Welcome to Beijing — the City of Remarkable Contrasts

Beijing is an ideal destination for tourists. It will amaze you, overwhelm you and take you on a beautiful journey into the past.

Modern architecture, charming little streets, and hypnotizing energy blend here with the Asian clamor and the power of the good-old Empire. Cosmopolitan? Oh yes, but besides the modern districts, Beijing is still firmly rooted in its long traditional past.

While in Beijing, you will get the impression that you are in a city that literally wants to show you how strong and commanding it can be. As the perennial capital of the People’s Republic of China, the “Northern Capital” was home to the Chinese imperial dynasty rulers for over two thousand years. No wonder it is a city of remarkable contrasts, offering tourists top-class skyscrapers and modern shopping centers glittering with splendor but also the oldest monuments of the country. The architecture shows traces of the Ming and Qing dynasties and every mood swing from 1949 to the present day. From Hutongs (narrow alleys) to the enormous underground bomb shelters hollowed out during the paranoid 1970s. From cold Soviet-style monuments to eye-catching massive glistening towers growing out of the traces of vanishing temples.

Honest and uncomplicated, such can be a conversation with a capital city dweller who appreciates the good fortune that made him live in the center of the world he knows. A center of culture, diligence, and good taste, which, however, slightly gives up on the sustained high pace of development in Shanghai or Hong Kong, thanks to which the residents will always find some time to sit in front of the house, play chess and watch life flow at its own pace.

Beijing is one of China’s most authentic ancient fortresses. It is also an ambitious, confident, and modern city that seems as confident in its destiny as ruler of the entire People’s Republic of China. A city with an incredibly long history that is constantly growing, changing, and facing the challenges of a multi-million metropolis.

So what can you expect from this city? It all depends on how long your stay is.

At the top of the list of places to see are Forbidden City, Plan Tian’anmen, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, Tanzhe, Yunju temples, and many more.

Visit Tian’anmen Square, the largest man-made square, and you will immediately be amazed by the enormity and massiveness of the surrounding buildings. Spend some time here; The Forbidden City that once sheltered the Ming and Qing dynasties is today a Museum Palace filled with artifacts from all periods of Chinese history.

The city’s streets are filled with restaurants and the sidewalks with food stalls — thus spreading the ubiquitous smells of Chinese delicacies. Unfortunately, the menu is in English only in the more prominent eateries. Otherwise, you have to count on your body language, google translator, and luck because there is quite a good chance that the staff only speaks Chinese.

The sheer size and scale of the world’s most numerous capital cities are definitely inspiring. And if you strain your eyes a little — between the six-lane highways and skyscrapers, you’ll still find a fascinating Chinese history that dominates the rest. All you have to do is to keep your eyes wide open.

LANDMARKS: Mao, smog, Peking duck, Forbidden City, Hutongs (traditional Chinese buildings), chopsticks, Great Wall of China, lanterns, yin and yang, Temple of Heaven.

YOU MUST : TRY green tea in a traditional tea pavilion. BUY Mao Zedong watch or magnet in a not-so-communist shop next to his mausoleum or at the antique market. EAT the city’s culinary specialty — Peking Duck in hoisin sauce.

WHY?

Beijing is an ideal destination for tourists. It will amaze you, delight you and take you on a beautiful journey into the past with a view of one of the tallest buildings in the world. Every year, millions of tourists come here to see the capital of China, shrouded in history and legends, which is now chasing time and trying to meet the expectations of the 21st-century metropolis.

If the temptation to see one of the world’s new wonders isn’t enough, why not be tempted by the numerous fantastic restaurants, museums, temples, and antique shops.

In addition, Beijing never sleeps, so you can easily find something to do, regardless of the time of day or night.

WHEN?

When thinking about holidays in Beijing, it is worth considering the weather and the local holidays, as it gets crowded at the tourist spots.

The best time is to visit the city in September or October when warm, dry, sunny days with clear skies and pleasantly cool evenings are regular. The second best time is spring (late March to mid-May).

SOME TIPS:

If you are not used to crowds — expect frequent feelings of claustrophobia that will accompany you throughout your trip. Avoid visiting the Great Wall of China during the major holidays — the magical bricks of the wall stretched over the adjoining hills turn into moving, colorful chains of humans.

In some places, you can meet the so-called fake art students who will try to sell you products for a rather exorbitant price. When moving by taxis, it is worth choosing the official cars to avoid higher fees.

About me: My name is Joanna Skladanek. I was born in Poland but for the last 15 years, I’ve worked as a flight attendant and was based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I studied Tourism, as well as the International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. I am a photographer, writer, career consultant, recruiter and content creator (mainly) on Instagram. On Medium I will write about everything that interests me: traveling, photography, cultures, wellness, self-improvement, self-development, and a tiny bit of fictional short stories.

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