First Trip to China

My husband and I are spending 7 nights in Beijing in Mid-May. Planning to see Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall, Hutongs, day trip to Xian for Terracotta Warriors.

1) Anything of note we have missed? I believe we dcan do all of the above without tour?

2) Can we get by with only English language? Have 鈥楾each Yourself Mandarin鈥?CD but not doing very well so far!

3) I鈥檓 vegetarian (my husband is not). Any problems finding vegetarian food?

4) Also want to visit another city. Any opinion on whether Hong Kong or Shanghai would be best?

Thanks for any advice.

First Trip to China

(!) The Temple of Heaven and park is very impressive and can be combined with a visit to the adjacent Hongqiao Market (The Pearl Market) and then on the way back into town a stop at Liulichang and Dashilan shopping and hutong walk/rickshaw ride. This would take around half to 3/4 of a day. This is all achievable by taxi.

(1) A walk around the Back Lakes is very pleasant - allow 2-3 hours. You can also have a hutong tour in this location.

(2) You can get by with only English if you carry your hotel%26#39;s business card, a map of Beijing (preferably bi lingual) and a Lonely Planet guide which names the attractions and provides addresses in mandarin and English Use your hotel%26#39;s concierge to write down things which you wish to purchase/look at etc.

3) Will not be a problem

4) Prefer Shanghai to Hong Kong, unless while you are there you spend a day in Macau. Thi lovely thing about Shanghai is the contrast - very modern and then you can spend a day on the Grand Canal in one of the nearby water towns.

For time reasons you will need to book your Xian day trip in advance.

In T square I have heard that the Mao mausoleum is under repair.

First Trip to China

1) Should also include Temple of Heaven and Yonghegong Lamasery.

4) What are you looking to see/do/experience in the other place? Shanghai would be nearer, cheaper and more convenient than Hong Kong. Is that included in the 7 days, or extra?

Itinerary suggestion:

Day 1: Yonghegong Lamasery, Qianhai/Houhai area

Day 2: flag-raising at Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Wangfujing pedestrian street, Wangfujing night street market

Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall, overnight Z train to Xi%26#39;an

Day 4: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter/Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, overnight Z train to Beijing

Day 5: Temple of Heaven, hutong tour, Chinese acrobat performance

Day 6: Summer Palace, Peking duck dinner

Thanks for the information xiantraveller and ellyse. Will definitely add the Temple of Heaven to our list.

Or trip to Hong Kong or Shanghai will be in addition to the 7 days in Beijing - maybe another 4-5 days?

Originally planned to visit Hong Kong but after reading reviews on tripadvisor forum swaying towards Shanghai now. Hadn%26#39;t thought too much about what we%26#39;d do here yet - probably sightseeing and shopping!

Thanks.

hi,it%26#39;s nice to know you wilvisit our city xi%26#39;an.

pleas eask me free if you want to knw the information of xi%26#39;an.

Have a nice day

Jeff

zyq981125@163.com

Shanghai itself would probably be worth 2-3 days. You could also extend it indefinitely by visiting the surrounding destinations eg Hangzhou, Huangshan etc.

Maybe another choice to Xi`an,any restaurant you can order vegetarian food.