Author: AJ @ Cultural Keys

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Best of Beijing: The Best Places for Actively Exploring the Capital City!

It’s often said that spring is the best time to visit Beijing and see everything the city has to offer. While getting out and about and experiencing everything isn’t exactly possible at the moment, that doesn’t mean you can’t start to make plans!

To that end, we have started our Best of Beijing series, introducing you to the best that the Chinese capital has to offer, from food to flowers and from classical architecture to useful words and phrases especially for Beijing! 

Today we bring you part 2 of our series: the most interesting places to actively explore around Beijing!

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Security checks at Beijing parks: Here’s what to expect if you’re a foreigner

Can there ever be enough photos of beautiful flowers?! (The correct answer is ‘no’ btw!) Add some to your own collection this springtime!

Beijing’s very own Keukenhof is in full bloom right now! Visit Zhongshan Park (on the west side of the Forbidden City) in the next few days to see tulips, wisteria, late blossom, lilacs and peonies in full bloom! It’s breathtaking!

If you do plan on visiting, be aware that security for foreigners here is extremely tight. Read to find out what you might encounter when visiting Beijing parks or scenic spots during these still-locked-down days!

Continue reading “Security checks at Beijing parks: Here’s what to expect if you’re a foreigner”

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Best of Beijing: The Most Beautiful Places to See this Spring!

It’s often said that spring is the best time to visit Beijing and see everything the city as to offer. While getting out and about and experiencing everything isn’t exactly possible at the moment, that doesn’t mean you can’t start to make plans!

To that end, we have started our Best of Beijing series, where we will introduce you to the best that the Chinese capital has to offer, from food to flowers and from classical architecture to useful words and phrases especially for Beijing! 

Today we start with part 1 of our series: the most beautiful places to visit around Beijing!

Continue reading “Best of Beijing: The Most Beautiful Places to See this Spring!”

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Shanghainese-American Bromance – Seeing Shanghai from a new perspective

As anyone who has been following Cultural Keys for a while knows, we are a very Beijing-centric company. That isn’t to say we don’t like other cities, but we certainly know more about Beijing than anywhere else!

But what of other cities, perhaps ones that might have a history of tiffs with our beloved Beijing? Shanghai, for example. We decided it was time to explore a bit further afield, and were lucky enough to come across just the person to help us understand our southern cousins a bit better.

Read on to find out what we learnt about Beijing’s southern sister, Shanghai!

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Offers and events from Cultural Keys in April!

Slowly, but surely, things are returning to normal in the Chinese capital. People are starting to venture outside, work is beckoning us back to the office and the warming weather is encouraging us to dream of in-person social activities and long walks in beautiful parks.

But step by step. There are still necessary restrictions in place, and we need to remain cautious while planning for the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, read on for some great offers from Cultural Keys that will help you get through the (hopefully!) last few weeks of restrictions, or even help you save money in the months ahead!

UPDATED: Our March offers were so well received, we have extended, and widened them, into April as well! Take a look at what we have going on, and let us know if there is anything here that catches your eye!

Continue reading “Offers and events from Cultural Keys in April!”