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Australia

Name: Tracey Taylor & Dee Green
Tips:
  • We had our pants and walkman stolen (when we traveled to Gobi Desert) plus had dinner with Julia Robert! But it is worthy going there. Found a good place to get films developed in Beijing-check out the AGFA shop in the Friendship Store. It's more expensive than the small shops but the quality is excellent. If you go to Great Wall , set out EARLY to avoid the crowds.
Name: Gianna, Amalie & Kania
Tips:
  • In winter, Mcdonalds hot chocolate will warm you up in no time., we promise! Carry your money under your clothing as pick pocket is a problem, especially in busy areas. We had to find this out the hard way! However, we enjoy our time in Beijing.
Name:Glen Fosse & Andrea Fosse
  • Remember to get a local map from the front desk. It's very helpful.
Name:Ian Maxwell Barnes's family
  • Some taxies in Beijing have no meters on. Make sure before taking it.

Canada

Name: Tony Huang
Tips:
  • When you are visit somewhere, People always follow you to sell gifts. But the price is much more expensive than that in shops. Don't be taken in!
Name: Ian McAllister and his family
Tips:
  • The umbrella on the Great wall is very expensive. If you travel in Beijing in summer, an umbrella is necessary.
Name: Kevyn Winkless
Tips:
  • In Lhasa there is a very good hotel: Hotel Kyechu. The staffs are very friendly. It is not a budget hotel but the price is reasonable. It is the great place to rest between trekking trips.
Name: Mr. Andrew Secord
Tips:
  • There are two kinds of local beer in Beijing. The taste is quite different. YanJing Beer is much better than Beijing Beer though the price is the same.
  • Hotel suggestion: Have a printed card with more language in the front desk for the travelers from Germany, France and Spanish. That will be easy to talk.
Name: Kuaying Teng
Tips:
  • I could not sleep last night because of time difference so I went out of the hotel. To my surprised I found a few food venders still doing business besides the road. (Oh! It was three o'clock in the morning) I sat at the table and ordered a bowl of hot HunTun. It made me comfortable. Nights in Beijing is really more quiet and safe than I think of before. If develop your film, go to the Kodak/Fuji Film shop on the right of the hotel. The quality is good and the price is reasonable. The one on the left is double price but the same size.
Name: Dave Deysdale & Donna Deysdale
Tips:

  • Take the time to fly a kite in TianAnMen Square.

  • Talk to the local people. They are very friendly.

  •  Walk around the Summer Palace at sunset.

  •  Go shopping. Have fun bargaining(do not pay more than 1/3)

  •  Do not go to KARAOKE Bar, we paid 50 Yuan just to sit down in the bar, and the drinks is too expensive!

    Enjoy!
Name:Linda's family
Tips:
  • The food in a restaurant on the way to the Great Wall is nice. We had chicken with peanuts, sweet or sour pork and other dishes. The facility is basic but the food is perfect. The name of the restaurant is Bu-Yi-Ren Restaurant. You can keep the chopsticks for souvenir if you like.
Name:Patrice Hall & James Banting
Tips:
  • We are not used to the Chinese style breasfast in the hotel. We go to McDonald’s near the hotel. There is discount stand between 6.30-10am which cost you only 7 yuan.

Chile

Name: Thomas Vallee
Tips:
  • I'm happy to be here in Beijing at last!
　

Czech Republic

Name: Hulman & Krajci
Tips:
  • The Great Wall is wonderful. We enjoyed riding bike in the city very much. Without this experience, you can not say you have been to Beijing. If you ride, be careful in the road because people here sometimes do not care the traffic lights.
 　

Denmark

Name: Mr. Necolai Elsted & Tim Lund Hansen
Tips:
  • Never travel to Beijing in its National Day of 1st, October because it's a big holiday for Chinese people and there is full of people everywhere and some parks, Summer Palace for example was open only to the people who have special pass.
  • Student card with you discount in most museums and Great Wall.
  • Some restaurants have two menus. The food is the same but the price is different. (The menu out side of the door is cheaper) Make sure before ordering something.
Name: Soren Odder and his family
Tips:
  • We went to Mao's Maosoleum twice. It was too crowded so we could not get in the first day. If you plan to go there, get up early!
Name: Mr. Kurt Carstense's family
Tips:
  • It's really hot in summer. The sunshine is very strong. Take the caps and water wherever you go. Coke here is too sweet and the juice has much more sugar in it.
Name: Alex Loud Laursen's family
Tips:
  • We took a train (K4) from Moscow to Beijing. It was a nice trip. We could see the Great Wall on the train. But when we climbed up to the top of the Wall, it was totally different.
Name:Susan & Selda
Tips:
  • We were lucky to get to the Great Wall at 8.30 in the morning before the crowds. The people are very friendly. Many asked you to have a picture with them.

Egypt

Name: Khaled Adly Hussien
Tips:
  • The food in the Moslem restaurant next door to the hotel is very good.

Finland

Name: Nikader Ismo
Tips:
  • Thank you Renny to arrange pick up at the railway station. That save us trouble after long train journey though Siberia.
 　
Name: Veikko Lanhikainen
Tips:
  • We tried to buy some DVD program about Beijing but we could not find anywhere. So we bought some VCD program instead. I hope it work.
 　
Name:Jaana & Anja
Tips:
  • Go to Wanshiji Computer Market to buy DVD-R empty disc. It is only 2.50 yuan for a piece but in the Pearl Market, it is 4.50 yuan. There is a golf shop near Sanlitun Market. We bought a set with a very low price. A massage opposite of the hotel is healthy and relaxed. 2 hours service took us 50 yuan each person.

France

Name: Frederic Coq-Renesme & Nicole Coq-Bovo
Tips:
  • There is shuttle bus in Xian Yang Airport to the Tour Office in the city if travelers have the plan to XiAn by air. But do not reserve an excursion by this tour office.
  • The bus No 306 is from XiAn railway station to 'BingMaYong'(Terracotta Warrior). It's easy and cheap.
Name: Denis Marchiset & his wife
Tips:
  • Peking Duck is much more better than it is in Paris.
Name: Eric Sophie Ousmane & Claire
Tips:
  • Mr. Renny took us to a small village near Ming Tombs and we stayed with a family and talked a lot with an old man. That is our additional interesting visit programme in Beijing.
Name: Dimitry Rochman & Jessica
Tips:

  • Shanghai is a beautiful city. We enjoy three days stay very much.

  • There is a good ticket office for foreigners at the railway station. It is easy to buy tickets.

  • Beijing DaZhaLan is a very interesting road. There are a lot of traditional shops there.
Name: Group of Mr. Mourier
Tips:

  • We are here in Beijing for AUTO SHOW-2002. Great Wall is great. We have just one day tour though! Here is some information:

  • a, make sure the hotel located. The hotel (Zhanlanguan Hotel) we booked from France is far from the city center and we have to move when we arrived.

  • b, McDonald's are everywhere in Beijing (may be over 100). But the cost for a meal is much than the Chinese restaurants all over. Pay 15 yuan each person for a Chinese good meal.

  • c, Coffee is not available in low-rate hotel.
Name: Vialle E. Couturier G. Vauthier F. Benest P. Ginguene S.
Tips:

  • There is a train ticket agent near the hotel. It's easy to get the train ticket from it. Try by yourself and the ticket is available 4 days in advance.
Name:Madeleine & Daniel
Tips:
  • Arrange your train ticket in advance to Xi’an and Shanghai in August. We tried to buy the train ticket to Xi’an after we arrived in Beijing.But all ticket was fully booked ahead of 5 days. We had to take the long distance bus.

Germany

Name: Oswin Haas
Tips:
  • Chinese people is friendly enough. Mr. Renny arranged me to visit an ordinary Chinese family and I was invited to dinner with them. By this special visit, I had opportunity to see how Chinese live. You can not have such visit programme if you join a travel group.
Name: Artur Benjawan
Tips:
  • The biggest problem here in Beijing is that language. Ask detailed information from the hotel before getting around. If you go to the Great Wall, be there about 7:30am. The crowds come at 9am. For buying cloths or other things go to the Silk Road close to the Friendship Store. Here you find everything from jeans to winter jackets. Cheap food for about 8-12 yuan you can find on the 4-floor in the Newworld Shopping Center, close to ChongWenMen.
Name: Ms. Lee Kyong-ja & Mr. Mario
Tips:
  • When you take a taxi in Beijing, make sure if there is a meter equipped. We paid the wrong fare with our carelessness.
Name:Stephan Iwan, Karl Heinz, Anja & Petri
Tips:
  • We paid 5 yuan for a bottle of water in a shop near Great Wall. It should be expensive in sites but it is really too much. We bought one from the super market next door to the hotel is just 0.80 yuan. Take enough water with you in hot days.

HongKong

Name: Wen Ya Yang & her three friends
Tips:
  • Many thanks to Renny for arranging free railway station pick up and booking train tickets to XiAn for us.
 　

Hungary

Name:Andras Garadnai
Tips:
  • SiMaTai Great Wall is great. We got a very happy holiday in Beijing.
 　
Name: Edina & Barath
Tips:
  • The plug in Beijing is different with it is in Europe. Travelers should take one for the electric machine or battery.

India

Name: Dr. Margam Chandrasekaran
Tips:
  • It is convenient in Beijing. The most difficulty for foreigners is language. Few people can speak English when you are out of hotel. You have to get detailed information in the hotel before setting out.
Name: S. R. Virt Narendra V. Ramesh V.
Tips:
  • It's easy to find the Moslem restaurant in Beijing. And you can go to the super market to buy something to eat. The food is cheap and the super market is not far from the hotel. Beijingers are friendly. The biggest problem here is that seldom people speak English. If you ask the way, some locals come up and try to tell you the direction. But sometimes we do not understand each other.

Ireland

Name: Aidan Furlong
Tips:
  • Never buy on your first day in town. Always have small money. Asking for the Chinese name where you are going to from front desk of the hotel, as it will help when talking for direction.

Italy

Name: Giuseppe Barlocci & his relatives
Tips:
  • Beijing looks more beautiful than what we expected before.
Name: Lodi Rizzini Stefano
Tips:
  • Hongqiao Free Market is very interesting. But remember to bargain with the seller at least half first. Foreigners are often offered higher but if you can speak a few simple Chinese words, sellers will give you lower price because they may think you quite know what the price should be.
Name: Francesca Cao & Mark Deering
Tips:
  • Some Chinese push you to buy the picture in Tian'an men Square. They charge 100-500 yuan. We found the same pictures in a state-owned store and the price was only one-third.

Japan

Name: Katsuya Terauchi, Miki Terauchi, Jason Scott Saito
Tips:
  • One word of advice for travelers who want to come to Beijing in winter, Don't! It's cold!

Netherland

Name: Lars, Markas, Gregor, Martin
Tips:
  • We had a good stay in Beijing. It was our last day and we went to the Great Wall, Ming Tomb and the Summer Palace. We walked too much but enjoyed the tour. Ming Tomb was not as interesting as we expected and the ticket was too much (45 yuan). Compare to the Great Wall, it was not worthy.
Name: Sander Meijer
Tips:
  • We were exhausted, we arrived in Beijing by train (Transiberian Express 6 days and 7 nights); it was 5.30am and we were so happy to see the hotel car waiting for us. Both kinds of foods are available on the train, Russian style and Chinese style. We preferred Chinese food. We will stay in Beijing for one week relaxation and want to see all things in Beijing.

Norway

Name: Jan Vidar Smenes & his girlfriend
Tips:
  • Hi Mr Renny & family. Sending you all a summer-greeting from Norway. Take care!
Name: Bentine, Kristin, Nicca
  • It's nice to know all banks here in Beijing work on sat & Sun. That is very convenient to the individual travelers. All shops are open ,too.
Name:Torill Sandberg Uggen
Tips:
  • a, Do not pay more than 1/4 to the seller in the Pearl Market.
    b, Bring toilet paper with you.
    c, Cash in yuan is everywhere. If you only have credit card, you have no money sometimes.
    d, We always ordered too much food. The food of the dishes is more than we imagine.

Singapore

Name: Yong Kok Wei
Tips:
  • We are lucky to find JingTai hotel on the Internet. That made our stay in Beijing easy and happy. It will be better if JingTai hotel provide more women's bicycles for rent.
Name: Ng Geok Lan
Tips:
  • Beijing JingTai hotel is clean and safe though it's a budget hotel.

South Africa

Name: Callie Van Biljon
Tips:
  • Internet helps us find the hotel we just wanted. Beijing is beautiful and the People is friendly.

South Korea

Name: Lerf Hoegh
Tips:
  • The temples in Beijing look the same as those in Korea.

Sri-Lanka

Name: Shanta Karanaratne and his family
Tips:
  • Beijing is a beautiful city.

Sweden

Name: Lisa-Wolf & Olle Wolf
Tips:
  • Many thanks to Mr. Renny for taking us to a good tailor near JingTai hotel. I had a silk skirt made. That is a very interesting experience.
Name: Kari, Asa & Anna
Tips:
  • A Peking Duck restaurant near hotel is the must. It is a very big one and you need not book the table before. We ordered half duck (29yuan) and some more dishes. That cost us about 12 US. But the menu in the restaurant is only in Chinese. Seldom speak English. Ask a menu from the front desk of the hotel is necessary. Local beer named "yanjing" is also good.
Name:Lasse Jigrot’s family
Tips:
  • Renny took us to a nearby shop to buy some DVD films. 6 yuan each. Cheap!

Switzerland

Name: Studer Alexandre & his girlfriend
Tips:
  • The trip to south of China was excellent. Sure we will be in Beijing again for a longer stay.

Thailand

Name: Mr. Somchai & Mrs. Chamaiporn and their family
Tips:
  • We are lucky to find JingTai hotel on Internet. We will remember the good days in Beijing.

U. S. A

Name: Peter
Tips:
  • Walking in the streets in Beijing is the best way to understand it (It's quite safe even in the evening). You can see everything. But a new English-Chines local map is necessary. Chinese people sometimes say 'hello' to you in the road and if you ask the way, they kindly tell you the way you are going to.
  • Don't stay in the hotels which are out of Third Ring Road. Area out of Third Ring Road is suburb and it takes you more time to somewhere and cost more for transport.
 　
Name: Catherine Gayatri
Tips:
  • During my stay in Beijing, I had opportunity to know Chinese culture, its People. Being a teacher, it will help a lot.
Name: Caroline Chang
Tips:
  • I went to Forbidden City with two Swedish yesterday. They walked and looked so quick so I could not see something carefully. It's better to go to the sites alone in Beijing so you can look everything you wish carefully.
 　
Name: Yelena Volfovich & her husband
Tips:
  • We kept worrying about the situation after bombing attack event in Yugoslavia. Beijing is quite safe now.
 　
Name: Alan Lebertz, Hank J. Heyming & Greg Ross
Tips:
  • ATM machines sometimes do not work. That means you have no money at all! Travel with cash is easy to change everywhere.
  • Chinese restaurants around the sites is always expensive. But the price of western food, KFC & Mc for example is reasonable.
Name: Jason Ohlde & Tim Mills
Tips:

  • We mailed a large box to the US with souvenirs for under 50USD. Worth it if you are backpacking around ASIA.

  • We got sick from a restaurant-a nice looking enough place. Avoid bad meat!

  • We took a nice trip to XiAn: Make sure taxi drivers have their meters on.

 　
Name: Mr. Kari Anderson
Tips:
  • We enjoy our stay in Beijing very much. Fall is the best time for traveling to Beijing.
Name: Robert K. Pitts
Tips:
  • Few people speak English in the road here. Ask the front desk to write a note when you get around.
Name: Paul Crook & Kurt Milam
Tips:
  • Yangshuo was perfect in early June but too many tourists and the weather was nice. Rent a bike and a guide and spend the day exploring surrounding villages. Take a trip down the Li River-stop at the villages along the way. No tourists, guaranteed. If you are really brave, dock up with a riverboat while Kayaking and
Name: Jeremy Simms
Tips:
  • What I wouldn't recommend is staying up until 5.30am drinking if you have a 7.30am train. I missed my train from Ulan Bator. I had to take a stop train to Erlenhot (border) and change a bumpy "sleeper" bus to Beijing.
  • On our way back from the Great Wall, Renny took us to a small restaurant and we ate dog meat among other things. Dog meat is quite tender and tasty, so I strongly recommend it, even if you have a great puppy at home as I do
Name: Neil Hueston & Dominic De Grazier
Tips:
  • We are students from California. It's our first day here. In Tian'anmen Square, some students tried to give you guide service. Some tried to sell us Chinese hand-writing. Some wanted to take us a ride with his pedicab. We didn't take anything. But we got a deep impression.

U. K.

Name: Bill Lavender
Tips:
  • XiAn and ShangHai gave me a deep impression.
  • Never come to China in July if possible. There are crowds everywhere and you may get trouble in booking tickets and hotel.
Name: Alan Warburton & his family
Tips:
  • I'm happy to get a very cheap software of Windows-98 in Beijing. Free market near Temple of Heaven is an attractive place. We went twice.
 　
Name: Sue Alabaster
Tips:

  • Do have the name of your destination in Mandarin.

  • Forget UK rule and do as the Chinese do when crossing roads.

  • Highly recommend the top floor of the Free Market for presents and souvenirs.

  • If you go to Mao’s mausoleum, you can’t take in bags but there is a check room.
 　
Name: Christine Wardrop & Jean Wardrop
Tips:

  • As a start to my round the world trip, Beijing was fantastic. It's been my dream to see the seven wonders of the world. The Great Wall is my third and worth every minute. Blue/green taxis may be cleaner but more expensive.

　
Name:Steve Sage
Tips:
  • There is a reasonable laundry opposite of the hotel. But you can not get your cloths back the in the same day.

England

Name: Dan Wyatt (17 people group)
Tips:
  • The Pearl market is the number 1 shopping place. Do bargain and do not be shy.
Name: Iain Aloisen & Kathryn Attwood
Tips:
  • Hard sleeper train ticket is hard to get. We planed to go Jiuzhaigou but all hard sleeper tickets were sold out and we have to buy seat ticket for a whole night on the train. Ask the hotel to book the train ticket in advance will save you a lot of trouble.
  • Food is available on the train. Cookie, cake, rice with vegetables are served. You needn't take much along. Hot water is available, too but you have to have a cup or glass to get it from the both end of the train. Train ticket is required at the destination stop.

Venezuela

Name: Francisco Rodriguez
Tips:
  • Beijing is bigger than I expected and two days stay is too short for me to see anything carefully. I must take a longer tour in Beijing in future.