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Best way to get from Shanghai to Beijing

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crash11

Squeeker

Joined: Oct 03, 2007
Posts: 13

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Posted: Oct 03, 2007 - 07:54 PM
Post subject: Best way to get from Shanghai to Beijing

I'm going to be in Shangai in mid-November for business, and I was interested in spending a couple days in Beijing before I flew back to the states. What's the best way to get to Beijing? I checked flights, but they are kind of expensive ($173).

ULNBcn

Barker

Joined: June 04, 2007
Posts: 166
Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Oct 03, 2007 - 08:51 PM

The train works fine too, just make sure you get the soft couches cabin, travelling in the hard seats is an experience I dont recommend for such a long distance.

I am not sure how much cheaper it is though. At the rates the dollar is going nowadays, I am afraid any option gets relatively expensive. Considering the distance, I think a 173USD - 1200RMB fare for the return ticket is not so bad.

freeman2007

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Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 342
Location: connecticut
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Posted: Oct 03, 2007 - 09:18 PM

try the d train to beijing it is lot faster then the other i think it takes like 10 hours for the price i do not know

crash11

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Posted: Oct 04, 2007 - 12:13 AM

Well I checked into it more and I like freeman's idea.

I was wondering if I could trouble any of you to be my "travel guide"? What I would like to do is (tell me if this is feasible) to take the D-train into Beijing on Monday November 19. I would stay there Monday night and Tuesday night, then leave Wednesday from the Beijing airport. During the day Tuesday I'd like to take in as much as I can regarding Chinese culture and history (definitely want to see the Great Wall of China if possible). What are your suggestions? I'm open to everything (what hotel to stay at, where to shop, where to eat, what to see, etc etc etc).

Also, does anyone know of a good map website for Beijing and Shanghai? I really don't feel comfortable traveling without a good map of the area I'm in.

freeman2007

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Posted: Oct 04, 2007 - 07:45 AM

check the schedule because the "d" train does not leave shanghai every 5mns may be there is only a couple every day.

if it leaves in the evening you can sleep on it during the night and arrive fresh in beijing in the morning.
if it leaves in the mornning then you arrive late afternoon and you can spend the night in beijing just check the schedule with the informations we gave you before.

as for shopping
when i was in beijing 6 years ago i used to go to "wanfung jin" not sure about the orthograph
this is the 'nanjing lu walking street' in beijing close to "tianamen square"

since then many many things have changed
it is a small street and there must be so many new stores in beijing now specially in the "chaoyiang district"
same not sure about how to write it

for drinks you can check "sanlitun bar street" i used to live next to the "workers stadium" it is also very close to the ambassies.

for the great wall:
if you are in beijing it take you almost the whole day.

i went there with my wife i think it took already almost 3 hours to go there so with the return time
then the visit and may be you will want to check the "ming tombs"
since they are not too far

so plan a whole day for that.

there used to be buses to go there or you can do like me
i took taxi costed me like 300rmb but that was in 2002

good luck in your search and check the train schedule first

leolin

Lurker

Joined: Mar 25, 2007
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Posted: Oct 04, 2007 - 07:47 AM

Nov is pretty colder in BJ, the best season is Sept or Early Oct.
Anyway, BJ is too big to spend two day to visit.

The first choice is forbidden place if you are instereted in Chinese history.
it is empior living and working hall during Min and Qing dynasty.
you can go there directly at first time day, it need spend whole day.

the other day you can go to Great Wall , it is about 30 miles from BJ and you can take taxi or bus. the rest time you can enjoy some snack or food, or pub, i heard the pub in BJ is very noisy and you can try it.

you can buy map from bookstore and I think it shall be English version avaible.

I am sure what is your further concern, you may oontact me at seniorlin@hotmail.com if you like.

crash11

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Joined: Oct 03, 2007
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Posted: Oct 04, 2007 - 07:15 PM

freeman2007 wrote:

Do you have any idea how I would get a hold of a bus tour for the great wall? I'm not so interested in the bars because my girlfriend and I don't drink, but the shopping we would be up for. I'll write down those locations.

As for the train schedule, the D train leaves at 11 am and arrives about 9 pm so I think I will be ok there.

Lastly, does anyone have recommendations on decent hotels that aren't real expensive in Beijing? I would prefer one that can help me get to the airport as well.

freeman2007

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Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 342
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Posted: Oct 04, 2007 - 08:18 PM

for hotels in beijing try to check on internet they always have discounts but names it has been too long for me to give you advice on that

you can check from shanghai for travel agencies for bus trip to the wall from beijing i am sure you can find it because from beijing same it has been too long for me to tell you sorry

good luck

One_Brick_Shy

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 06:23 PM

Rather than take the day train and arrive at 9pm then off to your hotel, why not take the overnight and save the hotel fare you'd end up paying if you arrived in the evening? Same difference except you have more CASH for spending.

There are many who'll try and get you to the Great Wall. Check the Net (Google) for English speaking tour agencies in BJ. There are lots. Warning! Hang onto your wallet as there are many who'd like to own the contents Smile

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One_Brick_Shy

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 06:24 PM

Also recommend T1annamun if you have the time. They've just closed the American Starbucks and opened a Chinese coffee shop in the same location. Some say the Starbucks was not culturally appropriate. Go figure.

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Amsterdemily

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 07:17 PM

Just bought ticket to Beijing by train. it is RMB 499 for soft sleepers. Departures from SH station at 7:30 pm and arrival at 7:00 am in BJ. The hard sleepers are just fine (not too much privacy but always clean) but they get sold out very quickly.

On the way back, the air ticket costs RMB 690, a fair price as well.

As for the great wall, do go to Simantai (and enjoy the flying fox - flying from the wall attached to a pulley!), it is a little bit far but can be done in a day and has the best slopes of the great wall!

Have fun!

Amsterdemily

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 07:19 PM

*** meant s*l*o*p*e*s, no bad words...

One_Brick_Shy

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 08:45 PM

Amsterdemily wrote:

Add my vote for Simantai. Less people and not as restored as Badailing.

wonderer

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Posted: Oct 06, 2007 - 10:33 PM

Add my vote for Simatai (correct spelling) too. Amazing views, like walking across the top of the world. Don't fall off.

crash11

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Posted: Oct 10, 2007 - 09:08 PM

You all recommending Simatai.........what would be the best way to get there? Bus? Taxi? Also, are the Ming Tombs not really worth the trouble? Because as I understand it, part of going to Badaling is you get to also see the Ming Tombs on the way or on the way back. Is Simatai that much better in late November? I'm up for anything really. I definitely like the idea of NOT going to the tourist traps like Badaling, but if the Ming Tombs are worth seeing I'd consider it. Lastly, how long would a trip to Simatai take? Keep in mind that I'm no the type that has to stay at some place for hours to "experience" it. All I want to do is get on the wall, hike to a relative high spot to get some pictures, sit down and relax for a few minutes, then go.

Adrienne

FooJay

Joined: Mar 01, 2003
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Posted: Oct 10, 2007 - 11:53 PM

Skip the Ming Tombs but definately do Simatai. If you leave early you could fit in Summer Palace on the way back in the afternoon. In downtown I'd do T1annamun and Forbidden City but also do tour of the hutongs (laneways) which are north of Summer Palace. You can go out the back end of the Forbidden City. Also, try some Peking Duck. A few good places south of the square. Qianmen Hotel which is also in the south, holds a really interesting short version of Peking Opera for foreigners. Lots of stunning costumes and plenty of action with minimal singing. We did Duck and Opera in one night and it was great!

You'll have a grand time, I'm sure.

Adrienne
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

crash11

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Posted: Oct 11, 2007 - 09:48 PM

wow adrienne thanks for all the great info.

Here's my tentative plan...
My plane arrives at 2 pm Monday.
Get luggage and catch a cab to my hotel in downtown.
Check in to hotel 3 - 3:30 pm.
Walk to Forbidden city and tour until about 5 pm
Go through the square after that and look for dinner.
Possibly catch the Qianmen Hotel Opera that night (do you know what time it starts?)
Back to the hotel to rest up

Get up early Tuesday to go to Simatai
Tour Simatai
Come back into the city and hopefully go to Summer Palace (Is the Summer Palace open at specific times for touring?)
Maybe check out the hutongs while I'm close to Summer Palace
Taxi back into downtown for Peking Duck
??????????Any other suggestions for a Tuesday night in Beijing? Possibly more of the square and shopping.

Wednesday morning my plane leaves to go back to the US

My questions are, how do I get to Simatai? How long is the drive there? How early should I leave so I can make it back in time to see Summer Palace? What are the hutongs? Are they only open for tourism at certain times? Where is the Peking Duck located in relation to Tainanmen Square?

Thanks for all the great info so far.

One_Brick_Shy

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Posted: Oct 12, 2007 - 06:00 AM

You can probably book something through the hotel desk as most of them are connected somehow to travel agents. You'll pay a much higher price than if you did all the arrangements yourself. However, since you are doing the whirlwind tour thing may be best to leave it to the desk. Might also check Ctrip.com or Elong.com (both have English) They may have packages. Adrienne or someone might also have BJ connections.

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msittig

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Posted: Oct 12, 2007 - 08:21 AM

Lots of hostels have cheap, bare-bone trips to Simatai.

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Kiwi

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Posted: Oct 12, 2007 - 10:43 AM

slopes

Ahh. . . so we are not allowed to write 's-l-o-p-e-s'.

Honestly mods. . . Go **** yourselves. This is insanity. . .

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crash11

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Joined: Oct 03, 2007
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Posted: Oct 12, 2007 - 07:31 PM

msittig wrote:

Lots of hostels have cheap, bare-bone trips to Simatai.

How do I find one of those?

hautumncloud
LoopKicker

Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 989

Posted: Oct 14, 2007 - 09:05 PM

crash11 wrote:

Tip about Forbidden City - after you have done the Forbidden City, go south to the T1annamun Square where the Mao mouseleum is. Nothing much to see except Mao lying there. BUT if you go south somemore, walking, you will get to Qianmen (Front Gate of the old Beijing City) and poke around there for the many old traditional town, shops, restaurant, hutongs etc. There may be some renovation work taking place but still worth to take a look.

Simatai is about 2 hours each way from downtown Beijing and it is NOT on the way to Summer Palace like Badaling! Also there is often traffic jam around the Shunyi area which means added time to the 2 hours each way.

Summer Palace closes at 8pm but many of the paid for attractions inside like Chinese Castles/Suzhou St/Art Museum are closed at 5pm. It is a very huge place and if you intend to do the whole thing, you will need at least a full day. If not, you can do just the "must see" like the Long Corridor and different hill tops. Don't buy the tickets which includes all the attractions then, just get the regular entrance ticket. Note: hutong is NOT around Summer Palace area. Summer Palace is about 40-50mins from T1annamun.

Most people do Badaling because it is the most popular, beautiful and refurbished and close (1 hour drive), and on the way to Summer Palace and Ming Tomb. Mutianyu Great Wall is the most romantic while Simatai is the most rustic. For a vist, Badaling will still take your breath away and since you are there in a weekday and non peak season, it should should not be too much crowded. Badaling has a more spectacular view from the top than Simatai. Also Simatai will take longer to get to the top. There is a cable car but you still have to hike about 25 mins to get to the top, serious hike, steep, no railings, at one point on all fours! Badaling has cable straight up to the top. My suggestions - whichever you choose, take the cable car since you don't have much time.

My top suggestions other than those already mentioned which are easy to go would be Tiantan Temple (Temple of Heaven) taxi from T1annamun to there is about RMB15-20 - spend about 2 hours there. Some people do this instead of Summer Palace.

For Peking Duck, I suggest you go to Beijing Da Dong Roast Duck Tel: 65822892/65824003/65824012, voted the best Peking Duck in Beijing. Tip: Ask your hotel conceirge to call them, write address down in Chinese and also do a reservation for you. You can then give the Chinese written address to the taxi driver off you go. Be sure you have a cell phone in hand in case taxi driver need to clarify the location with the restaurant. They have the most beautiful menu book complete with pcitures of the dishes with Chinese and English. Taxi ride from T1annamun to Da Dong Restaurant is approx RMB20.

For travelling around, you can get a taxi from your hotel conceirge or just any nice looking taxis and ask if they will take you round to Great Wall, Summer Palace etc. For 8 hours, the regular charge is flat rate RMB400 - 500. You MUST agreed on the price first before you start your journey as this means you are not going by meters. Most of taxi drivers is Beijing are quite good. Pay the taxi driver at the END of your day.

Enjoy Beijing!