Beijing Travel Essay 800 Words

Beijing, as the imperial capital of the celestial empire, holds an unparalleled special place in China. It is the heart of the whole country, a political, cultural, and economic hub, brimming with both ancient charm and modern vibrancy. Below, I’ll share a 800-word essay about my journey to Beijing.

This was my first time in Beijing. I, a well-meaning but limited provincial, set out to witness the metropolis with fresh eyes. Before the trip, I had pondered a lot about Beijing, its history, culture, and technology. Yet, I realized how little I knew, how unprepared I was for the marvels that awaited me.

Ignorance is often a choice. We choose not to know, or we choose not to seek deeper understanding. It’s a spectrum of choices. Why choose not to know when another option might be better? I embarked on this journey with my long-held aspirations, unaware of the path ahead, but certain that it was what I needed. My mind craved expansion, my soul yearned for inspiration.

At least in the face of the unpredictable future, at the opportune moment, I made the right decision to come to Beijing.

I remember arriving at the Beijing railway station. The throngs of people at the exit were overwhelming. I felt alone, a solitary figure amidst the crowd. I joined the queue at the metro station, surrounded by even more people. “What a bustling scene,” I thought. The metro wasn’t overcrowded, but I was filled with a sense of wonder. Yet, I didn’t indulge in sightseeing. My focus was on the route map, figuring out where to get off or transfer. Occasionally, I’d glance at the passengers, wanting to capture this moment, this day, even though I was tired. It felt like a struggle against myself.

When I reached my friend’s place, I was exhausted. I collapsed on the bed for a couple of hours. Afterward, we went for dinner and then cycled to Tsinghua University. We explored the university library, searching for books and reading. We visited the art museum, admiring the artworks. Finally, we cycled through the campus of Peking University. This was my first day in Beijing.

The next day, I ventured out alone to Wangfujing Department Store. Afterward, I walked to Tiananmen Square. I might have entered through a side gate, arriving at the Meridian Gate. I could see the Forbidden City, but the throngs of people deterred me from entering. I had wanted to visit Tiananmen Square, but I was later informed that it was an exit-only area. I had gone through a lot just to get there.

I continued my walk, and after a while, I came across Chang’an Avenue. Again, there were a lot of people waiting in line to go through security checks. “I’m here now,” I told myself. So, I joined the queue.

When I saw Chairman Mao’s portrait, I understood the solemnity of the place. Soldiers guarded the road. I remember seeing “Long live communism,” “Long live Mao Zedong Thought” written on a city wall. Suddenly, I felt a sense of awe, a profound sense of the power of propaganda. It was quite overwhelming.

The traffic on the road and the people around me seemed to be asserting their presence in this space. I, too, couldn’t resist the urge to capture the moment by taking a few photos.

I slowly made my way into the city. I realized I had been here before. I joined the queue for a ticket to Tiananmen Square, then another queue for security. Backpacks weren’t allowed, thankfully I was traveling light. The security personnel asked me if I had a lighter, where I was from, what I was doing here, and when I was leaving. After answering their questions, I was finally allowed to ascend the Tiananmen Square gate. The square was still packed with people from the gate. There were guards stationed everywhere. I followed the crowd to the main hall, then went outside to look around and take pictures.

After circling the gate and admiring the views, I thought to myself, “This architectural style is truly unique, at least to me.” Filled with curiosity and weariness, I continued to wander. I walked for a long time, and then I came across the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The architectural design was unlike anything I had seen before. It made me want to go inside. I didn’t get to see it that day, but I lingered at the entrance for a while. Walking along, I saw a sign for Lao She Tea House. I followed Tiananmen Square, this time taking a long route, not because I was lost, but because I was using my phone’s map to find the National Museum.

By the time I found it, I had missed the entry time. Earlier, I had visited the Beijing Police Museum. When I left the Police Museum, I was too late for the National Museum. I had to go through security, and there wasn’t enough time left to enter. So, I just went to Tiananmen Square to see the national flag and the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and to look at Tiananmen Square again. There were so many people taking pictures. I was lucky enough to take a few pictures for other people. I even struck a pose and took a picture of myself. It was a sunny day, and my eyes were squinting, so the photos weren’t very good.

Thus, my second day came to an end. There wasn’t enough time to see everything. I was supposed to return home on the third day, but my friend wanted to show me around, and after some hesitation, I agreed to stay another day. The night before, I began researching places to visit. That day, we went to the Guozijian and the Temple of Confucius in the morning. We walked around, and the ancient atmosphere was palpable, especially the old trees and the unique architectural style. I had never seen anything like it. In the main hall of the Temple of Confucius, I saw the statue of Confucius, which was very solemn. On either side were disciples and scholars, although the place wasn’t very clean. I don’t know why.

On the way to the Guozijian, I heard a tour guide giving a commentary, but I didn’t pay attention. I was wandering again. After visiting the Guozijian, we took the metro to Xidan. We had a hearty lunch in Xidan, but I didn’t actually eat much. I finished a whole bottle of Sprite, and I was really full.

Then we went our separate ways. I had to go to the railway station to get a refund for my ticket, and he was waiting for me in Xidan. I did a lot of circling. The distance was short, but I still went in circles. I spent some time getting my refund at the railway station, but the metro ride from there took a really long time. I waited in a long line before I could board the train. I even checked the time on the metro, but it was too late for the National Museum. I missed another chance. I met my friend in Xidan, and we cycled to Beihai Park. We looked at the White Pagoda, the river, the boats, and the crowds. It’s truly a great place for a date. There are small hills, temples, pavilions, and it’s a great place for poets to find inspiration—willows, red walls, and boating on the lake. I remember a childhood song, “Let’s Row Our Boats Together,” and I think it’s about this place, especially in this season, when the willows are long, the breeze is gentle, and the scent of flowers fills the air. I think it has the scent of spring. You can feel it here.

We climbed high and looked far, and we took a break at a small pavilion, chatting and laughing. We strolled along the path around the lake, pointing out the scenery. We both love to read, so we went to a Sanlian Bookstore. We each looked at the books we liked. I didn’t feel like reading, so I just looked at the music section. I checked the time and realized it was almost time to leave.

We had booked tickets for a ballet performance of “Xishi” at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, so we cycled again. This time, we cycled along Chang’an Avenue, passing Tiananmen Square. We saw people taking pictures, and when I passed by, I ducked my head, afraid of being caught in someone’s photo. I couldn’t avoid it, though. I had to follow behind the person in front of me on his bike. It felt like a long journey, and I was afraid of missing the performance.

In a sense, we were racing against time. We quickly ate dinner on a small street and then cycled to the National Centre for the Performing Arts. I was glad to be back here, and this time I got to go inside.

The inside was even more beautiful than the outside. The water I saw earlier was now on a tempered glass panel. It looked especially beautiful at night, with the lights on. It was mostly about the movement of the water and the scattered points of light, making it all dazzling. This was my first time watching a ballet. In this setting, I felt like I was immersed in art. I saw art everywhere, and the performers seemed to be using their lives to portray their characters, especially the great masters of art who poured their souls into their roles.

For a novice like me, I was still searching for beauty. This was my first attempt, and there will be many more opportunities in the future. And so, my third day came to an end. I hadn’t planned for it, but the night before, we cycled to the Bird’s Nest to watch the kites in the night sky, the lighthouses in the night sky, the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube in the night sky. We took pictures to capture the moment. We filmed videos there, watched street artists perform. We wandered through the park, following the crowd, and then cycled out and back to our accommodation.

On the fourth day, I went back home. I wandered around the area near Beijing West Railway Station and sat at a bus stop, feeling the breeze, watching the cars go by, watching people come and go. I sat quietly, thinking about everything that had happened over the past few days, wondering when I would reminisce about this trip, about the conversations we had. That was my trip to Beijing. It changed my perception of things and made me even more confident in what I believe. It’s something that won’t change for many years to come. I will walk my own path.