Beijing Summer Palace by Boat
Jan 30th, 2010, 08:33 PM
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Beijing Summer Palace by Boat
Have read about the tourist boat trip in summer only, to the Summer Palace.
Has anyone done this, please? How does one find it? Some guide books say the boat goes from behind the Zoo, others, from behind the Exhibition Center. Some say a ticket to the zoo is included ( which I do not require), others say a ticket to the Summer Palace is included.
We'll be staying near Tiananmen Square - don't think there's a Metro to either Zoo or Exhibition Center.
Am also wondering if it may be easier to go to the Summer Palace by Metro to BeiGongMen, and come back by boat. In June, I think a boat trip sounds a good way to travel. Xiexie!
Has anyone done this, please? How does one find it? Some guide books say the boat goes from behind the Zoo, others, from behind the Exhibition Center. Some say a ticket to the zoo is included ( which I do not require), others say a ticket to the Summer Palace is included.
We'll be staying near Tiananmen Square - don't think there's a Metro to either Zoo or Exhibition Center.
Am also wondering if it may be easier to go to the Summer Palace by Metro to BeiGongMen, and come back by boat. In June, I think a boat trip sounds a good way to travel. Xiexie!
Jan 30th, 2010, 11:26 PM
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> Has anyone done this, please?
Oh yes.
> How does one find it? Some guide books say the boat goes from behind the Zoo, others, from behind the Exhibition Center.
Both are true. But the usual boarding point is behind the Exhibition Centre at the top of a road that runs between the Exhibition Centre and the Zoo.
You can also board a more southerly route in Bayi Hu.
> Some say a ticket to the zoo is included ( which I do not require)
Er, no. But if you passed through the zoo to get to the dock (which you do not need to do) you would have to buy a zoo ticket.
> others say a ticket to the Summer Palace is included.
No. The boat ticket is the boat ticket and the palace ticket is the palace ticket. Some tour companies may perhaps be offering a package.
> We'll be staying near Tiananmen Square - don't think there's a Metro to either Zoo or Exhibition Center.
Er... The Exhibition Centre is just west of Xi Zhi Men Station (lines 2, 4, and 13) and just east of Beijing Zoo Station (line 2).
> Am also wondering if it may be easier to go to the Summer Palace by Metro to BeiGongMen, and come back by boat.
A good plan.
> In June, I think a boat trip sounds a good way to travel.
Entirely agree.
Peter N-H
Oh yes.
> How does one find it? Some guide books say the boat goes from behind the Zoo, others, from behind the Exhibition Center.
Both are true. But the usual boarding point is behind the Exhibition Centre at the top of a road that runs between the Exhibition Centre and the Zoo.
You can also board a more southerly route in Bayi Hu.
> Some say a ticket to the zoo is included ( which I do not require)
Er, no. But if you passed through the zoo to get to the dock (which you do not need to do) you would have to buy a zoo ticket.
> others say a ticket to the Summer Palace is included.
No. The boat ticket is the boat ticket and the palace ticket is the palace ticket. Some tour companies may perhaps be offering a package.
> We'll be staying near Tiananmen Square - don't think there's a Metro to either Zoo or Exhibition Center.
Er... The Exhibition Centre is just west of Xi Zhi Men Station (lines 2, 4, and 13) and just east of Beijing Zoo Station (line 2).
> Am also wondering if it may be easier to go to the Summer Palace by Metro to BeiGongMen, and come back by boat.
A good plan.
> In June, I think a boat trip sounds a good way to travel.
Entirely agree.
Peter N-H
Jan 31st, 2010, 11:22 PM
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Thank you, Peter. Since I started my research for our travels in Beijing and Shanghai , I have read a lot of your posts, and seen your quotes in Fodors books too. You are indeed a wonderful source of information - so, again, thank you. May I now ask for more advice, please?
We are arriving in Beijing from Australia quite late at night, 10.30pm, and leaving for Europe even later. Am I correct, that we can get a #3 bus from the airport to Beijing Station, from where we'll catch a taxi to Dongjiaoming Xiang, and the same in reverse?
By Metro, Wangfujing is the closest station to our hotel, but we'd have to change twice from the airport, once at Dongzhimen and once at Jianguomen. Perhaps the Metro to Dongzhimen, and a taxi from there may be better than the bus?
Many posts say "get a taxi from the airport", but we like using public transport where possible.
Best wishes and thanks.
We are arriving in Beijing from Australia quite late at night, 10.30pm, and leaving for Europe even later. Am I correct, that we can get a #3 bus from the airport to Beijing Station, from where we'll catch a taxi to Dongjiaoming Xiang, and the same in reverse?
By Metro, Wangfujing is the closest station to our hotel, but we'd have to change twice from the airport, once at Dongzhimen and once at Jianguomen. Perhaps the Metro to Dongzhimen, and a taxi from there may be better than the bus?
Many posts say "get a taxi from the airport", but we like using public transport where possible.
Best wishes and thanks.
Feb 1st, 2010, 02:02 PM
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Unless you're counting every single penny, then if 'we' means two people, that's ¥32 in bus fares and probably ¥11 in taxi fares (with possibly a driver who is irritated to go such a very short distance--the east end of Dong Jiao Min Xiang is less than five mins walk).Taking a taxi from the terminal including toll would likely be under ¥120 door-to-door including toll and pretty quick at that time of night.
Have to question whether Wangfu Jing can possibly be the closest metro to Dong Jiao Min Xiang. Either Chongwen Men (east end) or Qian Men (west end) would have to be closer to any address in that street than Wangfu Jing. Both of those are line 2, requiring only a single change of metro, although by the time you reach the Dong Zhi Men interchange line 2 might well have stopped running. The last clockwise train leaves shortly after 11pm. That's ¥54 in fares (for two) plus a walk.
If you're not into taxis all the way, then the Airport Express to Dong Zhi Men then taxi is perfect. But the last Airport Express from T2 is 23.10, and from T3 is 22.51. Unless your flight is early you're probably only going to use the metro system on the way back.
At an increased cost for direct taxi over the bus and taxi option of only US$6 per person I know which solution I'd be choosing after a long flight.
NB: No bargaining. No going with anyone who comes up to you in the arrivals lounge. Head straight to the taxi queue. The meter is started, the rate after 11pm is ¥11 inc. 3km, ¥2 per km thereafter, going up to ¥3 per km after 15km, plus 20% per km night surcharge, plus ¥1 fuel surcharge, plus ¥10 Airport Expressway toll. But what that boils down to is pay what's on the meter, plus ¥10 tolls, plus ¥1 fuel surcharge. Say 'fa piao' to get a receipt, mainly just in case you forget anything. No tipping.
Peter N-H
Have to question whether Wangfu Jing can possibly be the closest metro to Dong Jiao Min Xiang. Either Chongwen Men (east end) or Qian Men (west end) would have to be closer to any address in that street than Wangfu Jing. Both of those are line 2, requiring only a single change of metro, although by the time you reach the Dong Zhi Men interchange line 2 might well have stopped running. The last clockwise train leaves shortly after 11pm. That's ¥54 in fares (for two) plus a walk.
If you're not into taxis all the way, then the Airport Express to Dong Zhi Men then taxi is perfect. But the last Airport Express from T2 is 23.10, and from T3 is 22.51. Unless your flight is early you're probably only going to use the metro system on the way back.
At an increased cost for direct taxi over the bus and taxi option of only US$6 per person I know which solution I'd be choosing after a long flight.
NB: No bargaining. No going with anyone who comes up to you in the arrivals lounge. Head straight to the taxi queue. The meter is started, the rate after 11pm is ¥11 inc. 3km, ¥2 per km thereafter, going up to ¥3 per km after 15km, plus 20% per km night surcharge, plus ¥1 fuel surcharge, plus ¥10 Airport Expressway toll. But what that boils down to is pay what's on the meter, plus ¥10 tolls, plus ¥1 fuel surcharge. Say 'fa piao' to get a receipt, mainly just in case you forget anything. No tipping.
Peter N-H
Feb 1st, 2010, 07:18 PM
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Great detailed information - thank you. I'm convinced, Peter, rhkkmk and NoFlyZone - this time it will be a taxi.
The information about the nearest Metro came from the website of the hotel (Dong Jiao Ming) which seems to be more at the western end of the lane, so Qian Men does look closer, as you say, Peter. Anyway, we can investigate that the next day.
As for forgetting things in taxis - I've done that - once left a camera with precious unreplaceable photos in a cab in Bangkok. Do wish I'd got a receipt there! Rhkkmk, I enjoyed your Utah photos - it's a great place to travel, we've been back there at least four times, and had a big adventure getting caught in a snowstorm leaving Zion on Route 13 to Cedar City. This was in April, year before last.
The information about the nearest Metro came from the website of the hotel (Dong Jiao Ming) which seems to be more at the western end of the lane, so Qian Men does look closer, as you say, Peter. Anyway, we can investigate that the next day.
As for forgetting things in taxis - I've done that - once left a camera with precious unreplaceable photos in a cab in Bangkok. Do wish I'd got a receipt there! Rhkkmk, I enjoyed your Utah photos - it's a great place to travel, we've been back there at least four times, and had a big adventure getting caught in a snowstorm leaving Zion on Route 13 to Cedar City. This was in April, year before last.
