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Excursions For a Half Day Tour of hutongs: These are ancient areas of housing where small single-storey dwellings arranged around courtyards form a maze of narrow streets. The ideal way to see the hutongs is by rickshaw or on foot. Taking along an English-speaking guide will ensure an opportunity to talk to the locals and maybe even see their homes. China Travel Service (tel: (10) 6462 2288; website: www.ctsho.com) and China International Travel Service (tel: (10) 6601 1122 or 8292; website: www.cits.net) arrange rickshaw tours lasting 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours with an English-speaking guide for US$22 per person. For a Whole Day Great Wall and Ming Tombs: The Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, extends for thousands of miles across China, the nearest section to Beijing being at Badaling. The wall stretches between watchtowers and is wide enough for five horsemen. Badaling Great Wall (tel: (10) 6912 1483) is open daily (0900-1630) and admission is RMB35. The Ming Tombs are reached by the Spirit Way, which is guarded by huge statues of animals and men. The tombs are all open daily (times vary for each tomb but are generally 0800-1730) and admission is RMB30 for most tombs, apart from Ding Ling (RMB35) and the Spirit Way (RMB20). Thirteen of the Ming emperors were buried around the valley but only one of the actual underground burial chambers – at the Ding Ling tomb (tel: (10) 6076 1424) – is open to the public. It is best to go by taxi or on a coach tour with China Travel Service (tel: (10) 6462 2288; website: www.ctsho.com) or China International Travel Service (tel: (10) 6601 1122 or 8292; website: www.cits.net). Fragrant Hills: Located more than 28km (18 miles) to the northwest of Beijing and best reached by taxi, the Fragrant Hills (tel: (10) 6259 1155) are thickly wooded with pine trees and were popular with the emperors as a hunting ground. Pagodas, temples and pavilions can be found dotted around the park, which is open daily 0600-1800 and costs RMB5 to enter. The summit of the highest peak can be reached by a chair lift (RMB40 one way; RMB70 return). Summer Palace: The Summer Palace (tel: (10) 6288 1144) in the northwestern suburbs, was used by the royal court as a retreat to escape from the heat of the city and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The former imperial residences are located on the shores of Kunming Lake, which contains small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse. The Summer Palace is best reached by taxi. In summer, it is open daily 0630-1800 and admission costs RMB20; in the low season, it is open daily 0700-1730 but the entrance rises to RMB30. |
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