PLANNING A TRIP TO BEIJING ON NOV.

[neil_010]

Hello everyone! I am planning to visit Beijing for the first time next month (Nov.) I wonder if some of you do the same because I prefer to go in a group tour, or if anyone can refer me to an agent who arrange group tour, please let me know! Thank you!

[drumbrake]

CTS HK do tours, but really very easy to go to Beijing yourself even if you don't speak a word of Chinese.

[thatsnotmypuppy]

Exactly - get a cheap flight and just go. The most central hotel that is a relative bargain is the Days Inn Forbidden City - its a block away from Tiananmen and the Forbidden City - easy access to Wangfujing and Oriental Plaza - and thus easy to get anywhere using the subway. Normally with breakfast its about $60US or so?

Beijing is easy to get around since the Olympics and all the new subway lines have opened. You'll still need a taxi or a bus to get to the Summer Palace - that line wont open until 2013 apparently.

Day tours are much cheaper if you avoid the hotel booking desk. Get the train to Qianmen and pop into the Beijing Tourist Bus Terminal - its at the south west corner of Tiananmen - they do day tours out to the Wall for about 100-120 yuan. They will stop at a shop or two and also for lunch - but its much better than the 350-400 yuan most hotel tours start at.

I speak about 20 words of Mandarin and have had no problems at all language wise.

[neil_010]

Exactly - get a cheap flight and just go. The most central hotel that is a relative bargain is the Days Inn Forbidden City - its a block away from Tiananmen and the Forbidden City - easy access to Wangfujing and Oriental Plaza - and thus easy to get anywhere using the subway. Normally with breakfast its about $60US or so?

Beijing is easy to get around since the Olympics and all the new subway lines have opened. You'll still need a taxi or a bus to get to the Summer Palace - that line wont open until 2013 apparently.

Day tours are much cheaper if you avoid the hotel booking desk. Get the train to Qianmen and pop into the Beijing Tourist Bus Terminal - its at the south west corner of Tiananmen - they do day tours out to the Wall for about 100-120 yuan. They will stop at a shop or two and also for lunch - but its much better than the 350-400 yuan most hotel tours start at.

I speak about 20 words of Mandarin and have had no problems at all language wise.

I have got the schedule already and also the hotel. The travel agent is telling me that there is a tour guide who can be contracted for full or half day, i.e. forbidden city and great wall for one day is 550 per 2 persons. Is this the same day tour you are talking about?

[drumbrake]

550 what? Rmb?HK$? US$? 550Rmb is on the high side.

Will the 550 include entrance tickets? Does the guide speak good English?

You can find private guides by searching tripadivisor forums, but I'm not convinced you need one for most places in Beijing.

[jackyine]

Hi Neil,

You can go to any travel agencies websites, like Tak Shing, Hong Tai, Sunflower, etc. they offer tour group. This include your hotel and breakfast buffet , lunch and dinner plus a tour to forbidden city, Tianamen square, Emperor's Palace, Summer's Palace, Terracota Warriors, or Great wall. It will be more cheaper if you join a tour group and you will meet more friends.

Though, if you want to have a free time by yourself, I suggest you buy a map and explore it by yourself by taking the taxi or trains which everything now is accessible now in Beijing esp. they are very modernized now after the Beijing Olympics games. I have been there 4times but too bad I did not learned their language at all and now trying to learn it.

Hope you will enjoy this trip,
Jackyine

[neil_010]

Hi All,

Thank you for sharing info! I have confirmed already my trip and got someone joining me who speaks mandarin..i'm saved now!..cheers everyone!

[Beanieskis]

I've just got back from Beijing and can confirm you can get directly to the Summer Palace by subway, it's very easy!

If you'e going to see the Great Wall I thoroughly recommend the Jinshanling to Samatai hike - it was amazing! It's 10km and a lot of up and downs, but if you're relatively fit shouldn't be a problem. The tour can be arranged through any hostel and costs about 200RMB per person, which includes transport and lunch. Once on the Wall you're left to get on with it, so it doesn't feel like you're being herded in a tour group (which I dislike).

[redschumi]

hi i am going to beijing day after .. can you suggest which is a good area to stay .. also some info on places to hangaround for a drink etc ..
thanks