Answers:
Lifeontheroad
Sydney
Hey, This answer is really specific. If you are standing with your back to Beijing railway station, cross the road, on the left had side of the intersection (not the side with the footbridge over the road, you will understand when you see it) and there is a youth hostel on the corner. Book your trip to the great wall here, as it is cheap, and has many options, for example doing the 10km walk on the wall, with hardly any tourists for most of it. It is a hard day, but a great experience. It is a must, when travelling to Beijing, and try to plan it as one of your last sight-seeing days, because after doing this walk, nothing else in Beijing seems as good. Have heaps of fun and post some pics when you get back!!!!
PS. The area of the wall is called Simatai
Lifeontheroad has gotten 1 cheer on this answer.
Murray Johnson
Carlsbad
Thanks for the tip. Do they book other trips there also?
Count on the pics—there will be plenty!
Lifeontheroad
Sydney
There are lots of things you can book there but i t depends on the season. Some friends of mine booked trips to Kung Fu and Chinese acrobatics shows and said they were awesome.
Murray Johnson
Carlsbad
Did you stay there? How were the facilities?
Oh, and any more pics from your trip?
Lifeontheroad
Sydney
I did stay there and it was great! Pretty cheap, with a bar and resteraunt in the hostel. You can stay in rooms with up to 6 other guests. If you dont want to do this, there are also single and double rooms that were also really cheap. The bar is great as you can meet other travelers from all over the world. I am from Australia, and I met people from Canada, Japan, England, Korea, Ireland and Denmark, who I am still in contact with today. The name of the hostel is Beijing City Central International Youth Hostel, and you can book online if you want to stay.
Murray Johnson
Carlsbad
Thanks. I will look it up.
Any recommendations on places to stay in the other cities you visited on your China trip?
Lifeontheroad
Sydney
I was actually living in China, as a teacher. I spent a week sightseeing in Beijing. We spent one night at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, which was unbelieveable. But I wouldnt recomend it unless you want to speand all day in the hotel. There are alot of good places to stay in Beijing, but we chose our hostel because it was cheap and located in a great central area. Not needing to get taxis was great, as they really are expensive in Beijing. (50RMB compared to the 6RMB we would pay in the town I lived in.)
Lifeontheroad
Sydney
I lived in a place called Qiqiha’er in Heilongjiang province. It was a great place to see what Chinese life is really like, but as a tourist, I dont think it would offer too much. Also, it is a place where English is not spoken by many people, so without a basic knowledge of Chinese (or maybe Russian), it is pretty hard to get around. However Ha’erbin in Heilongjiang province is a great city worth visiting, with many festivals, especially the ice sculpture festival in winter.
Murray Johnson
Carlsbad
But I thought you taught everyone there English. Just kidding.
Thanks for all the info. Let me know if you think of anything else.
