GIRLS TRIP TO BEIJING
TUES NOV 24th - SAT. Nov 28th
-1 = 30 degrees
-6 = 21 degrees
-10 = 14 degrees
-16= 3 degrees
who's idea was this!
dress warm at night!
-6 = 21 degrees
-10 = 14 degrees
-16= 3 degrees
who's idea was this!
dress warm at night!
Day #1 TUESDAY November 24thDay #1 TUESDAY November 24th
Flight 8am - 11:15
- Taxi to the hotel
- Raffles : $190 complete Hotel.com - very good location to Forbidden City
- Leave the luggage and off to:
- Forbidden City - 3 hours (about 1:30 - 4:30). We got there very late - like 3:30 and they close at 5:00. It was so cold I had to run into gift shops to warm up. We didn't get to meander the way would have liked. There is a long line at the front gate with no signage. We just got in assuming it was part of the entrance and herded ourselves to the front - finding it was the security check point. The ticket office is later - far into the front gates on the left. Have your passport!
- had free cocktail hour on executive floor with staff - they were empty due to the weather and time of year- so they delightfully upgraded us. The hotel has old style rooms but very spacious. It's a part of history.
- They also allowed us to have a light buffet for dinner @ the executive lounge. Too cold to go out and drive for Peking Duck that they recommended.
- Store: Pop Up Beijing - interesting spot if you're near it.
- Another option to see is Houhai Lake. 16 minute / 7 km from hotel - we’ve seen it before.
- A must see is the Hutongs and take a rickshaw ride thru the area. We have done it before. It is located by the Lake.
It was so difficult to take photos - which meant taking your hands out of your gloves and your pockets. We have down jackets under our down jackets with wool or cashmere sweaters over our long sleeve shirts and cashmere scarfs. And we're still cold! Of course, this is not the norm for Bejieng- the wrong weekend to accomplish my bucket list before leaving China after 20 years.
DAY #2 WEDNESDAY November 25th
Raffles to 798 Art Zone 16 km - 45 minutes
798 Art Zone to Antique Market - 10 km, 30 minutes
Antique Market to Aman Resort - 13 km, 30 minutes
Panjiayuan Antique Market
AMAN RESORT
- Breakfast
- walked over to Tomb for viewing and back to Raffles - interesting but takes time for only a very brief moments of viewing Mao's tomb as you shuffle by. On a normal day this would take a long time with lines. We didn't have any.
- Pick up at 12:00 at Raffles check out w/ luggage
- Drive to 798 Art Zone 12:- 3:30 includes lunch. We could have taken much more time here - it's huge. But again it was freezing and the winds were horrendous.
- Did not do Panjiayuan Antique Market - too cold and not all open during the week. Best to view on the weekend.
- Instead drove to National Olympic Stadium "Bird's nest" for photos only - so cold!!!!!
- Then drove to Aman Summer Palace Hotel arrived just before 4:30pm. The rooms were lovely and the concept of living on the palace grounds was unique. There is a backdoor at the hotel that leads to the palace - so you don't have to go thru the public gates and wait in line.
- $700 rmb driver
- not much on drinks and bar - had dinner/ Peking Duck
Day #3 THURSDAY November 26
Summer Palace to Ming Tombs 42 km, 1 hour
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Walk the Summer Palace Lake 8am - 9:00
- returned for breakfast to warm up and back out to the rest of the grounds. The sun came out and beautiful skies. It actually became comfortable.
- Driver picked us up at noon.
- Drive to Ming Tombs. 12 - 1:00pm
- Ming Tombs 1:00 - 3:00 - again - statues were interesting - a pretty walk, but the tomb is a separate location and not interesting.
- Drive to Mutianyu - drop off at Brickyard Resort 4:30
- Driver all day $ 800
- Brickyard Thanksgiving dinner starts at 5 - 8:30 388 RMB each
Summer Palace
Ming Tombs
Brickyard Resort
Day #4 FRIDAY November 27
- Breakfast
- Had the hotel drive us to gates about 11:00
- park fee: 45 rmb
- hours for wall November 15 to next March 15: 07:30 - 17:00
- Gondola up the mountain 80 rmb
- Explore the Great Wall
- Because of the winds - we had blue skies. It's colder at the bottom and warmer as you climb.
- Toboggan down the mountain. 80 rmb- many friends that have done it - it was closed because it was too cold.
- had a late lunch at the School House. Had the Hotel pick us up and take back.
- Another night at the Brickyard with a light dinner by the fireplace.
- The rooms are lovely and so is the hotel.
Day #5 Saturday November 28
Mutianyu to Airport 52 km - 1:45 minutes
- Breakfast
- depart hotel 8:30am
- the pollution was back - we could hardly see anything. The next day it was the highest on record.
- 12:30 flight to Hong Kong
- car booked with Brickyard
- back in HK 4:10 pm
Driver: nice man - very quiet but dependable.
FEES us dollars:
Air $482
Hotels:
Raffles $190
Aman : $407
Brickyard $545 (includes car to airport)
Private Van 2 days: $236
Taxi from airport: 78
Summer Palace and Ming Tomb $20
All of Great Wall fee $12
Cable Car: $12
Toboggan : $12
Forbidden City: $19
Total $2013
EACH $1006
Eric Wang
wanght1212@163.com
Phone: 0086 18611633263
wechat/whatsapp: 0086 18611633263
website: www.beijing-carservice.com
FEES us dollars:
Air $482
Hotels:
Raffles $190
Aman : $407
Brickyard $545 (includes car to airport)
Private Van 2 days: $236
Taxi from airport: 78
Summer Palace and Ming Tomb $20
All of Great Wall fee $12
Cable Car: $12
Toboggan : $12
Forbidden City: $19
Total $2013
EACH $1006
Mutianu Great Wall: Mutianyu section is recommended for visitors looking for a casual way to experience the Great Wall.It is a masterpiece of restoration, with 23 original-style watchtowers and is the longest fully-restored Great Wall section open to tourists
