Travelling to Beijing

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

Greatwall Tour

I book tour at: http://www.greatwalltour.net/beijing-coach-tour-F.html

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.

Web: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/map/beijing.htm

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:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/greatwall.htm

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.

Web: http://www.chinavista.com/travel/yuheyuan/map.html

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/summer.htm

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.

Web: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/the-birds-nest-and-water-cube/map

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.

Forbidden city map: http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Forbidden-City-Map-big2.jpg

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

Web: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/beihai-park.jpg

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.

Shichahai Map: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/shichahai.jpg

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号 Dongsi North Street, Dongcheng

Admission fee: CNY 35

Get in: Subway Tiantan Dong Men exit A1.

Web: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/temple-of-heaven.jpg

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.

2. 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.

3. Echo Wall

No one can stand near it, it was forbidden.

Echo Wall was inside The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇).

4. The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛)

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

北京市东城区雍和宫大街12

Admission fee: CNY 25

Opening hour: 09.00 - 17.00

Web: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/yonghe-lamasery.jpg

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.

红桥珍珠市场 (hóng qiáo zhēn zhū shì chǎng)

Address : 北京市东城区天坛路9号

Opening hour from 09:30 to 19:00.

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

This market only had 4^th floor, not too big. At 1^st floor there were food court, all was fast food.

The market sold bag, shoes, shirt, Chinese style clothes, pearl (at 4^th floor). Bargain till 80%.

The quality not too good, I skip here, only buy bag.

The shopkeeper can speak English.

Yaxiu Market

三里屯雅秀市场 

Address: Gongti Beilu 58, Chaoyang District

朝阳区工体北路58号

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

世贸天阶

Add: 9 Guanghua Lu, Beijing, Chaoyang Distric.

北京市朝阳区光华路甲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).

2. 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.

The bus had several route, this is the web: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/transportation/airport-shuttle.htm

3. 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 到 北京站 嗎? (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

北京市东城区东四九条78号

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 4^th floor (I stay at 4^th 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, 东城区, 礼士胡同161号

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 1^st 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 2^nd 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 (护国寺小吃店)

Address: 东四北大街214号(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

Web: http://www.beijingtrip.com/transport/taxi.htm

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.

2. Subway.

Web: http://www.chinahighlights.com/image/map/beijing-subway-map-new.jpg

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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

Air China Airlines       : http://www.airchina.com.cn/en/html/index/index.shtml

Eastern Airlines           : http://en.ceair.com/

Southern Airlines        : http://ec.csair.com/B2C/modules/order/internal/bookOrder.jsp

But for foreign can’t book it, only for citizen, but at least we can see the promotion.

Book at agents:

www.9588.com (I book here: http://ticket.9588.com/FlightTicket/Main_E.aspx)

www.elong.net.com

www.ctrip.com (I book here, for hostel at Wuzhen)

www.travelzen.com

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.

Perjalanan ke Beijing - 3

Beijing, Senin, 20 Agustus 2012

Last day at Beijing.

Seharusnya kalau kita dapet tiket kereta api ke Harbin, saat ini kita sudah dalam perjalanan menuju ke Temple on Bliss, tapi apa mau dikata no seat – train sudah full book. Banyak orang lokal yang berkunjung ke Harbin.

Bangun pagi hari ini langsung telpon hostel minta extend lagi 1 malam, and ternyata no room available, jadi kita terpaksa kudu pindah.

Langsung, on line ipad and handphone nyari penginapan. Untung koneksi bagus, ga lemot. Rada susah juga sih nyarinya, selain karena kita nyari yang murah, juga nyari yang daerahnya ga jauh dari tempat wisata dan dekat dengan subway station.

Penginapan yang murah, transportasi susah, penginapan yang Ok segalanya, mahal. Budget hostel cuma CNY 250 (secara harga hostel kita CNY 228, tapi normal rate sudah CNY 328). Dengan budget segitu kita ga dapet penginapan, akhirnya budget dinaikkan jadi CNY 300, cari pake Booking.com (my fav web buat book penginapan).

Geser ke kiri, geser ke kanan, akhirnya ketemu Hostel 161 – CNY 359 – no breakfast (ini sudah hostel termurah dengan fasilitas paling bagus), di daerah Hutong. Hutong : Perkampungan kuno – konon perkampungan ini asli seperti jaman dahulu kala- di Beijing. Langsung  kita book, beberes, packing, sarapan mie instant beli dari Beijing Railway Station kemarin. Tinggal diXinmao hostel juga sudah berasa perkampungan kunonya.

Check out, ambil duit deposit CNY 100. Rencana naik subway, tadi sekilas lihat kalo Hostel 161 dekat stasiun subway. Sampai di exit C Zhangzizhonglu subway kita berubah pikiran, naik taxi aja, biar ga repot naik turun subway.

Soalnya subway disini kagak ada elevatornya, kan lumayan angkat koper naik turun tangga.

Ya udah geser ke pinggir jalan raya. Tidak ada bus stop disana.

Ada taxi yang lewat, tapi keduluan orang lain (mungkin orang tu buru buru ke kantor), ada juga taxi yang ga mau berhenti (mungkin takut kalo minta diantar ke Beijing Railway station – disana maacceeettt luas biasa, pas office hour, soalnya keliatan bawa koper).

Disini juga berlaku 2 in 1 (kalo diJakarta 3 in one). Jadi kita dihampiri mobil pribadi ditanya mau kemana, tapi tidak searah. Ada sih cowok cakep, mobil keren yang menghampiri, tapi dia tidak mengerti alamat Hostel 161. Bukan hostelnya yang terletak di jalan kecil, but saya yang kurang lengkap and salah nulis alamatnya... Coba kalo ga, kan lumayan dapet tebengan mobil keren gratis hehehehe.....

Karena ga dapet dapet taxinya, - disini susah kalo mo nyari taxi, soalnya pagi jam 8 lebih, lagi jam jamnya masuk kantor, jadi taxinya susah – so, kita masuk lagi dah ke subway station naik subway ke Hostel 161, and berharap subway tidak rame.

Get off di stasiun Dongsi keluar dari exit C (kalo ga salah inget), langung liat map didepan subway (ada papan map besar), nyari Hostel 161. karena saya salah tulis seharusnya Hostel 161, saya tulis Hostel 16, jadi baca petanya ikutan salah. Dari exit C seharusnya langsung ke arah sebelah kiri, tapi kita ambil jalan sebelah kanan.

Bertanya ke orang orang alamat hostel, arahan benar, sesuai dengan yang saya tulis, tapi berhubung saya salah tulis, jadi yang seharusnya bisa ditempuh 5 menit ke hostel jadi 45 menit.... aigooo....soalnya jalannya muter – jauuhhh.....

Hostel 161, Address :

No. 161 Lishi Hutong, Dongsinandajie, Dongcheng District,

北京市, 东城区, 礼士胡同161号

Setelah jalan sampe gempor, kehausan, akhirnya sampailah kita di Hostel 161.

Pihak hostel sampe kaget, barusan book 1 jam yang lalu, lha koq udah nongol di depan mereka hehehe…. Disini deposit key lebih mahal CNY 200.

Tampilan hostel cozy. banyak turis bule disini. Hanya sayangnya wifi cuma bisa diakses di cafetaria, sebab wifi masih dalam perbaikan, and tidak ada lift disini. Suasana cafeteria lebih bagus dibandingkan Xinmao Dragon Hostel, interior hostel juga lebih modern.

Untung dapat room dilantai 2, dah gitu ada pegawai yang bisa bantu angkatin koper ke kamar. Kalo di Xinmao hostel kita bawa sendiri. Kasih tips CNY 10, buat bell boy yang bantuin angkat 2 koper.

Interior kamar, perabot, kamar mandi semua lebih bagus dibandingkan dengan Xinmao Hostel (interior lebih modern), tapi fasilitas didalam toilet lebih lengkap di Xinmao Hostel.

Disini hanya disediakan handuk saja, tidak ada sabun, shampoo, sikat gigi, tidak ada sandal kamar mandi juga. Tempat tidur, selimut juga lebih bagus dan bersih. TV sama, bukan TV flat. Tetangga depot mie, tapi ga pernah mampir hehehe….

Oh ya, kalo tidak bisa bahasa mandarin, jangan lupa tanya petunjuk menyalakan AC, soalnya remotenya semua in Chinese (kayaknya semua penginapan disini remotenya pakai bahasa Cina).

Setelah beristirahat, akibat gempor jalan jauh sambil nenteng koper, kita naik subway ke Temple of Heaven.

Oh ya saya mau share pengalaman saya naik MRT di Beijing.

Hari ini waktu saya naik MRT menuju ke Tiantan Subway station, digerbong kereta terdapat sebuah keluarga, papa, mama, anak laki laki 3 orang, paman, bibi. Dan salah satu dari anak mereka keliatan banget kalo lagi ga enak bodi.

Bener aja, sebelum kereta tiba di stasiun Tiantan anak itu muntah muntah. And you know what, yah seperti biasa penumpang yang lain semua menyingkir. Tapi tidak ada satupun penumpang yang membantu keluarga itu.

Jangankan orang lain, keluarga sendiri aja cuek bebek. Cuma si papa aja, sungkan dengan penumpang lain. Karena kasian saya bantu, saya kasih beberapa lembar tisse basah (soalnya papanya pake tangan bersihin muntahan anaknya). Tissue basah itu pertama tama dipakai bersihin lantai kereta, sisanya bersihin anaknya sama tangan papanya. Waktu saya mau turun, saya kasih botol air minum saya ke anak itu, dan beberapa lembar tissue basah lagi, kasian banget soalnya.

And you know what, tidak ada ucapan terima kasih sama sekali, senyumpun tidak. Saya sampe kaget, koq ada yah orang yang kayak gitu. Keluarganya juga keliatan ga peduli....wah... wah.... wah...中國真的希要救求了....

Back to my trip...

Info yang saya dapat dari internet kalo Temple of Heaven ini lebih besar dari Forbidden palace (what???) and lebih kecil dari Summer Palace, padahal tempat yang bisa dikunjungi disini lebih sedikit dibandingkan Summer Palace.

Map Temple of Heaven : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/temple-of-heaven.jpg

Alamat : 214号 Dongsi North Street, Dongcheng

Kami hanya memilih 4 tempat utama yang akan kami kunjungi :

1. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿)
2. The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇)
3. The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛)
4. Echo Wall

So kita naik Subway get off di Tiantan Dong Men, take eixt A1. Dari exit berjalan mengikuti orang orang. Seperti tempat wisata yang lain, minim papan petunjuk.

Kami masuk dari East gate, dan rencana get out dari South gate.

Tiket masuk CNY 35.

Pada tiket terdapat tiket masuk ke :

1. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿)
2. The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇)
3. The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛)

Jadi tiket jangan sampai hilang, karena dimasing masing gate diminta menunjukkan tiket.

Tempat ini luas sekali. Mungkin 75% isi tempat ini adalah taman. Tamannya besaaarrr sekali.

Banyak sekali orang lansia berkumpul disini, merajut, bercerita, latihan menyanyi, main catur cina. Ada satu kakek kakek – walaupun sudah uzur tapi bisa merajut, pakai 2 stick lho, bukan 1 stick.

Keren, biarpun cowok and udah tua, tapi bisa merajut - Salut

Karena kita sudah gempor sebelumnya jadi tambah males rasanya.

Kalo berkunjung ke sini pagi atau sore hari paling bagus, kalo siang panasnya ampun dah.

Kalau lihat di peta, dari pintu masuk menuju ke The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) seharusnya tidak jauh. Tapi kenyataannya jauuuhhh sekali.

Sampai di gate Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, hanya ada 1 building (seperti yang terlihat diinternet or foto orang orang yang berkunjung kesini). Bangunannya tidak besar, hanya saja pelatarannya luas sekali.

Didalam bangunan ada banyak patung, yang saya ingat ada patung sapi.

Interior Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿)

Hari ini saya bawa kamera tapi baterainya masih didalam charger di hostel – lupa ga dikeluarin, so hasil foto hari ini standart.

Mungkin kita disini hanya 15 menit, langsung keluar menuju ke The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇).  Jalan menuju ketempat ini hanya luruuusss aja,  tapi jalannya panjaaannnggg.... Kami sempat beristirahat sebentar dibawah pohon, abis jalannya jauh banget and panaassss, jadi haus plus laper, tambah males jalan, mau balik juga ga mungkin, sudah terlanjur jalan jauh.

Sampai digate, kami dimintai karcis, toleh kiri, toleh kanan, mencari Echo wall.

Konon dulu, kata orang yang sudah pernah kesini, kalo di Echo wall bisa mendengar suara orang yang berbisik di tembok. Jadi kalo berdiri ditembok sebelah kiri, berbisik, bisikannya bisa didengar disisi tembok yang lain.

Tapi waktu saya kesana, temboknya dipagari, tidak boleh berdiri dekat tembok. Yah..... batal nyoba Echo wall. Lokasi Echo wall dientrance gate The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇).

Bentuk bangunan The Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇) sama persis dengan Hall of Prayer for G

ood Harvests. Hanya saja pelatarannya tidak luas, dan tidak bertingkat. That’s all.

Hanya 10 menit saja disini trus kita lanjut ke Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛).

Mirip seperti bagunan Borobudur (maksudnya bertingkatnya)

Jalan kaki sebentar menuju ke sini. Hanya ada bangunan tangga bertingkat seperti pelataran di Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, hanya saja tidak ada bangunan diatasnya.  Interiornya melingkar, banyak orang yang berkeliling disana, saya tidak mengerti untuk apa, since I skip it. For me it’s not worth.

Ya udah selesai berfoto sebentar kita langsung cabut.

Mau nyari gate exit susahnya minta ampun. Sama sekali ga ada orang yang bisa ditanyain, Cuma berbekal peta yang sudah saya print saja, untung saja ada papan map ditaman.

Tamannya luas buanget, mau masuk, mau keluar, mau pindah dari satu gedung ke gedung lain, jalannya….alamak, gempor abis…. Saya koq kurang suka sama tempat ini, selain karena bentuk bangunannya sama, didalam juga tidak ada apa apa.

Kios kios yang berjualan juga ga banyak, rata rata kayak warung, jualan snack, merchandise, ada kios foto pake kostum raja disini.

For me, not worth to visit. Kecuali sudah tidak ada tempat yang bisa dikunjungi, ya mainlah ke sini. Kalo ga, Temple of Heaven alternatif terakhir aja.

Finally exit gate terlihat, kami berpapasan dengan orang orang yang baru akan masuk kesini. Paling bagus entrance dari South gate, memang jauh, tapi exitnya nanti gampang.

Keluar dari exit, saya sudah tidak sanggup jalan lagi (ke Subway station), yang ternyata jauuuuhhh banget (dekat pintu masuk), ooohhhh nooo…..mau naik bis, ga tau no berapa, mau naik taxi, semua tidak pake argo, alias main getok harga….

Tanya sama orang yang kebetulan lewat, kagak bisa menjelaskan, cuma bilang kudu jalan sampe keliatan jembatan baru naik bis dari sana (next stop : Pearl Hong Qiao market).

Ya udah naik taxi di jalan aja. Kita berdiri di bus stop nyegat taxi disana. Taxi pertama, keren (mobilnya) sopirnya cewek, begitu tau kita mo ke Pearl Hong Qiao market, kita disuruh turun, karena dia tidak lewat kesana. Dia menuju ke arah yang berbeda.

Aneh ya, mau naik taxi, bayar lho, tapi kudu menyesuaikan dengan supir.

Ya udah, kita nyebrang ke bus stop disebrang. Pengalaman naik taxi disini, jangan mau ngalah, kalo ada taxi berhenti, walaupun penumpang belum turun, sudah kudu stand by dipintu, kalo ga, taxinya bakal disamber orang.

Profesi supir taxi disini sepertinya laku keras ya.....

Tarif taxi di beijing :

	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 surchage - if the journey > 3km	￥    2,00	￥        2,00

Naik taxi dari temple of Heaven ke Pearl Hong Qiao market CNY 11.

Pearl Hong Qiao Market.

红桥珍珠市场 (hóng qiáo zhēn zhū shì chǎng)

Address : 北京市东城区天坛路9号

Opens from 09:30 to 19:00.

Tempatnya menurut saya tidak besar. Hanya ada 4 floor saja. Tujuan pertama lunch.

Masuk ke Mc Donald. Mau oder juga tidak gampang, since all menu in chinese, jadi tunjuk gambar aja.

Rata rata makanan disini kategory junk food.

Mau makan (sudah jam 2 siang) susah nyari duduknya, full. Karena banyak anak sekolah yang main kesini. Ada yang pacaran. Yang turis ada orang India and Jepang, plus kita.

Selesai isi tenaga, baru kita keliling. Disini kita beli tas tangan CNY 50/biji, beli 3 and Jaket CNY 50. Yang menurut info penjual yang lain terlalu murah, menurut saya ya memang segitulah harganya (mungkin seharusnya bisa lebih murah).

Belanja disini nawar setega teganya minta potongan sampe 80 %, kalo bisa 90% lebih bagus. Soalnya barangnya ga ada mutunya sama sekali.

Di sini saya ga pengen belanja sama sekali. Barang barang sama kayak di Indo (maklum di Indo banyak barang made in China), malahan kalo beli di Indo bisa lebih murah kali (soalnya kita dikasih harga turis disini). Pengunjung juga tidak begitu banyak.

Menurut saya lebih bagusan Mangga dua pasar pagi.

Masa baju kain tipis, jahitan ga karuan, cuma modelnya aja keren – Shanghai look, buka harga sampe CNY 280. Untung ga pengen beli, begitu saya berlalu harga dituruni penjual sampe CNY 25 (padahal saya ga nawar sama sekali). Gila ga, jadi ga pengen beli barang sama sekali disini.

Padahal di Indo, banyak tuh kaos yang harganya cuma sepuluh rebu. Disini harga kaos CNY 100, jadi males dah nawarnya.

Disini jual baju, tas, dompet, sandal, sepatu,  semua modelnya standard. Beda banget sama kalo di Bangkok, begitu masuk ke tempat belanja, dah laper mata, pengen blanja blanji.

Lantai paling atas jual mutiara, tapi ga tau kualitasnya, asli or palsu.

Saya jadi ga percaya sama kualitas barang yang dijual, walaupun barang butik or counter keren (pengalaman hari pertama waktu beli gelang giok di pabrik giok). Bisa aja counter keren tapi yang dijual barang kualitas jelek.

Kata temen yang sekul di sini, beli barang disini, ada harga ada rupa, jadi ga murah murah amat. Mending duitnya buat yang laen aja kali yah....

Jam 4 sore, kita cabut naik subway menuju ke Yonghegong (Lama Temple). Yang menurut info diinternet, tempat ini bagus, dan banyak orang yang rekomen. Apakah seperti itu? Let me continue...

Get off dari Yonghegong subway, interiornya sudah berbeda. Disubway yang lain ga ada pilar merah, disini tembok pilarnya semua dicat warna merah. Sudah terasa nuansa kelentengnya. Saya lupa exit berapa, sepertinya mudah cari aja tulisan Yonghegong

Disepanjang jalan menuju ke Lama temple banyak toko yang berjualan peralatan sembahyang. Dikiri maupun kanan jalan. Disepanjang jalan ini, temboknya dicat warna merah, dan ini pertama kalinya saya lihat pengemis di Beijing. Biasanya didaerah temple banyak pengemis.

Lama Temple

雍和宮 – Yōnghégōng

Address: 12 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng, Beijing

北京市东城区雍和宫大街12

Tiket masuk CNY 25

Ditiketnya pake barcode, jadi tiket masukknya discan and ada mini CD didalamnya. Setelah pulang saya lihat, isinya tentang temple dan biksu (saya tidak mengerti isi pembicaraannya) cuma liat gambar doang.

Menuju Yonghegong dari pelataran parkir melewati taman, bagus, rapi, terawat. Seperti tempat lainnya tidak ada map, jadi tidak tau lokasi. And saya tidak  print peta temple ini.

So jalan sesuka hati aja. Masuk kedalam ada temple didepan, saya kurang tau temple untuk dewa apa, kalo ga salah dewi kwan Im (sudah lupa, maklum nulis blognya sebulan kemudian). Dibelakang temple itu ada prasasti (ga tau apa itu), cuma banyak orang lempar uang koin disana (khususnya turis bule, orang latin), koin yang dilempar kalo bisa nyangkut diprasasti itu bagus, semakin tinggi – maksudnya diatas, semakin bagus. Mungkin bisa hoki gitu kali yah. Disampingnya ada lonceng kuno item yang gueede.

Banyak orang bersembahyang ditemple depan, kebanyakan orang Cina.

Berjalan masuk kedalam, ternyata didalam ada temple lagi. Yonghegong, temple yang banyak bangunan didalamnya. Seperti di Sleeping Budha (Bangkok), jadi masuk di kawasan temple, didalamnnya banyak temple untuk menyembahyangi arahat. Hanya saja style bangunannya ala China, dan sepertinya Budha aliran Tibet karena huruf  papan nama templenya pakai huruf Tibet, bukan aksara mandarin. Juga bangunannya tidak seluas Sleeping Budha (Wat Pho) di Bangkok.

Terlihat 2 orang biksu melintas, mereka menuju ke belakang temple, jadi saya ikuti saja. Dibelakang ternyata, sepertinya bangunan induk, ada temple yang besar dan bangunannya bagus. Dan anak naga diatas atapnya berjumlah 9 ekor. Jadi pasti temple yang satu ini bukan temple biasa.

Patung Budha Maitreya. Ambil dari Mbah Google, soalnya kamera ga support, tempat gelap - kurang cahaya.

Ditembok luar tertulis, didalam ada rupang Budha Maitreya, tinggi dan besar (saya lupa ukurannya), yang tertulis disana bahwa Budha Maitreya adalah Budha akhir jaman. Temple ini tercatat di Guiness book record of the world.

Nice place, not crowded, sore hari duduk duduk disini juga bagus, tenang. Tapi tidak setenang temple yang saya kunjungi di Sunmoonlake – Taichung, Taiwan (disana lalat terbangpun terdengar). Tempat paling sunyi sepanjang saya mengunjungi Beijing.

Nih saya kasih web peta templenya : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/beijing/yonghe-lamasery.jpg

So kesimpulannya, temple ini layak dikunjungi. Berkeliling disini 1 – 1,5 jam cukup.

And toiletnya juga lumayan bersih (lumayan, tidak begitu bau).

Keluar dari temple, (karena sudah tutup) langsung mencari makan. Saya menuju ke Fairy Su (Depot vege).

Fairy Su Vegetarian Restaurant (素精灵)
Location: No.30, Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District

Untuk harga makanan, terjangkau, taste good. Seperti biasa di Cina masakannya berminyak, yang mahal minuman. Harga jus disini per gelasnya CNY 18.

Tempat cozy, seperti restaurant berbintang.

Setelah makan kita lanjut menuju ke Yaxiu, pusat perbelanjaan di Beijing, yang lebih besar dari Pearl Hongqiao Market.

Yaxiu Market

三里屯雅秀市场 

Address: Gongti Beilu 58, Chaoyang District

朝阳区工体北路58号

Dari Yonghegong kami naik subway exchange di Dongdan ke stasiun Guomao, dan disambung naik bajaj (saya tidak tau apa istilah kendaraan ini di Cina) menuju kesini CNY 10. Waktu menulis blog ini saya cari info, ternyata namanya "bread cars" (Minivans) (mianbao che) lucu yah….

Bentuknya kayak bajaj, tapi kursi penumpangnya – seperti tempat roti (kotak, kaca putih polos), Cuma bisa diisi 2 orang saja.

Yaxiu, yah kurang lebih kayak Mangga dua pasar pagi, tapi lebih kecil. Dilantai 1 berjualan baju. Dan yang kurang menariknya, disini semua toko jualan barang yang sama. And harganya gila gilan, jadi kudu nawarnya super duper tega.

Dah gitu disini penjualnya kasar kalo ngomong. Jadi males beli.

Barangnya sama seperti baju diIndo, ga ada spesial spesialnya. Harganya juga kurang lebih sama (setelah ditawar, selisih paling dikit aja). Lantai 2 berjualan sandal, sepatu, tas, dompet. Lantai 3, peralatan elektronik, asesoris HP, kamera. Saya cuma beli baju model cina sebiji saja.

Karena sudah malam, and nanggung masih jam setengah 9, kami lanjut menuju mall. Sebelumnya sudah nyari info di mbah Google kalo kalo The Place mall, tempat hangout nya anak muda disana. Mall ini keren, paling bagus dikunjungi malam hari jam 9 an.

Soalnya ada big screen di sana, satu satunya mall yang bisa kayak gitu diAsia Tenggara.

The Place Mall

世贸天阶

Add: 9 Guanghua Lu, Beijing, Chaoyang Distric.

北京市朝阳区光华路甲9

The Place Mall, mall terbesar ke 4 di Beijing.

Karena sudah malam jadi kami naik taxi saja. Kami bertanya ke information center dilantai 1 Yaxiu market, dan minta tolong untuk dituliskan nama The Place mall in China. Petugas – cewe, dengan senang hati menuliskannya, katanya anak muda memang harus kesana, diberi petunjuk kalo mau naik bis, saya dengarkan saja, walaupun saya ga pengen naik bis.

Naik taxi kesana tarif CNY 11. Sampai disana kagum juga dari luar tampaknya mall yang satu ini branded banget, jadi ga pede mo masuknya.

Banyak orang duduk ditangga, menikmati film yang ditayangkan di Big screen, film tentang luar angkasa. Tidak ada tokoh, cuma efek suara dan gambar berwarna yang keren.

Setelah film selesai (+/-15 – 20 menit), ditampilkan MV lagunya Madonna, saya tidak tau judul lagunya apa.

Selesai melihat film, kami masuk ke dalam mall, mau numpang ke toilet.

Walaupun mall terbesar ke 4, yang namanya toilet tetep aja sama. Semua toilet di China khasnya kayak gitu.

Barang disini mahal mahal and keliatan banget kalo branded. Kita masuk ke salah satu swalayan, beli roti and cari baterai.

Waktu sudah jam 10 malam, sudah banyak tenant yang tutup. Jadi kami memutuskan untuk pulang.

Dari sini naik taxi ke Hostel 161 tarif CNY 13, tapi kena charge CNY 2. Ada tiket yang harus dibayar per penumpang CNY 1. Saya ga tau kenapa kena charge, ya udah dibayar aja.

That all my Trip at Beijing, see you at other city...