Traveler's Memories – Third Trip to Beijing (April 25–28, 2019)

DAY1: Kunming – Beijing – Dazhalan (Zhengyangmen)

DAY2: Beijing – Capital Museum

DAY3: Badaling Great Wall – Wangfujing

DAY4: Beijing – Kunming

I was fortunate to visit Beijing for the third time. That evening I went to Dazhalan and Zhengyangmen to see the night view and experience the old Beijing atmosphere, a place I had always wanted to visit but hadn't. The next afternoon, I headed straight to the Capital Museum that I had long been eager to see. Last time, before going to Prince Gong's Mansion, I had hesitated and eventually chose the mansion; this time I made up for the museum. Visiting the Capital Museum was really worthwhile this time, as there were exhibitions from Jiangxi and Qinghai. Especially Jiangxi, which I haven't been to yet, so I got a sneak peek at many treasures.

But on the third day at Badaling Great Wall, it was a bit frustrating. It happened to rain that day, and I spent the entire visit holding an umbrella, with the wall shrouded in mist and extremely low visibility—quite helpless. Since transport to Badaling isn't convenient, I booked a direct shuttle online, boarding at a subway entrance near the Bird's Nest. However, after getting off, the person accompanying the bus, who was sort of a guide, pushed us to take the cable car. I had checked some tips earlier and many people advised against the cable car, recommending to climb on foot. I also preferred to climb, so I didn't take the cable car. The guide was clearly displeased; we had agreed to gather at 4 p.m., but at 3:30 he called me frantically to rush back. I didn't even get to properly visit the Great Wall Museum and had to hurry down. I've booked one-day tours and direct shuttles in many other places before, but this was my first time encountering such service—and this is Beijing. Beijing's tourism...

After the ride, since I had been to the Bird's Nest and Water Cube before and thought I had enough time, I planned to take the subway to Tiananmen to watch the flag-lowering ceremony. But when I got off the subway and asked a staff member which exit to take for the ceremony, they told me: it's only held at certain times, and not today... Oh well, I'll just head to Wangfujing instead. That's a tourist street found in most tourist cities; although similar everywhere, I thought I'd experience it anyway. I really wanted to go to Shijiazhuang early the next morning to see the Hebei Museum, but considering my flight was too early and I wouldn't make it, I'll have to wait until next time.