Beijing Solo: My First Journey to China

Yep, I went on a solo trip to Beijing, China! And honestly, it turned out to be one of my most interesting and exciting adventures ever.

Years before, when I taught first grade at a charter school in Panama City, Florida, my students and I explored different countries through themed lesson plans. For three years straight, my chosen country was China. My little first graders created colorful display boards, learned to play Chinese instruments, practiced traditional dances, sang songs, cooked authentic dishes, and even tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy. I used to tell them, “One day, I’m going to visit China myself.”

Fast forward to spring break 2019. I was doing my usual habit of browsing multiple flight search engines, hunting for travel deals, when up popped a round-trip ticket to Beijing for $500. I almost couldn’t believe it. My excitement was mixed with a little hesitation, it was China, after all, and world affairs can sometimes feel uncertain. But I couldn’t resist.

Getting there, however, required a visa. In 2019, that meant sending my actual passport to the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles. It felt nerve-wracking to mail off such an important document, but after about a month, my passport returned, complete with a shiny visa inside. The process was tedious, but my habit of planning well in advance paid off.

With the visa secured, I booked a hotel with great reviews in a central location, close to the main sights I’d been dreaming of seeing.

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Exploring Beijing

Group tours are a great way to see all the iconic sights of Beijing without the stress of figuring out transportation and tickets. I booked two tours and met some wonderful people along the way. Out of about twenty travelers, six were from America, which gave me a small sense of familiarity and comfort in such a faraway place.

Group tour at a tea ceremony

Great Wall of China

Through the tours, I experienced Tiananmen Square, Jingshan Park, Lama Temple, the Great Wall of China, Olympic Park, and even the Beijing Zoo to see the pandas.

Olympic Park

One unexpected delight was finding out my hotel had bicycles available to borrow. One afternoon, I rode around the square and through the hutongs — the historic alleyways of Beijing. Riding a bike there isn’t as simple as it sounds, though. There are specific rules you have to follow, and policemen or guards stand at many corners, often under large umbrellas, keeping watch. I learned that the hard way when a guard whistled at me for not following the proper bike lane rules. My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly corrected my mistake, nodded respectfully, and carried on.

Sweet little family asked to take a picture with me

Everyone I met in Beijing was incredibly kind and helpful. One moment that really touched me was when a young mother, clearly surprised to see a foreigner, asked if I would take a picture with her little boy. I said yes, of course, and she smiled so sweetly. Encounters like that reminded me how humbling and warm the Chinese people can be.

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Favorite Memories

What stood out most to me were the layers of history everywhere, ancient buildings, imperial gardens, and the incredible architecture that tells China’s story through the centuries. Being able to stand in places I’d once shown my first graders on a classroom display board felt surreal. This trip wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was about finally walking through the history I had been teaching and dreaming about for years.

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Would I Revisit Beijing?

Probably not,

not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it’s a place I’ve already explored. There are so many other destinations still on my travel list calling my name.

But Beijing will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the trip that jump-started my love for solo traveling — and once that spark was lit, there was no turning back.

I enjoy buying shoes that represent countries I visit