You are so right, Peter! Do the important things first! We had a few days in Beijing at the start of last month. It was really hot, and we two old Aussies found we just didn't have the energy to see half the things I had researched. Your advice on local transport was great, though, and gave us the confidence to do it ourselves. We enjoyed everything we did, but only did half of what I would have liked to.

After climbing the hill in Jingshan Park, on a Monday, we entered the Forbidden City about 10am, no wait and minimal crowds for a short time, then we struck the hoards. We moved to the east side, and got well away from them for a lot of the time. Hardly anyone at the Clock Exhibition, and ate our picnic lunch in relative privacy in one of the side halls...

We took the bus from near the South Cathedral on the Sunday, to Mutianyu , expecting crowds, but it was an easy option in the heat for us. Took the chairlift and turned right at the top, definitely no hoards there, and spent a most enjoyable day. It was great meeting locals on public transport, as well as fellow travellers. ( As for Simitai, an article in the local paper whilst we were there suggested all the locals were being turfed out to make room for a big resort - oh dear!)

To the OP, I'm sure September weather will be kinder than July. Happy Travels!

Peter,

I absolutely agree on doing the important things first when possible. I read your first post as saying "don't plan, just go by the seat of your pants and run down the list of places that are important to you". I've been questioned many times before on the amount of planning/scheduling I do and I was simply trying to point out that I plan so that I can choose to ignore my plan if something comes up. I think we had the same basic idea going but I misread your post. One of the joys of just text (no voice or facial expressions) and of multi-tasking. :)

I generally try to lay things out so that I hit my top priority first and then see the other places in that area. The next day, I go to my next priority and see the other places in that area, etc. Sometimes that has to get changed due to hours that places are open, other things that have to be scheduled ahead of time, etc.