Literally, beige! I've heard about the yellow dust in China but witnessed it for the first time getting off the plane. I was a bit disappointed because I wanted all the rumors to be false. Although, it's not like this ALL the time, it's best to check the forecast before arriving here. The air quality may prevent you from doing some activities. If you have a sensitive respiratory system, buy a face mask!
Beijing airport is great and easy to navigate; we easily found the Xpress train that went into the downtown area (Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao). The train cost about 25 CNY (4 USD) and takes approximately 30 minutes. A taxi is a bit more and should cost around 100 to 150 CNY and will take about an hour or more. The Metro within the city is about 2 CNY, and it is very easy to navigate.
VISA for China is expensive, but there are loopholes to avoid paying for one. Please see below.
If your final destination is outside of China, you can have a layover in Beijing for three days. Huh? China has a 72-hour transit VISA for FREE, so you can technically stay in China for 72 hours, as long as your final destination is somewhere NOT in China.
For example:
Korea - Beijing - Singapore = OK!
Korea - Beijing - Hong Kong = OK! (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan considered 3rd region)
Korea - Beijing - Shanghai = NOT OK!
FYI, people in Beijing speak Mandarin, the majority of people DO NOT speak English so be prepared with your notes! I had to hail a cab at the end of our trip and rely on hand motions for the airport. I'm sure the large luggage was a big giveaway too!
We stayed at a wonderful place called Peking Yard Hostel! It was my first experience staying at a hostel. They have private rooms as well as shared bunk rooms. The shared bathroom had a dorm-like feel, which was a little weird for me.
The people that run it are very friendly, and you can book a tour directly with them. We booked our Great Wall of China tour with the receptionist during check-in. The service was friendly and great! My friends and I bunked it, which sharing a room with a bunch of strangers were not my foray. Next time, I will opt for the private room. Overall, the hostel was super clean. The location is great; it is close to the subway station. I would stay here again!
On the day of our Great Wall of China trip, the tour company picked us up around 8 in the morning. The chartered bus was comfy, and the tour guide spoke English. We picked up a bunch of other people at different locations and was on our way. She warned us that the trip could take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, all depending on the traffic. The guide gave us a cool postcard size map showing us the different entry points along the Great Wall of China and exactly where we would be starting and ending. She gave us a brief history of the Great Wall. It would be impossible to walk the whole thing because it is about 370 miles long.
Finally, we got to our destination after 3.5 hours drive. We all exited the bus and started the hike up to the Great Wall entry point. The walk on the Great Wall was breathtaking. There are lookout points that you can see parts of the wall in the distance. The walk is moderate and easy, but there are a few spots where it is very steep. There are steps made of cinder blocks with wear and tear. Also, there was loose rubble so make sure to wear good walking shoes, sneakers or hiking shoes.
The Great Wall closes at 5:30 pm, we had about 4 hours to spend frolicking around. Any individual could spend more time and walk more of the wall, but I thought it was a right amount of time for us. Overall our day was fulfilling!
Peking duck! A must have when you are visiting Beijing. We went to the famous DaDong Roast Duck Restaurant! I'm not a big fan of duck but WOW!
Literally, it melted in my mouth. Usually, I do not eat the skin on any meat or fish. But I will always try something for the first time. The skin was roasted perfectly, not too oily or fatty and the texture wasn't bad. The chef brought it out to the table and carved it for us. They provided dipping dishes to flavor the duck to taste. Also, the steamed dumplings were delish!
TIPS
- WiFi is sketchy here so I would use the old school method of using a book for translations.
- Google does not work in China! Also, many other websites such as FACEBOOK does not work in Beijing.
- If you're going to trek it to the Great Wall of China, expect anywhere between 2 to 4-hour drive.
- If you're looking to buy ANYTHING! Go to the markets! They have EVERYTHING!! Electronics, shoes, clothes, makeup, tea, etc. Haggle down the price!!!
- The two biggest indoor markets are Silk Street Market and the Pearl Market. The name
has no association with the specific products they sell. Both markets sell everything!
I would love to have a layover so that I can go shopping!
- All the landmarks are open seven days a week except for the Forbidden City, which is closed on Mondays (excluding National Holidays and July to August)
Overall, it was a nice three days/ two nights in Beijing. I wouldn't suggest anything longer! Definitely, take full advantage of the 72-hour VISA. If you're an active traveler, you will be able to cover most of the places within the 72 hour period.
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