For most westerners, Beijing day trips are an endless
treasure, revealing incredible art, history and culture
around every corner. Planning Beijing day tours
and Beijing trips for anyone who has not spent time in
China can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but the informed
traveler should have no trouble creating the ideal vacation
and day trip in Beijing.
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City
is also known as the Palace Museum, and it is a good idea
to try and arrive early, ideally when the gates open at
8:30 a.m. Since this is one of the more popular
attractions in all of Beijing, you will encounter plenty
of crowds if you arrive during peak hours. During
the Ming and Qing dynasties, this palace was the center
of the city and continues to stand as a symbol of Imperial
China at its height. The area has, incredibly, remained
largely untouched and is a fascinating place for a Beijing
Day trip. The Summer Palace of the Qing emperors
is also located here in the Forbidden City and worth a
stop on your Beijing day tour if you are looking for a
little more quiet. The seclusion of the gardens
of the Summer Palace is a relaxing break from the crowds.
Tiananmen Square
Your Beijing trip to the largest square in the world
can be combined with a trip to the Forbidden City or enjoyed
as its own Beijing day trip, depending on the time you
would like to spend at each location. The square
is located near the Forbidden City, by design as an answer
from one regime era to another. The Mao mausoleum
is located at the end of the square (opposite the entrance
to the Forbidden City). All around the square are
government buildings and monuments. After visiting
Tiananmen Square, continue your Beijing day tour by heading
to the Temple of Heaven.
The Temple of Heaven is surrounded by one of the best
parks in Beijing and is a great place to picnic or simply
spend the afternoon people watching, which will not disappoint.
Great Wall of China
No Beijing trip is complete without a day spent touring
the Great Wall of China.
The wall is actually located about ninety minutes from
the city, and there are two sections of the wall that
have been restored in order to allow tourists to walk
on them. Most travelers choose to take a bus tour
to the wall, and it is advised that travelers be on the
lookout for bus scams that may not actually take travelers
all the way to the wall. A good rule of thumb is
to avoid paying until you get off the bus, rather than
when you get on. An entire day can be devoted to
travel to and viewing of the Great Wall.
Beijing Botanical Garden and Fragrant Hill
A day trip in Beijing to the Botanical Garden is a great place for an outing on a day when the weather is nice. A silent retreat referred to as Cherry Glen is located at the Botanical Garden, as well as a host of interesting native flora. Fragrant Hill is located nearby, and was once a Qing imperial garden but was burnt to the ground in 1860. Some excellent hikes with rewarding views of the surrounding area can be enjoyed at Fragrant Hill, still a popular day trip in Beijing among tourists and locals.
