Making Each Day Count

On our fourth day in Beijing, we finally slowed things down. We did not schedule any private tours and decided to spend the day exploring the city at our own pace. After two packed days visiting the Great Wall and the city’s biggest attractions, this felt like a much-needed breather.

After breakfast, D and I walked to our first stop: the Beijing Railway Station. It is one of the city’s older train stations, built in 1959, and still a major hub for travelers coming in and out of Beijing. On a typical day, it is busy but organized. When we arrived announcements played in the background, and a steady flow of passengers walked on. Security was noticeably tight, with guards stationed around the area. What stood out to us, though, was a small police robot quietly patrolling the grounds. It was something we definitely didn’t expect to see.

From there, we walked to Beijing Ming City Wall Heritage Park, which preserves a section of the old city wall from the Ming Dynasty. Back in the 1400s, this wall used to surround Beijing, and seeing a remaining piece of it today really puts into perspective how much the city has changed. The park was lined with cherry blossom trees, though they hadn’t fully bloomed yet during our visit. Even so, people were already out taking photos. Of course we did the same.

We kept walking, following AMap, which became our go-to navigation app in China since Google Maps wasn’t working. Along the way, we passed by Dongdan Park and decided to stop at a small café nearby for coffee and a bagel. I didn’t expect much, but it turned out to be one of the best bagels I’ve had.

Feeling recharged, we made our way to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street.This is one of the most popular shopping streets in Beijing, filled with stores, food spots, and a steady crowd of locals and tourists. We had lunch at one of the food alleys there, then lined up for matcha and green tea soft serve at Wuyutai Tea, a well-known tea shop that’s been around since 1887. The ice cream was worth the wait, and we savored it while watching the people go about around us.

After some window shopping, we came across a small kiosk run entirely by a robot, which was pretty cool to see. It’s interesting how Beijing mixes tradition with modern tech in such a natural way.

After a bit more walking, we decided to book a DiDi back to the hotel. On the way, we made a quick stop at St. Joseph’s Church, also known as Wangfujing Church. It’s one of the oldest Catholic churches in the city, originally built in the 1600s. Its European-style architecture stands out in the middle of the busy district.

Back at the hotel, we packed our bags for our early flight the next day. For our last dinner in Beijing, we went back to Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant, the same place we tried on our first night. It was just as good the second time around though this time we tried their other dishes. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Overall our last full day in Beijing wasn’t really a packed day, but it felt like a good way to wrap things up. Just walking, eating, and taking in the city one last time.