A Day In Beijing is an English podcast, created and hosted by a born-and-raised Beijinger, living in Beijing.
Exploring Chinese history, culture, traditions, creativity, innovations, and beyond.
If you're planning a trip to Beijing, this episode gives you the full story before you visit. If you're not planning a trip, the story of Cixi and the Opium Wars is worth hearing from anywhere.
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Who is this podcast for?
🌍 World travellers who want more than a guidebook — cultural travel, responsible tourism, real local perspectives
🇨🇳 Planning a trip to China or Beijing — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the places guidebooks miss
📚 History lovers — Chinese history, the Qing Dynasty, Empress Cixi, the Opium Wars, how empires rise and fall
🌐 Geopolitics and world affairs — understanding China through its history, why it matters today, and the decisions that shaped the modern world
🎙️ Anyone who wants to hear about China from someone who actually lives there
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What this episode covers:
Where did Beijing's imperial court go when the Forbidden City got too hot? The Summer Palace — Beijing's original summer retreat.
🔹 Where we are in Chinese history — the Qing Dynasty at its peak, then the collapse: industrialisation, opium, and the wars that changed everything
🔹 Three names, three chapters — how the Summer Palace evolved from Emperor Qianlong's birthday present for his mother to Empress Dowager Cixi's personal government headquarters
🔹 Empress Dowager Cixi — who she was, how she rose from teenage concubine to controlling three emperors for nearly fifty years, and the decision that cost China its navy
🔹 Burned twice, rebuilt twice — 三建两毁 — and why Cixi rebuilt it a second time while the country was paying war indemnities to eight foreign powers
🔹 Cixi's daily life — 128 cooks for one person, a three-storey opera theatre, eunuchs attaching fish to her hook, a fake shopping street staffed by eunuchs
🔹 Connection to the Forbidden City series — same dynasty, same woman, different stage. If the Forbidden City was duty, this was desire
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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.
EP1-3: The Forbidden Palace
Ep4-5: The Great Wall of China
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Questions this episode answers:
— What is the history of the Summer Palace in Beijing?
— Who built the Summer Palace and why?
— Who was Empress Dowager Cixi?
— What happened during the Opium Wars?
— What is the marble boat at the Summer Palace?
— What is the difference between the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace?
— Is the Summer Palace worth visiting?
— How does the Summer Palace connect to the Forbidden City?
— What is the best podcast about Chinese history?
— What is the best Beijing travel podcast?
— What is a good podcast to understand China?
— What are the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Beijing?
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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: was Cixi a visionary or a villain? Or both? I LOVE hearing from you all!
📩 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.
Haven't followed yet? Hit Follow + 🔔 so you don't miss EP7 next Wednesday!
🎧 Search "A Day In Beijing" — also available on:
Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube Music / 小宇宙 / Substack
🌐 adayinbeijing.carrd.co
📸 Instagram: @a_day_in_beijing / @chen_backinbeijing
📧 Email: urchineseconnection@gmail.com
