Live Your Best Lives
Background: 2 adults and 1 child (age 17)
Attractions: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square Flag Raising Ceremony, Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
Transportation: High-speed rail, 4.5 hours/one-way
Accommodation: Convenient, near the Forbidden City, budget 700-800 yuan/night
Package: Travel light, one backpack per person.
Date: June 29th - July 2nd, 4 days
Our four-day trip coincided with a scorching 41°C temperature in Beijing. Here's some information on clothing, transportation, and more:
Clothing: Maintain a light fit
1. Sun protection clothing: It's best to bring a sun protection jacket, both for sun protection and to block the strong cold air conditioning in the train.
2. A sun hat is recommended, as it keeps your hands free, a real plus when climbing the Great Wall. The winds on the Great Wall are quite strong, and many parasols were blown out of shape. Instead of providing shade, they became cumbersome and easily poked people passing by.
3. Sunglasses are a personal choice. I wore a hat, so I skipped sunglasses; they made my ears uncomfortable.
4. Shoes: Attractions like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall require long walks, and the roads are not very good, with potholes and bumps that can easily hurt your feet. A pair of comfortable, breathable sneakers will make the journey much easier. Make sure the soles are thick.
5. Sunscreen and other essentials are essentials, though I won't go into detail.
Urban Transportation: Travel mainly relies on the subway, shared bikes, and walking.
1. Subway: When buying a one-way ticket from South Station, the subway requires you to enter your ID number. It's a hassle to do this every time you buy a ticket. Switch to Beijing in Alipay's "Travel" section, and you can scan the QR code to enter the station. Here's how to use it for those without Alipay—download the Yitongxing app. You can link your WeChat Wallet, credit card, and debit card. Once you've set it up, you can scan the QR code to enter the station. It's very convenient. Look at the red box in the screenshot: Yitongxing.
2. Shared bikes: Both MT and Hello can be used. One thing to note: shared bikes in the core area must be parked in designated areas. If you park them in the wrong place, they won't lock. I tried twice, both near Wangfujing, and couldn't close them; the lock kept popping open. I checked the app and saw a message saying, "This is not a designated parking spot. The nearest parking spot is xx meters away." I had to ride a little further and park at a designated spot to lock the bike. I'm not sure if this applies to all shared bikes in Beijing, or just the core areas.
Attractions: I'll only talk about the ones I've visited.
1. Tiananmen Square: Whether you're going to see the flag-raising ceremony, flag-lowering ceremony, or just strolling around, reservations are required in advance. Otherwise, even if you arrive, you'll be stopped outside and refused entry without a reservation. On-the-spot reservations are not accepted. Search "Tiananmen Square Tour Reservations" on WeChat. The platform offers four time slots: "Flag-Raising Ceremony/Morning/Afternoon/Flag-Lowering Ceremony." Make reservations based on availability.
2. The Great Wall: I signed up for a day trip, and as soon as I got on the bus, the tour guide urged me to buy a cable car. The long lines were at least an hour long. My family didn't buy a ticket and just walked the short distance, where the crowds were smaller and the lines were faster. When climbing the Great Wall, please consider your physical abilities and do it accordingly. Climbing one beacon tower and climbing four or more beacon towers both count as climbing. Don't get too hung up on reaching the "top"—getting close is fine. You also need to plan for the return meeting time. For clothing, refer to the equipment section above. There are many small shops between the parking lot and the entrance to the Great Wall, making it convenient to buy water. 3. Summer Palace: This attraction is included with the Great Wall, which took too long. After finishing the Great Wall, we drove for over an hour to reach it. By the time we arrived, it was around 2 PM, and the scorching heat didn't make us feel like exploring. We simply gave up on the Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace). A reminder: two attractions a day is sufficient; don't overdo it. Beijing attractions are 70% about listening and 30% about seeing. A cursory tour only gives you a glimpse of the scenery; the stories within are more meaningful and engaging when you listen to the guide. We recommend the guided tour. 4. Temple of Heaven: I signed up for a half-day guided tour, which was the best experience. The guide was very thorough and attentive, and the group was very interactive. Despite the scorching heat, everyone was excited. There aren't many shops in the Temple of Heaven, and the only one is a popular online store, which isn't very affordable. There's a place to buy water on the steps directly opposite the main gate of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, so I recommend stocking up before entering. 5. Forbidden City: Tickets must be reserved seven days in advance, and tickets go on sale starting at 8 p.m. each evening. Search "Forbidden City Museum" on WeChat for reservations. It was difficult to get a ticket, so I ultimately signed up for the half-day tour. We met at the Meridian Gate that day, but there was a hiccup: children needed to exchange their tickets, so I had to queue up with my child's ID card at the ticket office. When I got to the front of the line, with about 20 people left, I heard someone in the queue next to me say, "Children don't need to exchange their tickets." Everyone started calling the tour guide to confirm, and there was a lot of chatter. Less than a minute later, the entire line suddenly dispersed like a school of fish, and everyone began rushing towards the entrance, causing it to become incredibly crowded. Tourists and staff were anxious, and the loudspeaker's calls to queue up were completely useless. Even in this situation, from the time I queued to scan my ID card to the time I went through security, my blood flow had already been reduced by half. It felt like management was completely disorganized. I don't know if this was just my experience that day, or if it happens all the time. If so, it was horrible. I suggest the Forbidden City management implement effective flow diversion and flow control measures. Look into the serpentine passages—a landmark as famous as the Forbidden City shouldn't be like this. The remaining blood flow slowly evaporated under the scorching sun. The resting seats provided for visitors in the Forbidden City were set in a 360-degree sun-bathing mode. Few people sat there, it was too hot, and there was no shade at all. Those visiting the Forbidden City soon should take good sun protection. A sun hat is most convenient; umbrellas can easily poke others. Bring plenty of water (two bottles per person), and try to bring electrolyte-rich water; mineral water no longer quenches thirst. There are shops inside but they are packed, especially those along the central axis.
Additional information: A friend went to the Forbidden City that afternoon and said the line at the entrance security check was quite fast.
6. Military Museum: Make an appointment in advance. Search the WeChat keyword "Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution" official account to make an appointment directly, and the entrance fee is free. There are planes, cannons, warships, aircraft carriers, and tanks inside, and the boys love it. The children want to see real tanks with their own eyes, so we made a special appointment to visit this museum. It is very cost-effective and recommended.
7. Jingshan Park: Make an appointment in advance. Search the WeChat keyword "Enjoy the Park". 2 yuan/person.
The above are all well-known attractions, so I won't post pictures. You can search for them yourself.
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