Travel cost; 800-3000RMB return flight/ 400-800RMB sleeper train (If available)
Accommodation; 70RMB/night (hostel)
Daily budget; 250RMB
It took me 10 months since first arriving in china to finally make it to the national capital thats Beijing. My September flight was expensive (1800RMB each way!) but after all the reading up I had done and study from learning Chinese I felt I knew exactly what to do and where to go for the five days I was there. In my opinion I think that there are 5 things in Beijing that you really need to see. This is what I did.
The Great Wall (长城)
The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest man made sights of the world. Although not actually in the city it is close enough to do a day trip. I booked a tour from one of the high street tour shops and it seemed that they were all offering the same various sections of the great wall. They range from 1 hour to many hour coach rides away and the most local one is often included as part of a package with a shopping experience so you only get an hour or so on the actual wall. If you want to spend more time on the wall then you can take tours to less touristy sections.
Temple of Heaven (天坛）
Temple of heaven（天坛）
The temple of heaven is accessible by the Beijing metro for only 2RMB and once there admission is reasonable.
Summer palace（颐和园）
The summer palace on the edge of Beijing proper city was made as the emperor’s private retreat in the summer and is a large expanse of beautiful architecture and botany. You get there by taking the standard 2RMB tube and there is a discount on the entry fee for students. Just be aware that the teahouses there are very expensive, however gifts are reasonably priced.
Forbidden City （故宫）
The Forbidden City is huge and when I went it was the one place that I was unable to go inside and properly visit in the time I was there.
Tiananmen square（天安门广场）
The heavenly peace square is in the centre of the city and is huge. In the day time it is open to the public and the green guards are extremely helpful at giving directions there if you get lost.
Beijing Food
I ate scorpions, locusts and pea flower cake along with the delicious Beijing roast duck. Food in Beijing is relatively expensive if you are used to living in a city like Guiyang. A medium roast duck that fed three of us cost around 180RMB at a local restaurant. If you like scorpions and crazier delicacies you can find them on Wang Fu Jing (王府井) street。 This street is a very famous street in the middle of the city. The easiest way to get within walking distance of it is to take the tube. The small yellow scorpions I ate cost 20RMB for a skewer and the locusts cost 10. You can also eat sparrows and the pea flower cake is delicious.
Accommodation
I stopped in the 360 hostel which is ideally located right at the front gate of Tiananmen Square in the center of the city. The place was clean and cheap, there are many other good hostels in a similar location. If you like hostels, then finding a good place to stay in Beijing isn’t a problem.
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