SteelBird's first trip to China

SteelBird

SteelBird

Colonel
solarz said:
You can always use cash. Go to ticket booths to buy train tickets. If you're planning to visit the Forbidden Palace or the Tiananmen Square, you MUST book in advance.

To go to the Great Wall, take the HSR. Don't trust companies that promote tour buses, they have a bad habit of cancelling on you if there aren't enough people. The HSR goes to right to the foot of the Great Wall, where you can either climb up or take a trolley. If you don't have any physical problems, I highly recommend climbing up.

The above are my personal experiences from visiting Beijing in November 2024.
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I think I will bring both WeChat/Alipay and cash (need more smaller money). I heard about Forbidden Palace ticket purchase. I will buy it before departure. Great Wall doesn't need to book ticket in advance? I plan to join local tour to visit around in Beijing. Sound like it's not a good idea?
 
Q

qwertyu

Just Hatched
Registered Member
May be rename this thread to 'China Travel'?

I did a fair amount of traveling in SE Asia, but only been to China two times, both were just twenty hours long due to flight lay over.

I would like to learn more about HOW to travel in China. Where to go, what to see, good eating places, etc.
 
solarz

solarz

Brigadier
SteelBird said:
I think I will bring both WeChat/Alipay and cash (need more smaller money). I heard about Forbidden Palace ticket purchase. I will buy it before departure. Great Wall doesn't need to book ticket in advance? I plan to join local tour to visit around in Beijing. Sound like it's not a good idea?
Click to expand...

Depends, do you speak or read any Chinese? Personally I don't like tour groups, but if you don't speak Chinese, it might be easier to join a tour group.

You can book the Great Wall in advance, but you don't have to. It might still be a good idea though.
 
solarz

solarz

Brigadier
qwertyu said:
May be rename this thread to 'China Travel'?

I did a fair amount of traveling in SE Asia, but only been to China two times, both were just twenty hours long due to flight lay over.

I would like to learn more about HOW to travel in China. Where to go, what to see, good eating places, etc.
Click to expand...

If you haven't already done so, the Great Wall and the Forbidden Palace are both obligatory visits.

After that, you can explore more of Beijing, or visit other cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing. I also highly recommend visiting Xinjiang if you have the time.
 
SteelBird

SteelBird

Colonel
solarz said:
Depends, do you speak or read any Chinese? Personally I don't like tour groups, but if you don't speak Chinese, it might be easier to join a tour group.

You can book the Great Wall in advance, but you don't have to. It might still be a good idea though.
Click to expand...
Yes, I do speak, read and write Chinese. I don't have communication problem in China.
 
solarz

solarz

Brigadier
SteelBird said:
Yes, I do speak, read and write Chinese. I don't have communication problem in China.
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In that case, I would highly recommend going by yourself. Tours are way too rushed and you waste a lot of time going from one site to another.

In addition to the Great Wall and the Forbidden Palace, I recommend 天坛、颐和园、圆明园、景山公园. In the latter, you can get a great view of the Forbidden Palace in its entirely.
 
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