Jam Tsirani

Our next stop on our journey through China was Beijing. With a population of 22 million, Beijing is the world’s most populous capital city and home to iconic historical sights like The Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Modern Beijing is a crossroads of history and innovation. Although we typically have an aversion to capital cities due to their bustling and hectic nature, Beijing pleasantly surprised us with its cleanliness and a wealth of attractions beyond just skyscrapers.

How to Get There

You can reach Beijing by plane from almost anywhere in the world, as the city boasts two international airports. In our case, we chose Beijing as our next destination for several reasons:

• There were not many direct flights available from Lijiang.
• We plan to leave China for Japan for a month before returning to continue our trip. This decision is motivated by the upcoming holiday season in China, which begins in mid-October. We anticipate that during this time, all national parks and attractions will be crowded with tourists.

The flight to Beijing from Lijiang takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 130 USD. You can book your flight through Trip.com.

Where to Stay iN BEIJING

Our experience with accommodation in Beijing was less than ideal, so I can offer advice on where not to stay. We chose the Holiday Inn Express Temple of Heaven branch, and it turned out to be the worst stay we had in China, comparable only to our experience in Shanghai.

Fortunately, there are many better options available in Beijing. Reviews and ratings on sites like Booking.com are generally quite truthful, so it’s important to choose accommodations thoughtfully.

What to See in beijing?

1. Admire the Great Wall of China
Visiting the Great Wall of China is a must when you’re in Beijing. Spanning over 20,000 kilometers, only a small portion of the Wall is restored and accessible to tourists. You’ll need to choose which section to visit, with popular options including Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling.

We chose Mutianyu because it is closer to Beijing and less crowded than Badaling. After seeing how packed the Wall can get in photos on social media, we opted to visit on a random Monday and hired a private transfer to get there as early as possible. This turned out to be the best decision. We booked our transfer through Trip.com, and I highly recommend this tour. Our driver helped us purchase tickets to avoid queues, got us snacks, and provided many useful tips.
We left our hotel at 6:30 am and arrived around 8 am. Starting early was totally worth it as we practically had the entire Wall to ourselves.

Admission Fee: The admission fee for the Great Wall is 40 yuan.

2. Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven, or Tiantan, was built in the 15th century. This complex of buildings includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the most famous structure. Historically, it served as a prayer site and a place where emperors conducted rituals for the gods. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic buildings in Beijing.

3. Forbidden City
Another must-see site in Beijing is the Forbidden City, a vast imperial palace complex built in 1420. It served as the political and ceremonial center for the Ming and Qing dynasties for over 500 years.
The Forbidden City is like a micro-city itself, with numerous buildings and halls within its walls. The highlight of the palace complex is the Imperial Garden, which showcases the quintessential Chinese architectural style.
Please note that the number of visitors allowed inside the Forbidden City is limited, and tickets must be booked online in advance. You won’t be able to purchase tickets at the gate without a prior booking. Make sure to book your entrance ticket in advance here. Also, don’t forget to bring your ID, as it will be checked upon entry.

To gain a deeper understanding of the site’s history, we booked a guided tour through Trip.com. This tour was organized by the same company we used for our Great Wall visit, and it was another excellent experience. We not only learned a lot about the history of China and the Forbidden City, but our guide also provided invaluable tips on navigating Beijing and discovering hidden gems only locals know about.

4. Summer Palace
Another remarkable spot in Beijing is the Summer Palace. Our guide from the Forbidden City tour mentioned that this was his favorite historic site in Beijing, and we couldn’t agree more. The Summer Palace is essentially a vast public park built around Kunming Lake in 1764. The entrance fee is just 30 yuan, and you can easily spend half a day exploring the grounds.

Within the park, you’ll find Suzhou Market Street, where you can grab a bite to eat. This area was designed to mimic the famous canals of Suzhou, and we found the replica to be even more charming than the actual market in Suzhou.

5. Wangfujing Food Market
Beijing has an abundance of street food, but our favorite spot was Wangfujing Food Market. It’s likely the most famous food market in the city, so it tends to get quite crowded, especially in the evening. However, if you want to sample traditional Chinese dishes from various regions, as well as the famous Peking duck, this is the place to be.

6. DaDong Restaurant
Another great place to try the famous Peking duck is DaDong Restaurant. Our guide at the Forbidden City recommended it, noting that while it’s quite popular among foreigners and somewhat pricey, it’s definitely worth a visit. He was right—this was the most expensive dinner we had in China, but it was exceptional. As someone who usually doesn’t enjoy duck, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was.

There are several DaDong locations in Beijing, but we chose the one in Nanxincang Tower. The meal was absolutely delicious, although the duck at Wangfujing Food Market was amazing too. Dining at DaDong is more about the overall experience than just the food itself.

7. Sanlitun
Sanlitun is a bustling pedestrian area in Beijing known for its vibrant nightlife, numerous bars, and diverse restaurants. It’s one of the best places for shopping in the city, offering a mix of local and international brands. The neighborhood is also home to many specialty coffee roasters, making it a great spot for coffee enthusiasts.

8. Lama Temple
The Lama Temple, also known as Yonghe Temple, is the largest Buddhist temple in Beijing and one of the most significant Buddhist sites outside of Tibet. Located in the heart of the city, the temple attracts many locals who come to pray throughout the day, offering a glimpse into the spiritual life of Beijing.

9. Beijing Olympic Park
For those interested in the 2008 Olympic Games, visiting the iconic Bird’s Nest and Water Cube is a must. These impressive structures are located close to each other and are easily accessible via Metro Line 8 at Olympic Sports Center Station.