Beijing is undeniably huge, and for many expats who have only been here for a year or two, their notion of the city might be limited to its skyscrapers, expressways, and communities. This infrastructure, and of course some tourist spots, represent a thriving part of the megacity that we and many outside China know. But there’s more to the city than that.
Try searching Google for “places to go in Beijing” and a wealth of websites will show you a very similar list containing the must-see tourist spots, including the Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square, and the Forbidden City. When you’re traveling the city for a short and limited time, say less than a week, it might be a good idea to join tour groups that will give specified itineraries and lists. But if you’re living and working here, why not give it a go and explore the city bit by bit? (Of course, do it when it’s not polluted or not a public holiday.)
When visiting a tourist area, it’s good to “internalize” and try to “travel back in time” to understand its beauty, despite the throngs of visitors or a bad air day. I also suggest to read a little bit about the area before going there, and prepare to compare what you saw and read on books to what will you experience.
Understanding and appreciating the majestic structures and magnificent artifacts requires knowing the history behind them. Many times during my museum travels I see centuries-old artifacts that look underwhelming, but “getting the feel” and “internalizing” by imagining how emperors and their household, or even commoners and peasants, used the relics give an otherworldly and exciting sense of history and time.
Last autumn (after I came back from a trip to the UK), I embarked on a journey to explore many areas in Beijing, mostly to experience its rich history through people, places, and events. I started this blog to document my musings and experience, as well as to share what I believe are breathtaking views of these areas. And when I started working at beijingkids, I thought of making my own Bucket List series since I fell in love with traveling and exploring China. So expect that in this series, you’ll get to know cool but cheap travel options in and out of the capital as well as tidbits and trivia about some touristy places here.
So far I have written three items for my Bucket List series… have a look at them:
There are many things to come so stay tuned.
Featured photo from successtiming via Pixabay. Blog inspiration from One Chel of an Adventure.
