor's Vault, the Fasting Palace and the Shenyue Department.

In the huge park where it is located, of about 273 hectares, you can see people practising Taijiquan, Qigong, dancing, singing, and taking pictures. There is also a natural history museum and shops selling food and drinks.

More information about the park

• Location: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.
• Opening hours: Every day from 6am to 10pm. From November to March it opens at 6.30am. Closed on Mondays.
• Admission fee: €2 in high season (April to October) and slightly less in low season (November to March). Admission to the attractions is paid separately and costs around €1-2 per attraction.
• Recommendations: carry your passport, as you'll be asked to show it when you enter. Before you go, check the opening times on the Temple of Heaven website.

Next, I suggest you return to the Forbidden City neighbourhood to watch the sunset at Jingshan Park, also known as Coal Hill. This is an artificial hill 45 metres high, from where you have a beautiful panoramic view of the Forbidden City and Beijing.

The climb takes about 10 minutes and there are steps, so it is not accessible for wheelchairs or prams.

Anyway, it's a very nice park to walk around even if you can't get to the top, with gardens and street shows. There you can also see people dancing, jumping rope or dancing with colourful ribbons to traditional dances such as Dai Cai Wu Dao.

More information

• Location: 44 Jingshan W St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
• Hours: daily from 6am to 9pm from April to October; and from 6:30am to 8pm from November to March.
• Entry fee: usually less than €1 per person.

A good place to visit at night is Wangfujing Market, located two blocks east of the Forbidden City. Wangfujing Street is a 1.5 km long pedestrian street with about 700 shops of all kinds. There you will find department stores, second-hand bookshops, antiques, silk, satin and leather crafts. Walking along it is one of the best things to do at night in Beijing.

Also, in the area known as Wangfujing Snack Street you can find skewers made with exotic ingredients such as spiders, snakes, scorpions and seahorses. It's more of a tourist attraction than an oriental custom, which many tourists try for fun.

You can also try other Beijing dishes such as Dim Sum (a stuffed dumpling), Jiaozi (stuffed dumplings), Zhajiangmian (Chinese noodles) or Chuan'r (meat skewers), but if you want to learn about the culture in addition to trying traditional food, it's best to take a food tour of Beijing, guided by an expert. And if you want to live a more original experience, I recommend you book a gastronomic tour in a tuk tuk, not to be missed!

More info

• Opening hours: shops are open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. Wangfunji Snack Street is open until 11pm.
• Recommendation: in Beijing it is customary to bargain, so don't hesitate to ask for better prices. You will usually be asked for a price about 10 times higher at the beginning.

This is my suggested itinerary for getting to know Beijing in a day, followed by tips on how to make the most of your stay. If you stay more days in the city you can't miss the Great Wall of China from Beijing and the best temples of Beijing, attractions that have made this tourist destination famous.

Traffic jams are very common, so the best way to get around Beijing is to use the underground. For the same reason, you should avoid taking taxis or buses during rush hour. Ideally, you should stay in the central area, as from there you can reach the main tourist attractions on foot.

Another possibility if you will be in the city for a short time is to use Beijing's Hop on Hop off buses, as they organise their route around the most important sites, or hire a guided tour of Beijing, as the tour companies know how to avoid traffic jams.

The city of Beijing, with over 22 million inhabitants, is a hectic city where you will always see a lot of people everywhere. That's why the best time to visit the city is from mid-October to November, when it's autumn or even winter, and there are fewer tourists.

One of the barriers to overcome in the city is the language, especially at metro stops, where directions are in Chinese. There are many places where you can read translations in English, so be prepared to read in English. In any case, it is best to carry written directions in Chinese, so you can ask for directions and/or take a taxi.

The city of Beijing receives visitors every day, so be aware that you will have to queue to see the tourist attractions. All sites have security and you must present your passport and show your bags to enter, which adds to the waiting time. That's why you should always carry your passport.