When asked why he no longer frequented a popular eatery, the American baseball legend Yogi Berra, as famous for his creative use of language as for the way he swung his bat, remarked, “Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.”
The same could be said for many of Beijing’s most famous landmarks, especially during the Golden Week holidays. While the ongoing Covid weirdness means fewer tourists will be descending on the capital, most Beijingers will also be stuck in the city looking for things to do. The usual spots – Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, Badaling Great Wall – will be great places to make friends. Including some very close, personal, right in your airspace, up in your grill new acquaintances.
But just because the Forbidden City and Houhai will be heaving doesn’t mean we have to abandon our dreams of getting out and enjoying a little culture and history. Some sites get a little less love than they should, while at other popular attractions, a little creative route finding means quiet spaces in otherwise thronged parks and museums. Here are a few suggestions.