Planning day tours from Beijing..Include Eastern Qing tombs??
 

In the very brief planning I have done so far, I've read a few guideboks that seem to say that there is much more to see at the Qing tombs than at the more accessible Ming Tombs. Frommer"s says that the drive to the Qing tombs takes 3 hours from Beijing. Do the experienced Beijing travelers think that these are an essential part of a first visit to the city? Since I would be spending 6 hours in a car, is the drive itself interesting?

I plan to be in Beijing for 5 full days, plus part of my days of arrival and departure. I am considering booking Jane Yeo (or another guide, perhaps???) for 2 of these days. Forbidden City and Great Wall are obvious musts (which location of Great Wall...Mutianyu or Jinshanling?..see related post).
How shall I organize the two days with a guide...?? Summer Palace? Interesting off-the-beaten path neighborhoods better seen with someone who speaks Mandarin? I would like to be as detailed as possible before I finalize any arrangements with Jane Yeo. While I know it is easy to tour the Forbidden City on my own, I think I would like to use a guide in order to make some sense of what I am seeing and not have my nose buried, as usual, in a guidebook. And a good guide with a good command of English can provide some insights in to life in China that I would not get from being on my own the entire time. Not to mention taking me someplaces to eat that might not offer English menus.....

Please help me make the best use of two guided days (or one day and a half??) Many many thanks for all of the great help and insights so far......

Would also like to hear more about Jane Yeo, or other recommended guides....it seems that this will be a better idea (booking directly) than waiting to book a guide through the Peninsula.

I should say that I do not feel I have to see every last major sight in the city, just to check them off some mythical list...I usually enjoy walking around a foreign city and taking it all in, with lots of breaks for shopping and food. But the language barrier and the sheer size of the city, along with the fact that I will be alone, feels a little intimidating.

EK"

I've written three e-mails to Jane based on Trevel Girl 2's reco. No answer as yet and it's been nearly a month. We want to use her for pickup and drop off at airport, summer palace and Mutianyu section of GW....will do Forbidden City without guide...I remember enough from last visit.

We are planning to go to the venerable Family Li resto which has some great reviews, nost recently by my daughter's sisterinlaw..this will be our splurge lunch or dinner in BJ'ing. You're welcome to join us... we can do it any day or evening...March 30, 31, April 1st or 2nd(lunch only) Here's the link:

http://www.regenttour.com/chinaplann...bj-food-li.htm

Stu T.

EK:

Received e-mail from Family Li...they do not serve lunch..only dinner. Please let me know if you get answer from Jane Yeo.
Stu T.

ek - another alternative to a guidebook for the Forbidden City is the audio guide. A less visited place I would recommend is the Museum of Architecture, which is in the same complex as the altar to Xiannong, as far southwest of Tiananmen Square as the Temple of Heaven is to the southeast. There was only one other person there the day I visited, and I thought the museum was very good. Everyone goes to the Temple of Heaven, but there were other altars that the Emperor visited for scheduled festivals including this one, where he ploughed a symbolic furrow.

Thursday, I forgot about the audio guide! So maybe I will go to the FC on my own, and use Jane Yeo for a day and a half. Still would like more guidance on how to plan my time with her. Of course, I may not hear back from her after I write, as has been Stu's experience.

Stu, I did get a response the first time I wrote to her; she sent back a general, standard outline about a week or so after I had written. She asked me to be more specific as to how many persons were in my group (one); I want to write to her again now but thought I should develop some kind of general outline of what I want to do in order to get a price from her. I will let you know when I write to her and if and when I hear anything.

I will begin my trip in Seoul where I will be staying for a few days. I am planning to buy my China round trips in Seoul. Right now I am planning to arrive in China on the 2 April but that may change. Anyway, we can have lunch or dinner in Shanghai if we don't connect in Beijing. That would be fun.

Any other ideas on how to use a guide services in Beijing, other than trip to Wall? What about Qing tombs..perhaps too far away from the city to be practical this trip. (???)

I was also considering Guandixia,,but that's an all day excursion..Qing Tombs are quite a way out. Concentrating on inner-Beijing, the summer palace and the wall seems to be the most practical.
Stu T.

Did you get any response to Jane Yeo? I'll be in Beijing in July & am looking for a great guide...Beth

traffic can be awful in beijing. it can sometimes take 3 hours to get out of or across the city so be careful planning trips and hiring cars. if you are taking a car for the day get a price up front.

Thanks for all the help. I have just written to Jane Yeo to ask about booking for two days..will report back when I hear from her...

ek:

We finally booked a guide for Beijing, and have one for Xian, Guilin, and for Shanghai we're going to wing it but will do the half day walk with the Israeli kid who does the old ghetto and the restored synagogue.

For Beijing, we had very good responses from Konglin, at [email protected]
He sounds very knowledgeable and has been recommended on this forum by a few people. We are being picked up at airport on Mar. 29th..taken to Mutianyu and the Tombs, and the summer palace on March 31st...and back to the airport on April 3rd...we'll be doing everything else on our own, as most places I have seen on prior visit. Keep in touch please.

Stu T.

I hope konglin is reliable... someone (konglin?) has posted a few ads on this site about his services. Just a warning that all may not be as it seems. Did you check references?

Petite:

My son-in-law's very fussy sister used him a few months ago and graded him highly. We'll try him out and include comments in a report. He has been very responsive thus far.

Stu T.

Stu:

Thanks for the information. I did write to Jane Yeo a few days ago and as of yet, have heard nothing. So I think I will write to Konglin as well. Do you mind sharing the price for the day visiting the Wall, Summer Palace and Tombs? Airport pickup?

The Peninsula Palace package gives me a choice of airport pickup OR dinner for two at one of their restaurants. Since I am a single, I initially chose the pickup but am rethinking this as well. (I wonder if they will give me two dinners for one??!!!) Too bad the three of us are missing each other by a couple of days! What day are you doing the synagogue tour in Shanghai??

EK:

Please write me as I don't want to compromise the Beijing guide by posting here.

Stu T.

[email protected]

EK:
Well be in Shanghai from April 8-12. Pick any day for the tour.

Stu T.

Stu. Sorry I did not respond sooner; I have not "visited" this board in a few days.

It looks like I will be in Shanghai from the 9th to the 12th. I have not purchased the China air tickets yet; my cousin advised me to this once I arrive in Seoul.

I am saving your e-mail so will get in touch soon. By the way, have not heard back from Jane Yeo yet so will discuss other options with you. Thanks you for your very kind offer; I would love to join you on the synagogue tour.

Anyone else care to weigh in regarding a day trip to the Eastern Qing Tombs?

Guess the Eastern Qing Tombs are not high on anyone's list of side trips from Beijing!

EK...as I mentioned before, the last time I was in China ('84), we decided to forego the extra long ride (by bus) (on bad road then)out to the Eastern Qing's, when the assigned CITS guide mentioned a 7 hour round trip...I intend to pass it up this time, too.

Between the wall, sacred way, summer palace, FC, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, etc etcc..there is plenty to keep us going morning to night for 5 days.
Stu T.

I was thinking of going by taxi or car...does not seem as if anyone here has done this...it is highly recommended in Frommer's Beijing guide, which seems to have excellent information. Frommer's says they are not highly visited despite having much more to offer than the Ming tombs. The Fodor guide calls this "arguably the best full day excursion outside Beijing" (as compared to what, I don't know..)and says the drive takes 2-3 hours.

My own experience is that I do lots of research and asking around about optional side trips but once I arrive in a city I find there is so much to do that the side trips fall by the wayside, so to speak...

The Eyewitness guide to Beijing and Shanghai also recommends visiting these tombs.

Thanks...at least someone else has HEARD of them!
I thought it might be interesting, not only for the site but for the drive out into the countryside....

I would think the drive would be great. I still remember driving from Mutianyu to the Ming tombs on my first trip to Asia in 1997, and being absolutely fascinated by the countryside. Unfortunately, I don't remember any info in the Eyewitness Guide on how to get there.

My parents have been to all - Ming Tombs, Eastern Qing, Western Qing. They say Eastern Qing is definitely worth it.

EK...just my opinion, but you'll see plenty of countryside between BJ, Mutianyu, the Mings and Summer Palace.
And if anyone advertises a 6 hour roundtrip to the EasternQ's, figure on another hour with traffic and narrow roads.
While in Shanghai, add in one of the water towns and there will be a countryide trip for that.

We are adding a good dea of countryside in Guilin, where out guide is driving us to the Longshen rice terraces
..and going to the cave villages between Xian and the warriors.

Stu T.

Thanks, Stu...good to hear all the opinions. I am not planning on going to the Ming Tombs so thought I might add these....

I have to play it by ear, I guess!

I just realized I am leaving in less than 3 weeks!

EK...if you are ghoing to be seeing the GW at either Mutianyu or Badaling..you can just opt to see the Sacred Way and Avenue of the Animals at the Ming location...I was not too impressed with the tombs in '84 but I do want Roz to get the feel for Chinese reverence for their rulers in the past...
...consequently, I've asked Konglin just to stop at the Mings, either on the way to Mutianyu or on the return for the aforementioned purpose only.

Stu T.

We visited the Eastern Qing Tombs and the Sacred Walk on the way out of the tombs. I think it was combined with an afternoon at the Great Wall, so it didn't seem like that much of a detour to see both. I can't find my itinerary to verify. It was wonderful to see the countryside, and I think well worth a visit.

There was a vendor right in the middle of the Sacred Walk who was selling those beautiful carved window decorations. Strange place for sellers, but there were several along the walk.

It's kind of nice to get out of Beijing and the hussle and bussle for a day.

The Eastern Qing Tombs are about 70 miles due east of Central Beijing. It's not close to any of the popular areas of the Great Wall to visit. Badaling is NNW of Beijing, while Mutianyu is NNE.

Simatai and Jinshanling are NE of Beijing, but is still over 40 miles away from the Qing Tombs as the crow flies. No expressway, and the road distance is at least 50 miles by my estimate. 2 hours minimum.

They are not the same trip, unless one's visiting the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall in Tianjin.

For those visiting the Eastern Qing Tombs with a car and driver, they should stop at Jixian to visit Dule Temple. It has the one of the oldest wooden structures in China, housing a 50-feet tall Guanyin.

Rkkwan..thanks for the clarification. What is your opinion on the "best" place to see the Great Wall..Mutianyu or Jinshaling? I am not up for the hike to Simitai, I don't think. I read an article (I linked here) about the Jinshaling portion and how it uncluttered, etc....

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34905066

Sorry, I have only visited Badaling and Mutianyu as a kid. So, no personal opinion, except to say I like places in China with as few <b>local tourists</b> as possible.

I'm making my first trip to Asia in July, to China for a combination of business and sightseeing. Right now, we have hotel reservations in Beijing for ten nights and are really looking for the opportunity to spend two or three nights outside the city. We are considering taking the train to Xi'an, but are also wondering if there are worthwhile overnight destinations somewhat closer to Beijing, providing great scenery, decent accomodations and good food. We would plan on using a driver/guide.

Does anyone have a suggestion for me? Thanks!

One option is Red Capital Ranch, near an unrestored section of the Great Wall. Our stay in April 2005 included transportation to and from our Beijing Hotel.

http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn/ranch.html

CanadaKate

BobP55 - Chengde can be an overnight or 2-night trips from Beijing. It's about 4 hours by train, probably longer by road. Very interesting place. You don't need 10 days in Beijing.

Or go to Datong in Shangxi province to the west. Hanging Temple, Yungang Grottoes, Wutaishan, etc. 2-3 day trip.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into them.

rkkwan - I can't really tell from your posts. Do you currently live in China, or do your parents? How did you become so familiar with the area?

Bob

BobP55 - I live in Houston, TX. I grew up in Hong Kong and I've visited many parts of China years ago. Nowadays, my parents (who also live here in Houston) goes to Hong Kong and China 2-3 times a year (that's about 40-50 times since the early 80's), and I know a lot about their travel. I also follow the news over there quite closely. I don't really go to China much myself, but I do go to Hong Kong about once a year. Lots of family and friends there.

For many questions about China travel here, I ask my dad about it and post the answers.

Thanks rkkwan! Fortunately, besides the good advice from this forum, we'll also be visitng with business associates who live in Beijing and who have offered to help us with guides, tours, etc. Always good to gather several perspectives, though. The debate that's raging in our 4-person travel group right now is whether to take the 12 or 13-hour train ride to Xi'an.(leave in the evening and try to sleep) Some reviews say no visit to China is complete without seeing the terracotta warriors, but we're wondering if there will be enough other things to see to justify the effort.

Xian is the ancient capital of China, including during its two most influential and powerful dynasties - the West Han and West Tang. It's more than then just the Terracotta Warriors, and is worth a day or two of visit. You have 10 days - spend 2 or 3 of those in Xian.

The nightly &quot;Z&quot; direct train is very nice, but you can also fly. It's a non-stop train, so most won't get waken during stops. Or take the short flight if you worry about sleeping.

Ekscrunchy - We are definitely planning to make the trip to the Eastern Qing Tombs and the Great Wall at Huangyaguan during our trip in July so, if you decide to do it, please let me know what you think.

Does anyone know if there is a way around the problem of the tour guides stopping at silk and other factory stores, government buffet/restaurants, etc.? Is it possible/necessary to pay more in order to avoid it?