HOMECOMING: BEIJING — AYC Inspired

Grand, opulent, magnificent - there’s no city quite like Beijing

No where else in China can you feel such history seeping up from the ground. It hits you like a ton of bricks through every hutong (traditional neighborhood alleys), park (palatial ones especially), and national monument (there’s too many to count). Oh, and did I mention it’s home to one of the 7 wonders of the world?

If Shanghai is built up as a modern, Blade Runner 2049 metropolis, Beijing is its much more traditional, intellectual cousin who can share countless cultural and historical experiences. Both cities have strikingly different personalities; I’d say they are both must visits if you’re traveling to China for the first time.

In Beijing, we stayed in Wangfujing, close to the Forbidden City. Although it was a bit more touristy than I would’ve liked, the area was super close to the main attractions in the city. Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai park are all next to each other so our hotel location made visiting these places really convenient. Beyond our immediate surroundings, we visited the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Grand is an understatement to every one of these national monuments (for scale, the Forbidden City is about 180 acres). It takes a long time to go through them, so definitely prepare yourself for at least a half day at each location.

A quick note about food: when in Beijing, you have to try Peking duck and jiajiang mian. Peking duck, as you probably know, is one of the most iconic dishes of Chinese cuisine. Its name is derived from the old word for Beijing and its history stems from the imperial kitchens. If you’ve ever seen it prepared in the states, the duck is usually accompanied by steamed buns, shredded cucumbers and green onions, and a sweet bean paste. However, the authentic, traditional way is to eat it with paper-thin pancakes instead of the buns, forming a little duck taco. The textures from the vegetables, the fat from the duck, the crispy duck skin, and the sweet tantalizing bean paste all form the most deliciously infused bite you’ll ever have. And the other dish, jiajiang mian, has a much more humble background, comprising of the most comforting rendition of hand-pulled noodles with all types of vegetable toppings, covered in spicy and sweet bean paste. It’s the type of food that gives you that warm feeling inside and reminds you of being at home with loved ones.

This whole trip to China, my homecoming, was so wonderful. I got to see my family, show Sean around my beautiful home country, and visit all my favorite places. It has all accumulated to one delightful adventure. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

*pro tip - visit China in the fall or spring. Due to some scheduling conflicts with work, we could only make the trip during the summer. The humidity and heat are a bit unpleasant for someone who is used to mild temperatures all year round like me, especially if you plan on hiking up the Great Wall. If you do go during the summer, stay hydrated, bring a hat & lots of sunscreen, and think about buying a parasol! The sun can be unsuspectingly intense. Good thing China has amazing ice cream and popsicles!

First meal in Beijing = Steamed fish with noodles

What I’m wearing: H&M hat, Aritzia tank, Rag & Bone jeans, Marc Jacobs bag

The view from Jingshan Park - across the street from the Forbidden City

Jiajiang mian - handpulled noodles with toppings, coated together with a sweet and savory bean paste

After dinner we stopped by the National Center for the Performing Arts (or known as the Giant Egg), which is the opera house in Beijing. The egg sits on a perfectly still pond, illuminated by beams of light on the edges, and even changes colors!

I wasn’t kidding when I said I bought a parasol. There is no form of shade at the Great Wall so be prepared!