Live Your Best Lives
5-day, 4-night itinerary! Saw the first snow of 2023 at the Forbidden City (wow~)
Travel time: February 6th - 10th
Travel method: Round-trip flights (Guangzhou - Beijing)
Travel cost: 5,200 yuan/person
Transportation in the city: Subway
Accommodation: Xi'an Deluxe Hotel (Zhushikou Subway Station)
Essential app: Yitongxing (common for public transportation)
Day 1: Shichahai - Yandaixie Street - Drum Tower - Bell Tower
As soon as you get off the subway, the whole way is filled with the Beijing hutong atmosphere. Shichahai, Yandaixie Street, and Drum Tower are very close together, so you can easily find them by just walking around without any navigation.
My husband's private message: Our plane landed around noon, and since there wasn't much to see, we decided to book this trip. It wasn't particularly impressive, so if you're short on time, don't even consider it.
Shichahai
The ice on the lake hadn't melted in February, which is a shame since you can't skate after the Beginning of Spring. TT, if you want to skate, make sure to go before the Beginning of Spring~
Walking around the lake, there were many rickshaw drivers eager to solicit passengers, but I didn't take one, thinking it was small enough that I could just walk around. I heard there are all sorts of celebrities' mansions around the lake, but they don't belong to me anyway (hahahahaha...)
Originally, I wanted to buy a postcard, but when I saw it was 15 yuan/postcard, I was really shocked by the prices in Beijing TT. I'm too poor to even afford a postcard, wuwuwu...
Drum Tower - Bell Tower
I saw the memorial archway on Yandaixie Street and was almost at the Drum Tower. There were so many people, oh my god TT
The red walls of the Drum Tower were packed with young men and women taking photos. It was really photogenic (compared to the gray alleys). I didn't buy a ticket to the Drum Tower, I just walked around the outside and left. Going around the back of the Drum Tower, you'll see the Bell Tower. There are actually few people there, but the square is full of elderly people exercising (isn't this the ideal retirement life for an official?! ! )
Food
No. 69 Fangzhuanchang (Zhajiangmian)
TIPS: 25 yuan/portion
Look at the people above, no need to order
I've always wanted to see what authentic Beijing Zhajiangmian tastes like, so I rushed to Nanluoguxiang as soon as I landed.
I thought there wouldn't be a line around 2 or 3 pm, but I really underestimated these internet-famous places. Ugh... I waited in line for almost 40 minutes even though it wasn't lunchtime. I was starving...Those of you who don't want to go hungry really need to go early
I never expected it! I never expected it! I never expected it!
The Beijing Zhajiangmian noodles are very thick (as thick as udon), very plain, with only bits of fried meat in the zhajiangmian. It's really different from the Cantonese zhajiangmian!!! Cantonese people, be careful when ordering this!! !
When my husband saw the noodles, he almost cried. He'd waited so long, and they were just plain noodles. TT Ugh, he ate two bites and then stopped. Also, you have to be patient with the noodles. Don't put too much sauce at once, or it'll be too salty!
Yao Ji Fried Liver Restaurant (Gulou Branch)
On the way to the Bell Tower, you'll come across this fried liver restaurant, which was also recommended by my husband's colleague. I thought I wasn't full after the fried noodles, so I decided to grab a snack to fill my stomach~
The result!!! TT...Outsiders, be careful! Be careful! Be careful! We ordered the authentic snacks we often see on food shows: fried liver, soy milk, fried dough rings, and fried sausage. Fried liver: It was as sticky as spicy hot pot, with internal organs. If the large intestines were cleaned, I think it would be acceptable, but there was still a raw flavor that made me want to slurp it up. TT Bean juice: No need to describe it too much, it's exactly what you imagine it to be, sour and sour. I tasted a little with chopsticks and then gulped down two gulps of water. TT Fried sausage: Hearing the name, you might think it's just large intestines stuffed with something? I thought so at first too, what a mistake! It turned out to be sweet potato flour? A kind of noodle dish made from it! Surprise! Surprise! Dipping it in garlic sauce is weird, but it tastes better than the other two snacks.
Jiaoquan: I didn't expect that this ordinary fried food would be the best (most normal) of the whole place. It's just an ordinary fried dough ring, and they said you should dip it in soy milk, who can resist that...
I gave up after just two bites. It really doesn't suit the taste of outsiders TT, what a waste, I'll drink two glasses of wine as a punishment!
Jubaoyuan (Houhai Branch)
This famous hot pot restaurant is right at the entrance to Shichahai. When we arrived around 5pm, there was no line yet - so delicious! I asked the waiter, and he said that the line usually starts around 5 or 6pm, so if you don't want to go hungry, remember to go early!!! The shabu-shabu hotpot comes in two bases: a double-flavor hotpot and a clear water hotpot. I ordered the clear water hotpot, and to my surprise! The clear water hotpot is literally just clear water, and it's 20 yuan! Why is it so expensive?! My husband was completely baffled! The dipping sauces include garlic sesame oil and sesame sauce. A traditional Southerner ordered the garlic sesame oil. ^^
Traditional copper pot charcoal-fired shabu-shabu hotpot, the portion is just right, not too small. The meat is just regular frozen meat, and the lamb doesn't have a strong mutton smell. This place is worth a try. Day 2: Badaling Great Wall - Summer Palace Pre-booking: Booked a one-day tour online the day before departure. Tour fee: Approximately 120 RMB per person, excluding round-trip cable car ride and 200 RMB per person for the dome theater. Things to bring: Warm clothing: A scarf, gloves, and a hat are essential! Because the Badaling Great Wall is quite far and a bit of a hassle to go on my own, I booked a one-day tour online the day before, meeting at the designated location at 7:30 AM. The tour guide kept telling me on the bus that the 9D Dome Theater at the Great Wall was a must-see, explaining its history, present-day history, and future development. I figured since I was already there and had never seen a 9D dome before, I might as well give it a try. It's essentially a 4D theater with moving seats, and its most distinctive feature is the spherical screen domed in the sky. My health isn't up to it!!! I felt dizzy and nauseous after just a few minutes! Anyone who gets VR sick wouldn't recommend this, as you'll end up like me, blindly closing your eyes the entire time, a waste of money. The Badaling Great Wall After exiting the theater, the climb officially began! Nervous! Excited! It was really cold there, too! Much cooler than downtown, so remember to dress warmly in winter! Gloves, a hat, and a scarf are a must! The tour guide explained that the Great Wall is divided into north and south sides. The north side, typically reserved for foreign visitors, offers better views, while the south side is steeper and requires all four limbs to climb. When I went, the south side wasn't open, so I had to go north. We took the cable car up (those with more stamina can climb on their own, but I was a bit lazy and opted for the round trip, hahahahahaha). But after getting off the cable car, I couldn't resist the allure of influencers and splurged on a Great Wall-shaped ice cream cone that cost over twenty yuan! I took a couple of photos, then regretted it! It wasn't very good.
Although the north side is not as steep as the south, there are still some sections where I had to hold on to the handrails. I was really impressed by the young ladies wearing high heels... I was taking photos and videos while climbing. It took me more than two hours to climb only two beacon towers, hahahaha... You can reserve a little more time and climb both the north and south sides.
Eat
Badaling Park
There's a commercial street in Badaling Park, perfect for dining—plenty of options.
Liu Ji Zhizi BBQ (Hufangqiao Branch)
So crowded! Another internet-famous restaurant with an hour-long queue, but it's also really delicious!!! And quite affordable!!
Charcoal grilled meat, most of the meat is freshly cut, not frozen (it's best to order this kind of fresh meat, it's easier to grill and tastes better!). I'm very satisfied with this~~ It's cost-effective, and many locals eat there, highly recommended! (Thumbs up)
Day 3: Universal Studios
Prepare in Advance
Tickets: Booked tickets on TB 3 days before departure!!!
Costumes and Props: Harry Potter costume + magic wand set~. Remember to rent it on TB in advance. You can pick it up at designated subway stations or use express delivery within the city. Don't lose anything!!! Especially protect your magic wand! If you lose it, you'll be charged the full park price... TT, don't ask the officials how they know.
Mini Program: Universal Beijing Resort Official. You can check the queue times for each attraction, park maps, and essential park entrance essentials.
On the day of departure, I picked up my Harry Potter costume at the designated subway station and headed straight to the park. Arriving around 9:00 AM (doors open at 10:00 AM) it was already packed, and I had to go through two checkpoints. Everyone should definitely leave early! Once you arrive at the park, if you have a lot of stuff, you can rent a locker. Large lockers are 80 yuan/day, small lockers are 60 yuan/day, with unlimited access.
Amusement Rides
The park isn't very large, but if it weren't for the photo ops, I think you could have done it all.
Roller coaster lovers definitely don't miss the Decepticon Roller Coaster; it's thrilling!
Hippogriff Flight is also great!
We didn't have enough time to try Jurassic Park Flight, which was disappointing. If you like roller coasters, promise me, don't go! Don't go! Just queue up for the cute spinning roller coaster at Minion Park! It's for kids, it's boring and a complete waste of time. If you get VR sickness, be careful about going to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey! Someone vomited on the day I went!
Performances
We only watched the Harry Potter Land light show the entire trip. It was stunning and romantic!!! There were several shows throughout the night, so you didn't have to worry about missing them.
Harry Potter Land
The most crowded land of the entire park. No matter what time you go, it's always packed. You have to queue up in every nook and cranny to take photos, but the photos are so good, it's worth the wait.
If you have the means, rent a photo booth for a few hours; I saw many women doing that.
Butterbeer—you really don't need to buy it if you're just going for photos!!! There are a lot of drinks on top of the trash can that I haven't drunk yet, so just grab a cup, hahahaha
Eat food
At noon, I had beef noodles at Mr. Ping's Noodle House in the Kung Fu Panda Pavilion. It cost 60 yuan per bowl. I wasn't full, and the taste was just average. Expensive! (Eating in the scenic area is a rip-off!!!), I regret not going to other parks to eat meat TT
Day 4: Forbidden City
Prepare in advance
Tickets: Make a reservation for tickets on the mini program "Forbidden City Museum" 7 days in advance. Without a reservation, you can't get in even if you go to the door! ! !
Snacks: Bring some snacks, or you'll faint from hunger in the palace like me.
Outfit: Comfortable shoes, really big. Promise me, wear comfortable shoes, okay?
I was really lucky this time! I actually saw the snow scene in the Forbidden City. Wow, it's so beautiful, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience~
I hope you all have the same luck~~~
Quick Route to the Forbidden City
Before I left, I found out about the legendary route to the Forbidden City with fewer checkpoints. It works! Take the subway to Exit C at "Goldfish Hutong," walk straight for 500 meters to "Donghuamen," and after entering Donghuamen, walk along the red wall for a while to reach the "Forbidden City Meridian Gate." Convenient and fast! !!!
Please don't go through Tiananmen Square, okay?
About the Forbidden City's electronic audio guides
You can rent electronic audio guides at the Meridian Gate for 20 yuan each. It's best to bring cash because the line there is the shortest, hahahaha~
I don't know if it was bad luck, but I rented the official audio guide for nothing. The first one didn't work where I rented it, and the second one couldn't be heard after I passed the Meridian Gate. What a waste of 20 yuan, woooo, woooo, everyone must try it before leaving!!!
Similar to the Summer Palace, if you can, it's best to hire a guide. After all, a palace without a story is just a palace.
About the Treasure House and the Clock and Watch House
Entrance fees to the Treasure House and the Clock and Watch House are extra, 10 yuan per hall. Since you're here, it's definitely worth a visit. After all, the treasures found in the Forbidden City are truly extraordinary.
If you buy tickets for both halls and don't have time to visit them all, you can still get a refund after closing time.
About the Forbidden City's Cultural and Creative Products
There are many cultural and creative shops in the Forbidden City, more than one, but the items in each shop vary slightly, likely due to stock shortages. Generally speaking, the same items are the same. My husband loves to browse cultural and creative shops, so he visited several, and the prices were the same at all.
Closed
The entire Forbidden City closes at 4:30 pm, so everyone should plan their time to visit each palace~ Especially the Treasure House and the Clock House, which are closed after 4 pm TT
Eat
Forbidden City Park
I had originally wanted to eat at the "Ice Cellar" restaurant inside the Forbidden City, but it was incredibly crowded around 1 or 2 a.m., so I skipped it. I bought coffee at the cafe next door and that's how I finished my lunch. TT, everyone should bring some snacks with them, it's quite fun to eat and shop around~
Four Seasons Minfu (Xidan Branch)
I guess many of you are like me. When you come to Beijing, you have to have a Peking duck meal. I heard that Four Seasons Minfu is quite popular now? I'm not sure. After leaving the Forbidden City, I originally planned to eat at the two nearby Four Seasons Minfu restaurants, but the line was over 200 tables long! I was so angry I almost fainted at the door. I checked the "No Waiting for Delicious Food" queues and saw that the Xidan branch had no wait! So, I immediately took the subway. After eating my fill in Xidan, there were still lines at the two Forbidden City restaurants. Absolutely terrible!
Roast Duck
Two of us ordered one. The skin was crispy and not too greasy. The 9-square grid of small side dishes is a must-order!
Watching the guy roasting and carving the duck in the glass kitchen (it looked like a baby duck ^^) was so clean and bright~
Beile Grilled Meat
I think it was cumin lamb. The portion was quite large, not smelling of mutton, and the slices were thin and fragrant with the vegetables~ Order!
Dry Pot Cauliflower
Just your average dry pot cauliflower, a bit oily.
Donkey Roll
Ah!!! It had a really sticky texture, the red bean paste in the middle was just the right amount of sweetness, and the chocolate powder was slightly bitter. I loved that texture~~~If you like it sticky, order it!!!
The only downside was that it was too small, too little, not enough to eat! TT woooooooooooooo~
Bamboo Fungus and Morel Chinese Cabbage Heart Soup
For a Cantonese soup lover, this soup can only be described as hot pot water? Pure vegan soup, order with caution!!!
It had no salt or umami at all, not even any salt. I don't know if it was a kitchen mistake or just how they cook it. I even asked the kitchen for some salt afterwards. Not worth the price...
Day 5: Tiananmen Square - Temple of Heaven
Prepare in advance
Tiananmen Square reservation:Search for "Tiananmen Square Reservation and Visiting Service Platform" on the mini program to make a reservation for your trip in advance
Temple of Heaven tickets:Follow the official account "Temple of Heaven Park Official Ticket Purchasing Platform" to purchase tickets. Combo ticket: 28 yuan/ticket, includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound. Since we only had half a day to visit, we could only do a quick tour. What a shame! I'll definitely come back to Beijing if I have the chance~. Tiananmen Square. I heard the most convenient way to get there is by subway. There's a strict checkpoint from the subway station to the square, and it's super strict!!! We arrived around 8:30 AM. There weren't many people in front of us, but we still had to wait in line for at least 40 minutes, so don't bring too much! Because we had limited time, we could only quickly take tourist photos in front of the various attractions in the square. We didn't have time to visit the various memorials, so I don't have much experience to share with you.
I heard the Temple of Heaven is even bigger than the Forbidden City. You could spend a whole day there if you took your time exploring.
Eat
Xie Wangfu Lamb Scorpion (Huqiaofang Branch)
For my last meal in Beijing, I checked in at the lamb scorpion restaurant "Xie Wangfu."
We ordered the lamb scorpion and lamb chop casserole. It was very fragrant, without any smell, and the portion was huge. I personally like lamb chops because they have more meat, hahahaha. Lamb scorpion doesn't have much meat and is full of bones... Worth a try~
, Average cost: 50 yuan, Updated: 2021.03.13
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