We are considering a cruise. The ship would be in Tianjin on October 5-6 and we would take an overnight tour to Beijing and The Great Wall. This is during the Chinese National Holiday. Will it be so crowded at the sights that we will not be able to see things on the tour those days? I do see that many of the land tours ( A&K, Tauck, etc.) still operate during that period. Has anyone been there during that busy holiday period?
Chinese National Holiday
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Do a Google image search for "Great Wall during National Holiday" and you will find the answer.
Yes, I have been in the Forbidden City during that week. Will never do that again. I was actually scared at points because crowds were so massive and pushing to get through narrow doorways.
The Great Wall is actaully less of an issue assumiing you avoid the main tourist access point at Badaling. My guess is that an "overnight" tour of Beijing will go exactly there becuase you don't have time to go to more remote less crowded areas. Again, not something I would do. You would have to pay me to make that trip at any time of year, and never would I do so during the October national day holiday week.
Also, I have to say that seeing the PRC via a cruise will not actually allow you to see much of China. Shanghai is about the most accessible port you would dock at. (Hong Kong as well if your trip includes that.) You will miss truly wonderful places like Xian, Lijiang, Guilan, etc, by trying to see China on a cruise.