Tips about Beijing?
- Thread starter rawfa
- Start date
mjjason
Well-known member
Beijing is divided up into 6 rings which are determined by the ringed highway system that circle the city. The 1st ring is the innermost ring that encircles the Forbidden City. If you stay within the first 3 rings then it should be no problem to get around and you will be near all the sites.
I stayed in the The Great Wall Sheraton right in the second ring. It was not too far from the Forbidden City. I don't recall the pricing but it was not too expensive; though I did go during Chinese New Year which was an odd experience as Beijing is empty that time of year. Imagine being in one of the world's largest and most crowded cities only to have it be almost empty.
Things I would recommend:
Forbidden City - half to 2/3rd's of a day
Summer Palace - half a day
Tiananmen Square - 2 hours (right in front of the Forbidden City)
The Great Wall - Most guides will take you to the section at Badaling which is great as it is the most well kept area though it is also the largest tourist attraction. Depending on when you go it may be crowded. When I went during New Year it was nearly empty and was better for it. If you can you may want to go to a lesser known section though those section may not be as well maintained, i.e. it would be in ruins.
Eat Peking Duck - A friend took me to a small restaurant in the old town area that had existed for something like 2,000 or more years. The restaurant only served Peking duck. Greatest meal I have ever had. It was great wherever I ate it in Beijing but in this particular place it was amazing. Ask around and the local will tell you the right place.
See an acrobatic show
I did a bunch of other stuff that I can't remember. I stayed 4 days there and had a blast. It was a great city with very friendly people. You will enjoy it a lot.
I stayed in the The Great Wall Sheraton right in the second ring. It was not too far from the Forbidden City. I don't recall the pricing but it was not too expensive; though I did go during Chinese New Year which was an odd experience as Beijing is empty that time of year. Imagine being in one of the world's largest and most crowded cities only to have it be almost empty.
Things I would recommend:
Forbidden City - half to 2/3rd's of a day
Summer Palace - half a day
Tiananmen Square - 2 hours (right in front of the Forbidden City)
The Great Wall - Most guides will take you to the section at Badaling which is great as it is the most well kept area though it is also the largest tourist attraction. Depending on when you go it may be crowded. When I went during New Year it was nearly empty and was better for it. If you can you may want to go to a lesser known section though those section may not be as well maintained, i.e. it would be in ruins.
Eat Peking Duck - A friend took me to a small restaurant in the old town area that had existed for something like 2,000 or more years. The restaurant only served Peking duck. Greatest meal I have ever had. It was great wherever I ate it in Beijing but in this particular place it was amazing. Ask around and the local will tell you the right place.
See an acrobatic show
I did a bunch of other stuff that I can't remember. I stayed 4 days there and had a blast. It was a great city with very friendly people. You will enjoy it a lot.
Last edited:
rawfa
Veteran
Ok, so we've bought the flight and the we've booked the hotel for 10 days. From what people have been telling me I've realize this might be a bit much for Beijing alone. Is there any "near by" towns/cities that are worth visiting? It would have to be somewhere we could go and come back on the same day….
mjjason
Well-known member
You can also look into some music shops. Beijing had some cool instruments and cool musicians. I bought an instrument (the single string violin type thing - the name escapes me right now). It's a pretty cool conversation piece I have in my house.
Note, You can get ripped off all over China if you are not careful. Always bargain. Everything from musical instruments, clothes, pearls, etc... can be bargained down to even 70% off. Trust me on that one.
Note, You can get ripped off all over China if you are not careful. Always bargain. Everything from musical instruments, clothes, pearls, etc... can be bargained down to even 70% off. Trust me on that one.
mjjason
Well-known member
I would also recommend looking up some China tour websites for ideas. You don't have to book with them but you get an idea of what's around the area. I remember driving to the Ming Dynasty palaces. That was a great place with very beautiful statues. I believe there is also a place called the Sacred way that is a road lined with Carved figures. Very Impressive.
I took something like 1,000 pictures when I was in China (over the course of a month). One of the most beautiful countries you can visit.
I took something like 1,000 pictures when I was in China (over the course of a month). One of the most beautiful countries you can visit.
