Beijing Travel Advice

Following is my email to a friend of a friend regarding travel advice for her Mother and Brother that are coming to Beijing and then going to Lhasa, Tibet:

PS - For all those asking me to post pictures - I am still learning on this system - I am waiting to hear back from my friend and will post some good ones, soon. Thanks

“No problem - it’s my pleasure.

OK - regarding the train to Lhasa, I am going to email my friend who recently took the trip and he will be able to give me definitive answers to the questions regarding oxygen and food quality (I suggest bringing some food with you.) I can say a good train resource is seat61.com - and the local website to find the fares is: http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains

The non-commission price for a softsleeper is $134. This is the one with four-berths. People feel differently about whether they prefer high or low bed; with the lowbed you can put stuff under the seat and you dont have to climb up, unless you are really, really short - and, depending on the train (no idea about the Lhasa train) there is a compartment underneath that you can put your stuff in. I prefer the top myself because I’m less bothered up there, but either one is fine.

My suggestion would be that, depending on her comfort level regarding hostels, she should stay at 365Inn or LeoHostel, both are located on DaZhaLan St. about a 1/2 mile from Tiananmen and the main center of Beijing - the reason I suggest one of these two places is they have tours up to the Badaling section of the Great Wall - this is the orginal wall and is not very commercial, at all. It will cost about 150-180RMB (about $25) and includes a really nice lunch….it does involve some hiking, but if your Mom and brother are in good shape they should have no problems.

She can also get her train tickets booked through either hostel for a commission of about 30 RMB ($4.50.) For more info; www.leohostel.com - I am friendly with the owner, although he is not there much - but you can use my name - “Adam who is friends with Mr. Kim”

What I normally do when I go to Beijing, is stay at 365Inn because it is quiet, comfortable and cheap (I usually get a room (often to myself for 50 RMB/$6.50)) - she and Caleb should be able to get a room with two double beds, AC/Heat, and a TV for about 100 RMB total,) and then I go over to LeoHostel to hangout and schedule tours and train tickets. LeoHostel is very popular and sometimes it is a bit noisy - the two places are about a 5 second walk across the street from one another. The price I quoted is the bare-bottom price and those rooms dont have a bathroom in them - I have gone there between October and March and have been able to negotiate because there were several rooms open. She or Caleb should look up the number and call them first and make reservation - both places everyone speaks English. 365Inn also has a washer and dryer - very rare, indeed.

One more thing, the train to Lhasa leaves out of Beijing West which is about a 15 minute cab ($5) ride from those hostels/Tiananmin Sq. She can tell the cabbie - BeijingXi (shi) or just point to the ticket (upper left hand corner.)

Lots of info, but it is hard-earned and very good.

Adam”

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