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Travel couple Rian and Ben unexpectedly visit Beijing during National Day Golden Week. They find gridlocked traffic near tourist areas and walk through crowd controls, soldiers, police and parade drills. A reflective car draws a crowd, while a robot-run drink store is slow to serve. They learn that National Day marks the 1949 founding of the People's Republic of China and see families gathering during the holiday. After searching for a flag and Misha ice cream, they find orange sherbet for 10 yuan, then visit a quieter neighborhood with flags, coffee ordered by QR code and a communal table-tennis area.
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Beijing during Golden Week
Rian and Ben, a travel couple from the UK, find themselves in Beijing during China's National Day Golden Week by accident. They set out despite warnings about crowds. They get a taxi, but traffic near tourist sites is gridlocked, so they continue on foot. Their route brings them near soldiers, police and parade drills, with crowd controls around the streets near Tiananmen Square. A car with a mirror-like finish attracts a crowd taking photos, and the couple wonder whether its reflective surface could pose a safety concern.
They also visit a robot-run drink store. The service is slow and awkward, although it draws plenty of attention. As they explore, they learn that National Day marks the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and that Golden Week is a period when families travel and gather for large meals. They look for a flag and Misha ice cream, but have trouble finding a flag. They do find orange sherbet sold on the street for 10 yuan, which they enjoy.
Crowds, coffee and the evening
The mall is even more crowded than the streets, and the couple briefly lose each other inside. They take a taxi to a quieter local area, where flags hang outside shops while delivery drivers continue working. They order coffee using a QR code system and notice a communal table-tennis area. They also comment on a custom they have adopted themselves: husbands carrying their wives' bags.
Back at the hotel, Rian reflects that the day was good and less overwhelming than they expected, though they wonder whether the week may get busier. Their experience combines the holiday's public displays and crowd management with ordinary moments such as a snack stop and coffee. For travelers who want to avoid crowds at Beijing's tourist spots, their day is a reminder that National Day Golden Week can bring heavy visitor numbers and slower journeys. Their observations about families, flags and large meals are tied to what they saw during this trip.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What is National Day Golden Week in China?
- A: The video explains that National Day marks the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and Golden Week is a holiday period when families travel and gather for large meals.
- Q: How crowded was Beijing during their visit?
- A: Traffic near tourist spots was gridlocked, streets had crowd controls, and the mall felt even busier. Rian and Ben briefly lost each other inside.
- Q: What did they eat during the day?
- A: After searching for Misha ice cream, they found orange sherbet sold on the street for 10 yuan and liked it.
