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Sun Kissed Bucket List returns to China and spends its first day in Beijing exploring the Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Snow makes the journey from Seoul colder than expected. At the Temple of Heaven they watch local people exercise, visit the Echo Wall and learn to keep their ticket for access to other areas. A hurried subway ride and sprint through the hutongs bring them to the Forbidden City before their timed entry expires. They end with Beijing food and a visit to Tiananmen Square.
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A snowy arrival and the Temple of Heaven
Sun Kissed Bucket List begins its return trip to China in Seoul, where snow contrasts with the warmer weather they had experienced in Vietnam. The journey to Beijing is very cold, and the couple are excited to start exploring. After arriving, they check into a hotel and notice an unusual fire alarm hanging from the ceiling. Their first full day begins at the Temple of Heaven, where the architecture and bright colors stand out. Local people gather for synchronized morning exercises with portable speakers, and the couple watch this routine as part of everyday life in the city.
They continue through the complex to the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Echo Wall, taking in its acoustics and history. Friendly locals interact with them despite the language barrier. The couple learn that the main temple is closed on Mondays and advise keeping the ticket because it allows entry to other areas of the complex. A bubble tea stop gives them time to rest before the next destination. The visit offers both major historic architecture and ordinary public life, from exercise groups to conversations with people they meet.
A timed visit to the Forbidden City
The couple are watching the clock because they have a pre-booked timed entry for the Forbidden City. They take the subway and hurry through the hutongs, Beijing's traditional alleyways, trying to arrive before the slot expires. Their route through the narrow streets and past small shops and food stalls adds an unplanned walking segment to the day. They make it to the entrance in time and find the complex much larger than expected, with numerous courtyards and palaces. They discuss the use of the number nine in its design and its symbolic connection to the nine heavens.
The day concludes with a meal at a local restaurant, where they try affordable Beijing food and enjoy friendly service. They notice that boiling hot water is served with tea for digestion. Tiananmen Square is their final stop. They take in the scale of the space and the high security measures around it. The itinerary is a race against the clock, but it also includes time for local food, a bubble tea break, exercise at the Temple of Heaven and the sites themselves. Their first day in Beijing remains unexpectedly snowy and cold, with the pair reflecting on the historic places and local customs they encountered.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What should I know about visiting the Temple of Heaven?
- A: The couple note that the main temple is closed on Mondays. They also advise keeping the ticket because it allows entry to other areas of the complex.
- Q: How did the couple reach the Forbidden City?
- A: They took the subway and hurried through the hutongs to reach their pre-booked timed entry before it expired.
- Q: What was the first day in Beijing like?
- A: It was unexpectedly snowy and busy, with visits to the Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, plus local food and a bubble tea break.
