Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Arrive with a plan for mutianyu Great Wall. Dress warm, bring gloves, use cable car up and toboggan down for fun but be mindful of crowds. (00:10)
- Tip 2Visit a watchtower for panoramic views; expect steep, uneven stairs and keep balance. Bring a camera and be mindful of photo crowds. (06:31)
- Tip 3In the Forbidden City, allocate ample time for crowds; study the symbolism of yellow roofs, red walls, and dragon motifs. (09:21)
- Tip 4Try Wuhan cuisine near Beijing to taste regional flavors; expect bold spice and bone-in dishes, and plan for generous portions. (14:38)
Always Away kicks off a memorable Beijing chapter on Christmas Day, heading first to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The day starts with crystal clear blue skies and a sense of tranquil holiday calm, even as crowds are shaped by China’s workday realities. They ride up in a cable car and blast along the wall on a toboggan, laughing through the uphill climbs and vertigo-inducing slopes, sharing playful banter with Dom and Emma. The Mutianyu stretch stands out for its preserved watchtowers and strategic mountain passes, a reminder of ancient defense as well as the sheer physical challenge of the stairs. After a satisfying wall experience and a Christmas lunch of Subway and hash browns, the crew moves west along the wall to soak in more views and a few humorous misadventures, including a pileup on the toboggan. The afternoon shifts to the city as they explore the Forbidden City, marveling at the scale of the palace complex, the color symbolism of red and yellow, and the intricate,
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Always Away arrives in Beijing on Christmas Day and finds the Great Wall surprisingly peaceful with perfect blue skies. They ride the Mutianyu section by cable car, tackle a slanted stretch of stairs that tests balance, and enjoy a toboggan ride down the wall, sharing laughs and banter with Dom. They highlight Mutianyu’s 23 watchtowers and its Ming dynasty history, then pause for a Christmas lunch featuring a Subway sandwich, hash browns, and cookies while enjoying the view. The visit includes a detour to a watchtower for panoramic mountain views and graffiti inscriptions along the wall. The day continues with a visit to the Forbidden City, where the vast scale, the imperial yellow and red color symbolism, and the ancient rules around who could enter are explained. They pick up stamp books and stamps as souvenirs, and later discover a Wuhan restaurant near the city center, diving into a spicy hot pot and other dishes that showcase the breadth of Chinese regional cuisine. The episode closes with reflections on the energy of Beijing, the warmth of the food, and the supportive community backing the channel. Always Away notes how public transport is reliable and easy to use, and they tease more Beijing adventures to come. They also humorously remark on Bill Clinton’s famous visit contributing to crowds decades ago, and the practical tips about bone-in dishes and mastering chopstick-style bone removal.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What made the Mutianyu section special?
- A: It’s well preserved with numerous watchtowers and a relatively short, scenic 2.5 km stretch that provides dramatic mountain views and a sense of history.
