One day in Beijing

If you had only one day in Beijing, what would you do? Yang Feiyue has a few tips from the experts.

Beijing is a tourism destination all year round. It is most famous for historical and cultural sites, with natural and urban landscapes too. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace draw visitors from far and wide. And the capital also lets you sample gourmet food from across the country and abroad. So, one does not have to go to southwestern province of Yunnan or Chongqing, or Japan or South Korea to savor authentic cuisine.

Last year, the city saw an 80 percent growth in the number of tourists from the Belt and Road countries, compared with 2015, according to a report by China's biggest online travel agency Ctrip.

The Ctrip site also received 3 million visitors from those countries last year, up by more than 50 percent, compared with the previous year.

Most of the visitors were from Vietnam, Russia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Mongolia, Indonesia and India.

In a Ctrip's survey, 95 percent of inbound tourists from the Belt and Road countries showed a strong interest in China's history and culture.

Meanwhile, besides the regular tourist attractions, international visitors wanted interactive experiences, such as sampling traditional snacks and trying out Chinese calligraphy.

Most of the foreign visitors were aged between 35 and 50 and their average spending on a one-day trip was 300-800 yuan ($43-116).

So, what can you do if you have only one day in Beijing? China Daily asks Ctrip and some travel veterans for help, and this is what they suggest.

Landmark tour

•Tian'anmen Square

It is a symbol of grandeur. It sits in the center of Beijing and is one of the biggest squares in the world. Covering an area of 440,000 square meters, the square can easily accommodate 1 million people. It has witnessed many momentous events. Once there, one can also visit the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong at the center of the square, the Great Hall of the People to the west, and the National Museum of China to the east. The Zhengyang Gate and Qianmen watchtower in the south are two ancient gate towers built in the 14th century.

•Palace Museum

The museum, also known as the Forbidden City, offers a glimpse into royal life. The city was home to 24 emperors during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The grand overall layout, imposing ancient palaces and halls, as well as a wide range of antique paintings, calligraphy and ceramics inside are bound to leave a deep impression. The Palace of Longevity and Health, where Emperor Qianlong's mother lived, was opened for visitors only two years ago.

•Badaling Great Wall

It winds its way through high peaks in the north of the capital. It shows the Great Wall as it would have looked originally. Most of the preserved parts were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty to defend Beijing against the Mongolians. The wall allows 10 soldiers to march side by side. The watchtowers were built to accommodate soldiers, send messages, observe the enemy and store supplies. The northern part of Badaling is steeper than the south and offers better sights, and thus is more popular with tourists. There is a Great Wall Museum and Great Wall National Theater close by.

•The Place

A modern business and leisure facility, The Place brings one back to the modern world after experiencing the historical sites. In addition to dining and shopping, The Place is known for its huge electronic screen, believed to be the third biggest in the world. It is 250 meters long and 30 meters wide and was designed by Jeremy Railton, an Emmy Awards winning stage master.

Spring tour

•Geijing water town

Riverside stone-paved old streets, graceful houses and unique folk customs make the town in Beijing's northeastern suburb Miyun county an ideal getaway. It sits at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall and offers a stunning night view featuring polychromatic lights. Visitors can watch traditional liquor making, enjoy aromatic liquor, learn to cook at the Sima Spirit Workshop and understand Chinese dyeing history by watching the process at the Yongshun Dye House.

•Simatai Great Wall

It runs 5.4 kilometers from east to west and is known for being perilous. It features various types of construction styles. The eastern part of the wall was built along steep mountain ridges, and the elevation goes abruptly up - from 295 meters to 986 meters - making for a breathtaking scene. The wall changes dramatically depending on the terrain. Some segments along the gentle slopes are wide, while other narrow parts allow only one person to pass at a time. The wall also features two-storey and three-storey towers. Hiking the wall there takes some stamina, but a cable car is also available.

The suburb tour

•Longqing Gorge

The gorge is roughly 10 km northeast of Yanqing county. It covers 119 square km and features a concrete dam that is more than 70 meters high. Visitors can see a waterfall in summer and a icefall in winter. They can take a boat along a river flanked by cliffs, and enjoy the view of mountains along the way. A 258-meter elevator shaped like a dragon takes visitors to the top of the dam. The elevator has made it to the Guinness Book of Records for its length. Riding on a steel cable between the mountain top and the bottom of the gorge is a thrilling experience.

•Guyaju Caves

Situated in the west of Yanqing county, the Guyaju Caves cover an area of 100,000 square meters. They served as residences. More than 100 stone rooms can be seen. Traces of human occupation are found at Guyaju, such as windows, stone beds, closets, lamp stands, and horse mangers.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn