China – Beijing

Beijing, China by Gautam Khattak

Last updated: February 18, 2013

Disclaimer: These are notes I’ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.

General Tips

Currency: The currency in China is the RMB (or Chinese Yuan, CNY).

Conversion Tool: https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS341&q=100USD+to+RMB&btnG=Google+Search&safe=active (Update for current rates)

$100 USD = 631.74 RMB

$1 USD = 6.32 RMB

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=100&From=HKD&To=USD

100 RMB = $15.83 USD

1 RMB = $0.16 USD

Tipping:

No need to tip

Be wary of “friendly” locals near Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. One scam is that he/she want to practice his/her English with you. Eventually, he/she may invite you for a drink – tea, coffee, alcohol – at a nearby place. Unknowingly to you, the person and shop owner are working together on the scam. After several drinks, you will receive a bill for an outrageously high amount and have no choice but to pay (Same holds true for Shanghai).

Another scam, particularly popular with taxi drivers, is note switching. How it works is that when you pay your fare, the taxi driver will claim your note is counterfeit and give it back to you. However, without you watching him since you are in the backseat, he has pocketed your legit note and swapped it for a counterfeit one. In turn, you end up giving him another note until the fare is settled. This may continue several times until he is satisfied.

Transportation

An airport express train is available from Dongzhimen station, where you can interconnect to the subway network. The subway is very easy to navigate and covers most of the city. Public buses are available. The city is quite spread out so walking is limited to within districts. Cycling seems okay since most sites of interest are concentrated around the Forbidden City. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive but traffic can be bad.

In China, if you use a taxi, make sure that the drivers turn the meter on. This doesn’t seem to be a problem in Beijing but just be weary of it. If you don’t, they may charge you their own prices. Also, carry small denomination bills, because you may be handed fake money if you try to get change.

Tourist Destinations

Tiananmen Square – The world’s largest public square. Not much to do but people-watch. Be careful of scams.

o Subway: Tiananmen Xi, Tiananmen Dong, Qianmen

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

o 8:30a-11:30a, admission free

o Subway: Tiananmen Xi, Tiananmen Dong, Qianmen

Gate of Heavenly Peace – This is the building with Mao’s portrait hanging on the front. It is also the lead into the south entrance of the Forbidden City and has a great view of Tiananmen Square.

o 8:30a-4:30p, admission ¥15

o Subway: Tiananmen Xi, Tiananmen Dong

Forbidden City (Zi3jin4 Cheng2)

o 8:30a-4p, admission ¥40 or ¥60

o Subway: Tiananmen Xi, Tiananmen Dong

Impressively large but also feels quite empty because there are few decorations or gardens. I recommend a tour or audio guide to learn the history; otherwise you might be disappointed.

Workers Cultural Palace (Lao2dong4 Ren2min2 Wen2hua4 Gong1) – Emperor’s temple just outside of the Forbidden City

o 6:30a-7:30p, admission ¥2

o Subway: Tiananmen Dong

Jingshan Park (Jing3shan1 Gong1yuan2)

o 6a-9:30p, admission ¥2

o Subway: Tiananmen Xi, then bus 5

Great view of the Forbidden City. Highly recommended if it is a clear day.

Drum Tower & Drum Bell (Gu3lou2)

o 9a-4:30p, admission ¥20

o Bus: 5, 58, or 107 to Gulou stop

Views of the Caochang Hutong rooftops.

Hutongs (Hu2tong4) – These are the old walled neighborhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyards that used to be common in Beijing. There are several to visit, the Caochang Hutong, which is a 5-10min drive north of the Forbidden City. It’s an interesting way to see the traditional way of life and the atmosphere feels worlds away from the city.

GK Edtiorial: I don’t know if I did the Caochang one. ours was 180RMB and was located @ 58 Zhonglouwan, East District

Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong ) (Yong1he2 Gong1) – Renowned Tibetan temple

o 9a-4p, admission ¥25, audioguide ¥20

o Subway: Yonghegong

o www.yonghegong.cn

Summer Palace (Yi2he2 Yuan2) – Very large and impressive royal palace overlooking Kunming Lake. I recommend a tour or audio guide to learn the history

o 8:30a-5p, admission ¥30 or ¥50, audio guide ¥30

o Subway: Beigongmen, Xiyuan

The Great Wall (Mutianyu): Mu4tian2yu4

o 6:30a-6p, admission ¥35 (cable car, 8:30a-4:30p, ¥50)

o Dong1zhi2men2 bus station (Chang2tu2 Qi4che1zhan4)

Bus 916 or 980 to Huai2rou2 (¥8), then minibus (¥25)
Travel time 100mins

The Mutianyu section is less touristy and a nicely restored part of the Great Wall known for its guard towers. Hiking along the wall can be strenuous since the area is very hilly. Take a chair lift up (like skiing) and then there is a toboggan ride to descend from the wall which is fun.

The Great Wall: Si1ma3tai2 – Rugged part of the Great Wall with steep ascents that require climbing.

o 8a-5p, admission ¥30

o Dong1zhi2men2 bus station (Chang2tu2 Qi4che1zhan4)

Bus 980 to Mi4yun2 (¥10), then minibus or taxi (¥120)
Minibus to Mi4yun2 (¥10) – 75mins, then minibus or taxi (¥120)

Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) & Aquatics Center (Water Cube) – Used for the 2008 Summer Olympics, they are now open to the public for tours.

o Subway: Olympic Sports Center, Olympic Green

GK Editorial: We didn’t actually go to them but just stopped on the highway nearby to get a view of them. Might be worth checking out if you are into building architecture.

798 Art District – Located near the airport. 798 has dozens of art galleries all in one large area. Can spend several hours here (if you like art!) Check out Plastered8 for cool t-shirts

CCTV Headquarters – Cool building architecture in the CBD. Not sure if you can take a tour inside.

Lodging

The Orchid – http://www.theorchidbeijing.com/

GK Editorial: Friend stayed here and highly recommends it . Great location, traditional courtyard building but modern inside with good heating. Also has a good dumpling place (Mr Shi’s) over the road which is great for a hangover.

Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing (GK – I stayed here)

7 Jinbao St Dongcheng Dist.
4 stars
$121 / night
Has bar, restaurant, coffee shop, car service

Holiday Inn Express Beijing Wangjing.

No.6 building, No. 6 yard,
Fu Tong East Street, Wangjing,
Chaoyang District,
100102 Beijing, PR China
+86 10 5926 9688

Crowne Plaza Wangfujing

48 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing,
4.5 stars
$140 / night
Has bar, restaurant, coffee shop, car service

Hotel Kapok

16 Donghuamen Street, Beijing
4*
$135 / night
Has bar, restaurant

Grand Hotel Beijing

No 35 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing,
5 stars (this is debatable)
$168 / night
Has bar, restaurant, car service

Red Wall Garden

No.41 Shijia Hutong Dongcheng District
3.5 stars
$138 / night
Has bar, restaurant, car service, free breakfast, in-room refrigerators

Dining & Nightlife

Wangfujing Snack Street – Right near downtown’s shopping area this food market has some good dumplings and some other ‘interesting’ treats (bugs, scorpions, snakes on sticks)

o Subway: Wangfujing

Donghuamen Night Market – Street food market geared for tourists rather than locals, which means higher prices.

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant – When in Beijing, you must have Peking duck. This place is famous with tourists but maybe not necessarily with foodies. Prices are reasonable. The duck is good but not necessarily the best. You can book a private, nicer table in a more formal room or a simple table in essentially a large dining hall.

Dong Lai Shun – Decent Hot Pot Chain

Da Zhai Men – This place does this show during dinner. Fairly corny from what I’m told and be prepared to listen to that high pitched screechy Beijing opera singing, but the customer in the pot is fun! Sit near the front.

Nightlife is low-key, less pretentious, and less expensive than Shanghai or Hong Kong. There are the usual variety of places – bars, clubs, and cafes. I didn’t really go out much so the following locations are from a friend’s synopsis:

Xiu – Upscale rooftop restaurant/bar in the CBD with different themed areas, small dance floor, and outdoor patio. Music is loud but there are quieter sections to talk.

o Subway: Guomao

Mix – Nightclub near the Beijing Workers’ Stadium. The crowd is both locals and foreigners while the music is mostly hip-hop or top 40 pop. There are several dance floors and lounge areas. Mixed drinks were ~¥50.

Sanlitun Bar Street – Area in the Chaoyang District with lots of bars. Down some of the smaller streets near the high-end shopping mall, there are decent bars/clubs where you can get ¥10 beers. The nightclub area is a 5min taxi ride away.

Houhai Beiyan/Nanyan – Area around Houhai Lake with lots of bars and cafes. Didn’t come here at night but seems like a chill spot to relax.

Tour Guide Info

Tours By Lee – (GK Editorial: She was awesome, prices should be the same as with Catherine)

http://angelleetourinchina.blogspot.com

Phone numbers: 1352277915, 13120442661, 18600297591

(angellee1979@gmail.com, angellee1005 @hotmail.com, angelleexin@yahoo.com)

Tours By Catherine Lu (catherine_1130@hotmail.com):

(GK Editorial: We attempted Catherine but was actually busy so we went with her friend Lee (above))

Cost:

600 CNY ($96) per day for tour guide (8 to 9 hours) w/o entrance into sites
700 CNY (113 US dollars)/day for renting a car and driver around the city
900 CNY (145 US dollars)/day for renting a car and driver to the wall (Mutianyu section).
Total: 2,800 CNY ($405)
Reviews from TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294212-d1799850-Reviews-Beijing_Private_Guide_Catherine_Lu-Beijing.html

Tours By Jessie (toursbyjessie@gmail.com):

Cost:

500 RMB ($79) per day for tour guide w/o entrance into sites
800 RMB ($127) per day (about 8 hours) for renting a car and driver on the day to the great wall
700 RMB ($111) per day(about 8 hours) for renting a car and driver in the city.
Total: 2,500 RMB ($396)
Reviews from TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294212-d2145605-Reviews-Beijing_Private_Tours_By_Jessie-Beijing.html

Tours by Zhenxin (Mobile: 13910393383 Email: fuwudeniu@sohu.com)

Note: No tour guide, just a car and driver

Day 1: 1300 RMB ($206)

Day 2: 1100 RMG ($175)

Total: 2400 CNY ($381)

Shopping

Wangfujing Dajie – Busy shopping district near the Forbidden City. The Nike Beijing store is located here.

o Subway: Wangfujing

Markets – Rule of thumb is to respond with 30% of the offer price and never ever start meeting them part way. Show them the cash, walk away, and they will drop their price so fast you won’t realize you still overpaid J

Shows

The Red Theatre – Chun Yi The Legend of Kung Fu