Are you planning to plan a one-day visit in Beijing? Here is the most detailed travel guide about the most popular Beijing one-day tour itinerary. Contact us to get more information about your visit in Beijing.

1 Day Classic Beijing Tour from only $83

Morning: Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City

The Gate to the Forbidden City from the Tiananmen Square

How to get there?

Take the subway line 1 or 2, and get off at Tiananmen West Station or Tiananmen East Station; or take the buses No.1, 4, 5, 10, 20,52, 57, 101, 103, 109, or 111.

Tip:

It is best to enter the Forbidden City from the Tiananmen Gate, because it is the main gate and traditionally the “front door”.

Cost:

Transport cost: subway: 2YUAN; bus: 1YUAN
Site entrance fee: Forbidden City: 60YUAN; Tiananmen Square: 0YUAN

Afternoon: Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

How to get there from Forbidden City?

Take the bus No.2 on the Tiananmen East Station and get off on the West Gate of Temple of Heaven. or Take the subway line 1 and get off on the Dongdan Station and then take the bus No.11 Xiaxing and get off on the North Gate Station of Temple of Heaven.

Tip:

In the early morning, there are lots of local people practicing all kinds of Kung Fu and Taichi in the Temple of Heaven. So if you would like to experience the local culture, visit the place in the morning.

Cost:

Transport cost: subway: 2YUAN; bus: 1YUAN
Site entrance fee: Temple of Heaven: 35YUAN

Traveling China on a budget? You should read through this post literally for buying the international and internal flight tickets.

Use the Air Asia to China

Ready to buy the air ticket to China? Getting to China can be the biggest expense, even on a per-day basis, so before you press the “buy” button on the internet to your international air tickets, stop!

Asia Airline

There is one discount airline flying into China, Air Asia (airasia.com). It does not fly from North America however it flies from several cities in Australia, New York, Paria and obviously all over Asia. Their flights will generally not come up when seaching on search engines or travel agent’s websites like Expedia. So you need to book on their website. Note that they do not fly into Beijing or Shanghai. Instead they fly to Tianjin (close to Beijing), Hangzhou (close to Shanghai) as well as Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin and Shenzhen. Theu hub is Kuala Lumpur and many flights will connect there.

Buy Internal Flight 3 months or more in advance

Internal airfares in China are priced at list and then by discount, sometimes less than 50% of the full list price. So there is a lot of room in airline pricing for a flight from Bejing to Chengdu or Shanghai to Xi’an. (Caution though, as any fare involving Hong Kong is an international fare, not an internal fare, and thus not subject to these deep discounts.)

Chinese Internal Flight

If you are on a competitive route, such as the examples between Chinese cities above, then several airlines will be flying many flights a day. The early and latest flights will be cheapest in general, as well as one-stop flights. Fares will vary by day of the week. On Friday the airfare might be discounted around 20%, but on Saturday the discount might be 40%, depending on the type of routes. Virtually all internal flights are priced this way. Thus, before you nail down any itinerary in China, it is best to consult the last-minute airfares to determine how to save the most money.

Second time to visit Beijing, the Capital city of China, and want to experience the authentic Hutong life, not the touristy ones? Here is the good news.

Wudaoying Hutong in Beijing’s Dongcheng district has finished the first phase of construction to promote it as a tourism zone, local authorities told the Global Times Monday.

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• Top 10 Hutongs in Beijing
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Tong Ying, from the media department of the Andingmen Street Administration Committee, said in future, there are plans for more cultural integration with Guozijian Jie, which lies to the south of Wudaoying.

“The first phase of construction ended before October 1,” said Tong.

The road has been redone and nightlights were added along the hutong and a logo was set up at the eastern end of the hutong, as well as a map for the whole area, she said.

“The integration project is more cultural than physical,” said Tong. Wudaoying is parallel to Guozijian Jie, where the Confucius Temple is located and the two streets are connected by Jianchang Hutong.

There are now 78 restaurants and shops in the hutong, since the first, the Vineyard Cafe opened in 2006, according to the committee’s website.

In the future, the few hutong in this area will get makeovers to have the same style and sometimes joint activities will take place as well.

For example, Tong said, if there are Buddhist activities at Guozijian, then the Buddhist shops in Wudaoying might have corresponding sales and theme coupons.

However, at the moment, there are not that many tourists in the area. Tong said for larger places, such as the Spanish restaurant Saffron, reservations are always needed. But smaller shops might need more publicizing.

Another issue shop owners and tourists face right now is there is no parking space in the area. Yan Tao, who owns a shop selling toys and gadgets, said he liked that the bathrooms are cleaner, but the lack of parking is an issue.

“Sometimes residents park on both sides of the hutong, it’s such a nuisance to walk here. We’re inside the Second Ring Road, so parking can be a large issue which needs to be solved,” he said.

New parking lots are in the long-term plan for the Wudaoying area, but so far the new parking plans are under consultation, and have not yet been approved, said Tong.

Plan a Harin Winter trip for the 2013 Harbin Ice and Snow International Festival?

It usually takes 4 days to enjoy the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival and visit the best of the city has to offer.

Day 1 Harbin Arrival from Beijing

Take the bullet train No.25 at the Beijing Railway Station at 7:15am heading for Harbin. The train arrives at about 15:19. Check in and have a little rest. After dinner, you can watch the Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park. The magical and extraordinary ice laterns and sculptures have literally make the park an icy wonderland.

Zhaolin Park for Snow & Ice Show

Day 2 Harbin

Today pay a visit to the Sun Island Park, where the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is held every winter and you can see various awesome snow sculptures featuring different cultures. Later transfer to the Siberian Tiger Park, where you’re caged in a specially protected bus to see the tigers and lions. After lunch, enjoy some interesting ice activities (e.g. skiing, horse/dog sledding etc.), then visit the Saint Sofia Church and have a walk on the Central Street on your own pace. After dinner, visit the Ice and Snow World – As you stroll through this winter wonderland, marvel at the magnificent exquisitely-detailed, gigantic ice sculptures. View fabulous creations of notable buildings and monuments of different architectural types and styles, figures of animals, people, mythical creatures, ice slides and lanterns. When evening sets in, multicolored lights illuminate the sculptures, creating a breathtaking display of these icy works of art.

Sun Island Park

Day 3 Harbin

Enjoy skiing in the Erlongshan Ski Resort.

Erlongshan Ski Resort

Day 4 Back to Beijing

Located in the center of Northeast Asia, Harbin is called the bright pearl on the Bridge of Eurasia Land. It is known for its bitterly cold winters and often called the “Ice City”, and well-known for its beautiful ice sculptures in winter and plays an important part in Sino-Russian trade.

Winter is also a great season to cruise the Yangtze River, the world’s third longest River, for its gorgeous landscape, exotic cultural shots, and maybe more importantly, the less crowded and more budget.

For this winter, from Dec.1,2012 to Feb.31, 2013, two of the Yangtze cruise tycoon sail between Chongqing and Yichang, with 50% cut off, and they are the Victoria Cruise and New Century Cruise.

For Victoria cruise, the Victoria Sophia will be on duty in December, 2012, and there is not a final decision for the last two months, but we know that any of the Victoria cruise fleet are all superior and top-class with the best service.

For the Century cruise, the Century Diamond, Century Sky and Century Sun will take the voyage between Chongqing and Yichang. All of the them are superior luxury.

So don’t fall behind – start planning your vacation with up to $200 off today.

Three Gorges in the Autumn & Winter

Activities on Yangtze River Cruise

Yellow Mountain, about 1 hour’s flight away from Beijing, is one of China’s most well-known travel destinations, located in east China’s Anhui Province. There is a saying in China “you don’t need to see any mountains when you’ve enjoyed Yellow Mountain’s beauty”, so if you have a chance, you never should miss out it.

Yellow Mountain Sunrise & Sea Cloud

Huangshan Known for its “four wonders”, namely, amazing pinetrees, quixotic rocks, cloud sea and hot spring. Lucky visitors can witness Huangshan’s spectacular sunrises.

Yellow Mountain in Winter

Huangshan Mountain in winter is particularly beautiful.

Ancient scrolls of Chinese landscape paintings of high mountains, ancient pines, bizarre rocks, and seas of clouds come alive at Huangshan Mountain in southern Anhui Province. Recently listed on UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, Huangshan Mountain is a testament to the beauty that only nature can create. As beautiful as Huangshan Mountain is, there is much more to offer visitors than just the mountain. Nearby Huangshan City, and the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi are not to be missed sites on anyone’s itinerary to China. The ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi have both been listed on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Most noteworthy is the way that these two villages has been beautifully preserved offering visitors a glimpse into what China was like during the late Qing Dynasty.

Yesterday (Nov.5, 2012) Beijing has been hit by early winter snowfall and it means that the Beijing’s winter comes, and yay, it’s the time to see the best scenery.

Quick Links for Beijing’s Winter

“ I’ve been to Beijing in the winter months and thought I could offer some advice. Is it cold? That depends on where you’re from. With a good coat, hat, gloves and a scarf, you’ll do alright. When I was there in January it was cold, but most of the places I went were well-heated. We even did a trip to the great wall. The view wasn’t as colorful as it would have been in the spring, but the real perk was that there were only 5 other people on the wall with us! (Not counting the merchants, of course, but even they were scarce) It’s not often you can get a shot of the great wall without any other people on it! If you don’t mind the cold so much, I’m sure you’ll find it an enjoyable trip. “

Great Wall in Winter

“ I was in Beijing in Dec. (a while ago) and it was very, very cold!!! However, everything looked beautiful with the snow. It was so cold that when I visited the Great Wall we were the ONLY people there (another benefit of the cold weather), which was pretty cool. All the water at the Summer palace was froozen solid, fountains were froozen solid, etc.. Again, it WAS COLD BUT it was also very picturesque. I wouldn’t worry about the cold but would bring warm clothing in case it is as cold as it was the year I visited. “

Summer Palace in Winter

“ been there many times during different seasons and they all have the pros and cons. Summer is very hot but the bike riding is great for exploring the hutongs especially over and around the summer palace. We travel all over china and stop in Beijing for different reasons. I like winter especially for the snow and the fresh air. the hostels and hotels run discounts so thats also a plus. Also what better time to try the hot pot and steamy baos! If you’re looking for a hostel try Zen or far east for the best locations and service. If you want a better hotel there’s the Kempinski which we also like. “

Forbidden City in Beijing

For those seeking a holiday further afield, somewhere new, exciting and thoroughly different, perhaps consider the oriental delight of Beijing, the thriving capital of China, renowned as the most populous country in the world. It’s never too late to book your trip and for those in desperate need of a break, Thomson have a good range of late deals.

Life in Beijing is fast so it’s up to the visitor to keep up with the vibrant city and all it has to offer. From towering skyscrapers to the latest in technological advances, Beijing is perfect for those who wish to be part of a city that never relents. Like most sprawling cities, Beijing is split into different districts, each providing their own unique delights and sights as well as extending into rural areas and boroughs further away from the central hub of activity.

Perhaps the most important sight of anyone’s stay in Beijing is the famed Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square which, as one might have guessed, can get very crowded. The area is surrounded by significant buildings displaying China’s rich history as well as offering guests wonderful customer services.

Elsewhere, the Forbidden City is a stunning palace which tourists flock to in order to catch a glimpse of one of the most historically significant buildings in Asia. Outside of the impressive architecture, Beijing offers a greener experience through a variety of parks and zoos. The Temple Of Heaven is surrounded by a wonderfully peaceful and leafy area where people are able to unwind and get away from the bustling city centre. Other good parks include Ritan Park and Beihai Park.

The Chinese culture is on full display at the heart of Beijing and guests should drink it in, getting the most of the enlivening experience. Travel the cheap bus routes and visit the museums. Drink Chinese Tea and ensure you visit a variety of restaurants catering to lovers of Chinese cuisine. Beijing can offer visitors an unmatched experience so take the time to come see for yourself.

Summer is always the best season to enjoy the pleasure when the heat is gone after the sun set.
Taking a walk after dinner with family, go to the night market for local snacks, or just have a drink in a Night club… both the local residents and travelers enjoy the night here.

If you are a new comer in Beijing, if you want to visit Beijing this summer, let’s see what most travelers chosen to do for their nightlife fun.

1. Enjoy Chinese culture Shows at night

Night is always the time for shows!

While visiting Beijing, you will never miss an authentic Peking Opera Show. As the quintessence of Chinese opera, Peking Opera attracts fans from all over the world by its distinguishing aria and charming costumes.

Appreciating the authentic Peking Opera in Liyuan Theater.

Recommended Peking Opera Theater

The Liyuan Theater

Sitting around the old fashioned square table and enjoying the famous plays of Peking Opera. You can also enjoy the local snacks and authentic Chinese tea during the show. Basic English subtitles are offered to follow the opera.

Address: No. 175 Yongan Road, Qianmen Hotel (first floor), Xuanwu District, Beijing
Opening Hours: 19:30 – 20:45 (Daily)
Ticket Fare: CNY 200 / 280 / 380 / 480 / 580
Bus Route: No. 6, No. 15 and No. 822 (get off at Yongan Lu Stop)

Besides Peking Opera Shows, there are many other Chinese folk shows for visitors in Beijing, such as breath-holding Chinese acrobatics and Kungfu Shows.

2. Experience Modern life in night bars and clubs

Not like seeing the traditional shows, going to a bar or club is freer. Like other big cities, there are lots of bars and clubs for people killing their time at night, chatting with friend, old or new. In Beijing, the most popular bar streets are in Sanlitun Area and Houhai Bar Street.

Sanlitun is the earliest bar street in Beijing.

Sanlitun Bar Street is located at the eastern side of Tunbei Road, Chaoyang District, and east to Beijing Beijing Workers’ Stadium. It is extremely popular for expatriates and young foreign teenagers. After The Village and Nali Mall shopping areas opened in the summer 2008, there are many new shops, restaurants, bars and a multiplex cinema.

Enjoy your nightlife with a cultural flare in Houhai!

Houhai (Back Lakes) is the newly developed old town of funky nightlife in Beijing, where you can find characteristic restaurants, bars, and cafes. If you come here a little early, you can rent a boat and paddle your way around the lake area to enjoy the sunset on the water.

Besides these two kinds of activities, you can also go for a special street food experience in Wangfujin Street, or visiting the Olympic park at night to enjoy the spectacular and sparkling views of the Bird Nest and Water Cube.

Just go outside your hotel and discover a different night scene of this city!

On June 23th, 2012 is the annual Dragon Boat Festival. This is one of the most important on Chinese Lunar Calendar, which has more than 2,000 years of history.

Let's celebrate Dragon Boat Festival in a traditional way!

To celebrate this traditional festival and make more people know about the folk custom, many activities are hold during this 3-day holiday of Dragon Boat Festival.

• Confucian Temple and Guozijian Museum

  

  Take a chance to make rice dumplings with the local!

  Time: June 23th, 2012
  You can learn how Chinese people celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, as well as many other traditional festivals from the cultural exhibition. Also a lecture on Chinese traditional culture and series of folk custom performances are hold in that day.
  Location: on Guozijian Street inside Anding Gate, Beijing
  How to Get There?

• Beihai Park

  

  Learn to make a Chinese Perfume Pouche to to ward evil and avoid illness.

  Time: June 19th – June 24th, 2012
  Come to appreciate interesting cultural performance, taste the authentic snacks of Dragon Boat Festival and experience the traditional folk custom with the local. You can also make some handicraft, such as Chinese Perfume Pouches and five-colored string bracelets, which are supposed to be able to ward evil and avoid illness.
  Address: No.1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

In fact, there are more activities than we listed here. Just go outside, and you will find some interesting ways that the local people celebrating this traditional holiday.

The whole city, as well as the whole country is ready for the holiday! Let’s join us to visit Beijing in a different way!