Four Days in Beijing, China: More Than Just the Great Wall

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Take the Great Wall Off My Bucket List

Beijing wasn’t just another stamp in my passport—it was a step into history. I came for the Great Wall, but I left with a thousand memories that had nothing to do with climbing stairs or catching my breath. The city itself is a masterpiece, painted with emperors, dynasties, and the rhythm of daily life.

Table of Contents

• Take the Great Wall Off My Bucket List
• Great Wall
• Chinese Acrobats
• The Forbidden City
• The Summer Palace
• Tiananmen Square
• The Temple of Heaven
• 13 Emperor’s
• Final Thoughts
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Great Wall

I’d dreamed about this moment for years, and it didn’t disappoint. I was a kid again—an old one—but still filled with wonder as I climbed those steep, uneven steps. My legs burned, my heart raced, and my spirit soared. When I finally reached the top, I stood there, catching my breath, staring out at the endless wall stretching across the mountains. It was humbling, beautiful, and absolutely worth every step.

Chinese Acrobats

That evening, we swapped stone steps for stage lights at a Chinese acrobat show. Those performers were pure energy—flipping, spinning, and balancing like gravity was optional. The finale—a motorcycle stunt inside a steel cage—left the audience gasping. It might not be a UNESCO site, but it was unforgettable in its own right. I’ve always wanted to see the traveling Chinese Acrobats show in the U.S., but tickets are surprisingly expensive. If you’ve seen it, let me know in the comments below. You can also check out the Shen Yun Performing Arts website for prices and tour dates.

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The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is exactly what its name suggests—grand, guarded, and impossible to fully absorb in one visit. Built in the 1400s, it once housed emperors, their families, and about 3,000 concubines. The palace complex has nearly 10,000 rooms, each one echoing stories of power and privilege. Closed to foreigners until the early 20th century, it remained hidden from the outside world for nearly 500 years. Standing in those massive courtyards, surrounded by intricate gates and red lacquered halls, I felt like I’d wandered into another century.

The Summer Palace

We took a boat ride across the lake, played mahjong with locals, and posed for what felt like a million photos with curious Beijingers. If the Forbidden City was about power, the Summer Palace was about peace. The royal retreat was designed for rest, with a shimmering lake, arched bridges, and the longest covered walkway I’ve ever seen. Nearby, locals gathered to play mahjong, practice tai chi, and dance in small groups—living proof that Beijing’s heart still beats with tradition.

Tiananmen Square

I still can’t believe I climbed Q1 of the Great Wall, but seeing Tiananmen Square in person was surreal. It was much larger than I imagined, a wide, open space that carried the weight of history. I was a kid when I saw the protests on TV, and standing there decades later, surrounded by crowds and cameras, was emotional. I also felt watched—Chinese soldiers roamed the plaza with rifles, their presence impossible to ignore. A long queue still wraps around the square’s exterior, where visitors wait to see the tomb of Chairman Mao.

The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven was different—circular, symmetrical, and serene. This is where emperors once prayed for good harvests. I walked through the echoing halls and open courtyards, feeling the harmony between architecture and spirituality. It was the kind of quiet that stays with you.

13 Emperor’s

We didn’t make it to the Ming Tombs, home to 13 emperors, but I’m saving that for next time. We simply ran out of time. Between the silk factory, the tea shop, the jade and pearl markets, and our guide’s obsession with “shopping breaks,” there simply wasn’t time. I learned that in China, even souvenirs come with a history lesson.

Final Thoughts

I don’t usually enjoy group trips, but I think this was the only way to get the context needed to truly understand everything we saw. Still, I often felt watched—by officials, locals, even our tour guide, who seemed uneasy answering some of our questions. This trip wasn’t just about crossing off the Great Wall—it was about everything that surrounded it. The laughter, the history, the food, the people, and the rhythm of Beijing itself. The Wall brought me there, but the city stayed with me long after I left. Would I go back again? Absolutely. Our 10-year visa will expire in a year or two, and when it does, we’ll definitely renew it so we can explore more of China—beyond Guangzhou, Beijing, and Hong Kong—maybe this time without a tour guide.

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