Author Topic: Beijing Master Thread (Read 88740 times)

chuchem · « **on:** July 01, 2010, 06:30:44 PM »

Edit by Eli: Click here to read my trip reports on Beijing. It's chock full of info

Quote

as for Beijing heres a good site to see it all with them in 2 days ,I did itand it was very good (i did the 1st 2 small group tours) http://sinohotelguide.com/travel/index.php

I dont think you need a guide for 2 days. 1 day is more then enough, the second day you can do yourself. I have a very good guide, if needed I will post contact details. 400 RMB for 8 hours. You decide were to go and the speed. After a day with a guide, you will want to spend some time without.

If you are not major into history and care about every little detail, then you can see Beijing in a day. (we got up 8 am) Use the second day to go to mutaniyu part of the wall. Dont go to Badaling, its closer but very crowded, since its attached to public transportation. Check my tripreport on Beijing, we did it in about the same time u have

world2see · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2010, 07:32:52 AM »

can't find an official beijing master thread,so i'm starting one,correct me if i'm wrong:)any specific must see;s?best tour guides? i've read about the chabad restaurant,dini's,sounds great! we plan on spending shbbos at the st. regis next to chabad of downtown,we are going to need a non-jew to bring my daughter in her carriage on shabbos from hotel to chabad,we plan on staying at the st.regis,seems like the hotel is afraid of sending one of their staff to walk with us,any recommendations?also,sounds like an airport pickup would be a big help? thanks and sorry if i missed another thread,a bit new here:)

moish · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2010, 07:56:15 AM »

speak to the chabad rabbi. hes a nice guy and his goyta brought our baby

world2see · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:36:16 AM »

the rabbi isn't there currently,seems they have a replacement,no luck getting thru yet,i'll try,thanks!

world2see · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:37:19 AM »

Quote from: chuchem on July 01, 2010, 06:30:44 PM

Edit by Eli: Click here to read my trip reports on Beijing. It's chock full of info

I dont think you need a guide for 2 days. 1 day is more then enough, the second day you can do yourself. I have a very good guide, if needed I will post contact details. 400 RMB for 8 hours. You decide were to go and the speed. After a day with a guide, you will want to spend some time without.

If you are not major into history and care about every little detail, then you can see Beijing in a day. (we got up 8 am) Use the second day to go to mutaniyu part of the wall. Dont go to Badaling, its closer but very crowded, since its attached to public transportation. Check my tripreport on Beijing, we did it in about the same time u have

do you have the contact info for your tour guide?

world2see · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:38:49 AM »

Quote from: chuchem on July 01, 2010, 06:30:44 PM

Edit by Eli: Click here to read my trip reports on Beijing. It's chock full of info

I dont think you need a guide for 2 days. 1 day is more then enough, the second day you can do yourself. I have a very good guide, if needed I will post contact details. 400 RMB for 8 hours. You decide were to go and the speed. After a day with a guide, you will want to spend some time without.

If you are not major into history and care about every little detail, then you can see Beijing in a day. (we got up 8 am) Use the second day to go to mutaniyu part of the wall. Dont go to Badaling, its closer but very crowded, since its attached to public transportation. Check my tripreport on Beijing, we did it in about the same time u have

we also have a one year old,so that should slow us down a bit,although me and my wife like moving quick!

aussiebochur · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2011, 06:35:47 AM »

I'm going to be in Beijing for 3 days and would appreciate some help/thoughts on what to do and see. Only really able to use 2 being one is Shabbos.

From what I've seen, the most famous and must-dos are:
-Great Wall
-Forbidden City
-Summer Palace
-Tian'anmen Square
-Temple of Heaven (are you allowed to go in al pi halacha?)
-Silk, Pearl and Yaxiu Markets (all or one?)

Any other suggestions or would you take out one (or more) of the above?

As far as hotels go, looks like it will be the Westin on C&P. Right near Chabad an added bonus.

There's also Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian but I think it might be too far to fit in...

moish · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:16:42 PM »

i dont think you can go to temple of heaven. i completely skipped it to the dismay of my tour guide. i would also recommend seeing the pandas at the zoo.
being that you only have a friday and a sunday, you should absolutely forget about xi'an

oh, and i also checked out chairman mao

aussiebochur · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:20:03 PM »

Quote from: moish on August 03, 2011, 07:16:42 PM

i dont think you can go to temple of heaven. i completely skipped it to the dismay of my tour guide. i would also recommend seeing the pandas at the zoo.
being that you only have a friday and a sunday, you should absolutely forget about xi'an

oh, and i also checked out chairman mao

Figured as much.

Do you recommend a tour guide and/or driver?

moish · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:33:47 PM »

i do recommend and i can give you a good one.
especally with the limited time, you dont want to waste it trying to figure out which thing the book is referring to

moish · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2011, 07:36:55 PM »

i also recommend watching a performance at the drum tower
also the nightly acrobat shows were amazing

ChikkyMonkey · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2012, 02:51:31 PM »

Anyone have any suggestions for a one day itinerary arriving early morning (6:30am) leaving 9:00pm... We want to see some part of the wall, and I guess 2-3 of the main sites tiananmen square, forbidden city ?! any other suggestions? Must sees/dos?

I was offered a reliable driver for 1000 RMB pick up and drop off from airport including all stops is that decent?

We would like to visit a market or two and get some eats at Dini's.. Any help greatly appreciated.

(we're not interested in long and boring historical tours...)

aussiebochur · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2012, 07:05:52 AM »

For the driver, 1000 isn't bad but its not the cheapest. I think I paid 700-800 for a full day (8am-9pm).

I would do the wall in the morning as it will be less crowded. As mentioned Badaling is the most visited so you may want to avoid it.
Mutianyu is much less crowded and a nice stretch. (Wear comfy shoes, its quite the hike)

Tiananmen Square is just a massive square, nothing much to do except walk around.

Forbidden City is just across the road from the square.
I found it very interesting but some do find it just more of the same thing (it kind of is. Amazing how many rooms can be used
for one persons needs)

Summer Palace was also nice. Its a bit of a drive IIRC but you can probably do it in the early afternoon.

Olympic Park is cool, even just for a pic with the Birds Nest Stadium and the Cube swimming center if that interests you. But probably not something id do if pressed for time.

There are tons of markets. Don't think you'll get to the night one. Silk Market is great for real fakes. There's also the Pearl market and the antique market amongst others.

Kung Fu show was incredible but with leaving at 8, don't think you'll make it.

Dini's is good food and the Rabbi and Rebbetzin are really nice!
If you're so inclined, you can go for shachris and have breakfast there afterwards.

Just leave time for things as in the city there can be traffic. I'm sure the driver can help you with that.

I really shouldve written a TR...

If you have any questions, please ask and I will answer to the best of my abilities.

And pray for a clear day...
Photo from Seth Miller

And what it really looks like,

moish · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2012, 09:28:23 AM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on May 15, 2012, 07:05:52 AM

Tiananmen Square is just a massive square, nothing much to do except walk around

you can visit chairmen mao there as well

Quote from: aussiebochur on May 15, 2012, 07:05:52 AM

Kung Fu show was incredible but with leaving at 8, don't think you'll make it.

i think 'incredible' is pushing it.

you can also visit the zoo to see the giant pandas, and i also enjoyed a drumming performance at the drum tower

aussiebochur · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2012, 10:16:19 AM »

Quote from: moish on May 15, 2012, 09:28:23 AM

you can visit chairmen mao there as welli think 'incredible' is pushing it.

you can also visit the zoo to see the giant pandas, and i also enjoyed a drumming performance at the drum tower

Right, I forgot I did that as well.

You can also walk around the old streets of the village near the drum tower as well.

How much you can do in a day really depends on how fast you move and how long you spend in each place.

PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:26:00 AM »

Anything to do at night?

And can someone recommend a driver/guide?

damaxer91 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:58:48 AM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on July 31, 2012, 11:26:00 AM

Anything to do at night?

And can someone recommend a driver/guide?

Check out Back Lake at night. Lots happening and fun to walk around

brytch · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2012, 12:03:43 PM »

personally very disappointed with beijing.. spent a day there and saw the great wall.. otherwise I was quite happy I didn't stay there any longer... much prefer HK, anywhere in Thailand or vietnam...

damaxer91 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2012, 12:08:30 PM »

Quote from: brytch on July 31, 2012, 12:03:43 PM

personally very disappointed with beijing.. spent a day there and saw the great wall.. otherwise I was quite happy I didn't stay there any longer... much prefer HK, anywhere in Thailand or vietnam...

All depends on what you are looking for. To me, Beijing is one of the few places left that you can go where people and culture are so different than ours. IMHO Hong Kong is just like any other large metropolis with nicer hotels

brytch · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2012, 12:57:36 PM »

I just didn't care for the city. too big for my liking, lacking in culture.. didn't feel very different from lots of other western cities/capitals.. huge streets, clean for the most part, found it kinda boring. I enjoyed HK more.. but just my personal preference.

Went to the Silk market, found it to be a total waste of time, my memories from Shenzhen 10 years ago were much better. Tiananmen square and forbidden city didn't catch my eye..

I highly recommend Southeastern asia over beijing.. (Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam..)

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Author Topic: Beijing Master Thread (Read 88740 times)