China Travel Forum

[Nick]

hi people!

I'm having a headache here as I was supposed to leave for Africa next week with a friend but it's postponed last minute! I'm having a 3-wk break starting next week and am going to spend time in Beijing. Intend to fly there next Tues and spend 2 weeks there. I'm planning to go Shanghai and perhaps Inner Mongolia by taking up the package tours in Beijing, as what a friend suggested to me. Any recommendations by you guys out there as I'm only planning to visit the cities. Don't intend to rough it out, as I'm looking forward to a relaxed trip since it's so last minute! It's so last minute, and I'm trying to book my tics right now! Please help! Thanks a lot!

[Dale]

Don't bother with tour groups and use your extra money for the hotels and restaurants and flying over to the cities you want. There are lots of things to see in the major cities that you can do on your own with a good tour book. Pick up the new LP China and bring a note book. Then when you get into Beijing just go out to the places on your own. Show the names of the places that are in the guide books for taxi drivers to take you there. Any young person who has completed high school has 6 years of English training and University graduates may have as much as 8 to 10 years of training. They may not be able to understand your speaking, but write down what you want and they might know the meaning.

Every major hotel will have several employees who speak very good English. Have them write down whatever you need prior to leaving for the day.

If you really want someone to talk to while traveling, then visit a Beijing University and go to the Foreign Language Department. There will be lots of students willing to go with you on your travels. You probably won't have to pay much other than their entrance fees, food, transportation and a small amount to say thanks. Just be aware that they are very young, usually don't know much about various places in the city (most Beijing Students come from the countryside), will make suggestions based on their limited experiences, haven't needed to bargain for the lowest prices, and are afraid to speak up against authorities, older males, and all business people. In other words, just have them as friends with limited ability to help you go where you want and keep in control of everything all the time.