Korean Job Discussion Forums

[peppermint]

Okay guys, here's my question I just found out I have four days off next week and decided I wanna go to Beijing.

I heard there's a big holiday there tho at the start of October. Will that mean traffic nightmares and crowds like it does here? I'm not planning on traveling around the country- just toing the tourist trap thing in the main city.

As well, package tour or independent? I'm leaning towards package, just cause of the time and language constraints, but any imput would be good.

(I'd check on the China forum, but I need to register separately for that, and I'm guessing since Dave Sperling's on the road, that might take a while)

[katydid]

According to my Beijing LP, October 1 is National Day, but that is the only holiday listed. Traffic in Beijing is fierce any day of the week.
I am of two minds about taking a package tour. Thre were no headaches on the tour, and everything (food, lodging, things to see) was taken care of. Our tour guide was really cool too. However, by not going on the tours, you do have a greater freedom of movement. You don't always have to eat Chinese food (though I LOVED it when I was there) and don't have to visit what seems to be a factory show room every day!

[travellingwilly]

i spent ten days in beijing last july and the traffic is just as bad as it is here.i suppose that it would be worse on a holiday,but then again,it is the same in any country on a holiday.
independent travel is a good option,because if on a package tour for example they take you to the great wall,which i presume you would be wanting,then you would more than likely i think go to one of very over touristed places,such as badaling.wheras independent travel,you can make it to less visited areas,and enjoy a better day.
just my opinion anyway.

[katydid]

[camel96]

Do you even have time to get your visa...?

[katydid]

[peppermint]

Thanks for the concern guys. There's been a major amount of confusion about getting aticket- more on that later, but the visa thing has been the easiest part so far. I went to the consulate, with form, passport and pic and will pick it up tomorrow. Thank goodness for express service!

I have decided to go it alone, armed with a lonely planet guide and a hotel reservation. If anyone has any suggestions on MUST SEE things, I'd be grateful.

[katydid]

[waterbaby]

Definitely go to the great wall. Amazing. But don't be fooled like I was... it's more like a neverending staircase than a wall Check out the Forbidden City (where they shot some of crouching tiger) and maybe the Summer Palace if it's a nice day. The Summer Palace is absolutely HUGE. I did a rickshaw tour through some older parts of Beijing... narrow windy streets, old guys in their Mao suits everywhere. Six bike collision, kind of fun. Then there's a market in the heart of downtown - a huge shopping district... and this market has all kinds of weird food (though not so weird now I've been in Asia for a while) and you eat fried scorpions & grasshoppers. It was quite an eyeful for me! I had some wicked nights out at clubs too, but as I was whisked from one place to the next by others in the know, I have no idea where they were but think Indianna Jones and the Temple of Doom opening scenes (Kate capshaw doing the "Anything Goes" routine)... then it was a bar completely filled with different level benches for dancing (no dancing on the floor) and another HUGE club that was soooo big there was nothing much else to do but put your arms up in the air and wiggle about 3cm to the left and back... then head back to the bar area for more vodka once the groping becomes intolerable ... 4 days and about 15 hours of sleep... I crammed in a lot.