Journal Entry 39

20.06.2026

What an amazing morning and early afternoon! There were so many places that I wanted to visit and tour in Beijing, but our time was quite limited. The King and I were unable to make it to one of the places I wanted to visit the most, the Forbidden City, due to time constraints. Before leaving Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, we asked our hosts to direct us to a place where they thought we would have a unique cultural experience.

When our motorcade arrived at Panjiayuan market. I was initially concerned about the dense crowd at the market. Above all, Jonas’s security and safety are my number one priority. However, I knew that Jonas’s security detail would be right near us, dressed as regular shoppers.

We purchased unique gifts for each of our children and our staff in Eberbach. When we returned to our guesthouse, I realized that neither of us had bought an item for ourselves. Actually, the experience and memories were enough for me.

During the state dinner, we feasted on Peking Duck and other delicious dishes. We were first served with the duck’s skin, followed by the meat. Prior to travelling to Beijing, Jonas declined an offer from our Chinese hosts to include a few of his favorite foods on the menu. He wanted to have an authentic experience during his visit.

Tomorrow, we will spend the day with our new prime minister, preparing for Monday’s talks. I am hoping we have some leisure time. Jet lag has reared its ugly head.