We're off to China tomorrow...

aways · 06-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Anyone have any advice/suggestions or words of wisdom on how to survive/maximize enjoyment? We'll be mostly near Beijing.

vash · vash's Garage

depends, are you married?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

In Beijing be sure to not go to any touristy restaurants. If they have English menus, stay away. Get a local student for a guide and have them take you to the good places. Be sure to explore some of the cool alleyways off of Wanfujing Dajie. If you go to the Great Wall, go to Mutianyu, not Badaling. You'll be rushed by armies of folks hawking things either way. But Mutianyu will be less crowded and the drive out there is kinda pretty. It reminded me a bit of Sonoma Valley. Porsche dealership is just down the street from the giant Chairman Mao portrait on the East gate of the Forbidden City. If you want to see the real China, fly west somewhere. Beijing is waaaay too touristy and has way too many foreigners. Go to Chongqing or Chengdu.

Be sure to get a foot massage too. The blind ladies that do the full body massages are amazing. It's dirt cheap, as long as you don't go somewhere that has English signs. Take a local with you to get reasonable prices.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Another thing. If you don't want to get gouged by a taxi, take the #3 bus from the airport to the main train station (Beijing Zhan). It's 16RMB per person and very clearly marked when you come out of the airport. Don't take taxis from people that approach you. They are not real taxis and they'll gouge you. The legit. taxis don't go looking for business. You have to get them.

sprio · 06-26-2006, 08:36 AM

Just enjoy! I was there in '92 and had a wonderful time, although we travelled with a group and had a guide. We hit all of the high tourism spots, enjoyed the Temple of Heaven and Imperial Palace. Try to take in an opera (a different experience) and get out and walk the streets. Have a cold Tsing-Tao for me!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

When in Beijing drink Yanching beer!

aways · 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vash
depends, are you married?

Got a wife + 3 young kids.... That's what's going to be
challenging!

aways · 06-26-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
In Beijing be sure to not go to any touristy restaurants. If they have English menus, stay away. Get a local student for a guide and have them take you to the good places. Be sure to explore some of the cool alleyways off of Wanfujing Dajie. If you go to the Great Wall, go to Mutianyu, not Badaling. You'll be rushed by armies of folks hawking things either way. But Mutianyu will be less crowded and the drive out there is kinda pretty. It reminded me a bit of Sonoma Valley. Porsche dealership is just down the street from the giant Chairman Mao portrait on the East gate of the Forbidden City. If you want to see the real China, fly west somewhere. Beijing is waaaay too touristy and has way too many foreigners. Go to Chongqing or Chengdu.

Be sure to get a foot massage too. The blind ladies that do the full body massages are amazing. It's dirt cheap, as long as you don't go somewhere that has English signs. Take a local with you to get reasonable prices.

Rick,

Thanks much for the valuable advice! It'll help!

Joeaksa · 06-26-2006, 09:04 AM

Allen,

Be ready for an entire different life. If you go and order sweet and sour chicken, beware as it usually still has the bones and all mixed in. Many places are like this and you either wade through it for the meat or the locals just eat and spit the bad stuff out.

Still a very interesting place! Rick has been there a lot and his advise is spot on.

Joe a

jriera · 06-26-2006, 09:15 AM

+1 on the local student/guide.

Wife is from Shanghai and we did the same when in Beijing. Aside from the usual turistic spots (many of them and worth to visit), amazing back-city. Go native, do not judge and enjoy.

Follow Rick's advice and leave the city for a couple of days, the country side is just plain amazing. I had the chance to visit several small towns (my father-in-law was 'purged' during the cultural revolution and spend many years as a village-doctor) and life cannot be better (but different, do not judge nor make comparisons). We went thru 6 'wedding celebrations' with the extended family in China, just plain awesome, best food and great 'party-animals'.

PS. Keep political/religous opinions to yourself, you are on vacation. Enjoy
PPS. Start practicing how to master the chopsticks, a big plus!!

vash · vash's Garage

i forget, that the rest of this country cant use chopsticks. in san fran, it is basic knowledge.

aways · 06-26-2006, 09:49 AM

Thanks all. report when i return...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

If you want help in other cities, PM me. My friends/guides there can help you out for no or next to no money. My Beijing guide would probably take good care of your family. Folks are very friendly there, but the ones who are too friendly are often scammers. Hold onto your wallet when walking around Tiananmen Sq. or the train station. If you come across food there that you recognize, don't eat it. No Mainlander would ever know any of the stuff that's called Chinese food here. Eat what they eat. All their chicken and fish come with bones and it takes some practice to eat that stuff with chopsticks. Also, make sure to always grab a few bottles of water or green tea before you go to your hotel room for the night. They cost about 2-3RMB on the street and the stands are every 10 meters or so. You can use hotel tap water to brush your teeth, but that's it. Never go to your hotel without a few bottles of water. It's ok to talk politics with some people, but just remember that any consequences will be suffered by them and only after you leave. Nothing will happen to you. Most of the folks I talked to on my last trip knew nothing of the protester at Hu Jintao's White House meeting. Most of them know only the gov't. version of the Tiananmen Sq. crackdown, and consequently, most say the gov't. did the right thing.