A 48-Hour Guide to Beijing: The Forbidden City, Peking Duck, and Hutongs!

Sisters, gather around! This guide is the result of my experiences leading tours last year. After dealing with all sorts of situations, I've carefully compiled this essential version 👇. Even the older folks praised it, saying, "This guide of yours is even more professional than the Forbidden City tour guides." 🌞DAY1: Exploring the Imperial City Without Getting Lost - Forbidden City Exploration: Head to the Forbidden City first thing in the morning! Remember to enter through the "Gate of Divine Might" entrance to avoid the crowds at the Jinshui Bridge 🚗. Also, don't just pose for photos in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, or you might run into a Tai Chi group doing their morning exercises. - Relaxing Boat Ride: If you want to take a boat ride, choose the "North Bank Pier"! Along the route, you might even encounter an old grandma 👵 selling candied hawthorns for CNY 5 a stick, which is a great deal. - Jingshan Park Shortcut: Don't go through the main entrance to Jingshan Park. Enter through the side entrance of the "East Gate" to save 30 minutes of waiting in line. However, sisters wearing high heels should be cautious, as some of the paths inside are not easy to walk on. - Houhai Night Tour: When visiting Houhai at night, choose "Yinding Bridge." The streetlights cast a soft glow, and the black swans under the bridge are like characters from a fairy tale 🦢, so beautiful. 🍜 Food Radar Activated - Peking Duck First Choice: For Peking duck, go to "Bianyifang"! The owner is a fifth-generation successor 👑. Remember to pair it with lotus leaf sticky rice. The taste is amazing. - Late-Night Delights: If you want to indulge late at night, head to "Huguosi Snack Bar" for a bowl of cat ear noodles! Pair it with a cup of jasmine tea. The aroma is intoxicating and might keep you up all night 🍵. - Noodles with Savory Soybean Paste Choice: There are many tourist traps in Wangfujing, so be careful. If you want to eat noodles with savory soybean paste, go to "Grandma Sun's Noodles with Savory Soybean Paste." The freshly made savory soybean paste is so fragrant that you might accidentally knock over your bowl 🔥. 🚇DAY2: Survival Guide to the Hutong Alleys - Nanluoguxiang Tea Hunt: Don't just buy pre-Qingming tea in Nanluoguxiang. Look for the old tree tea shop at "Sanyan Well." The proprietress is very enthusiastic and will teach you how to smell the tea leaves 🍃. - Unique Scenery of 798: When visiting the 798 Art District, don't just focus on taking reflection photos. After 4pm, there will be mist, creating a fairy-tale-like atmosphere 🌫️. Remember to bring mosquito repellent, or you might be swarmed by mosquitoes. - Check-In at the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art: If you go to the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art, wear a white shirt to the "Sunflower Classroom." You might be mistaken for a senior student by the students there 👩‍🎓. 💡 Secret Little Tips - Shared Bikes Attention: Don't lock shared bikes on the stone railings around the Forbidden City, or they will be towed away by the administrators. We prepared emergency locks just in case. - Dressing Troubles: If you wear white clothes, you might be asked by 10 merchants, "Taking photos?" Isn't that a bit helpless? - Secrets of Popular Attractions: Don't ask me why I don't check in at popular attractions... Those who understand will naturally understand. ⚠️ Keep These Tips in Mind to Avoid Pitfalls - Avoid Asking for Directions: Don't just ask for directions in Liulang Wenying. 99% of the time, you'll be taken to a silk shop selling fake goods, so be careful. - Fish Selection: Don't trust the "freshly killed live fish" gimmick. If you want to eat fish, choose the steamed sea bass at "Grandma's Home" for guaranteed quality. - Drink Cautiously: Don't drink herbal tea from strangers. It might be industrial alcohol, so safety first.