2018 Year in Review: Our Five Favorite Domestic Travel Destinations

2018 was another busy year of domestic travel for the Beijinger team, taking us from the walled historical city of Pingyao in the north all the way to Kaiping’s UNESCO-listed diaolou in the south. We even found time to sneak in some exploration of our own fair city. 
 

Pingyao, Shanxi

Sitting a four and a half-hour train ride west of Beijing, in Shanxi province, Pingyao has managed to escape the commercial ravaging of cookie-cutter tourist shops and dead-behind-the-eyes bongo drummers that similar cities have fallen victim to. Explore the one square mile of largely untouched Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty architecture – composed of 3,700-plus courtyards, shops, and temples – surrounded by the largely original 600-year-old wall. Pay particular attention to how high each structure’s surrounding walls are or if they boast a tall, curved entranceway for horses, both indicators of how affluent the founding residents had been.
 

Zhangjiajie, Hunan

The UNESCO world heritage listed national park, officially known as Wulingyuan Scenic Area, is a vast, prehistoric warren of sandstone peaks and troughs, with thin monoliths piercing the sky like razors. Shrubs and stunted trees cling to the cracks within the peaks, and an impenetrable forest obscures most of the park’s floor. It’s a popular destination for tour groups but with such a large expanse of park to explore, however, it’s definitely possible to get off the tourist trail and find some serenity. We offered some tips and tricks for how to find the quieter paths. 
 

Xiamen, Fujian

Fujian province’s city of Xiamen, formerly known as Amoy, has long been an important historical site for its role as a harbor for much of the last 800 years as well as a strategic stepping-off point to Taiwan. These days, it’s best known as a popular destination for Chinese tourists because of its mild climate, historic sights, beaches, and fresh seafood. Hikers and nature lovers will want to visit Xiamen’s Nanputuo Temple (pictured above), located just south of Putuo, a holy Buddhist mountain. From the temple, hike for approximately one hour up the mountain for a spectacular view over Xiamen. 
 

Kaiping, Guangdong

Kaiping was a region of major emigration at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, and the area has a wide range of diaolou, or watchtowers, scattered through the rural landscapes. These diaolou served two purposes, housing, and protection against banditry. Many western architectural features are featured in these towers, and recently some of them were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. There are several diaolou clusters, including Zilicun, Chikan, Jinjiangli, and Sanmenli.
 

And finally… Beijing

Yes, even though we’ve been living here for longer than we care to (or even can) remember, we still love to explore Beijing whenever we get a free second. Whether we were zipping around the streets in a motorbike and sidecar, exploring untouched Qing dynasty villages on the outskirts of the city or looking for alternatives to the busiest tourist sites – we’re looking at you Forbidden City and Badaling – the city always manages to throw up something new for us to discover. 

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos: Wikimedia, Will Griffith, Amber de la Haye, BookMundi, Margaux Schreurs