Beijing: Walls, Temples, and Ducks!

China is vast, and it varies so dramatically from region to region. While Shanghai has become an enormous metropolitan mix of ancient treasures and space-age modern delights, Beijing has continued to hold its ancient roots at its heart, and built itself around, rather than on top of, its own 3,000-year history.

Beijing is big and busy, and full of international visitors and Chinese tourists alike. Be prepared for popular spots to be more crowded than you might have experienced before. Do your research and find out if Chinese public holidays fall during your trip – and if you find they do, consider taking a rest day away from popular landmarks. Crowds in China are no joke, and getting caught in a crush can be unpleasant and dangerous.

What To Do in Beijing:

The Great Wall

No trip to Beijing would be complete without visiting the Great Wall, the longest man-made structure on earth it truly is phenomenal to see. While there are various sites to visit to see the wall, our recommendation is to visit at Mutianyu on this tour, a short drive out of the city: https://gyg.me/0O0KNC4e

Mutianyu boasts sections of the wall beautifully restored, as well as more rugged sections that have been left untouched. There is wall winding up into the hills, stunningly picturesque, ancient staircases with the steps worn down with hundreds of years of use and beautiful stonework around windows in the walls. Its overwhelming to stop and consider just how old the wall is and what history it has seen in that time.

Getting to the top of the wall requires a bit of help, and at Mutianyu you have the choice of cable car or chair lift. I hesitate to suggest that the chair lift is as old as the wall, but its pretty old and safety features are largely absent. You might prefer the cable car if you’re feeling more risk-averse. To get down – you could opt for the luge. It’s a funny mix of solemn history and theme park vibes, but you can overthink these things, and the luge is lots of fun!

Tiananmen Square

The history of Tiananmen Square is ugly. Many of us will remember the horrific scenes of what happened there, and the name is synonymous with horror. However, be mindful that in China, most people know nothing of what happened there, it’s a fascinating insight into population control that this incident has been wiped from China’s own history, and within the country it cannot even be found online. If you’re a reader, you might be interested in Lousia Lim’s book, The People’s Republic of Amnesia, it’s a fascinating, and troubling, look into what happened in Tiananmen Square and how China moved on.

While it is free to enter, expect to encounter guarded checkpoints on your way, and you may be asked to show your passport to continue. You might want to time your visit to coincide with the raising or lowering of the flags which is something of a changing of the guards type twice daily ritual.

There is a museum in the square where Chairman Mao is intombed, you may find long queues and tight security to enter. In Tiananmen Square you’ll also find the entrance to The Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City

A stunningly well-preserved example of ancient Beijing, The Forbidden City stands proudly at its centre, a collection of buildings and courtyards inviting the tourist to explore. Believed to have been first built in the 15th century, and extensively renovated in the 18th century, the Forbidden City is a complex of more than 9,000 rooms on 250 acres.

You could spend days here, but for most of us a couple of hours will suffice – you won’t see it all but you’ll likely see enough. Make sure you make time to explore the palace museum while you’re in there.

You will need tickets to enter, do book well in advance as they do sell out.

The Temple of Heaven

Built around the same time as The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven is an ancient place of worship still in use today. A stunning complex of spectacular buildings set in a beautiful park like setting, the perfect place for taking photos. Again, book early to be sure you get in.

Hutongs

Synonymous with authentic, gritty, Beijing, are the miles and miles of tight alleyways where residents live in buildings between 300-700 years old. Take some time to tour the old Hutongs and see old Beijing in all its glory, while modern residents go about their lives. You’ll see modest, simple houses, and you’ll see glorious details with dramatic doorways and ornate decorations, and the photo opportunities are an Instagrammer’s dream.

Olympic Park

Get up close and personal with the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube, sites of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Wander through the park and you might see concerts, celebrations, or festivals in progress as you go.

Tickets are cheap and easily purchased as you enter. Try visiting at night to see the spectacular buildings well lit up! Situated next to a popular mall with restaurants and shops, and easily accessible by train, its well worth a trip.

Markets

For a market that has it all, try the Hongqiao Pearl Market in Beijing (there is a similar one of the same name in Shanghai, not to be confused). It’s a great all-rounder, selling beautiful pearls – you can have your pearl jewellery custom made while you wait for very modest prices. You’ll also find souvenirs of all kinds, clothing, shoes, homewares, and all manner of fake designer items.

Want to try bargaining for a lower price? Go ahead, its expected and you’ll find most shopkeepers will happily engage with you. Those in the know suggest you should expect to pay roughly one third of the first price you’re offered, however this varies enormously and it can be tricky to know going in what you really should be paying. Remember this though – they will not sell to you at a price that doesn’t suit them. I have seen shopkeepers stomp their feet, pout, and tell customers they will go broke as they submit to a final low price, leaving the purchaser with a guilty conscience – this is part of the game – if they’re agreeing to sell then the price is good for them. You’ll know when you’ve gone too low – they simply wont sell to you, and this can be the most effective way of finding out what the real price is.

Sellers and buyers alike will throw up their hands, claim financial ruin, laugh at the price offered and pretend they think you’re joking, its all part of the game. Have a go if you’re keen – but if you’re happy enough to pay full price that’s okay too, you’ll make their day.

What to Eat

Peking Duck anyone? You’ve got to have it! Peking Duck is generally ordered as a half or whole roast duck, served up with sides of thin crepe-like pancakes, sliced spring onions, and hoisin sauce. The Duck is often then carved for you into thin slices, with the skin removed and sliced up separately. Then, you assemble your own little roll combining all the ingredients and eat! Its delicious, rich, succulent fare, and must be tried!

Other must haves in China include dumplings of all kinds, noodles of all kinds, and street foods too!

In Beijing you’ll also find markets of less palatable items such as cat and dog meat, snakes, and insects of all kinds – certainly not must-see or must-try for many of us, but if this piques your interest Beijing has it.

Where to Stay

You’ll find many affordable and convenient options close to the centre, but for a stay steeped in old world charm mixed with modern comfort try Legendale Hotel Beijing.