Tips for first trip to Beijing
 

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for some advice on the best area to stay in Beijing. I've travelled in Thailand, HK and Korea, but never been to Beijing before. I'm looking for an area in the heart of the action - night markets, shops and restaurants. We like to eat with the locals at relatively low cost restaurants rather than upscale places. I'd like a 3-star standard hotel that's safe and clean. Any ideas or other travel tips would be really welcome!

Wangfujing Area such as Park Plaza,Regent Hotel,Novotel Peace,Penisular.

The Bamboo Garden Hotel (www.bbgh.com.cn) is a classical Chinese courtyard-style structure in a quiet lane west of the Drum Tower in Beijing. Small hotel with beautiful bamboo gardens in a good location. Definitely safe & clean! It is adjacent to a hutong area, where you can rent a pedicab for a unique, cultural ride through a quickly disappearing part of Chinese history. I think it'll fit your desire to be close to night markets, shops, & local restaurants. We had a delightful hot pot dinner around the corner from the hotel where we were the only Americans. We seemed to be entertainment for the locals there as we did our best to order from the menu & figure out how to get the food out of the pot with our chop sticks. Fun! Also try an 18-dumpling dinner in China for a truly culinary delight. Good luck!

Hot pot meals are always great value and tasty. I like the individual ones so you caan cook what you like and eat in them often with my friend when working in China. Great for the figure too as very little is fattening!

I stayed at the Park Plaza and loved the location. I had considered a small garden type hotel but decided I wanted the comforts of a large hotel. Many of the beds in China are almost rock hard and I read the garden type hotels have them.

I found a great little dumpling restaurant nearby down a small street. The night market is about a 10-minute walk.

Monica ((F))

PS: Here's my China October 2008 journal: http://luvtotravel.homestead.com/ChinaJrnl2008.html, which may help in planning your trip.