Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maeil]

Before heading home for good (for now?) this November, I have a few more vacation days I'd like to use somewhere outside of Korea. Right now I'm choosing between Beijing, Hong Kong, and Kyoto.

I'm incredibly interested in going to Beijing to do the whole historical-touristy thing. However, I am put off by my friends' accounts of how dirty the city is, how difficult it is to get around, and generally how much of a hassle it is.

I know very little about Hong Kong, but I have heard it is a great city, clean, English-friendly, and a good place to do shopping (a plus - get Christmas shopping out of the way).

I know equally little about Kyoto, only that after gushing to people about how much I loved Fukuoka, the typical response was, "You must see Kyoto." I've been to Osaka as well and enjoyed it.

I will of course be doing my own research on these cities, but it would be great to hear some more opinions from people who have been to one or more of them. I'm planning on going in August, just after summer term is finished, but weather and such isn't so much of a concern for me.

Thanks for whatever advice you have!

[soviet_man]

Both Hong Kong and Beijing can be done fairly cheaply.

Nowadays there is a fast train service from Hong Kong to Beijing direct. It departs every second day.

It is very clean, safe and airconditioned and a one-way ticket (with sleeper bunk) currently costs only about $80 US dollars one-way ... which is quite good value.

You get to see the many cities and countryside along the way - and it is a reasonably interesting 2 day experience.

[maeil]

Ah, thank you for the tip.. I should have mentioned in my first post that when I said "a few" vacation days, I really meant only is a few. My plan is to leave Korea on a Wednesday and return the following Sunday, giving me only 3 full days with which to experience a city.

[kat2]

I haven't been to Beijing or Hong Kong, but Kyoto is really great. We were trying to do a quick vacation on cheap air tickets and ended up goin to kyoto. I wasn't expecting much, but it was really fantastic. SO MUCH to see. Clean. Tourist friendly. If you want to see a lot of Japanese cultural stuff, Kyoto is the place to go.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I used to go to Beijing about twice a month to do my shopping. Once you've seen the Temple of Heaven and Tianmen Square there's not a whole lot else, except maybe a bunch of hair salons. You might consider staying in a hostel there, doing the city one day and taking a trip to the great wall the next.

I stayed at a cheap little place called Poachers--very reasonable and clean. One bed was 70 RMB (about 5,500 won). Try a search on google. They have several tours that leave out from the hostel, and can also arrange a trip to the Great Wall, even if it is in Badaling. You can meet some pretty cool people there as well.

[Bibbitybop]

Xanadu.co.kr has a nice package trip to Beijing.