Beijing Travel Answers

You don't say where you are flying from, so I don't know if you'll be suffering from jet lag, but if you're feeling well on the day of arrival I would do the Forbidden City and Tianenmen square then. My boyfriend and I went to the Forbidden City an hour before closing time (on a weekday) and I would recommend it to anyone. We did have to rush through, but, in all honesty, all the courtyard look a little alike anyway. The great advantage of being there late in the afternoon, is that most people will be gone! I have photographs of practically empty squares inside the Forbidden city! About the Tianenmen square, I hated it and didn't spend much time there. If you do the Forbidden City and the big square on Saturday, you could spend your Sunday exploring hutongs, seeing the Lama and Confucius temples and doing a tea ceremony across the Confucius temple. I would suggest you rent a bike for the entire day. Beijing is a very bike friendly city and the hutongs are best explored at your own pace. You could end the evening at the flashy and trendy Hou Hai lake (north of the Forbidden City) for food and drinks. If you have any more questions, feel free... Niekie

Thanks for the reply. We will be flying in from Newark, US so we will be pretty tired. What time does the forbidden city close on Saturdays. Also we are going to be going to the Great Wall on Monday at the Mutinayu (sp)location. Does it make sense to include the Summer Palace on the way home. We will be hiring a car or a taxi. Thanks. Also how long does it take to get to Mutinayu and the walking of this section of the wall (on average).

I think many people will need more then an hour in the Forbidden city. We got there around 10:30 and left at closing. I believe this is longer then most people spend. But one hour is too short (in my opinion). Many of the internal areas are closed before 1 hour before closing. If you only want to check it off your list of things to see in Beijing, then 1 hour is ok. Tianenmen square is a good place for people watching. We watch someone being arrested because he had a sign. Could not read the sign because the police had it. We did not spend too much time in the square.

I recommend the Temple of Heaven. Go to Tiantan Park (this is where the Temple of heaven is) in the early morning and you will see lots of people practicing Tai Chi. You could do this before visiting the Forbidden City, there should be enough time. For your Saturday afternoon visiting the hutongs is a good idea. You don't need a tour, you can just walk around by yourself. Late afternoon is a good time because a lot of locals will be selling food on the streets. Dazhalan area (south of Tiannemen square) is nice. Unfortunately they are destroying a lot of hutongs so I don't know if they will still be there in April! :-(

Of my four days in Beijing (which was way too short) I mostly enjoyed biking around the city and being part of "local life". I always make time for activities that allow me to experience the place, in stead of just being an observer looking at beautiful things. That is why I suggested that you don't spend an entire day in the Forbidden City and Tianenmen square. Just research your options, like you are doing now, and decide what you want to do when you get there.

Hello! Having flown in from Miami ourselves, we can certainly understand jetlag. The good thing to know is that you'll be going on pure adrenaline so, you should be allwright! We covered quite a bit of Beijing (although hurried) in just 3 days. This is what we did. Arrived late at night (10 pm) and went directly to hotel after meeting our driver/friend at the airport). Went directly to Mutianyu section of Great wall the following morning, early. Summer Palace in the afternoon. Wanfujing Food court in the evening. Following day, we did Tianemen Square, Forbidden City, Hutongs in the evenings. Day 3, we did Confuscious, Park, Silk market, Temple of Heaven (most of it was closed for rennovations at the time). Returned to Hutongs for dinner and Bihai park. Flew to Xian the following morning after that. The secret (we found) was a centrally located hotel from where we could walk to some of these points of interest. For us, it was SongHe hotel, within 15 minute comfortable walk to Forbidden City. Enjoy Beijing and China

Forbidden City will closed in 5 pm, so Saturday is not a good choice. after your check in and short rest, you can go to Hou Hai for a Hutong tour and find some delicious food.

As much as you can... are you going for quantity or quality?

In all honesty I would like to say quality but really a bit of both. One question, how do you arrange a Hutong tour? And can they be done at around 6 or so on a Saturday eve. Thanks.

Sat: Mutianyu Great Wall, check-in hotel, Qianhai/Houhai nightlife Sun: Panjiayuan market, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace Mon: sunrise flag-raising at Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Yonghegong Lamasery, dinner at Gui Jie (Ghost Street), Donghuamen night snacks market

Arranging a hutong tour couldn't be easier. Just go somewhere near the vicinity of some of the popular hutongs and the tour will find you. That is, you will be approached by vast numbers of rickshaw guys offering you a tour. They even have 'menu' catalogues to show you which particular points of interest you will see. We started our hutong tour at the Bell Tower but there were also loads of rickshaws just south of there by the bridge at the lake in the general area of Prince Gong's residence. It was good fun.

Pearl Market 'Hongqiao Market' is open until 7pm for sure, but I think the sign said 9pm.

You are going at one of the two best times to visit Beijing (April/May and Sept./Oct.). My wife and I have been to Beijing 21 times since 2000. I suggest checking as to whether all the renovations have been completed at the Summer Palace. Yes or no, you might be better off going to the Temple of Heaven, which is in the city and very interesting. And, it is very close to Hongqiao Market where you will want to go for your Pearls. When approaching the market, go to the left side of the front steps and take the elevator to the fourth floor. When you get off the elevator, turn left. pass the stores in that short hall and when you exit it look across the way for Sharon's Store. Ask for her and tell her that Barbara and Ben sent you. If she is not there tell any of the clerks. They will know us. On Sat. you should most certainly go to the Dirt Market (Panjiayuan Market). You will find thousands of people there and thousands of items. You will never forget that visit. And please, bargain, bargain, bargain. It is a way of life in China. Don't be afraid to make a very low offer ONLY AFTER the vendor gives you his price. Then when he/she says "You say", smile (big smile) and say "No.You say". Bargaining is a game. If both parties play it right, everyone ends up happy. Nobody sells at a loss. It's a shame that you only have a short time. When we take folks to China we spend seven to ten days in Beijing. Have a great time.

The renovations at Summer Palace are complete, I think. I was there just before May holiday week.

When I said "tell her Barbara & Ben sent you" I should have added "from Las Vegas"