A Chaotic Day in Beijing: Reservations, Rental Bikes, and a Hard-Won Peking Duck
osada /おさだ【海外ひとり旅】
This video opens a new China series by Osada, a Japanese solo-travel YouTuber. It is a one-day trip through Beijing: arriving from Seoul, checking into an apartment-style hotel, eating with locals, visiting the Forbidden City, missing the Temple of Heaven's main hall, walking around Shichahai at dusk, seeing Tiananmen at night, and ending with Peking duck. Osada admits that much of the day went wrong. The practical thread running through the video is how much a visit to Beijing depends on the right apps, advance reservations, and knowing which entrance to use. Osada learned several of these lessons the hard way on camera.
Why China, and Why Now
Osada films the introduction at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. They explain that China was not the original plan. At a pre-trip "strategy meeting" live stream, the announced destination was the Middle East. That trip became difficult to carry out and was cancelled, and Osada says the cancellation cost them several hundred thousand yen that they now "have to earn back." South Korea and China were the replacement.
Osada says they have been promoting China on the channel recently and have become unexpectedly popular with Chinese viewers. They have visited Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, and Chengdu, and describe being seen by Chinese audiences as a kind of "strange creature," a character with the nickname "Anxiety Hermit." At first they were unsure what to make of it, but they say they are now grateful for it. As a joke, Osada gives the trip's goal as "to increase the number of views," then says the actual aim is a video about enjoying Beijing.
Pre-Trip Essentials: Entry Card, Three Apps, and Data
At the airport, before flying Asiana Airlines to Beijing, Osada covers the preparations they consider essential. The entry card that used to be filled out on paper on arrival can now be applied for online, and they recommend doing this about three days before the flight.
They name three apps as the minimum for China. Alipay handles payments and transport: you link a credit card and pay by QR code, and Osada calls it a must. WeChat is for reservations, and they plan to use it for the Forbidden City. The third is a map app to replace Google Maps. For data, they bought a Klook eSIM with 1GB for 190 yen. Osada says Google works in China through the eSIM, contrary to what many people assume. They exchange no cash at all and pay for everything through Alipay or WeChat.
The Asiana flight takes about two hours. Osada describes the cabin as "surprisingly spacious and comfortable."
Arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport
Osada notes that they have heard mixed reports about Chinese immigration, which is sometimes described as difficult and sometimes as easy. They say they have passed through about three times without trouble, and this entry also goes smoothly. They add that travelers who have not submitted the arrival card online will probably need to fill one out at the airport, and that applying in advance is easier.
From Terminal 3, section E, Osada takes the internal train to section C and the exit. They mention that the time difference with Japan is minus one hour. On a previous trip they reached the city by subway, which they estimate takes about an hour to the center, and they note that riding the subway requires Alipay. This time they use Klook's airport transfer, with a driver waiting at the exit.
There is a small misunderstanding in the car. Osada hears "28" and thinks the driver is saying they are 28 years old, which Osada doubts. It turns out the driver has lived in Beijing for 28 years and is originally from Shandong Province. The driver also tells Osada that the Forbidden City closes on Mondays. The ride to the hotel takes about 40 minutes, and Osada repeatedly remarks on how kind and helpful the driver was.
The Hotel: An Apartment-Style Stay in the Old Town
The hotel is transcribed as "Base Bai She Gong Wan Jiu Dian." Although Osada arrives around 11:30, well before check-in, they are allowed straight into their room, number 731 on the seventh floor. There is a gym and a restaurant in the basement.
Osada deliberately chose an apartment-style property. The room has a bed, a sofa, hangers, two pairs of slippers, a microwave, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a simple kitchen with dishes, and a bathroom with a shower. They consider it well suited to long stays. The window looks out over what the driver called the "old town," and Osada says they like its old-fashioned, downtown feel. The price is 12,000 yen per night, which they call good value, especially for two people sharing.
Lunch in the Old Town: A Crowded Local Restaurant
Osada has a reservation at 12:00, so there is little time. Walking through the old town, they describe it as a place where you can glimpse everyday life in Beijing. They also realize they have gone out without a jacket. It is March 15, with a forecast high of 14°C and a low of 1°C, and they plan to be out until night.
They pass a lively street event and then choose a restaurant on instinct: it looks popular, and the menu features "brown dishes" (Japanese shorthand for hearty, savory food), which Osada loves. Since they believe in fate for this kind of decision, they go in. The place is packed with locals, and there is no queue. Customers simply grab seats as they open up, which Osada compares to musical chairs, and the people standing and waiting put real pressure on the diners. One customer gives Osada a seat and then asks them to move soon after, which Osada says they disliked. Another person is genuinely kind and helps, and Osada thanks them in Chinese.
Ordering is done by scanning a QR code at the table. Once payment through Alipay goes through, the food arrives, and diners can leave as soon as they finish. Following what everyone around them is eating, Osada orders a thick, gooey stew full of liver and other offal for about 400 yen, plus a steamed bun for 2 yuan, which they estimate at about 50 yen. They call the stew strongly garlicky, intense, and "incredibly delicious," and say they were surprised by how good it was. They were told to eat the bun with the chili oil on the table, and they warn viewers that Chinese chili oil is seriously spicy. Their summary: the meal was exhausting but delicious.
Rental Bikes: A Fourth Attempt
The next stop is about 40 minutes away on foot, so Osada decides to copy the locals and rent a shared bicycle. They have tried this about three times before and failed each time. On the first try, the QR code they scanned opened an adult website instead of the bike. On the second, the allowed riding range was so small that the ride ended after about 200 meters. On the third, the tire was flat.
This time they use the Hello Bike service inside Alipay. Bikes come in different colors, such as red, yellow, blue, and green, and Osada understands that the permitted range differs by color. The main rule is that the bike must be returned inside a blue-outlined zone shown in the app, and Osada is unsure how far they are allowed to ride. The ride goes well at first. Osada notes that cars have priority and stays in the bicycle lane.
Near Tiananmen, though, the bike cannot go any further, and returning it proves difficult before it finally locks. The ride costs 1.9 yuan, about 40 yen. Osada estimates it shortened the trip a little, though not as much as hoped, and then realizes they could have ridden further along a different route. On the way they pass through Wangfujing, a shopping street where the large stores begin, including a Nike and, diagonally across, an Apple Store. Decorations with New Year greetings are still up, and Osada wonders whether these are left over from the Lunar New Year or connected to some event.
Reservations for the Forbidden City and Tiananmen
Osada explains that both Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City require reservations. For Tiananmen, you must book by the day before. For the Forbidden City, you book up to 7 days in advance, and some days fill quickly depending on the day of the week, so booking early is important.
The official route is through WeChat. On both this trip and the previous one, Osada could not complete a booking that way. They are not sure why, but their phone number was not recognized, so they could not buy a ticket, and they missed the Forbidden City last time for this reason. This time they found a Japanese-language booking page and succeeded. They link it in the description and suggest viewers try it.
The booking is tied to your passport. Security includes a baggage check, a face photo, and a passport check, with several more gates after the first. Inside, the path splits: one way leads to Tiananmen Square and the other to the Forbidden City, which a sign says is 870 meters away.
Going in Circles Around the Forbidden City
Osada heads toward the Forbidden City and then gets lost. At what they think is the entrance, they are told it is the exit, redirected, and feel they are being led back toward Tiananmen again and again. Eventually they figure out that the big gate with Mao Zedong's portrait was probably the shortest way in, and that walking straight from the earlier photo spot through Tiananmen would have been the most direct route. They laugh at themselves for going "around and around," say they were rambling mainly to show how hard they had worked, and then go in.
At the ticket gate there is another baggage check and an entry check using the passport-linked ticket. Osada sees many visitors being turned away, but they get through without problems.
Inside the Forbidden City: A Sense of Scale
Past the first enormous gate, Osada is overwhelmed. They describe the site as the palace where the emperors lived, covering about 720,000 square meters with around 9,000 rooms. They admit they cannot really picture those numbers, and they joke about why a single emperor would need so many rooms.
The layout repeats: a gate, a vast square, another gate, another square. Osada jokes that it is becoming repetitive and predicts, correctly, that yet another similar space will open up beyond the next gate. They climb the stairs where other visitors are going and find another impressive building at the top. Its interior is too dark to see clearly, even in person, and Osada wonders aloud whether a large statue is standing inside. They sum up the experience this way: size is powerful, and size is the easiest way to show power.
Further in, rows of roofs stretch into the distance. Osada points out a building on a hilltop behind the palace: the summit of Jingshan Park. They say the view of the Forbidden City from there is beautiful and recommend it to interested viewers. By this point they are so tired that they say their comments sound like they are talking about someone else, and it takes them a long time to reach the exit.
An Accidental Hot Pot Lunch
Osada wanted zhajiangmian (the transcript also renders it as "jajangmyeon") for their second meal. The first restaurant they tried was closed, apparently for good. The second had a huge line. They walk into a third place that "didn't look like a hot pot restaurant at all" and discover it is one, in the middle of the afternoon, when they were not in the mood for hot pot.
They order almost at random and far too much, including meat and fish paste, with three broths: plain, mushroom, and spicy. Staff prepare some items at the table, pushing paste into the pot with force, and Osada jokes that the staff's expression says, "You probably can't eat it all anyway." One bite of the spicy broth numbs their lips and has them sweating. They then realize they are missing two things everyone else has: an apron, and a dipping sauce made at the sauce station. Once they fix that, they eat the meat with rice and sauce. Osada says they like Chinese food and that the staff and fellow customers made them glad they came in, despite the unplanned meal.
Temple of Heaven: Too Late for the Main Hall
Next is the Temple of Heaven (the transcript renders it as "Tendai Park"). Osada missed part of it on a previous visit because they ran out of time, and the building they most wanted to see is the round blue hall they call the "Prayer Hall," which they note is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is now 4 p.m. They believe the hall's viewing hours end around 3:30 p.m. and had thought arriving by 3 p.m. would be enough.
They buy a ticket anyway but cannot get into the hall. They briefly joke about slipping in through another path, then decide it is clearly impossible and that they would only be causing trouble. They film the blue building from as close as they are allowed and give up, calling it a bad day. They reflect that some days you cannot see what you wanted to see or eat where you wanted to eat.
Shichahai at Dusk
Osada moves on to Shichahai and rests at a popular lakeside café with outdoor seats facing the water. They order an iced coffee. It is 5:30 p.m., with sunset about 30 minutes away. They have heard the area has a great atmosphere at night, so they plan to wait for dark.
While resting, they say every country has its own national character. Their fatigue started with the seat scramble at lunch and the pressure of waiting, and it has been added to by roughly 20,000 steps of walking. They lay out the rest of the evening: Shichahai at night, Peking duck as the signature Beijing dish, and the night view of Tiananmen, which they could not see earlier.
As the sun goes down, the lights come on and Osada finds the area beautiful. The street on the left, Houhai, is lined with bars, and the bridge they just crossed is described as a well-known photo spot. Music from the bars is loud, and people nearby sing along to what Osada guesses is a famous song, joking that it might be the Chinese equivalent of SMAP in Japan, then admitting that reference is dated. At a food stall they finally try a lamb skewer, something they see everywhere but had never bought, for 200 yen. They hold back on eating more because of the Peking duck planned for later. By 6:30 p.m. it is fully dark and the temperature is around 1°C. Without a down jacket, Osada says it is really cold, though they still call the area a lot of fun.
Tiananmen at Night: The Reservation Pays Off
Osada explains the Tiananmen booking system. Tickets must be reserved at least one day in advance. There are daytime, afternoon, and evening sessions, and Osada booked the evening one. When booking, you choose one of four entry gates, numbered 1 to 4, where checks take place. Osada chose gate 2, but at first they find nothing there: no checkpoint and almost no people. They begin to worry that the day's run of bad luck is continuing.
Retracing the route from earlier, they reach the point where they had shown their passport and the path forks between the Forbidden City and Tiananmen. They conclude that this is gate 2 and that the actual Tiananmen check happens at a nearby subway exit. There, staff ask whether they have a reservation. Osada opens the Tiananmen mini-program inside WeChat, shows the reservation screen along with their passport, and is let through. They say the staff member's tone became friendlier once the booking checked out.
Some visitors next to Osada do not have reservations and are turned away. Osada describes their disappointed faces and says they want to deliver the night view to those people too. They repeat the point several times: reserve at least one day ahead. After a third security check, they reach the square.
The fountains are running, the lighting is brighter than they expected, and the large, open square is fully illuminated. Osada walks up to face Tiananmen Gate and the portrait of Mao Zedong at its center. They wonder whether they are the only one who thinks the portrait's cheeks look slightly red and that he appears to be smiling. Once the crowd thins, they take their thumbnail photo.
Peking Duck and Zhajiangmian to Close the Day
The first Peking duck restaurant Osada finds sells only takeout. With someone's help, they find another nearby, the Wangfujing branch of a restaurant known for its specialties. It closes at 9 p.m., they arrive at 8 p.m., and the place turns out to be nearly empty. Osada has read that this restaurant also serves the zhajiangmian they missed at lunch, so they order a half duck and a bowl of noodles. The staff laugh at their attempt to order, which Osada takes as the staff understanding how badly they want to eat. They briefly show a tip: in Google Translate, set Japanese to Chinese, tap the voice button, and speak, and it produces the sentence for you.
When the duck first arrives, Osada is shocked: a half duck appears to be only five pieces of skin, and they wonder whether Peking duck was always this small. Then more plates keep coming, including sliced duck with meat, wrappers, two sauces, green onions, and cucumber, and Osada is relieved to find the half portion is actually quite a lot. They demonstrate how to eat it: put duck and sauce on a wrapper, add green onion and cucumber to taste, add a piece of the crispy skin, and roll it up. They say they are close to tears and that it is delicious.
They mix the zhajiangmian with all its toppings and try it, and the staff also bring a duck soup that Osada thinks may be their first ever and describes as gentle. Still, they rank the Peking duck first. They say that after a day when so little went to plan, being able to finally eat it made it taste even better.
Osada ends the Beijing episode by calling it a "rambling" trip that still finished on a good note, a case of "all's well that ends well." The practical lessons from the day are clear from what went wrong: book the Forbidden City up to a week ahead and Tiananmen at least a day ahead, find out where the checkpoint for your chosen gate actually is, check closing times for sites like the Temple of Heaven's main hall, and bring a warm jacket to Beijing in mid-March.
It arrived. But there's very little. Huh? Huh? Wait a minute. Did I order Peking duck? Is half a duck really this little? There are only five pieces of skin. Huh? Is this what Peking duck is like?
Once again, this is Osada. Currently, I'm at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea. And from this video onwards, we'll be starting the China series. Anxiety.
So, China is famous for its hot pot, but what are your impressions of China? My current impression is that it's popular. I've been really hyping up China lately, and thankfully, for some reason, I'm well-liked in China, and I've traveled there several times, starting with Shanghai, then Beijing, and then Chongqing and Chengdu, visiting various cities, and gradually, I've gained popularity, or rather, from the perspective of the Chinese people, I seem to look like a strange creature.
It seems I've gained popularity as a character. And the nickname I got is Anxiety Hermit. At first I wondered what kind of nickname they'd given me, but now I'm really grateful. Joking aside. Yes.
Before the trip, I held a strategy meeting live stream, and I'd like to thank everyone who participated. I announced my destination during that live stream, but at that time, I wasn't planning to go to China or South Korea, where I am now. Originally, I was planning to go to the Middle East, but it's difficult to go there right now, so I changed my plans and ended up going to South Korea and China this time.
The Middle East trip was quite expensive, and for unavoidable reasons, it had to be canceled, so it couldn't be helped, but the money I lost was several hundred thousand yen. I have to earn it back.
So, although it's a bit unusual for me to go to China, I've been there and I'm feeling pretty good. Yes. So, I've set a goal for this trip to China. "To increase the number of views." I know that sounds ridiculous, but I'm just kidding. So, this time I'd like to make a video about enjoying Beijing, the capital of China, so please stick around.
Yes. I'm flying with Asiana Airlines from Gimpo International Airport to Beijing. I've already checked in online, so I'll head inside now. Is this it?
Yes, so I've come inside. The documents required for entry into China today are digital entry cards, which you used to fill out on paper upon arrival, but you can apply for online in advance, so please do so about three days before your flight.
These are the apps you absolutely must have in China. You should have at least these three. First, Alipay. This is for all kinds of payments and transportation. You link it to your credit card and use a QR code to make payments, so this is a must. WeChat, this is for making reservations and things like that. I'll explain it once we get there. In this case, I'm planning to go inside the Forbidden City. The third one is this map. This is a map that will replace Google Maps, so be sure to get one.
For data, I was able to purchase a Klook eSIM for 1GB for 190 yen, so I've set that up.
It's a popular destination, so make sure you look stylish. It's two hours from now. Thank you, Asiana Airlines. Thank you.
Yes. Boarding. Asiana Airlines is like this, surprisingly spacious and comfortable. I'll enjoy the 2-hour flight to Beijing.
Okay, so we've arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport. Now it's time to go through immigration. I've heard all sorts of rumors about immigration in China, sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's easy, but so far I've gone through without any problems about three times. I wonder if I'll be able to get through without any problems this time.
People who haven't applied for an arrival card in advance will probably have to fill out an arrival card here. I think it's easier if you apply in advance. Okay, I'm going through immigration.
Okay. Successfully passed through. So far I've been able to go through without any problems. And from here I'll take the train to the exit. I think I'm currently in Terminal 3, section E, and I need to go to section C, so I'll take this train. Here it is.
In China, as I mentioned earlier, I don't exchange money, and I pay for everything using Alipay or WeChat, so I don't exchange any currency. The eSIM that Klook set up is already connected. The time difference with Japan is minus 1 hour.
I guess people picking up their luggage can do so here. Yes. I'm going to take Klook's airport transfer to the hotel. They'll be waiting for me near the exit. Yes. It's been a while since I've been to Beijing. They'll be waiting for me near this exit. Ah, this person. Hello. Yes.
Yes, I've met up with the Klook airport transfer person. By the way, the last time I came here I went by train, and I think you can get there by taking the subway over there. I think it takes about an hour to get to the city center.
A lot of people ask me, "How do I use the internet in China?" but if you use Klook's eSIM, you can use it as usual. People say Google isn't available, but you can use it in China if you use an eSIM.
You can take the subway from here. You'll need Alipay to take the train, so please have it ready. I'll explain how to use it later when we're in the city center.
28? 28 years old...? Did you say 28 years old? That can't be right. 28 years? Well, you can't judge a book by its cover. Okay. He's definitely not 28. I must have misheard.
Okay. It looks like we'll get to the hotel in about 40 minutes. Oh, so he's lived there for 28 years. I thought he was 28.
I'm from Shandong Province...
The Forbidden City in Beijing is closed on Mondays. The Forbidden City is closed sometimes. He's so kind to tell me all sorts of things.
Yeah. Okay. Bye-bye. Here we go. Thank you. We've arrived at the hotel. I think I've booked a really great hotel. He was such a nice driver. He told me all sorts of things.
I'll be staying at this hotel called Base something-or-other. I don't think I can check in yet, but I'll just leave my luggage here. I wonder why I chose this place. Yes, thank you.
Oh, I'm already in my room. Lucky me. Let's see, the 7th floor. It's about 11:30, but they let me in. There's a gym and a restaurant in the basement. Now, enjoy China.
Alright, how are you? No fooling around. 721, 721, 731? 731. This is it. Yes, my room. Here we go. Here we go. Oh. Oops. The lights. Ah, yes, yes, yes. It was like this. Yes. There we go. That's right. That's right. It was a hotel like this. Okay. Just a moment. I'll turn on the lights.
Okay, then I'd like to show you around. Hello. So, this is your room. Yes, this time we chose a hotel that's like an apartment. Over here is the bed, not a hotel bed. And there's a sofa, and the view over here is what the taxi driver called the old town. It's a pretty old-fashioned view, but I like this downtown feel.
And it's nice. It's spacious. Is this what it is? The hangers? There are hangers here, I'm glad. Two pairs of slippers. Since this is an apartment, there's nothing here, right? Over here. Yes. Over here, there's a microwave and a refrigerator. I think it's good for long stays. That's great. A washing machine. This is also included.
This kitchen is simple. Dishes are also provided. This is the bathroom. A toilet, towels, sink, shower, looks good, doesn't it? Yes. It's like this.
Yes, how much do you think this costs for one night? This hotel is called Base Bai She Gong Wan Jiu Dian, and the price for one night is 12,000 yen. That's pretty good, isn't it? Yes. If two people stay here, it's just right.
Now, without further ado, I'd like to enjoy the city of Beijing. I have a reservation at 12 o'clock, so I have to hurry.
The taxi driver said that this area where I'm staying is called Old Town. It certainly has a rather quaint atmosphere around here. It feels like a place where you can get a glimpse into the lives of the Chinese people. I'm thinking of finding a restaurant around here and having a meal. What a peaceful scene. Nice. Places like this.
I want to try this this time. This bicycle. I still don't really understand how to use this bicycle. There are various colors. Like red, yellow, and blue. The range is different depending on the color. I've tried about three times so far.
The first time I got a QR code and got on, but it was on Alipay. It turned out to be an adult site, so I couldn't get on the first time. The second time I got on, the range was really small, so I got on after about 200m and it was over. And the third time it was flat. This time for sure.
It's taking me through some amazing places. This is really my hometown. By the way, I forgot to wear a jacket, I wonder if that's okay? I came out in just a long-sleeved shirt. It's March 15th now. It's the middle of the month, the high temperature is 14° and the low temperature is 1°. It's crazy. I'm planning to walk until tonight.
What's going on? What's going on? What's going on? There's some amazing event going on. It's on the other side of here. Something amazing is happening around here.
Huh? My food is a little further away. Oh, but maybe I should eat something that looks nice around here. There are some delicious-looking restaurants around here, maybe I should go to one of these. This place seems popular. Oh, this looks good. I was thinking of going to one of the ones over there, but this one caught my eye.
Peach, liver, stir-fried. So, it's probably liver-based. The menu looks delicious too. My favorite brown dishes. I believe in fate in these kinds of things, so I'll go in here.
It's incredibly crowded. Locals. What should I do? First, I think I need to sit down and order. Oh, that looks delicious. But there are no seats. It's too popular. This looks really delicious. What is this? Oh, this looks really tasty. Eat quickly, everyone. Don't eat slowly.
Oh, there are still people. Oh, there are. Excuse me. Excuse me. You're still here. A seat has opened up, can I sit down? Are you there? Is your friend coming?
The pressure from the people waiting is immense, too. Yeah. There's no waiting line here, so you have to grab a seat. But it's impossible. To grab one. With so many people staring, there's no way anyone would tell you to hurry up and free up a seat. This is impossible. It's like musical chairs.
Okay, I'll try to grab one. Good luck. Oh, there's one open over there. I'll ask. Is this seat okay? Okay? Yes. Is it okay? Oh, is it okay? Thank you. There are some kind people too. I don't understand a word they're saying.
It's a mess. There was one person who was really kind and opened a seat for me, but soon after they told me to move. I really hate that. This person is really kind. Thank you. Xie xie. Thank you. That person is so kind. There are kind people too.
Yes. So, I'll order using this QR code. Everyone's eating something that looks like liver. I'd also like to order one of these bun-like things. Yes. Once the payment is completed with Alipay here, the order will arrive and you can leave the store right away. I'm so tired.
A steamed bun and something that looks like liver. Here it is. This steamed bun was 2 yuan, so probably about 50 yen. This one is about 400 yen. It's a gooey dish with lots of offal-like liver stuff inside.
It's incredibly delicious. I was surprised. It has a strong garlic flavor, and the taste is intense and incredibly delicious. This one has a strong flavor. And then this steamed bun. This one is about 50 yen. This is really delicious. What is this?
I was told that I should eat it with the chili oil on the table. Everyone be careful. Chinese chili oil is no joke in terms of spiciness. No joke. It's incredibly tiring, but incredibly delicious.
Okay, it's a 40-minute walk from here, so I'm going to follow everyone else's example and rent a bicycle and speed off. I've failed many times before, but this time for sure. Open this Alipay Hello Bike app and scan with it. Don't open any porn sites. I'll open one of these around here.
I want to go to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City. I can't see this blue frame. I have to return it within the frame, damn it. I don't know how far I can borrow it. Oh well. Let's go. It says to return it properly within this blue.
Okay. It's filled with air. Alright. Okay, let's go. Welcome here. Ouch. Ouch. That went really well this time. I'm happy. Get out of the way. Dangerous, dangerous. Cars have priority. Cars have priority. Cars have priority. This is the bicycle area.
Okay. The one in front is riding blue, so I think I can go this way. Alright. I'm feeling great right now. Looks like I can stop within the blue frame. This is where I'm going next. It's a 40-minute walk, but I'm trying to shorten the time to 10 minutes. I'm showing the people of China my cycling skills. I think they're really surprised. Look, this one's green. Did you see this green bike? Hmm, it's fast. Wait!
I'm heading to Tiananmen Square, one of the most famous spots in Beijing. The Forbidden City is there. And that's where I've been until now... yes. Um, not even once, it's noisy. What's up? There are a lot of people wearing kimonos. Yeah.
Oh, I can only go as far as here. Maybe I can't cycle past that point. Is this as far as I can go? Damn. It didn't move at all. Damn. I can't return it at all. It's no good.
I managed to return it now. That's 1.9 yuan, about 2 yuan, so about 40 yen. Damn, it didn't move at all. I managed to shorten the time a little. Okay, let's walk from here. Oh, I could have gone further this way. I messed up. I got stuck by this big wall.
Is there some kind of event going on? Maybe it's March 15th. There must be something going on. Happy Chinese Year, huh? The Lunar New Year is over, isn't it? Are there still remnants of it? I see.
And this area is called Wangfujing, how do you pronounce that again? It sounds like Funcha, and that's what it is. There are quite a few shops lined up on both sides of the street. There's a Nike on the right. An Apple Store is diagonally across from it. Big shops start appearing around here. Slow down from here. Accelerate. Okay. It's turning red. Run.
So, we've arrived, and this area is where Tiananmen Square is located. I couldn't enter the Forbidden City last time, which is inside it. To enter Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City, you need a reservation. For Tiananmen Square, you need to make a reservation by the day before, but for the Forbidden City, you need to make a reservation 7 days in advance. Apparently, some days fill up very quickly depending on the day of the week. So, you need to make a reservation early.
You make reservations through WeChat, but I couldn't make a reservation through WeChat last time or this time. I don't really know why, but my phone number wasn't reflected, so I couldn't buy a ticket. This time, I found a Japanese reservation page, and I was able to make a reservation there. I got one this time. I'll put the link in the description box, so if you make a reservation there, I think you'll be able to make one too.
From here, there are strict security checks, including baggage checks. Once you make a reservation, it's linked to your passport. Yes. The first hurdle was a photo of my face, and after showing my passport, they let me through. And there are several more gates, I think it's not just the first gate.
That's right. Tiananmen Square is straight ahead. The Forbidden City is 870m away. Which way is it? Should I go towards Tiananmen Square? Oh, the Forbidden City is this way. People going to Tiananmen Square go this way, and I went this way last time. It says this way for the Forbidden City.
This is the direction to the Forbidden City. Yes. We've arrived at the entrance to the Forbidden City. It's quite a walk from there. You can't enter the Forbidden City through Tiananmen Square, can you? I thought you could see them together.
Huh? I'm being led back again. Over there. What's going on? Don't I enter from here? This is the exit. The entrance to the Forbidden City is over there. What the heck. I feel like I'm being led back to Tiananmen Square.
I've somehow come back. I feel like I'm going around in circles. What is this? What is this? Oh, this is the Forbidden City. Do I enter from here? Someone please tell me seriously.
The big gate on the left is Tiananmen Square. The gate with Mao Zedong's portrait is over there. Maybe entering from there was the shortest route for me. What am I doing?
This is the Forbidden City. So everyone, if you go straight from where we took the photo earlier, you'll come to Tiananmen Square, and I think the shortest way in is to enter from there. I probably went around and around and around and ended up here.
Enough with this explanation. I was rambling on just to share with everyone how hard I worked. I'll just go in quietly now. Come on, let me in.
Once inside, there are entrances on the right and left, and oh, you can take a commemorative photo here, so let's take one here. Thumbnail.
Okay, let's go. I'll enter from here. The soldiers must have a tough job. They're just standing there. Thank you for your hard work. Well, I've walked a lot, so please take care of me. It's tough.
First there's a baggage check, and I think you can enter with a ticket linked to your passport. There seem to be a lot of problems. Please. Let me through too. What happened to that person? What was the problem? A lot of people are being turned away.
I got through. So, this is the Forbidden City. We'll go inside by passing through this enormous gate. I wonder what that is in the distance. What an incredible view. Seriously? Unbelievable. It's so huge.
This is the Forbidden City. This is the castle where the emperors lived, also known as the Forbidden City, I think? I think the pronunciation is probably a little different. It's a castle, and the grounds cover approximately 720,000 square meters. I can't really grasp that.
And, how many rooms do you think there are? There are a whopping 9,000 rooms in this place. I don't understand. Isn't there just one emperor?
And, this isn't all there is. Not just this space. That over there isn't an exit either. I've heard it's incredibly vast, so I don't think it's on such a small scale that it would surprise me with something like this. I guess I'll take a look where everyone else is.
I don't know if what I see in front of me is the large ring-shaped gate, or the Gate of Supreme Harmony. This is the first gate that comes into view as you pass through the Forbidden City. It's a really magnificent gate.
Yes. After passing through this square, we come to this one... it's not that steep though. Here, excuse me for a moment, but I got curious. Helping each other is important.
This is the Gate of Sadako's Journey, and after passing through here, yes, yes, it's getting repetitive. Another similar square appears. Surely this won't continue, right? There's still a surprise ahead.
These two squares are connected. I'm surprised now, but there's another gate continuing over there. On the other side. I have a bad feeling about this, there's a high possibility that the same space will stretch out before us again. But before that, everyone is climbing up here, so I'd like to climb up here as well.
This is amazing too. I'm truly overwhelmed by the scale of it all. Yes. At the top of the stairs is another incredible building. Size is a powerful thing, after all. The easiest way to show its power is by its size.
Everyone's taking pictures, but it's dark and you can't see it. Is that some kind of giant Buddha standing there? It's really dark and hard to see even with the naked eye.
When you go through this, wow, this place is amazing. Wow, this place feels incredible. Amazing. It seems like the vastness continues on, with these roofs lined up. This scenery is incredible. Does this perhaps continue all the way to the back? Wow,
can you see the building on top of a mountain far in the distance? That's the summit of Jingshan Park, and you can see the Forbidden City from there. The view is incredibly beautiful. The Forbidden City as seen from the top of this mountain. I'd like anyone who's interested to definitely check it out.
Yes. I'm so tired that my comments sound like I'm talking about someone else. I'm tired. I still can't get out. I finally made it out.
Is this it? I'll just stay here. Is this hot pot? It's hot pot. It didn't look like a hot pot restaurant at all. But it is a hot pot. In the middle of the day. This is bad.
I've come to a really strange place. They're doing something for us. I'm not in the mood for hot pot at all. So, meat? Yeah. Let's just order whatever. Whatever. I'm getting tired of this. I don't want lamb. I don't want this. I don't want fish cakes.
What am I doing? I just walked into a hot pot restaurant out of nowhere. The first place was closed or had gone out of business, it was closed. The second place had a huge line, so that was out of the question. I couldn't get in. I wanted to eat zhajiangmian.
The restaurant is really noisy, it's starting to get chaotic. Oh, that surprised me. Thank you, did you see? From the staff to the customers, I'm glad I came into this restaurant.
This is bad. Why did I order hot pot in the middle of the day? Yes. Huh? Did I order fish cakes? Meat. Oh, I ordered too much. Oh, crap. I ordered way too much. This is bad. What am I doing? I've ordered way too much. In the middle of the day. I'm acting like some kind of celebrity. Did I order some fish paste?
I got three different flavors. This is plain water. This is mushroom. The mushroom one. This is the spicy hot pot one. Oh, I'm done. I'm really done.
I have something to do tonight, so I'll try to be a little more moderate. This one. But, I don't like being a wimp either, so I'll put a little bit in the hot pot too. Yeah. I'll leave it at this. I'll go right away. This meat. Yes. I'll start with this one. Okay, let's start with the mushroom one.
I want some rice. They'll make it for me. Thank you. That's how you do it. It's not really a ball, it just slides and drops. I must have ordered this one. They make it with such force. I guess I'll have this one added too. They're giving me a look that says, "You probably can't eat it all anyway." You understand perfectly.
Okay, here we go. Have you all ever had hot pot? This is going to surprise you. No way. My lips are done. Wow, my lips are done. Oh, I thought so.
Now for the sauce. That's right. With hot pot, you have to make the sauce yourself. I've only had one bite of hot pot and I'm already sweating like crazy. Thank you for putting in all these things. Thank you.
I had to make the sauce myself, and another thing that was different from everyone else was my apron. Everyone else is wearing this. This is it. Yes. I thought something was different, and it turned out I didn't have this or the sauce, so I dipped the new meat in the mushrooms and then put this in the sauce. Yes. I want to gobble down rice with this sauce that my brother made for me.
And this soaking wet smell is just too much, I can't handle it. There are many kinds in China. I like Chinese food. Where are you from? Oh, that's me. Here we go.
Yes. So, uh, we've arrived at Temple of Heaven Park and Yamapi. I saw him. He greeted me with such a smile that I almost cried, and now, uh, so, next we've arrived at Temple of Heaven Park, a plaza. There are some things here that I missed seeing last time, so I'm looking forward to enjoying them.
Do I have to buy a ticket here? Huh? I have a bad feeling about this. Last time I came here, I missed out because I ran out of time. I think it might be open until 3:30 pm. It's 4 pm now, I thought I could see it if I got there by 3 pm. I'm wrong again.
But since I've come all this way, I bought a ticket to go inside. I don't understand. What time can I see it? There's a really famous memorial hall there. A beautiful blue one. I've been longing to see it ever since last time.
This round blue building that you can see in the distance. I wanted to see this. This looks like the building called the Prayer Hall, that blue building that's been designated a World Cultural Heritage site. Everyone came here to see it, but we can't see it right now. What's going on?
Complaining won't do any good, so I'll try to show you all the best I can from a little closer. Damn it. This path is different from the one we took last time. Hey, it looks like we can get in from here. Huh? Should I just pretend nothing happened and go, or is it impossible no matter how I think about it, or should I just take a chance...
I'm really causing trouble. It's impossible, really. This is the best view from here. Just a little bit from here. Let me just take a look at this. This, this. This blue building. This is what I wanted to see. This is the Prayer Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is as far as I can go. I'll give up and go home.
Damn it. Today's no good. Sometimes you can't see what you want to see, or you can't eat at the restaurant you want to go to, well, some days are like that, so we've moved to another location, and here we are in the Shichahai area. We're taking some time to relax at a cafe by the lake.
There's a reason this cafe is popular; it's full of people right now, but there are seats outside where you can look out at the lake. If you sit there, you can enjoy Shichahai in a really nice way. So I ordered an iced coffee. Let's settle down for a bit. Okay.
And apparently this Shichahai area has a really great atmosphere at night. So we're aiming for that this time. It's 5:30 pm now, and the sun will set in about 30 minutes, so let's go outside then.
Listen to this. You know, there's definitely a national character to each country. Well, it all started with not being able to get a seat at the restaurant where we had our first meal. And then there's the pressure of having to wait in line. So my body is a little more tired than usual. It might also be because I've walked 20,000 steps.
Can I share my plans for the rest of the day? I think everyone will be asleep by now. So, I'll tell you all about the nighttime atmosphere of Shichahai. I'll get everyone hyped up. Right there. I'll run around Shichahai like crazy.
And then what comes to mind when you think of Beijing? When you think of Beijing cuisine, it's that. That's right, Peking duck. I'll eat Peking duck, and then Tiananmen Square. I couldn't go there earlier. Have you ever seen the night version? The observatory at night. The observatory. Astronomy, astronomy, Tiananmen.
Yes. Shichahai at night. It's so noisy at the perfect time. It's still a little bright like this, but as the sun sets, it's getting a nice atmosphere. This is better. It's so beautiful.
This street on the left is called Houhai, and apparently it's lined with bars. By the way, this bridge we just crossed is also a famous bridge in Shichahai, and it seems to be a good spot for taking pictures. I've never been to this bar before, so I'll take a look. Never mind.
Oh, it's like this. The singing is really loud and comes at just the right time. Oh, so that's how they sing. Everyone around here is singing it, so it's probably a famous song. Is it like SMAP in Japan? That's old. Or maybe not. My apologies.
This looks delicious. I've always wanted to try this. They sell it at every street stall. There are tons of street stalls around here. And, I'm going to eat Peking duck later, so I can't fill up too much, but I think I can manage this. Have any of you ever had this lamb skewer?
Oh, the sun is setting, and it's creating a really nice atmosphere. What kind of lips are those? Here it is. It's the trembling skewers. What kind of lips are those people with? Yes. I always see them at the food stalls but I've never bought one. This is 200 yen. Hmm.
Look at this. As you can see, once it gets past 6:30 pm it gets really dark and the lights are incredibly beautiful. This is the time of day. It's obvious from this time of day, but it's really cold. I'm not wearing a down jacket and it's around 1 degree Celsius, single digits, outside right now.
This area is really fun. The man with the lips and the man with the tambourine. This place is really fun.
Huh? Is this not the place? I'm getting a bad feeling. I came to see the night view of Tiananmen today, and I thought this was the entrance. I was wandering around the Forbidden City and stuff today and I feel like I walked this way. I'm getting a bad feeling. And finally.
You have to book tickets for Tiananmen at least one day in advance. There are daytime, afternoon and evening sessions, and I came for the evening session this time. When you make a reservation, you can choose from four entrance gates. There are 1, 2, 3, and 4, and I think those are the places where they check you, so you specify which one you want. I specified the one marked "Circle 2," and I thought that was it.
But there was absolutely nothing there, no one checking anything, and in fact, there were hardly any people around. Ugh. Today has been a mess, nothing has gone well, so after this I want to see Tiananmen Square and say, "Wow, it's beautiful," and then eat Peking duck and say, "Wow, it's delicious," to finish it off. It's 7 PM now. It's still open, so I believe.
This is it. This is where I showed my passport today. Okay, it's fine after all. That's where they checked my face, and this is the fork in the road between the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and I went this way, and I was complaining about it the whole time, so this must be it, Circle 2. If you go that way it's the Forbidden City, and this way it's Tiananmen Square.
So that means... there's no check. The Tiananmen check is here at the subway station. Is this the closest subway exit to Tiananmen? Oh, there. It's closed. This is it.
Do I have to show my ticket? Just a moment. I think I get it. Open the mini-program and open the Tiananmen one and it's yes. They asked if I had a reservation here. Yes, I have a reservation. Just a moment. I'm confident about this. Huh, for the night? Yes. See, I have a reservation. Okay, this way. Yes. Okay. Good.
Look at the screen. He had a look on his face that said, "You're not lying." Good, good, good, good. I can go in. This reservation screen. You can make a reservation from WeChat. I have this reservation screen so I have to show it.
Just a moment, let me explain. This person doesn't know, just like me. Just a moment. I have one. Those people didn't have one, but I do. My passport.
His voice seemed a little louder and changed to a thank you. Good. I thought so. Reservations are confusing, aren't they? Yeah. Make sure you don't make the same mistake, because I make a lot of mistakes. You can't see it unless you make a reservation one day in advance.
Did you see? Those people's sad faces. They came all this way and they can't see it. This night view. I can see it. And you can all see it too. Yes. I'll deliver the night view of Tiananmen for those people as well. I should have told that person my YouTube channel. Okay, let's go. Alright.
I've finally made it after going through this third inspection. And look, the fountains are on. Wow. This is Tiananmen. Everyone, please make sure to make a reservation at least one day in advance. I'm being persistent, aren't I?
Oh, wow. What? Do the fountains go on at night? This. Wow, it's so beautiful. We're walking towards the front now, so let's enjoy this luxury together. This area is so brightly lit, it's unbelievable. Oh, this is really beautiful. This is also a very vast square. It's beautifully lit up.
But this is the place, with the fountain and a huge portrait of Mao Zedong. I finally made it this far. For a moment I wondered what would happen. I walked here with a grin, glancing at the people who dropped out at the entrance. I had a reservation, you see. That's the difference between me and them.
Can you see it? Mao Zedong's portrait. He's smiling so much. The fountain is blocking the view a bit, so I'll go straight to the front. Yes, here we are. Mao Zedong straight ahead. It's incredibly beautiful. The Tiananmen Gate. Here is the glittering Tiananmen Gate. Right in the middle is a portrait of Mao Zedong. Am I the only one who thinks his cheeks are slightly red and he's smiling?
After this, I'd like to take a thumbnail here. Yes. Um, everyone's gone, so I'll take it now. Thank you. With a big smile. Let's go eat Peking duck.
Huh? This restaurant. Peking duck... wait a minute. Just a moment. Is there anywhere to eat in? On the main street outside. Ah, yes. We've come to the main street outside. Is this it? No, it's not.
Oh, that Peking duck restaurant from earlier. What the heck. Come on. They don't have eat-in. They only have Peking duck for takeout. Do we have to look for another one? There it is. This one.
Not the one from earlier. It's over here. He told me. This one called the Wangfujing branch, the one with all the specials or something. Alright. If it's here, I'll order.
Here we go. Seriously, seriously, I'll order. The restaurant closes at 9 pm and it's 8 pm now. It might be too crowded, but I believe it'll work out in the end.
We can do it. Oh, it's completely empty. Yes. I'm the only one who can eat. Yes. I'm Osada. Whatever. Yes. The edge is fine. Yes. Thank you.
Let's eat. Peking duck. My pronunciation will improve. So, all of these are from that special restaurant. Let's wrap things up with this. We've had a lot going on today, but I just came up with the saying, all's well that ends well. This is Peking duck.
I think this half portion will be fine. I did a little research. I've heard rumors that they have the jajangmyeon that I missed out on for lunch, so let's ask the waiter.
One serving of Peking duck and some jajangmyeon, please.
Everyone's going off somewhere, that's not it. Ah. Oh, this one. Oh, one of these.
Yes. Mm. Good. Thank you. Thank you!
They laughed at me a lot. It said "trainee". They laughed at me a lot. I think they understood my feelings. This guy really wants to eat.
I'll teach you how to use Google Translate. I think some people won't know how to use it. First, set this to translate from Japanese to Chinese, then press this voice button and say, "I like jajangmyeon and Peking duck," and it will automatically create the sentence for you. Everyone, please use this.
They're cutting the Peking duck over there now. Is that mine? You eat the skin part that's cut like that. Does everyone know that?
It's arrived. It's so little. Huh? Huh? Wait a minute. I ordered Peking duck... Is half a duck really this little? Is that how it is? Half a duck... When I ate it before, huh? There were only 5 pieces of skin. Wait, was Peking duck always like this?
Ah, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes. Right? I was surprised. I was surprised. Here it is. What's this first one? Right? I'm relieved. Oh, they're coming one after another. Good. Good. Oh, wrap it with this. Okay. Wrap it with this.
Don't make a fuss. So, we have them all. This is the Peking duck first. Five pieces of fake skin. Not only that, but also a Peking duck with plenty of fillings. This is half a duck, and I think it's quite a lot. And then there's the wrapping. I'm not sure what kind of sauce it is, but there are two of them. And this is jajangmyeon. We'll mix this up and eat it, since we couldn't eat it this time. Okay.
I'll show you how to eat it. Put the duck on this skin with this sauce. And then add these green onions and cucumbers. Add them as you like. Let's also add this surprising skin. Roll it up and eat.
Now, let's taste the Peking duck we've been longing for. I'm seriously about to cry. Delicious.
And here's the jajangmyeon. Put all of these in first. These are the ingredients. Just put them all in. Okay. Mix it all together. Okay. Do you know the origin of the "jajang" in jajangmyeon? I don't know. Now that the jajangmyeon is mixed, I'm going to try it.
This suddenly appeared, they said it was duck soup. Let's try this. Duck soup. This might be my first time. Duck soup. Gentle. Duck.
But Peking duck is still number one. For some reason, the joy of being able to eat this throughout the day has made it taste even better. Thank you. Really.
So, thank you for joining me on this rambling Beijing trip. I was able to end it on a good note. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up. That's all for now in Beijing. See you on my next solo trip.
Article published