Beijing - To Do (5thDec2014 Olympic Stadium The Cube)

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Beijing - To Do
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Beijing - To Do
05Dec2014

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Beijing National Aquatics Center
- Water Cube (1.3km away)

The cube was an architectural marvel which was from an Australian design company. Their design was based off soap bubbles wash and is the largest structure made of a plastic like material which its green economic design achieves a 30% reduction in energy usage.

Since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the place has since been retrofitted to serve other purposes. Part of the cube has been sectioned off to be an all year round water theme park which upon visit had either been closed for renovation purposes or for closure? 

Also the place was recently used to host the Nov2014 APEC meeting. Whether this place is still available on your visit is unknown?

*The main arena where main swimming events are held is
now covered to play host to a banquet for the Apec Meet.*

 *Have a taste of the light desserts which were made specially forhonoured guests at the APEC meeting.*
 

*Yes the cube does have free WIFI.*

Its amazing to be inside the cube to see the iconic structure. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. The iconic water cube design is being copied and followed in many other countries.
Entry to the Water Cube, RMB30
Click here for Review of Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.
Click here for ABBA Location of Beijing National Aquatics Center

Beijing - To Do (ABBA Contribution Denison Tan Forbidden City 22Sep2014)

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Beijing - To Do
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Beijing, To Do 
(ABBA Contribution Denison Tan 22Sep2014)

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Forbiden City

 Click here for ABBA location of Tiananmen Forbidden City, China Beijing, Dongcheng 景山前街4号

 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.

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...

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)

 Click here for ABBA location of Tiananmen Forbidden City, China Beijing, Dongcheng 景山前街4号

Beijing - To Do (19July2014Yashow Clothing Market, Hooters)

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Beijing - To Do
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Beijing, To Do
19July2014
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 Yashow Clothing Market
(Located right beside Sanlitun shopping)
Click here for Review on Sanlitun Shopping Center

Click here for ABBA location for Yashow Clothing Market
Go to "Sanlitun Yashow Clothing Market" for a bargain hunt and replica products, similar to "Silk Street Market" Shops closes at 2030hrs. It's literally beside the North Shopping village. From ultra posh architecture, full priced items, straight to knockoffs by crossing a narrow alleyway.

Getting There
Via taxi at RMB37one way. Approximately 20min journey from V
Continent hotel.

A reasonable spread of quickly repeating products. However with similar products
available at every turn, puts bargaining leverage in your favor. The place stock piles
shoes and luggages in the basement floor, to clothing on the next two, and in upper
levels, tailoring services and misc items for including some toy shops, electronics and
various table placements and embroideries.

A rough idea of what we paid for products on this journey.
2 lighting charging cables for RMB30
1 Multi travel plug adaptor RMB50
1 Leather belt RMB50
ABBATIP: Testing is allowed and encouraged. Sometimes the simplest of things like
charging wires do not work on your mobile phones/tablets.

Click here for ABBA location for Yashow Clothing Market

Hooters (Beijing)

Hooter girls give a mini performance hourly and are relatively proficient in conversing in
English.

Hooter girls on hand were friendly. Our wait (name) staff went to the extent of providing,
de-crabing services on request. She later shuddered when we teasingly queried her on
how the crab was, mind you after she having just spent the last half an hour de-crabing,
She claimed having not tried them before.

 

Ordered: 
Onion Rings


10 Wings Breaded and Normal with spicy level of 3.

*My preference is for the breaded. Still crispy even with the hotsauce over, and juicier than the normal wings. Perhaps the only downside is the blue cheese dipping. More mayo than anything else.*

 BBQ Ribs

*Steamed then BBQed ribs. Pretty descent but could have used more time on the hot grill for the extra char.*

x3 Tsing Tao Beers

(Small on the left. Large on the right)

Total RMB470

Overall, the food was pretty much to standard and consistent with chains elsewhere, but
nothing really to scream about. Pricing wise, the place is reasonable for the
Restaurant I guess but edging on pricey. The place however was really warm, probably due to the use of halogen lights over head. We had requested for the air conditioning to be turned up but to little avail.

If you've never had the hooters experience, if and only if you're in the area for
shopping at Yashow Market and/or at San Li Tun. It may not be worth the visit just for
this place, and there are loads of other dinning bistros and pubs around San Li Tun for
future exploration that maybe offer a different experience.

Click here for ABBA location of Hooter Beijing, 300m from Yashow Clothing Market and Sanlitun across the road.

Beijing Great Wall of China - Contributed by GC Teo 30Sep2013

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Day trip to Great Wall of China
*Text and Pictures Contributed by GC Teo*

Getting There, Quick and dirty via Hotel
(Option1)

Hotel Concierge charges RMB800 (SGD160) for a private car to the Great Wall for an entire day.

If you can get a company of 3 or 4, its quite worth it.

Getting there the local way
(Option2)

1. Start the day early 0515 or 0700, depending on which train you want to catch. (see image below)

2. Take a cab to 北京北站 (Beijing North Railway), Cost about RMB30 (SGD6). Traveling time 20mins from the hotel.

3. Head to the middle of the station building, they have a dedicated booth selling tickets for the S2 train which you will be buying. Tix cost RMB6 (SGD1.20)

4. Enter the station and join the queue for the train.

5. When the gate for the train opens, don't be shock to see the locals squeezing and rushing to be the first to get onto the train, you are doing the local way in China after all. The locals will run for the train, so be prepared.

6. Try to get the window seat on the left as you enter the train for a better view. Travelling time 1.5hrs.

7. Tickets for the Great Wall cost RMB45 (SGD9). You can choose to purchase this at the entrance of the wall or if you want to skip the queue, the tickets are also available with the train conductors for RMB80 (SGD16) which includes another ticket to a theatre which cost RMB40 (SGD5) separately. Not much of a premium to skip the queue in my opinion.

Alight at 八达岭站 (Badaling Station) and walk about 800m to the left and you will reach the great wall.

8. You may want to spend about 2-4hrs at the wall.

9. To return, set aside sufficient time to descend the wall and reach the train station preferably 30mins before the train departs (See train schedule). Else you may find yourself standing for the entire 1.5hr ride back, though seats are still not guaranteed.

10. Take a cab back to the hotel and get some rest!

Total cost of the trip, RMB152 (SGD30.40)!

Have fun.
*Text and Pictures Contributed by GC Teo*

China - Beijing, To Do (Zhong Guan Cun Technology Hub, Sanlitun/Yashow Market, Silk Steet Market/XiuShuiJie,Tian An Men,Olympic Stadium)

Beijing - To Stay
Beijing - To Do
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Beijing - To Do 
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Zhong Guan Cun Technology Hub in Beijing

<Explored Ding Hao Market>

- 15-20min at about 25RMB per trip to and tech village from the Crowne Plaza.

Visit any of the big five prominent IT and electronic markets, namely, Hailong Market, Guigu Market, Taipingyang Market, Dinghao Market and Kemao Market. Known mostly for their shops within a shop, as well as needing to bargain down prices, it's an electronic haven for all techies and consumers. (Nearest MRT;ZhongGuanCun Line 4, 50m away) Click here for ABBA Location of Zhong Guan Cun

ABBATip: 

- Buyer beware! Always test equipment. You may need to know a local to make more expensive purchases to ensure quality and product. There have been cases of 120gig thumb drive, tested at store, only to install program on PC to indicate 120gig. This later resulted in buyers have a corrupted operating system at home.

...continued...Ding Hao Market 

First few floors are largely mainstream brands, selling cameras, phones, laptops and so forth. However, it is the basement and upper floors, which sell novelty electronic products.

These range from surveillance equipment, random electronic connectors, phone accessories, and even commercials goods such as, bar-code scanners and even money counters. A wide variety and stores to find  various products.

  

A rough price guide at Ding Hao Market

Toshiba Hard Disc 1TB: 500RMB

4GB Novelty thumb drive: 40RMB

Video Camera for cars: 250RMB and up

Laptop bag 15/17" Bag: 60RMB (bargained from 86RMB)

Spy Pen Camera: 80RMB

Razor Mouse, probable replica: 160RMB

Third Party IPad connection for HDMI output 160RMB
Click here for ABBA location of Ding Hao Market

"Sanlitun Village/Yashow Market"

Getting there: (From Crowne Plaza Park View WuZhou Beijing) Located near "Dong Si Shi Tiao" Train station or via Taxi, 30mins under peak hour traffic at 33RMB from crew hotel. 

A tripartite of shopping galore. The 'shopping' village is divided into two massive shopping districts, North and South, each with multistoried, middle to high class shopping. Be in awe at the famed Apple Shop, architectural designs and the mega-sized brand stores.

Click here for details on Sanlitun Village
Click here for ABBA location for Sanlitun Vilalge

 

Street foods, high quality pirated DVDs from 6-30RMB a piece, rap bars, drinking bistro line this short street. Definately worth checking out, and for the brave to try street foods. (A-la-carte steam boat, open grills of duck/chicken, chinese prata burgers and many more)

Silk Street Market/XiuShuiJie

From Crew hotel, walk about 1km to
HuiXinJie Bei Kou Stn.
Change at Dong Dan Stn.
Get off at Yong An L Stn.
Subway service stops right in front of the shopping center.
From Crew hotel to location
*Walk + train about 1hour journey. 2RMB
*Taxi pending traffic about 30min 50RMB

Open from 9.30am-9.00pm, this is a multi-storied shopper's haven or a bargain hunter's hell. Knock-off branded clothes, bags, toys, trinkets, suits and much much more. Know your prices and always bargain for the right price.
ABBA Tip:By how much to bargain down? On others account; a Gucci Leather Bag opening quote, 880RMB, and was purchased at 80RMB. You be the judge. - *for short distance of about 3km from Silkstreet to Tian An Men, cabbies wanted to charge 30-40RMB DO NOT BE SCAMMED!*
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Tian An Men

A national monument known to all. Photographers take note, lights at Tian An Men go off by about 10pm. ABBA Tip: A trip from Tian An Men/Silk Road to Crew Hotel; 35min drive costs 50RMB (taken at night).

Beijing Olympic Ground - Bird's Nest

 *photos above taken 05Dec2014.*

Admission into the grounds itself is free, however to the Bird's Nest (Stadium) there is a small entry fee. Various displays and artifacts line the stadium. Defiantly hike to the very top of the stadium to get a sense of space of the place which plays host to the 080808 Beijing Olympics. 

In between Dong Dan and Yan An Li station (Silkroad Shopping Centre) are located embassies from all over and around the area are international bistros of Spanish, Italian, diners. Be in awe at the grandeur and architectural beauty of the grounds.
Click here for ABBA area