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Jamie Headington explores Beijing in winter, beginning with a ticket-planning mistake that changes his visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. He goes to Jingshan Park for a view of the Forbidden City, then takes a train from Beijing North Station to Badaling and visits the Great Wall. A cable car helps him avoid a long hike in freezing temperatures, and he sees a winter sunset from the wall. The next morning he visits Tiananmen Square before exploring the Forbidden City with a Trip.com audio guide. Jamie shares ticketing and transport costs, cold-weather advice and moments from the trip.
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Beijing plans and a winter view
Jamie Headington arrives in Beijing without checking that the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square require advance bookings. When he discovers he cannot visit them as planned, he changes course and goes to Jingshan Park. The park costs about 20 pence to enter and gives him a broad view of the Forbidden City. Winter cold shapes the day: lakes are frozen, and Jamie keeps a warm coffee close as he explores the historic streets. He also stops for beef noodles in a hutong village.
Later he travels from Beijing North Station to Badaling by train, an affordable option for reaching the Great Wall. The entrance ticket is separate from the cable car fare. Jamie takes a one-way cable car up rather than attempting a four-hour hike in temperatures around minus four degrees Celsius. On the wall, he walks steep steps and enjoys fewer visitors than might be present in warmer seasons. A sunset over the wall becomes a highlight of the trip.
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
The next morning, Jamie gets up early for the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square. He finds the experience less exciting than he expected, but considers it an important stop. The visit requires a reservation, as do the Forbidden City tickets. He recommends booking both well in advance to avoid the same planning problem.
Jamie then explores the Forbidden City using a free audio guide from Trip.com. He takes the shortest route, which takes about an hour and a half, and sees the site's large courtyards and historic details. He notes bronze vats marked by past events and ancient trees in the Imperial Garden. A local girl asks him to write a note for her collection, offering a warm personal moment amid the sightseeing.
The trip combines planning changes, winter weather and major Beijing landmarks. Jamie shares practical information about reservations, train fares, entry and cable car costs, and recommends dressing warmly because temperatures can fall to minus four degrees or lower. His route from Jingshan Park to Badaling, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City turns an initial booking mistake into a full winter visit.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What should I book in advance for Beijing?
- A: Book Forbidden City tickets seven days in advance and reserve a visit to Tiananmen Square as well. Jamie did not book ahead and had to change his plans.
- Q: How cold was Beijing in winter?
- A: Jamie says the temperature reached minus six degrees Celsius during his visit, and the wind made it feel colder. He also saw lakes frozen over.
- Q: How much did it cost to visit the Great Wall?
- A: The train from Beijing cost about £2.50, the one-way cable car cost £10 and the entrance fee was about £3.50. Those were the separate costs Jamie describes.
- Q: What is a good way to see the Forbidden City?
- A: Jamie booked through Trip.com and used its free audio guide. The shortest route took about an hour and a half, though visitors can spend longer there.