Travel advice: Beijing

[skategal]

Hi all,

Mr. Skate will be travelling to and throughout China for work in November.

He has 2 free days in Beijing en route to Quingdao and then Hong Kong.

Any suggestions for sightseeing in Beijing?

He knows he would like to go to the Great Wall.

All advice and guidance appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[moebius]

The following are the 'must see' sites that are full of tourists, if you don't mind that
Tiananmen Square
Forbidden Palace
Hutong Rickshaw tour

 

[genevieve]

My favorite things to do in Beijing are to walk the Hutong (don't bother with a tour unless mobility is an issue), and to visit the Temple of Heaven park.

Tiananmen Square was just annoying - the history is important, but you don't get that from being there, it's just a huge crowded square. The Forbidden City is impressive, but it's HUGE. It takes a long time to get through, even if you don't stop and really look at everything, or go into other, separately ticketed areas. Jingshan Park above the Forbidden City is supposed to be great - I missed it because I was too exhausted after Tiananmen and Forbidden City. I'd recommend Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, skip Tiananmen.

Highly recommend the Great Wall. The Badaling section is easiest to get to, but also the most crowded. If he's feeling a little adventurous, it's not that hard to get to Mutianyu, which will definitely have people but not as many.