Beijing Day 2: Reflections by Ee Wei

The second day of our weekend getaway in Beijing gave us the opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China, a long stretch of fortifications built to defend the northern frontier beginning from 221 BC. The section of the wall that we visited was the southern section of 居庸关(Juyong pass). According to the tour guide, the southern section was less crowded but steeper compared to the often publicized northern section ‘Badaling’. Upon reaching the Great Wall, it quickly became apparent why this attraction is often cited as one of the must-visit sites in China. The wall extended across the ground as far as the eye could see, serving up expansive views of the entire area, filling me with a sense of awe and wonderment. Imagine the amount of backbreaking work put in by the ancient Chinese when they were erecting these walls!

Next up, we visited the summer getaway of Empress Dowager Cixi in the 19th century, 颐和园 (Summer Palace). This was a picturesque place worthy of any desktop wallpaper, offering amazing views of gently rippling lake water framed by sprawling gardens interspersed with pagoda-like structures. I find that the attractions on the second day presented the aesthetic beauty of nature in Beijing, offering a wholly different but equally enjoyable side compared to the first day, which aimed to exemplify the rich Chinese history and culture. A small pity would be the popcorn in the Summer Palace, which kept to the theme of being thoroughly “au naturel”, devoid of any flavour except the all-natural taste of popped corn kernels.

The next highlight of the day was undoubtedly the famed “Bird’s Nest”. This architectural marvel was inspired by Chinese ceramics and would become an iconic image of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. All in all, Beijing, in these two short days, managed to leave a deep impression on me of her deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage as well as her scenic charms. A deeply intoxicating mixture of both beauty and depth, she has left me with a treasure trove of fond memories.


Photo Credits: Yuxuan