In the lead-up to the May Day holiday, my wife and I brainstormed the best way to spend our upcoming five-day break. After a calm and quiet week at home during the Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Festival, we wanted to shake things up and venture out of Beijing. Ever the dutiful daughter, my wife suggested returning to her hometown to visit her parents for a week. A week-long holiday with my inlaws wouldn’t have exactly been my first choice, but hey, I figured I could survive.
The only catch was that I had a mountain of work to tackle, and the thought of juggling in-law activities and deadlines was potentially problematic. So, I offered to join them two days later, giving me time to get all my work stuff done. My wife relayed the message to her parents and we thought everything was settled. Little did I know that this seemingly innocent plan would come back to haunt me.
We had grossly underestimated the cutthroat competition for train tickets leading up to the holiday. It felt like a digital version of parents charging into a toy store on Christmas Eve to secure a Turbo Man action figure (yes, I threw in a Jingle All the Way movie reference into this summer tale). Suddenly, both of us started feeling a little uneasy about the trip. Our major worry was whether we could secure return tickets to Beijing in time for work.
In China, the chaotic scramble for train tickets is typically associated with the Chinese New Year, where people travel home to be with their families. Who knew that the frantic rush for train tickets was a May thing too?
So there we were, in a predicament. We wanted to find a fun and different place to visit, preferably within easy reach of Beijing. Our eyes scoured Baidu Maps for the perfect destination. We toyed with the idea of staying at a hotel near the Great Wall but worried that our three-year-old might get bored. Camping in the wilderness also crossed our minds, but we doubted our ability to survive a night outside without Wi-Fi. Then, my wife suggested Beidaihe – a beach resort in Hebei Province, just a two-hour journey from Beijing.
After some thorough online searching, we realized this place might just be the perfect fit: close enough for a quick return if needed, plenty of activities for our daughter, unexplored territory for us, and, best of all, a beach! As a Brighton boy who has not had the chance to go home in about six years, this seemed perfect.
Our destination was set, but there was a new hurdle: we had four days left until the holiday, and we had yet to book transportation or accommodation. Train tickets were still scarce, even for a short journey like this, and accommodations were charging exorbitant prices. Our heads dropped in desperation; it seemed like our new holiday plans were about to crumble.
It was at his point fate would offer a helping hand. My wife messaged a friend asking for tips on where to stay. Turns out, this friend had the same brilliant idea as us and was able to help us sort out accommodation. It was a dream come true: a dual-family holiday where our kids could play together. We booked two days off work to increase our chances of snagging train tickets, and finally, our holiday plans were starting to take shape!
In an otherwise perfect plan, a small problem arose. My in-laws were understandably sad after hearing that we had changed our holiday destination. However, we assured them that on the next public holiday, we would have a big family reunion. The promise, coupled with seeing their granddaughter having a great time at the beach, quickly turned their frowns upside down.
And that’s how I found myself sitting at a cafe, overlooking my daughter running around the beach, as I jot down this story. The twists and turns that led me here couldn’t have worked out any better. Watching my daughter play with her new friend, as the two dip their toes in the water, has turned this experience into a truly magical getaway. It has already got me eagerly looking forward to our next family holiday.
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