Summer of 2015 I found myself booked for a flight to Beijing 15 days prior. While I packed and prepared myself to spend a year in an unknown country due to my parents’ jobs, while constantly running to get my visa requirements completed, I was understatedly terrified. Despite having little to no time to actually mentally prepare myself to stay a year in a country that spoke a language unknown to me, I had plenty of time to hear about the never ending restrictions on the life there. How on earth was I going to find myself around there with half of the apps being banned, like Google and Youtube? How was I even going to communicate with the people? As the time of my departure neared, the number of looming questions in my head multiplied as did my anxiety.
Fast forward a few months later, this place had now become my second home. Beijing showed me that when I thought life in Islamabad was fast, I was in for a shock. The metropolitan center, densely populated, always bustling with life regardless of the time of the day, became my city. I began to own it like it was my very own. So when someone asks me where to travel next, I bank my vote with Beijing.
Beijing, whose history dates back to 3000 years, has been the capital city in many dynasties including Ji, Yan, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, the early Republic of China and now currently serves as the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The capital boasts to be the most populous capital city of the world. An impeccable hybrid of both modern and traditional architecture, culture and traditions, Beijing is a sure attraction to all. Beijing has a lot to offer, whether it is sightseeing, shopping or recreational activities. Below are my personal favorite places to visit.
- The Great Wall of China
One simply cannot visit Beijing and not witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World with their own two eyes. The magnificent structure which measures half the length of the Equator was built over 2700 years ago and most of it still stands in its original glory. Built from rock and stone mostly, the wall served as defense from invaders like the Huns and the Mongols. There are many sections of the wall that are open to the public. Badaling, one of the sections I visited thrice in my time there, is very well preserved and is always bustling with local and foreign visitors. The wall can be climbed and upon reaching a particular section, certificates and/or souvenirs can be bought. The climb itself is not that easy as I expected from my little hiking experience at the Margalla Hills of Islamabad, however, the views from the top are worth every steep step to the top.
- Wangfujing Street
Wangfujing has to be the most interesting and most famous street to visit in Beijing. Most of it still in its traditional setting, the street offers many exotic dishes and snacks in its small old hutongs. People with weak stomachs like myself, will either lose their appetite by seeing deep fried scorpions and seahorses on sticks or will resort to McDonalds’ Fillet-o-Fish. When visiting at night, Donghuamen Street, which is located perpendicular to Wangfujing can be visited to experience the night market culture in its full spirit.
- Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
The Tiananmen Square is known greatly due to the pro-democracy protests that took place in 1989, however, there is an even greater history behind this. The Square itself, located in the heart of Beijing, is a large open area dominated by the Tiananmen a gate that embodies a large portrait of Mao Zedong. The gate opens into the ancient Imperial City, within which the Forbidden City lies. The Forbidden City is named so as it was only accessible to the royal families of the Ming and Qing dynasties and ordinary people were not allowed.
- Silk Market and Pearl (Hongqiao) Market
Perhaps the most famous shopping areas of Beijing for tourists are the Silk and Pearl Markets. For people looking forward to shopping for souvenirs or gifts, these two locations are easily accessible through the metro and subway. These are always busy with local and foreign visitors who visit for shopping and recreational purposes. The Silk Market is famous for the high end silk products sold there whereas the Pearl Market specializes in fresh water pearls and precious gemstones.
- Chaoyang Acrobatic Show
One of the best acrobatic shows in China performs weekly at the Chaoyang Theatre Beijing. The tickets sell out almost immediately which proves the high viewing demand of the show. The show includes nerve wracking stunts and visuals that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The exhilarating experience will surely wanting for more by the end of it.
- Summer Palace
The best time to visit the scenic Summer Palace is during spring or autumn when it is neither to hot nor cold and the historical royal garden can be thoroughly enjoyed by those who want to witness the remnants of the Qing dynasty. There is also the facility of boating around the beautiful garden when the weather best allows.
- Olympic Park Bird’s Nest and Olympic Water park
Tourists, adults and children alike, are bound to enjoy the visit to the Bird’s Nest which serves as the National Stadium for Beijing. It was primarily designed for the Summer Olympics 2008 and its state-of-the-art facilities will be put to use again in Winter Olympics 2022. The Olympic Water Park is best enjoyed during the summers as it is an indoor facility containing exciting rides of different sorts that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.
These were some of the many places I had the pleasure of visiting while I stayed in Beijing and safe to say, made my stay there enjoyable and memorable. Beijing, itself, is a very culturally diverse city with an interesting combination of modern lifestyle and preserved history. While the city spans out in a futuristic landscape, lined with subway train tracks and dotted with skyscraping buildings, its rich cultural history still peeks out in its unique ways like the dainty hutongs hanging from old streets. It is a must-visit city as it is truly a city like no other.
Zainab Shuja
Class of 2021