travelpapa

A Delicious Stroll Through Xi’an Muslim Quarter (西安回民街 Xī’ān Huímín Jiē): Where Culture and Street Food Collide

Blog, China Travel Tips, Food blog, Historical Destinations, Interesting travel experiences, Xi'an /

If you’re searching for one of the top Xi’an tourist attractions, skip the guidebooks and head straight for the sizzling, bustling, and beautifully chaotic Xi’an Muslim Quarter (西安回民街 Xī’ān Huímín Jiē). Tucked behind the ancient Drum Tower (鼓楼 Gǔlóu) and easily accessible from Xi’an Railway Station (西安火车站 Xī’ān Huǒchēzhàn), this historic area is more than just a street market — it’s a cultural […]

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Self-Learning Homeschooler Elaine’s Top 6 Must-See Tourist Attractions in Beijing Capital of China

Beijing, Blog, China Travel Tips, China's Historical Destinations /

Photo caption: “Elaine and Daddy (Travelpapa) bringing along our travel buddies—Panda in a Beijing jacket and our blog’s penguin mascot—as we explore the best of Beijing after China’s Golden Week!” Elaine and I went to Beijing just after the China Golden Week, during the crisp and colorful season of October—a perfect time for a holiday in

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Discovering Fragrant Hills (香山): The Most Beautiful Autumn Escape Near Beijing Capital of China

Beijing, Blog, China Travel Tips, China's Historical Destinations, Interesting travel experiences, Uniquely Chinese /

If there’s one place near Beijing Capital, the vibrant heart of the nation, that truly captures the magic of autumn, it’s Fragrant Hills—known in Chinese as 香山 (Xiāngshān). Located just 20 kilometers from the city center and easily accessible from Beijing China Airport, this historic hillside retreat offers one of the most spectacular autumn landscapes in all of China.

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Boating Back in Time: A Morning at Beijing’s Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán), A Must-See China Visit Place

Beijing, Blog, China's Historical Destinations, Historical Destinations, UNESCO Heritage sites /

When you think of Beijing, the capital of China, images of the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, or even the bustling Beijing China Airport might come to mind. But tucked away in the northwest corner of the city is one of the most peaceful and majestic Beijing China tourist attractions—the Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since

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Walking With Emperors: A Father-Daughter Day at Beijing’s Forbidden City

Beijing, Blog, China's Historical Destinations, Historical Destinations, UNESCO Heritage sites /

Walking With Emperors: A Father-Daughter Day at Beijing’s Forbidden City They say every stone in Beijing, the capital of China, whispers a story. But inside the Forbidden City, those whispers echo like thunder. For anyone planning a trip to Beijing, China, visiting this imperial complex should top your list of Beijing China tourist attractions. On a misty morning, my

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Whispering Willows and Imperial Echoes: A Stroll Through Shichahai (什剎海), Old Beijing’s Living Soul

Beijing, Blog, China's Historical Destinations, Historical Destinations /

In the heart of Beijing, just beyond the Forbidden City’s crimson walls, lies a place where time lingers and whispers still echo from the Qing Dynasty‘s golden years. This is Shichahai (Shichahai, 什剎海)—not just a lake, but a breath of Old Beijing, a destination that refuses to let go of its imperial past. For travelers seeking a serene yet

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Wandering Through Time: The Unique Architecture of Old Beijing Hutongs, the Traditional  Siheyuan (四合院)

Beijing, Blog, China's Historical Destinations, Destinations less traveled in China /

Exploring the Living Heritage of Siheyuan Courtyard Homes with Elaine and a Penguin Plushie If you ever find yourself wandering down the narrow, winding alleyways of Beijing (北京 Běijīng), you might just stumble upon a secret hidden behind gray brick walls and red-painted gates—a traditional Hutong (胡同 hú tòng) and its heart, the Siheyuan (四合院 sì hé yuàn).

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A Stroll Through Time: Falling in Love with the Last Living Hutongs of Beijing Capital of China

Blog /

If you’re planning a Beijing China tour, there’s one magical experience that captures the city’s soul better than any grand monument or bustling plaza—a quiet walk through the legendary hutongs (胡同 hútòng). These historic alleyways, some dating back to the Yuan Dynasty, are what remains of life in Beijing China before the skyscrapers came. And while some are now

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Waking Up for the Red Dawn: Experiencing the Capital Beijing Flag Ceremony and China Anthem

Blog /

Waking Up for the Red Dawn: Experiencing the Tiananmen Flag Ceremony A uniquely moving tradition in the heart of Beijing Capital If you’re looking for things to do in Beijing at sunrise, few experiences match the quiet power of witnessing the Tiananmen Flag Raising Ceremony (升旗仪式, shēngqí yíshì). On our recent China Travel Blog adventure, my daughter Elaine and I decided

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Walking Through Time: Discovering the Great Wall of China and Its Epic History

Beijing, Blog, China's Historical Destinations /

Before our trip to Beijing China, Elaine and I had read countless books and timelines about emperors, dynasties, and walls that could be seen from space. But let me tell you—no photo or documentary ever quite prepares you for the moment you actually walk along the Great Wall of China. Especially not when you’re climbing

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