A Day In Beijing is an English-language Beijing history, Chinese culture and travel podcast, hosted by a Beijinger.
Like what you hear? Hit Follow and tap the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode. New episodes every Wednesday.
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Who is this podcast for?
🌍 Travellers planning a trip to Beijing or China
📚 Anyone curious about Chinese history and culture
🎙️ People who want to hear about China from someone who actually lives there
New here? Listen to the trailer (3 minutes) and the pilot episode (15 minutes) for the full story of who I am, why I'm doing this, and what this podcast is about.
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What this episode covers:
What does the Great Wall mean to China today? And which section is right for you? This episode answers both!
🔹 Why Han Chinese civilisation is fundamentally defence-led — a 5,000-year mentality, and the Great Wall as its biggest physical expression
🔹 Why the Qing Dynasty stopped building — four languages, one empire, the conquerors and the conquered became one family
🔹 Sticky rice mortar stronger than modern cement, bricks with workers' names carved in 600 years ago, and a spare brick that saved a craftsman's life
🔹 靠长城吃长城 — how young Beijingers are giving the wall a second life with boutique hotels and design cafés
🔹 The sections locals actually recommend — not Badaling, not Mutianyu
🔹 A piece of the Ming wall in central Beijing that most tourists walk right past
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A note on perspective:
I'm half Hui and half Manchu. The Manchu are the people the wall was built to keep out. But I was born and raised in Beijing. This episode tells the story from both sides.
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More episodes:
EP4: The Great Wall Part 1 | The History and The People — the full 2,000-year story
All three episodes of the Forbidden City series are available. Start from EP1:
EP1: Who Built It and How Did Beijing Become The Capital
EP2: Power, Class & Gender Roles Behind the Red Gates
EP3: 600 Years in 60 Minutes
Coming next: The Summer Palace — Beijing's original summer retreat. A garden built for an empress, burned by the British, rebuilt with navy money. Coming next Wednesday.
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Questions this episode answers:
- Which Great Wall section should I visit near Beijing?
- What is the difference between Badaling, Mutianyu, and Juyongguan?
- Where do Chinese locals go on the Great Wall?
- Why is the Great Wall a symbol of Chinese defence mentality?
- Can you see the Great Wall without leaving Beijing?
- What does the Great Wall mean to China today?
- Why did the Qing Dynasty stop building the Great Wall?
- What is the best Great Wall section for photography?
- Is the Great Wall visible from space?
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🙏 I appreciate the fact that I'm no historian. I research every episode the best I can! Reading, digging, and calling friends and family who are experts on certain topics to fact-check. If anything sounds off, let me know in the comments. I'm always learning, and this podcast gets better with your help!
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💬 Drop a comment: which section are you going to? Or which one changed your mind? I read every single one, and I'll be sharing my favourites in a future episode.
📩 Got a question about visiting Beijing? Use the Q&A feature or find me on socials.
🌏 Planning a trip to Beijing? I curate conscious, ethical cultural experiences that support independent businesses and local communities. DM me on Instagram.
🎧 Search "A Day In Beijing" — also available on: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube Music / 小宇宙
🌐 adayinbeijing.carrd.co📸 Instagram: @a_day_in_beijing / @chen_backinbeijing📧 Email: urchineseconnection@gmail.com
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