Visiting Beijing | ExpatWoman.com
 

Visiting Beijing

250
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 17:21

If you've been to Beijing is 3 days long enough? That's what our itinerary is at the moment. Also what's the best time of year to go? TIA

250
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 21:07
Thank you so much ladies for your advice, I knew I could rely on you. Am really looking forward to going. Just need to book the flights now!
687
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 15:40
Oh Gosh. If you like markets, you need to visit the Ghost (Jinsong) Market while you're there. Has anyone mentioned this???? Lots of ancient art and crafts, statues, carvings etc. But beware of fakes in amongst them. All fascinating, none-the-less. But only open on weekends I think. There is also the Pearl Market where you can get pearl jewellery very cheap. They will even make up strands to your specifications while you wait and wander the other shops in the complex. Enjoy your holiday!
390
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 January 2011 - 22:06
We went at the end of September when the weather was sunny one day, then pouring rain the next, but really didn't mind! We stayed at the Park Plaza and got a great deal through Expedia uk, got the club floor level which was buffet breakfast, then free drinks and food in the evening inc booze in the club lounge. Hotel was a 10 minute walk to Forbidden city, main shopping district. Advice would be, traffic is a nightmare so be prepared to walk alot, underground tube is good, taxi's are good to use from hotel, but a nightmare to find when you are out. We did some days on our own seeing the sights and some days doing tours through the hotel and I would say with the limited time you have it is best to book through the hotel so you get to see 3 tourist places in a day. Take walking shoes! Great Wall was amazing, Bei Hai Park was amazing, Forbidden city good, Tinnaman Square was boring putting aside the whole political aspect to it. :)
160
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 January 2011 - 21:10
Just had a thought before you change dates.... why not call in at the China Consulate which is located about three/four blocks behind Spinney's Umm Seqieum. They will probably have the official chinese govt. holiday calendar & hopefully answer any queries you have regarding your visit. All the best and do hope you enjoy your visit once you get there. <em>edited by KCQ on 22/01/2011</em>
250
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 January 2011 - 21:02
Thank you for all this info, much appreciated, especially about checking public holidays. I've just looked them up and the Tibet Liberation Day is on 23 May when we were planning to go! I'll have to choose dates again!
160
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 January 2011 - 08:35
HI...we lived in China....Beijing is a walking city to a point. The areas you hope to visit are not exactly child friendly i.e. The Great Wall (suggest you organise a babysitter that day), Tiannamen Square, Forbidden City etc., are ok w/stroller first thing in the morning, they tend to get very busy in the afternoons and evenings. Always check local holidays calendar before making plans. Sometimes w/not much notice, both areas are closed or sealed off to the public for whatever reason. As for Shanghai, again, some areas are great and child friendly others not so much i.e. very crowded and very spread out. Nevertheless, both worth a visit as are many of the areas in China. May is a lovely time to visit and perhaps round off your trip w/a visit to Hanan for pure R&R. Have a lovely time.
613
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 January 2011 - 08:16
Hi Keno I am not sure if your kids can cooperate and walk for many hours. All the places, you go out in the morning and return back late in the evening, In the Forbidden city we walked for more than 6 hours between the city's gardens and inside the city, the distances inside the forbidden city itself is huge. The same for Summer Palace but this is not inside the city so we went by train and reached in one hour, maybe you will finish it in 3-4 hours but the place has amazing views and maybe you would want to spend more time there rounding. As for the Great Wall, well that's for sure not a place for 4yrs and 18month old. First the wall is not inside Beijing so you have to rent one of the tourist guide's car and they will come early morning to pick you up from the hotel, if I remember crearly there are 4 ways to enter the Great Wall (each in a different side of the country), anyway the best one where you can get the best views of the wall, it took us more than 2 hours to reach (driving by car), then the wall itself!! You won't imagine how big it is, and to walk from a wall to another takes significant time and while walking on the wall you will be going on your way down so to return to the main entrance you will have to come back in the same way which means almost climibing!! I returned that day from the Wall too much tired and the next day I didnt go anywhere. 4 days are enough for Bejing but with kids, I doubt..
27
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 20:20
How easy are Shanghai and Beijing to do if you have kids (an almost 4 yo and a very energetic 18mth old)? And would 4 days still be long enough in Beijing with them in tow (probably wouldn't be doing any shopping) so would just be doing the major sites. TIA
613
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 20:10
We went in October, 7 days Shanghai and 7 days Beijing. It was one of the best vacations :) Make sure that you take comfortable cloth and shoes. Summer Palace is one of the most beautiful places that I visited in Beijing and I would give it 5 stars make sure you go there. As for the Great Wall, when I was there I just couldn't believe that I am in the real world standing there.. just amazing!! One tip when it comes to shopping, if they tell you 400 as a price for something tell them 50 and don't feel embarrassed, the sales lady might tell you "are you crazy? I will not give you this for 50" but the minute you intend to leave, she will call you and tell you ok take it :) Coffeeshops and Restaurants: they have starbucks in every corner and I ate most of the time there in Italian Restaurants inside 5 stars hotel only and mostly vegeterian food.. Dont go during their Winter time, I have friends who went there and didn't enjoy because it was freezing!!
250
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 19:46
Sorry to sound dim what months is their Spring?
147
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 18:21
Spring is very nice time to go. DH is there at the moment, -7 degrees :\:
250
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 18:17
Thank you that's much appreciated. I was thinking of late May. I've got lots of research to do!
484
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 17:44
3 days may be tight but 4 days is just right. Depends on your interests; may be one day in the Forbidden City, one day to tour the Great Wall of China at Badaling and one day for the other palaces and temples like the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Museum etc and 4th day shopping! Or just do sightsee in the mornings and leave the afternoons for shopping. I don't advice going during the winter (Nov to Feb...it's just cold and dreary :-( ) and definitely don't go during Chinese New Year or National day/Golden Week!
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY