My Solo Beijing Adventure During New Year's Holiday!
Hey everyone! I just got back from a 3-day solo trip to Beijing during the New Year's holiday, and I'm super excited to share my experience with you. PLEASE NOTE: These are just my personal observations and opinions, so please bear with me if there are any inaccuracies.
The Essentials: Visa, Flights, & More!
- Visa: I used a service in Ho Chi Minh City. Got my visa in just 2 days after submitting the documents, and my passport was back on day 3! Cost me around VND 2,800,000 (approx. $115 USD).
- Flights: Booked through Vietnam Booking a month in advance. Round trip was VND 5,800,000 (approx. $240 USD). Bit pricey, but acceptable for the trip. Flew with Sichuan Airlines, with a layover at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.
- SIM Card: Got mine from Gohub for VND 217,000 (approx. $9 USD) – 5GB for 5 days, free delivery even to my province!
- Money: Exchanged about ¥1500 in cash and had ¥500 on Alipay.
- Attraction Tickets: Mostly pre-booked on Klook (Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven).
My Beijing Itinerary: 3 Days of Exploring!
Day 1: Arrival & Acclimatizing to the Cold!
Checked in at Sichuan Airlines counters B7-B9. The flight to Chengdu Tianfu Airport was about 3 hours and 35 minutes. Luggage was checked straight through to Beijing, which was a relief! Immigration was surprisingly smooth – no questions asked! After that, followed the signs to security for the domestic flight from Chengdu to Beijing Capital International Airport (about 2 hours 30 minutes). Took the train from the airport to the city center and checked into my hotel. HUGE temperature shock! Coming from the south of Vietnam, the Beijing cold hit me hard. My hands were frozen solid just walking from the train station to the hotel. Spent the evening indoors, recovering from the journey and the freezing weather.
Day 2: Tiananmen Square & City Strolls
Grabbed breakfast at a noodle shop near the hotel. Planned to visit Tiananmen Square, but realized I needed to book in advance via WeChat! Since I don't have WeChat, I wandered around the area, soaking up the atmosphere and getting to know the city. In the evening, I explored two pedestrian streets: Qianmen and Wangfujing. Headed back to the hotel to rest afterwards.
Day 3: Temple of Heaven & Forbidden City!
Visited the Temple of Heaven in the morning and the Forbidden City in the afternoon. It was quite crowded, probably because it was near the end of the year. Both are incredible and definitely worth the visit!
Day 4: Departure & Chengdu Stopover!
Checked out of the hotel early and headed to the airport for my flight back to Chengdu. Had a 7-hour layover there. Took the train to Chunxi Road, the most bustling street in Chengdu. Explored, ate, and bought souvenirs. Went back to the airport 4 hours before my flight to Vietnam to check in.
Personal Thoughts & Tips!
- Food: Maybe I just didn't get it, but I didn't really enjoy traditional Chinese food. Had a stomach ache for two days! Maybe it was the wrong food for the weather.
- Temperature Shocks: Be careful with taxis! Going from -6°C outside to 25°C inside the car made me feel sick, nauseous, and dizzy.
- Opening Hours: Some attractions, like the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, are closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly!
- New Year's Fireworks: Beijing doesn't have fireworks for New Year's.
- City Vibes: Beijing might not be for those seeking super-energetic vibes. It's more suited for those who enjoy a calmer atmosphere.
- Drinks: Most drinks are served hot, even fruit juices in 7-Eleven. But you can ask for them to be chilled.
- Internet: You can't access TikTok, Youtube, and Google in China, but some websites can help like Bing.com (like Google), Bilibili (Youtube), Douyin (Tiktok).
That's it! My experience in Beijing. Thanks for reading! I hope you have a fantastic trip!
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