I went in 2019 before the Pandemic, but in retrospect, I do wish I had chosen Shanghai instead. Shanghai is a more modern city and has more options for skyline views.
Beijing however has more historical structures and sites, and of course, The Great Wall.
1. Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is very famous in the West of course for the 1989 protest, otherwise more commonly known as the June 4th Incident in China. Despite its large size, the Chinese government manages to still maintain a lot of restrictions on its population. Google, Whatsapp, Wikipedia, and other major sites are blocked in China--although there are some tech-savvy people who know how to bypass them and can show you if you know them.
I was shocked to find that many people did not have much information as the Tiananmen Square protest is not taught in depth in schools and it is so difficult to get information about it in China as the CCP considers it a direct affront to the party.
I am not an expert but any means, but a very brief summary about it to interest you in visiting this historical site:
During the 1980s, China experienced a steep economic growth, which brought with it more exposure to foreign ideals and liberation ideas for the people. As more people, especially students, starting demanding more individualistic rights and freedom, Hu Yaobang, a high-ranking official in the CCP, pushed for more democratic reform. He was forced to resign in 1987 after years of working as the general secretary.
Yaobang passed away in 1989, and his funeral lit the spark to mass demonstrations across multiple cities, most notably the one held in Tiananmen Square by students, for democratic reforms. The CCP installed martial law around end of May, and the mounting protests led to this famous picture and the deadly massacre in Tiananmen Square:
2. The Great Wall of China
"He who has never been to The Great Wall is not a true man." is a common saying in China. Ironically, the Great Wall is a site that is more popular amongst international tourists than the Chinese. Nonetheless, over 10 million people visit this wall every year.
Even if you are not a man, the Great Wall is worth visiting, as it is 1 of the 7 wonders of the world. This 13,000 miles of the longest man-made architectural wonder is about 2,300 years old. Much of it was built by prisoners, and an estimated 400,000 men sadly died during the construction.
Did you know that besides earth and stone, sticky rice was used to build the Wall? Sticky rice is actually so strong that in some parts of the Wall, weed can't even grow!
3. Wangfujing Night Snack Market
In Asia, whichever country you choose to visit, you must pay a visit to a food market. Food markets are a great place to find local food and knickknacks, see traditional and modern culture of the country, and burn some calories while enjoying yourself! My favorites are night markets. I love the casual vibes:
Wangfujing Snack Street is a night market and is open from 6PM to 9PM every night. The snacks are cheap and it is a popular spot for locals and tourists to hang out with their friends. It has 100 stalls with 100 local snacks.
4. The Place Shopping Mall
The Place is a huge shopping mall with many international brand shops, eateries, cafes, movie theater, and the largest overhead LCD screen. It is an especially nice place to go to at night to see the lit-up shops and screen.
5. The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is famous for having the biggest ancient palace complex in the world. It served as the home and center of the Chinese kings and government for over 500 years. It is even more popular than the Great Wall, attracting 14~19 million visitors each year!
I believe my favorite pictures from my short visit to Beijing was taken at the Golden Water Bridge. (if I am wrong, please correct me...It's been several years and I lost many of my photos and captions.)
Overall, Beijing is a wonderfully clean city (there are part time government employees who clean the streets and public places constantly every day) with no shortage of historical sites and places to visit. Albeit not as "modern" as Shanghai, Beijing is a must stop for anyone who loves history and you will be sure to at least learn a thing or 2 while enjoying the exotic environment of China!
Until next time, then!
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