Hidden History and High Walls: Secret Stories from Beijing and Shanghai
Exploring China 2025 – Part 1
Exploring China again is the perfect trip for our first overseas travel in a while. The last time we visited China was in 2018, and in fact that was our last overseas travel where we started that trip in Guangzhou. Life has changed a lot for us both with senior schooling, further studies, plus new career commitments. So, now it is high-time we started to travel again. And exploring China is that perfect destination!
At the end of May, we arrived in China just as the humid warmth of summer was beginning to stretch its arms across the country. There is something exciting about arriving in a place where every aspect feels layered into years of history, and, where ancient dynasties and future skylines seem to exist side by side. No two cities represent this beautiful contradiction more than Beijing and Shanghai.
As always, we were in search of more than just the postcard-perfect attractions. We wanted to explore again!. To feel the whispered stories, hidden corners, and luxurious escapes that still held meaning in this ancient land. China gave us all of that, and more when exploring China.
The Great Wall
As World Travel experts, we began our adventure in Beijing; the heart of ancient China, where the grandeur of empires still echoes through the narrow ‘hutongs’ and palatial courtyards. Our first mission was to see once more arguably the most stunning wonder of the world, The Great Wall of China. However, rather than take the well-worn tourist path, we chose a quieter section near Mutianyu, where a cable car carried us high into the clouds.
There’s a stillness that greets you once you reach the top of The Great Wall is just incredible! We arrived early, and the mist still clung to the hills like silk scarves. As we wandered the Wall’s winding path, we paused to admire the view and were quietly surprised by a little face peeking at us, a cat, tucked into a stone recess, as though guarding history itself. Personally, this is exactly my way of exploring China.
After walking the ramparts and feeling the weight of centuries under our feet, we laughed as we tobogganed down the mountain, winding through the trees on an exhilarating metal track. It was a rare and unexpected moment of adrenaline, and one we won’t soon forget.
Forbidden Paths and Imperial Secrets
Of course, no visit to Beijing is complete without exploring China with the Forbidden City. Though hardly a secret, this sprawling palace is full of surprises if you know where to look. We wandered past grand halls with names like the Hall of Supreme Harmony and followed quieter paths that led to shaded gardens, whispering corridors, and mosaic-tiled alcoves where the footfalls of emperors once echoed.
What struck us was not just the scale, but the detail. Jade knobs, golden dragons, and vivid red lacquer beams gave way to tiny ponds with sleeping lilies and aged trees that had stood witness to dynasties.
Shanghai: Where the Future Dances With the Past
From Beijing’s imperial grandeur, we boarded a short bullet train to Shanghai, where a very different kind of magic awaited us. If Beijing feels rooted in history, Shanghai feels like it has just leapt into tomorrow.
We based ourselves along The Bund, the famous waterfront promenade where colonial architecture stands tall across from the glowing towers of Pudong. Each evening, we would stroll along the river as the city began to shimmer, sipping cocktails from unique rooftop bars along The Bund, as riverboats glided silently below.
One night we were invited to a rooftop bar hidden above the historic Rockbund Art Museum. It offered views that stretched across both timelines… domed cupolas behind us, futuristic spires ahead. A live jazz band played softly as the skyline pulsed in neon. It really was just perfect!
Street Food and Silk Slippers
In contrast to the high-rise glamour, we loved the colourful lanes of Tianzifang, a maze-like network of alleyways filled with artists’ studios, teahouses, and quirky shops. This is where we sampled some of the best street food of our entire trip. We tried scallion pancakes so light you wouldn’t believe they were made in an old pot, and hand-pulled noodles tossed in sesame and garlic.
Of course, we had to stop by a little boutique where embroidered slippers caught our eye. Made from real silk and hand-stitched by an elderly couple who had worked in the textile houses for decades, these were the sort of finds we always search for. I personally have collected precious memorabilia from every place we’ve been to.
The Spa That Never Sleeps
But perhaps our most surprising discovery in Shanghai was 漾·SPACE汤泉生活 (SPACE Tangquan Life, Lujiazui). Open around the clock, this ultra-modern wellness sanctuary began in a serene gender divided areas, where soft lighting met warm marble. From there, we explored a labyrinth of hot 47 °C pools, followed by icy plunges, steam rooms, and detox saunas. The choices just went on and on!
In the Co-ed section, neon-lit robot statues glowed beside the baths, casting a futuristic charm across the mist. Between soaks, we slipped into lounges offering complimentary all you can eat fresh fruit, soft-serve ice cream, and herbal teas. There were quiet corners for board games, libraries, salt rooms (excellent for those who have respiratory issues), and even PS5 consoles for those wanting something playful.
It was the perfect blend of relaxation and discovery — luxurious, peaceful, and utterly unique. 18 or 80 years old, this place is a place you cant miss!
We each spent hours exploring China style wellness, with its maze-like halls in our slippers and robes, receiving heavenly foot massages and drifting between mineral baths. It felt like the future had come not just to dazzle, but to heal.
The Train to Tomorrow
Our Shanghai story ended in true futuristic style, with a ride on the world’s fastest bullet train and a perfect way to be exploring China. The Maglev Train took us from the city to the airport at speeds that made the buildings blur like brushstrokes. In just over seven minutes, we had crossed the skyline and were lifted gently back to reality.
