Four days in Beijing to kick off the Asia trip. A massive city loaded with history and grand architecture, and a great introduction to China.
Contents
Shichahai & Houhai Lake
We spent our first day in Beijing exploring Shichahai, the historic district around our hotel, which gave us a great first impression of the city. We started off by heading to the metro station near our hotel and taking the metro to Dongzhimen (to rehearse our route for the next day) and then wandering from there roughly in the direction of our hotel, stopping first at the Lama Temple.
Active Buddhist temple with a large statue of Maitreya Buddha. Worth a visit.
Historic hotel surrounded by traditional hutongs. Walking distance to Houhai Lake and close to Beihai North metro station. Comfortable and friendly.
Visit ↗We then wandered through the hutongs, including Wudaoying Hutong, a nice area filled with interesting shops and restaurants, and continued making our way back to the hotel, walking into random shops and generally exploring. We made our way to Houhai Lake, which began to feel a bit more touristy, but still had a nice atmosphere and plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. It did seem like the entire city came out to take photos at the lake in the evening, but I think that speaks to how beautiful the area is.
Great Wall & Summer Palace
For our second day in Beijing we had a tour lined up to take us to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace. This was probably too much for one day, but we were able to see both and overall had a great time. The Great Wall in particular was incredible, and climbing to the highest point of the wall was one of my favourite parts of the trip. The views were amazing and the wall itself was a bit surreal to be walking on. It was also a hell of a climb in the summer heat, but I think that made it feel even more worthwhile once we actually reached the top. We did pay ¥40 each for a cold drink at the top, which was expensive but absolutely necessary after such a brutal climb.
The Great Wall of China. Speaks for itself.
If you like history, the Summer Palace is definitely worth a visit, especially with a guide. This is the only guided tour we did in Beijing, and learning the history of the palace really elevated the experience. The palace grounds are stunning, and I can see why the extravagance that went into this place contributed to the downfall of the Qing dynasty.
This is one place that I would go back to if I had more time in Beijing. I only saw a portion of it and there is clearly so much more to do and see here.
Summer Palace of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Stunning grounds and architecture, and fascinating history.
Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven
We entered the Forbidden City from Tiananmen Square, which was a bit of a hassle to get into due to security, but worthwhile once we got in. That said, unless you have a specific interest in Tiananmen Square, I would recommend just going straight for the Forbidden City. It's far more impressive and big enough to spend all day exploring. Each courtyard and hall is somehow more impressive than the last and they never seem to end. We didn't have a guide for this one, as we just wanted to wander and explore, but having one would probably add a lot of context.
If you have any energy left after walking through the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park would probably be worth a visit. I wouldn't know - I went to the Temple of Heaven instead.
If you're going to Beijing you're going to the Forbidden City. Non-negotiable. Must get tickets in advance.
Doable on the same day as the Forbidden City. Probably a better place to start.
The Temple of Heaven complex is the most peaceful place we visited in Beijing, and a good way to relax after the crowds in the Forbidden City. It's a huge park filled with gardens and shady areas, and still has several attractions scattered throughout if you feel like you want to get out of the shade and back into a crowd. They are, of course, stunning buildings and worth venturing out for a proper look.
Getting Around
The metro in Beijing is almost certainly the easiest way to get around the city. You can buy a ticket at any station and it also connects to the airport express line. Our flight arrived late at night so we needed an airport shuttle since the train wasn't running, but these can be easily booked online in advance. The only place the metro won't take you is the Great Wall, which you will probably need to take a bus for.
Easy to use and can get you within walking distance of pretty much anywhere worth going.
Gallery
Reflections
What would I do differently?
Would I go again?