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What to do in China?

glypnirsgirl

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Soon I will be joining my husband on a business trip to China.

We will be traveling to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. I do not have to worry about hotel accomodations, as we will be staying at the hotel his office arranges.

I will have at least 6 hours per day for at least 3 days in each city. I am interested in tours and other sites that might be more easily manageable for me to find and enjoy.

Any hints will be greatly appreciated.

elaine
 

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Elaine, It's been 9 years since our last China trip, so consider the age of any info. We found that primarily due to language and signage difficulties it's best to use a local guide. I'm sure the concierge or front desk will be able to recommend them. You can exchange money at the desk too. The currency is highly regulated and the rate is the same. (hint) Always take a hotel card from the desk to show to a taxi driver to get you 'home'. They don't always understand where you are telling them to take you.

Obviously, in Beijing you'll want to see the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, hike a chunk of the Great Wall- there are better less developed areas than Badaling, but it's handy. I loved buying a kite and flying it on Tien An Men Square. Had to drag it all over china for a month afterwards and still have it hung on a wall at home. Try to get a rickshaw tour through the hutongs- small- family neighborhoods. Most were ruled slums and simply bulldozed in the last decade or 2 to make room for modernizing. I think a few were saved to show tourists.

In Shanghai, we wandered into shops on streets around Yu Yu Gardens Touristy as heck but feels safe and there are plenty of Chinese doing the same thing. Wander the Bund and the 19th C. British area near the riverfront. Cross over to the 'New City formerly 'Pudong', I think. Glittering skyscrapers, wide boulevards and the like. It's what China wants to be.

Hong Kong- Easy to get around- after 97 years of Brit rule, English is it's second language. All signs and virtually every restaurant menu is in English. Shop Nathan Road. Ride the old double decker trams on HK island. Take a ferry across the harbour. Take the funicular to the top of Victoria Peak. My DW has difficult-to-fit feet and found shoes in the shops at the top. Unbelievable! There are many many city tours- take one or more. You can jump a high-speed boat or train (I think)to Macau if gambling is your thing. It makes Las Vegas look like a backwater stateline casino.

One of the most fun things I did- might not appeal to everyone- was I bought a T-Shirt with 3 Chinese characters on it that said (I'll spell it phonetically) May Yo Chen. It means 'No Money'. I'd wear it and shop girls would all gather and point and ask if I new what it meant and assure me that plastic was just fine. They simply couldn't imagine a foreigner with no money. It was a great ice-breaker to get to meet and talk to 'regular' people.

Enjoy your trip. It's a wonderful (and I mean that literally- full of wonder!) place. You will come home with a whole different outlook. Oh, and 1.3 billion is a helluva lot of people!

Jim
 
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yoohoo

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I would add Temple of Heaven to sights in Beijing.

In Hong Kong, try shopping at nightly markets; they spring up when it get dark.

You can bargain for most things in China and Hong Kong. When we visited the Great Wall, t-shirts started at 100 yuan at the top the hill and by the time we get down to the bottom of the hill, only a block, they were going for 10 yuan.
 

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If you like art, I would add "798" in Beijing. I'd also arrange a tour that visits a hutong (they're quickly disappearing).

Consider arranging for a driver and tour guide through the hotel. The price is very reasonable.
 

glypnirsgirl

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Elaine, It's been 9 years since our last China trip, so consider the age of any info. We found that primarily due to language and signage difficulties it's best to use a local guide. I'm sure the concierge or front desk will be able to recommend them. You can exchange money at the desk too. The currency is highly regulated and the rate is the same. (hint) Always take a hotel card from the desk to show to a taxi driver to get you 'home'. They don't always understand where you are telling them to take you.

Obviously, in Beijing you'll want to see the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, hike a chunk of the Great Wall- there are better less developed areas than Badaling, but it's handy. I loved buying a kite and flying it on Tien An Men Square. Had to drag it all over china for a month afterwards and still have it hung on a wall at home. Try to get a rickshaw tour through the hutongs- small- family neighborhoods. Most were ruled slums and simply bulldozed in the last decade or 2 to make room for modernizing. I think a few were saved to show tourists.

In Shanghai, we wandered into shops on streets around Yu Yu Gardens Touristy as heck but feels safe and there are plenty of Chinese doing the same thing. Wander the Bund and the 19th C. British area near the riverfront. Cross over to the 'New City formerly 'Pudong', I think. Glittering skyscrapers, wide boulevards and the like. It's what China wants to be.

Hong Kong- Easy to get around- after 97 years of Brit rule, English is it's second language. All signs and virtually every restaurant menu is in English. Shop Nathan Road. Ride the old double decker trams on HK island. Take a ferry across the harbour. Take the funicular to the top of Victoria Peak. My DW has difficult-to-fit feet and found shoes in the shops at the top. Unbelievable! There are many many city tours- take one or more. You can jump a high-speed boat or train (I think)to Macau if gambling is your thing. It makes Las Vegas look like a backwater stateline casino.

One of the most fun things I did- might not appeal to everyone- was I bought a T-Shirt with 3 Chinese characters on it that said (I'll spell it phonetically) May Yo Chen. It means 'No Money'. I'd wear it and shop girls would all gather and point and ask if I new what it meant and assure me that plastic was just fine. They simply couldn't imagine a foreigner with no money. It was a great ice-breaker to get to meet and talk to 'regular' people.

Enjoy your trip. It's a wonderful (and I mean that literally- full of wonder!) place. You will come home with a whole different outlook. Oh, and 1.3 billion is a helluva lot of people!

Jim

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the hints - especially about how to handle getting to the hotel.

Seeing China has been a goal of mine ever since I saw the Xian warriors in Chicago in 1980 or so.

At the same time, I am more intimidated by this trip than I ever have been about traveling anywhere. In large part, that is due to the inability to read Chinese characters. It is one thing to not be able to understand a language but at least you can decipher the signs phonetically. And quite another to go someplace where I can't even read the most rudimentary signs. Scary.

I had been looking online for guides ... it had never occurred to me to arrange through the hotel. Much better idea for me.

It looks like I am going to have to use frequent flyer miles for the trip over as Ian's company still has not released the itinerary.

Love the idea of flying kites in Tianamen Square.

Thanks for the help!

elaine
 

glypnirsgirl

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I would add Temple of Heaven to sights in Beijing.

In Hong Kong, try shopping at nightly markets; they spring up when it get dark.

You can bargain for most things in China and Hong Kong. When we visited the Great Wall, t-shirts started at 100 yuan at the top the hill and by the time we get down to the bottom of the hill, only a block, they were going for 10 yuan.

I had not heard of Temple of Heaven before. Thanks for the hint. It looks like a wonderful example of Chinese architecture.

How do you bargain when you can't speak the language?

elaine
 

glypnirsgirl

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If you like art, I would add "798" in Beijing. I'd also arrange a tour that visits a hutong (they're quickly disappearing).

Consider arranging for a driver and tour guide through the hotel. The price is very reasonable.

What is 798?

Online I saw a couple of tours that offered time in old town to see the hutongs. Looks interesting.

elaine
 

CatLovers

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glypnirsgirl, we were in China last year in August for a holiday, and I returned there for business again just last month. If you will PM me with your email address, I will send you a Word document that I put together containing must-see sights in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, plus a list of private guides (and the names of the three we hired) and some other related information.

Our highlight of the entire trip was our visit to Xi'an; I know it's not in your plans, but it turned out to be our #1 experience.
 

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Our highlight of the entire trip was our visit to Xi'an; I know it's not in your plans, but it turned out to be our #1 experience.

Xi'an was a true highlight to us, too. I told my DW that when they crack the Emperor's tomb, I want to be on the first plane headed that way. The treasures of Xi'an are just unbelievable.

Jim
 

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How to bargain? Most likely you will have a guide with you; have the guide do it. Make sure the seller does not know that it is you buying it during the bargaining. Sellers will want more from outsiders. Also the shop next door will likely have the same item; do not jump right away.
 

glypnirsgirl

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glypnirsgirl, we were in China last year in August for a holiday, and I returned there for business again just last month. If you will PM me with your email address, I will send you a Word document that I put together containing must-see sights in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, plus a list of private guides (and the names of the three we hired) and some other related information.

Our highlight of the entire trip was our visit to Xi'an; I know it's not in your plans, but it turned out to be our #1 experience.

Many of Ian's co-workers are Chinese. It turns out that they are happy that I will be going with them. They are arranging the itinerary to make it easier for me to enjoy the trip.

So, the working itinerary starts in Hong Kong for 2 days, Shenzen for 4 days (10 years ago, Shenzen had a populatio of 300K, it is now 1.2 million), Shanghai 3 days and then Beijing. We are looking at staying in Beijing a few extra days.

I am going to see if Ian is willing to go to Xi'an. It is really what I dream of when imagining a trip to China.

elaine
 

glypnirsgirl

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glypnirsgirl, we were in China last year in August for a holiday, and I returned there for business again just last month. If you will PM me with your email address, I will send you a Word document that I put together containing must-see sights in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, plus a list of private guides (and the names of the three we hired) and some other related information.

Our highlight of the entire trip was our visit to Xi'an; I know it's not in your plans, but it turned out to be our #1 experience.

This is such a kind offer. I am taking you up on it.

elaine
 

glypnirsgirl

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frequent flyer or pay?

The furthest that I have ever flown is to Hawaii (about 10 hours).

My husband says that flying to Asia is in a whole other realm due to the length of the trip.

I have enough frequent flyer miles that I can fly 1st class using my miles. I am inclined to pay and fly coach. The main reason that I would be willing to pay is to get more frequent flyer miles. I would qualify for gold status if I paid to fly.

The cost of the flight is less than we pay for coach to Hawaii. It is about $475each way.

Am I just crazy for considering paying?

elaine
 

Passepartout

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Am I just crazy for considering paying?

elaine

Not necessarily. It IS a helluva loooong flight. But if you can sleep, have a book to read, sound deadening headphones, you'd be fine. Hundreds do it- every flight. I get properly medicated (for sleep) and do laps around the cabin every hour or 2 when awake to hold down the likelihood of a clot. Coach gets there at the same time as first class and the flight time is the same.

OTOH, flying first on a 15+hr long haul is darn nice, and these days, I think if I can qualify for an upgrade, I go for it rather than save it up.

Jim
 

bjones9942

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I'd eat, eat and eat some more. And I wouldn't ask what it was until I was done!

Wèidào guàiguài de! (this tastes funny)
 

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Am I just crazy for considering paying?

Yes. There's no way I'd do such a long flight in "cattle class"! The real benefit to me of first or business class is the room, specifically the lie-flat beds. Whenever I fly overseas (trans-atlantic or trans-pacific), I always book with an airline that has lie-flat beds on the route I want. With Air Canada, it's pretty much all their TATL or TPAC flights. I know that many US airlines have this as well, but the only one I know of for sure is United. As soon as I get on the plane, I adjust my mental clock and my wristwatch to the time of my destination, and I sleep as needed to arrive there well-rested. I very rarely suffer from jet lag as a result. But I used to when I flew coach!

YMMV.
 

glypnirsgirl

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Yes. There's no way I'd do such a long flight in "cattle class"! The real benefit to me of first or business class is the room, specifically the lie-flat beds. Whenever I fly overseas (trans-atlantic or trans-pacific), I always book with an airline that has lie-flat beds on the route I want. With Air Canada, it's pretty much all their TATL or TPAC flights. I know that many US airlines have this as well, but the only one I know of for sure is United. As soon as I get on the plane, I adjust my mental clock and my wristwatch to the time of my destination, and I sleep as needed to arrive there well-rested. I very rarely suffer from jet lag as a result. But I used to when I flew coach!

YMMV.

All of my frequent flyer miles are on AA. They have about a 20% grade off of horizontal in business class (head about 20 degrees hisher than feet).

And a complete lie flat in first.

The seats are arranged 3/5/3 in coach. 2/3/2 in business. And 1/2/1 in first class. That is a HUGE difference in the amount of space.

I will be saving about $1000 to use my frequent flyer miles so I have decided to go ahead and go first class. The purpose of saving the frequent flyer miles was to go to Japan. I would prefer to go to China, so I might as well use them on this trip.

elaine
 

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Elaine:

I am ethnically Chinese and went to China about 8 yrs ago - we did HK, Toishan ( rural village where my parents lived), Guangzhou, and Beijing. While lots of folks love HK - I just found it to be a big city with not any old ancient Chinese sights to see. We were there for 5 nights and that was more than enough and don't know that I would ever want to return. I loved Beijing and all the sites mentioned by others.

I don't know that you really need a personal tour guide in Beijing - which can be very expensive esp. when booking in Western type hotels. It was really easy to catch a taxi everywhere we needed with the hotel just writing down for us where we wanted to go in Chinese - in order to show to taxi drivers. At least 8 yrs ago -taxis were very cheap - only about $2 US for a ride anywhere within Beijing proper. The Forbidden City was my favorite and they had a great audio guide that was excellent - told you everything and more than you ever needed to know. And the English in the Audio guide was excellent - first class. Cannot imagine that a private tour guide would have done any better - esp. if you get one whose English may not be great. However, we did have some audio guides at the other locations that were not very good quality - with poor English that was difficult to understand. The only organized tour we took was one to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs - which is quite a distance from Beijing - it was fine.

Don't know what the situation is currently - but 8 yrs ago, the tour prices were exorbitant if you booked at the Western Hotels or online from the US. After a lot of online searching, I found someone that had been to China a lot, I was able to get the name of a local Chinese travel agent in Guangzhou. The prices for the same travel and tour services were SO CHEAP that I did book a private tour in Guangzhou for the entire day for our family of 4 and private transfers to and from airports. His prices for intra-china airfares were also about half-price for the same flights than booking from the US. I even tried US chinatown and HK travel agents - which quoted the same exorbitant prices. So at least in those days, the prices were about half or even cheaper if you book directly with a Mainland China travel agent.

For example, the Great Wall/Ming Tombs bus tour in those days was about $60 or $70 per person and I got the exact same tour for about half price. I even used the tour operator at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, where we stayed, to make final arrangements for the tour and she was not happy that I had an email documenting that I had booked at about half price - but begrudgingly honored the price. Others at the hotel went on the same tour - so it is all the same tour operator with just agents booking in their behalf.

Of course, you are on business, so may not want to go to the trouble to save $$$ - but we were family of 4 at the time and I was an at-home Mom at the time - so really pinching pennies in those days.

The flight over to China is indeed a challenge - makes the 8 hr flight to Hawaii a piece of cake. It is better to go at night if possible, so you are tired and can better sleep part of the way when your body is tired. We flew into Chicago and had a daytime flight nonstop from there to HK - it was difficult. I cannot remember if they even had a designated sleep time - I just remember hating it. I have recently flown to Australia and Korea and it is better to have a designated sleep time to break up the trip. Even if you can only catnap - the whole plane is "sleeping" - thus, helps to break the trip up. They wake you up in enough time to serve a breakfast and you are there. So go first class if you can - definitely worth it. I have always gone cattle class and am still alive to talk about it!

Joyce
 
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We go to China about once a year. We speak both Mandarin and Cantonese. Language is not a problem. Our trip usually involves three flights. The long leg of our trip is Chicago to Korea; it is about fourteen hours. Shortly after takeoff, they start with something to drink. Some airlines will hand out warm towels to freshen up. After they pick everything up, you are served a meal usually dinner. Once they pickup after dinner, you are about three hours into your flight. Now the shapes are pulled down and the lights are lowered. It does not matter what the time is outside the plane. If you want to sleep, you can. If not, there are movies you can watch; you have an individual screen. Look around; you might find two seats together that you can lie down across. If you not sleeping, get up and walk around every couple of hours. If you can, get an aisle seat. The lights will come on about a little less than three hours. They will hand out warm towels. A meal will be served, usually breakfast. During the meal, the crew will hand out immigration forms. Since we are changing planes, we do not worry about the forms on this middle leg. You need to be aware that security is much tighter here. You will go through a security screen again and you may be selected for a hand search at the gate. It is a long trip; a trip that we dread every time. Clock time from time when we leave our house to when we get to where we are staying is 24 to 30 hours.

On another subject, if you have not obtained your visa, get one with multiple entry and stays for 90 days and good for two years. It does not cost that much more. If you go to Hong Kong or Macau, you have will have left China and need to go through immigration to reenter China just like you first arrived.
 

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Elaine:

I am ethnically Chinese and went to China about 8 yrs ago - we did HK, Toishan ( rural village where my parents lived), Guangzhou, and Beijing. While lots of folks love HK - I just found it to be a big city with not any old ancient Chinese sights to see. We were there for 5 nights and that was more than enough and don't know that I would ever want to return. I loved Beijing and all the sites mentioned by others.

I don't know that you really need a personal tour guide in Beijing - which can be very expensive esp. when booking in Western type hotels. It was really easy to catch a taxi everywhere we needed with the hotel just writing down for us where we wanted to go in Chinese - in order to show to taxi drivers. At least 8 yrs ago -taxis were very cheap - only about $2 US for a ride anywhere within Beijing proper. The Forbidden City was my favorite and they had a great audio guide that was excellent - told you everything and more than you ever needed to know. And the English in the Audio guide was excellent - first class. Cannot imagine that a private tour guide would have done any better - esp. if you get one whose English may not be great. However, we did have some audio guides at the other locations that were not very good quality - with poor English that was difficult to understand. The only organized tour we took was one to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs - which is quite a distance from Beijing - it was fine.

Don't know what the situation is currently - but 8 yrs ago, the tour prices were exorbitant if you booked at the Western Hotels or online from the US. After a lot of online searching, I found someone that had been to China a lot, I was able to get the name of a local Chinese travel agent in Guangzhou. The prices for the same travel and tour services were SO CHEAP that I did book a private tour in Guangzhou for the entire day for our family of 4 and private transfers to and from airports. His prices for intra-china airfares were also about half-price for the same flights than booking from the US. I even tried US chinatown and HK travel agents - which quoted the same exorbitant prices. So at least in those days, the prices were about half or even cheaper if you book directly with a Mainland China travel agent.

For example, the Great Wall/Ming Tombs bus tour in those days was about $60 or $70 per person and I got the exact same tour for about half price. I even used the tour operator at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, where we stayed, to make final arrangements for the tour and she was not happy that I had an email documenting that I had booked at about half price - but begrudgingly honored the price. Others at the hotel went on the same tour - so it is all the same tour operator with just agents booking in their behalf.

Of course, you are on business, so may not want to go to the trouble to save $$$ - but we were family of 4 at the time and I was an at-home Mom at the time - so really pinching pennies in those days.

The flight over to China is indeed a challenge - makes the 8 hr flight to Hawaii a piece of cake. It is better to go at night if possible, so you are tired and can better sleep part of the way when your body is tired. We flew into Chicago and had a daytime flight nonstop from there to HK - it was difficult. I cannot remember if they even had a designated sleep time - I just remember hating it. I have recently flown to Australia and Korea and it is better to have a designated sleep time to break up the trip. Even if you can only catnap - the whole plane is "sleeping" - thus, helps to break the trip up. They wake you up in enough time to serve a breakfast and you are there. So go first class if you can - definitely worth it. I have always gone cattle class and am still alive to talk about it!

Joyce

Hi Joyce! Thanks so much about the advice on the tour guides. I think that I will do a mix - some of the biggest sights like Forbidden City to use the audio guides and some of the smaller, less traveled sights to use a guide.

The flight I am taking is DFW to Chicago to Shanghai.

We will be 3 days in Shanghai, then we will be in Xi'an for 2 days, then Beijing for 4 days, then Tokyo for 3 days.

I have always wanted to go to China. My husband has always wanted to take me to Japan. I think that it is because he vacations in Japan and works while in China so his experiences are different.

By flying into Shanghai, I was able to use the discounted frequent flyer first class rate and it ended up being less miles than the business rate into HK or Beijing.

I will not be going to Hong Kong at all. The business trip starts in Hong Kong, the to Shenzen for 10 days. Ian goes to Shenzen fairly frequently and doesn't want me there. He thinks that I will be bored because that is where their largest customer is so he will be working more than full time during that 10 days and there is not much to see as it is a very new city. (In ten years it has quadrupled in size).

I have made my lists of what is important for me to see in each place. Next thing that I will work on is marking them on a map, then doing a timeline.

How much time should I allow for the Forbidden City? It looks like an enormous complex. It also looks like some of the more interesting parts are down alleys and side streets. Does the audio tour go to those areas?

Thanks for your help!
elaine
 

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It is a long trip; a trip that we dread every time. Clock time from time when we leave our house to when we get to where we are staying is 24 to 30 hours.

On another subject, if you have not obtained your visa, get one with multiple entry and stays for 90 days and good for two years. It does not cost that much more. If you go to Hong Kong or Macau, you have will have left China and need to go through immigration to reenter China just like you first arrived.


Thanks for the advice on the visa. I need to get my application in now that I have booked my flights.

And get my shots. Ian recommends flu, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Is there anything else that i will need?

elaine
 

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Visa to china now is $140 for 1 year multiple entries. It is hard to get the 2 year visa; I think it is for business people and sometimes people who were born in china. Because we go back to china every year, my mom and I have been able to get the 2 year visa; my brother, on the other hand who was born in the u.s., was denied the 2 year visa and got only the 1 year one. As the price is the same for the 1 and 2 year visa, you can try to apply for the longer visa.
We tend to go to china at least one a year in the past 10 years. We have seen china getting more and more prosperous during this period. With this, we also see prices go higher, especially entrance fees to attractions. However, they are still cheaper than Disney park tickets. You can try to hire a car if you are going to the great wall and Ming tombs ( about 1 hour from center of Beijing). We paid 400 yuans (about $65) for 1 day. You still have to pay entrance fees on top of it. It is cheaper to join a local tour but your time at each place is limited.
 

Jwerking

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I will not be going to Hong Kong at all. The business trip starts in Hong Kong, the to Shenzen for 10 days. Ian goes to Shenzen fairly frequently and doesn't want me there. He thinks that I will be bored because that is where their largest customer is so he will be working more than full time during that 10 days and there is not much to see as it is a very new city. (In ten years it has quadrupled in size).

I have made my lists of what is important for me to see in each place. Next thing that I will work on is marking them on a map, then doing a timeline.

How much time should I allow for the Forbidden City? It looks like an enormous complex. It also looks like some of the more interesting parts are down alleys and side streets. Does the audio tour go to those areas?

Thanks for your help!
elaine

Hi Elaine:

Honestly, you will not miss HK and I think that your hubby is right that there is nothing to see in Shenzen - just more HK type shopping.

We toured the Forbidden City for probably about 4 hrs - an entire morning. We were there in the middle of the summer - so it was very hot and humid. SO our routine was to go early in the morning - take a break a the hotel during the middle of the day and then do something else after dinner. The pollution there was horrible in the summer - it looked foggy the entire day due to the pollution - hopefully it has improved. Anyway, I think that three or four hrs was plenty to see most of the Forbidden City. It is a very large complex and we did get back into some of the alleys, etc - just very spread out. I remember that it was a very long walk back to the front of the complex in the heat in order to catch a cab.

I am certain that over the years, tourism for Americans have improved in China. Eight years ago, very little English was spoken - so don't get lost and know where you are going. As I said previously stated, I went to visit my parent's village in Toishan - which is about 100 miles SW of HK. We took a bus from HK and it was one of the most traumatic travel events in my life. Had not clue that we had to disembark from the bus to process thru HK immigration and then do the same thing a few miles later to enter Mainland China. Of course, since no one spoke English and I did not understand the dialect of Cantonese being spoken on the bus - we had no clue that we were to switch onto another bus for the Mainland China portion of the trip. We had left of bunch of our personal stuff on the other bus. Then horrors - they just started to drop people off on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere - not at bus stations as I had anticipated. Luckily, at our destination, there was a bus station - so we were able to get a cab to our hotel. But it was a few stressful hours, I felt like I was lost in China - at that point, no one spoke English and I had no clue what was going on and no one could answer my questions.

It was odd that once I got to Toishan - everyone spoke my dialect of Cantonese and I could communicate easily. I was thrilled to be hosted by the Government office sponsoring overseas chinese - who found my parent's home and my Mom's childhood home and found individuals with keys so that we got to go inside. Both homes were much more than I had expected based on my Mom's stories over the years and I was thrilled to see them. It was truly an awesome experience for me.

Joyce
 
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