A Stunning Trip to Beijing

As a history enthusiast, I took advantage of the visa-free policy to visit Beijing. I managed to secure a ticket to the Forbidden City, which I absolutely wanted to see! Touring the site while recalling the history of the Qing Dynasty that I had read about beforehand was an exceptional experience. Naturally, I also visited the Great Wall, and was so moved that I forgot about the fatigue from walking. Most of the tickets for the tourist attractions require advance reservations for specific dates and times. This system is perfect for tourists who like to plan their itineraries meticulously, and it also helps alleviate the recent issue of overtourism. Additionally, I was amazed by the sheer scale of Beijing and the convenience brought by using Alipay. The city is vast and expansive. Walking the distance of one subway station with a Tokyo mindset would be regrettable. While navigating the city using the subway, buses, and taxis, I was able to handle almost everything, including payments and route confirmations, with Alipay. Using WeChat for some reservations also ensured that I had no troubles during my stay. Lastly, I want to mention the kindness of the local people. Due to the extremely cold weather, I became a bit numb and ended up dropping my belongings twice on the street. Each time, someone noticed and called out to me. Although English is not widely spoken, many people kindly responded to my questions using translation apps and gestures. Thank you, everyone! Having been thoroughly captivated by my trip to China, I have already arranged a trip to Xi'an.