Lady’s Guide to One Day in Beijing

After my sunny afternoon layover in Helsinki, I boarded a long-haul flight in anticipation of a second layover, this one for one day in Beijing, China.

One Day in Beijing

Seven hours later I arrived in the sparkling PEK airport. After clearing customs and immigration, I boarded the Airport Express to the city.

The train and the entire metro system were delightfully easy to navigate. Well done, Beijing.

Hotel in Beijing

When I arrived in town I checked into my hotel, The Great Wall Hotel Beijing on the eastern side of the city. Not long after, I was met by a friend from London who was the reason I was visiting China in the first place.

She’d introduced me to a Mongolian friend of hers from college, and he’d invited us and 15 others to visit him in Ulaanbaatar for a week.

Things to Do in One Day in Beijing

But before Mongolia came China, and we planned to take full advantage of our one day in Beijing. We started by hiring a taxi for the afternoon and heading to the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City has long fascinated me. Its beautiful historic architecture and enchanting name alone were enough to inspire a visit.

Moving through thick humidity, my friend and I passed by the guardian lion statues and stood in awe of row after row of historic halls and gates, their yellow roof tiles shining over vermilion facades.

Neither of us had anticipated how enormous the Forbidden City would be. There were countless halls and large squares that spanned innumerable city blocks.

By the time we got to the beautiful Imperial Flower Garden and the Pavilion of a Thousand Autumns, we felt like we’d walked for miles.

We exited the Forbidden City at the Gate of Divine Prowess. It was right in front of Jing Shan Park and its stunning hilltop Wanchun Pavilion.

After finding our driver, we set off on a two-hour journey to the Great Wall of China. I’ve wanted to see the Great Wall for years, and I was excited to have one day in Beijing so I could do so.

As we drove away from the Forbidden City in Beijing, I couldn’t help but take a last look at the tiled roofs and their guardian sculptures. I was glad something once so off-limits was now so profoundly accessible. To be continued…

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