A Beijing travelogue written by an unreliable blogger who forgot to bring his travel guide.

Number of days：3 days
Time: October
Average cost: 500 yuan
With whom：a person
Tour kinds: Food, Photography, Free Travel, Hiking
The author went to these places： Beijing BFSU National Library Tiananmen Square Dongjiaominxiang Qianmen Street Dashilan Nanluoguxiang Former Residence of Guo Moruo Prince Gong's Mansion Yinding Bridge Yandaixie Street Lama Temple Temple of Confucius Imperial College Sanlitun
Updated: 2020.08.04

My love for Beijing lasted more than just a day or two. Before the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination), my deskmate asked me which university I wanted to apply to. I said any university in Beijing would be fine. I didn't get in. After graduation, I wanted to work in Beijing, but that didn't happen. Thus, Beijing became an intangible obsession.

As a child, I took the subway for the first time in Beijing. I was amazed at how fast it runs. During my university study abroad program in Beijing, I met so many friendly and interesting people who instantly clicked with me. As an adult, I've come to appreciate Beijing's inclusiveness. Here, you don't feel weird just because you're different. Your thoughts and actions aren't constrained by rules and regulations. Here, just be yourself and you're all that matters. I love the Beijing dialect, the hutongs and courtyards, the pea yellow bean curds, the way Beijingers walk, and my favorite Changchang is also in Beijing. That evening in Beijing, as usual, I went with Changchang to a five-star Old Beijing copper pot hot pot restaurant. We ordered so many dishes of meat that the waitress was shocked, and she quickly stopped us, saying, "Don't order anymore, enough!" But in the end, we all devoured it all. Is there anything more delicious than lamb and frozen tofu? I don't know why, but I really wanted to wander around the BFSU campus this time. I'd imagined the red brick gate and small buildings so many times, and for the first time, I got really close. The school was closed for the holidays, and some of the buildings were undergoing renovations. I wandered around for a short while before leaving.

BFSU and the National Library are very close. I am curious about how big the National Library is and how many books it has. I would like to see the original Korean books in the National Library. The National Library consists of two parallel buildings, divided into the South and North sections. The South section houses foreign-language books. However, upon arriving, I discovered that you had to make an online reservation to read original foreign-language books, so I wasn't able to see any. That was my first regret. However, the study room at the National Library is truly amazing; if I had the chance, I'd really love to spend a whole day studying there. I didn't see any foreign-language books, but the Chinese-language collection was incredibly comprehensive, with rows of bookshelves. The volunteer staff patiently guided me and helped me find the books. Besides books, there were also works of art, such as music and illustrations, to enjoy. Most importantly, you have to register with your real name to read at the National Library, so you must bring your ID.

There are always some sudden and strange ideas in life, and sometimes we want to express our emotions in some unique ways. These ideas and emotions intertwine and converge to form a place called 798. Inspiration often comes in a flash, but experiencing it requires a profound experience. Here, the hurried pace of life slows down, giving the soul a break; it takes time. Therefore, it's best to visit 798 on a breezy, cool autumn day—definitely not a scorching 33-degree Celsius, or you'll literally melt. The highlight was meeting everyone's favorite teacher, Xia Qing. We talked for ages, and time flew by. With a little time left in the afternoon, I decided to explore Guijie Street. I discovered it's only open at night. Then, wandering through the alleys, I stumbled upon the gates of the Lama Temple. The former residence of the Fourth Master has become a spiritual place where people come to burn incense and worship. It's said that wishes made at the Lama Temple are especially effective. Not far from the Lama Temple are the Temple of Confucius and the Imperial Academy, so I took a look at the university campuses of the Qing Dynasty. The setting is quite solemn and tranquil.