Wei Chen takes the high-speed rail north to Chengde, the Qing emperors' summer retreat. He explores the Mountain Resort's lotus-filled lakes, contemplates the Outer Eight Temples' diplomacy in stone, and samples the local lamb soup and imperial pastries, all while reflecting on the cost of a day in this cooler, quieter capital.

Episode 8 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Xinqianlong Restaurant, Erxianju Night Market, Chengde Hotel, Chengde South Station, Wulie River, Qushui Hexiang.

Covered: Chengde mountain resort, Eight outer temples, Qing dynasty summer capital, Lotus bloom, Local food and costs, Macartney mission.

Chapters:
00:00 Chengde South Station
02:03 Qushui Hexiang
03:44 Restaurant
04:29 Putuo Zongcheng Temple
06:10 Wulie River
08:24 Saihanba forest

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Chengde #BishuShanzhuang #MountainResort #EightOuterTemples #PutuoZongcheng #ChinaTravel #Hebei #SummerPalace #QingDynasty #ChinaHistory #TravelChina #ChengdeFood #PingquanLambSoup #NightMarket #UNESCO #ChinaRail #ChengdeTrip

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

On his last full day in Beijing, Wei Chen wanders the morning hutongs, takes a final swim in the lake, and spends the evening at a courtyard cinema beneath the stars. He reflects on the quiet rhythm of the city, the cost of a daily life, and the pull of the road north.

Episode 7 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Shichahai, Drum and Bell Towers, Olympic Forest Park, Bird's Nest, Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant, Longfusi, Gui Jie.

Covered: Hutong morning routine, Cost of daily meals and transport, Olympic Forest Park and lake swimming, Xinjiang cuisine in Beijing, Open-air film festival and summer activities.

Chapters:
00:00 Shichahai
01:02 Bird's Nest
02:44 Olympic Forest Park
03:59 Lakeshore
05:42 Longfusi
07:11 Beijing

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #ChinaTravelPodcast #HutongLife #BeijingSummer #OlympicForestPark #Shichahai #GuiJie #BeijingFilmFestival #BeijingEats #XinjiangNoodles #Jianbing #ChinaTravel #BeijingMetro #TravelChina2026 #HutongFlat #LakesideSwim #BeijingDiaries #SlowTravel

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

On his final full day in Beijing, Wei Chen wanders the hutongs, visits the reopened Underground City museum, and reflects on the city's layered history and the cost of daily life before heading north. A quiet, practical episode about endings and beginnings.

Episode 6 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Beijing Underground City, Xixinglong Street, Mr Shi's Dumplings, Voyage Coffee, Jingshan Park, Gui Jie, Shichahai.

Covered: Underground City museum, Cost of daily meals, Hutong life and reflections, Film carnival and night festival, Packing and moving on.

Chapters:
00:00 Shichahai
01:09 Beijing Underground City
03:19 Mr Shi's Dumplings
05:29 Jingshan Park
06:46 Night street festival
07:58 Hutong night

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #HutongLife #ChinaTravel #BeijingHistory #TravelChina #BeijingGuide #ChinaPodcast #BeijingSummer #UndergroundCity #GuiJie #Nanluoguxiang #Shichahai #JingshanPark #BeijingFood #TravelVlog #SlowTravel

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

Wei Chen climbs Jingshan Park for a view over the Forbidden City's rooftops, then takes the new suburban railway west for a look at where Beijing is growing. A mid-afternoon thunderstorm sends him into a hutong café, where he reflects on the film carnival, the cost of a daily life, and why this first week is really about learning to see the city slowly.

Episode 5 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Jingshan Park, Forbidden City, China Zun, Liangxiang, Berrybeans, Gui Street, Shichahai, China Merchants Bank.

Covered: Jingshan Park and city views, Beijing suburban railway expansion, Daily cost of living in Beijing, Liangxiang district exploration, Rainy day activities and street food, Reflecting on settling in and routines.

Chapters:
00:00 City park
00:54 Forbidden City
02:37 Liangxiang
03:42 Berrybeans
05:18 China Merchants Bank
06:25 Gui Street

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#JingshanPark #ForbiddenCity #BeijingRain #BeijingSummer #ChinaTravel #BeijingHutong #Liangxiang #BeijingSuburbanRail #Zhajiangmian #HundredFlowersAwards #GuiStreet #FilmCarnival #BeijingLife #DailyCosts #TravelChina #BeijingVisa #PoliceRegistration #Beijing2026

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

Wei Chen navigates a rainy day in Beijing, from a hutong breakfast to securing his flat's police registration, and reflects on the city's rhythms, costs, and the film carnival that's transforming its evenings.

Episode 4 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Shichahai, Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Longfusi South Square, Voyage Coffee, China Merchants Bank, Hutong flat.

Covered: police registration, hutong breakfast, film festival, daily life costs, settling in.

Chapters:
00:00 Soft rain
03:00 Shichahai
05:17 Voyage Coffee
07:15 China Merchants Bank

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Beijing #ChinaTravel #BeijingLife #HutongLife #BeijingFood #BeijingFilmCarnival #HundredFlowersAwards #BeijingSummer #ExpatLife #TravelChina #CityGuide #LivingInBeijing #ChineseCulture #BeijingEats #Shichahai #Alipay #WeChatPay #BeijingHutong

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

On his third day in Beijing, Wei Chen seeks refuge from the summer heat in the recently reopened Underground City, then resurfaces to navigate the city's thunderstorm chaos. He shares practical tips on metro travel, the film carnival, and what it means to be a resident rather than a tourist.

Episode 3 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Voyage Coffee, People's Air Defense History Museum, Qianmen, Xixinglong Street, Tongle Hutong, Shichahai, China Merchants Bank, Drum Tower.

Covered: Underground City museum, Renting a hutong apartment, Police registration process, Beijings public transport expansion, Beijing Midsummer Film Carnival.

Chapters:
00:00 Voyage Coffee
00:41 People's Air Defense History Museum
02:48 Drum Tower
04:23 Subway car
05:14 Longfusi South Square
06:56 Courtyard

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #ChinaTravel #BeijingHiddenGems #UndergroundCityBeijing #HutongLife #BeijingFilmCarnival #GuiJie #BeijingRent #ExpatLifeChina #BeijingMetro #ChinaVisa #BeijingRainyDay #SlowTravel #BeijingFood #WeiChenInChina

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

Wei Chen settles into day two in Beijing, exploring the daily rhythm of hutong life—from morning tai chi in the park to breakfast jianbing and the practicalities of setting up a home base. He reflects on the old-versus-new contrast and the cost of living in the capital.

Episode 2 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Temple of Heaven, Shichahai, Houhai, Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant, 798 Art Zone, Wangjing.

Covered: Hutong daily life, Morning park exercises, Street food and casual dining, Renting a flat in Beijing, Cost of living and transport, Practical setup for foreigners.

Chapters:
00:54 Temple of Heaven
03:21 Shichahai
04:21 Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant
06:05 Lakeshore

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingHutong #TempleOfHeaven #MorningTaiChi #JianbingBreakfast #Zhajiangmian #BeijingRent #CostOfLivingBeijing #ForeignerInBeijing #BeijingMetro #ChinaTravel #TravelChina #Beijing2026 #HutongLife #Shichahai #Houhai #BeijingNightWalk #ExpatBeijing

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

Wei Chen lands in Beijing, navigates SIM cards and bank accounts, and finds calm in the city's old alleyways. This episode is about arrival: the paperwork, the heat, and the first taste of daily life in a megacity.

Episode 1 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Beijing Capital International Airport, Nanluoguxiang, Gui Jie, China Unicom shop near Drum Tower, China Merchants Bank near Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, Siji Minfu, 798 Art District.

Covered: Arrival logistics, Beijing old city charm, Practical life setup, Summer heat and season, Food street exploration, Art district visit.

Chapters:
00:00 Airport road
01:27 Nanluoguxiang
03:13 Drum Tower
04:56 Temple of Heaven
06:38 798 Art District
08:23 Courtyard

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #ChinaTravelPodcast #WeiChen #HutongFood #TempleOfHeaven #798ArtDistrict #PekingDuck #ChinaUnicom #ExpatLifeBeijing #BeijingFirstDay #TravelChina2026 #ChinaTravelGuide #BeijingInSummer #ChinaSIMCard #BeijingBanking #BeijingNightlife #ChinaLiving #ChinaTrip

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/