China - Beijing and Xi'an

if you have few days in China we recommend visit Beijing and Xian. Beijing is a big capitol city but you don’t feel so crowded like you think can be. When you reach Beijing you can see lot of tall buildings and they are still building more. Everywhere you will see cameras taking photos of everything.

What is different?

Payments

It is very difficult to pay by visa or master card. They have own way to pay by WeChat or ePay. On the airport take cash because even if you install apps you can have problem with send money to account. If you can buy tickets online before reaching because internet is slow.

Internet

In China you will not use facebook, instagram or whatsapp. To using WeChat you will need invitation from somebody.

Beijing

Temple of Heaven

Start day from Temple of Heaven. Beautiful park and temple where you can spend about 2 hours. You will see lot of people singing and dancing from early morning. Beautiful architecture. Check Echo Wall.

Tianamnem Square

Tianamnen is a huge square, one of the biggest. When you will plan visit Forbidden city, start from this side to walk through the Monument to the People’s Heros, the Great Hall of the People, National Museum of China and Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

Forbidden City

Summer Palace

Beautiful place, perfect for relax. Palace is around 30-40 minutes from downtown. You can go there by public transport or taxi. Beautiful architecture and lot of China’s history. You can take boat and explore lake.

Soho

Complex of buildings with dining. Perfect place for evening to eat something or drink. Close by is street with pubs.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Very nice part of Great Wall. There is not crowded and around 1.5 hours (44 miles/70 km) from Beijing. We recommend take gondola up and slide down – lot of fun.

Xi’an

Going to Xian from Beijing take fast train. By car is around 8-9h but by train 4.5hr. Train is fast and very comfortable, you have lot of space. 2nd class is about 75$ one way. You can buy ticket online and then you have to pick up on station at least 30 minutes before departure.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum

If you are in Xi’an visit Terracota Warriors. It is about 40min from Xi’an. We took Didi taxi. You need about 2 hr to visit this place. Place is impressive.

Xi’an city wall

For sunset you should go to to city wall and rent a bicycle. Admission is about 54 CNY (adult) and rental bicycle for 2hrs is 90 CNY plus deposit 100 CNY. You can also take battery car but bicycle is more fun. Wall has around 14km total and it is not easy to ride whole wall. Start from South gate. during night wall looks beautiful with all this lights.

You should try

In China you have lots of tea shops so you should try with “bubbles”. Also during hot days try yogurt – is refreshing and little bit sweet.

Vegetarian Food

Bodhi

Very interesting vegetarian restaurant was Bodhi where menu is split for man and women. Each customer receives bookmark and pillow. You can order from menu or tell them for how much you want food and then they will prepare for you.