shanek

I am in the fortunate position of being invited on a business junket to Beijing for 7 days, late Aug/ early Sept.

I will have to participate in a few compulsory sessions but I will have 4 full free days to explore and I want some assistance in planning a list of must see's that I can work an Itinery around.

On one of the full days I have decided to hike between the Jingshanling and Simatai sections of the Great Wall, as this seems to be what most people suggest as the best places to see a good combination of original and restored sections in a less crowded enviroment.

This is the short list of places that I have made so far for the balance of my free time. What should I add to this list, or is there anything on this list that is not worth spending my limited time on...

FORBIDDEN CITY
TIANANMEN SQUARE
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
SUMMER PALACE
PEARL MARKET
WALK THROUGH HUTONGS
SILK / YAXIU MARKETS
OLYMPIC SITE.

Is there a specific time of day that will maximise my experience at any of these places or any other helpful tips?

We are staying at the Great Wall Sheraton which seems to be walking distance away from the subway. Is this the best way to get around to these sites?

Also, does anyone have any recommedations on mid range restaurants that serve good Beijing Duck or Suckling Pig. What other local delicacies should I not miss out on.

So much to do and see, so little time. Your assistance would be appreciated.

SiobhanP

The sheraton if I am correct is a bit further out. Do you have to stay there for your days off? Also for the forbidden city i would go when it opens as you canspend so long in there and it always looks crowded when i drove by (on work business). The summer palace is also a bit outside the main city but lovely.

You can do Forbidden city and Tianamen toghether as they are across the road from Eachother and maybe squeeze in a hutong walk and eat dinner after.

Save a 1/2 day to shop in the Silk market its overwhelming and dont buy till you wander a few floors. You will always see something else. Also dont haggle unless you really mean to buy you are just wastimng their time and its hassle. I feel like I have been through several rounds with Mike Tyson when I shop alone there its exhausting but fun. Everything starts to look the same after a while so think about what you want/need first. Also you can get another suitcase here for your purchaces for about 20-40 euro.

We drove by the Olympic site as we did not have time to get out but to be honest it was nice seeing the stadiums etc.

I like unusual areas and went for a walk last time and ended up in this small russian area a 1/2 mile from the silk market. Just unusual to me and funny to soo as everone even the Chinese were speaking Russian here. I am fair and they kept trying to talk to me to take a rickshaw but i could not speak a word of Russian! Also I have not been but I hear the Paulaner beer garden may be fun for a drink outside in the evening. I am not a fan of the Sanlitun bar street area from what I have seen of it.

Have a search for duck. I usually eat in a place that some may say is touristy but my Chinese pal and i like it called Yi Yuan??? its on another post here about Duck in beijing.

Have fun!

tower

shane

we stayed at the Great Wall hotel (before it was a Sheraton) in 1984..it was literally falling apart then..faucets we dropping off the sinks, showers worked only intermittently, elevators were iffy all day and night...several people were stuck for three hours one time. This was common with so many "new" hotels in those days. Hopefully, 25 years later, under new management, you will have a trouble free stay.

It can be blazingly h-o-t and humid during your visit. The Beijing air quality could be very smoggy. Hiking the Simital region might be uncomfortable (I don't know your age)...pace yourself and drink a lot of bottled water. You'll have to carry some with you on the hike.

Your list is a good one...don't mean to be a wet blanket (come to think of it, that woudn't feel too bad when the
Fahr-temp hits 100) but these are just some of many things of which to be aware.

It's a grand experience you'll be getting..have a meaningful joyful time, Shane. Take lots of pix...

stu t. (we returned in spring of '07..changes were overwhelming!)

shanek

Thanks for your tips.
The Hotel has been paid for by the conference organisers so we really dont have a choice. I have read some mixed reviews but hopefully it has improved some. I believe it went through extensive renovations prior to the Olympics. It is a bit out of the central area so we will have to get to know the transport system, I am hopeful that the subway is as useful and effecient as the Bangkok system in accessing the main sites. Any tips on using the subway and does anyone know how far the nearest station is from our hotel?

The heat is something we thrive on as we live on the fringe of the Australian Outback (bloody cold now though) and we are both reasonably fit and in our early 40's. I realise the hiking will be a challenge but I just would like to know if we have picked the best place to see the wall out of the areas accessible from Beijing. Should we arrange a guide/driver for that day or just get the hotel to organise a taxi for us?

Your help is invaluable, Thank you in advance.

rhkkmk

summer palace was the highlight of our stay....allow at least 1/2 day

Cat12345

I stayed in the great wall hotel and bought some great wall hotel t-shirts when it first opened.

The dining room on the 2nd floor was in pretty bad shape.
Water leaked from all over the ceiling when it rained.
Staff had to use plastic buckets to hold water.

Other than embassies, the area was pretty rural before great wall hotel came.
There were horse drawn carts, tractors along with some automobiles like Chinese “Shanghai” & Russian “Lada” models on the streets.

Kevin99

Do not foget the Great Wall of China.

tower

Shane...checked my maps and it appears as though The Sheraton Great Wall is only about 1000 feet from the nearest subway station..short walk.
Have a nice visit.

Stu

shanek

Thanks Stu,
I am struggling to find a map that I dont have to buy that shows the latest subway lines as well as enough detail to find the hotel (as well as other landmarks)

Is it possible to give me a link to this map, if of course it is an online one, or let me know where you got it from.

Regards,

Shanek

easytraveler

You can get any number of websites showing the subway system, just Google "Beijing subway map".

Here's one:

http://www.5starbeijing.com/SubwayMapBig.jpg

shanek

Thanks ET, but I have aleady done that. That maps shows the Subway positions but not their vacinity to streets or hotels. What I am after is a map that shows hotel and landmark positions as well as the relevant entries to the subway stations.

lynclarke

Buy a streetwise map--I think that is the one I used--you will pull it out 50 times a day. It is laminated, folds beautifully, and very useful, IMHO.

easytraveler

Hi shanek, did you try "Map of Beijing with Metro Stops?"

Here are a couple with just a few of the major sights, which should give you some orientation as to how the metro lines run in relation to these major sights.

http://www.thebeijingguide.com/subway/subway.html

http://johomaps.com/as/china/beijing/beijingmetro.html

shanek

Thanks ET. I have those too. I am after something with a little more detail at street level that also has the subway access points. I might have to buy a streetwise map as lyn has suggested.

easytraveler

it would be nice if google put in the metro stops in Beijing the way they put in the metro stops for cities like new York and Washington DC.

I seem to recall there's a free English language paper that has a pretty good map of Beijing on the back.

Anyhoos, have a great trip!

one1badpirate

We will be in Beijing on a tour in October.. Staying at the Jianguo Garden Hotel.. We would like to ditch the group and go for a dinner and foot massage. Got any suggestions.

SiobhanP

I usually stay at the Jianguo hotel for work. There are a few massage places but i am not sure if they are ok or dodgy nearby. I tend to get my nailes and pedicure with a foot massage in a nail Salon outside the back of the Silk Street Market. Also in the Market is a foot massage place on one of the upper floors that does a thriing business with weary shoppers. A great overall massage place not far is called Long Island across from the Kerry Centre hotel I think. My friends normally pre book a massage and get one after arriving off a long flight and checking in. There are several places to eat across the road from the Silk Market on dongdaqiao Rd. There is a thai, Mexican (awful) and a few chinese places. I eat here more for convenience than anything. For luxe surrroundings and a night our with some nice drinks go across the road in the evening to the LG Building and enter the lobby and walk to the back elevators. Take it to LAN (the staff will know what the floor is) its a Philippe Stark designed Restaurant and bar. Its a bit glam but reasonable compared to European prices or the same. I have seen some good music here and its a nice atmosphere.

dchal09

I'm going to be in Bejing the beginning of October. Is it really hot then as well?

FredinBeijing

October, not hot. Usually quite pleasant. May want a jacket in the evening.
Back to the list of places and things.
Great Wall Sheraton. It's 5 star. This is NOT the 1984 version. You should scratch further hotel conversation off of your list. You're situated well. You can walk to the metro from there in 5-7 minutes. (I have lived in BJ since 2002.)
I suggest you do as mentioned above and include Tiananmen with your Forbidden City venture. Don't schedule yourself too much time at Tiananmen. It's just a big flat open square where "students" will stop you and ask you to come and see and buy their art. Do not bother with the art.
If you want to go to Pearl Market, you may need to call it Hong Qiao. IT's right across from Temple of Heaven.
Best thing at Temple of Heaven, a favorite here among locals and visitors, is not necessarily the old temple facilities, but the covered walkway which is just west of the East entrance gate. It's where real BJ people play cards, sing old folk songs, dance, do their group dance and tai chi. People do little performances with boom boxes. Never ask for money, they just enjoy it and do it for exercise. Worth a journey to see. Park is shaded and cool as well.
If you go to Silk Market, don't bother with Ya Xiu (aka Ya Show). They are the same. However, YaXiu much closer to your hotel. You can walk it in 25 minutes if you need to stretch your legs.
Times are tough due to the economy, so Silk Market, YaXiu and Hong Qiao (Pearly Market) vendors have become much more aggressive, but much more willing to bargain. You have to bargain hard - my daughter his here this week. She is countering initial offers from vendors at about 15 to 20% of their offer. And meeting at about 25% - that's really rough numbers. Offer - give you for 250 - counter give you 45, meet at 60. Whatever you do stay friendly though. If you pay too much you have not been "cheated." Remember you agreed to pay too much. but keep a smile; these are good people, and they are working hard to make their small amount of money.
Bring along a few little trinkets $1 type from your home location - pin, refrig magnet that says "Atlanta" or wherever. Give to people you meet that you like. It never hurts.

FredinBeijing

Shanek, did I forget to say go to only one of the three - YaXiu, Pearl Market or Silk Market. They are basically not too different, except for Pearl Market's fourth floor with the high end - expensive - pearls. But third floor has very reasonably priced pearls. One of those three markets should suffice for what you want, touristy souvenirs, jackets, painted glass balls, chopsticks, fans, shoes, "designer" purses, pashmina, "designer" watches etc. It's all personal as to which people like. I like the Pearl Market, don't like Silk Market, and am ambivalent about YaXiu (which is only 300 meters from my home). But others rank them differently. It's pretty subjective and often depends upon your first visit to each place. But be prepared for aggressive selling and haggling. (Remember "be nice and smile". Have a laugh.)
Not on your list is Yonghegong. The Lama Temple. It's still central BJ. 10-15 min by taxi or metro from your hotel and definitely worth a short visit. A combination Tibetan Buddhist temple and tourist spot with people there at all times offering incense and prayers, as well as tourists with their cameras. Definietly worth it. Scrap one of the shopping places and go to Yonghegong - Lama Temple. Culturally quite different than most of us are used to and worth a visit. Don't photograph Buddha or statues inside. Considered rude and a bit sacrilegious.
Oh and a walk around Houhai. Start by Lotus Lane and walk around the lake. dozens, maybe hundreds, of little shops, bars, coffee houses, restaurants around a very pretty lake. It's just north of Behai Park, which is just north of the Forbidden City. Or a pedicab ride around Houhai and into the hugongs. The pedicab drivers will insist that you go to visit "real people's homes" in the hutongs around Houhai. You visit with "real people", have a cup of tea, leave them RMB 15 or 20 per person. Once is ok, but the pedicab drivers can become a bit over the top and try to take you to 3 or 4; it's a lot of the same thing. So just stick to visit one or two max and then keep your driver driving. A tolerable way to get thru the hutongs if you are a bit short on time. I am sure Peter has his thoughts on this which may differ from what I have said. Believe him. Ha.