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Beijing, China | Travel Guide as Americans Explore and Meet Chinese
Beijing Travel Guide: Ancient History Meets Modern Marvels
This week we are in Beijing, China. It is the kind of city that wears a thousand years of history like it’s no big deal—palaces, temples, and the amazing Great Wall just casually hanging out alongside high-speed trains and latte art. One minute you’re wandering the Forbidden City, feeling like...
This week we are in Beijing, China. It is the kind of city that wears a thousand years of history like it’s no big deal—palaces, temples, and the amazing Great Wall just casually hanging out alongside high-speed trains and latte art. One minute you’re wandering the Forbidden City, feeling like royalty, and the next you’re dodging e-bikes in a back alley lined with dumpling shops and neon signs. It’s equal parts imperial majesty and modern madness, where ancient traditions and future tech live in surprisingly cozy harmony. Beijing is loud, proud, and absolutely packed with “did-that-just-happen?” moments—and yes, we’re still dreaming about the Peking duck. But our most memorable Beijing experiences were meeting and interacting with the Chinese locals. People treated us with kindness everywhere we went.
We are in week 7 of our most epic adventure yet—a 10-video travelogue series through China that spans 3,350 miles, 9 cities, and approximately a million dumplings (give or take). We started this unforgettable journey in the vibrant streets of Hong Kong and zipped across the country on some of the fastest, smoothest, and downright fanciest trains we’ve ever experienced. From futuristic skylines to ancient temples, panda sightings to people-watching, this series is packed with unforgettable moments and plenty of surprises.
Experience the captivating blend of ancient history and modern dynamism in Beijing, China. Explore the majestic Forbidden City, wander through charming back alleys brimming with delicious dumplings, and marvel at the iconic Great Wall. This incredible journey showcases the unexpected harmony between imperial majesty and futuristic technology, creating unforgettable moments. The highlight? The heartwarming kindness of the local people encountered throughout the adventure. This is part of a larger 10-video series chronicling a 3,350-mile adventure across China, filled with cultural discoveries and delicious food.
This week we are in Beijing, China. It is the kind of city that wears a thousand years of history like it’s no big deal—palaces, temples, and the amazing Great Wall just casually hanging out alongside high-speed trains and latte art. One minute you’re wandering the Forbidden City, feeling like royalty, and the next you’re dodging e-bikes in a back alley lined with dumpling shops and neon signs. It’s equal parts imperial majesty and modern madness, where ancient traditions and future tech live in surprisingly cozy harmony. Beijing is loud, proud, and absolutely packed with “did-that-just-happen?” moments—and yes, we’re still dreaming about the Peking duck. But our most memorable Beijing experiences were meeting and interacting with the Chinese locals. People treated us with kindness everywhere we went.
We are in week 7 of our most epic adventure yet—a 10-video travelogue series through China that spans 3,350 miles, 9 cities, and approximately a million dumplings (give or take). We started this unforgettable journey in the vibrant streets of Hong Kong and zipped across the country on some of the fastest, smoothest, and downright fanciest trains we’ve ever experienced. From futuristic skylines to ancient temples, panda sightings to people-watching, this series is packed with unforgettable moments and plenty of surprises.
John and Bev of Retirement Travelers leave Xi’an for Beijing on a high-speed train in business class. During the trip they meet Ivan and his mother; Ivan shows them a drawing he made of the couple. The journey takes about four and a half hours. In Beijing they use plastic metro cards, tapping them at entry and returning them at the exit gate, then walk to their hotel. At the Summer Palace, they show their passports at the gate and say they were waved in because they were over 60. They explore the hilly grounds and Kunming Lake, try ice cream they think may be lemon and lime but identify as tea flavored, and stroll the grounds for several hours. In the evening they walk along a historic avenue south of Tiananmen Square, then choose a small restaurant and try several dishes. They travel to the Great Wall by high-speed train; the cable car is closed because of high winds, so they take a funicular and walk part of the wall. They describe steep, uneven steps and meet an 80-year-old woman who, according to her granddaughter, had never seen a foreigner. On their last night they attend the Red Theater Acrobatic Show, then leave Beijing by train for Hangzhou.
John and Bev of Retirement Travelers travel from Xi’an to Beijing by high-speed train and reconnect with the city. They meet a young passenger named Ivan, who drew them, then use metro cards to reach their hotel. Their sightseeing includes the Summer Palace, where they explore the grounds and Kunming Lake, and an evening walk along a historic avenue south of Tiananmen Square before finding a small restaurant. At the Great Wall, the cable car is closed because of high winds, so they take a funicular and walk part of the wall. They later meet an older Beijing resident and attend the Red Theater Acrobatic Show before leaving Beijing by train.
John and Bev explore Beijing’s Summer Palace, local food and the Great Wall, meet local families and attend an acrobatic show.
Beijing Travel Guide: Summer Palace, Great Wall and Local Food
2:32 John and Bev show how they use the small plastic metro cards: tap the card at the entry scanner, then insert it at the exit gate so it opens and the card can be reused. They do not describe how to buy or top up the cards.
4:22 At the Summer Palace gate, the couple says they showed their passports and were waved in because they were over 60. This is what happened to them during this visit; they do not explain a general admission rule for other travelers.
6:14 The couple says they spent several hours strolling the Summer Palace grounds before their legs were tired. The video shows this as a large site to explore on foot, rather than a quick stop.
9:44 The cable car was closed because of high winds, so they took a funicular to another section of the Great Wall and then walked. They say the funicular did not take them to the very top.
10:55 They describe the Great Wall descent as steep, with uneven steps and handrails they found too low. The couple says the path felt difficult, so visitors should expect a careful walk on this section.
2:32 John and Bev show how they use the small plastic metro cards: tap the card at the entry scanner, then insert it at the exit gate so it opens and the card can be reused. They do not describe how to buy or top up the cards.
4:22 At the Summer Palace gate, the couple says they showed their passports and were waved in because they were over 60. This is what happened to them during this visit; they do not explain a general admission rule for other travelers.
6:14 The couple says they spent several hours strolling the Summer Palace grounds before their legs were tired. The video shows this as a large site to explore on foot, rather than a quick stop.
9:44 The cable car was closed because of high winds, so they took a funicular to another section of the Great Wall and then walked. They say the funicular did not take them to the very top.
10:55 They describe the Great Wall descent as steep, with uneven steps and handrails they found too low. The couple says the path felt difficult, so visitors should expect a careful walk on this section.
0:05 Opening thoughts on the Great Wall
1:05 Taking the train to Beijing
1:42 Meeting Ivan on the train
2:00 Arriving in Beijing
2:32 Using metro cards
4:02 Visiting the Summer Palace
5:08 Kunming Lake and tea ice cream
6:14 Walking the palace grounds
6:32 Historic avenue and dinner
9:10 Returning to the Great Wall
9:44 Funicular ride and wall walk
11:23 Meeting an older local resident
11:57 Red Theater acrobatic show
12:37 Leaving Beijing by train
0:05 Opening thoughts on the Great Wall
1:05 Taking the train to Beijing
1:42 Meeting Ivan on the train
2:00 Arriving in Beijing
2:32 Using metro cards
4:02 Visiting the Summer Palace
5:08 Kunming Lake and tea ice cream
6:14 Walking the palace grounds
6:32 Historic avenue and dinner
9:10 Returning to the Great Wall
9:44 Funicular ride and wall walk
11:23 Meeting an older local resident
11:57 Red Theater acrobatic show
12:37 Leaving Beijing by train
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John and Bev say the high-speed train took about four and a half hours. They traveled in business class.
What happened when they reached the Summer Palace?
They showed their passports at the gate and say they were waved in because they were over 60. That describes their own experience, not a general entry rule.
What did they see at the Summer Palace?
They explored the hilly grounds, looked around Kunming Lake and spent several hours walking. They also tried ice cream they thought might be lemon and lime but found tasted like tea.
What did they do when the Great Wall cable car was closed?
They took a funicular to another section and walked part of the wall. They say the funicular did not reach the very top.
What did they eat near Tiananmen Square?
After walking along a historic avenue south of Tiananmen Square, they found a small restaurant and ordered crispy cauliflower, a meat-filled flatbread, spicy noodles and cucumber salad.
What did they do on their last night in Beijing?
They booked tickets to the Red Theater Acrobatic Show and watched the performance before leaving the city the next day.
