If you’re trying a traditional Beijing breakfast for the first time, start with tangyoubing (sweet fried dough), doufunao (savory tofu pudding), chao gan, miancha, and sesame-paste shaobing. If you’re feeling more adventurous, add fermented douzhi with crispy jiaoquan rings, mending meat pies, or beef-filled steamed buns. If you want to sample several snacks at one…
The Great Wall at Mutianyu, with its distinctive towers and mountain landscape. Photo: Lloyd Tudor / CC BY-SA 4.0. Displayed without intentional cropping. Visiting the Great Wall for the first time? My recommendation is to take a reputable direct tourist bus from Beijing, book your Mutianyu admission with your passport, and use the enclosed cable…
The Forbidden City viewed from Jingshan Park. Photo: Wu Huanqi / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · shown unmodified. Visiting Beijing’s Forbidden City for the first time? Book your Palace Museum ticket seven days ahead, bring the original passport used for your reservation, enter through the Meridian Gate on the south side, and explore…
If you’re exploring Beijing’s hutongs for the first time, my favorite half-day walk starts at Nanluoguxiang, turns into Mao’er Hutong, passes the Drum Tower and Yandai Xiejie, and finishes at Yinding Bridge and Houhai Lake. Set aside about 3–4 hours for a relaxed visit, including photographs and something to eat. The walk is approximately 3–4…
For your first trip to Xi’an, I’d recommend staying near the Bell Tower or Yongning Gate (South Gate). The Bell Tower area is ideal for first-time visitors who enjoy local food and exploring on foot. Yongning Gate offers easy access to the ancient City Wall and a more historic atmosphere. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda…
Visiting the Terracotta Army for the first time? Book your ticket in advance, bring your original passport, leave central Xi’an in the morning, and set aside at least half a day. A standard adult ticket costs ¥120 and covers both the Terracotta Army Museum and the nearby Lishan Garden archaeological park. Allow 2–3 hours for…
If you’re visiting Xi’an for the first time, some of the best foods to try are roujiamo (Chinese-style meat sandwiches), beef or lamb paomo, liangpi (cold noodles), biangbiang noodles, sour soup dumplings, and zenggao (sticky rice cake). If you only have two or three days in the city, I recommend exploring the areas around the…
If you are visiting Xi’an, China for the first time, I recommend setting aside at least 3 days and 2 nights. As one of China’s iconic ancient capitals, Xi’an offers far more than just the world-famous Terracotta Army—it boasts massive ancient city walls, vibrant Muslim markets, historic Buddhist pagodas, and legendary Shaanxi cuisine. As a…