Live Your Best Lives
Four-Day Beijing Travel Guide
Pre-Departure Preparation
Before leaving, I asked myself: Why go to Beijing? I didn't get a clear answer, and perhaps no answer should be clear. Perhaps it was the pervasive sense of insecurity amid the pandemic, or my longing for the capital, or perhaps it was the desire to take a break, or something else. Anyway, Beijing, here I come.
After reading numerous online guides and briefly understanding the key attractions, I began making plans: checking the weather, deciding on attractions to visit, potential attractions, travel times, accommodation arrangements, and itinerary. Once I had these finalized, I booked tickets online and prepared my travel supplies.
Famous sayings from our ancestors are still very instructive in life. Never fight a battle unprepared. Especially important, because the guides I had read previously had information, I also found Beijing Local Treasures on the WeChat official account, which contained a wealth of information on daily life services, which made things much easier.
Beijing has eliminated paper ticketing since last year. All attractions now require online reservations 1-7 days in advance. If an attraction exceeds its reservation limit, you'll have to choose another date. I originally planned to visit the Forbidden City on the 9th, but those dates were already fully booked, so the earliest I could reserve tickets was for the 12th. Arriving at the attraction only requires swiping your ID card, but due to the pandemic, you'll also need to show Beijing's health code to pass through the ticket gate.
After confirming my itinerary for the 9th-12th, I booked round-trip flights in advance; booking in advance is significantly cheaper. I then used an online app to find accommodations. Since there was a requirement online for people entering Beijing to provide a COVID-19 test result within the past seven days, I called to inquire. That requirement, though it's no longer in place, has been lifted.
Shenzhen is over 2,000 kilometers from Beijing, so it's important to check the weather in advance and prepare the necessary clothing. The first day was cloudy and over 10 degrees Celsius, so I packed an extra jacket. The rest of the day was sunny, but the temperature fluctuated by about 15 degrees Celsius between day and night. I'd considered packing sunscreen, but I'd already gotten sunburned during my May Day trip to Xichong, Shenzhen. To save weight, I didn't think much about it. A little tan is better for men. After completing all the necessary preparations, we set off: one person, one bag, and one phone. Timeline of Scenic Spots: It takes less than three hours to get from Shenzhen Bao'an to Beijing Daxing. From the airport, you transfer to the subway, which is a dedicated airport line with only three stops: Daxing Airport, Daxing New Town, and Caoqiao. I thought the WeChat QR code also worked for the Beijing subway, but it turned out to be just an assumption. Then I downloaded the "Yi Tong Xing" app (it's not compatible with public transportation yet; you'll need to download the "Beijing Public Transportation" app). I slept in on my first day, waking up at 9 a.m. I ate a basket of 10 xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings) and a bowl of soy milk before heading to the first of the imperial gardens, Beihai Park. It's relatively close, so a bus ride takes just over ten minutes. I used the Beijing Public Transport app to scan the QR code. When I got off the bus, there was a machine at the entrance where I had to scan the QR code again, as Beijing public transport charges by section, similar to the subway. Even if you forget, you can manually enter your address once more on the app. There aren't many high-rise buildings within Beijing's first and second ring roads; the first ring road is primarily composed of courtyard houses. Only cars with Beijing license plates are allowed. The so-called Beihai is a relatively large lake. Beijing isn't near the sea; all "hai" refers to lakes, such as Houhai and Shichahai. Upon entering the park, a striking white Tibetan-style Lama pagoda is visible to the naked eye. As you approach, you can clearly see cracks caused by the earthquake. It is located on an island in the Beihai Lake, connected to the park by two bridges. The park boasts numerous ancient willow trees, lining the shores of Beihai Lake. The park's wide paths are lined with locust and poplar trees. A stray cat roams freely within the park. I'm not sure if it was fed by staff or visitors, but it was enjoying its meal with relish. My approach seemed to disturb it a bit. A complete tour of the park, including photos, takes about three hours. It’s about two kilometers from Beihai Park to Nanluoguxiang. You can find shared bicycles just outside the park and enjoy the street view of downtown Beijing on the way. Although the road is wide, the locust trees on both sides are large enough to provide good natural shade. Cycling is a good option.
Arriving at Nanluoguxiang, surprisingly, you still need to make an appointment, but this is done on-site, and you can enter after showing your health code. This alley mainly sells Beijing-style handicrafts and snacks. There are also some entrances to residential hutongs in the middle of the alley, which were usually open to tourists. However, due to the epidemic, only residents with access permits can enter and exit.
Because Tsinghua University is nearby, I wanted to take a walk and have a look. Although sightseeing is prohibited now, I took a photo at the door. The night sky is still exceptionally blue.
Tomorrow, the 12th, is my last stop at the Forbidden City. I'm going to watch the flag-raising ceremony this morning. I checked online and it happens at 5 a.m., so I set my alarm for 4 a.m.
On the last day, I woke up on time, washed up, and headed out on a shared bike. It was about a four-kilometer journey, and I arrived at my destination around 4:40 a.m.
As expected, there weren't many people around, just outside the cordon. There were probably over a hundred flag bearers marching in unison from Tiananmen Square. They switched to a goose-step as they reached Chang'an Avenue, then returned to a marching pace as they neared the flag-raising platform. They looked incredibly handsome. The children all joined in singing the national anthem. After watching the flag-raising ceremony, I went back to sleep to recharge for the rest of my trip. Arriving at the Forbidden City, we entered the Meridian Gate from the side of the Donghua Gate and went through security and ticket inspection. After passing security, we rented an audio guide for the attractions, but my own guess wasn't very accurate. Many attractions also had text descriptions next to them. There's a free luggage storage area on the left side of the Meridian Gate, which will be delivered directly to the Shenwu Gate exit for collection. However, valuables are not allowed. Overall, the Forbidden City exudes a grand, majestic, and austere atmosphere. Its yellow tiles, red walls, and white marble are all impressive. With over 500 years of history, it's well worth a visit.
This concludes my Beijing trip. I caught the last subway back to Daxing Airport to wait for my flight back to Shenzhen.
Travel is about living in a foreign land and traveling to the heart.
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