Thank you for the info in China Clipper. I will wait to book hotel until my trip gets closer. Better and more reasonable hotels were mentioned. Is it allowable to post 2 or 3 specific hotel suggestions? I would prefer something fairly upscale but also near the center of town, I think. Forbidden City, Tianemen Sq.,Wangfujing,etc.. Where would you stay?
Also, what are your opinions on taking the $1 (Sacaguea?) coins as gifts? I have also read that business cards are enjoyed.
While I am asking, could you also post hotel suggestions for Xi'an (1 night) and Shanghai (2 nights), please?
If you enjoy a cocktail at the end of a long day of touring would you mention any interesting or fun watering holes?
Thank you all so much. Rick.

Hi

My wife and I went to China in March this year...we went to Beijing, Xi'an and Hong Kong. I have posted a trip report with pictures on my homepage www.gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there

Have a great trip

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Gard, Visited your site earlier. I thought it was very well done and I learned a great deal from it. I enjoyed the pictures and background info.
What I'm actually looking for at this point is more of a, " we stayed at _____ for ____$ a night and it was ____ but within walking distance of ____ and ____".
I'll recheck your site. Thanks, Rick

Fairly upscale, center of town within walking distance of Forbidden City, Tiananmen, Wangfujing would be the Grand Hyatt Beijing. I don't stay in Beijing enough to know what a 'reasonable' amount is to pay for this property. As a matter of fact, I'm trying to get this info for myself.

The Hyatts in Xian and Shanghai are also reasonably well-located and upscale. I sound like an ad for Hyatt but it's true, aside from the St. Regis brand, they have some of the best properties in China. The Shanghai one is really a nice experience for 1st time visitors and is practically a dining/entertaiment complex. The lowest rate I've paid recently in Shanghai is $118 due to this particular hotel's general high occupancy.

P.S. - The Grand Hyatt Shanghai is located in Pudong near the Huangpu river (with great Bund views) and a quick one stop metro ride from Puxi, but it's not within walking distance to sightseeing, unless you consider shopping malls 'sightseeing'

Thank you, Patty. This was exactly what I was looking for. I just received an offer from Hyatt last week. A little pricey right now but we'll see. Thanks again, Rick.

We stayed at the Novotel in central Beijing last fall. Could walk to Forbidden City and Wanfujing Street. Very nice, large hotel with helpful staff. It was around $125 a night for a "business" special which included a delicious breakfast buffet. However, I saw a fantastic deal ($130)on the Internet for the Palace Hotel, which is right across the street from Novotel and is one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen. Very posh.

Beijing is awesome. Enjoy!

We're going to China in mid-October and booked an independent package through Pacific BesTours: 5 nights including breakfast (3 @ Palace Hotel in Beijing and 2 @ JC Mandarin in Shanghai), air from Beijing to Shanghai and hotel transfers for $650/pp. City tours are extra but this works out to $130/nt for what we have heard are terrific hotels, not even counting the internal flight and local assistance. Grand Hyatt in both cities is also available as an upgrade in this package for not much more ($847/pp) though we like the location of the other hotels better. In Hong Kong, I'd highly recommend the Marco Polo HK as we've stayed there twice in the last year and loved it. Great location near the Star Ferry, major shopping areas in Kowloon and Metro subway.

Hi Rick,
We travel to China every year, have been going for almost 30 years now. The St. Regis is the nicest hotel now in Beijing, I wouldn't stay anywhere else. The Palace is also nice, and we stayed there for many years until the St. Regis opened. The Palace just re did there inside also.
The St. Regis is located in the middle of all the Embassies and only about 2 blocks from the Silk Market, which is the greatest shopping outside of the Hong Quio Market (probably spelled it wrong)
They have a great pool and a great health club too. The food is very good, as good as your going to get in China.
It's not far from Tiannamen Square.
Hope I was a little help.

Rick
I live in Beijing and recommend the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza (near Wangfujing) for what you want in location or even better the holiday Inn Lido. (has a market across the street that is small, but all encompassing.) don't go to the Silk Market for shopping unless you want to identify yourself as a gullible tourist, be ripped off for crappy items and possibly pick pocketed. Do go to Hong Qiao market and Qi Lin Plaza.

Don't pay more for 130$.night in any BJ hotel.

Who are your gifts for?
The days of Chinese people wanting postage stamps or "things foreign" are long gone. They can get almost anything here. Business cards are used frequently, but aren't considered gifts or even a novelty.

Drinks: Sanlitun bar street caters to expats, Courtyard Restaurant has a cigar room overlooking the forbidden city/moat, Red Capital Club also has a cigar room/bar in a cultural revolution memorabilia environ.
Xian: Stay at the bell towerhotel. Cheap as it gets, 40$/night, but not posh.Very average/borderline backpakery, but Location wins on this one hands down. Especially when its only one night.

FYI, why try for too upscale? This is China!

The Holiday Inn Lido is NOT in the center of town. It's located in the northeastern part of the city heading toward the airport. The Crowne Plaza is very central, walkable to the Tiananmen, Wangfujing, etc. but I've never stayed there so can't comment on the facilities.