Travel with Parents: Beijing

Beijing, one of the most important cities in China, is a place many seniors long to visit. Take the opportunity to bring your elderly parents for their first look.

① When buying tickets, be sure to carefully check the name of the station.

② Always bring your ID card when going out!!!

③ Tickets for attractions in Beijing generally need to be reserved online in advance, usually 2-6 days ahead. You can use official WeChat accounts or various platforms. Once reserved, just scan your ID card to enter. For the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, get the combo tickets if available.

④ During special periods, have the Beijing Health Kit ready (accessible via WeChat or Alipay). Some places require scanning a health code before entering.

⑤ Download the 'Yitongxing' app to easily scan QR codes for subway and bus rides.

⑥ The Forbidden City and some other places are closed on Mondays, so check the schedule in advance.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing at noon. Drop off luggage at hotel or guesthouse. Before 4 p.m., head to Sijiminfu for roast duck. Note: The Forbidden City branch has window seats with a direct view of the Forbidden City, but it gets incredibly crowded. After eating, take the metro to Qianmen Station to see the night view of Zhengyangmen, then pass security to see Tiananmen illuminated at night.

Day 2: Great Wall day! Take bus 877 from Deshengmen directly to Badaling, about an hour or more depending on traffic; the first bus departs at 6 a.m. It's best to leave early to avoid getting stuck in traffic leaving the city. Badaling Great Wall has two sections: North and South. The North section is a must-climb, while the South is optional. When I went, the wall was open up to the North Eighth Tower out of twelve in total. There are three ways to reach the North Eighth Tower: 1) Hike all the way up—my parents, both around 60, found it manageable by walking and taking photos as they rested. They thought they were the oldest, but we met an 87-year-old granny with family, truly amazing! 2) Take a slide-rail up to the North Fourth Tower and then climb. 3) Walk about 30 minutes after getting off bus 877 to reach a cable car, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have very poor health. Return by taking Bus 877 at the same spot you got off. We arrived at Deshengmen at 3 p.m., then took advantage of low crowds to visit Nanluoguxiang for hot pot at Jubaoyuan (their food is pretty good) and a stroll there. Then back to the guesthouse for rest.

Day 3: Forbidden City. If you want to see the flag-raising ceremony, search for the exact flag-raising time on WeChat to plan your schedule. Take the metro to Tiananmen, go through security, then take photos in Tiananmen Square. Walk through the underpass to reach Tiananmen Gate; the Forbidden City lies beyond. Even with a reservation, you must go to the pre-check area on the left to have your ID scanned before entry. For detailed routes inside, many travel gurus online have great suggestions. After exiting from the Gate of Divine Might, there’s an underpass on the left leading across the street to Jingshan Park (admission only 2 yuan). If you still have energy, you can explore Wangfujing—since you’re here, even if it’s just a shopping street. Then head to the much-anticipated Beixinqiao Luzhu for some classic stewed pork intestine.

Day 4: A relaxing day. In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven. In the afternoon, choose either the Xidan and Sanlitun combo or the Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Summer Palace combination—either works.

Day 5: Take the morning train back.

I think Beijing is a city with many ways to explore. Different people, different approaches—as long as you're happy, that's what matters.