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Recommendation for a guided tour in Beijing?

handful of rain — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:59:52 -0800

I have a free day in Beijing in March and am looking for recommendations for a guided tour. Can you help? In March I'll be on a long work trip through India and China, and will find myself with a weekend in Beijing free. For one of the days, a Sunday, I'd really like to see some of the highlights of the city. I've traveled/lived internationally before and usually love to spend a free day in a new city with extensive walking and exploring on my own, but the language factor for me (I speak no Mandarin and have never been to China) is very intimidating. Since this trip is very much a business trip, and I have a one-day respite from work, I'm just hoping to get a glimpse of the surface of Beijing (eg Forbidden City, The Great Wall, maybe a meal someplace) without being overwhelmed by the details and logistics of getting around. My ideal scenario would be find someone who speaks English well enough and can take me around the city in a private car.

A cursory Google search returns some promising hits, but I'd really love personal recommendations (or to tell me why this is a terrible idea, etc). The fact I'm a solo traveler makes my search a little odd, too - although I wouldn't be averse to joining a group tour, I suppose, I'd also be open to paying more for a private one. Thanks in advance for your help!

PS - just to head off the question, I'm trying to avoid asking advice from my Beijing colleagues because I don't want it to be interpreted as "please spend your Sunday away from your family and take me to the Great Wall." Even if they truly would be thrilled to do this, as I'm in the middle of a long work trip I would dearly love to not make work-related small talk for the whole day.

Sydney to LA/Chicago with a layover in... China or Korea?

jrobin276 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:52:56 -0800

Why do all (or at least, the vast majority) of flights between Sydney and the U.S. this July/August have layovers in China or Korea? How can I best go about finding a budget ticket that takes a more direct route? I'm an American living in Sydney, and I need to go home for a wedding and grad school orientation in Chicago - roughly July 10-Aug 10. I've been booking my own flights for 10+ years, and have never had any problem getting reasonable deals/schedules through Kayak (or STA or whatever was being used/popular at the time).

Now, most trans-Pacific flights do have layovers, and I'm cool with that. I like a good leg stretch 10 hours into a 15 hour flight... but usually the layovers are - you know, like - on the way. The vast, vast, majority of the flights I'm turning up, all over the web, are on Chinese or Korean airlines and have layovers in Beijing or Seoul. This doubles the length of my flight... not just travel time, but the time I spend on an airplane...which sucks.

Question is two-fold:
I've never encountered this before, and I've done this flight a number of times. What is going on?

Ideally I would like the cheapest ticket I can find (seems like around $2k right now) from Sydney to Chicago, with layovers that make sense (New Zealand, Fiji, LA). Where should I look or who should I contact to do this?

Beijing Stopover

YukonQuirm — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:52:54 -0800

Where can I sleep, at Beijing Airport (or near by), during the day, with my two kids, without breaking the bank? I'll be taking a 13 year old and a 9 year old on a nearly 3 week long trip to Thailand in March and on the way back to North America we will have a 10 hour layover in Beijing. We will be on a flight from Bangkok to Beijing from Midnight until about 6 or 7am. I know we probably could drop some money and go into the city but I honestly think my kids will be burnt out by then and want to sleep before jumping on another 11 hour (plus) flight to North America. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what my options are and have some questions:

What accommodation exists in or near the airport that is available for use during the day? I don't want to spend more than $100USD unless I really have to - and to be cheeky, I'd prefer to spend less.

I will be flying with Air China to Beijing and then again with them to Vancouver - do I have to exit the air side when I get to Beijing? I've heard the air side is much nicer than the land side?

What insiders tips to Beijing Airport can you offer to me given that I'll be travelling with two kids - they are both well travelled but I know they will be tired and hungry.

How does this illuminated Beijing advertising technology work?

stonepharisee — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:35:10 -0800

How does this advertising wizardry in the Beijing subway work? In Beijing, while a subway train is in a tunnel, illuminated ads often appear, in what looks like a long row of identical projections. The train is moving. Each projection/frame shows a constant, sometimes moving, picture. The entire picture sequence is only approximately synchronized with the forward rate of the train. Then they abruptly disappear. The only people I have asked about it shrug, as they see no interest in the ads. To me it is technological wizardry of the highest order. I can't imagine what the technology is that allows it. Multiple projectors on rails overhead moving back and forward sound highly implausible.

Anyone know if I am missing the screamingly obvious here, or better yet, know the wizardry involved?

How can I get a wedding dress custom-made in China?

andreapandrea — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:20:59 -0800

How can I get a wedding dress custom-made in either Beijing or Quinhuangdao, China? I'll be there for a few weeks and I have a few questions about how this might be possible. I am traveling to China. I will be in Quinhuangdao for two weeks and Beijing for a week.

I'd like to have a wedding dress made while I am there and am looking for some advice on this, having never been there before or had things custom-made. Here are some questions I had, but any general or specific help you can give is greatly appreciated!

- Shall I bring pictures or do I need to bring a pattern as well?
- Does the pattern have to be my size? (I am looking at vintage patterns online and they are not all my size.)
- Do I purchase the material myself ahead of time or does the dressmaker do this there?
- Can anyone recommend a good dressmaker in either Beijing or Quinhuangdao?
- Does anyone know how long it takes to have a wedding dress made?
- Can it be done the week that I am in Beijing or do I need to get it done over the two weeks that I am in Quinhuangdao?
- Any other advice or things I haven't thought of?

Thank you!

Therapists in Beijing

smoke — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:02:16 -0800

English-speaking, good, therapists/counsellors in Beijing? A friend of mine is having a bit of difficulty at the moment, and has expressed some interest in seeing a therapist-type person. The catch is, she's in Beijing. She can speak fluent mandarin but would be a lot more comfortable with an English speaker. Cheaper is a bonus, but I understand the reality that a therapist meeting these criteria may be operating in somewhat of a lucrative niche market.

If you have any recommendations that would be terrific. She's had a rough couple of years and would probably benefit from someone with fairly gentle touch, and if anyone will know the answer, I figure it's askme. Thanks,

High speed train between Shanghai and Beijing?

meerkatty — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:32:31 -0800

How do I buy train tickets for the new high speed train between Shanghai and Beijing? Have you taken the train? Tips? Need to take it from Shanghai to Beijing in 2 weeks time. Googling getting me nowhere. Suggestions? Thanks.

Flying to Korea on my first international trip. Advice?

jykmf — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:54:09 -0800

I'm flying to South Korea (JFK to PEK to ICN) in two weeks for my first international trip in years. I need some advice on preparation, the flight, and the subsequent two months I'll spend in Korea. I'm flying (alone) to South Korea via Air China in two weeks. I would rather use a different airline, but the tickets were cheap. Being cheap tickets, there's an overnight layover in Beijing, for which the airline has already offered me a hotel room (though I won't find out which hotel it is until I get to the airport). Once in Korea, I'll be staying there for two months.

1. First of all, is there any basic information anyone would like to share about flying internationally? I know I need to whip out my passport frequently and I've flown domestically, but I'm a little nervous about flying to a different country.

2. Is there anything specific I should try to pack? And is there a brand of luggage that you can vouch for? I'll also note that I'm taking a big tub (5 lbs.) of protein powder in my checked luggage, which research tells me should be alright with the TSA. I also considered taking my guitar with me, but I've decided it'll be easier to just buy one in Korea and sell it before I leave (or give it to someone, etc.).

3. Once I'm in Beijing, is there anything close to the airport I might enjoy? I'm a laid back guy. I don't mind sitting or walking around aimlessly so long as the atmosphere is interesting (and I don't want to spend much money). I've also heard some bad things from my Chinese friends, including one anecdote about taxi drivers stealing your organs, and a recommendation to stay away from the water. I'm not worried about anything, but if there's something I should be aware of please let me know.

4. Any general advice on staying in Korea? I'll be staying with some family and close friends all over the country (though I'll probably spend the majority of my time around Seoul), and I can read and speak Korean moderately well. This is a vacation so I'll be completely free for the entire two months, unless someone wants to take me somewhere. I can drink legally there, but I don't plan on partying much. I might go to some clubs and similar venues to see what they're like, but that's not really my style.

5. I'd like to go to a gym in maybe twice a week. I can find out about this when I get there, but if someone has firsthand experience that'd be great.

6. One of my major concerns is being able to play music. I'll check out Hongdae, but is it possible to find people to jam with? Koreans, expats, doesn't matter. I play guitar and I can also play bass and some drums. I'm just interested in feeding my musical needs while I'm there.

7. How can I get a phone there? I asked someone about this and they said it's difficult for a non-resident. Would a pre-paid phone be the best option?

8. Where are the good shopping districts (for clothes)? If I want to get a suit, what's a good direction to go?

9. Is there anything in Korea that's substantially cheaper than in the US? Electronics? I already plan on taking advantage of the incredibly fast internet speeds there.

10. Anything I should be aware of, culturally? I don't look Korean, for starters.

If you can answer any of these questions I'd be very grateful. I don't mind going in blind, but this is my first big trip alone and I'm feeling nervous. If you can give me any advice I'd feel much more at ease.

As always, thanks for your time.

Political tourism in Beijing

TheManChild2000 — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:07:12 -0800

What would be some "political tourism" things I could do with a few free days in Beijing? I'm a USian, and mostly a flag-waving Democrat republic-lover. I'll be in Beijing this Wednesday through next Wednesday for a conference and will have a few free days to do whatever.

Now, with the understanding that: [1] I'm drastically unprepared for China and have no idea how to get around, how to read signs or bus schedules or whatever, and am generally going to be stone-cold clueless unless I'm in my hotel or the conference hotel, [2] I'll be getting involved in some anti-labor camp activism after this trip, and [3] I'm interested in but undereducated about Communism ... what'd be a good thing or two to check out to get the flavor of the Soviet Union of the 21st century? Of course I'm going to buy some corny Mao trinkets to horrify people with back in the US. Thanks.

What to do during a free weekend in Shanghai?

jonobarel — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:19:16 -0800

I have a short weekend (Fri night to Sun morning) off in Shanghai during a work trip, and I'm looking for an activity - even a day trip to Beijing or the Great Wall. I'd appreciate suggestions and/or advice. My company is sending a colleague and me to China in May for a few days, and we will have time off during weekend of the 20th.
We will be in Shanghai, and I'm looking for an activity - possibly an overnight day-trip - for the weekend. I was wondering if anyone here has any advice?

To be clear:
1. We finish work on Friday afternoon (Regular work day)
2. Need to be back by Sunday morning to check back into the hotel
3. Don't mind an overnight train to and from Beijing (what we currently had in mind)
4. We don't have to leave Shanghai.

We're looking for something not too expensive, maybe a few hundred dollars at most.

So do you guys have any advice?

Jobs in Beijing

god particle — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:30:41 -0800

What are some resources for finding jobs in Beijing, China? I'm planning on moving to Beijing, China after I graduate from undergrad in May. I've found some smaller job listings and classified sites, some of which I'm skeptical of, but I was wondering if anyone knew of anything more substantial or reliable.

I'm not interested in teaching English and I can speak Mandarin.

Music store in Beijing?

ms.codex — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:59:11 -0800

Where in Beijing can I buy Chinese musical instruments? I'm in Beijing for a week and I'm looking to buy a high-quality pipa (a kind of Chinese lute). Anyone know of a place in Beijing that sells traditional musical instruments? I remember seeing such a shop in a sort of mall when I was in Beijing 10 years ago, but the city looks so different now and I wouldn't know where to go. Thanks for any help.

ewr to pek

esemay — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:45:10 -0800

what does this mean - its a flight from ewr (newark) to pek (beijing). I'lll be taking this flight in a few weeks and want to know where I"m going. GREKI V419 JUDDS CAM PLB YUL 5000N 07400W 5500N 07200W YAS 6500N 06800W 7000N 06500W 7500N 06200W 8000N 05600W 8500N 04300W ABERI B934 BINTA B934 UNILA OKONI UREPA B934 SERNA M520 POLHO G218 TMR B458 TZH A596 KM OB

What to do in Beijing?

xorowo — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:41:59 -0800

I have 8 hours in Beijing. What should I do? In about a week and a half, I'll be heading out to Nepal for a short trip. During that trip, I have an 8 hour layover in Beijing. My flight arrives at 5:40am, and I leave at 1:45pm. That leaves a few hours in the mid to late morning range to do.....something. I'd rather not stay at the airport for that time. What would you do with this much time? Without knowing much, other than having a basic idea about my ability to spend a bit of time in Beijing as I am connecting through, I figured I might catch a taxi to Tiananmen Square, or something like that.

Thougths? Ideas? Suggestions? If you have experience on a similar trip, and can give me a sense of how long it will take me to exit the airport, and how long it will take me to get back in, that would be great. All hints and tips are welcome!

Thanks in advance....

Joel

What should we do for two weeks in China?

odayoday — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:58:13 -0800

My boyfriend and I will be visiting my dad in China for two weeks at the end of October, beginning of November. I've been twice before (my dad has lived there for the past 12 years), but this will be my boyfriend's first time. We'd like a good mix of city and rural areas, and are tentatively planning four days in Shanghai, four in Beijing, four in Guilin, and four in Yunnan. However, we're open to other suggestions, so what do you think? Too much time in one place, not enough in another? Is there another must-see area? What should we do while we're in those places? Any ideas are welcome!

Beijin

octomato — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:37:36 -0800

I'm going to Beijing! What should i see and do? I'm going to Beijin to get away for 2 weeks. I'm staying in a hotel next to my friend's house. I wanted to stay in a hotel-- cause i'm a girl and my friends are guys and i need a vacation and if i wanna sleep naked i don't want any problems.

What should I see and do by myself while my friend works? Any tips on

THANK YOU

Where should I wander off to in Beijing?

astapasta24 — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:56:22 -0800

I'm spending the next 2 months in Beijing. Where are places that are slightly off the beaten path? Any favorite eateries, bars, clubs? Also, what are some places I could travel to when given a week of complete free time? I'm in Bejing as a part of a study abroad program my university offers. From what I understand, we will only have 4 hours of class a day for 4 days a week, leaving me free with 3 days to hopefully roam around the city for a bit. What are some places I should hit up during my stay here? Or perhaps, are there certain places I should avoid?

I'll also have a week of no classes where we'll be allowed to travel anywhere we want and given it's my first time in China, I'm pretty overwhelmed by the choices that are out there! I'm looking to spend time in 2-3 places other than Beijing in that weeklong period.

Where can I buy yarn in China?

odayoday — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:05:17 -0800

Where to buy yarn in Shanghai and Beijing? I'm a new knitter, but would love to take advantage of what I heard are great prices for yarn in China. I'm looking for store suggestions, or advice about specific types of yarn that would be a good buy. When I say I'm a new knitter, I mean I've now knit one scarf, and have so far purchased two skeins of yarn (bamboo/cotton mix), like, ever, so please be as specific as possible. Thanks!

I'm already excited about soup dumplings

showbiz_liz — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:23:25 -0800

I'm studying abroad in Beijing in a month! What do I need to bring, and what do I need to know? (I've never even left the US before!) I'll be living in a dorm with a Chinese roommate for four months, September through December. Visa's taken care of, I have Bank of America so getting ahold of money won't be an issue, I feel like I have the basics down in terms of what to pack (ie, bring all the shoes and deodorant I'll need but buy most of my shirts there), I've read my Lonely Planet and some blogs, I have my travel blog on its own domain so it won't be blocked, and I have a UNC shirt and chocolate bars for my roommate.

But I'm still so nervous! I'm sure there's nothing I can do to FULLY prepare myself, but I'd like to know if the collective Meficonsciousness can help prepare me any more. I knew almost nothing about modern China before I decided to do this, and I've never even traveled west of the Mississippi before. The most alien place I've ever lived is Chicago (I'm from NC). Also, I know no Chinese, but I'm trying to learn some basics before I get there.

So, what else do I need to know? Besides what the guidebooks can tell me, I mean? I have dual goals of not embarrassing myself/my nation, and enjoying the hell out of myself. (My roommate's advice was "spend all your money on food and don't be scared of anything but the dogs." I guess I'm looking for more like that!)

Help me communicate with my Peking duck!

lioness — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:14:00 -0800

Can you translate what's written on the packaging of this Peking duck? My SO wooed me with this Peking duck from his visit to Beijing. (4.5 MB pictures for zoomability purposes) Can you provide a brief translation to find out what the cooking instructions are? Thank you!

Also, feel free to share amazing suggestions/recipes for the duck or side dishes!
(Experienced cook + Great availability of Chinese ingredients = Yum!)

Another ChinaTravelFilter: Help this backpacking newbie becomes a pro.

Carius — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:17:08 -0800

Another ChinaTravelFilter: Help this backpacking newbie becomes a pro. I will be in China July doing the history tour.

I will arrive in Beijing

Then by train head to
Datong
Taiyuan
Pingyao
Louyang
Xi'an

then fly out or take train to

Chengdu
Leshan
Emei Shan

then fly out to Shanghai

Sadly, I don't think have enough time so I have to skip Huashan and Wutaishan.

I could speak Mandarin but it's not that good. I could read Chinese but I can't write it.

So far I am overwhelmed by the choice of hostels available. How do you book them anyway? Just call them ahead before showing up? Is there an easy way to book them online? Do you have any recommendation for any of the cities I will be visiting?

Same thing with train tickets, can you book them online? Or should I wait until I'm in China to book?

What do I need to bring with me to China? What should I wear?
I found a packlist online. But do I need to bring any of them?

Withdrawal.

Zé Pequeno — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:22:12 -0800

I'm in Beijing and my trusty VPN, Hotspot Shield, has not been connecting since May 17th. Is anyone else having this problem? It just will not connect and assign an IP. I am on a Mac using Snow Leopard, HS Shield Version 1.341. I need Facebook and Youtube!

Where to stay in Beijing?

lucy.jakobs — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:07:51 -0800

I am a student traveling to Beijing in July. Where should I stay? This summer I'll be studying abroad in Hangzhou, China. At the end of my stay I'll be traveling to Beijing (from ~July 1st to July 10th) with four other students and so I'm looking for recommendations on places to stay while in Beijing. As we are students, we are looking to keep the price as low as possible. Of course, we still want to stay in a convenient and safe part of the city. Factors that may be important are: There are 4 males and 1 female. We are willing to share a room/rooms. A few of us know basic conversational Chinese, but none of us are fluent.

Also, I have no idea whether this is the best idea or what the prices are comparable to but my program director said that "If you want to stay on Qinghua campus you can get double rooms for about $70 (unless they have raised the price). This is a really nice place, but it is not in the center of Beijing." So this is an option as well.

As a side note if anyone has any tips, must see places (for Beijing or Hangzhou), or other words of wisdom please feel free to comment or send me a message. Thanks!

The grass IS green, even here in Beijing...

so much modern time — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:27:50 -0800

The grass isn't greener on the other side. How can I be happy with what I have? I've been living abroad for the last few years now, with the last two+ years in Beijing. I'm committed to another year and a half here because of a scholarship program.

Despite all of the good things that I do have in my life, it's hard for me to let go of the feeling that I'm finished with living abroad and ready to start the next part of my life.

Classes do not particularly motivate me, and Chinese-style education, with its general format of teachers talking for two hours and students listening for as long as they can before their eyes glaze over, is not inspiring either. Learning Mandarin, which was my main reason for me to be here, has rather lost its charm as well; my language skills have pretty much hit a plateau.

About two weeks ago, one of our teachers mentioned that we would be leaving as early as September (next term) to do trial teaching, and this was the best news that I had heard in ages. It turned out to be a complete mistake, but since then I've felt rather down, almost cheated of my chance to go home.

One thing that I realize is that perhaps this is a pattern in my life. I used to live in New York, and although it was great and I miss it a lot now, the call of going abroad was strong and it made me unhappy with living in New York as well. At some point in my life, I need to understand that this is what I have and to appreciate it when I have it, not when I'm not there any more. Might as well start this process now.

Things that I have tried (and still do) besides class: swing dancing, gospel choir, taking a photo every day project, trying out new recipes to cook, learning more about Beijing and Chinese history, writing a blog on quirky things in Beijing, etc.

I want to be happier with what I have, and especially, I want to stop complaining. I've seen what this is like in friends who are unhappy with being in China and it's a hard process to watch; I don't want to repeat that!

How can I come to terms with this instead of longing for being somewhere else?

(For further background, this was a question that I asked previously.)

What is this big circle in Beijing?

priorpark17 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:23:45 -0800

What is this big circle in Beijing? A Hadron Collider? What is this big circle in Beijing? Looks like a Hadron Collider but it may just be a way to turn around a metro train. Any locals know what it is? Link to googlemap.