Washington D.C. Felt Like an Empty City

I visited Washington D.C. in October, during China's National Day holiday. Why did no one warn me that D.C. would be like this? 😮 When I first arrived, I found it incredibly dull – the entire city felt like one massive park, filled with lawns, statues, monuments, cemeteries, and museums. The architecture was grand, yet there was no trace of daily life. 🌳 At the time, the government was in a shutdown, and Trump had deployed heavy security across the city. The streets were eerily quiet – tourists outnumbered police, and police outnumbered residents. Most restaurants didn’t open until 10 or 11 a.m., and many cafés closed as early as 5 p.m. 🕙 On my first night, I went to photograph the Capitol Building after dark. Walking through nearly empty streets, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. 😨 The next morning, I wandered around at 9 a.m. – still no one in the city center, not even many cars. 🚶♀️ It felt surreal, almost creepy. Imagine a completely empty Beijing. The whole city seemed like a display model sealed under a glass dome. A hotel staff member joked that the only real "residents" out at night were the homeless people sleeping on benches. 😅 In many ways, Washington D.C. feels the least American of all U.S. cities. But then, on my way to the Air and Space Museum, something clicked. ✨ Having fewer people wasn't so bad after all. D.C. has over a dozen world-class museums – all free to enter. 🆓 Even if you forget your wallet, bus drivers still let you ride for free. With sparse crowds and ample resources, plus layers of visible and undercover police protection, Washington D.C. started to feel… surprisingly privileged. 🛡️ Had I taken this for granted? Maybe years of squeezing into Shanghai’s subways had damaged my ability to appreciate such peace. 🤔 If I get another chance, I’d love to spend more days here – Not rushing, just being. Walking slowly past each monument, sitting in quiet plazas, losing myself inside those free museums. Maybe the real D.C. reveals itself not in noise, but in unhurried, spacious moments. 🌟 #WashingtonDC #EmptyCityVibes #TravelReflections #CityWithoutCrowds #USATravel