Beijing Layover

You don't say what a auper long layover might be, but you might not have as easy a time as you think getting around in Beijing. When we visited the Great Wall, it was a lengthy drive (maybe an hour or more?) outside of Beijing by bus. I can't speak to the subway question, since I was on a tour. I can say, however, that there were almost NO signs in English, at least from what I saw. Things might have changed since I was there, of course.

If I remember right the Wall is about 45 minutes to an hour from the airport (depending on Traffic/day of the week.) I'd recommend hiring a driver that will meet you with a sign after you clear immigration, preferably one that speeks some English, that will get you back to the airport in time to go back through security for your flight. How long is your layover?
I was in China on business and was picked up at the hotel at 8:00 am, saw and walked the wall, saw the Bird's nest stadium (4 months before the Olymics) stopped at a "resort" outside of Bejing for a coffee/snack, then was dropped off at the airport around 2 for a 4pm flight.

It's not a subway, but an elevated train of the subway system that scoots out to the aiport in about twenty minutes. It's about forty miles to the nearest section of the great wall. I've never used a tour or taken a bus, but Nancy's idea of an hour seeems about right for public transportation. The Forbidden City is easy. Figure a bit over a half hour each way to and from the airport with of couple of line changes. Station names are in English both on the diagrams and stations themselves. I'll bet you could get downtown Peking on one leg and the wall on the other. There are signs/desks in the airport advertising wall tours, so I'd guess you could go out there directly.

Oh gosh sorry guys!! My layovers are 12 hours and 15 hours long.

Do the Forbidden City and the wall one leg. Poke around the rest of Beijing on the other.

I am happy to see that people are answering the question and being helpful instead of saying that we can only talk about Europe on this board!
Have a great time in Austraulia, Merilee.

Yes, I definitely agree. Thank you ALL for your help! After researching more about transportation, I came upon the whole Visa situation. I have written an inquiry to the State Department & the Chinese Embassy but maybe you all know...do I need a Visa in order to leave the airport for just those 2 layovers?

Yes. You haven't a prayer of getting out of the transient side of the airport without a visa.

Yes you'll need a visa, and it's a bit pricey; best to use a visa service I've had good experiences with this company: http://www.mychinavisa.com Be sure to get a multiple entry visa, it's the same price as the single entry. Unfortunately as of August this year, its a lot harder to get a visa. You have to use a form specific to the consulate nearest your home (each one has different forms), and you now need to provide the following in your application: A) Photocopy of round-trip airline ticket AND hotel reservation; OR B) Invitation Letter for Tourist Group issued by a Duly Authorized Tourism Unit; OR C) Invitation Letter issued by Chinese companies, corporations, institutions and individuals. If the invitation is issued by an individual, a photocopy of that person's Chinese ID is required.

Unfortunately, yes it does. I thought about just changing my ticket if I needed to, so that I didn't have such a long layover but there's nothing available. So it's either pay about $200 for the Visa, or sit in the airport for 12+ hrs. :(

Does this visa issue mean you will be stuck in the airport instead of seeing the Great Wall like you planned?

See if you can go through a travel agent that would arrange a "private" driver/tour in the 8-9 hours you have. The tour company in China may be able to send a letter to allow you to apply for a Visa. Then use a travel agency that specializes in Chinese Visas by sending someone to the Chinese embassy in the US with stacks of passports to drop off in the morning and pick up with the Visa's in the afternoon. It's been 4 years, but I had a quick trip come up to China and only had 3 days to get my Visa before my trip, so waited in line at the embassy, dropped off my passport, pictures, and letters in the morning, then was given a time to come back in the afternoon. But with all the waiting I noticed a "special" line for travel agents, and yes they came to the window with piles of passports to drop off and then picked them up later. Worthwhile checking into.

Wow!! I'll definitely look into that!! Thanks for the advise. And thanks to you ALL so much. I really appreciate it! :-)
~Merilee

Yeah, do whatever it takes to get the visa since seeing a few sites was the whole purpose of scheduling your long layovers in the first place. I mean, $200 really isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, and you would pay more than that in change fees and fare differences even if you could change your flights. Good luck, and happy travels!

1. As mentioned by other people, a visa is required. The cost is $130 for the visa, plus the charge from the visa agency, plus shipping there and back. If you plan on visiting China soon afterwards (within 6 months from first entry) you can apply for a multiple entry visa for the same cost as the single entry visa. Edit: 2. You do not need a letter of invitation for the Chinese visa if you have a copy of your itinerary (hotel and airfare). Otherwise, under the new rules that went into place about two months ago, you will need an invite. 3. How long do you have, exactly? I haven't been there, but Google is showing a total transit time of 1.75 hours from the Airport and the closest bit of the Great Wall is way outside of the city. 12 hours wouldn't be enough to do both, I don't think.

Nicholas that link to the Chinese Embassy you provided is waaaay out of date. Invitations, or proof of travel/hotel is absolutely required to visit China. See for your self: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/adr/

Looks like things have changed just recently (on 8/1/2012). When I submitted it for my visa, they handed everything back to me except for the application and photos. It was super painless. With the new requirement, maybe she should just apply for a transit visa. I don't see a requirement for proof of hotel stay for the transit visa under the new rules.

Here's another question... What if I'm staying with a friend? I'm in her wedding so I'm staying with her. So no hotel reservations. Is this a bad thing? I guess I could just try it & see what happens???? Thanks again for everyone's help...it's truely helped me out a LOT!! ~Merilee

Staying with a friend in China or staying with a friend in Australia? In Australia, they won't (or shouldn't) care. In China, then you'll have to provide some documentation for that (check the embassy website). Also, I just noticed that you are going to have two of these layovers. When you request the visa, be sure to ask for the double or multiple entry. Otherwise the visa is only good for one entry and you will not be able to leave the airport the second time. How long are your layovers?