Beijing + Xi'an in 5 days ?

Beijing + Xi'an in 5 days ?
Aug 19, 2008 07:21
guest01124	Hi All, I have 5 days/4 nights departing from and back to Shanghai. Initially, my plan is to spend them all in Beijing but now, we have plan to be in Beijing again few months later. So we thought of having a shorter stay in Beijing just to visit the must-see and add a trip to Xi'an(since it's only 1 way fare extra). I have figured out that if we can catch a flight from Shanghai in the afternoon or a train to Xi'an.... Day 1 - Shanghai - Xi'an - night tour of the city sights if arrive by flight. Day 2 - Terracotta & Shaanxi History Museum, night in Xi'an. Day 3 - Beijing - Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Yonghegong Temple, Temple of Heaven, night Wangfujing, opera or acrobatic show/shopping. Day 4 - Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Summer palace, night opera or acrobatic show/shopping Day 5 -Beihai Park, Hutongs, Fragance Hill, night flight to Shanghai I know this is going to be very rush but considering that i can skip Ming Tomb, Beihai Park, Hutongs and Fragrance Hill(in case we need to carry forward any place not done in day 3 or day 4) it seems doable. I will wish to vist the Nest & Water-Cube for a quick photography too. Another option that we can have is not to go Xi'an but make a day trip to Chengde. Any advice or tips on how to plan my trip will be much appreciated.

Aug 19, 2008 07:21

guest01124

Hi All,

I have 5 days/4 nights departing from and back to Shanghai. Initially, my plan is to spend them all in Beijing but now, we have plan to be in Beijing again few months later. So we thought of having a shorter stay in Beijing just to visit the must-see and add a trip to Xi'an(since it's only 1 way fare extra). I have figured out that if we can catch a flight from Shanghai in the afternoon or a train to Xi'an....

Day 1 - Shanghai - Xi'an - night tour of the city sights if arrive by flight.
Day 2 - Terracotta & Shaanxi History Museum, night in Xi'an.
Day 3 - Beijing - Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Yonghegong Temple, Temple of Heaven, night Wangfujing, opera or acrobatic show/shopping.
Day 4 - Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Summer palace, night opera or acrobatic show/shopping
Day 5 -Beihai Park, Hutongs, Fragance Hill, night flight to Shanghai

I know this is going to be very rush but considering that i can skip Ming Tomb, Beihai Park, Hutongs and Fragrance Hill(in case we need to carry forward any place not done in day 3 or day 4) it seems doable.

I will wish to vist the Nest & Water-Cube for a quick photography too.

Another option that we can have is not to go Xi'an but make a day trip to Chengde.

Any advice or tips on how to plan my trip will be much appreciated.

Aug 19, 2008 22:48

ELLYSE
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Join Date: Oct 30, 2005
Status: Offline

Good grief! This is ultra-rushed. I presume you need a helicopter or private jet?!
Go to any other section of the Great Wall OTHER THAN Badaling. You can safely skip the Mong Tombs and Fragrant Hills.
Day 1: arrive in Shanghai, connect to Shanghai -- Xi'an flight
Day 2: Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Terracotta Warriors, overnight train Xi'an -- Beijing
Day 3: arrive Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Yonghegong Lamasery, hutong tour, Wangfujing pedestrian street, Houhai nightlife area
Day 4: Summer Palace, acrobat performance at Chaoyang Theatre
Day 5: Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall (vehicle hire), go straight to airport, flight Beijing -- Shanghai

Aug 20, 2008 05:27

GUEST01124

Thanks ELLYSE, for your reply, suggestion & humour :)

I am thinking of night flight from Xi'an to Beijing so I have some extra night time in Beijing to sleep better.

May I know why you suggest Mutianyu over Badaling ? Is it nearer to airport ? Which of the 2 is easier for elderly people who cannot walk much ?

Why so few places in Day 4 ? What time is the performance at Chaoyang Theatre ? Can I do Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace & perforrmanc in the same day(4) since I am not sure of my flight time from Beijing to Shanghai.

Aug 20, 2008 22:07

ELLYSE
Points:
Join Date: Oct 30, 2005
Status: Offline

Actually, I never have a problem sleeping on the Xi'an -- Beijing soft sleepers. But if you want to fly, that's fine!
Mutianyu is less touristy and less crowded. There's a cable car there that your elderlies can take to get onto the Great Wall. Mutianyu is about 55 km north of Beijing airport, while Badaling is about 76 km northwest of Beijing airport. It would make more sense for you to go to Mutianyu.
Performance at Chaoyang theatre is at 1930. Summer Palace is huge and you'll do well to allow for 1 whole day for it. I would suggest that you take metro line 10 from Summer Palace to Tuanjiehu, go to Da Dong Peking duck restaurant at 1630 for a Peking duck dinner (do call ahead to reserve your duck as it takes 50 mins to roast!) then go for the performance.
If you've any more queries, please email me directly at yahoo.com|ellyse99 and put "TravelChinaGuide" in the subject line, thanks.

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