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Is May 28, the date of the Dragon Boat Festival in China a public holiday? Will the Summer Palace in Beijing be overly crowded on that date? What special events will be going on in Beijing?

Thanks so much.

PeterN_H

It's a long weekend: May 28, 29, 30 (and, presumably Sunday 31).

The Summer Palace is always busy, particularly at weekends, and will likely be pretty busy that weekend. Visitors per day can easily number 20,000 (just check the sign on the way out at the main gate, which tells you the previous day's figure, although whether that's believable is up to you.)

There have been dragon boat races on reservoirs well to the north of Beijing in the past. But unless commercial interests conspire to make something happen in shopping areas I doubt there'll be anything in the town centre. You should be able to buy zongzi, parcels of sticky rice wrapped up in reeds. That will probably be about it.

Peter N-H

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Thanks Peter. When I booked my air tickets with FF miles I tried to end this trip in Hong Kong so we could enjoy the activities there for the Festival, but no seats were available. Guess we'll just enjoy the zongzi!

Thanks for your tip elsewhere on walking the Huguo Si area of Beijing. I believe this is Frommer's Walk #4. The Spring Garden Hotel, where we're staying is in this general area. Is this walk still worthwhile?

Is line 4 subway open yet in Beijing or still under construction?

Thanks so much for your help.

PeterN_H

I believe Graeme Smith put something in Frommer's Beijing 4e which passed Huguo Si (I remember we talked about it) but I've no idea what subsequent editions in which he was not involved have said or done in the area (which does rather predate Frommer's and is not defined by what Frommer's authors may have to say, of course. You can walk in the area without following the route presented in any guide.) I first wrote about the area and offered a walk there back in 2000, and was last there in October last year. There have certainly been many changes in the area, which has been given the kind of slightly destructive superficial tarting-up that suggests, as residents told me back in 2000, that it is likely, for now, to avoid mass destruction. It's certainly still worth walking around there. I'm trying to complete an update of my own notes on various walks, and have promised another poster here I'll try to do so before he travels in April, although I'm not sure of meeting that deadline.

I tried to visit the Spring Garden Hotel but (as at the Autumn Garden) couldn't get anyone to answer the door.

Subway Line 4 will open at some point this year, but is not yet complete.

Peter N-H

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I also look forward to your updates of walks in Beijing.

I saw a winter review of Spring Garden Hotel on Trip Advisor, so I doubt they've closed. Maybe you'll try to visit it again?

Thanks so much for your help.