Beijing - To Do
Beijing - To Eat
Beijing, To Do
(ABBA Contribution Denison Tan 22Sep2014)
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Forbiden City
4. Arriving at the ticket booth, there is some respite-the crowds start to thin out somewhat. The tickets cost 60RMB each and took about slightly more than an hour to get to from our first alighting the taxi. The audio guide is available for 40RMB after entering yet another security check.
On hindsight, the audio guide would have been a useful accompaniment to the tour since information boards are few and far in between. For a first timer, a lot of time was spent simply marveling at the expanse and architecture of the historic site, but if one had more time (and more conducive weather) the guide would have enhanced one's appreciation for the place.
5. There are vendors inside selling drinks and various snacks. A bottle of water retails for 3RMB.
There is a costume shop within the walls - with many bedecked locals gamely posing for shots. Approach politely and they may oblige you taking a photo of them.
6. Departing will cast a bit of a damper on the trip, and despite being told about it still came as a surprise. The road in front of the exit is gated off, so you will have to walk some distance towards the East (turn right after exiting the City). There, taxi drivers will ask for 100RMB to take you back to the hotel, or tell you about the traffic issues to take you back, or just plain ignore your hails.
Local drivers get in on it too, pulling up to the kerb and asking for 150RMB to drive you in their sedan. Apparently it is a phenomenon well documented in online forums. Our remedy was to walk to the nearest (but still a fair distance away) hotel and get a taxi waiting outside. Otherwise the subway would have been another choice.
(ABBA Contribution Denison Tan 22Sep2014)
(ABBA Contribution Denison Tan 22Sep2014)
Click here to see our Facebook page
Forbiden City
A taxi ride to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City will cost about 30RMB (S$6).
The concierge and taxi driver will remind you that they have to drop you off some distance from the entrance due to the security.
The concierge and taxi driver will remind you that they have to drop you off some distance from the entrance due to the security.
Some notes about the visit:
1. Touts - be prepared to face an onslaught of touts wielding umbrellas asking you to buy tickets from them. The price of 10RMB was repeatedly quoted (puzzling because the ticket costs more) and that a 2hr wait was awaiting, after which entry was not guaranteed. Avoid eye contact, feign incomprehension and get into what passes for a queue.
2. After close to 45mins, one should reach the security checkpoint, with uniformed personnel hollering for people to get into lanes - one for those with bags, the other for those without. There were also individuals, decked in sweaty T-shirts at the sides, berating people to finish their water before the security checks. A definite contrast to the uniformed officers around. Official or not? Did not find out but the karang guni men nearby were grinning ear to ear harvesting the mountains of discarded bottles.
3. Tiananmen Square. Take a photo at the iconic entrance then head in to buy the ticket. There seemed to be no let up in the crowds the day we went, though it was a weekday and barely afternoon. Local crew mentioned it was a holiday, though a search did not turn up any official dates. Dread to think what it would be like on a major holiday...
1. Touts - be prepared to face an onslaught of touts wielding umbrellas asking you to buy tickets from them. The price of 10RMB was repeatedly quoted (puzzling because the ticket costs more) and that a 2hr wait was awaiting, after which entry was not guaranteed. Avoid eye contact, feign incomprehension and get into what passes for a queue.
2. After close to 45mins, one should reach the security checkpoint, with uniformed personnel hollering for people to get into lanes - one for those with bags, the other for those without. There were also individuals, decked in sweaty T-shirts at the sides, berating people to finish their water before the security checks. A definite contrast to the uniformed officers around. Official or not? Did not find out but the karang guni men nearby were grinning ear to ear harvesting the mountains of discarded bottles.
3. Tiananmen Square. Take a photo at the iconic entrance then head in to buy the ticket. There seemed to be no let up in the crowds the day we went, though it was a weekday and barely afternoon. Local crew mentioned it was a holiday, though a search did not turn up any official dates. Dread to think what it would be like on a major holiday...
4. Arriving at the ticket booth, there is some respite-the crowds start to thin out somewhat. The tickets cost 60RMB each and took about slightly more than an hour to get to from our first alighting the taxi. The audio guide is available for 40RMB after entering yet another security check.
On hindsight, the audio guide would have been a useful accompaniment to the tour since information boards are few and far in between. For a first timer, a lot of time was spent simply marveling at the expanse and architecture of the historic site, but if one had more time (and more conducive weather) the guide would have enhanced one's appreciation for the place.
5. There are vendors inside selling drinks and various snacks. A bottle of water retails for 3RMB.
There is a costume shop within the walls - with many bedecked locals gamely posing for shots. Approach politely and they may oblige you taking a photo of them.
6. Departing will cast a bit of a damper on the trip, and despite being told about it still came as a surprise. The road in front of the exit is gated off, so you will have to walk some distance towards the East (turn right after exiting the City). There, taxi drivers will ask for 100RMB to take you back to the hotel, or tell you about the traffic issues to take you back, or just plain ignore your hails.
Local drivers get in on it too, pulling up to the kerb and asking for 150RMB to drive you in their sedan. Apparently it is a phenomenon well documented in online forums. Our remedy was to walk to the nearest (but still a fair distance away) hotel and get a taxi waiting outside. Otherwise the subway would have been another choice.
(ABBA Contribution Denison Tan 22Sep2014)
