Beijing Bound: SOS! Need Your 'Don't Get Ripped Off' Guide!
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Nanluoguxiang? Just don't go! Take my advice.
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I'm definitely taking that advice.
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As a Beijinger: For hutong tours, I'd recommend Wudaoying or Yangmeizhu Hutong. For sights, the Forbidden City, Lama Temple, Summer Palace, and Fragrant Hills are great, though they get very crowded. Food-wise, Siji Minfu's Peking duck is pretty good, but not worth queueing for. Dadong is also nice, but a bit pricey. Beijing cuisine doesn't really have its own distinct 'essence'; I think it's basically Shandong cuisine. Dishes like Luzhu (pork offal stew), Baodu (quick-boiled tripe), and Guanchang (fried starch sausage)... you can try them if you're curious, but I don't think they're anything special. Many of the best restaurants serve Sichuan, Japanese, Korean, or Western food, which might not be what tourists are looking for. There are also many chill spots in Beijing's suburbs, but tourists don't usually make a specific trip to visit them.
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Excuse me, is Shijia Hutong worth visiting?
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Don't go to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Beihai Park, the Summer Palace, Jingshan Park, or Nanluoguxiang. Don't eat Peking duck, Baodu (quick-boiled tripe), or copper pot mutton hotpot. And definitely don't drink Douzhi (fermented mung bean milk) or eat Luzhu (pork offal stew).
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If we don't go to these places, where are we supposed to go? Your house?
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Don't take the public bus to the Great Wall.
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Take the high-speed train to the Great Wall and the public bus back. Trust me. You can get about an hour's rest on the bus, so you'll have more energy for other places in the evening.
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Just go with the flow and have fun!
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Such comprehensive advice!
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Beijing is very dry; it's cold outside but warm indoors. Friends visiting from southern China, remember to bring lip balm and hand cream, drink plenty of water, and pack enough clothes. Garments with zippers or buttons are better than pullovers because they're easier to put on and take off for layering.
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Thank you!
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I definitely recommend going!
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Where is this?
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As someone who's been to Beijing, I'd suggest a semi-guided tour. It's hassle-free, and you can still have a great time. Food, accommodation, and transport are arranged, but you get free time to explore the sights on your own, which offers good flexibility. My last few spontaneous trips were with this kind of tour. Just make sure to avoid the ones that are primarily shopping tours.
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How much would a four-day trip cost?
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Where would you recommend trying Douzhi?
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Honestly, I wouldn't really recommend making a special trip just for Douzhi. But if you absolutely must try it, the best place would be a small breakfast stall in an alley where you see a few elderly locals queuing up.
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Hey everyone, be careful of scammers in the comments section!!!