Farewell Transmission: Beijing

by Roaming Panda

At this point, we're nearing the end of our journey in Asia. Long days of walking and heat have taken its physical and mental toll. Our final days blurred together into a whirlwind of food, shopping, and sightseeing. Home is starting to sound like a paradise and I am ready to go. I know this all sounds whiny, I mean, I'm in a country some people may never get to visit, and seeing and doing things some people may never get to do. Why am I complaining? The answer lies in the pacing. If you're traveling to China for the first time, I highly recommend you join a tour group. You will see more and do more than trying to plan this out on your own, but be advised, these groups MOVE! They cram a lot in every day and it's nonstop. Usually when I vacation on my own, I can go at my own pace, but when you're on someone else's time, it can be rough. 

Before we leave, there are 4 more sites on our itinerary: the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), Qianmen Street, and Prince Gong's Mansion. My enthusiasm for these last sites have sadly dwindled. Our last stop was Prince Gong's Mansion and I didn't even bother taking any pictures. Terrible I know. The Old Summer Palace, the Summer Palace, and Prince Gong's Mansion are all historic sites with imperial ties while Qianmen Street is the place to go for food and shops. 

We're on the 8th post of this trip so I'll stop rambling and let the pictures speak for themselves. You can check them all out by clicking the image at the end of this post. If you have ever thought about going to China, or anywhere in Asia, I strongly encourage you to do so. It's such a contrast from Western culture and something you have to experience for yourself. I definitely came back with a greater appreciation for all the little amenities we have. Thanks for the wonderful memories China, till we meet again.