Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Beijing China Itinerary for 4 days

Going to Beijing has always been one of my to-do list. We purchased tickets to Beijing via Cebu Pacific with their "Piso fare". Total fare is P6500 per head.

There is no time difference between Manila and Beijing. We left Manila at 735 pm on a Thursday and arrived Beijing at 12am on a Friday (4 hour and 30minutes travel time).

Day 0

Upon arrival at the Beijing airport, there is no subway or buses to the city center. We had to take a taxi outside the airport. Temperature during our stay was very cold.  The taxi line was long but there were a lot of taxis available so waiting was not an issue. Do not stop for others who are offering taxi rides. They would not use the meter and would set the amount that you should pay. 

Taxi from the airport to King Parkview Hotel will take 30 minutes. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were so thirsty, unfortunately they do not offer complimentary water. They also do not sell or have water available for the guests. We just slept and waited for the next day.

Day 0March 5,2015Cost in RMBConversion in Peso (x 7.11)Cost per Head (Peso)
12:05 AMArrival Beijing100711355.5
Taxi to Hotel (30 minutes)King Parkview Hotel


No.55 Shatan Houjie Dongcheng District,, Beijing, China
5728.582864.29

Day 1

We walked towards the Forbidden City the next morning only to find out that the hotel is NOT within walking distance to the entrance. We walked for 25 minutes before we reached the entrance. You could opt to ride a shuttle to the ticket booth upon reaching the entrance of the forbidden city. It is just an additional 10 minute walk if you choose not to take the shuttle.

The Forbidden City would show how the Emperors and their household lived.

Upon exiting the Forbidden City, we were looking for a bus that could take us to Tiananmen East. One girl was on a bus stop asking for passengers. We asked if the bus would pass by Tiananmen East and she said yes. We immediately rode the bus only to find out that it was a city tourist bus. The bus ride costs 10 RMB and the tour guide just speaks Chinese. We were dropped of Tiananmen East Station after going around the city. Tiananmen Square is just right in front of the entrance of the Forbidden City.

Be careful on riding buses in Beijing. Find local buses which usually has a large red number in front and could drop you off to certain bus stops. The bus would just normally cost 2 RMB. 

Tips: When touring the Tianamen Square, it is best to start at the Tianamen Square Gate Entrance, proceed to entrance of Forbidden City then end at the exit of the Forbidden City. 



After a lot of walking, we had our late lunch nearby before riding a subway from Tianamen East to Silk Market.

Day 1March 6,2015 ( Tianamen Square, Forbidden City)Cost in RMBConversion in Peso (x 7.11)Cost per Head (Peso)
11:00 AMWalk to Entrance of Forbidden City from Hotel (30 minutes)
Shuttle to ticket booth of Forbidden City1071.171.1
Forbidden City Tickets40284.4284.4
4:00 PMExit of Forbidden City
Shuttle ride available at Exit of Forbidden City to Tianamen Square Entrance1071.171.1
4:30 PMTianamen Square
*We did not opt to get in the Museums here. We just looked around the Tianamen Square which just looks like a big lot.
FYI, Exit of Tianamen Square will be the entrance of Forbidden City
5:30 PMDinner at a restaurant outside of Forbidden City68483.48241.74
Bought caramelized strawberry: 5 RMB each
Feedback: One of the cheapest and best desserts I have ever tasted.
1071.135.55
Walked to Tianamen East station to go to Silk Market
Feedback: You could bargain on prices being offered at the Silk Market. Try to get 1/3 of the offered prices. It doesn’t seem like this is the place with the best bargain price.
Fare (Tianamen East to Yonganli): 3RMB One-way321.3321.33
Dinner at Casa Gusto (inside Silk Market)58412.38206.19
Feedback: Coffee at Casa Gusto tastes bad. We ordered spaghetti and taste was not good either.
Fare (Yonganli to Tianamen East): 3RMB One-way321.3321.33
8:00 PMWalk back from Tianamen East to Hotel (55 minutes)
Bought water at the convenience store7.553.32526.6625


Day 2

This day we planned to visit the Great wall of China. To get there ride a subway to Jishuitan station. Upon reaching Jishuitan Station (subway line 2, Exit A), walk until you see  take the Deshengmen Arrow Tower. This looks like a building with tall walls. 

Tips: Do NOT line-up at the Bus stop 919 or 877. This is NOT  the loading area. Walk until you see the Arrow Tower. Beside it is the loading area of bus 877.

Bus No.Travel RouteDeparture StationArrival StationOperating HoursTicket FareDuration Time
877Deshengmen ⇌ BadalingParking lot north of the Deshengmen Arrow TowerFront Hill of Badaling06:00-12:30 (Nov.1-Mar.31)CNY12/person; CNY 4.8 by Beijing Transportation Smart CardAbout an hour

There is also an option to take the Train. This is the train schedule:

Train No.Depart fromTime of DepartureArrive atTime of ArrivalDuration
S201*
Beijing North
6:12:00
Badaling
7:31:001h19m
S287#7:58:009:20:001h22m
S205^8:34:009:47:001h13m
S209*10:57:0012:13:001h16m
S211^12:42:0014:01:001h19m
S213#13:14:0014:25:001h11m
S217*15:24:0016:43:001h19m
S219^17:11:0018:30:001h19m
S221#17:41:0018:57:001h16m
S227^21:28:0022:44:001h16m
S208*
Badaling
8:23:00
Beijing North
9:47:001h24m
S210^10:51:0012:12:001h21m
S216*13:40:0015:00:001h20m
S218^15:08:0016:43:001h35m
S220#15:52:0017:25:001h33m
S224*17:33:0018:54:001h21m
S226^19:34:0021:11:001h37m
S228#20:06:0021:43:001h37m
S232*21:33:0023:03:001h30m
* Depart daily;
^ Depart every Tuesday to Thursday;
#Depart every Friday to Monday of next week, and during holidays and festivals

Day 2March 7,2015 ( Great Wall,Birds Nest)Cost in RMBConversion in Peso (x 7.11)Cost per Head (Peso)
9:00 AMWalk from hotel to Nanluogoxiang (25minutes)
Subway to Jishuitan : 3 RMB642.6642.66
Upon reaching Jishuitan Station (subway line
2, Exit A), walk until you see take the Deshengmen Arrow Tower. This looks like a building with tall walls. REMINDER: Do NOT line-up at the Bus stop 919 or 877. This is NOT the loading area. Walk until you see the Arrow Tower. Behind it is the loading area of bus 877.
12:00 PMRide bus 877 to Great Wall of China1285.3285.32
1:00 PMArrival at Badaling Great Wall
Walk towards the entrance of cable car to North Tower of Badaling.
Cable car cost is 100 RMB (Roundtrip)
Badaling Entrance Fee is 35 RMB
135959.85959.85
Lunch KFC (Zinger burger)15106.6553.325
Walk towards S2 line station
Train To Beijing North 6 RMB642.6642.66
Dinner inside Beijing North station foodcourt30213.3106.65
Feedback: During our stay in Beijing, we see it cheaper to eat at foodcourt in malls. You can buy a prepaid card available at the foodcourt. Cashier will reimburse any amount left after surrendering the card.
Train from Xizhimen station to Olympic Sports Center428.4428.44
Train from Olympic Sports Center to Nanluogoxiang428.4428.44
Walk back to Hotel (25 mins)

Day 3

Day 3March 8,2015 (Beijing Zoo, Zhongguancun Electronics Market Beijing, The Malls at Oriental Plaza)Cost in RMBConversion in Peso (x 7.11)Cost per Head (Peso)
11:00 AMCheck-out at the Hotel
Bought caramelized strawberry: 5 RMB each535.5517.775
Feedback: One of the cheapest and best desserts I have ever tasted.
Walk 5mins to Bus Stop 109
Ride bus to Dongsi Station214.2214.22
Subway Dongsi To Beijing Zoo428.4428.44
Beijing Zoo entrance 10 RMB
Panda House 5 RMB

Other places inside Beijing Zoo with additional Entrance Fees:
Beijing Aquarium: 150
Penguins: 10
15106.65106.65
4:00 PMSubway from Beijing Zoo to Haidian Huangzhuang321.3321.33
Lunch at City Mall25177.7588.875
Zhongguancun plaza shopping mall
Feedback: This subway stop is for those who would like to check cheap prices for laptops/phones and other electronic devices/accessories.
6:00 PMSubway Haidian Huangzhuang to Wangfujing321.3321.33
Bought pasalubong and other stuff1501066.5533.25
Bought ref magnet and back massager
Magnet: 15 RMB
Back Massager: 20 RMB
35248.85124.425
Bought noodles and beef barbeque at the night market
Price: 15RMB Fried Noodles, 5 RMB Beef BBQ
15106.6553.325
Feedback: This is the ideal place to shop for stuff. There is also a night market and mall found in the streets right beside The Malls at Oriental Plaza.
Subway to Dongsi321.3321.33
Ride bus 919 back to hotel214.2214.22
Get luggage
Bus back to Dongsi214.2214.22
Subway Dongsi to Dongzhimen321.3321.33
Taxi Dongzhimen to Terminal 280568.8284.4
Feedback: Last trip From Dongzhimen to Airport is 1030pm. The last train left when we arrived Dongzhimen. We took the taxi from there.

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