Beijing Travel Forum

I'm going to the olympics in August and i'm wondering what the weather is typically like in august in Beijing?

I have already post this question in Shanghai forum, I need as many advise/opinions!

I have signed up for a trip to Beijing/Inner Mongolia/Shanghai 2 months back. I will be going with my husband and 2 kids aged 8 and 11.
The thing is I keep reading of the deadly EV71 virus that are going around in China and it affects kids and have killed 20plus kids so far and I am so worried now. I have already paid a deposit of $2000 to the tour agency abd have to pay the rest in 10 days time. Do you think I should continue with the trip or should I cancel? I will be in a package tour,just the 4 of us with a guide.

I will only be in Beijing for 1 day, then off to Inner Mongolia for 4 days then 2 nights in Shanghai. What's the situation in China now? I will be calling the travel agency later to see what my options are...


Thanks
Faridah : )

Does anybody know an exact listing of shops at the new T3 at Beijing Airport. Answers like "normal duty free shops", "the usual airport stuff", etc. are not too helpful.
Thanks!

Hello All,

My original plan of having a family vacation with my two teens has changed. They have decided not to come to China with my husband and Me so now it will be just the two of us. I have pretty much decided to go to Beijing-Shanghai-Xian-Beijing in that order. I will have at least two weeks and might be able to stay 2.5 weeks if I really want to. I am planning on 6 nights in Beijing. How would you suggest to divide the rest of the time in the cities I have mentioned? Is 2 nights really enough to see and explore Xian? On travel days (overnight train) will we get into town with enough time to do anything or will it be too late in the afternoon to see anything worthwhile? You thoughts will be most welcomed.

Thanks, Donna

Can anyone recommend a good day tour leaving Beijing early in the morning, flying to Xian ( 2 hrs ) to see the Terracotta Warriors & back the same day ?

Can you catch a train into the city from the airport ( to Dong Cheng District ) or are cabs the way to go & how much should you pay ?

Paul M
p.mantella@comcater.com.au

Hello!
I am in Beijing at the moment, and I just came back from my first Silk Market trip. With this posting I would like to find some kind of guideline of the prices at the Silk Market, which I am sure is the most expensive one in Beijing. However, I do not really know any alternatives.
I paid for 2 Ed Hardy T-Shirts (ladies) 100 RMB, which I think is quiet reasonable (was also confirmed by another sales person not involved at all in the deal), however, I am sure it could have gone lower. Anyway, maybe we can get kind of summary of prices and places with good deals besides Silk Market.
Items of Interest: T-Shirts (Polo, Hilfiger, Ed Hardy), Mont Blanc pens, Bathing Shorts (Billabong, Quicksilver) - not available at the moment at Silk market, etc.

Appreciate your input. Thanks!

Hi
I am thinking about going to China in January next year. The best price I have is with Air China. I have heard stories about Air China, some good and some bad. I am flying from Sydney Australia to Beijing. Could someone tell me what they are like to fly with?
Thanks
John

Hi!

I'm going to Beijing soon and was wondering if anyone know about any good massage parlor with modest prices close to the Gulou Dajie where I'm staying. (If you know of any other good places in town you can also tell me).

And just to make it clear, we are talking about regular massage not anything weird.


Thanks!
/Johny

Hello,
we are travelling to Beijing the 30th May and staying for 10 days, planning 6 days in Beijing and maybe 2-3 days at the Shaolin Temple or to the countryside.

There are bunches of questions open that my own travel agency cannot answer to. So I do try with the forum and hope that there is someone that can help us.

1: 1st June is Children day, what special will happen in Beijing, what should I definitively not miss?

2. I am a photographer and I want to photograph as much as I can but at the right time and place. Any photographer out there that has some tips and maybe wanna meet to share a photosafari in Beijing?

3. An english speaking guide / translator that can help us. I would love to take pictures of a chinese wedding and visit the countryside. Which means, I will do need someone that can chinese.

4. What is most recomandable to visit outside of Beijing? There is so much, that I have to start cutting down to one or two trips outside of town. Less is better.

5. Last but not least...any virtual tourist member that wanna meet for a cup of tea?

Thank you in advance for any information you might give me.

Cornelia from Sweden

Hello!

Has anybody been to the beijing Zoo recently? How did you like it? Do you think it is a good experience for children?

Thank you in advance
Ulrike

Hello everyone!

I can not wait to visit Beijin in August for the Olympics.

I heard that summer in Beijing is extremely hot and humid. ;-(

Does eveyone know a youth-hostel which has an air-conditioner in each room?

I will be waiting for your help!

Best regards;

Hello Fellow VTer's

I am planning my first trip to China and am taking the family (husband, son-17 and daughter-14). We are planning on a trip of 10-14 days and have definitely decided on Beijing for at least 6 days. My question is-is that enough time to really see Beijing? Should we add or subtract time? We don't want to feel rushed. We love history and immersing ourselves in other cultures. If you had to suggest one other city for us to visit for the rest of our journey, which would you suggest and why?

Thanks for the input and I look forward to your answers, Donna

Dear travel community,

I will be arriving on May 2nd at Beijing for our first time China travel and I still have some open issues:

1) We are staying at the Days Inn Forbidden City Hotel, which is between the east side of Tiananmen Square and Fanwuying Shopping street (close to Qianmen bus station). Does anybody know which airport shuttle bus would be OK for us?

2) Most of the things we want to see, we can do without a personal guide (e.g. Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Parks, Temple of Heaven, etc.). But we are also interested in the hutongs. Does anybody know a good guide /travel agency to show us around in the hutongs?

3) I read somewhere that there are minibuses directly from the Qianmen Busstation to Mutianyu part of the Great Wall. Anybody has experience with that? Anyone knows the timetable of these minibuses?

4) Lateron we will be flying to Xian. I had a look at ctrip, elong and yoee and for the moment the biggest discount is only 20%, rating 900 Yuan. Will the price go down even more closer to the due date? I noticed that ctrip and elong have now an english site and apparently accept VISA payment from outside mainland China. Anyone recently bought flight tickets with these agencies.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Regards,
NicBBB

Hi, friends -

My wife and I are flying into Beijing on Wednesday. What's the best way to get from the airport to our hotel?

Does anybody know a driver we could arrange ahead of time, instead of relying on random taxis? What does it cost?

Thanks!

What would be required to use my laptop at any Hotel that offers the internet? Sorry for such a foolish question but I hate to bring it from Canada and not be able to use it. Thanks for any help

Just wondering if any one can help me find a guide for a few days for beijing. There are 5 of us arriving on Friday the 11th, and we'd love to have someone to show us the sights! Can anyone recommend an internet sight to meet one? We'll be doing the regular tourist stops...including a few days of shopping and recommendations on eating out at night....or perhaps we dont need one? what do you think?
thanks!!

With the new silk street up and running, i read alot about the excellent shopping
but does it have shoes and dvds there?
im going there in july, so im curious.

I need a Z train soft sleeper for 2 people, from Beijing to Xi'an on May 6th. I arrive in Beijing on Saturday morning, May 3. Will this be enough time to buy the soft sleeper for the Z train or should i suck it up and pay higher prices on the chinatripadvisor website? I also have to be on a train from Xi'an to Beijing on May 9th. Any help would be appreciated.

I wish to confirm if the underground city is still open now. I will be visiting in Sept and am interested to visit it.

My itinerary for the day (in sequence) is: (Sat) Panjiayuan market, Temple of Heaven & Imperial Sacrificial Altar, Hongqiao/ Pearl market + toy market (behind), Yonghegong Lamasery (Lama Temple) and Drum & bell tower.

1. Where should I fit in the underground city visit in my schedule? Is it before Lama Temple?
2. What is the min time one should allocation for this visit?
3. What do I get to the underground city via public transport from the previous location in my suggested itinerary?

If it is too much in a day, I am willing to cut the shopping/ markets.

Any input is appreciated.

Hello everybody,
I am currently in Beijing and would like to do some sight-seeing. Although taxis are quiet cheap, I am already annoyed of being stuck in the traffic most of the times, and it's always nice to save a couple of RMB. Since the bus system is almost impossible to understand (at least for me), I would like to do a little bit of sight-seeing by using the subway. But for this, I need your help. Maybe we can put together a list with some tourist sights or Olympic places ("Birdnest" Stadium, new Swimming Stadium) and which subway station is close to it.
Which is the closest subway station from the Lufthansa Center (Kempinski or Sheraton Hotel?). When are the "new" lines supposed to open.
Thanks everyone for their input!!!

Can somebody recommend me pregnant and baby shop please?
I am looking for some wholesale shop.
Thanks a lot for reply.

Hi Everyone.

I am going to Beijing in the middle of November with my Husband and 17 year old daughter (can't wait), and then to X'ian, Guangzhou (Canton), and then Hong Kong.

1) I have read that it gets cold there at that time of year can any advise me just how cold it may be.

2) My daughter was hoping to have her photo taking with a panda. Does anyone know if and where this is possible???

3) Some suggestions on the best places to eat the local food expecially Peeking Duck???

4) Where is the best place to shop Beijing, Guangzhou (Canton) or Hong Kong, we are interested in clothes for all ages, souvenires, and electronic gadgets ?

5) Also any other local attractions that are not listed in travel guides?

all your help will be much appreciated.

This summer I'm trying to decide where I'd like to travel next, and I've boiled it down to two options: China or India.
I left college to write and save some money to travel, so I'm planning on staying in either one for about a month and a half, before I enroll back in school. I figured I'd see what you guys had to say. I'm only 21, and I've decide to step up the travels this time around in a place where I don't speak the local language.
Here's the considerations I'm giving 'em:

1. I like cheap traveling, which is good because I don't have much money. I'm ok with hotels if they're relatively cheap, but I usually stay in hostels so I can meet folks easier. I'm worried the prices in Beijing may be too high when I get there, since I'll be there from around the very beginning of July to the middle of August. Does anyone know the price ranges going on over there now?

2. If I go to China, I'll probably just stay in Beijing. In India, I'd probably travel around. Don't know why-- just figure if it's Beijing, I'd like to get to know it well. My thoughts on this city are the language and the pollution. I figure I can get by with a very elementary grasp of China ('Hello!' and 'Where the hell am I right now?'), but I thought I'd double-check on the other, though it seems people who travel there enjoy it enough to overlook this one fault.

3. The culture. Really, I think I'd be equally happy in either area, so that's a mute point and about equal.

4. Possibly teaching English. Now, I don't speak Chinese, but I know others who have done freelance stuff with individuals wanting to practice English. It'd be great to get a little cash while there so I don't go broke, but I'm curious about working restrictions and actual availability of something of that nature.

My initial plan was to stay a few weeks in Beijing, then catch a plane out of China and spend a few more in India, yet I'm thinking that's gonna turn out to be more than I can afford. On the other hand, I don't really know the rates of the flights in China. In either case, I think it's basically these two options.
So, I'd like to hear all of your cases, whether for one or the other, based on what you know about the place specifically.

Thanks!

Hi All,

I am planning to visit Beijing for the first time ever. I have never been to China but I would like to spend one of my coming vacations there. My main interests are relaxing, SPA treatment, and shopping.

But I am a bit worried because I have never been to China but have heard a lot of stereotypes. So I would like to ask you guys some questions to help me decide on this visit, or cancel it.

I have 10 questions, you don't have to answer them all. Just answer the ones that you think you have the background for it.

1- Beijing is a large city. I don't want to book in a nice hotel from the internet then discover that it is away from all the attractions, and have to spend most of my time in transportation. What are the areas that you recommend me to live in? Are there any nice and luxurious hotels that you advice me to try?

2- Would an English speaker face a difficult time in Beijing? Will I be able to get around, talk to taxi drivers, bargain in shops, order food, and ask for directions in English?

3- I am interested in SPA treatment and pampering myself. Can you recommend a SPA or a resort?

4- Where can I find interesting electronics and products that would make great gifts?

5- Is food an issue? Are international fast food chain easy to spot and find?

6- Do you recommend a certain restaurant that I should not miss visiting?

7- Do you recommend a certain attraction that I should not miss visiting?

8- What about markets/mall? Which ones should I never miss?

9- Would you like to warn me about anything? Any places to avoid? Any habits to avoid? Any people to avoid?

10- Any other tips/suggestions?

Thanks guys.

VidER

Hi, can anyone give me some information on how and where to extend a tourist visa that is valid for 30 days (single entry). I need to extend it for another 30 days. How long does it take. How many days before the date of expiry do I need to go to do my application.
Short: Where (Beijing), When, How much, What do I need

Hello everyone,
I need advice about booking train tickets. I will be in China in April and want to book an overnight train from Beijing to Shanghai on the 10th, from Shanghai to Hangzhou on the 13th, and Huangshan to Shanghai on the 16th. I have heard that tickets sellout hours after they are put on sale. I'm not sure if this is truth or just a fear tactic employed by tour group.

Since I will be in Beijing only three days before I leave to Shanghai will I have enough time to purchase soft sleeper tickets or will they be sold out by then? Will I have to purchase tickets before I am even in China to ensure I catch these train (which I must)?

I looked up purchasing tickets on the CITS websight but they absolutely take advantage and charge over double what I would normally pay. They say to reserve tickets 25 days in advance. But I have heard that tickets don't go on sale until 10 days before departure and in other cases I heard they don't go on sale until 2 or 3 days. Which is true? Plus, I don't know the logistics about picking up the tickets if booked through CITS.

Does anyone know of an economical way to purchase train tickets online or through another agency?

If you think there is a good chance that there will be tickets when I get to China, I will wait.

Thanks for your help.

I'm here with a 1 year multiple entry visa, which allows me to stay here up to 90 days, but I want to stay longer than the 90 days and I don't want to have to leave China to get an additional 90 days. I would like to leave on or about 8/1/08. Is there anyone that has encountered this situation? Were you able to have days extended without leaving China? Please advise..

So i'm all set, i have everything i need for a great trip to China in May. However, when i'm on the beijing leg of my trip, i was hoping to rent a condo (for 2-3 days..), or someplace that will provide me with a kitchen and cooking utensils. (pots and pans, etc..) I will have italian withdrawals, if i dont cook up some pasta. haha. so if anyone knows of, or would like to recommend a place i could stay at in beijing (the more centrally located the better as this is a vacation) thanks for any help!

Hi,

Can somebody recomand me any Japonese restaurant witch serve “eat all you can” sushi buffet in Beijing,

Thanks in advance.

Hi Friends,

I am a researcher travelling to Beijing to attend a conference. I do not have much time. I would like some assistance from friends to guide me to local tourist spots.

jane