Beijing: GOT FLEECED! Back & Realized: XHS is Mostly #TravelLies.

[Roosevelt Reynolds]

Hello everyone! I have just returned from a five-day crazy trip to Beijing, and I must share some insights with you all. I have researched many so-called tourist guides on XHS (a Chinese app for people to share their life stories and travel tips). Many were inaccurate or misleading. Let me unveil the truth today! ‍️

During my trip to Beijing, I visited most of the famous landmarks:

• Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony
• Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (place to pay respects to the spirit of Chairman Mao)
• The Forbidden City (the imperial palace where emperors once lived)
• Qianmen Street (a famous commercial street)
• Badaling Great Wall (one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall)
• Olympic Park, and visiting Bird's Nest and Water Cube (venues for the 2008 Olympics)
• Temple of Heaven (where emperors used to worship the sky)
• Summer Palace (a huge royal garden from the Qing dynasty)
• Yuanmingyuan (site of a once magnificent but destroyed royal garden)
• I also visited the gates of Tsinghua University and Peking University to experience the academic atmosphere!

And now, let's talk about the issues of "appointment anxiety" mentioned in those XHS posts:

• About booking tickets for sightseeing:

  • Even if you cannot book tickets on your mobile device, do not panic! Most venues can help solve the problem at the site.
  • These days, many visitors do not find it necessary to book tickets online; other than Tiananmen Gate and National People's Congress Building (which may indeed require strict appointments), others usually purchase tickets or scan QR codes at the venue, which is very convenient!
  • So, the claims that all venues require prior booking are purely alarmist, for your anxiety is unnecessary.

• Concerning whether to carry a backpack:

  • Some say you can save time without carrying a backpack. Perhaps true to some extent, but barely noticeable.
  • With an influx of visitors as large as movers and packers, there will be massive crowds regardless of the backpacks. The queue will be lengthy as usual.
  • Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, take it easy, feel free to bring a bag. Do not be misguided. You should still bring what needs charging, water, etc.

Here are some important reminders to watch out for:

• ️Avoid blindly booking ahead of time:

  • Issue: Online voices claim that it is extremely difficult to book tickets in Beijing. One needs to reserve seats long before traveling.
  • Truth: Some hotspots like the Forbidden City and the gate are indeed advisable to book via official channels in advance. But other places, even with display showing tickets unavailable, you may contact ticket kiosks or scan QR codes on-site too. No need for anxiety because tickets aren't readily available online!

• ️Don't fret over whether to bring a backpack:

  • Problem: Some suggest that carrying no bags makes the fast track possible or cuts down the waiting time.
  • Truth: Carrying or not doesn't make a difference in large crowds. Security check is mandatory. Major bottlenecks are overall crowd size instead of whether there is a bag or not.
  • Suggestion: Judge your own needs on whether to bring one. Bring water, snacks, and power banks if required rather than wasting minutes you might not save or compromise yourself.

I hope my personal experiences could help you.

[Mr. Nathan Waelchi]

How do I find a local tour group? Any recommendations?

[Wayne Marvin]

I went with @狸猫环球旅行. They're a verified local tour group, and I can personally vouch for them – super reliable. Everything (food, accommodation, tickets) was included, and the five-day trip was just over 1,000 RMB with no hidden fees.

[Theodore Wiza]

Are you missing the point? The whole reason for the anxiety is because we can't book tickets for key attractions like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the museums! If you take those out, what's left to even talk about?

[Theresa Sporer]

Well, at least the parks and stuff don't need reservations anymore.

[Lula Turner]

Hi, I'm planning a three-day trip to Beijing. Would 3,000 RMB be enough?

[Delia Jast]

Absolutely, that's plenty.

[Lewis Larkin]

You really don't need a tour group for Beijing. The public transport is super convenient – the subway gets you everywhere. Plus, entrance fees for attractions are quite cheap. If you're looking for specialty foods, check out places like Joy City or Hopson One; they have a huge variety of regional cuisines and you can shop around too. Take it from a local Beijinger!

[Barry Kuphal]

Everyone says booking things is tough, so I'm hesitant to travel independently.

[Velma Thompson]

Hey, how much did your trip cost? I'm planning a five-day trip with my parents.

[Glenn Ryan PhD]

I went with a local tour group, @狸猫环球旅行. For just over 1,000 RMB, it covered five days of food, accommodation, and entrance tickets. The best part? No hidden fees! You can check them out if you're interested.

[Justin Zieme]

Are they reliable though? A local tour group... this isn't just some marketing, is it?

[Dr. Lance Glover]

Totally reliable! They're a verified local tour group, @狸猫环球旅行, with no weird extra charges.

[Brenda Shanahan]

Can you book Tiananmen Square tickets on-site?

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Nope, you can't.

[Pamela Miller]

It's practically impossible to book Forbidden City tickets online; they sell out in minutes. Is there any way to get them if I go there in person?

[Benjamin Dooley]

Following this.

[Elaine Boyle PhD]

I went too! I visited Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai, Beihai Park, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Gate Tower, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, the National Museum, Universal Studios, and the Red Sandalwood Museum. I skipped the Great Wall and Tsinghua/Peking Universities since I'd been before.

[Ms. Cecilia Lowe]

Which has better snacks: Nanluoguxiang or Huguosi Street?

[Justin Zieme]

Are there any local tours?