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After a long trip from London, solo traveler Rhea Shanika arrives in Beijing and documents her first travel day. She deals with immigration forms, hotel transport, taxi payments and local apps, then heads out to explore the hutongs. At Mr Shei, she tries dumplings and compares the flavors with food in Europe. The day moves from travel logistics and language barriers to a first meal and an early night, with a plan to visit major sights the next day. Rhea also shares a first meal at Mr Shei, where dumplings provide a welcome break after airports and transfers. She compares their freshness and flavor with food she knows from Europe. Along the way she works through chopsticks, hutong streets and the small choices that make a solo arrival easier. She describes the day as tiring but encouraging, and plans to take on more of Beijing the next day. Her first impressions are shaped by both practical steps and the people who help her through them.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2026-01-10)
Arrival and getting settled
Rhea Shanika travels solo from London to Beijing and begins by questioning whether China is difficult to navigate alone. The travel day includes a long flight, a layover and the usual airport logistics. After landing, she completes the temporary arrival paperwork for her visa-free transit and transfers to her hotel. A taxi ride introduces the practical details of transport and payment, while Alipay and WeChat Pay are new systems she is trying to use. She describes the process as manageable with preparation, even though forms and language barriers require attention.
The first part of the visit is shaped by arrival tasks: immigration, finding the correct transport and learning how to pay. She advises travelers to test Alipay before coming, keep a backup payment option and be ready for QR payments. Some gates or area entrances may require a digital entry code or app verification, so she also notes the importance of having the right app available.
Dumplings and first impressions
After checking into the hotel, Rhea heads out to explore Beijing's hutongs and find food. At Mr Shei, she tries dumplings and is impressed by their freshness and flavor compared with meals she has had in Europe. She wrestles with chopsticks and talks through the textures and taste. The walk reveals small shops and cafes and gives her a chance to observe local life.
The long day ends with a hotel rest and plans to visit major sights, including the Great Wall, on the following day. Rhea reflects that the systems she had worried about—transport, mobile payments and language—felt approachable once she experienced them. She presents this as her own first impression after a long travel day and encourages solo visitors to plan ahead while remaining open to help from locals.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is Beijing easy to navigate for solo travelers?
- A: Rhea says that, from her experience, Beijing felt manageable with preparation. Having the right apps and knowing how to pay locally helped, even on her first visit.
- Q: What did Rhea do after arriving in Beijing?
- A: She completed arrival forms, transferred to her hotel, explored the hutongs and ate dumplings at Mr Shei after a long travel day.
- Q: What payment preparation does she recommend?
- A: She recommends setting up and testing Alipay before arrival, bringing another payment option, and being prepared to scan QR codes.