Beijing

Miss Fluff

Off to Beijing in a few days with work. So excited I want to vom, anyone got any tips/recommendations?

Imposter

If you can organise it and you are not all that unfit go to see the great wall but go to Simatai or Jinshanling if you can (and not Bandaling). There are a lot less tourists and the wall is a lot more spectacular and natural. It's a bit farther to travel too but it's well worth it. A lot of groups run trips leaving early on a saturday or sunday morning from a lot of the bigger hotels.

The summer palace is also quite a nice trip if you have time.

If you go shopping in any of the markets, look to get the price down to about 10% of what they originally ask for.

Mitzy

The summer palace is fantastic. Definately spend a good afternoon there. You'll have to do the Great Wall also. Definately head to the markets. Bargain as hard as you can. You will pick up some serious bargains there - you will get fabulous bags for next to nothing!
So jealous of you heading off there. You'll have a ball!:D

Glowing

- make sure to try the Chinese Dumplings (known as Jaio Zi - pronounced Jow-zuh) - they're gorgeous! Usually pork and/or cabbage ....

- We went to the Beijing Silk Market - they sell a lot more than silk! Best place to get fake goods, souvineers etc, the designer copies are really good quality, you can get outdoor gear, shoes, rucksacks, suits, everything!
Make sure to BARGAIN! Don't spend any more than about 3 euro on teeshirts for example. They'll do their best to rip you off (we stand out a lot!) - but they expect you to offer one tenth of the asking price! I'm sure you'll find details in the guidebook - the silk market is right beside a metro stop, although can't remember which one.

- Don't be afraid to go to the local restaurants and cafes. - yep the ones with the plastic furniture and sticky floors! You'll get some great food here, but beware that if you order chicken, you'll get the ENTIRE chicken. The head, the feet, the intestines! You're best sticking with Pork. We ate that for the entire trip and had no problems. Might not be a bad idea to bring your own knife and fork too ... oh and if the menu is in Chinese, its perfectly acceptable to point to someone else's food and say "I want that!"

- Be prepared to be stared at a LOT!

-Scams - we stand out a lot as I said before. So we're vulnerable to scams etc. The chinese are generally friendly but you do have to be careful. If you're ever approached on the street or in a park by someone who has excellent english, just be wary. If they ask you to join them in a tea-house or to go to an 'art exhibition' or if they offer to write your name in Calligraphy, say NO. You'll be done for a lot of cash! The chinese are shy, and won't approach you unless they want something, its worth remembering. We were approached a couple of times in Shanghai, and they're very persuasive people.

Imposter

That last post reminded me of stuff:
- I found Yashow market to be better than the silk market. (they are both just a big multistory building with about 200 shops on each level)
- China market is also good - it's situated behind Tiananmen square.

At the airport your best bet is to only get a taxi which is yellow and one or 2 other colours. Most of the dark red ones are also legit as are some black ones but there are a lot of chancers who will charge you many multiples of what a normal taxi will charge you. In the city itself all the taxis are ok from what I could gather.

jackbhoy

Glowing wrote:

- Be prepared to be stared at a LOT!

True, one guy fell off his bike when staring at me crossing the road!!

As other poster said visit Great Wall if possible, tiananmen square is worth a visit too. Acrobat show is also good night out and try and find an authentic Peking Duck restaurant (ask local/concierege) we went to one in Hutongs and it was one of nicest (and cheapest meals) I've ever had.

Think Maos mausoleum is closed for few months but can pick up some really cool tacky souvenirs round there.

local metered cabs are extremely cheap but some of the drivin can be insane!!

Enjoy....

rivers

just a few tips - when you're strolling around tian'anmen, you may (most likely) be approached by students who'll start to chat with you. the usual stuff, where are you from, blah blah blah. after a while they'll tell you about their art exhibition and would you like to have a look. my advice is to pretend you dont speak english and just keep walking, i know it seems bad but after the 5th time you'll be p*ssed. The art they show you is the same or worse as anything in a 1000 markets around china. once you're in there, they'll try to pressure you inton buying something at high prices. they're never heavy handed or anything just guilt trippers...if not you'll waste alot of time.

i'd 2nd the tip about the great wall above. walk the 8km from Jinshaling to simatai, its amazing. hardly anybody there (especially at this time of year) except a couple of hawkers. its a tough walk but definitely worth it. you can organise a bus from most hostels (100 yuan) which will drive you to jinshaling and pick you up at simatai. it takes about 3 hours walk and an hour each way to downtown beijing.
definitely explore the hutongs scattered around the centre of beijing. they wont be there for much longer, and while there, eat lots of street food. you could rent a bike for this. there's a street called wangfu jing snack food street or something which is good for slightly overpriced street food - very touristy.

summer palace is great too, as was said above

do you mind me asking what work do you do that brings you to beijing?

tvr

going myself in June aswell for a couple of weeks , just wanted to know what the situation is on japs for yellow fever and the like, different books seem to have conflicting views?

Also whats the crack with people looking at you as described above surely this cant be true?

spurious

They stare a lot. I suppose it's like it must have been for mixed race people in Ireland in the 40s and 50s. God help you if you are very tall/large or have red hair. They usually don't point though, just stare.

BRM

I’m heading over that way at easter, in shanghai for most of the trip but ill be in Beijing for 3-4 nights.

Can anyone recommend a decent hotel that’s near the great wall?

I’ve heard there is a good Shangri La there but I’m not sure if its central enough, any decent hotel seems to be in the business districts.

I know the great wall is a bit out of the way so even a hotel that’s en route to it like the The Great Wall Sheraton.

The peninsula looks very central but it’s a little too steep in price even for just the few nights.

Imposter

The wall is not that far away. Badaling is actually quite near and one day is loads for it. I was at Simatai and it was a long day but a day none the less. We left about 6 in the morning and were back in the hotel about 9 iirc. Can't help with the hotels sorry, as I was there on business.

Miss Fluff

Thanks for all the advice, am here and am absolutely love it. People so amazing and working here is such a great insight into the culture. Everyone should make it their business to make a trip here imo:)