Short Trip To Beijing ❄

Hey there! Hope everything has been good for you this new year so far :)

It's been 2 months since my last post. Again, I am neglecting my blog. In my defense, I was busy spending every minute of my wake time apart from working with A and his parents. 

So, anyway, the company brought us to Beijing as an incentive trip. Approximately 4 days we were there so it was real tiring but fun nevertheless. 

We took a red-eye flight and arrived in Beijing Capital International Airport at 7am in the morning. First thing we did after braving the customs checkpoint was to grab a bite before bundling ourselves in winter gear (and luggage) into the travel bus. Off we went to Tian An Men and Forbidden City, the start of our city tour.

It was so cold i had to cover myself like this most of the time.

The MNG team

Forbidden City, the former Chinese imperial palace was a sight to behold. 

How many times have we seen Chinese dramas/movies with this scene of the King's throne?

The palace was so huge we spent hours there before going for a lunch at a local restaurant. Everyone was so hungry we were like a pack of hyenas haha. Sorry I couldn’t post anyone’s pic gobbling away at their food though.

After the hearty lunch, we went to Jing Shan Park, a beautiful garden with a peak that overlooks the whole of Forbidden City. It was just breath-taking. 

Just as the sun sets, we took a trishaw ride through Hutong Alleyways to visit a quaint Siheyuan house courtesy of our tour guide who knew the homeowner well.

The homeowner very kindly gave us a brief history and tour of her house and the antiques she had inside from the different dynasties. She was also sweet enough to play us a song on her Chinese zither or more widely know as “Gu Zheng”.

Before we concluded our 1st day with dinner, we were brought to throng Wang Fu Jing street, a popular place for their street snacks and shopping.

Finally, we got to check in to our hotel at 10pm. Here's a video of the super nice room at Wanda Realm Hotel Beijing :)

The next day, we were up by 6.30am, breakfasted at the hotel and out the door by 8am. 

We went to Juyongguan pass of Great Wall of China. 

No, I did not climb all the way up to the highest peak which is the No.12 Fortress. Of course. Haha :D

My very 1st skiing experience, although it's artificial snow but it was quite fun.

For the 3rd day, we went to Summer Palace. A very beautiful place with years of history.

Last tourist spot of our trip was the Beijing National Stadium, which is also widely known as Bird's Nest, a name derived from it's exterior.

On our last night, we moved to Chun Hui Yuan Hot Spring Resort for a relaxed night of soaking in hot springs. We can even choose to soak in our room's private quarters if we are too shy to soak with the public.

On the last day, we made an ad-hoc 1 hour stop at a nearby mall before stopping for lunch at Hai Di Lao. Our meal before flight. How can we not try HDL in China right?

That's all for this post. 

Happy Chinese New Year of the Oink (Pig)!