Our question today comes from Kirk.
Hi Matt,
First off cheers for the blog 9/10 times these things are crap so kudos on that! Anyway i’ve just caught the Asian bug as took up a job based out of Singapore, was only there for a week but loved it… I’m currently offshore working in Indian waters but once this job is finished in mid Feb im defo heading to Beijing, i think its a good city to start on my travels, im going to stop off in Bangkok and obtain a visa on a british passport, i believe this is a good way of geting in, think $80 will be my fee i looked it up… Ive also done most my homework on hostels/hotels and all just wondering on day to day stuff, ie food, beers and such… Also getting around the city fares and on getting to the wall is it a straight forward process… Hope your ok getting back to me just the first person ive seen actually answer a question in a good manner!
Basically all info is appreciated, ill be alone which i feel will be fine im pretty street wise, some of the stuff you read is useful but id like a staright forward answer to the basics. Also which markets are the best ive read up xiu shiu/ silk street…
Cheers buddy!
Kirk
So there are a couple specific questions in there, but the main question is what are the basics for a first time visitor to Beijing. We’ll break it down into four quick sections.
1. Transportation. The subway system is really pretty easy and you can use it to get to all the major sites (Tiananmen/Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven), except the Great Wall. It’s ¥2 (30 cents) to go anywhere in the city, no matter how far or how many transfers. So my suggestion to those trying to do Beijing cheap and easy is use the subway system. If you’re taking cabs, just make sure you get a card from the hotel you’re staying at so you can hand it to a taxi driver when you need to get home.
2. Day-time stuff to do. Beyond the main tourist sites (the big 3 mentioned above, plus 798 art district and Lama Temple) some stuff that’s worth doing in Beijing is go to the Aizai Cafe (I know, shameless plug), take a pedicab ride through the hutongs (be prepared to be ripped off a little bit), climb to the top of Jingshan Park (directly north of the Forbidden City). As I think about it though, the best stuff to do in Beijing as a visitor is to be a tourist. At night check out HouHai or NanLouGuXiang for some new China stuff in old China buildings, or go to the Village at SanLiTun for new China stuff in new China buildings.
3. Getting to the Great Wall. This is something I’ve been meaning to do a lot more research on getting to the Wall. Most hotels will have a tour that you can join. A lot of people will just hire a taxi for the day. Find one the night before and arrange a pick up time. If you’re staying at a hotel or hostel hopefully someone there can help you communicate with the driver. It should be around ¥400-¥500 for the day. I would recommend going to the Mutianyu section of the wall. It’s a little less touristy than Badaling (but not much). But the best part is that you can ride a tobogan down the side of the mountain when you’re done. The other place we like to go is HuaHuangCheng, which is a really empty (usually only 3-4 other groups when we’ve been there), and it’s only a couple yuan to get onto the wall. The downside is that it’s really out in the middle of nowhere.
4. Markets. It totally depends on what you are looking to buy. If it’s souvenirs and knock off clothing and bags I personally would avoid Silk Street and go to YaShow near SanLiTun instead. The Pearl Market is also very convenient if you’re going to the Temple of Heaven (it’s right across the street from the east gate). If you want cheap clothing that’s not all knock offs, then go to the Zoo Market on the west side of the city (near the zoo). If you want electronics you should go to ZhongGuanCun, also on the west side near 4th ring road.
Anyway, I hope that info helps you. If any of you other expat readers had advice, please chip in.
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Regarding visiting the Great Wall, I would also suggest joining a tour given by one of the local cultural organizations, such as China Culture Center. The price for a group tour would be comparable to hiring a taxi for the day, but you wouldn’t have to sweat any potential language barrier issues. I visited the Wall several times while living in Beijing, and used both CCC and a tour company that partners with hotels. What I liked about the former was our trip didn’t include extra side trips to jade or pearl markets, where I picked up a tourist-trap vibe. That may be totally fun for others, but not my cup of tea. Anyway, CCC leads tours to Mutianyu pretty frequently, and I believe also goes to Huanghuacheng. Happy travels!
It’s worth mentioning that getting to the Great Wall at Badaling is a breeze, and if you’re planning on going during a weekday, you’ll won’t have to deal with too many crowds as long as its not peak tourism season. I went to the Great Wall at Badaling when it was a bit chilly out, caught the bus for about RMB 4 with my Beijing smart card, and was there in about an hour and a half. Even if you do feel a little more squished, Badaling is hard to beat for the price.