Beijing and Beyond: The Majesty of the Great Wall
Every once in a while, a trip that one of us takes for work purposes provides the opportunity for an epic family adventure.
This was the case back in 2018 when I traveled to China on a work trip and brought my family along for the adventure. Once we were going so far we opted to add a week in Japan on to our week in Beijing. I want to share what made our adventure through China and Japan—full of stunning sights, delicious bites, and unforgettable moments so unforgettable.
Our Journey Begins
Having visited China previously to teach doctors with the International Primary Care Educational Alliance, I knew I had to bring my family on my next trip. After falling in love with the vibrant culture and warm-hearted people, I couldn’t wait to share that experience with my family.
The opportunity presented itself in the summer of 2018: I was invited back to Beijing for teaching and knew that this coincided with summer break for the kids. Lila and Jackson were 6 and 8 at the time, which factored in to how we made our plans. Previously I had been to Beijing for one week for teaching, however this seemed a long way for a short amount of time. We decided to extend our trip and add on a week in Japan which was easy from Beijing. We knew we would be navigating a 12-hour time difference, and had to struggle with the visa application process before even leaving.
Flight Adventures
We opted for flights on Swiss Air, which gave us to the opportunity to use our credit card points, and even managed a stopover in Zurich. This was a nice way to break up the flight and have a little of a break, and also gave us the opportunity to enjoy Swiss chocolate and ice cream. After a long journey, we finally arrived in bustling Beijing, ready to hit the ground running! We had contacted our hotel to let them know we were arriving in the morning to arrange early check in, and we were ready to go.
The Great Wall Challenge
What better way to start our trip than with a hike up the Great Wall? We chose the Mutianyu section, known for its stunning views and less crowded paths. It takes a little longer to reach this section of the wall from Beijing, but it is worth if for the landscape and smaller crowds. Despite landing at 5:15 AM, we thought hiking a steep section in 100+ degree weather was a fantastic idea. Spoiler alert: it was! We did not let the heat stop us, instead we enjoyed the views, and the history. We did not have the 18 months available that it would take to walk the length of the wall, however we definitely walked up and down a lot of stairs. It is amazing to think that humans were building this 2000 years ago, it is truly an incredible achievement.
The best part of the hike involved the toboggan ride down the wall at the end. Another highlight was out lunch on the way to the wall. Before we had arrived for our hike, our guide, Linda, introduced us to dumplings in a small restaurant on the way. Both of the kids absolutely loved them, I have never seen a child eat as many dumplings as Jackson put away. To this day, we talk about our trip to see the Great Wall and the delicious dumplings we enjoyed on the way.
Market Wonders
The next morning, we explored a local street market near our hotel. From intriguing snacks to quirky souvenirs, it was sensory overload—in the best way possible! We were not brave enough to sample all of the offerings, but we dove into the adventure headfirst.
Setting Sail to Japan
After our Beijing escapades, we boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise headed to Japan. With our Florida roots, being on a cruise ship felt familiar yet excitingly different. We were very used to ships leaving from Florida ports and heading to the Caribbean. This was quite different, as we were among a small group who were not from mainland China, and were English speakers. The boat had been adapted in order to accommodate the majority of the guests, which provided a great opportunity for cultural immersion. The ship served many traditional Chinese favorites, and even offered a hot pot restaurant. There were extra karaoke sessions and all announcements were in Mandarin. The kids even learned a little Mandarin at the kids' club through playing BINGO with other children. We felt really lucky to be able to have an opportunity like this.
First Stop: Nagasaki
Our first stop in Japan was Nagasaki, where we had arranged a private guide to maximize our time. We explored Glover Garden, tasted fresh sashimi, and visited the poignant Atomic Bomb Museum. We felt it was important to honor this important part of history, and to be able to appreciate first hand what the Japanese people experienced. Today, the museum emphasizes peace and understanding. One of the highlights of our day involved a visit to the ancient port of Dejima. We had the opportunity to dress up as Geishas and Samurais during a fun family photo shoot. It was like stepping into a living history book! We ended the day with beautiful views from Mt. Inassa before returning to the boat.
Anime Dreams in Saikiminoto
Our next stop was Saikiminoto, which is not only a small fishing village, it is the home of anime. After recruiting another expert guide, we strolled Mizuki Shiguru Road, where anime characters popped up at every turn. Next we visited Matsue which is home to one of Japan's largest original castles, as well as several temples and shrines. We ended with a boat tour through the beautiful fishing village wrapped up our day perfectly, diving deep into the local culture.
Brief but Magical Kyoto
Our final cruise stop was Kyoto, where we felt our time was too short to truly soak it all in. We wandered through the enchanting bamboo forest and marveled at Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) before exploring the Higashiyama district—an absolute treasure trove of traditional charm. There was so much history and beauty in the city, we did not have time to really appreciate it all. Japan and Kyoto specifically are definitely on our list for a longer return visit!
Back to Beijing
After our whirlwind cruise, we returned to Beijing for my teaching stint. With the kids in “Camp Dad” while I worked, Bryan took them to the Olympic Village, the iconic Bird’s Nest, and the Water Cube—which had been transformed into a giant water park. They also visited the Temple of Heaven, and Jingshan Park. It took some planning to decide which activities they would do while I was busy, and we tried to plan one or two fun things to do each day. Bryan used the DiDi app (like Uber) which would actually translate for him to be able to speak to drivers.
When I wasn’t working I would join my family to tour around. Of, course we went to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. We loved the Summer Palace, it was beautiful and relaxing. We even took a trip to the Beijing Zoo to see the pandas together. On of the highlights that ended up being very special for Lila was meeting her pen pal who lives in China that she had connected with while at a theater program in New York. The girls enjoyed karaoke and dinner together, it was really special to meet her family and feel like we had family in Beijing.
Culinary Delights
Evenings were filled with delicious dinners featuring Peking duck, hot pot, and other traditional favorites. Most nights we were guests of the physicians in the program where I was teaching, and we would talk about how our practices were similar and different. They enjoyed introducing us to their favorite foods and restaurants. Sharing meals with locals was the cherry on top of an already incredible trip.
Final Thoughts
Visiting China was a journey like no other—immersive, exciting, and heartwarming. The kindness of the people and the richness of the culture made every moment special. It was worth the long flight, time change and language differences in order to experience a trip like this. We can’t wait to return to both China and Japan to continue our adventures and deepen our understanding of these beautiful places. Have you visited China or Japan? Share your favorite memories and what you would like to see in the future.
