Summer Palace: A Dreamlike Journey Through an Ancient Garden

If you're planning a trip to Beijing, this travel guide is sure to help! Accommodation: As a cosmopolitan metropolis, Beijing offers a wide variety of accommodation options. If you want convenient transportation, it is recommended to choose a hotel in the city center or near a subway station. For example, near Qianmen or Xidan, where subway lines are dense, you can quickly reach various attractions in Beijing. If you want to experience the unique charm of Beijing, you can choose to stay in a homestay in a hutong to experience the atmosphere of old Beijing life. Recommended Attractions: • The Palace Museum: The essence of ancient Chinese palace architecture, it houses countless cultural relics and treasures. Be sure to book tickets in advance on the official website to avoid queuing. When visiting, you can follow a professional guide or rent an audio guide to better understand the history and culture of the Forbidden City. • Tiananmen Square: Watching the flag-raising ceremony is a must-do in Beijing. Every morning, when the national flag guard marches towards the flagpole with firm steps, the solemn and sacred atmosphere will deeply move you. At the same time, there are other attractions worth visiting around Tiananmen Square, such as the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. • Badaling Great Wall: "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man." The Badaling Great Wall is the most famous section of the Great Wall in Beijing. It is recommended to visit in the morning when there are relatively fewer people. You can take the cable car up and down the mountain, or you can challenge yourself by hiking to experience the magnificence of the Great Wall. • Summer Palace: This large royal garden combines the characteristics of the water towns of southern China and the royal gardens of northern China, with beautiful scenery. In the Summer Palace, you can take a boat tour of Kunming Lake, enjoy the scenery along the way, and visit buildings such as the Foxiang Pavilion and the Long Corridor. Food Recommendations: • Peking Duck: Of course, you must eat Peking duck when you come to Beijing! Quanjude, Da Dong, and Siji Minfu are all famous Peking duck restaurants. The duck skin is crispy and the meat is tender. It is served with thin pancakes, spring onions, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce. The taste is superb. • Old Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles: The noodles are chewy, the fried sauce is rich, and it is served with fresh shredded vegetables. One bowl is super satisfying. • Douzhi'er and Jiaoquan: These are traditional snacks of old Beijing. Although the taste is a bit unique, many people say they are addictive. You can go to Huguosi Snacks or Jinfang Snacks to taste authentic old Beijing snacks. Transportation Guide: Beijing's public transportation is very developed, and the subway is the preferred mode of transportation. You can purchase a Beijing transportation card for convenient travel on the subway and bus. In some areas with concentrated attractions, such as around Nanluoguxiang and Dongsi Shitiao, you can also choose to ride shared bicycles, which allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way and exercise. Beijing is a charming city with a rich history, culture, and cuisine waiting for you to explore. I hope this travel guide will help you have a pleasant trip to Beijing!