Travel Guides & Tips in this video
Jay and Karolina spend their first day in Beijing visiting the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park before walking through Nanluoguxiang hutong. They try meat pies, red bean pastry, rolling donkey cake, and smoked plum drink, then ride the subway to the Temple of Heaven, where they also try 3D ice cream. They use Alipay for purchases and recommend booking Forbidden City tickets online seven days ahead at 8 p.m. Beijing time. At dinner they order a whole Peking duck and show how to eat it with pancakes, sauces, and vegetables. Friendly students offering shoe-cleaning services and an unexpected insect at dinner round out the day.
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Historic Beijing and neighborhood food
Jay and Karolina begin their first day in Beijing at the Forbidden City. They marvel at its scale and historical setting, noting the yellow roof tiles and the symmetry of its design. They booked tickets directly online seven days in advance at 8 p.m. Beijing time. After exploring the palace, they climb Jingshan Park for a view back over the city and appreciate the quieter atmosphere compared with the busy Forbidden City.
They continue to Nanluoguxiang, an ancient Beijing hutong, and sample local foods, including Chinese meat pies and a red bean pastry. They comment on the temperature and flavor of the dishes. Other stops include rolling donkey cake and smoked plum drink. The couple use Alipay for purchases and describe its translation feature as useful for navigating unfamiliar situations.
The Temple of Heaven and dinner
After a subway ride, Jay and Karolina visit the Temple of Heaven, a historic site where emperors prayed. They try a 3D ice cream and meet local students offering shoe-cleaning services, creating a brief cultural exchange. The day's highlight is dinner at a Peking duck restaurant. They order a whole duck and explain how to put together a bite using pancakes, sauces, and vegetables. They describe the skin as melting in the mouth and the meat as tender, and compare the meal's quality and price favorably with similar meals back home.
At dinner, an insect unexpectedly appears at their table and becomes another memorable moment. Their first day moves between major historic sites, hutong streets, and food stops. They recommend planning Forbidden City tickets ahead, using payment and translation tools, and trying local dishes. The video closes on the couple's positive response to the city and its unexpected encounters.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How did Jay and Karolina get Forbidden City tickets?
- A: They booked directly through the website seven days in advance at 8 p.m. Beijing time. They describe online booking as the way they secured tickets for their visit.
- Q: What payment method did they use in China?
- A: They used Alipay for purchases and found its translation feature helpful. They describe it as a wallet on the phone with tools that can assist in unfamiliar situations.
- Q: What was the Peking duck like?
- A: They describe the skin as melting in the mouth and the meat as tender, with sauces that they enjoyed. They ate it with pancakes and vegetables and found the meal better value than similar food at home.
- Q: What was the most surprising thing we encountered?
- A: The people cleaning their shoes with a pen and the friendly insect at dinner both stood out as unexpected moments during the day.
