Here's a step-by-step list of things you should do if you find yourself with only one day in Beijing, China.
Difficulty: easy Time Required: n/a
Here's How:
- Begin as early as possible at the front desk of your hotel, or at any information desk where someone speaks English. The idea is to hire a cab driver for the day.
- On your hotel's business card, have someone write write "Great Wall at Badaling Pass, cable car entrance" and "Forbidden City, Shenwu Gate" in Chinese characters.
- Have your translator scribble down the negotiated price plainly with the instructions.
- Allow about two hours to get to Badaling Pass. Pay your driver about one-third of his fee so he or she can buy lunch.
- Look for the "cable car entrance", pay the fee and board the car to the top of the Great Wall.
- Savor the view from every angle possible. You have several hours.
- Find your driver, who will proceed back into Beijing traffic and drop you at the Forbidden City's Shenwu Gate. Dismiss your driver after paying the remaining fee.
- Walk through the Imperial Garden, the Hall of Heavenly Purity and the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Leave the Forbidden City, and cross the bazaar.
- Walk Tiananmen Square, then hire a rickshaw driver to show you Beijing's rush hour traffic up close.
- Show a new cab driver your hotel card. Be sure it's the side with the hotel's name and address.
- This day can be accomplished for between $60-130 USD. Share the ride with others if possible to save money.
- Remember time is money on this day. The cable car trip saves you time climbing that can be used elsewhere.
- This list is only for people with ONE day in Beijing. These magnificent sites deserve much more time if possible
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