Beijing

Compared to other imperial banquets I've seen online, Yu Xian is one of the largest and most prestigious. While the six-course meal wasn't of the highest quality, the focus here is on the overall experience, not just the food itself. It's definitely a rare imperial dining experience, although the price is quite high, and the performance was a bit short at 90 minutes—it ended before the last dish was even served.

December 31, 2025 – Last day at the Forbidden City in Beijing! Tour guide Du Muxin's explanations were excellent 👍 Great weather, great mood 🙂 No wind at all – what a wonderful trip 😊 Everyone should come visit the Forbidden City! Experience the long queues to get in, it's so much fun. The Forbidden City is a place you must visit at least once in your life!

The hotel pick-up was very convenient, and the tour leader explained everything clearly. The bus was comfortable and convenient, and the lunch included was a great bonus. Dining at the Great Wall scenic area is expensive and there aren't many options, so the lunch included was a good deal. We were able to visit both the east and west routes. There were long queues on the way down the mountain, so you need to manage your time well on the mountain to visit both the east and west routes.

We were backpackers and went in December 2025. The temperature was around 1 degree Celsius. The Summer Palace is quite large; walking around it takes about 6 hours. There are beautiful views everywhere. Every restroom was very clean and tidy, and some even provided hot water for handwashing. The lake and streams were partially frozen, so we recommend bringing some food and water to keep warm. Then you can enjoy your visit to the park!