Beijing Travel to the Great Wall and Many Others
If you've got Beijing travel plans, you'll soon find yourself in one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Beijing is home to the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and much more. That is 3 of the most historically significant tourist sites in the world. All in a single city. Best of all, most of the attractions and establishments in Beijing are affordable to visitors on just about any budget. We are going to focus on the best information that will save you time, money and long waits in tourist queues. People touring China often refer to the Lonely Planet China
All the information you'll need in order to survive any Beijing travel plan can be found in the Lonely Planet. Just remember that once any undiscovered attraction, hotel or restaurant gets a mention in the Lonely Planet, they quickly become tourist traps. The owners of these restaurants and hotels raise their prices and the crowds of tourists soon follow. It's big business, but taking a copy of the Lonely Planet along with you is never a bad idea. You can get more information about the Lonely Planet China at Amazon.com Or you could bid on a copy on the auction site Ebay.com Even if you buy a slightly used copy of last years edition, it's worth it. Some of them can be bought for $3 or less. Arriving at Beijing's International AirportI flew into the ultra-modern Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). It's located in the Shunyi District, about 20km North-East of the Beijing city center. Arriving at the airport is an experience in awe. The airport is a wonder of architectural achievement that will keep you interested while lacking nothing. The Chinese spared no expense in order to offer the best impression of a growing China to foreigners with Beijing travel plans. It really is the modern flagship of one of the oldest cultures in the world. I purchased my air tickets online with CheapOair Their price on the flight, including all taxes and fees, was simply the best price. And I felt comfortable using them as part of my Beijing travel plans. The advantages to booking your flight online are many and growing. When you book an Air ticket purchased online can in many ways be modified online. For example, if you want to change the date of your return flight, you can do that online. Also, remember that the further you book ahead, the cheaper the flight will be. Get Your Chinese Visa Before You Travel to BeijingYou'll need a Chinese tourist Visa before you do any Beijing travel. There are working visas and business visas to China but we focus on the Chinese tourist visa or 'The L Visa' and what you'll need to do to get one. Find out more from the China Visa page. You can download the Chinese Visa Application Form there. Leaving the Airport for the Beijing City Center
It's so refreshing to be able to get off a plane and not worry about having to...
and then Sometimes it doesn't make sense to choose the cheapest possible option. When alternatives are about that save you massive amounts of time, hassle, stress and sleep, it may be worth the extra money. Budget travel Asia doesn't mean you have to suffer. Arriving in Beijing after a 15 hour flight on a plane, and especially at night, consider using an airport pickup service. Warning! Using these pre-arranged airport pickup services are addictive. Once you've used them, it can be hard to return to hauling bags onto public buses to save $20 Bucks. The best value for cost airport pickup service shouldn't cost more than $30USD each way. Taking the public bus into the city center can cost you as little as $5USD but they are not the same thing. Find out more about the best value airport pick-up service I used the airport pickup service when I went to travel Beijing in early 2008. My flight was delayed a couple of hours and I wasn't too sure what to expect on arrival. When I walked out of customs, there was a little Chinese man waiting for me. He was waving a sign in his hands that had my name on it. My driver was there waiting for me at 1.30am in the morning! He was really nice, spoke good English and insisted on carrying my bags. It is one of the few times I'll pay the extra $20USD to get to my hotel, without hassle of waiting for a bus and hauling my bags. We walked to the minivan my driver had parked just outside arrivals. He spoke loads as we walked, telling me all abut Beijing and asking me loads of questions. He wasn't just a driver but a tour guide as well. He gave me a ton of information about Beijing as we did the 40minute drive into the city center. You won't get that on the bus or train. He drove me to the doorstep of the cheap hotel I had reserved online. It had only cost me $2.30USD to put a hold on that room, which was a real good deal for the peace of mind it gave me. Hard to include on any Beijing travel itinerary Find out about the Bus, the Beijing Subway and even the Airport Taxis on our Beijing Transportation Page. What to See if You Travel to BeijingYou simply can't miss the tourist attractions famous to Beijing and on every Beijing travel itinerary. Especially the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. Both have been around for more than 500 years, and you can see and feel the history that pervades these palaces and their grounds. The Forbidden City was once home to China's Imperial family, their concubines and the Eunuchs that cared for them. It is now open to the Public for the first time in over 500 years. The Palaces within the Forbidden City are as beautiful as any in the country. Even those who are not architectural enthusiasts will appreciate the brilliant crafting that went into the design of the Halls and Palaces within the Forbidden city. The Forbidden City also houses the Imperial Museum, which contains some of the rarest artifacts from China's rich history. The Temple of Heaven was a place where the Emperor made sacrifices to the Heavens and then asked favors in return. Often his requests to the Heavens were for healthy crops and enough rainfall to avoid droughts and famine. It's a beautiful place that is even larger than the Forbidden City. Though it is located in the heart of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven offers a quiet place for tourists to repeat from the noisy, polluted city center. Travel Beijing for too long and you really need a getaway. You have to include the most iconic tourist destination in the world on your Beijing travel Agenda. We'll show you the best parts of the Great Wall to visit with the least amount of tourists From the Beijing city center, it's just a short drive or bus ride to the Badaling section of the wall. This was the first section of the wall opened to visitors, and as such is the busiest and most well known. If you can do one thing while you execute your Beijing travel plans, then get to the Great Wall. It's simply the most iconic thing that you can do when you travel to Beijing. It is a structure known the world over, and you won't forgive yourself if you miss this experience. Beihai ParkBeihai Park is the forgotten part of the Forbidden City. It was once used exclusively by the Emperor, his inner circle and the highest ranking of the Manchurian Army. It is open to the public today and offers many wonderful sights such as The Nine Dragon Wall and The Circular City. Beijing Olympic StadiumDo some Beijing travel and you'll notice one of the recent creations in the city is the Beijing Olympic Stadium. It's also known as the Bird's Nest because of its unique design. During the Olympic Games of 2008, the structure got quite a bit of publicity, which city officials hope turns into a big draw for visitors to the city in the coming years. This is a one of a kind building that, along with the rest of the Olympic Center, is going to be pulling Beijing travel tourists and locals in for years to come. Another destination that is popular with visitors is the Beijing Zoo. The pandas are always a popular draw, but the zoo has much more to offer, including a number of historical buildings. The Beijing Zoo has been around in some form or another for nearly as long as the Forbidden City. It was only turned into a zoo in the past hundred years or so, however. Today it is a place of great conservancy, and the animals continue to draw visitors each year. The giant pandas are the most famous residents, but many other animals are housed there as well, including bears, tigers, and crocodiles. If shopping is part of your Beijing travel plans, then you must learn about the local markets. Shopping in the local markets is an activity many tourists partake in to get an that authentic connection with the feel of the city. The night markets are great, especially if you want to try some great food and then take in some of the happening Beijing nightlife. Shopping in Beijing is another great opportunity to become acquainted with life in the city. There are plenty of different kinds of markets, from silk markets to antique markets and much more. Just be prepared to bargain if you want to get a good deal! The Beijing nightlife scene has something for everyone planning a Beijing travel adventure. There are Opera Houses, Tearooms, Modern Dance Clubs, Sports Bars and much more. Whatever your mood, you are sure to find a place to satisfy your desires after dark.
One of the first things that budget minded travelers can do to save a bit of money is get to know the Beijing Subway. It is much more affordable than taking a taxi and yet less prone to traffic jams. The Beijing subway provides service to most of the urban and suburban parts of the city, as well as most of the major tourist destinations you will likely want to see. When doing any Beijing travel on a budget, many people might be afraid that they won't be able to do all of the things that make a trip to China special, or that they won't be able to take in all of the culture the city has to offer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Especially if you are short on time. You can do most of Beijings Major sites in a half-day by booking a Solid Budget Tour.   Leave Beijing Travel and do Some Shopping
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