Beijing Travel Forum

Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Tue December 12, 2006 06:26 PM UTC

I am asking a bad question that is too general that has been asked too much. But....how is travel to China (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Xian, etc) late April to early May?

Also...how far along is the renovation of the Forbidden City? Last time I was there....it was covered with scaffolds. Like to see more without the distractions.

Thanks.

10 replies

[Reply]

RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Tue December 12, 2006 07:24 PM UTC

If you can, you definitely want to avoid May 1 holiday that lasts for a week.

Forbidden City still has a fair amount of scaffolding last I was there in May 2006.

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raraavis

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Tue December 12, 2006 08:28 PM UTC

How does the May 1st holiday (which one is it) compared to National Day? I visited once during the Fall's National Day.

Thanks.

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[Reply]

RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Tue December 12, 2006 09:21 PM UTC

<How does the May 1st holiday (which one is it) compared to National Day?>

Comparable.

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raraavis

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RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Wed December 13, 2006 05:15 PM UTC

Avoid the 1st week of May at all costs, the travel conditions are similar to the 1st week of October, which you've already experienced.

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ellyse

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Thu December 14, 2006 04:45 PM UTC

Would it still be pretty brutal travel conditions in Suzhou/Shanghai/Wuxi?

Also....I was reading elsewhere that the Forbidden City is under repairs until 2020. So...anyone have information on what state the rennovations are at? Are the major building walls still covered with scaffolds and covers at this time and for late April?

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Thu December 14, 2006 05:35 PM UTC

The Forbidden City is ALWAYS under reconstruction. The place is big, when they finish with one part it's time to start on another already.
What do you mean by "pretty brutal travel conditions"?

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ellyse

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Thu December 14, 2006 06:05 PM UTC

The 'pretty brutal travel conditions' referred to the May 1st labor day.

I can understand that Beijing might be flooded with domestic travelers visting the standard sites and creating long lines into Forbidden City and all. But with May 1st, what happens to the other locations like Suzhou, Shanghai, etc?

Yes...Forbidden City is always under repairs. I am interested in knowning whether the current repairs are where it totally obscure viewing the buildings and other sights.

Thanks.

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Thu December 14, 2006 06:19 PM UTC

<<other locations like Suzhou, Shanghai, etc?>>

These are major tourist destinations as well.

When I was in the Forbidden City last May, major scaffolding around the main palaces. Hopefully things have changed a bit since.

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raraavis

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Fri December 15, 2006 01:08 AM UTC

All the places you've named will be flooded with tourists as well. Basically anywhere you could find in an English-language guidebook will be!
Another traveller told me last night that the Forbidden City had 2 palaces under scaffolding (totally obscured) when he was there, can't have been very long ago.

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ellyse

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RE: RE: Late April Early May travel?
Posted: Fri January 26, 2007 04:42 AM UTC

Another related question. When are the dust storms that I hear that pass through Beijing?

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