Anyone been to Beijing

My company is offering a FANTASTIC CAN NOT PASS this offer up trip to Beijing for both hubby and I. It can actually be taken any time during the year. Just working on air as the air is incredably high. We're thinking of going June 23 - 29 (since June 25 is DH's birthday)

Has anyone ever been to Beijing? If so what can you recommend.

(note B = Breakfast, L = Lunch D = Dinner)

The itinerary is as follows:

Day 01 Home City - Beijing
Depart via your own international flight to Beijing. Move your watch a day ahead as you cross the International Dateline.

Day 02 Beijing
Welcome to Beijing. You will be met and transferred to the 5-star Chang An Grand Hotel.

Day 03 Beijing
Full day City Tour to Tian An Men Square, the largest public plaza in the world and the Forbidden City, which houses numerous priceless treasures. Two-dozen emperors lived here from the 15th to the early 20th century. The beautiful Summer Palace and the magnificent Temple of Heaven. (B/L/D)

Day 04 Beijing
On a daylong excursion, you will walk the mighty Great Wall. It is the only man-made structure visible from the moon - stretching across China for about 4,000 miles. In the afternoon, you will visit the ancient Ming Tombs. (B/L/D)

Day 05 Beijing
By popular demand, today is a free day for you to explore the city or do some shopping. We suggest you take a walk through the Wang Fu Jing Shopping Centre and the interesting Xiushui Silk Market where you can enjoy super bargains for your purchase. (B)

Day 06 Beijing - Home City
Transfer to the airport and fly homeward via your own international flight. (B)

Message edited 3/12/2006 9:00:41 PM.

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

i went to beijing and basically saw all the things already on your itinerary. if you have time i'd go into the mao mausoleum. if for no other reason than it's interesting to see how chinese people react in there.

it's probably going to be pretty hot in june and the air is horrific. so make sure you carry bottled water. just a tip, buy it on the street somewhere and not in the hotel gift shop.

we also saw an acrobatics show while there which was very cool.

if you're into eating peking duck (and it's so good there you really should try it) ask your tour guide about the really famous place to eat it. i'm sorry i can't remember the name, but it's really well-known so i'm sure they'll know, or your hotel will.

i can't think of anything else right now. have a great time!!

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

Thanks so much. I am really looking forward to going. It's something DH and I never really thought of doing but when the offer came to me I couldnt pass it up. It seemed like a wild journey to do and something fun to do before we TTC.

Since it's pretty hot in June what month(s) are the better months. I can pretty much go anytime during the year.

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

I went to china for 6 weeks in law school and spent 5 days in Beijing it was great!

Top things to see:

Forbidden City - (tiananman square is right there)

Summer palace

Temple of Heaven

The Great Wall and Ming tombs

There was a market (in a building) that has the major pearl dealers (it is where President Clinton and many Diplomates etc shop)

Try to see a dinner show -it was a great experience.

I was there end of May thru June and it was rainy and HOT - 90's and 100's many days.

I would suggest spring - I would not go in the winter as they can be brutal. I think late summer brings sand storms.

My father's cousin and his family live in Beijing -he is running the IBM office over there.

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

Thanks for the tip.

Maybe our 2 yr anniversary would be a good time.

This is our first real big international trip and I dont want anything to ruin it for us

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

Don't go in the summer! Its HOT and muggy and the air quality is awful in Beijing!! If you go to the Great Wall you may not be able to see much either!

I think the itinerary sounds doable and pretty complete.

I agree with a Peking Duck dinner, but not the acrobats show. I saw it and all I could think about were how the poor kids were taken from their families and forced to do this in a communist state.

We took a rickshaw ride as well, I think it was near a Chinese scholar garden (sorry I don't remember the name, but can go look in my notes if you want) and it was nice to see real residential areas...and lots of older men playing majong on the street

As for buying water on the street, make sure that the cap is attached to the ring - that it's not broken - street vendors sometimes just refill old bottles.

Learn the phrase "Boo Yao" It means I'm not interested and you will say it to a gazillion street vendors that come charging at you. A few phrases will go a long way, "Ni Hao" (Hello - Ni Hao Ma is How are you - the ma is a question mark) "Xie Xie" (thank you) and the numbers help with shopping


Is there a choice of cities? or is it Beijing only? Because Shanghai is beautiful!

Message edited 3/16/2006 10:25:52 AM.

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

Thanks for all the tips. We are thinking of going in September as the airfare was cheaper in September then in June.

It's a tour that goes Friday to Thursday so Beijing is the only city but if I extend my stay I can travel to other cities. I might extend my stay.

Thanks for all the tips

Re: Anyone been to Beijing

We are adopting from China and will be arriving in Beijing, and probably in the winter---but all these tips are Great! If you have anymore, please post them!