Rabu, 13 Februari 2013

Travelling to Beijing


Now, I write down place I’ve been visit at Beijing.

Greatwall Tour

For half day tour, to Great Wall, Summer Palace, Jade factory, Pearl market – CNY 220
Which is I regret for it.
Why, the tour was fine, but I didn’t like when they took us to jade factory or tea house (it just wasting time).

Great Wall.

It was must visit place when you came to Beijing. Even many people said, there was nothing inside, but still have to visit one of 7 wonder of the world, right?

To go there:

By bus, take number 919.
Bus frequency was many, so it won’t take long time to queue. Minus thing ride bus was traffic jam. It’s horrible.

By train, in one day only had several train to Great wall, of course no traffic jam. But sometimes the train ticket sold out.

Badaling was the famous one, of course it crowded, because Badaling was the first wall opened for public, so the facility more complete. But if I had other opportunity I’ll go to other wall, with not many people visit, Juyongguan pass maybe.

During walk to the wall, many good spot to take picture. Some people ride horse.
Best time to visit, for me at 16.30 – when the sun not too bright, so it will be pleasant walking around.
Every snack, water here was expensive. I didn’t buy anything here, just water CNY 5, for 1 bottle.

Summer Palace.

Opening Hour : 06.00 – 18.30
Admission fee: CNY 60

Try to take Dragon Boat CNY 30 (round trip) at Kunming Lake, Just follow the corridor (till the end). Some craft and painting was original.
The main Palace was forbidden to enter.

Inside the Palace there were some building, but to enter it had to pay admission fee.
No building we enter here, since we joint tour so we had to follow their regulation. This is also one thing I didn’t like joint tour.

Summer Palace was queen palace, inside there were 4 pavilions, symbol of 4 seasons.
One thing I like here, many willow tree.
Also the view was beautiful, like painting (it’s true).

The palace was great, but when I came, the palace was crowded, so can’t enjoy it.

Beside building, there were market (Suzhou Street and Danning Hall), but I didn’t visit it. Maybe it’s not worth to visit, since during my trip, all market at Beijing was same. Not to cheap, they open highest price, and to buy things had to bargain till 80%, and it’s really hard bargain with them. The goods quality also not too good, for me it’s not worth.

Olympic Birds nest stadium.

Best time to visit: at Night.

The easy way, take subway, exit at B2. Then just follow the sign.
It takes probably 8 minutes walk before I saw the stadium. A long walk, but it’s beautiful.
The lamp will be shut down at 22.00, so be there before it.

Tian an Men Square and Forbidden City

Tian An Men Square
Well this place was big, and crowded. I didn’t enter or go there, just passed by. It’s only building and tower.
Also the biggest subway station I ever visit during my trip at Beijing.
The tunnel was full with people cross by to from Tiananmen to Forbidden City.
It was my first time cross such a crowded and big tunnel, full with people, I suddenly want to go up stair as soon as possible, I couldn’t breaths.

Forbidden City
Opening Hour: 08.30 -1700
Admission fee: CNY 60
I found interest web for Forbidden City : http://www.kinabaloo.com/fcf.html
Best time to visit: very early after it open, so it won’t be crowded or hot.
I think early autumn is the best time to visit Beijing, not too hot or cold.

It was my first time I ever visit such a big palace. But when I arrived it already 11.00, and had to queue at ticket counter. And believe me it not comfortable at all. We had to queue without roof above, so it’s really hot. They only print 1 ticket, 1 ticket can be for 10 persons (max), not 1 ticket for 1 person, but 1 ticket for 1 payment. At the ticket it was printed amount of the people.

Tips: Don’t forget to bring maps, it’s really big place. Also bring your own food and water.
No free map, they only rent self audio. The citizen sold the map at entrance gate.

We enter from meridian gate and exit at north gate, so we just walk straight. Because we didn’t had map and no direction, so we didn’t know where are we.

The palace was soo big, from one gate to other was so far, we walk at the left edge, there were museum along the way. It took more than 3 hour to visit the whole place. Since we didn’t through from the middle (it really hot), only at left edge, so I can’t tell what at the middle and at the right side. But as I know it similar as I saw at the movie.

Behind the palace, near north exit gate, there were nice garden. I like this place. There were many trees and beautiful pavilion. There was old tree already 200 year olds, the tree was blacks, and big, of course forbidden to touch.

Also there were small room, at inside, there were ancient interior chair, table (like I saw at china historical movie), even the wood door knob (the knob was dragon craft) still original. Many poem hang there, it already dusted.

Oh, I only found one building with 9 dragons at the roof during my travel at Beijing, it was at Forbidden Palace entrance gate.
According ancient story, long time ago, the dragon had 9 child.
Each child had different symbolizes meaning. But I didn’t know it. I just knew the smallest one Killin (If I’m not wrong the head was dragon, but had tiger body), represent of prosperity, that’s why many business people buy it.

Beihai park

From Forbidden City north exit there were Jingshan park, just cross the street.
But we didn’t visit it, we went to Beihai park.
We took bus number 109 (don’t cross the street), only one stop.
Opening Hour: 06.00- 22.00
Admission fee: CNY 20
Of course no map here: at the entrance gate there were huge board about Beihai park.

There were mini lake, and it’s beautiful. The lotus blooms so beautiful at the lake. Willow tree surround the lake.
There were food stall, restaurant and picture counter with China traditional costume.
The place was huge, we took boat cross the lake. One way CNY 10, for round trip CNY 15. We bought for one way ticket.

This place nice, quite, not too crowded, enjoy afternoon here was great.
Many citizen doing activity here, dancing, singing, wushu, exercise, walking, or just blather with their friends spend the days.

There were many interest building can be enter with out pay admission fee (some of them closed when I came). I found ancient temple here, the wood totally black, the Buddha statue was old.

Shicahai

From Beihai park we just walk cross the street. And then walk with crowded, Don’t forget to bring maps. Map at Beijing were very very important.
Actually I had better map, but I lost the link. Just Google it, you’ll find it.

We rent bike here, CNY 10 per hour. It’s cheap. We rent not at the front, but we walk in till we saw the lake. We rent with a stall keeper lady beside the lake. We got new bike. Buy Chinese snack here, it’s cheap.
Beside cycle at Shichahai can ride canoe, it’s really nice. Many place can visit here like prince Gong Mansion, there were small garden, Hou hai Gong Yuan, temples, most of them closed at 17.00.
Shichahai was near Hutong (Beijing ancient village) – just cross the street, also Drum Tower and Clock Tower. Since we didn’t have much time so we skip Drum Tower and Clock Tower. It’s already near, what a pitty.

Other place must visit was Yandaixiejie. It’s only shop there, sold many things, bag, merchandise, accessories, clothes, books, tea, etc. But I didn’t buy things here, it’s expensive.

Temple Of Heaven

Opening Hour: 08.30 - 16.30 (Park open from: 06.00 - 22.00)
Address: 214 Dongsi North Street, Dongcheng
Admission fee: CNY 35
Get in: Subway Tiantan Dong Men exit A1.

Don’t forget to bring map, it’s very important. This places is huge and big, no direction and no map, no board. 75% of this place was garden, so don’t get lost, no one or counter at the garden.


Many citizens spend their day here, gathering with friends, knit (man and women), play china chest, practicing singing, or exercise. For photo snapper, this place offer many object to be snap, but had to search it.

There were only 4 places can be visit here:
  1. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿)
The biggest place at Temple of heaven, it was place for king pray to God. The main building not too big (forbidden to enter), but the yard was huge.
  1. The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇)
Compare with The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, this place was smaller, the building also forbidden to enter.
  1. Echo Wall
No one can stand near it, it was forbidden.
Echo Wall was inside The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇).
  1. The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘)
Only round altar, nothing there, only stone.

From one place to other was very far, I mean very very far, so prepare your feet well, don’t forget brings water, and no roof above, so bring umbrella too.
For me, this place was not too worth enough to visit, unless you have no place to visit then go there.

There were some stall food, but only sold drink and snack. Oh, also there were photo corner with king costume, but I didn’t know the price.

Lama Temple

雍和宮Yōnghégōng
Address: 12 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng, Beijing
北京市城区雍和大街12
Admission fee: CNY 25
Opening hour: 09.00 - 17.00
Get In: Yonghegong subway station Exit follow the sign.

At subway station I already can feel the temple, during walk along the street to the temple, there were many store sold dupa, candle, flower. Also the only place I saw bagger at Beijing was here.

There were many Temple inside, with different Buddha statue at each building. Citizens pray or maybe tourists who understand how to pray, they pray. But we just looking around, it’s quite and clean. The quite place I ever go, during my visit at Beijing.
The Buddha was Tibet, how do I know, from the alphabet.

At the behind of the temple, there were main building, with giant statue inside. It’s was on Guinness book of World Records, the giant Buddha statue. It was state it was Maitreya Buddha, the last Buddha on this era.
(picture below, was belong to the owner, since mine not too good to share - too dark)

I like this place, recommend to visit.

Pearl Hong Qiao Market.

红桥珍珠市 (hóng qiáo zhēn zhū shì chǎng)
Address : 北京市城区天9
Opening hour from 09:30 to 19:00.

We ride taxi from Temple of Heaven to here, fare CNY 11.

This market only had 4th floor, not too big. At 1st floor there were food court, all was fast food.
The market sold bag, shoes, shirt, Chinese style clothes, pearl (at 4th floor). Bargain till 80%.
The quality not too good, I skip here, only buy bag.
The shopkeeper can speak English.

Yaxiu Market

三里屯雅秀市 
Address: Gongti Beilu 58, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体北路58
Get in: Subway get off at Guomao station, then I continue ride Bread minivan to Yaxiu CNY 10.

It was the biggest market at Beijing, and everybody recommend me to go there.

Well this place big, had 3 or 4  floors, but the things they sold similar. Price was absolutely high, need to bargain till 80% more (if you can bargain till 90% - it’s OK, why not, just try). And they not kind at all, need to be patient buying things there. I don’t like it at all. First because the goods quality was not good, and nothing special, all was fakes, but price they offered completely crazy.
The shopkeeper can speak English.

Since I’ve been to China before at Shenzhen, and I shop there (at Lou hu), the price was high too, but we can bargain till 80-90%, they kind, also the quality was goods, at least better then Yaxiu.

So for Beijing markets, for me, I prefer skip it. Better buy Beijing snack rather than goods. China product was many at my country, so why had to buy it far away, also at my country our own product, similar with them and the price was similar, sometimes cheaper at my own country, Indonesia.

The Place Mall

Add: 9 Guanghua Lu, Beijing, Chaoyang Distric.
北京市朝阳区光路甲9

I ride taxi to come here from Yaxiu market, actually it can be reach by bus (had to exchange), I already ask information centre at Yaxiu, but since we already tired so we decide to take cabs.

One of top ten malls must visit at Beijing.
This mall have giant screen at the front. Beijing citizens, especially young people gathering here at night. The screen will start turn on at 19.00.
Inside the mall, sold branded things. But we didn’t visit it.

Beijing Circumstance


It's been 5 month since my last trip to China. So, I can't write too detail, but I'll give information about place I've been visited and China circumstances. I already visit China at year 2008, but I only had chance visit south China (Shenzhen and Zhu Hai, others is Hongkong and Macau). This time I visit north China : Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuzhen.

My trip at year 2008 was by tour, so there was not much I could tell. Hongkong and Macau was easy to go, to Shenzhen, well... it needs effort. But Place I can recommend at Shenzhen is: Splendid of China and Widow of the World, shopping at Lou Hu. While Zhuhai was small town, it sold many medicines.

Since I visited north China by myself, so I have many information I can write down.
First is Beijing.

The airport was big, and queue quite long. First time came to the capital from the biggest population country in the world, trust me it was sooo crowded. I had to queue in everywhere I go.

How to go down town from Beijing Capital Airport?

  1. The easy way, by taxi.
Fare probably CNY 150. Legal taxi police number is “B”, yellow colors at arrival floor.
But to take cabs had to queue quite long (very long actually).

  1. By bus.
Buy bus ticket at bus counter, cost CNY 16 (I get off at Beijing Railway Station, since I stay nearby). Just say: “Běi jīng Zhàn - 北京站”, to the officer (don’t expect too much, the officer can't speak English, so you got to prepare by yourself).
After that queue to get in to the bus, don't forget to ask first, for the direction.



  1. Airport railway
Fare CNY 25, get off at Dongzhimen subway station. Then continue ride subway or taxi. The railway close at midnight.
 
To visit China needs to prepare many information, first no people I can ask (they didn't speak English), I arrived at 2 AM in the morning, no direction in English, all in Chinese, but if you speak and read Chinese, then it just fine.
Also, for me, I prefer ask to the passenger rather then ask the officer, since the passenger was nicer. Maybe because I was look like Chinese, they thought I was citizen.

How to ask: “qing wen, zhe ge ba si dao bei jing zhan ma? – 請問, 這個 巴士 北京站 ? (Excuse me, is this bus go to Beijing Station?). Oh, also you need to speak loudly, they speak so loud.
By the way, my Chinese alphabet was traditional (I only had traditional alphabet at my computer) and China used Simplified one.

In the bus, there were small television – no sound, it describe bus route, but once again in Chinese. Beijing station was the last stop.
Arrived at Beijing Station, we continue take cabs to the guesthouse (9 Dragon House). All cabs was illegal (we arrived at 03.00 AM, legal cabs only available inside Beijing Railway Station, which is closed), and the price they ask was too high, 10 times then normal fare.
Try to bargain. But if you look like foreign (I mean non Chinese), don’t try this, why, they won't cut the price.

If come to down town early in the morning was inconvenient, then just stay at the airport till morning, then take bus or airport railway. Many tourists did it.

Actually from guesthouse to Beijing Railway Station fare only CNY 11, but they ask CNY 140 (crazy driver), I bargain and got CNY 40, still expensive, but it was the best option, since I didn't knew the way.
Tips bargain: Don't show them you didn't know about Beijing at all.

Place I stay during my visit at Beijing:

9 Dragon House (Xinmao Hostel)

No.78, Dongsijiu Alley, Beijing, Dongcheng District
北京鑫茂青年酒店
北京市城区四九条78
Web: http://www.dragonshostel.com/Hostel%20Rooms%20&%20room%20rate.html


Tips book: book early (I book 8 month before I arrived), because the price will raise high. When I book I got CNY 158, when I arrived the price already raise to CNY 328.

9 Dragon House (Xinmao Hostel).
Bedroom was nice, had window, bathroom clean, standard facility: air conditioner, television, cup, cooking water (I didn’t knew the name – sorry), towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet, shower, toilet sandal, hanger, big mirror and cupboard, free wifi (wifi was good), no breakfast, the lamp not too light.
During my stay, I slept with open windows everyday (even I turn on the air conditioner, but I prefer fresh air), and it safe.

Front desk speak English fluently, many tourist (non Chinese) stay here.
Provide Beijing city tour (but I didn't take it, I got cheaper tour then here).
No elevator. It had 4th floor (I stay at 4th floor, and had to carry my own luggage by myself). Location is near Hutong (Beijing ancient village), near Subway station, easy to find food.
The guesthouse offer free picking from Beijing railway Station (only till 18.00).
Deposit CNY 100 was needed, and return when check out.

I had breakfast at Huguo Temple snack, only 2 minutes walk from guesthouse. It was at the main road.
Nearest subway station Zhangzizhonglu exit C, only 5 minutes walk.

Hostel 161

No. 161 Lishi Hutong, Dongsinandajie, Dongcheng District,
北京市, 城区, 礼士胡同161

Location next to Hutong, easy to find food, near main street (main street sold many things, but for me it's expensive). From Dongsi Subway station exit C, just walk 3 minutes. Deposit CNY 200.
Front desk speak English fluently, many foreign (non Asia) stay here. The interior was modern, nice hostel.

The hostel was cozy, but unfortunatelly, when we arrived there the wifi under restriction. There were free computer can be used at 1st floor (but I didn’t used it), near cafeteria. No breakfast. The fare also higher compare with Xinmao hostel CNY 358/room.

We got room at 2nd floor, but at here there were bellboy, so we didn’t have to carry our luggage by our self, of course we tipping. Room interior better rather than Xinmao Hostel, modern and clean, but at here they only provide towel, no toilet sandal, toilet equipment, hanger, big mirror nor cupboard. The light better than Xinmao hostel.
Compare with Xinmao hostel, Hostel 161 neighborhood more crowded, at Xinmao more quite. For fresh air, I prefer Xinmao hostel.

By the way, the air conditioner and television remote all in chinesse language (same with Xinmao hostel), so better ask explanation at front desk.

Huguo Temple Snack (国寺小吃店)

Address: 四北大街214(近平安大道)
Here the web: http://www.dianping.com/shop/2006086
In Chinese alphabet but you can see the food picture, also can translate by Google.

http://www.dianping.com have many information for Beijing food, at each district. It will help, but had to know Chinese alphabet since the web on Chinese.

Beijing Railway Station

It's totally crowded, many citizens slept at Beijing Railway Station, maybe they didn't get ticket so they stay there (at the yard).
Outside the station building many stall, they sold fruit, instant noodle CNY 2,5 – CNY 4 (depend on the taste), Chinese food. Price were normal, water CNY 2, fruit was cheap.

To buy train ticket had to walk, till the end of the building from subway exit.
Be careful there were many illegal pander sold train ticket, of course the price higher then buy at the counter. They offer me train ticket to Harbin, but since I was foreign they can sold it, because it need ID Cards to print at the ticket.
Harbin train ticket was hard to get, if really want to go Harbin, had to buy it at least 3 days before the day.

The counter ticket were many, but only 1 counter available for foreign (closed at 21.00) – number 16 (it stated for foreign - but many citizen buy ticket there). But if you already had itinerary and know about the train schedule, train number, just queue at every counter.
The counter closed at 24.00.
As I know – till the day I visit Beijing, the train ticket can’t buy online, there were charge CNY 150 buy online (buy not direct with the station).

At Beijing Railway Station can buy ticket to from many places.
I bought round trip ticket from Shanghai to Hangzhou, Shanghai to Suzhou here.
Here china train web: http://www.chinatrainguide.com/

Ride taxi from here, was crazy. I never saw long queue for cabs as long as here. It took 1 hour for queue. I never ride taxi from here.

Beijing Transportation

  1. Taxi
Tips ride taxi: Choose legal one, blue color, always ask for receipt. Ride taxi near subway station is easy, but at rush (morning and afternoon) hour it will be difficult.
Sometimes they refuse to bring passenger, when they way was not same with them. I had this experience once, when I ride taxi from Temple of Heaven, the driver was female, she’s kind, but she said that the direction wasn’t same with her. Maybe because at 15.00 there were changing shift for taxi driver.

Beijing taxi fare:
                                                            Day Time        23.00-05.00
Flang fall (3km)                                         10,00               11,00
After 3 km                                                  2,00                 2,40 per km
> 15km                                                  3,00                 3,40 per km
Fuel surcharge - if the journey > 3km      2,00                 2,00

There were charges for passenger CNY 1 per person. But not all taxi gave it. I only had it twice.

  1. Subway.
Don't forget to buy IC Card.
At every Subway station entrance there were scanner, all belonging had to be scan before enter the subway station. Subway clean, and crowded. Subway station closed at 23.00.
Not all station had machine to buy subway ticket, so had to queue at counter.

  1. Ricksaw
The ricksaw was using bicycle. It was cheaper ride cabs rather than ricksaw. Bargain fare before get on it.
At my country we call it Becak. Similar used bicycle, but not exactly same.

  1. Bread minivan
The rider was at front, and the passenger at behind. But only 2 passengers can ride on it. Price can be bargain.
 
     5.   Bus
           It's easy ride bus at Beijing, using IC Card to ride it was more efficient.


IC Card

How to buy it?
Not all subway station sold IC Card. I bought it at Tiananmen Subway station. Deposit CNY 20 for the card, and it can be reload by our self with ATM machine or at counter.
IC Card was refundable (full deposit and balance). But not at all subway station.


IC Card can be refund at:
Subway Lines             Stations
Line 1                          Guchenglu, Sihui
Line 2                          Fuxingmen, Xizhimen
Line 3                          Lishuiqiao, Yonghegong, Dongdan, Songjiazhuang, Xizhimen
Line 4                          Jianguomen, Beitucheng
Line 10                        Shaoyaoju, Zhichunlu
Line 13                        Dongzhimen
Airport Express           T2 of Beijing Capital Airport

I refund at T2 of Beijing Capital Airport, since at Dongzhimen (not at subway station, but at bus station – front of subway, so got to get out from the station first than cross to the bus building, by under pass) didn't receipt it. I wonder how it can't be refundable at Dongzhimen?. Till now I still didn’t know the reason. Maybe it's because the type of my card (dunno).

Since my flight at Terminal 3, but the IC Card only can be refund at Terminal 2 (I ask to the officer where I can refund it, when I buy airport railway ticket), so I get off at Terminal 2, and told the officer I'm going to refund my IC Card, I didn't had to tab my train ticket, so I can ride next train to terminal 3.

IC Card can be used at Subway station, and to ride bus.
Or buy subway ticket CNY 2 (for one single trip, single fare to all destination). Ticket can be bought only at the counter.

Book Domestic Flight

Well, travelling using train at China was comfortable, but sometimes travelling using airplane better, of course faster. Sometimes they offered cheap fare. They already open the ticket at least haft year before the date.

Cheap domestic flight:
Eastern Airlines           : http://en.ceair.com/

But for foreign can’t book it, only for citizen, but at least we can see the promotion.
Book at agents:
www.ctrip.com (I book here, for hostel at Wuzhen)

There were no charges, but before book better to read the regulation carefully.

Beijing Citizen

Well, they didn't smile, and they speak loudly. They tend not polite. So when you meet kind citizen had to be careful, maybe they want something from you (not all people like this).

When queue they tend to get in front of, also they didn't say sorry nor thank you (don't surprise with it).
They eat a lot, the portion of the meal was large.

The toilet, the cleanest one, still had “special toilet perfume”, even at branded mall, was same. So had to prepare your self before enter the toilet, bring your own paper toilet.

Ask with young people better rather than elder. Even if you speak Chinese, younger people more manner. It's hard to find people who can speak English.