The First Day
Today, we landed in Beijing. It's been an interesting but tiring day. After the 9-hour flight from Brussels, we ended up waiting 2 hours for a bus to the main Beijing train station. Buses do not run as often as you wish for, especially at 7 AM.
Arrival in Beijing
Anyway, we managed to find our way to the city centre. Without a single word of Chinese, we boarded a local bus to arrive at our final destination - The Leo Hostel.
The hostel is in a bustling market street surrounded by Hutongs. Within walking distance of several well-known landmarks like the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the hostel offers nice, cosy and clean rooms. The staff speaks good English which is something you don't get to hear often in China. Anyway, we found most Chinese people very welcoming and helpful despite the language barrier.
Exploring the Hutongs
After we freshened up and had a brief but stimulating nap, we walked in the Hutongs bordering our hostel. Hutongs are great places to watch people living. We were surprised to encounter so many official police officers and sometimes military-style uniforms. You literally can't walk 20 meters without spotting one peacefully watching the crowd.
Olympic Park Visit
Having found a second breath, we took the metro for a final walk in the legacy Olympic Park which hosted the 2008 Summer Games. Starving, we went for a simple but delicious meal. Now, as we are feeling a little jet-lagged, we are leaving you for a good night's sleep...
First Day in Beijing
- Flight from Brussels: 9-hour direct flight to Beijing
- Airport buses to city center don't run frequently - expect 1-2 hour waits, especially early morning (7 AM)
- The Leo Hostel: Located in Dashilan West Street, Xicheng - near Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
- Hostel is in a bustling market street surrounded by traditional Hutongs (narrow alleyways)
- English is rarely spoken in Beijing - staff at Leo Hostel speak good English, which is helpful
- Chinese people are very welcoming and helpful despite language barriers
- Hutongs: Traditional neighborhoods perfect for people-watching and experiencing local life
- Heavy police presence in central Beijing - you'll see officers every 20 meters monitoring crowds
- Olympic Park (2008 Summer Games venue) is accessible by metro - worth a visit for sports enthusiasts
- Take a nap after arrival to combat jet lag, then explore in the afternoon/evening
Note:
Pin These Moments
🏘️ First Day in Beijing
Landing in Beijing and starting our world trip - exploring traditional Hutongs near the Forbidden City
🏟️ Olympic Legacy
Visiting the iconic 2008 Summer Olympics park on our first day in China
✈️ World Trip Begins
Our first day of traveling the world - 9-hour flight from Brussels to Beijing!
Have you been to Beijing? Where did you stay on your first day? Did you explore the Hutongs? How did you handle the language barrier? Share your Beijing arrival stories!