Beijing, Beijing, Imperial Capital

Number of days：9 days
With whom: and parents
Tour kinds: Food, Shopping, Culture, Free Travel, Petty Bourgeoisie
Updated: 2022.08.02

A 9-day, 8-night trip to Beijing for 12 families of four

This is more of a travelogue than a guidebook, reminiscing about the journey.

Perhaps it was a childhood joke: when asked where I'd go, I'd always answer Beijing. Perhaps it was the song "Beijing Welcomes You" from the Beijing Olympics; perhaps it was the landmarks... Beijing captivated me.

That summer of 2016 (the summer after my sophomore year of high school), I was rushed to Beijing right after my final exams. It was a real surprise.

We boarded the bullet train, traveling north for over 12 hours, all the way to Beijing. It's been almost two years now, and I'm here to rave about this joyous trip. This is a bit long, and I've picked out so many pictures—they're all filled with wonderful memories! I don't think it's a travelogue, but rather a casual "group" experience exploring the charm of the imperial capital.

About the word "free and easy": I get up at 8 o'clock in the morning and finish breakfast at 9 o'clock. I probably only visit one scenic spot a day... Compared with the tour group, I only visit four or five scenic spots a day. It is really very leisurely (free and easy).

Itinerary:

Day 1 High-speed train travel

Day 2 Badaling Great Wall Beijing Olympic Park (Bird's Nest)

Day 3 Summer Palace

Day 4 Palace Museum

On the high-speed train

When we left, many cities along the route in the southeast suffered from floods.

We hit the road with excitement.

Every family brought in bags of snacks. From day to night, sitting until their butts ached, every father would get off the train at their stop to smoke.

While on the train, everyone was worried it was too late and the train might have been suspended.

As soon as they got off the train, everyone, dragging their bags and grabbing their subway cards, rushed to the subway, catching the last train of the night.

Late at night in Beijing, the misty night, the streetlights are dim, the streets are sparsely populated, and the wheels of the trolleys are busy making noises. Good evening, Beijing.

Get up

Day 2 2016.07.10

Breakfast

The first feeling I had when I woke up was that the climate in Beijing is really dry. After changing hotels, the group headed for breakfast. On the way, we saw a popular shop with a nice name. The couplets were quite interesting. The tofu pudding was amazing! It was so different from what I usually have, so salty... Amazing! It was just like the Southern Laoyou fan. Laoyou tofu pudding.

Along the Way

Once at the foot of the Great Wall, there were all sorts of snacks, most of which were just for show and definitely didn't taste authentic. They looked good, but they were tempting. After passing the Bear Park, we took the slide up to the Great Wall entrance and climbed the wall.

Roujiamo

No one is a true man if they haven't climbed the Great Wall. Badaling is a crucial outpost of Juyongguan Pass, known in ancient times as "Juyong's greatest danger lies not at the pass but at Badaling." The sky grew pale blue, and the crowds grew larger and larger, truly living up to its reputation as a "people's Great Wall." The sun shone brightly, and beneath my feet lay the winding Great Wall. Watching the bustling crowds and groups of foreigners, I slowly climbed the intricately carved, mottled stone walls. While everyone else rested below, my father, an uncle, and I climbed to a beacon tower. It truly was a "tough climb." Looking down, I gasped for breath. There were many people at the top, too, and we "pointed out the mountains and rivers, and wrote passionately," with cheers echoing in my ears. There aren't many pictures, and it's so hot, so here's one last, stunning postcard. The whole morning passed in this scorching heat. On the way down the Great Wall, you can find a place to stand in the wind and it will be very cool. When you get down, your legs will be soft.

Xin'ao Shopping Center

This shopping mall is right outside the subway station, right next to the Bird's Nest. We had a quick lunch at the Great Wall and were starving. The sky in Beijing was pale blue. A large group immediately went in to find food, but there were long lines at every entrance.

Beijing Olympic Park

Photographing from dawn to dusk, and then walking around. The panorama is a bit poor, the Water Cube is stretched out, it's awkward. The last postcard.

Day 2

Summer Palace, an imperial garden of China during the Qing Dynasty

In front of the Chengde Hall

Early July is not the peak season for summer vacation travel, but there are still many people in the morning. Most of them stand in groups around their own tour guides, so we went to take advantage of the tour guide.

Long Corridor

The longest long corridor in Chinese gardens

Qingyan Fang

Qingyan Fang, commonly known as the Stone Fang, is a large stone boat located by the lake at the west end of the Long Corridor. It symbolizes “clear seas and peaceful rivers” and is the only Western-style building in the Summer Palace.