VeeBee

I'll be in Beijing for work in a few weeks and only have Sat and Sun am on my own before flying down to Shanghai for another 2 days for work. How much can I really do on just Saturday and Sunday until noon or so? Best use of VERY limited time??

As info, staying at Beijing MIllinium (collegues arranged) -which is supposedly "centrally located" but not walking distance to major sights such as Forbidden City, etc.. On Sunday, I need to either fly (collegue recommended) or bullet train to Shanghai by a decent hour. Flights seem to be 1.5 hr and train 4.5.. but read that reliability of flights is much less.. any thoughts from experience here? Would ideally like to be at my hotel in Shanghai (Portman Ritz) by 10:30pm or 11 latest. Thanks for any thoughts..veebee

JPDeM

The train is about 5 hours, the flight is 2 hours. However when flying you waste some time checking in and waiting for luggage. So it is more like comparing 3.5 hours to 5 hours. The train is also more relax and more spacious. Flights are unpredictable while trains are always on time.
Here is a general plan. On Saturday head to the Tian'Anmen square and have a quick look around. Then have a quick walk though the Forbidden city. You will exit on the north side where you can take a taxi to the Drum Tower. Depending on what time it is, visit the tower or walk to nearby Houhai for lunch. Walk around Houhai. Go to Nanluoguxiang (a short walk) or walk randomly in the hutongs. At about 5pm, grab a taxi to Qianmen. Walk down Qianmen then go just west of it and walk around Dashilar. Have dinner there.
On Sunday morning go to the Temple of Heaven no later than 9am. Pre-arrange for a driver you pick you up from there at about 11am to take to go the Great Wall (Mutianyu) then have the driver drop you at the airport (no need to get back in the city) to catch a 7pm flight.

Grassshopper

I don't know about unpredictable flights, but mine went to the "other" Shanghai airport (not Pudong) it took a long time to get into the city. So your times might be closer than you think.

I think JPs plan sounds good.

VeeBee

WOW -- Thanks so much for your input! I usually LOVE to plan trips (in fact, I've been in the planning stages of a 21 day family trip to Europe this summer for 8 months now!!) - but this time because it's for work and so short a time - I am very happy to take such specific advice for my 1.5 days! I am not even yet familiar with some of the places you suggest on Sat - but will readup quickly in next week. Sounds like even though pros to train - are you recommending flying in your suggested "take a drive to Great Wall and then directly to airport" as more efficient for me? veebee

JPDeM

Yes flying is fine as Mutianyu is in the general direction of the airport (north-east). Since you have to be in this area you may as well go to the airport.
Find a map of Beijing and locate these places. The itinerary is made in logical sequence. google these places to know what they are all about.
About a driver check the ads here. I have used one called Mark who advertises there: http://www.thebeijinger.com/classifi...s/Cars-Drivers