First off make sure you get a regular licensed taxi, they are easy to spot. The are totally like a regular taxi. DO NOT let a person tell you he can get you wherever by private car. he is the one that can rip you off, they are at least twice the price of a regular cab. The three times I have come in, twice I took a taxi, usually ran me about 50 rmb to the forbidden city area. Not a lot of taxi drivers speak English, so bring the name of your hotel in Chinese. For touring around, I would suggest a guide. They are not expensive, I have a friend here in Beijing that does that and I am sure others here know people.Should run you between 100 to 175 rmb ($15 to $25)per day plus expenses. Taxi's are cheap and plentiful. I have run across a couple here that do not like foreigners, once stopped and see me that just take off. So I usually let my wife flag them down. They have a red light behind the rear view mirror when they are available. They start about 68 cents for the first couple of miles. The most I have ever paid here was 57 RMB, that was from one end of town to the other. Usually runs between 10 to 30 rmb. or.68 cents to about $2.00.
If you are going to change money here, make sure you get as new as you can, no marks, no dirt nothing or they will not take it.. Bank of China is giving 6.8 right now. Other banks are giving less. They turn all of their foreign currency over to Bank of China so they have to make a buck here and there. Check your exchange rate before coming. There are ATM's all over the place. But it depends on your bank whether you are charged a fee or not.
Chinese National Day, according to my wife, is sort of a reunion day so most people are traveling home that is why the trains are booked. I would also book my flight as soon as you can.
I have an apt here now, but I stayed at a couple of nice places. Days Inn of the Forbidden city is good, has clean rooms and is walking distance to the Forbidden City and Tiannemon Square. They also have a good tour bus that runs to Mings tomb, Great Wall and the Jade factory. Hotel usually runs about $60 a night. I am sure you could find cheaper. It all depends on your taste. Make sure you take the directions to it with you in Chinese because most taxi's do not know where it is at.
Getting to Guangzhou, I havent a clue. Others here would be better to give you info on that.
Hope that helps.
Greetings Brothers,
Beijing was a wonderfull time for Zhen and I. We stayed at the Days Inn as Jimb has recommended and other than the issue with Jim and I getting hooked up its a decent place to stay. At the end of their driveway across the street is a bank and a good place for breakfast everyday. A mix of chinese and western. Also right outside the Inn's front door is a family run chinese restaurant. Not much to look at but the food was great. Zhen and I ate there every night we were in Beijing. Also just around the corner is a romantic park the stretches all the way up to Tiananmen square and the forbidden city. Again a great place to walk with your lady or by yourself. Definitely better than walking along the street.
As for taxis, the only issue I have with them is they are so small. I was not built to fit in the back of a Jetta hehe. However we took cabs pretty much anytime we had to go somewhere and never had any issues, just do as jimb suggests and make sure you take a real cab not a scammer.
There is so much to do in Beijing and area that you probably need a full two weeks to get it done. One thing I should mention, some of the tourist things up by the forbidden city /Tiananmen Square are only open from 8 am until noon and are within an easy walk from the Days inn, so I suggest you do those in your mornings and other stuff after that. Oh and that park I mentioned closes down and is locked up at ten pm.
Beijing was a great time for Zhen and I and the days inn coffee shop was open after 10pm so a good way to relax and end an evening.
Anyway good luck with your trip brother and if I can be of any help just ask.
Regards,
Zhen and Brian
