China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen

Wei Chen spends a balmy August evening in Chengde, exploring the Erxianju night market, watching the康熙大典 show, and reflecting on the Qing court's summer rituals and the cost of a night out.

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Episode 12 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Erxianju Night Market, Shuangluan District, Kangxi Dadian theatre, Puning Temple, FULL House Coffee Bar, Lizheng Gate, Saihanba National Forest Park.

Covered: Night market food, Historical spectacle, Qing dynasty diplomacy, Local costs, Travel logistics for Saihanba.

Chapters:
00:00 Erxianju Night Market
01:50 Shuangluan District
03:49 Puning Temple
04:48 Hotel room at night
07:36 Hotel lobby
09:21 Bus interior

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Chengde #ChengdeMountainResort #QingDynasty #NightMarket #Erxianju #KangxiDadian #Saihanba #ChinaTravel #HebeiTravel #ImperialChina #HistoryAndFood #TravelChina #ManchuCuisine #SummerCapital #UNESCOWorldHeritage #ChengdeNightlife

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Wei Chen explores the Eight Outer Temples of Chengde, from the Little Potala to the Big Buddha Temple, considering how the Qing court used architecture for diplomacy. He reflects on the Macartney mission, enjoys local lamb soup, and notes the practicalities of visiting these UNESCO sites in summer.

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Episode 11 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Puning Temple, Xumi Fushou Temple, Erxianju Night Market, FULL House Coffee Bar, Chengde Hotel, Lizheng Gate.

Covered: Outer Eight Temples, Qing diplomacy, Macartney mission, Temple architecture, Local food costs.

Chapters:
00:00 Lizheng Gate
01:14 Temple interior with prayer wheels
02:36 Puning Temple
03:57 Erxianju Night Market
05:15 Xumi Fushou Temple
06:58 Chengde Hotel
08:18 Quiet hotel room at night

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Chengde #ChengdeTravel #ChinaTravel #Hebei #OuterTemples #PutuoZongcheng #PuningTemple #XumiFushou #MountainResort #BishuShanzhuang #ImperialHistory #QingDynasty #TravelChina #SummerPalace #UNESCO #ChineseArchitecture #MacartneyMission #NightMarket #LambSoup

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Wei Chen spends a day exploring Chengde's Mountain Resort, the Little Potala Temple, and the night market, reflecting on the Qing dynasty's summer capital and the art of designed landscape. He shares practical costs and tips for visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Episode 10 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Bangchui Mountain, Erxianju Night Market, Xinqianlong Restaurant, Lizheng Gate.

Covered: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Bangchui Mountain, Erxianju Night Market, Pingquan lamb soup, Macartney mission.

Chapters:
00:00 Lizheng Gate
02:37 Putuo Zongcheng Temple
04:50 Erxianju Night Market
06:23 Night market
08:36 Hotel room

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#ChengdeTravel #MountainResort #LittlePotala #BangchuiMountain #ChinaTravel #QingDynasty #Hebei #UNESCO #TravelChina #SummerRetreat #NightMarket #LambSoup #Chengde #ImperialChina #TravelTips #SoloTravel

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Wei Chen spends a second day in Chengde, walking the Mountain Resort's lotus lakes, taking in the heat-relief measures, considering the city's imperial diplomacy, and ending at the night market with a bowl of lamb soup.

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Episode 9 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Chengde Mountain Resort, Lizhengmen, Yanyu Lou, Qushui Hexiang, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Bangchui Mountain, Erxianju Night Market, Shuangxinlou.

Covered: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Bangchui Mountain, lotus bloom, Manchu-Mongol cuisine, night market, transport cards, residence registration.

Chapters:
00:00 Lizhengmen
01:18 Yanyu Lou
02:06 Putuo Zongcheng Temple
02:58 Shuangxinlou
03:47 Bangchui Mountain
05:18 Erxianju Night Market

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Chengde #ChengdeTravel #ChinaTravel #Hebei #MountainResort #SummerPalace #HammerRock #BangchuiMountain #LittlePotala #PutuoZongcheng #LotusBloom #ChineseHistory #TravelChina #ExploreChina #NightMarket #LocalFood

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Wei Chen takes the high-speed rail north to Chengde, the Qing emperors' summer retreat. He explores the Mountain Resort's lotus-filled lakes, contemplates the Outer Eight Temples' diplomacy in stone, and samples the local lamb soup and imperial pastries, all while reflecting on the cost of a day in this cooler, quieter capital.

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Plan your trip to China: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full China guide →

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Episode 8 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Chengde, China.

Places in this episode: Chengde Mountain Resort, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Xinqianlong Restaurant, Erxianju Night Market, Chengde Hotel, Chengde South Station, Wulie River, Qushui Hexiang.

Covered: Chengde mountain resort, Eight outer temples, Qing dynasty summer capital, Lotus bloom, Local food and costs, Macartney mission.

Chapters:
00:00 Chengde South Station
02:03 Qushui Hexiang
03:44 Restaurant
04:29 Putuo Zongcheng Temple
06:10 Wulie River
08:24 Saihanba forest

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Chengde #BishuShanzhuang #MountainResort #EightOuterTemples #PutuoZongcheng #ChinaTravel #Hebei #SummerPalace #QingDynasty #ChinaHistory #TravelChina #ChengdeFood #PingquanLambSoup #NightMarket #UNESCO #ChinaRail #ChengdeTrip

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

On his last full day in Beijing, Wei Chen wanders the morning hutongs, takes a final swim in the lake, and spends the evening at a courtyard cinema beneath the stars. He reflects on the quiet rhythm of the city, the cost of a daily life, and the pull of the road north.

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Plan your trip to China: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full China guide →

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Episode 7 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Shichahai, Drum and Bell Towers, Olympic Forest Park, Bird's Nest, Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant, Longfusi, Gui Jie.

Covered: Hutong morning routine, Cost of daily meals and transport, Olympic Forest Park and lake swimming, Xinjiang cuisine in Beijing, Open-air film festival and summer activities.

Chapters:
00:00 Shichahai
01:22 Bird's Nest
03:04 Olympic Forest Park
03:50 Xinjiang Flavor Yidecun Stretched Noodle Restaurant
04:38 Lakeshore
06:21 Longfusi
07:50 Beijing

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #ChinaTravelPodcast #HutongLife #BeijingSummer #OlympicForestPark #Shichahai #GuiJie #BeijingFilmFestival #BeijingEats #XinjiangNoodles #Jianbing #ChinaTravel #BeijingMetro #TravelChina2026 #HutongFlat #LakesideSwim #BeijingDiaries #SlowTravel

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On his final full day in Beijing, Wei Chen wanders the hutongs, visits the reopened Underground City museum, and reflects on the city's layered history and the cost of daily life before heading north. A quiet, practical episode about endings and beginnings.

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Episode 6 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Beijing Underground City, Xixinglong Street, Mr Shi's Dumplings, Voyage Coffee, Jingshan Park, Gui Jie, Shichahai.

Covered: Underground City museum, Cost of daily meals, Hutong life and reflections, Film carnival and night festival, Packing and moving on.

Chapters:
00:00 Shichahai
01:09 Beijing Underground City
03:19 Mr Shi's Dumplings
05:29 Jingshan Park
06:46 Night street festival
07:58 Hutong night

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #HutongLife #ChinaTravel #BeijingHistory #TravelChina #BeijingGuide #ChinaPodcast #BeijingSummer #UndergroundCity #GuiJie #Nanluoguxiang #Shichahai #JingshanPark #BeijingFood #TravelVlog #SlowTravel

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Wei Chen climbs Jingshan Park for a view over the Forbidden City's rooftops, then takes the new suburban railway west for a look at where Beijing is growing. A mid-afternoon thunderstorm sends him into a hutong café, where he reflects on the film carnival, the cost of a daily life, and why this first week is really about learning to see the city slowly.

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Plan your trip to China: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full China guide →

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Episode 5 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Jingshan Park, Forbidden City, China Zun, Liangxiang, Berrybeans, Gui Street, Shichahai, China Merchants Bank.

Covered: Jingshan Park and city views, Beijing suburban railway expansion, Daily cost of living in Beijing, Liangxiang district exploration, Rainy day activities and street food, Reflecting on settling in and routines.

Chapters:
00:00 City park
00:54 Forbidden City
02:37 Liangxiang
03:42 Berrybeans
05:18 China Merchants Bank
06:25 Gui Street

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#JingshanPark #ForbiddenCity #BeijingRain #BeijingSummer #ChinaTravel #BeijingHutong #Liangxiang #BeijingSuburbanRail #Zhajiangmian #HundredFlowersAwards #GuiStreet #FilmCarnival #BeijingLife #DailyCosts #TravelChina #BeijingVisa #PoliceRegistration #Beijing2026

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

Wei Chen navigates a rainy day in Beijing, from a hutong breakfast to securing his flat's police registration, and reflects on the city's rhythms, costs, and the film carnival that's transforming its evenings.

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Plan your trip to China: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full China guide →

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Episode 4 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Shichahai, Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Longfusi South Square, Voyage Coffee, China Merchants Bank, Hutong flat.

Covered: police registration, hutong breakfast, film festival, daily life costs, settling in.

Chapters:
00:00 Soft rain
01:59 Hutong lane
03:00 Shichahai
05:17 Voyage Coffee
07:15 China Merchants Bank

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#Beijing #ChinaTravel #BeijingLife #HutongLife #BeijingFood #BeijingFilmCarnival #HundredFlowersAwards #BeijingSummer #ExpatLife #TravelChina #CityGuide #LivingInBeijing #ChineseCulture #BeijingEats #Shichahai #Alipay #WeChatPay #BeijingHutong

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/

On his third day in Beijing, Wei Chen seeks refuge from the summer heat in the recently reopened Underground City, then resurfaces to navigate the city's thunderstorm chaos. He shares practical tips on metro travel, the film carnival, and what it means to be a resident rather than a tourist.

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Plan your trip to China: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full China guide →

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Episode 3 of China Travel Podcast with Wei Chen. Wei Chen is in Beijing, China.

Places in this episode: Voyage Coffee, People's Air Defense History Museum, Qianmen, Xixinglong Street, Tongle Hutong, Shichahai, China Merchants Bank, Drum Tower.

Covered: Underground City museum, Renting a hutong apartment, Police registration process, Beijings public transport expansion, Beijing Midsummer Film Carnival.

Chapters:
00:00 Voyage Coffee
00:41 People's Air Defense History Museum
02:48 Drum Tower
04:23 Subway car
05:14 Longfusi South Square
06:56 Courtyard

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#BeijingTravel #ChinaTravel #BeijingHiddenGems #UndergroundCityBeijing #HutongLife #BeijingFilmCarnival #GuiJie #BeijingRent #ExpatLifeChina #BeijingMetro #ChinaVisa #BeijingRainyDay #SlowTravel #BeijingFood #WeiChenInChina

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/china/