There are three letters in the name Beijing that define the travel experience of the city: B-i-g.

It’s not too generous to reserve a full day for each attraction, simply because everything in Beijing covers so much space. However, with good planning and a lot of stamina, it is possible to pack a few sights and a bit of shopping into 24 hours.

Pyjamas and pearls

Firstly, you need at least a couple of hours to stock up on clothes, jewellery and souvenirs at the Silk and Pearl markets. If you bargain hard, you’ll end up with big bags full of beautiful things. 

The Great Wall

From Beijing it is possible to visit the Great Wall of China at different sections. It will take more or less an hour to get to Mutianyu or Badaling from the central areas of the city. Badaling is the most popular spot and is therefore busier so if you would like to have the grand structure all to yourself choose Mutianyu and go early. Besides, going early means you can spend the morning here and still have time to visit another attraction.

The stones on the wall are not even so you really need comfortable shoes if you want to do a bit of hiking, breathe in the fresh mountain air and make the best of the photographic view. Remember to pack sunscreen.

The Forbidden City

Back in Beijing; set aside at least half a day to visit the Forbidden City. It is called the ‘Forbidden City’ because no one could enter or leave without the Emperor’s permission, which meant that many people lived out their whole lives within these palace walls.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the Forbidden City is the largest collection of preserved wooden structures in the world. It is therefore an exhausting excursion. 720 000 square metres of halls, squares and almost nine thousand rooms makes it the world’s largest surviving palace complex. The palace was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and used as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Not all the rooms are open to the public and only a few of them hold treasures and art. Apparently Puji, the last Emperor of China, sold many of the original treasures to finance his extravagant lifestyle, while other valuable items were simply stolen.

What’s more; a part of the former collection is now hosted by the Palace Museum in Taipei. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t much for the visitor to see here, but this complex is large and much walking needs to be done to see it.

Interestingly enough, the local families enjoy hanging out here, sitting around on benches in the squares, walking through the gardens and having lunch. Spending the day here at leisure seems to be the status quo. The food prices are not tourist orientated and it seems that the Chinese really do relish their cultural heritage.

Tiananmen Square

From one big structure to the next, Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest public square and a historical site worth seeing. Since there is no parking around the square, it takes some walking, even with a taxi – but it’s worth the photo opportunity even though it gets crowded and the smog fades out Chairman Mao’s mausoleum and the many museums around the square.

Visiting Tiananmen Square can be combined with a trip to the Forbidden City, although all the walking could get a bit much. If museums are your thing, you could also spend a whole day here, just absorbing all the communist history and shopping for souvenirs around the square.

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, in turn, is a relaxing and invigorating outing. Prepare for a scenic, lazy day. Pack your own picnic lunch to have while appreciating the views or simply buy some Chinese food from the vendors here.

It was first built in 1750, and then burnt down during British and French invasions before being rebuilt in 1886. Of all the structures here, the most cherished is the Long Corridor, an open air walkway with a roof to keep out the summer drizzle. It is the largest painted corridor in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. From here the scenery changes from lazy boats and water lilies on the left to traditional Chinese palace buildings on the right.

There are over 8000 paintings to be found on the Long Corridor, which is 728 metres long. Some of these cover history, myths and legends while others are delicate or whimsical depictions of birds, flowers and pristine landscapes from a bygone era.

The Pandas at the Beijing Zoo

Luckily for us, the panda is not from a bygone era. It is alive and well and lives in the Beijing Zoo. It is possible to buy an entry ticket only to see the pandas, but it requires a good 40 minutes to walk to the panda den and you may want to linger and have a look at some of the other animals.

The Olympic Stadium

And finally - the Olympic stadium, sometimes barely visible through the smog. At least ask your taxi driver to pass this architectural feat on the way somewhere else. The stadium is the brainchild of Jacques Hertzog and Pierre de Meuron. Its elliptical shape is meant to resemble a bird’s nest and symbolise hope. This grand structure has been given an honorary place on the ceremonial axis of Beijing which extends from the Forbidden City and is part of the ancient city’s layout.

Beijing is a vast city with a rich history and an exciting present. Just one word of warning: if you don’t look Chinese, be prepared to pose for photographs with the admiring locals for whom the ‘other’ still seems to take on a kind of celebrity status. If consider yourself already famous, you are bound to be extra big in Beijing.