First glance beauty:

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Prince Gong's Mansion, etc.

a confession:

I have been to Beijing as early as 1985 and have visited Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to Heroes, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, as well as the Great Wall of Badaling, Xiangshan Park, and the Ming Tombs.

Afterwards, due to work reasons, I have been on business trips to Beijing multiple times. During my busy time, I have also visited Qianmen, Dashilan, Wangfujing, Nanluoguxiang, and so on. So I'm not unfamiliar with Beijing, but there aren't many real upstream games.

Heart words:

Beijing is the capital of our country, with its solemn symbol and profound history.

Main itinerary:

This trip to Beijing will be arranged for a total of 6 days and 5 nights (July 21-26, 2019).

On the first day, depart for Beijing.

On the second day, the Summer Palace, the alternative to the Old Summer Palace.

On the third day, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, and Wangfujing Pedestrian Street.

On the fourth day, the Temple of Heaven, Qianmen Pedestrian Street, and Dashilan.

On the 5th day, Prince Gong's Mansion. I didn't go to Beihai Park and Shichahai due to the hot weather.

get accommodation:

Choose the Yaduo S Wu Hotel near Xidan. Reason one is that there are subway lines 1, 2, and 4 around the hotel, making travel convenient; The second is that Beijing South Station is not far away, and taking the subway Line 4 to Xidan Station is only 4 stops away; Thirdly, there are many options for dining in Xidan Joy City, with a variety of dining options available.

Camera Equipment:

Wangye Eye:

Beijing Story

Beijing has a long history, and its history as a city can be traced back to 3000 years ago. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, Beijing has always been an important town in northern China, known as Jicheng, Yandu, Yanjing, Dadu, Beiping, Shuntian Prefecture, and so on. Beijing, along with Xi'an, Nanjing, and Luoyang, is known as the "Four Ancient Capitals" of China. It has 6 World Heritage Sites and is the city with the most cultural heritage projects in the world. It has significant international influence and is also one of the largest cities in the world.

In 938, Emperor Taizong of Liao designated Youzhou as the "Nanjing Youdu Prefecture" and changed its name to "Xijin Prefecture" in 1012. It was the capital of the Liao Dynasty, also known as Yanjing, and was the beginning of the establishment of Beijing as the capital. In 1153, the Jin Dynasty established the Central Capital, and 2014 marked the 1076th anniversary of the founding of Beijing as the capital. Jin Zhongdu laid the foundation for the construction of Beijing during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Beijing is located at the northwest edge of the North China Plain, with Yanshan Mountain at its back, Yongding River flowing through the southwest of the old city, adjacent to Tianjin and Hebei Province. It is a historical and cultural city with a history of more than 3000 years of city building and more than 1000 years of capital building. In history, six dynasties, including the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and the People's Republic of China (during the period of the Beiyang Government), have established their capitals here, as well as several political regimes have established their policies here. It has gathered Chinese culture since the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and has many historical sites and cultural landscapes.

There is a saying in the market that if you have never been to the Forbidden City in Beijing, it means you have never been to Beijing; If you haven't tasted roast duck, even if you haven't been to Beijing. So, the Forbidden City is a must visit place for tourists from all over Beijing, and it can be imagined that the Forbidden City is very popular. You didn't arrive early at the roast duck restaurant, so you must have to wait for a long time.

Day 1

On the first day at 9:00 am, I departed from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and boarded the Fuxing train. It took about 4 and a half hours to arrive in Beijing, with only 2 stops in Nanjing and Jinan, which felt very convenient. I went directly to the city center, saving more time and money than taking a plane, and it was also very punctual.

(Below: Fuxing High Speed Rail)

After arriving at the hotel, enter a resting state first. It should be noted that this trip is mainly focused on relaxation and leisure, without rushing in time or following tourist attractions. The main tourist attractions are easily accessible.

Let's talk about hotels first.

The Beijing hotels we are going to talk about here are not very easy to choose from, either they have good locations and high prices. If you have high accommodation requirements, then prepare for the ocean. Requesting a low point, also above 400-600 yuan, may not be attractive. Yaduo S Wu Hotel is a national chain store, belonging to the mid-range hotel, with prices ranging from 800 to 1200 yuan.

(Below: At the entrance of Yaduo S Wu Hotel)

(Below: lobby of Yaduo S Wu Hotel)

(Below: Room of Yaduo S Wu Hotel)

(Below: Yaduo S Wu Hotel Restaurant)

The summer temperature in Beijing is still relatively high, which is no different from the hot weather of plum blossoms in Shanghai. I rested until almost evening, when the sun was setting, and then I leisurely went to the Beijing style "local flavor" restaurant at the internet celebrity store Xidan for dinner. Traveling, eating, drinking and drinking are also a part of it and essential.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to walk out of the Xidan subway station, but in fact, Line 1 of the subway may be closer from Tiananmen Square. Its location is 21 Taipusi Street. Many restaurants in Beijing have roast duck to eat, and the atmosphere is the same. However, this time, we ordered Xiaodiaoli soup, Bunye mashed potatoes, Almond curd, three hour old fish slices in soup, shredded pork with Beijing sauce, Pea puree cake, and local crisp shrimps. These dishes are really typical of old Beijing and taste good.

(Below: Xiaodiaoli Soup: Cool and Sweet)

(Image below: Crispy shrimp: crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a unique taste)

(Image below: Tuye Potato Mashed: Unique in shape, it needs to be mashed and mixed with the sauce in the bowl to taste, with a strange and delicate taste)

(Image below: Jingjiang Shredded Pork: The taste is very good)

(Image below: Three hour old soup fish fillet: This dish is just average)

(Below: Pea puree cake: the little Dim sum is very crisp when you bite it)

(Below: Almond curd: I like this dessert very much)

Day 2

I originally planned to go to the Forbidden City, but it will not be open to the public on Monday. So I changed to go to the Summer Palace.

Take subway line 4 near the hotel and get off at Beigong Gate. Elderly people aged 60 and above can enter the park by swiping their ID card for free. The adult ticket for peak season is 60 yuan.

Summer Palace Play Index ★★★★★

The Summer Palace was built in the western suburbs of Beijing before the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, with four large royal gardens. In the fifteenth year of the Qianlong reign (1750), Emperor Qianlong used 4.482 million silver to renovate this area into Qingyi Garden in honor of his mother, Empress Xiaosheng, forming a royal garden area that spans 20 kilometers from the current Tsinghua Garden to Xiangshan.

In the tenth year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), Qingyi Garden was burned down by the British and French coalition forces. In the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888), it was rebuilt and renamed the Summer Palace as a summer amusement park. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (1900), the Summer Palace was destroyed by the Eight Nation Alliance, and all the treasures were looted. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace was also destroyed during the period of warlord chaos and Kuomintang rule.

The Summer Palace is adjacent to the Old Summer Palace. The main attractions are based on Kunming Lake and Wanshou Mountain, with West Lake in Hangzhou as the blueprint. It is a large-scale landscape garden that draws on the techniques of Jiangnan gardens and is also a well preserved imperial palace. It is a national 5A level scenic spot.

Tourists enter from the North Palace Gate, which leads to the back mountain and back lake of Wanshou Mountain, as well as Tibetan temples. Here, ancient trees form a forest. Before entering the back mountain of Wanshou Mountain, there is a bridge, and under the bridge lies Suzhou Street.

(Below: Behind Wanshou Mountain)

At the eastern end of Houhu Lake, there is a humorous garden modeled after Wuxi Jichang Garden, which is small and exquisite, known as the "garden within the garden". After seeing the above scenic spots, you can enter a high memorial archway and stroll around the half way back of the Longevity Hill. Then you can get down from the gate and enter the right side of the memorial archway to go to Kunming Lake and the stone boat. However, the signs here are not very obvious.

Slowly stroll to Shifang Boat, next to Kunming Lake.

(Below: Shifang Ship)

(Below: Kunming Lake)

Here, you can buy a one-way 30 yuan boat ticket and take the boat directly to 17 Kong Bridge and Taurus, saving energy and time.

Boarding a boat and watching Wanshou Mountain on the shimmering lake surface is also a kind of enjoyment.

(Below: Looking at Wanshou Mountain in the lake)

Not long after, we arrived at the 17th Arch Bridge and the Taurus. The 17 arch bridge is located on Kunming Lake, between Dongdi and Nanhu Island, connecting the island and making it the largest stone bridge in the park. More than 500 stone lions of different sizes and shapes are carved on the railings on both sides of the stone bridge. Copper Bull is located on the east bank of Kunming Lake, on the north side of the east end of the 17 arch bridge, designed to suppress floods. In 1755, it was cast in copper and called the "Golden Bull".

(Below: Jinniu and 17 Arch Bridge)

Afterwards, he took a boat back to the shipyard in Shifang. After getting off the ship, there is the famous corridor and Buddha Fragrance Pavilion next to it. In fact, it is a must see attraction when visiting the Summer Palace.

(Below: Kunming Lake)

According to many tour guides beside me, the Buddha Fragrance Pavilion is located on the mountainside in the central part of Wanshou Mountain. It is built on a 21 meter high square platform and is an eight sided, three story, and four eaved building, making it a masterpiece of classical architecture. After being burned down by the British and French forces in the tenth year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), the original pavilion was rebuilt with 780000 taels of silver in the seventeenth year of the Guangxu reign (1891). It was completed in the twentieth year of the Guangxu reign (1894) and is the largest project in the Summer Palace. There is a "Jieyin Buddha" enshrined in the pavilion, for the royal family to burn incense here.

The long corridor is located at the southern foot of Wanshou Mountain, facing Kunming Lake, bordering Wanshou Mountain to the north, starting from the Inviting Moon Gate in the east and ending at Shizhang Pavilion in the west. With a total length of 728 meters, it is the longest corridor in domestic gardens. In 1992, it was recognized as the longest corridor in the world and listed in the Guinness World Records. Each beam on the corridor is adorned with colorful paintings. It is said that there are over 14000 paintings, including landscapes, flowers, birds, fish, and insects, as well as allusions to characters. The character paintings in the paintings are all based on classical Chinese literature.

(Below: Long Corridor)

After the game, take the subway directly to Xidan to have dinner.

Xidan is a place where young people gather, and the business here focuses on youthful and fashionable elements. It is distributed in shopping places such as Xidan Joy City, Hanguang Department Store, Juntai Department Store, and French Lao Foye Department Store, and there are also a variety of delicious restaurants that are dazzling, depending on which one you choose.

Day 3

Depart early in the morning to visit the Forbidden City. Taking the subway to the east of Tiananmen Square, you can see a sea of people. It can be imagined that the Forbidden City is very popular during the summer vacation. Start looking, strolling, and taking photos from the Meridian Gate.

(Below: The majestic Tiananmen Square)

【 Forbidden City 】 Play Index ★★★★★★

The Imperial Palace in Beijing, formerly known as the Forbidden City, is the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. It is located at the center of the central axis of Beijing. It is the essence of ancient Chinese palace architecture and one of the largest and best preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

The Palace Museum in Beijing is known as the top of the world's five palaces (the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the United States, and the Kremlin in Russia), and is a national 5A level tourist attraction.

The construction of the Beijing Forbidden City began in the fourth year of the Yongle reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1406), based on the Nanjing Forbidden City, and was completed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign (1420). It is a rectangular city with a length of 961 meters from north to south and a width of 753 meters from east to west. It is surrounded by walls that are 10 meters high on all sides and a moat that is 52 meters wide outside the city. The buildings inside the Forbidden City are divided into two parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The center of the Outer Court is the Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, and Baohe Hall, collectively known as the Three Great Halls, which are the places where the country holds grand ceremonies. The center of the Inner Court is the Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Palace, and Kunning Palace, collectively known as the Later Three Palaces, which are the main palaces where the emperor and empress reside.

After the 1911 Revolution, all the palaces in the Forbidden City were supposed to be nationalized, but according to the "Preferential Treatment Conditions for the Qing Dynasty" formulated at that time, Emperor Sun Aisin Gioro Puyi was allowed to temporarily reside in the palace, that is, the "rear bedroom" part. In 1924, Feng Yuxiang launched the "Beijing Coup", expelling Puyi from the palace and establishing the "Qing Dynasty Aftermath Committee" to take over the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum was officially established and opened to the public on October 10, 1925.

The Forbidden City was not known as the "Forbidden City" until 1925. With the decline of the Qing Dynasty, especially in the 38 years before 1949, the architecture of the Forbidden City gradually deteriorated. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, in 1961, the State Council declared the Forbidden City as one of the first batch of "National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units". A large-scale renovation has been carried out since the 1950s and 1960s. In 1988, the Forbidden City was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and designated as the Palace Museum.

To visit the Forbidden City, it is recommended to book tickets online in advance. Upon arrival, simply swipe your ID card to enter, eliminating the hassle of queuing up to buy tickets. During peak season, adult tickets cost 80 yuan (including the Treasure Museum and Watch Museum), while half price tickets for those aged 60 and above cost 40 yuan (including the Treasure Museum and Watch Museum). The only entrance for the audience in the Forbidden City is at the Meridian Gate. If you are interested in the history of the Forbidden City, don't forget to rent an interpreter. Every palace and every path has a story.

(Below: The Forbidden City)

The Imperial Palace in Beijing, formerly known as the Forbidden City, is the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. It is the essence of ancient Chinese palace architecture. It is also the imperial palace of 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties of China. The three major halls on the central axis (Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, and Baohe Hall) and the Imperial Garden are the focus of visiting the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City has a large collection of precious cultural relics, especially the Treasure Museum and Watch Museum, which cannot be missed.

(Below: Taihe Hall in the Forbidden City)

(Image below: The carvings on the stone railings of the Forbidden City are very exquisite.)

(Below: Corner of the Palace Museum building)

According to legend, this palace has 9999 rooms. At first, the emperor planned to build ten thousand rooms in the palace, but on the night after he made this request to the craftsmen, the heavenly god appeared in the emperor's dream and expressed dissatisfaction to him. The reason is that the heavenly palace of the gods also has ten thousand rooms. If the rulers on the ground, claiming to be the emperor, also build such a palace, it is equivalent to claiming to be on equal footing with their own father. This is a serious violation of the strict hierarchical relationship between the heavenly gods and the emperor. The next morning, the emperor immediately discussed with his ministers and decided to build only 9999 rooms in the Forbidden City. However, architects believed that no one would idle around counting the number of rooms in the palace, so they were lazy and deceived the emperor, only building 8728 rooms in the 980 palace. Overall, the number "nine" is considered very auspicious by Chinese people, and various things containing the number "nine" can often be seen in palaces.

(Below: The Forbidden City)

The Forbidden City, formerly the palace of the emperor, has a unique aura that requires no deliberate search. When you pass by, you can feel that it is it. The Forbidden City in Beijing makes the heart calm, and the silent years have left the imprint of time on the ancient city walls.

(Below: The Red Wall of the Forbidden City is solemn)

After seeing the Forbidden City, walking not far from the Shenwu Gate to the north, one can see the Jingshan Park opposite. This place is famous for Emperor Chongzhen's self hanging and is also a good place to climb high and overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City.

Walking along the northeast of the Forbidden City in Jingshan Park, I saw the corner towers of the Forbidden City.

(Below: Corner Tower of the Forbidden City)

At this point, my stomach was already hungry, and I planned to have roast duck tonight. So I accelerated my search for the Four Seasons Minfu restaurant on Dengshikou Street. On the road, I saw a red walled courtyard again (see picture below).

Beijing Roast Duck Tasting Index ★★★★★

As early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), there were records of roasted duck in the "Food Treasure Record". In the Yuan Dynasty's "Essentials of Drinking and Eating", there was a saying about roast duck. These are the predecessors of today's roast duck.

The roast duck restaurant in Beijing, some say it appeared during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1522-1566), while others say it appeared in the 50th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1785). At that time, the business was operated using the braising and baking method passed down from Nanjing (Jinling), hence the name Nanlu Duck. The earliest location of the shop was in Mishi Hutong outside Xuanwu Gate, which is the Old Cheap Fang Roast Duck Shop (the shop closed down in 1937). The Xianyukou Cheap Roast Duck Shop outside Qianmen was opened in the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1855). Coming from behind has a great impact.

Quanjude roast duck Store was opened in the third year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1864). Due to its well managed and innovative business, it soon became famous in Beijing and spread to the world. Entrepreneur Yang Quanren from Ji County, Hebei Province, changed the stewing oven to a hanging oven, taking a unique approach to draw on the strengths of others, making it highly distinctive.

For many people, the century old brand Quanjude was once a symbol of roast duck, and it's a pity not to eat roast duck. "Good duck" of course means that the quality of roasted duck is good. As we walked, we arrived at Dengshikou Street and saw the internet famous store "Four Seasons and Blessings for the People".

(Below: At the entrance of the Four Seasons Minfu store)

After waiting a little bit, I took a seat. After reading the menu, there were still many varieties. I ordered half of the crispy and tender roast duck (including duck cakes and small ingredients), mustard duck feet, black truffle cheese baked mushrooms, bean jelly cake, court Almond curd, and so on. When the dishes were ready, I began to enjoy them. The average cost of this dinner is 110 yuan per person.

(Image below: Roast duck is delicious, carefully sliced by the chef)

Legend has it that the dish of roast duck was recorded as early as the Yuan Dynasty. The earliest roasted ducks were all cooked using the technique of "stewing", which involves placing the ducks in a stove to stew. This kind of "stewing furnace" technique was the most popular at the time, and it was basically impossible for other roast duck restaurants to stand out in the stewing furnace technique. Inspired by other dishes, Yang Quanren, the founder of Quanjude, took a different approach by hanging ducks for grilling. From then on, this skill of hanging a furnace has been passed down.

(Below: Roast duck and other dishes)

And now more and more roast duck restaurants are rising in Beijing, such as Four Seasons Minfu, Dadong, Liqun, Cheap Fang, etc., giving people more choices.

Have a good dinner and come to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street. There is a cathedral in Wangfujing called Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church, which looks very imposing on the front.

Day 4

Oh, by the way, I tried breakfast at the Qingfeng Baozi Shop near the hotel these days. The price is not expensive and it's affordable. For example, the cost of breakfast for one person in a hotel can accommodate 3-4 people here.

(Below: Qingfeng Baozi Shop)

(Image below: Osmanthus Mume juice is very delicious)

I had breakfast and took the subway to the Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Heaven Gaming Index ★★★★

The Temple of Heaven was a dedicated altar for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to the heavens, pray for rain, and pray for a good harvest. Its main buildings include the Circular Altar, the Imperial Dome, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, and the Hall of Emperor Qianlong. The echo wall made using acoustic principles will definitely make you marvel at the wisdom of the ancients. The greenery of Temple of Heaven Park is very good, suitable for walking and taking photos. 60 year old elderly people are free of charge, and adult tickets cost 34 yuan. It is recommended to purchase a combined ticket (including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Round Hill, and Echo Wall).

The Temple of Heaven is the largest existing ancient sacrificial architectural complex in China. It was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the gods on the winter solstice and performed grain prayers on the auspicious day of the first lunar month. It is said that in November 1998, the Temple of Heaven was included in the The World Heritage List.

I have seen the famous Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, which is the most magnificent and magnificent building in the Temple of Heaven, and also the closest place to the sky in my imagination. The upper and lower roofs of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest are all covered with deep blue glazed tiles, symbolizing the color of the sky.

(Below: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest)

(Image below: Echo Wall)

(Image below: The scenery of the Temple of Heaven is also good.)

(Below: I'm tired of playing, so I'd like to have a Bingtanghulu to satisfy my craving)

Due to the hot weather, after playing the Temple of Heaven, I will return to the hotel to rest. In the evening, I went to the front door and the big fence again.

Qianmen Street has been a famous commercial street in Beijing since ancient times, with many shops, restaurants, and snacks. You can enjoy dinner while sightseeing. The passageways on both sides of the front door are large fences and Beijing Snack Street. Here, not only can you stroll through old Beijing hutongs, but there are also many popular online shops where you can check in. There are Dangdang cars on the pedestrian street, and ticket prices are not expensive. Qianmen Pedestrian Street is no exception, it is somewhat similar to other city pedestrian streets, but it is located in a different location.

(Below: Qianmen Pedestrian Street)

Day 5

Follow the plan to visit Prince Gong's Mansion and Beihai Park, and choose "Shichahai" as an alternative.

Take subway line 6 and head north from Beihai, about a 15 minute walk to Gongwang Mansion Scenic Area. Adult ticket costs 40 yuan, half price for elderly people over 60 years old.

Prince Gong's Mansion consists of two parts: the mansion and the garden, which are divided into the first half of the mansion and the second half of the garden.

【 Gongwang Mansion 】 Gameplay Index ★★★★★

The Prince Gong Mansion is located on Qianhai West Street in Xicheng District, Beijing. It was the largest royal mansion in the Qing Dynasty and served as the residence of the corrupt officials He Shen and Prince Qing Yonglin. Later, it was bestowed with the title of Prince Gong Yixin, hence the name Prince Gong Mansion, which has been used to this day. The Prince Gong Mansion has gone through the historical process of the Qing Dynasty from its peak to its decline, hence the saying "a Prince Gong Mansion, half of the history of the Qing Dynasty.".

(Below: The former half of Prince Gong's Mansion)

(Below: Garden in the rear half of Prince Gong's Mansion)

Due to the hot weather, Beihai Park and Shichahai were not visited. Return to the hotel to rest.

Day 6

Today is the end of my trip to Beijing. After breakfast at the hotel, go directly to Beijing South Station and take the Fuxing high-speed train back to Shanghai at 10 o'clock.

Postscript

Beijing, the capital city of our country, with beautiful scenery and historical heritage, remains in the memory of life. Under the roots of the imperial city, there is a kind of domineering aura. Walking freely on the street, one can encounter old houses and temples, and it is also a kind of joy to meet them unexpectedly. In the old alley, there is another scene of family growth and family decline.

Life is about daring to let go of everything, slowing down the pace, and calming down the mind. This is your life, your life. Life is priceless. You must always let time travel slower, stay longer, and learn to cultivate your character.

Travel is actually a reading experience, through which you will understand many stories and things that you never knew before. If you don't know that story, if you haven't read the experiences of others, traveling to a place you're not familiar with is meaningless.

Walk your own path and see your own scenery. Travel is about taking yourself out of the city in life, and the various beautiful scenery and cultural customs along the way are also captivating. What you need to do is to take photos that have enough visual impact and beauty.