Hi Everyone.

I arrived in Beijing from Gimpo International Airport (still sounds like a joke name to my ears…) and landed at Beijing Capital International Airport feeling prepared, confident… and immediately humbled.

I had a Holafly eSIM that very clearly claimed it worked across 15+ Asian countries, including China. Spoiler: it did not. The second I landed—no data. Dead. Gone. Welcome to China.

Now here’s where things got fun.

I had done my homework. I had Alipay and WeChat fully set up with my credit card. I was ready to glide through this country like a seasoned pro.

Except… both require internet.

No internet = no payments

No payments = no subway

No subway = stranded Canadian

On top of that, I had Amap ready to go for navigation because, thanks to the infamous Great Firewall of China, apps like Google Maps don’t work properly here.

Quick explainer: the “Great Firewall” is China’s internet control system. It blocks or restricts services like Google, YouTube, Gmail, Instagram, and a bunch of Western apps. For a foreigner, it’s like suddenly having half your digital brain removed—everything you normally rely on just… doesn’t load.

And most of the local alternatives? Fully dependent on internet.

So there I was in the airport, pacing around like:

“I need internet to get an eSIM… but I need an eSIM to get internet…”

Then—clutch moment.

I remembered I had exchanged my last Korean won into Chinese yuan before leaving Seoul and stuffed it into one of my many cargo-pant-level pockets. That random decision saved me.

I used that cash to buy a one-time subway ticket into the city, and with a screenshot I had saved from Booking.com, I managed to navigate my way to the general area of my hotel… and eventually found it.

Hotel Wi-Fi = salvation.

Within minutes, I bought a proper China-compatible eSIM, and just like that—smooth sailing from there.

Temple of Heaven & Becoming a Celebrity

First stop: Temple of Heaven.

Absolutely beautiful. But what stood out most? The people.

There were groups of women dressed in traditional outfits doing full-on photoshoots—like magazine-level effort. Hair, makeup, poses… the works. Occasionally, their husbands or boyfriends were dragged along, either as photographers or reluctantly dressed in traditional male outfits.

I could be projecting… but those guys did not look thrilled.

Also—without exception—every single one of these outfits was paired with… sneakers.

Elegant flowing robes… and Nike tennis shoes. Practical? Yes. Sneaky? Not at all. I see you.

This is also where I became a minor celebrity.

A woman approached me and asked for a photo. I assumed she wanted me to take a photo of her group.

Nope.

She wanted a photo with me.

And then another. And another.

Turns out, a lot of domestic tourists in China come from regions where seeing a foreigner—especially a 6’4” Canadian giant—is a rare event. So there I was, unintentionally becoming someone’s “look who I met” proof.

Tian’anmen Square at Night

Next up: Tiananmen Square after dark.

First thing I noticed: a lot of places start with “Tian.”

“Tian” (天) actually means “heaven” or “sky”, not quite “from heaven” but more like something connected to the heavens or divine authority. So yeah—keep an eye out for that as you travel through China.

Getting into the square involved… no joke… about five separate security checks.

You know, just in case I was planning something wild after walking 25,000 steps.

The square itself is massive, powerful, and heavy with history—some of it darker than others. But standing there at night, fully lit up, it’s undeniably one of those places that hits you with a sense of scale and significance.

The Great Wall – Jinshanling

Then came the big one: the Jinshanling Great Wall.

This section is perfect. Not overcrowded like the main tourist-heavy areas, but not so remote that it feels abandoned. It’s that sweet spot—quiet, dramatic, and wildly epic.

If you go… just be careful of the “sweet old ladies.”

They’ll walk with you, chat with you, offer to take photos, suggest rest stops… and slowly build up a relationship over kilometers.

Then near the end—boom.

They hit you with the “we’re poor farmers” pitch and try to guilt you into buying overpriced junk from their backpacks.

I saw it coming from a mile away and politely declined about ten times… didn’t matter. Persistence level: elite.

Still—the wall itself?

Unreal.

Top 5 world attraction, no question.

It’s massive, surreal, and somehow both overwhelming and peaceful at the same time.

I walked for about 4 hours, and it felt like 20 minutes.

Summer Palace – Unexpected Favorite

Next day: Summer Palace.

Honestly? My favorite place in Beijing.

It was originally built and expanded during the Qing Dynasty as a royal retreat—centered around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill—designed to mimic natural landscapes but entirely engineered to impress the emperor.

And wow… it worked.

There’s a long causeway stretching across the lake, and I somehow hit it right in the middle of cherry blossom season.

Perfect weather. Blossoms in full bloom. Reflections on the water.

In my video, I used “Heaven is a Place on Earth”—and yeah… that moment earned it.

That walk will stick with me forever.

Jingshan Park – The Climb

After that, I pushed on to Jingshan Park for a preview of the Forbidden City.

Great views… but man, that climb hits different when you’re already pushing 30,000 steps for the day.

Worth it though.

The Forbidden City & Tsuki

Final major stop: Forbidden City.

And of course… something went wrong.

My ticket didn’t work—likely because I entered an “O” instead of a “0” tied to my passport.

Enter: Tsuki.

A girl behind me jumped in, translated everything, helped fix my ticket, and then—along with her parents—basically adopted me for the day.

They invited me to explore the palace with them and later took me out for an incredible stir-fry dinner. Absolute legends.

The Forbidden City itself is a series of massive courtyards and gates aligned along a central axis. The deeper you go, the more exclusive it historically became—reserved for higher-ranking officials, nobility, and ultimately the emperor himself.

So yeah—Hero wasn’t entirely making that up.

It’s less about “epic deeds” and more about strict hierarchy… but the feeling of progression inward is very real.

Things the Camera Didn’t Fully Capture

• Silent e-mopeds – these things are everywhere, completely silent, and will absolutely sneak up on you.

• Traffic rules – more like… suggestions. Applies to pedestrians, cars, scooters—everyone.

• The air quality – some days fine, some days… yeah, that’s not just “dust and pollen.” I’ve smelled enough burning tires in my life to know better.

Final Thoughts

Huge thank you to Tsuki and her family—you made my last day in Beijing unforgettable.

This city was chaos, beauty, history, and confusion all wrapped into one.

And I loved it.

Next stop: Xi’an.