Spring in Beijing: Four-Day Tour in Beijing

Number of days：4 days
Time: April
Average cost: 1,000 yuan
With whom: husband and wife
Tour kinds: Photography
Updated: 2025.04.22

Beijing, the capital, is located in the northern part of the North China Plain, bordering Tianjin to the east. It is a world-renowned ancient capital and a modern international city. It embodies the finest traditional Chinese culture from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, boasting numerous scenic spots and cultural attractions, and boasts the world's largest number of World Heritage Sites. In the past, work required frequent travel between Beijing and Tianjin, but each trip was always rushed. Now that we have ample free time after retirement, we decided to choose Beijing as our destination for a spring outing.

Total expenses (for two people) 1,979.30 RMB, including:

Round-trip train tickets from Tianjin to Beijing for 218 RMB, accommodations in Beijing for 849 RMB, scenic spot entrance fees for 360 RMB, and shopping, meals, local transportation, and miscellaneous items for 552.30 RMB.

Many attractions in Beijing require advance reservations. Today, we reserved tickets for the National Museum of China. We took the 8:06 AM bullet train and arrived at Beijing South Railway Station 35 minutes later. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we took the subway to the National Museum of China. The National Museum of China is the nation's highest historical, cultural, and artistic institution dedicated to collecting, researching, displaying, and interpreting representative artifacts of Chinese culture. It carries the crucial mission of preserving the nation's collective memory, inheriting the nation's cultural DNA, and promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. The museum boasts a building area of nearly 200,000 square meters and 48 standard exhibition halls. Its collection currently houses over 1.43 million items, encompassing ancient artifacts, modern and contemporary artifacts, and artworks. This comprehensive collection spans a vast historical period and utilizes a diverse range of materials and forms. The collection includes oracle bones, bronzes, porcelain, jade, gold and silver artifacts, coins, Buddhist statues, rare ancient books, rubbings of inscriptions and calligraphy, epitaphs, seals, calligraphy and paintings, sculptures, lacquered furniture, bricks, tiles, stone carvings, enamelware, glassware, silk fabrics, handicrafts, vintage photographs, ethnic relics, folk relics, and revolutionary artifacts. These unique and distinctive items fully demonstrate and bear witness to the continuous and splendid history of Chinese civilization spanning over 5,000 years.

National Museum

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National Museum

The National Museum is huge and has a rich collection of artifacts. We were reluctant to leave until closing time.

We had already booked tickets to visit the Forbidden City today. Early in the morning, we took the subway to Tiananmen West Station and passed through security at Xihuamen before arriving at the Forbidden City. Located on Beijing's central axis, the Forbidden City, formerly known as the "Purple Forbidden City," served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) and housed 24 emperors. Spanning over 720,000 square meters, the Forbidden City is said to contain 9,999 and a half palaces and halls, earning it the nickname "Sea of Palaces." Its grandeur and magnificence represent the quintessence of ancient Chinese imperial architecture. Surrounded by a 12-meter-high, 3,400-meter-long wall and encircled by a 52-meter-wide moat, the palace complex resembles a fortified citadel. The palaces are arranged along a north-south central axis, extending in either direction, creating a symmetrical, symmetrical pattern. The buildings are all wooden, with yellow glazed tile roofs and blue-white stone bases, adorned with resplendent gilded paintings. The palaces and courtyards at the front of the Forbidden City are bright and spacious, symbolizing the supremacy of the feudal regime. The Hall of Supreme Harmony sits at the diagonal center of the Forbidden City, with ten auspicious beasts adorning each corner, creating a vivid and lifelike image. The inner court at the rear, however, features deep courtyards and compact buildings. The six eastern and western palaces are each independent entities, each with its own gate and walls, arranged in a well-organized arrangement. Beyond the inner court lies the rear garden. Here, adorned with evergreen pines and cypresses, and exquisite rockery built of elegant stone, are nestled among towers, pavilions, and terraces, creating a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere. The Forbidden City's palace complex is the largest and most complete extant ancient architectural complex in China. Its magnificent architecture is revered as the world's fifth greatest palace (followed by the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US, and the Kremlin in Russia), and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Moat

Meridian Gate

After checking in at the Meridian Gate, enter the Forbidden City and walk across the Golden Water Bridge. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, all standing atop a majestic platform, appear before your eyes.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, commonly known as the "Golden Throne Hall," was completed in 1420, the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. Originally named Fengtian Hall, it was renamed Huangji Hall during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty and then became known as Taihe Hall during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 1695, the 34th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the tallest surviving ancient Chinese architecture and a symbol of imperial power. It was the venue for grand ceremonies during the Ming and Qing dynasties, including enthronements, weddings, empress enthronements, annual Spring Festival celebrations, the Winter Solstice Festival, the emperor's birthday, the announcement of the Jinshi list, the dispatch of generals to war, and banquets. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was built in 1420, the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. After three fires, the existing Hall of Central Harmony was rebuilt in 1627, the 7th year of the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty. Before holding ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the emperor would rest here and receive kneeling homage from officials. Every spring, he would review the sacrificial texts for the Altar of Agriculture. Sacrificial tablets for the Altar of Earth, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Altar of Grain and Grain were also reviewed here. The Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony were built in 1420, the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, and renovated during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Every New Year's Eve, the emperor would entertain minority princes and ministers here. Since the late Qianlong reign, this hall has served as the venue for the imperial examinations. After passing through the three main halls, we entered the Cining Palace. Originally built in 1536, during the 15th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Cining Palace served as the residence of previous imperial concubines. The Cining Palace flourished during the early and middle Qing dynasties, with Empress Xiaozhuang Wen and Empress Xiaoshengxian both residing here. Emperors Shunzhi, Kangxi, and Qianlong were renowned for their filial piety, and the Cining Palace often hosted ceremonies celebrating the Empress Dowager's birthdays. The Sculpture Gallery in the Cining Palace displays 425 sculptures from various dynasties collected by the Palace Museum.

The Palace Museum Sculpture Gallery, located in the Cining Palace, displays cultural relics mainly in three categories: pottery figurines, stone and brick portraits, and Buddha statues. The fine works are stacked one after another, forming a complete development history, allowing visitors to have a more comprehensive and objective understanding of the development of ancient Chinese sculpture.

Sculpture Hall

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Sculpture Gallery

Leaving the Sculpture Gallery, we arrived at the Wuying Hall, located west of the Xihe Gate in the Outer Courtyard.

The Wuying Hall is a Ming Dynasty palace within the Forbidden City in Beijing. Built in the early Ming Dynasty, it is five bays wide and three bays deep, with a yellow glazed tile hip roof. Li Zicheng, leader of the peasant uprising in the late Ming Dynasty, invaded Beijing in the spring of the 17th year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign (1644) and hastily held his enthronement ceremony in the Wuying Hall on April 29th. After the Qing army entered the pass, Regent Dorgon used the Wuying Hall as his seat of government. Starting with Emperor Kangxi, the hall was used for the publication of ancient texts.

Wuying Hall

The Ceramics Museum within Wuying Hall is like a time-traveling porcelain feast.

Located in the Wuying Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Ceramics Museum showcases the development and evolution of ceramics from the Stone Age to the modern era, reflecting the 8,000-year unbroken history of Chinese ceramics.

Entering the hall, the dazzling array of ceramics in the display cases is truly breathtaking, each piece showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of ceramics from a different period.

Ceramics Museum

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Ceramics Museum

After visiting the Ceramics Museum, we went to the nearby Furniture Museum.

The Furniture Museum is located in the South Treasury of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is a special exhibition hall opened by the Forbidden City, focusing on furniture from the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods.

Furniture Hall

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The Furniture Hall

The Furniture Hall is small, but every artifact on display is magnificent and exquisite.

Leaving the Furniture Hall, we return to the Meridian Gate. "Le Lin Quan - Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition" is currently on display in the Meridian Gate's main hall and the East and West Wing Pavilions.

"Le Lin Quan - Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition" is the Palace Museum's Meridian Gate exhibition, which will be on display in the Meridian Gate's main hall and the East and West Wing Pavilions starting April 1, 2025. Focusing on "Garden Elegance," the exhibition, grounded in classical Chinese garden art and encompassing global garden culture, unfolds a dialogue across time and space through six major garden events: "Gatherings," "Collecting," "Mountain Tours," "Retreat," "Viewing Flowers," and "Enjoying Music."

Le Lin Quan - Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition

Watch Hall

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Watch Hall

Ningshou Palace

Nine Dragon Screen

Huangji Hall

Changyin Pavilion

Yueshi Building

Leshou Hall

Treasure House

Imperial Garden

Passing through the Imperial Garden, we arrived at Chuxiu Palace, one of the Six Western Palaces.

Chuxiu Palace, one of the Six Western Palaces of the Inner Court, was originally named Shouchang Palace. It is a Han Chinese palace building built in the Ming Dynasty. It has a single-eaved hip roof and a width of five bays. It was the residence of the concubines of the Ming and Qing dynasties. After entering the palace, Cixi lived in the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace and gave birth to Emperor Tongzhi there. Chuxiu Palace

Chuxiu Palace

Tiananmen Square

Monument to the People's Heroes

The Great Hall of the People

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

National Museum of China

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Leaving the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, we visited the nearby Great Hall of the People.

Constructed from October 1958 to August 1959, the Great Hall of the People houses the offices of the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee, and serves as a key venue for political activities for the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and various people's organizations. Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, and Chairman Zhu De of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress frequently held important meetings here and received distinguished guests from around the world. The Great Hall of the People is shaped like a Chinese character "山" (mountain), measuring 336 meters from north to south and 206 meters from east to west, with a maximum height of 46.5 meters. It covers 15 hectares and has a construction area of 171,800 square meters. The building is majestic and simple, embodying the unique characteristics and style of the Chinese nation. The national emblem of the People's Republic of China gleams aloft above the Great Hall's entrance, drawing a striking golden glint. The entire building's eaves are inlaid with yellow-green glazed tiles, showcasing the solemnity, simplicity, and elegance of the Chinese national style combined with the extraordinary grandeur of modern architecture. The Great Hall primarily comprises a central auditorium, a banquet hall, and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress office building in the south. In addition, there are over 300 conference rooms, lounges, and offices. Thirty-three conference rooms are named after provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Each hall is meticulously decorated and furnished in accordance with local scenery, ethnic customs, and unique handicrafts, resulting in a diverse and distinctive atmosphere. All of them are fascinating and make people linger.

The Great Hall of the People

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The Great Hall of the People

China Millennium Monument

Temple of Heaven Park

The famous Echo Wall is located within the park. Unfortunately, it was under maintenance when we visited, so we couldn't see it up close. After visiting the Temple of Heaven, we returned to the hotel to rest.

Today's plan is to visit Prince Gong's Mansion and nearby Beihai Park before returning to Tianjin. We took the subway to Prince Gong's Mansion this morning, but a light rain began to fall as soon as we exited the station.

The Prince Gong's Mansion, located on Qianhai West Street in Xicheng District, Beijing, was the largest princely mansion in the Qing Dynasty. It served as the residence of the corrupt official Heshen and Prince Qing Yonglin before being granted the title of Prince Gong Yixin, earning it the name Prince Gong's Mansion, a name that remains in use today. The Prince Gong Mansion is divided into three sections: central, eastern, and western, each consisting of multiple quadrangles, each surmounted by a 160-meter-long, two-story rear pavilion. The mansion witnessed the Qing Dynasty's rise and fall, carrying a wealth of historical and cultural information. It's said that "the Prince Gong Mansion represents half of the history of the Qing Dynasty."

Prince Gong's Mansion

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Prince Gong's Mansion

After visiting Prince Gong's Mansion, the rain got heavier, so we gave up our plan to visit Beihai Park and took the bullet train directly back to Tianjin.

April 2025