Beijing Travel: Don't Get Got! (Tourist Trap Edition)
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Just got back from Beijing and put together some tips I wish I'd known while planning. Hope this helps anyone heading there!
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At Nanluoguxiang, right outside the subway exit (can't remember which one, just followed my GPS), there was a guy with a loudspeaker selling Tanghulu (candied hawthorns) for 15 yuan. Walked a bit further in, and suddenly they were 20!
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Locals in Beijing pretty much avoid Nanluoguxiang. It's a notorious tourist trap. They'll fleece you, no questions asked.
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What about Niujie (Ox Street)?
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For popular attractions that are tough to get into, try not to bring a backpack.
Many spots have multiple security checks, and the lines for people with bags are incredibly long. -
Okay, got it. Thanks!
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- Avoid metered taxis, especially right from the airport or high-speed train station. Even if they look official, they'll overcharge in traffic or drive slowly for short trips – they even scam locals! Better to book a ride online in advance or, to save money (though it's more tiring), just use the subway for everything. The subway is super convenient, but it gets packed because everyone uses it.
- For buses, remember to tap your card when you get on AND when you get off! Many Beijing bus routes are really long, so they charge by distance, requiring two taps.
- Beijing Subway Lines 1 and 2 don't have elevators because they're ancient. If your hotel is on one of these lines and you've got luggage, brace yourself! Haha. Best to avoid them if possible.
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Also, for Daoxiangcun pastries, make sure to buy the ones with the 'Sanhe' logo. You can buy them loose; grab one or two of each kind to try. Taste them first to see what you like before committing to a whole box, so you don't end up with a bunch you dislike.
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For the Summer Palace, I'd suggest not buying the combo ticket. You can always buy specific entry tickets on-site if needed. Learned this the hard way today – the place is huge, and you really can't cover it all. My combo ticket basically just got me through the main entrance.
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If I'm planning to spend just a morning there, is a single (main entrance) ticket enough?
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Skip Wangfujing. And for any attraction, buy your water beforehand – it's super expensive inside tourist areas.
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If water is expensive at tourist sites, what are the prices like at regular convenience stores on Beijing streets?
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Avoid anything marketed with 'Old Beijing' in the name, like 'Old Beijing Zha Jiang Mian' or 'Old Beijing Snacks.'
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Usually, if it says 'Old Beijing,' it's not authentic.
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Don't try to cram more than 3 sights into one day. Your feet will be covered in blisters – seriously, all that running for the subway is exhausting!
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Already got blisters! Damn. Good thing today's my last day here.
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Fangzhuanchang Zha Jiang Mian? Hardly any locals eat there; it's pretty much all tourists. It's the classic one-time-rip-off kind of place.
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You're right. I fell for the hype and ate there too.
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Don't bother with Nanluoguxiang; it's just a commercial street.
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I wandered around there, and not a single shop made me want to buy anything.