What to expect in Beijing and how to be prepared

Hello everyone, welcome to my first blog!

I thought for my first blog it would make sense to write about my first big trip. Back in 2019 I went to China for 6 days. It was always a dream, such a beautiful country with amazing scenery and a stunning culture. 

It was booked through Travel department and I couldn’t fault them. The trip was 7 nights in a 5-star hotel. Evening meals including every night. Each day has multiple trips but also there is time for yourself. 

Day 1: We landed in Beijing international airport; security was strict here but once you have all your travel documents and information there should be no problems. I stayed in the Legendale hotel on Jinbao street, the hotel was just beautiful. Once we arrived at the hotel we checked in, had an evening meal, and got rest to prepare for the star of the tour.

Day 2: A full days exploration is underway, as we visit some of Beijing’s famous landmarks. This includes Forbidden City, Tiananmen square and Qianmen street. We arrived at Tiananmen square which then led us through to the Forbidden city, this is preserved ancient buildings and is the worlds largest palace complex covering 7.75 million square feet. It is guarded by a 30-foot wall with gate towers guarding all of its entrance. This was fascinating to see and just stunning.

When I was there it was over 30 degrees (Celsius) so depending on the time of the year you are planning on travel, make sure you pack a bag for the day with lots of liquids to keep hydrated and snacks. I was exhausted during this tour as it is long but nonetheless beautiful. We then took a visit to Qianmen street which is a famous pedestrian street. Filled with kiosks and street food, there is plenty to do here.

Day 3: My favourite day of the trip. On day 3 we made our way to the Great Wall of China and all I can say is wow, the most stunning view I have ever seen, and it is still at the top of the list. Definitely a must see and everyone needs to have this on their bucket list! Along with the great wall, on day 3 we also made our way to the Jade Factory and the Sacred way. The jade factory is filled with jewellery and sculptures. The Sacred way contains the tombs of thirteen emperors.

Day 4: We discovered the Summer Palace and took a cruise on the Kunming lake. Summer palace is overlooking a lake and filled with beautiful gardens.

Day 5: We then went to a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, which had a 26-meter-tall wooden Buddhist statue, unfortunately photos were not permitted to get a picture of this. 

Overall, I didn’t want this trip to end and if I could return to China tomorrow I definitely would! I loved everything about this trip and would recommend it to anyone, It is such a change from your typical travel destination and if you’re the type of person who has interest in the cultures of other countries then this is definitely for you.