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Located in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is one of the largest, most imposing, and best-preserved ancient imperial palaces still standing in the world. Also known as the Forbidden City, its landscaped gardens and sprawling 9,000 rooms housing furniture and artifacts stand as a priceless testament to Chinese civilization during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1987, the Forbidden City was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, I decided to visit the Forbidden City and see this magnificent Forbidden City.
Our group of two took the high-speed rail to Beijing Station in the evening. After arriving in Beijing, we checked into the Orange Crystal Hotel Beijing Chongwenmen (No. 114, Chongwenmenwai Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing). After asking the handsome guy at the front desk how to buy tickets to the Forbidden City (currently due to the special reasons of the epidemic, tickets need to be purchased online in advance), we immediately set off to visit the Forbidden City! After visiting the Forbidden City in the morning, we went to the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing in the afternoon. The Temple of Heaven Park can be seen from the hotel we checked in to after getting off the bus in the morning (No. 2 Tiantandongli, Dongcheng District, Beijing). It takes about 8 minutes from the hotel to the Temple of Heaven Park. Ticket prices are as follows: 1. Tickets Peak season (April to October): 15.00 yuan Off-season (November to March of the following year): 10.00 yuan, half price for seniors and students 2. Combo ticket (including main entrance ticket, Shenle Hall, Zhai Palace, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Circular Mound, Echo Wall) Peak season 35 yuan, off-season 30 yuan 3. Garden within the Garden Shenle Hall and Zhai Palace are 10 yuan; Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound are 20 yuan; After purchasing tickets, I embarked on a half-day tour of the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was a dedicated altar used by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to heaven, pray for rain, and pray for a good harvest. It is divided into two parts: the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar, featuring the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Hall of Imperial Ancestral Worship. Besides admiring the exquisite architecture of each hall, the ingenious designs like the Echo Wall and the Three-tone Stone also evoke awe at the ancient wisdom. Tours generally enter through the South Gate and exit through the North Gate (or East Gate), visiting the Circular Mound, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Danbi Bridge, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and the Hall of Imperial Ancestral Worship before departing. After leaving the Temple of Heaven, we visited Wangfujing Pedestrian Street in the afternoon. Wangfujing Pedestrian Street is a renowned commercial district with centuries of history, known as Beijing's "Golden Street." It sees approximately 600,000 visitors daily, exceeding 1.2 million on holidays. Located on the north side of East Chang'an Avenue in the city center, it boasts a rich history. First established during the Yuan Dynasty, over 700 years ago, the street saw its first commercial activity in the mid-Ming Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, eight princely and princessly palaces were built along the street, and a sweet water well was later dug to provide drinking water for the royal residences. This street was then known as Wangfujing. By the 29th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, with the establishment of the Dong'an Market, Wangfujing began its development into a commercial street, becoming one of Beijing's four major commercial districts. 
A visit to Wangfujing Street is a must: the Department Store, Foreign Language Bookstore, Danyao Building, Arts and Crafts Building, Wangfu Women's Department Store, Muslim Building, New Dong'an Market, along with Shengxifu, Tongshenghe, Donglaishun, Quanjude, Silian Hair Salon, and Baicao Herbal Medicine Store, form this vibrant modern commercial street. These uniquely decorated shops house hundreds of domestic and international brands. The dazzling array of goods and lifelike sculptures rejuvenate this 700-year-old street, drawing tens of thousands daily to witness its captivating charm.
Also, a recommendation for the hotel we stayed at! ! ! ! ! ! !
Hotel: Orange Crystal Beijing Chongwenmen Branch
Address: No. 114 Chongwenmenwai Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
[Hotel Environment]
This hotel seems to be inspired by blue and white porcelain, perhaps because it is close to Ciqikou subway station! The blue and white building and the Hui-style courtyard garden design bring us a sense of tranquility in the bustling city. There is a rest area in the garden where we can enjoy tea and chat, and appreciate the tranquility and comfort of life after busy work.
There is a rest area in the garden where we can enjoy tea and chat, and appreciate the tranquility and comfort of life after busy work. The guestrooms appear to be furnished to international star-level standards, including Kohler bathtubs and sanitary ware, Philips LCD TVs, and sound systems that support Bluetooth, iPhones, iPads, and laptops, connecting directly to the TV. All rooms offer wireless internet access, multiple lighting modes, and electric curtains. The rooms are also well-soundproofed. All complimentary toiletries are POLA, the Japanese royal cosmetics brand—a truly luxurious touch.
The hotel is located at 114 Chongwenmenwai Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (Exit A of Ciqikou Subway Station). There is a bus stop in front of the hotel and it is close to Ciqikou Station, an interchange station for Line 5 and Line 7. Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing, the Temple of Heaven, Qianmen Pedestrian Street and Beijing Railway Station are all within a half-hour walk, making transportation very convenient. The hotel is close to renowned domestic hospitals such as Tongren Hospital, Union Hospital, and Beijing Hospital. Surrounding the hotel are large shopping malls such as New World Department Store, Guorui City, Mofang Shopping Center, and Souxiu Shopping Center, as well as a wide variety of large, medium, and small restaurants, fully satisfying your travel, business trip, shopping, and dining needs.
Finally, to summarize, two people spent three days in Beijing, staying in a hotel for two nights, spending 526 yuan (currently at this price due to the epidemic), over 600 yuan on local delicacies, over 200 yuan on tickets, and over 500 yuan on high-speed rail tickets. In total, the two of us spent about 2,000 yuan. I hope this helps! Thank you!
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