48 hours in Beijing – Weekend Edition
Beijing In Less Than 48 Words
China’s capital, Beijing, is believed to have been civilized for 5,000 years. As such, it is undoubtedly a land surrounded by mystery and filled with archaeological and cultural treasures. Today, you are going to find it a busy modern metropolis with beautiful scenic landscape.
Forbidden City (Photo from Google images)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to one of the world’s greatest capitals via the Beijing Capital International Airport, which is located 32 kilometers from the Beijing city center. From there, you can catch an Airport Express Line train that will take you to the Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen stations. The ride lasts for around 20 minutes, and will cost you RMB25 for a one-way trip. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a taxi, which will cost you upwards of RMB80.
Beijing is a very big metropolis, and at first glance seems to be hard to navigate, especially with its seemingly endless network of streets. However, the city has an efficient public transportation system, and most of its main sights are located close to each other. You can visit the city’s tourist office first (9A Jianguomennei Ave., Beijing 100740, (0086-10) 65201114, website), where you can get valuable tourist information.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Beijing’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit in Beijing at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing (8 Wangfujing East Street, Dongcheng, Beijing, China 100006, 86-10-5812-8888, website). It offers top-class rooms, impeccable service, and a convenient central location.
Hotel G Beijing (Photo from Google images)
A nice alternative is the Hotel G Beijing (A7 Worker’s Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, (+8610) 65523600, website), which is located in an entertainment district, and has chic accommodations, delicious food, and a hip bar at reasonable prices. You can also try out the Holiday Inn Central Plaza (No.1 Caiyuan Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100053, 010-83970088). It offers nice rooms, delicious breakfast, and superb pools.
COAL HILL: Take a view
For a great view of the city, you can climb up the Coal Hill which is located north of Beijing’s central axis. Also known as Jingshan, it is an artificial hill that stands at a height of 45.7 meters, and was built during the Ming Dynasty using the soil excavated from moats. It functions today as a public park, with an area of 230,000 square meters, and is popular for socializing and gatherings. However, the highlight of a visit there is to head to the temple perched at its very summit. It has a viewing platform, where you will be granted a 360-degree view of the Beijing cityscape, particularly its skyscrapers for RMB25.
PEKING DUCK: Taste Beijing’s local flavor
The Peking duck is one of the most popular Chinese delicacies, and there are few places better to have an authentic taste of the dish than in Beijing. There is no true “best” among the city’s Peking duck restaurants (that depends on personal taste), but if there were, here are some of the candidates: Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (32 Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen District, 6710 1379); Hepingmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (14 Qian Men xi dajie, Xuanwu District, 6301 8833); and Wangfujing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (9 Shifuyuan Hutong, Wangfujing dajie, Dongcheng District, 525 3310).
Qianmen Quanjude’s chef preparing the restaurant’s specialty (Photo by Shuggie Fisher)
FORBIDDEN CITY: Take a hike in a not-so-forbidden area
Perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in Beijing is the Forbidden City (No.4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District 65132255, (8610) 8500-7421, website). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the Chinese imperial palace complex that had served as the Emperor’s residence and the center of the Chinese government from the Ming to the Qing Dynasties. It covers an area of around 720,000 square meters, and contains 980 buildings – the largest collection of well-preserved ancient wooden structures on the planet. Don’t forget to strap on your walking shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of hiking inside to see the numerous attractions. The site is open daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm, and tickets will cost you around RMB60.
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN: Reach for the heavens
Temple of Heaven (Photo by Gustavo Madico)
One of the holiest places in Beijing is the Temple of Heaven (east of Tianqiao, Chongwen District 67018866). This temple used to be visited by the Ming and Qing emperors for sacrifices and ceremonial prayers for good harvest for more than five centuries. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can admire unique architecture, or see people socializing, exercising and practising kung fu. You can also take a stroll along its centuries-old Chinese cypress, Chinese juniper, and scholar trees. Some are believed to be even more than 600 years old. The site is open daily from 6 am to 9 pm, and admission will cost you RMB35.
DINNER TIME: Discover Beijing’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is Made in China (1 East Chang An Avenue (Grand Hyatt Hotel), Beijing 100738, 86-108-518-1234, website). It offers delicious specialties from northern China, which come to you served in creative ways. A nice alternative is Huang Ting (8 Jinyu Hutong | Dōngchéng, Beijing, (010) 8516 2888), which has a traditional Chinese cuisine and décor.
Have a taste of Japan in Beijing at Hatsune (8A Guanghua East Road, 6581-3939), which offers sushi and other well-prepared Japanese dishes. Another is the Dali Courtyard (67 Xiaojingchang Hutong | Dōngchéng, Beijing, (010) 8404 1430, website). It is a unique restaurant located in the middle of a hutong, and is a nice place to meet with friends and acquaintances.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Beijing can be used to discover the city’s other tourist attractions. One of the must-sees in the city is the Tian’anmen Square, which is located near the Beijing city center. It covers an area of 440,000 square meters, and is considered to be the largest city square in the world. Numerous key events in China had taken place at the site, the most famous of which was the gathering of pro-democracy protesters in 1989 – which led to the infamous “Tiananmen Massacre”.
Tian’anmen Square (Photo by Jason)
There, you will see various historical monuments such as Tiananmen, Great Hall of the People, National Museum of China, Monument to the People’s Heroes and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. You can also watch the raising and lowering ceremony of the Chinese flag there.
BADALING: Explore a part of the Great Wall
Great Wall of China (Photo by Pete)
The Great Wall of China is the longest of its kind in the world, so most tourists do not hike its entire length – especially on a 48-hour visit. So, you can simply head to the Wall’s most popular section, Badaling, which is located in Beijing’s Yanqing County. In 1957, it became the first portion of the Wall to be opened to tourists, and is now surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and cable cars. Once there, you can stroll across its length, admire its architecture, and take in views from its military outpost. The site is open from 6:40 am to 6:30 pm, and admission will cost you RMB45.
SUMMER PALACE: Head to another UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan (Summer Palace) Road, Haidian District, 62881144-209) is an imperial palace best known for its royal garden, which is considered the largest of its kind in China. It covers an area of around 290 acres, and it once served as a summer retreat for the Chinese emperors. The site is famed for its landscape of hills and open water, which are dotted with mansions, temples, bridges, and ancient pavilions. It is popular among tourists as a recreational area. The garden is open daily from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, and admission will cost you RMB50.
Summer Palace (Photo from Google images)
MING DYNASTY TOMBS: Pay your respects to the Chinese emperors
Go to the outskirts of Beijing, and pay your respects to the final resting place of 13 out of 17 Ming Dynasty emperors. It is located some 50 kilometers north of the city’s urban center. Often called simply as the “13 Tombs”, it is a popular tourist destination, although only two of the tombs have been thoroughly excavated and opened to the public. You can climb down the tombs to the burial chambers themselves, where you’ll see various artifacts and the mausoleum. The site is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, and admission will cost you RMB45 for the Changling Tomb and RMB60 for the Dingling Tomb.
Path to the Hall of Eminent Favor (Photo by Brian Ritchie)
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Beijing’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Beijing’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is LAN (4/F Twintowers, B-12 Jianguomenwai Avenue, 011-86-10-5109-6012). It is a 60,000-square foot bar known for its excellent design, Szechuan dishes, and Western drinks. A nice alternative is the Centro Bar (Kerry Centre Hotel, 1 Guanghua Road, Beijing, 100020, 00 86 10 6561 8833 ext. 42), which offers creative cocktails and a sophisticated atmosphere.
You can also try out The Den (4 Gongtidong Road Chao Yang District, Beijing, +86 (0)10 6592 6290). It is an opium den with its upstairs club packed with a young crowd swaying to funky disco music, while the ground floor has a nice bar serving cocktails and European/Asian dishes.
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