Browsing Category: Signature Beijing Series

Eight Places. Eight Lessons. One Civilisation. When Elaine and I planned our first trip to Beijing, our itinerary looked much like everyone else’s. The Forbidden City. The Great Wall. The Temple of Heaven. The Summer Palace. Qianmen. Tiananmen Square. Every one of them appeared on every “must-visit” list. Like many first-time travellers, we assumed Beijing’s famous landmarks were simply attractions waiting to be checked off. We couldn’t have been more wrong. Somewhere...

The day Elaine and I stopped collecting attractions—and started discovering China “Reading ten thousand books is not as rewarding as travelling ten thousand miles.” 读万卷书，不如行万里路(Dú wàn juàn shū, bùrú xíng wàn lǐ lù) There is an old Chinese saying that has quietly guided generations of scholars, travellers and explorers. Literally translated, it means “Reading ten thousand books is not as valuable as travelling ten thousand miles.” When Elaine and I first planned our...

The Beijing we imagined… and the Beijing we discovered. Quick Answer Ask ten people what Beijing is like, and you’ll probably hear ten different answers. Some describe it as an ancient imperial capital. Others picture a futuristic megacity filled with skyscrapers and electric cars. Some imagine endless crowds. Others think of history, politics or smog. After spending several days exploring Beijing, Elaine and I realised something. Almost everyone is partly right. Yet...

Why every first-time traveller should begin their journey to China here. Quick Answer If you’re visiting China for the first time, start with Beijing (北京, Běijīng). Not simply because it is China’s capital. Not because it is home to world-famous attractions like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square. Start in Beijing because nowhere else helps first-time visitors understand how one of the world’s oldest civilisations continues to shape one of...