China: Beijing, Xian and Shanghai - your input welcome
Discussion
Myself and Mrs Ghost are planning a trip to China May/June next year. The basic plan is fly into Beijing and stay for 4 or 5 nights, fly to Xian to see the terracotta army with a two night stay and then onto Shanghai for 5 or 6 nights before flying back to London.
The basics are being sorted for us by Trailfinders but would welcome any input for things to do in Beijing and Shanghai aside from the normal sites that all tourists get to. Happy to adjust the trip to stay longer in Shanghai or Beijing if the list gets good enough.
Over to the masses then
The basics are being sorted for us by Trailfinders but would welcome any input for things to do in Beijing and Shanghai aside from the normal sites that all tourists get to. Happy to adjust the trip to stay longer in Shanghai or Beijing if the list gets good enough.
Over to the masses then
I have an office in Beijing so have been there a few times. Top of my list would be the Forbidden City - it is a palace with 9999 and half rooms (because Paradise has 10,000). Everything is off the scale in terms of jaw dropping stuff. Also it's nice to go to some more rural areas and get to meet the locals - they are extraordinarily kind and hospitable -
Even if you can't talk!
Even if you can't talk!
We did this same trip last month in around 9 days total and squeezed in all the touristy things without getting too much off the beaten path.
Beijing - do the Forbidden City as mentioned. Golden Palace and Temple of Heaven are both stunning too. There's a nice shopping street due south of Tiannemen Sq which is on the way to ToH. We went to the Silk Market which is a touristy knockoff market but is amazing for seeing how low prices will go - very aggressive sellers/banter! You can easily get to the Wall from Beijing but I would say try and pick a deserted bit if you can (depends what you're into really - we went in low season as the place was deserted and felt more isolated). Have seen clips/pictures where it looks like Grand Central Station.
Xi'an - we weren't there long - you can cycle the city wall but I guess it gets a bit samey. We were lucky enough to witness a traditional welcoming ceremony at the city gate which was excellent if a bit cheesy. Warriors are good of course but there are also other historical sites/museums in the area which you can arrange to see through tour groups.
Shanghai - we went to the top of the TV tower, it's huge, bigger than Sears Tower. Amazing skyline views all along the Bund and there's an open top bar which looks like a lighthouse which serves quality Crystal/Heffeweisen on the opposite side to the major skyscrapers - perfect views. Also fabulous shopping down the large street which heads due west from the Bund (can't remember it's name!!) but it's all very western.
Get yourself a Rough Guide to China - its very comprehensive and will give you plenty to think about.
Beijing - do the Forbidden City as mentioned. Golden Palace and Temple of Heaven are both stunning too. There's a nice shopping street due south of Tiannemen Sq which is on the way to ToH. We went to the Silk Market which is a touristy knockoff market but is amazing for seeing how low prices will go - very aggressive sellers/banter! You can easily get to the Wall from Beijing but I would say try and pick a deserted bit if you can (depends what you're into really - we went in low season as the place was deserted and felt more isolated). Have seen clips/pictures where it looks like Grand Central Station.
Xi'an - we weren't there long - you can cycle the city wall but I guess it gets a bit samey. We were lucky enough to witness a traditional welcoming ceremony at the city gate which was excellent if a bit cheesy. Warriors are good of course but there are also other historical sites/museums in the area which you can arrange to see through tour groups.
Shanghai - we went to the top of the TV tower, it's huge, bigger than Sears Tower. Amazing skyline views all along the Bund and there's an open top bar which looks like a lighthouse which serves quality Crystal/Heffeweisen on the opposite side to the major skyscrapers - perfect views. Also fabulous shopping down the large street which heads due west from the Bund (can't remember it's name!!) but it's all very western.
Get yourself a Rough Guide to China - its very comprehensive and will give you plenty to think about.
Book Lily as a guide in Beijing. You can find her on tripadvisor and she was great. She will help you with everything and take you to see any aspect of Beijing. She speaks great English as well. With out her we would not have enjoyed China any where near as much. Be prepared for some light banter because the English went around Beijing damaging all their monuments a hundred years ago. If you don't get Lily make surer you get a reputable guide. Lily explained that most are just trying to screw tourists.
("lily xy" <lily_fuwa@yahoo.com>)
Go to Made in China in the Grand Hyatt for the best Duck. We struggled to get a reservation but went in the bar opposite and the manager, Simon from Cheshire, sorted us out the best table in the restaurant. If you are looking for something other than Chinese Maison Boulud which is just off Tienanmen square. Lily knows the place now but did not want to join us because even though I offered to pay for her she thought it was too expensive. There is a lunch deal which is about $30 a person but water is about $10 a bottle (sorry I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic so work in dollars but both are considered expensive for China)
Definitely go to the Great Wall and make sure the location is open. Get a taxi at the hotel and agree a price before you set off. It will be cheap. Be warned the cab driver will drive like a lunatic.
If you are tall the locals will treat you like a star. I had my photo taken with several people. However, the down side is that if you are big taxis will refuse to take you because you may break their suspension.
I echo the forbidden city advice and I would suggest the summer palace. While walking around take a look at the vases which ae only protected by a small lock. Consider that recently one that may have been from the forbidden city sold at auction for 70m pounds. Very tempting to break the glass.
If you stay in the Peninsular hotel there is a garage with 2 Zondas and one Zonda R. they also have a Bugatti Veyron.
Any questions let me know and I will try to answer them but spend a lot of time on tripadvisor.
("lily xy" <lily_fuwa@yahoo.com>)
Go to Made in China in the Grand Hyatt for the best Duck. We struggled to get a reservation but went in the bar opposite and the manager, Simon from Cheshire, sorted us out the best table in the restaurant. If you are looking for something other than Chinese Maison Boulud which is just off Tienanmen square. Lily knows the place now but did not want to join us because even though I offered to pay for her she thought it was too expensive. There is a lunch deal which is about $30 a person but water is about $10 a bottle (sorry I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic so work in dollars but both are considered expensive for China)
Definitely go to the Great Wall and make sure the location is open. Get a taxi at the hotel and agree a price before you set off. It will be cheap. Be warned the cab driver will drive like a lunatic.
If you are tall the locals will treat you like a star. I had my photo taken with several people. However, the down side is that if you are big taxis will refuse to take you because you may break their suspension.
I echo the forbidden city advice and I would suggest the summer palace. While walking around take a look at the vases which ae only protected by a small lock. Consider that recently one that may have been from the forbidden city sold at auction for 70m pounds. Very tempting to break the glass.
If you stay in the Peninsular hotel there is a garage with 2 Zondas and one Zonda R. they also have a Bugatti Veyron.
Any questions let me know and I will try to answer them but spend a lot of time on tripadvisor.
hornetrider said:
Beijing - do the Forbidden City as mentioned. Golden Palace and Temple of Heaven are both stunning too. There's a nice shopping street due south of Tiannemen Sq which is on the way to ToH. We went to the Silk Market which is a touristy knockoff market but is amazing for seeing how low prices will go - very aggressive sellers/banter! You can easily get to the Wall from Beijing but I would say try and pick a deserted bit if you can (depends what you're into really - we went in low season as the place was deserted and felt more isolated). Have seen clips/pictures where it looks like Grand Central Station.
We went to a section of the wall called Jingsanling (sp?) which is further from the city than the most popular sections - 'Badaling' I think is the 'Grand Central Station' - we saw pictures of it looking like Oxford Street during the sales, where we went: virtually the only people there were our group of about 20 
Thanks for the input so far folks, all very well received and much appreciated.
We are intending to stay in The Peninsular so a visit to the garage might be arranged
All the views about visiting the Wall have been taken onboard and we do usually arrange a car and driver for various sightseeing trips when using The Peninsular in Bangkok so will try to do the same in Beijing.
We also use Trip Advisor ahead of trips to new places so will certainly be taking input this time.
Anything else also gratefully received.
We are intending to stay in The Peninsular so a visit to the garage might be arranged
All the views about visiting the Wall have been taken onboard and we do usually arrange a car and driver for various sightseeing trips when using The Peninsular in Bangkok so will try to do the same in Beijing.
We also use Trip Advisor ahead of trips to new places so will certainly be taking input this time.
Anything else also gratefully received.
Don't take pictures of Buddha. That makes the locals angry. As you are at the Peninsula Made in China is walking distance. Get the hotel to give you directions because it is not obvious. In the same complex as made in China there is another great restaurant hidden away. Their menu is a woprk of art and they will not allow you to take phots of their food for fear of you copying it. Ironic I thought as China copies everything.
If you are wearing anything "designer" everyone will assume it is fake. Lily can take you to a massive market where everything is fake but looks perfect. She did not understand why any one would buy the real items.
Quite honestly my wife would have hated China with out Lily. She was very informative and funny. Can't remember her cost may be $50 a day but well worth it.
If you are wearing anything "designer" everyone will assume it is fake. Lily can take you to a massive market where everything is fake but looks perfect. She did not understand why any one would buy the real items.
Quite honestly my wife would have hated China with out Lily. She was very informative and funny. Can't remember her cost may be $50 a day but well worth it.
h0b0 said:
If you are wearing anything "designer" everyone will assume it is fake. Lily can take you to a massive market where everything is fake but looks perfect. She did not understand why any one would buy the real items.
That was probably the Silk Market. There are a few others but the Silk Market is the main one IIRC. As in general for China, but especially for markets, bargain very very hard. Take the money you want to pay out of your wallet so you can say its all you've got (they speak very good english) and be prepared to walk away several times. For example, I got some NB trainers for £5, had them about a year and they show no signs of wearing out, but I did have to walk away from the seller four times until their 'lowest price' was the amount I wanted to pay. Although many people and even the guide books will say these 'fake' designer goods are made in the same factories, by the same people using the same materials as the originals, it can be very hit and miss. The trainers were very good, a North Face rucksack I bought in Saigon however fell apart within a couple of weeks (the Vietnam Lonely Planet specifically says they are made in factories around Saigon and are the same quality as the originals, not in this case though.)
Silk market is just 1 big tourist trap.
There are better and cheaper markets around Beijing, with non of the hard sell from the sellers.
Just ask away, , ,
The subway is probably one of the best in the world, and should be certainly experienced at 5 pm
As for flying to Xi'an I really wouldn't bother.
Take the overnight soft sleeper from Beijing West.
http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgwiki/Special:CN...
Z19 or alike, for 400/417 RNB, (£40.00) depat Beijing 21:18 h and arrive Xi'an 08:18 next morning, soft sleepers here
Roll down to see pic's
http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#Beijing-Shanghai%2...
'vette
There are better and cheaper markets around Beijing, with non of the hard sell from the sellers.
Just ask away, , ,
The subway is probably one of the best in the world, and should be certainly experienced at 5 pm
As for flying to Xi'an I really wouldn't bother.
Take the overnight soft sleeper from Beijing West.
http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgwiki/Special:CN...
Z19 or alike, for 400/417 RNB, (£40.00) depat Beijing 21:18 h and arrive Xi'an 08:18 next morning, soft sleepers here
Roll down to see pic's
http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#Beijing-Shanghai%2...
'vette
Edited by uk_vette on Tuesday 4th January 14:49
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