Travel Blog
Get the latest pre-trip inspiration, visa guidance, practical tips and local cultural insights to make your journey more colorful.
Summer Palace Without the Marathon: Lake, Hill and Exit Plan
A practical Beijing guide for history, garden and landscape travellers, with a connected route, realistic pacing and common mistakes to avoid.
When visiting an exhibition in Beijing, should I go to 798 first or explore the hutongs first?
When planning a cultural and artistic trip to Beijing, are you always torn between 798 Art Zone, Hutongs, the Forbidden City, and Zhihua Temple? This article uses seven comparisons to clarify the actu
Which exhibition should you visit first in Beijing? I've answered all the most frequently asked questions from my readers.
How to choose exhibitions in Beijing, whether they are worth a special trip, and how to plan a trip with children? This article, in a local Q&A format, directly answers seven of the most common questi
Beijing Temple and Lake Walk: Lama Temple to Houhai
A practical 北京 route for visitors interested in living neighborhoods and history, with realistic pacing, transport logic and common mistakes to avoid.
Forbidden City Day Without Exhaustion: Tiananmen to Jingshan
A practical 北京 route for history-focused first-time visitors, with realistic pacing, transport logic and common mistakes to avoid.
Beijing Beyond the Great Wall: Art and Hutong Walks
A practical Beijing plan that pairs contemporary art at 798 with a separate slow hutong and Shichahai day.
Avoid the crowds at Nanluoguxiang | A local's guide to avoiding the pitfalls of Beijing's cultural and artistic tour: This 4.8km walking route in Dongsi is definitely worth it.
Don't be fooled by travel guides when planning your Beijing cultural and artistic trip! Places like Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying Hutong, and the 798 Art Zone (the "locomotive"), which locals don't recomme
A 4km Artsy Route in Beijing | A List of Strolls in Dongsi Compiled After Three Trips (Avoiding Nanluoguxiang)
This blogger's personally tested Beijing Citywalk route, about 4 kilometers from Dongsi to Jingshan Park, connects old buildings from the Republican era, hutong markets, independent bookstores, vinyl
Hidden Gems of Beijing Nightlife | A Blogger's Comprehensive Guide to Lakeside Lights and Hutong Livehouses (Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Autumn and Winter)
How to plan a nighttime tour of Beijing without making a mistake? This personally tested guide covers the area from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, connecting the lights along Shichahai Lake, local late-night snack
Between the Rabbit God and Cloisonné: An In-Depth Experience of Beijing's Festivals, Folk Customs, and Intangible Cultural Heritage Crafts
This article focuses on Beijing's festival customs and intangible cultural heritage hands-on experiences, highlighting four activities: painting rabbit figurines at the Changdian Temple Fair, viewing
Beijing's Niche Arts and Culture Map: 8 Spiritual Corners to Explore in Old Warehouses, Bookstores, and Factories
Avoiding major tourist attractions like the Forbidden City and Nanluoguxiang, this map of Beijing's lesser-known cultural spots connects independent bookstores, private art galleries, vintage warehous
Jinghua Art Realm: Exploring the Cultural Heritage of the Ancient Capital and the Splendor of Contemporary Art
Explore Beijing's rich cultural and artistic heritage with XOOTOUR's carefully curated slow-paced cultural tour. From the solemn rituals of the Forbidden City to the cultural legacy of the Imperial Co