A relaxing and budget-friendly 2-day weekend trip to Beijing, save this guide!

Number of days: 2 days
Time: September
Average cost: 500 yuan
With whom: and friends

Of course you have to experience the ancient charm of the Forbidden City when you come to it. You can first go to the Qianmen area, because the most important thing is that there is no ticket required for Qianmen, and you can walk to 50% of Beijing’s core scenic spots: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven, Qianmen Street, Dashilan, Deyun Club, etc. Qianmen was once the capital's entertainment hub, home to many famous theaters, teahouses, and bookstores, as well as the city's earliest cinema. It's well worth a visit!

Dashilan (shi) refers to the entire area stretching from Langfang Toutiao in the north to Meishi Street in the west and ending at Zhubaoshi in the east, including Dashilan Commercial Street. There are numerous time-honored shops dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Ruifuxiang, Xiangyihao, Neiliansheng, and Daguanlou. Each boasts unique historical facades, worth learning more about. The area also boasts numerous inns, theaters, photo studios, and bathhouses from its heyday. The Jewelry Market also hides Qianshi Hutong, one of the narrowest alleys in Beijing.

In the Dashilan area, there are also several time-honored specialty restaurants that are worth a special visit!

It is a building that combines many European elements with Chinese and Western styles. It is also the only two arrow towers left in the city today.

Beyond the Forbidden City and Houhai, artistic young people must visit Beijing Wang. A new cultural landmark in Beijing, it retains and continues the key urban fabric of Langfang Toutiao and Menkuang Hutong, showcasing the fusion of Beijing's ancient charm and modernity.

Built by the Nancheng government in 2017, this open, leisurely space, centered around Quanyechang, is a fusion of Chinese and Western architecture, showcasing cultural and artistic life. It offers a new lifestyle experience zone that is both classic and stylish. It has attracted numerous high-end art businesses and has become a popular Beijing destination, following in the footsteps of Sanlitun Village. Beijing Wang also requires no admission fee!

A visit to Beijing Wang is a must for a cup of coffee at the Starbucks Reserve flagship store. Besides the Shanghai Roastery, this is another Starbucks masterpiece! Since its opening at the end of June, Starbucks fans have flocked to the store to check in and enjoy the weekend. The first floor showcases the flavors of different coffee beans through creative interpretations, allowing customers to more intuitively understand coffee. The second floor features Teavana's new teas and features murals unique to the imperial city. The third floor is China's first independent wine tasting space.

Beijing Wang also has a MUJI Hotel. Since hearing that Shenzhen has opened China's first MUJI hotel, MUJI fans have been eager to stay there and experience the authentic MUJI style. In addition to the store in the basement, the first floor houses books on home design and regional cuisine recipes, providing a quiet reading space. MUJI Cafe & Meal also offers simple meals. The first MUJI Dinner in Beijing features an open-air Japanese dining experience on the third floor.

Beijing Wang is home to a wide variety of shops, big and small, such as inwe Yinwei Tea (run by Milk Tea Sister), Yingyuan Afternoon Tea, and Beiping Garden, a modern restaurant serving traditional Beijing cuisine.

It takes just over ten minutes to walk from Qianmen to the Forbidden City, which is the best-preserved and largest ancient wooden structure complex in China and even in the world, and is known as the "first of the five great palaces in the world."

The Forbidden City should be visited from south to north. The Meridian Gate is the only entrance, and the exits are the Donghua Gate and the Shenwu Gate.

Tickets to the Forbidden City are also very reasonably priced, with adult tickets costing 60 RMB and student tickets costing 20 RMB during peak season. Internal attractions include the Treasure House costing 10 RMB and the Clock House costing 10 RMB (Tuesday to Sunday, April 1st - October 31st).

You'll also have a chance to win two tickets to Universal Beijing Resort. You can take your kids there when the park opens next year~~~

Play games to win coins, and you can also enter a draw for a travel gift pack worth 1,162 yuan, including a suitcase, backpack, travel juicer, and other prizes.

Without further ado, quickly follow me to open the pull tab and scan the QR code to win a 6,000 yuan grand prize and the same weekend trip to Beijing as mine!