8 Places to Visit In Beijing
I was blessed enough to had the opportunity to live in Beijing and seriously wanted to move there for another year or so but life took a different route. It was seriously one of the best experiences I could ever ask for and I cherish every moment of it. From historical architectures to modern open rooftop bars, Beijing offered a variety of authentic places that made this fast paste city so vibrant and full of hidden gems. So here are eight places to visit in Beijing or should I write my all time favorite places in Beijing - oh well you decide.
798 Art District
Located in Dashanzi of the Chaoyang Dristrict, 798 Art District is an art complex that used to be a military factory. It has it's own unique vibe compare to other zones in Beijing and I highly recommend going if you love anything artsy. Local artists showcase their artwork in different galleries and the whole district is full of modern art representations. Yes there are installations, paintings and hidden graffiti scattered around this district. And if I am not mistaken they change them up quite often. Every street you turn too has it's own aesthetic and the different shops around there have unique concepts. There are local fashion designers showcasing their latest fashion items as well.
Tian An Men Square
Do I really need to dedicate one paragraph to this national symbol of China? This historical square is absolutely stunning. Its wide open air arena makes every historical monument around the area look impressive - skyscrapers are prohibited to be build around the area.
Summer Palace
When in Beijing, one must visit the Summer Palace. This Chinese garden masterpiece has numerous splendid halls that will make your jaw drop. It's so vast and every corner seems to be so magical. There are romantic gardens, lakes and little palaces scattered around the property. It has become a recreational park where every corner is perfect for an instapic - except for the thousands of tourists constantly on your picture during summer months. The intricate details on each building make everything so fascinating - like how on earth are humans capable of buildings such things? This picture that I posted here don't give enough justice on how massive the Summer Palace ground is - it's a one-whole day kinda activity.
Jin Din Xuan Restaurant
Being such a foodie, this post would not have been perfect without at least mentioning my favorite dim sum restaurant in Beijing. Jin Din Xuan located in the Dongcheng district is a four story high restaurant that serves delicious Cantonese cuisine twenty-four hour seven days a week. Let me write that again twenty-four hour seven days a week without fail. There is constantly a queue and you can't escape the waiting list, just be patient because the food is EPIC. Everything is so delicious and well seasoned. I constantly dream of their dim sums - #TakeMeBack.
Great Wall Of China
One of the seven wonders of the world, it would be absolutely devastating to not set foot on this massive fortress. It might be quite a hustle to go there and is definitely a one-whole day affair. The little uneven human handmade steps aren't really enjoyable to walk on but well anything for the experience because boy was it worth it. I would advise to go there as early as possible so that you can personally have a peaceful moment with it and take everything in. The views are absolutely breathtaking and again how on earth did they manage to make such a statement. It blows my mind every time I see my Great Wall of China album.
Hutong
The Hutong in Beijing used to be a traditional Chinese residency neighborhood. It is composed with little narrow alleys that are quaint and also cute. Nowadays it has multiple curated shops, delicious restaurants and adorable little hostels. It has definitely a younger vibe to it, as many teenagers as well as young adults love to hang out there. The atmosphere is quite unique on weekends as it is jam packed with humans. It is a great source of entertainment for locals and foreigners.
Fragrant Hills
Fragrant Hills is one of those places that needs to be visited during the fall. Located in the northwestern part of Beijing, this imperial garden possesses a wonderful view of the city of Beijing. This huge - yes everything in China is massive - garden is covered with pinecone trees, maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees. During the fall season, leaves turn golden and the surrounding hills have this beautiful orangish / reddish gradient tone to it. This park is basically a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and lets you reconnect with nature. I advise you to not wear heels as going up the medium height hill - for me it was a mountain - involves a bit of stair climbing - #ComfyShoesAllDay.
Well this is again another huge park type of garden situation in Beijing. I mean what's new the city of Beijing is seriously filled with beautiful massive parks. I would recommend going to Yuyuantan or Jade Lake Park during the cherry blossom festival month. There are so many types of cherry blossoms that all you want to do is dance and twirl below the trees. I went there on a weekend and I remembered that it was filled with so many people that capturing one single picture was a fight in itself but definitely worth it. If you are on a holiday during springtime - late march - in Beijing visit this park during weekdays and early so that you can escape the human flooding.
That was my eight must go to places to visit in Beijing. I hope that my pictures transported you all to Beijing and that this post inspires you all to pack your bags and experience the diverse culture of China. I believe that one must at least visit China once in their life!
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