I love mornings and so it seems does Beijing. City life starts early and, as is similar in most major cities, the hustle and bustle is relentless. Yet Beijing has a solution – its parks. With backyards being a rarity due to apartment living, this is where the locals hang out. Starting each morning with a walk, I always incorporated a park.  My favourites were Ritan and Dongdan Park.  A hive of activity, locals use these spaces for all forms of morning exercise. All ages come together to dance (everything from hip hop to ball room), practice tai chi, use the outside gyms and even enjoy games of hacky sack or shuttlecock. For the less energetic a game of cards or chess seems a fabulous way to start the day.  Choose a local cafe for breakfast.

The network of three Houhai Lakes was one of my favourite areas.  Packed with locals picnicking, swimming, playing board games and fishing I loved it.  Apparently, you can ice skate in the winter.  I wish I’d had time to go back to this area at night fall. I heard that it’s vibrant and fun as the sun sets with plenty of choices of Hutong bars. There’s the option of hiring bikes or boats and the Lonely Planet suggests a great walk taking in temples, hutoung, Siheyans and the lake itself.  The positive vibe, cooling lake breeze and opportunity to watch local life go by means time runs away with you. Make sure you take it all in.

You think you’ve tried great dumplings at Dim Tai Fung? Think again. These roadside bad boy dumplings are something else. From noon, guys on the roadside sit with their bamboo stacked cooking systems steaming these delicious morsels. There would more often than not be a few plastic chairs around to pull up and enjoy an early lunch. The flavour and freshness beat any dumpling I’ve ever had.

5.  Fun and social hotpot

Beijing is famous for its Peking duck.  But I wasn’t enamoured. Having tried a few places, I felt as though none were better than I’d tried in a good Chinese restaurant in the UK.  But hotpot rocked! Anyone who grew up in the UK through the ‘80s will have experienced fondue. Whether it cheese or meat the experience was not a healthy one. Hotpot is the healthy alternative. In keeping with the concept of fondue, hotpot is a social and fun way of sharing lunch or dinner. You cook your own meat and veggies in a simmering pot of stock in the middle of the dining table.  There are many hotpot restaurants around Beijing, be sure to pick a locally owned one.

6.  Cheap beer and the size of shots!

You know you’re in a local bar when the beer costs less than water. Paying under $1 for a long-neck makes me happy wherever I am.  As with any city, there are of course many beautiful bars. Craft breweries are popular, and clubs cater for those wanting a dance. Yet, nothing compares with finding a drinking hole that resembles someone’s front room and is full of locals. This is how and where you get under the skin of a place.  Where only sign language can get you what you want and where locals stare at you like a celebrity. Once again, get lost and stumble upon some little local gems. The other thing worth noting when drinking in Beijing is the size of shots in local bars!  I don’t think they know what a measure is! It’s like Ibiza back in the early ‘90s.

7.  Perform like a pop star at Karaoke

No trip to Beijing is complete without a visit to one of the many karaoke venues. Karaoke has been popular amongst Beijingers since being imported from Japan. Whether you have the voice of an angel or not, karaoke is guaranteed fun. Locals hang out here after work to let their hair down and most Beijingers will have a repertoire of Ballards that they’ve practiced for years. There are two types of KVT – ‘family friendly’ and ‘special’. Make sure you distinguish between the two and don’t end up with more than you bargained for.

8.  A wonder of the World – The Great Wall

This was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever encountered.  My life-long myth of being able to see The Great Wall from space was shattered.  I was lucky enough to spend 5 days on the Great Wall with an incredible bunch of friends.  Read about our adventure here.  My big piece of advice would be to venture outside of the common tourist trap areas.  Choose lesser-visited parts of the wall.  This also supports challenges around over tourism and spreads the impact and dollar.  It will take longer but I promise it is worth it.  Come on, it’s one for the wonders of the world – give it the time and attention it deserves!  My recommendations would be Jinshanling and Gubeikou.  The views over the mountains are breathtaking and one day we didn’t see another human!  Don’t forget to book with a local guide to stop the tourism leak.  We partnered with brilliant Diverse China.

9.  Glittery sunset at The Summer Palace

This expanse of willow tree lined streets, lakes, tranquil gardens and temples is about 30 minutes out of central Beijing. Once, the emperor’s summer retreat, it’s worth a visit if you have time. Go in the afternoon to appreciate sunset over stunning Kunming Lake. What an enchanting view over the Lilly pads. As the light dims, it hits the ripples turning them into diamonds. All we needed to make this sunset perfect was a picnic blanket, cheese platter and wine. A shimmery goodbye to another Beijing day.

10. Beijing’s rich tapestry of history

China has the longest continuous civilization in the world and 5,000 years’ worth of history. It’s not surprising then that learning about this incredible city’s culture has made it into my top 15 reasons to visit Beijing. China’s development is beyond impressive.  I enjoyed learning about the series of dynasties. Modern China is beyond fascinating. Fellow travellers I met along the way mentioned three books that would be great reads. “Raise The Red Lantern”, “The Last Emperor” and “Mao’s Last Dancer”.  I wish I’d read them before my visit as it would have given me more context.

11.  Fashion at The Forbidden City

Home to 24 emperors, this is a huge labyrinth of buildings, pavilions, courtyards and gardens. The downside is it’s crammed with people. The upside, these people are majority Chinese and wow do they have a unique sense of fashion. Oh, what sights. Socks and sandals, the highest possible stilettos, thigh high boots and even wellingtons make an appearance. And oh, the material – every possible type you can imagine from lace to latex. Beijinger’s want to stand out and have their own fashion sense rather than blend in with the crowd.  I’d say they’ve nailed it.

12.  Tranquil Jinshan Park & Coal Hill

If you are on a budget or don’t like crowds, then give The Forbidden City a miss. You can grasp the expanse by climbing Coal Hill and looking down on the 800 buildings and 9000 rooms from above. Jinshan Park is a tranquil urban oasis covering 57 acres, pretty big in its own right. The space has a serene feeling but don’t underestimate the climb to the top of Coal Hill. Beautiful coloured pavilions break up the journey and provide shade. The hill is a feng shui shield protecting from evil spirits. Not only can you get a great view of The Forbidden City but panoramic city views which on a clear day are incredible. I wish I’d had longer to explore this beautiful space.

13.  Lesser known but equally beautiful temples

One thing is for sure, you won’t have time to visit every temple in Beijing unless you are there for a long while. There are many temples some more famous than others.  Popular ones include Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Lama Temple and Temple of Heaven. As you are wandering the streets keep your eyes open for lesser known yet as impressive temples. One of my favourites was Guanghua Temple in the Houahi area. This exquisite example of a Buddhist temple located in Ya’er Hutong is free to visit.  It offers a piece of tranquillity in an otherwise hectic area of the city. The place is a burst of colour with each deity hall housing a different god or goddess.

14.  All the tea in China

The Chinese have an infectious passion for tea. More of a coffee person myself, even I converted. Taking tea is a time-honoured tradition, there is a tea for every occasion. Two places I’d recommend. Maliandao Tea Market, where hundreds of vendors selling even more varieties compete for your wallet. Lingdang Hutong if you want to enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and then buy a teapot made from jade for $4,000. I never knew that some tea is like wine and gets better with age – some on sale were over the $5,000 mark.

15.  Hipster art district

Also known as Dashanzi this is where the Chinese art boom started. Old converted warehouses host Art Galleries, local artisans and boutique shops galore. Street art decorates the external spaces and there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants for any time of the day. A beautiful area to mooch.