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If you can see only one city in China, it should be Beijing, because many of the capital's "bests" are also China's "bests." We've included the obvious, but also the offbeat experiences that reflect the city far better than any list of tourist sites, as impressive as those sites are. We give you the best of the splurge hotels, but also the best moderately priced hotels -- prices far more in keeping with the real Chinese economy. We give you the most unforgettable dining experiences, plus the best things to do for free (or almost). If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then our competitors have flattered us highly. But they'll always be a few steps behind . . .
Attractions
This is an overwhelming prospect. No other city in China, and few other cities in the world, offer so many must-see attractions, or such a likelihood of missed opportunity. It is technically possible to see the big names -- the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Great Wall -- in as little as 3 days, but you'll want at least a week to get any sort of feel for the city. People spend years here and still fail to see everything they should. Sights outside of Beijing require at least half a day. However, the Great Wall requires a full day. Note: Most major sights now charge different prices for admission in summer and winter. The summer high season officially runs from April 1 to October 31 and the winter low season from November 1 to March 31.
How to See Beijing--Beijing's traffic is appalling. Do not plan to see too many sights that are far apart, unless you want your memories of the capital to consist of staring helplessly out of a taxicab window. Regardless of whether you choose to get around by taxi, metro, bus, bike, or foot, plan each day to see sights that are close together.
The best option for reaching sights within Beijing is to take the metro to the stop nearest the attraction you plan on seeing, and duck into one of the many waiting taxis. As an example, the Summer Palace is a short 15 ($2) cab ride from the new light rail station at Wudaokou. Buses are slow but plentiful and relatively safe, especially if you choose the air-conditioned 800-series buses. Maximum freedom (and usually speed) is realized by hiring a bike for the day. More convenient still is to hire a normal taxi for the day.
The standard of organized tours in Beijing leaves much to be desired. But if this is your preference, most hotels have offices of Panda Tours and Dragon Tours, which offer overpriced tours to the major attractions. The advantage is that transport and language barriers are removed, but the freedom to visit smaller attractions and meet locals is sacrificed. The pace of these tours can leave you giddy.
The last and least recommended option is to hire a car through your hotel. You will be charged up to five times what you should pay. Aside from convenience, the only conceivable plus is that if you are staying at a foreign-run, luxury hotel, they have a reputation for good service to protect. Organizations such as Panda Tours, which are run by the China International Travel Service, do not.
National Theatrics
At a crowded restaurant, a group of Beijing's Olympic planners gather for a lavish meal. "Bring me your finest, most expensive dish, and hang the cost!" bellows one, setting his manbag aside. The flamboyant meal eventually arrives, overshadowing the surrounding dishes. The diners are stunned into silence. The complaints begin, "How much did we pay for that?" "It's un-Chinese." "Can we get a discount?" "Who ordered this?" The official who ordered the dish is either keeping his silence, or has slipped away quietly. In essence, such has been the drama played out over Paul Andreu's controversial National Theatre, due to open west of the Great Hall of the People within the lifetime of this guide. Andreu was awarded the project in 2000, and Beijingers have nicknamed it jidanke'r (The Eggshell). Although the project has been downsized, it still features a dazzling titanium-and-glass dome perched on a lake and encasing three auditoriums. Patrons descend on escalators through the waters of the lake.
Beijing vacations | Our friendly travel advisors are experts on Beijing vacations and know most of Beijing hotels. Before we quote any Beijing vacations packages, we compare with other tour operators serving your departure city and provide the lowest price available. Call our reservation center and purchase your Beijing vacations with confidence, our company has maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for many years.
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