Tips for a last minute short trip to Beijing
 

We are two women travelling to Beijing for 3 days. We arrive at 11:30 am on Thurs and our flight leaves at 6:30 pm on Sat. We'll be coming from Hong Kong so jetlag is not an issue. We are staying at Grand Hyatt. It is my second visit (first one was in 2001!) and my partner's first one. Partner is an elderly 75 year old, so there is only so much we can do in one day. Here is what I am thinking:

Thurs:
- Take taxi to hotel, check-in and take taxi to Temple of heaven. Is there a great lunch place around there?
- Visit Pearl Market.
- Back to hotel and dinner at Made in China.

Fri:
- Private tour to Great Wall (Badaling or Mutianyu?), Ming Tombs and Summer Palace - is that too much? Can somebody recommend a good private taxi company? I have already emailed Kong Lin but perhaps he will not be available at such short notice?
Would love to have recommendations for dinner close by. Or perhaps I should keep Made in China for Friday and eat elsewhere on Thursday?

Sat:
Go to Forbidden City at 8:30 am. Visit Silk Market and Tian. Sq in afternoon. Leave for airport. What would be the best time to leave? Sat means lighter traffic?

Thanks so much for your input.

Topping because I have the same questions for November. Thanks!

I can't help very much as I'm not going until December but one of the things I would suggest would be if your partner has a folding cane (cane/folding seat combo) they might want to take it. That way they would have a seat available whenever they want one. This sort of thing: http://www.amazon.com/Folding-Seat-C.../dp/B000BZ8PM4

You might want to check the TripAdvisor Beijing forum. I love the Fodors forums, but there's not a lot of traffic on this board. Be warned with TripAdvisor as there is a bit more self promotion/advertising to weed through, but there is a lot of traffic on that board and you'll be more likely to get some help. I know that there are names of drivers and guides on there. Also, there's a website of advertisements for drivers on there. The-beijinger.com or some such.


Sorry I can't be any real help. Good luck and have fun!

> Private tour to Great Wall (Badaling or Mutianyu?), Ming Tombs and Summer Palace - is that too much?

I think that would make for a very full day - perhaps too full, particularly because it would normally involve a great deal of walking.

I would cut out the Ming Tombs, not a must-see site.