9 October 2025 | China
Overnight in Lanzhou: The Coldest Night of Our China Trip | 9 October 2025
We flew from Turpan to Beijing, with an overnight stopover in Lanzhou—a practical decision because our onward flight the next morning was painfully early. What we didn’t anticipate, however, was just how cold Lanzhou would be.
Out of our 29-day journey across China, this turned out to be the coldest day of the entire trip. After weeks in Xinjiang’s dry climate, Lanzhou’s chill cut straight through our jackets.
✈️ A Small Visa Reminder for Malaysians
A quick side note that’s worth sharing: Malaysia is visa-free for China (as of 2025), but there are still rules. Each visit must be within 30 days, and the total stay cannot exceed 90 days within a 180-day period.
I mention this because while planning our flights, I almost booked a return ticket that exceeded the 30-day limit—an easy mistake to make during long trips. It’s unlikely, but definitely worth double-checking before confirming flights.
🏨 Staying Near Lanzhou Airport
Our flight landed smoothly, but Lanzhou welcomed us with biting cold air. Since our next flight was early the following morning, we booked a hotel near the airport, assuming we might squeeze in a short visit to the city.
That plan was quickly abandoned.
Lanzhou Airport is almost an hour away from the city center, and by the time we reached our hotel, it was already close to 5 PM. Add the freezing temperature into the equation, and neither of us had the energy—or motivation—to explore.
So we stayed in.
The hotel was humble and comfortable… though calling it “cozy” might be generous—it was still a bit chilly inside. Dinner was simple but satisfying: a bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles from a small shop right next to the hotel. Warm, comforting, and exactly what we needed that night.
Early Morning Dash to Beijing | 10 October 2025
The hotel offered a free airport shuttle, and that was our initial plan. Unfortunately, the bus was delayed, and a large crowd had already gathered. Not wanting to gamble with our flight, we decided to call a taxi instead.
In retrospect, it was absolutely the right choice.
We arrived at the airport early enough to enjoy a proper breakfast—and surprisingly, the airport noodle shop served one of the best bowls of noodles we had on the trip. Warm food, no stress, and plenty of time before boarding.
And just like that, we were onward to Beijing.
Beijing Trip Overview
10–15 October 2025
Accommodation: Jingdian Hotel
Transport: Mostly taxi via e-hailing apps
I’d heard that Beijing’s metro system is efficient, economical, and great for avoiding traffic, but I didn’t personally try it, so I can’t comment from experience. What I can say is this:
We tried hailing taxis directly from the street twice, and both times the drivers attempted to charge two to three times the normal fare. In contrast, using ride-hailing apps was transparent, reasonably priced, and stress-free. For peace of mind, I’d strongly recommend sticking to app-based taxis.
Arrival in Beijing: A Smooth Landing
We arrived in Beijing in the afternoon. Since it was a domestic flight, immigration was quick, though the walk to the e-hailing pickup area was long and crowded.
The ride from the airport to our hotel cost under 100 RMB, which felt very reasonable for the distance.
After checking in and dropping off our luggage, we headed straight out again—rain or not.
🎫 Booking Attractions in Beijing: Plan Ahead
Unlike Xinjiang, many of Beijing’s major attractions require advance reservations, sometimes days in advance.
🏛️ China National Museum — Booking Struggles & Luck
The China National Museum is free to enter, but reservations open 7 days in advance via its official WeChat account. People often say it’s difficult to book—and from our experience, that’s absolutely true.
I tried repeatedly through WeChat and failed. On a whim, I attempted booking through Xiecheng (cTrip.com), and somehow… it worked. Even after that, trying to replicate the same method mostly showed everything as fully booked. We were simply lucky.
🌧️ Rain, Queues & Confusion at Tiananmen Square
It was a drizzly, grey afternoon when we took a taxi to the Tiananmen Square area, where the National Museum is located. Vehicles aren’t allowed into certain zones, so we were dropped off outside and walked in via the East Entrance.
What followed was one of the most frustrating queues of the trip.
There was a very long line, confusing signposts, and many people were sent back after walking far in the wrong direction. I regretted not following online advice more carefully—this was not a “walk in from anywhere” kind of place.
Some families even had to leave the queue entirely after realizing their children didn’t have valid reservations.
Only later did we realize something crucial:
👉 That massive queue was for Tiananmen Square itself, not the National Museum.
The museum also had a long queue, but it allowed priority access for seniors. Since my partner qualified, we were able to enter via a shorter, faster line—an unexpected stroke of luck.
🏺 Inside the China National Museum: History on a Grand Scale
Once inside, the sheer number of visitors was overwhelming—but so was the scale of the collection.
The museum traces Chinese civilization from Paleolithic times to the present, showcasing pottery, bronzes, calligraphy, imperial artifacts, and revolutionary history. It is vast, detailed, and incredibly informative.
The museum shop deserves special mention. There were beautifully designed souvenirs, including a limited-edition crown magnet that many visitors were buying in bulk. They were stunning—and dangerously tempting. The pricing made me hesitate, but I completely understood why people were loading their baskets.
A Brief Background: China National Museum
The China National Museum, located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, is one of the largest museums in the world. It was formed by the merger of the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, and today it houses over a million artifacts, many of which are considered national treasures.
A Personal Reflection: Comparing Museums
I loved the depth and clarity of the information, but I couldn’t help feeling that some exhibits—particularly when compared to those in Taiwan—felt less delicate or refined. Historically, many of China’s finest artifacts were relocated to Taiwan decades ago, and it shows in certain displays.
That said, this led us to an interesting discussion.
Having visited many museums in Europe—where Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Renaissance, and Asian artifacts are all displayed together—it’s easy to feel those museums are “grander.” But that grandeur often exists because those collections were taken from other cultures, leaving behind deep losses elsewhere.
Seen in that context, the China National Museum tells its story within its own cultural and historical boundaries, and that restraint deserves respect.
My travel companion wasn’t completely impressed, though they agreed the exhibits were strong. After talking it through, this perspective helped us appreciate the museum more fully.
🦆 Dinner: Peking Duck at Sijiminfu (四季民福)
After the museum, we went in search of Peking Duck, choosing Sijiminfu, a classic name with many branches.
Opinions online are divided—some call it touristy, others say it’s reliable and good value. We went to the Wangfujing branch, and booking turned into a small saga.
I tried reserving via app, panicked about timing, cancelled it—and then discovered you can only book once per day. Cue stress.
In the end, I called the restaurant directly and made a reservation. Even then, when we arrived 30 minutes later, we still waited nearly an hour.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely.
Despite all the criticism, it was the best Peking Duck we had in Beijing, and we tried a different duck restaurant almost every day. The duck was crisp, aromatic, and beautifully prepared, and the side dishes were excellent too.
🌧️ A Rain-Soaked Return to the Hotel
By the time we finished dinner, the rain had intensified. Taxis were nearly impossible to get, and we waited under a shelter while rain blew sideways toward us.
Eventually, we managed to get a ride, but the return journey took almost 40 minutes, double the time—and double the fare—of our earlier trip.
Exhausted and soaked, we finally made it back to the hotel.
And that was Day One in Beijing.
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