I dove into this trip with few expectations. In my most recent international travels, I was the one to book everything: Airbnbs, sights, travel between cities, I made the payments... but on this trip, I intentionally stepped back. I surrendered the reigns to others. And with my own hands empty, I found myself in someone else's.
My 11-hour flight from Seattle landed me in PEK at 8pm local time (5am Pacific). After snaking my way through customs, I found myself flying through Beijing traffic tucked in a private van next to Robin, his family, and our two weeks of luggage. As the hazy sky faded from twilight to night, the brake lights on the highway blazed even brighter.
To be a first-time passenger on the roads of Beijing is an exhilarating rollercoaster of close calls, knee jerks, and amazement. As illuminated skyscrapers hovered in our periphery, the cars around us wove between each other seamlessly. The flurry of blinkers and tail lights became a meteor shower of lights, and the chorus of horn beeps were like echolocation, corralling us to our two-day home: The Capital Hotel.
The Capital Hotel is located at the center of Beijing's six ring roads, making it within five-minute walking distance of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, both of which we would visit on our second full day in Beijing (our first full day would be spent at The Great Wall).
When we exited the walls of the City, we were greeted by three pergolas perched on the top of a hill. After quenching our thirst with some ice cream, we curiously made our way up the stoney and shaded steps.
The view from above was astounding. We walked through all that? Through the haze, it was nearly impossible to see where we had entered several hours before. This raised perspective sparked a deeper appreciation for me. The Forbidden City was expansive, breathtaking, and looming – all at the same time.
Narrow streets or alleyways found in Northern China, primarily Beijing.
Beijing a city stacked with layers upon layers of history, and every fragment worthy of excavating. Admittedly, I only did a slight dusting during my brief time here, but even so, I was witness to priceless gems.
Introductions are funny. The awkward handshakes and recited niceties are used to crack the ice and break into something new. My first introduction to Beijing was whizzing cars, a craze of lights, and heavy crowds. They say you never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and I wouldn't want Beijing to even try. Ours was perfect.
© 2026 Kelsi
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