Beijing Rant! XHS Travel Guides: ALL 'Photo Scams'!
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Oh dear! Friends, I just took my parents on a whirlwind five-day tour in Beijing around May 20th, and now I must vent a bit! A lot of the fancy travel guides on social media aren't entirely reliable; don't fall for all the hype!
Over these five days, we've pretty much explored most of the popular spots in Beijing:
- Tiananmen Square's flag-raising ceremony (which requires an early wake-up call!)
- Mao Zedong Memorial Hall (visiting the old man)
- The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, where the previous emperors used to live.
- Qianmen Street, a very lively old commercial street
- The Badaling Great Wall (you're not a true man if you haven't been there!)
- Olympic Park (where the Olympics were held, which features the Bird's Nest and Water Cube)
- The Temple of Heaven (a place where the emperor prayed to heaven before)
- The Summer Palace (the imperial garden), Yihe yuan
- The Old Summer Palace, aka, Yuanmingyuan (a historical landmark)
- We posed for photos in front of Tsinghua University and Peking University as well,也算是“到此一游”啦
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Let me start by addressing the schedule reservation anxiety that most guides mention:
- Even if you don’t manage to make a reservation online, don't panic as you can still get one at the venue in most cases.
- This especially applies to Tiananmen Tower and the People's Great Hall, where there are several on-site counters for ticket-purchasing and scheduling. Some reports exaggerate about having to schedule a long time before online - I find it just slightly overrated
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Now, to address concerns regarding luggage:
- Not bringing a bag might mean shorter queue times for security checks but let's face it; with so many people around, the saving time is negligible.
- So go ahead and bring your bag - don’t get swindled by all these statements.
Below are some points of attention, and my dear readers, please take heed
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Travel Tips and Avoiding Mistakes:
* Right outside Tiananmen Tower (the white bridges) is only a one-way street leading inward. If you scheduled a visit to Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Museum of China, or the People's Great Hall (all located near Tiananmen Square), make a detour first. I was careless and walked towards the tower, then tried to head back towards Tiananmen square, and ended up taking a wrong turn. I had to walk another 30+ minutes as a result,累死我了
* A recommended route for visiting Tiananmen and Forbidden City is as follows: Watch the flag-raising ceremony → Visit Mao Zedong Memorial Hall → Visit the People's Great Hall → Explore Tiananmen Square → Visit Tiananmen Tower → Finally visit the Forbidden City. This route ensures you won't take any detours.
* The Forbidden City (for seniors aged over 60), pregnant women and friends who aren't able to walk as well, all have an “easy-access lane.” One senior can bring one kid and another companion, which is quite a nice policy.
* Flag-raising schedule is subject to sunrise, so get there at least 1-2 hours early to avoid the rush. If you want to queue up in front, expect to start queuing up between 3-4 am. It is really crowded!
* At the National Museum of China, you can bring chargers (unless they’re damaged or swollen), but not exceeding 20,000mAh. However, charging inside exhibit rooms is not allowed.
* The Great Wall is pretty far from downtown Beijing, so best to arrange a whole day for the journey itself and the sightseeing:
* Badaling Great Wall has its fair share of tourists, yet it still boasts spectacular views. Travel by bus or arrive by high-speed rail from Beijing North Station.
* Mutianyu Great Wall is less crowded, however, is further from the city center.
* Entering the Imperial Heaven Park through the Eastern Gate is NOT suggested. Best to enter through Southern gate and exit via Northern Gate. You might spot more classic buildings this way, without going back and forth.
* At Summer Palace, avoid purchasing all inclusive ticket. It’s enormous; you simply can’t see everything in a day—concentrate on the major attractions.
* When visiting Beijing attractions, a bag is definitely more convenient to carry. Especially if it’s not during the busy season, the difference in speed with or without luggage is not significant— sometimes, they may merge security checkpoints altogether.
* Make sure to carry lighter baggage during the Security check-in at the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube). It looks cooler at night with lights.
* The street food at Muslim Street could be just okay. For authentic Beijinger taste, I suggest Huguo Temple Street, which might offer better authentic food experience.