Travel: China - Beijing

[dunnoleh]

insider:

... Am very keen to visit the date tree that was planted in memory of one of my best heroes 文天祥。...

文天祥 is also one of my biggest heroes!

His refusal to yield to the Mongols and composing the 正气歌 left a deep impression in my mind, since reading it from primary school days.

ya, with limited time available, it sounds reasonable to visit a monument of 文天祥 instead of 和珅.
they are like exact opposites of each other,
文天祥 = executed for his loyalty(as a Song subject)
vs.
和珅 = executed for his corruption(as a Qing official)
:lol:

[verykiasu2010]

an Audi taxi for a day job to Great Wall (Badaling) from city centre, and back to downtown any location (eg dinner, shopping, hotel etc) is about Rmb 450, 4 or 5 pax. Pre-negotiate, not based on meter

[schweppes]

Thanks for sharing, Insider. Makes me want to visit Beijing now. Glad that you enjoyed yourself there :lol:

[growie]

Thanks Insider for your generous and detailed sharings.

:thankyou:
Yes..sure make us want to go next year..and looking at end Nov or so. We like to DIY our holidays too although sourcing for information from hotels/apartments to planning the sights and sounds for each day can be taxing. But nevertheless it's still worth all the effort.

[taz]

insider:

schweppes:

Thanks for sharing, Insider. Makes me want to visit Beijing now. Glad that you enjoyed yourself there :lol:

hahaha...I didn't have enough time there and may make a second trip next year (though likely next year I will cover 西安 and 南京).

Beijing may start to snow this coming Thursday with highest temperature at minus 1. Climbing Great Wall during snowy season I heard is very beautiful and I think the most beautiful part is still there's minimal crowd...

Thanks for sharing Especially your beautiful photos.

Flying off next tue night to Beijing w hubby n 2kids 5&9yo on package tour.
Did not know that Beijing is so cold in dec ( blur mummy ie me who do the booking). Some more, 1st winter for us.
Is it so cold to walk ?
Must wear fully equipped w long John, woolen sweater n down jacket, w scarfs, glove, cap ?
Down jacket a must ?

Have started packing n realized that I look like moving house

[taz]

Hi Insider,

Thank you so much for your info and efforts to take the pics.

Seem that I am the only one not equiped with down outer jacket, only got 100% polyester outer jacket.

How we know the jacket is windproof ?

4 of us have no waterproof shoes.
Track/sport shoe cannot ? My hubby said that it will get wet and wind also can get into the track/sport shoe

[growie]

Wow..you are so brave to 'tell the boy off\"!! :udawoman:

Agreed with you on that part that the locals are expert in \"jumping queue\". Getting off the subway is a challenge too. People will rush in before letting passengers to alight. It's a mad and angry rush all the time when you take the subways. Pedestrian crossings are of no help too as the motorists will not give way. You have to literally 'fight' your way in getting across the roads. :siam:

[slejes]

will be first time visiting Beijing, pls advise is it better to go F&E, or go with tour group? Better to go during the June school holiday or Dec school holiday? :?


Thanks

[verykiasu2010]

slejes:

will be first time visiting Beijing, pls advise is it better to go F&E, or go with tour group? Better to go during the June school holiday or Dec school holiday? :?


Thanks

June is hot, Dec is bitterly cold !.......ok June not so hot lah....Aug is hottest in terms of temp. best time is Oct, autumn

personally I would prefer F&E, with the subway and airport express train around these days, we can now avoid quite a bit of traffic jam

book your own ticket and hotels, surf the net for places to visit and eat and shop ........no tourist traps to irritate you too

[MdmKS]

Planning to visit Beijing. Anyone could advise me whether it is cheap to buy ipad, ipod and iphone over there and if so where is the place ?