MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IN BEIJING

One thing that caught my attention while touring around Beijing was it various modes of transportation and other vehicles on the road.

Getting around the city is not rather a big problem. You can choose from a cab to a city bus and even subways. Compared to taxi fare in Shanghai, the flag down rate in Beijing is 5 RMB only. 

In fact, before wandering around the place, you have to know the bus number before getting on it. Certain buses go to particular destinations. The fare of the city buses start from 1.5 RMB according to the distance of your route. When we were there, we just used the reloadable Beijing Smart Card. It was convenient and less hassle especially we had to transfer from one bus to another. 

a double-decker bus going to a bus terminal for Badaling Great Wall

Some pedestrian tunnels are built going and transferring to different subway stations. Others are connected by escalators for a faster access to other subway lines. 

Touring around China is very convenient and easy. You just have to have the complete information of its major railway train terminals and other modes of transportation. At times, trains are unavailable due to unexpected circumstances; however, you can choose via air or by bus. Some people rent a taxi cab coming from some areas of the country all the way here in Beijing, but of course it would be a lot expensive.

Changchun Railway Station

The fare varies according to what type of train you will take. We took Z Train, a direct express train from Changchun, Jilin Province to Beijing. It directly ran to our destination with a few stops somewhere else. The train has major sections: seats and sleeper. The seats are soft but you cannot lie and rest for a distant destination, so we chose sleeper. Sleeper is air-conditioned and more comfortable than seats. The mattress was firm, the bed sheet and the blanket were clean and fresh from the laundry, and the pillows were soft and free of stain. We were able to sleep and never felt the jerk while the train was going all the way to Beijing.

The sleeper type has 3 levels and at that time, I was at the middle while my travel buddy was on the highest deck. It was kinda hard for me to climb up the ladder because the 6 steps or rungs were to narrow. There was no room for you to fully-bend your knees when going up and down your bed, and it would be the worst if you are on the third level.

Tip: If you think you cannot climb the ladder, you can request from the ticket personnel to put you on the lowest deck.

I never brought too much so I only had a backpack with me. There was no designated space for luggage in this section of the train, so I just put it just right beside me while sleeping. If you think you have some valuables in your bag like wallet, some gadgets, and ticket, better put them near you instead of putting them under the first deck making them out of your sight. You may end up losing everything or leaving you nothing when you wake in the morning.

Approximately 9 hours from Changchun to Beijing

Beijing Railway Station

JOURNEY TO THE MAINLAND CHINA: BEIJING

It was a 4-day holiday in mainland China when we visited Beijing from May 28 until 30, The country was celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival and a statutory holiday which what they call 'Double Fifth.' Double Fifth means that the holiday falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

Itinerary

May 27, 2009 (Wed)

    Changchun, Jilin Province to Beijing

May 28, 2009 (Thur)

    The Palace Museum (The Forbidden City)

    Tiananmen Square Park

    Temple of Heaven

    Beijing (Peking) Duck Restaurant

    Check-in at the accommodation

    Propaganda Club

May 29, 2009 (Fri)

    Olympic Green Village

    Badaling Great Wall

    Tombs of Ming Dynasty

    Beijing to Changchun

May 30, 2009 (Saturday)

     Back to Changchun

Buying the train tickets weeks before is very essential when you are going to travel anywhere else in China, particularly during a long holiday and weekend. Mostly, the tickets are sold-out and the train stations are fully-booked.

We started our journey in Changchun where I used to work as an ESL Teacher. On May 27 at around 9pm, we headed for Changchun Railway Station that took us 30 minutes by the city bus. 

Going somewhere in Changchun is not a problem. The place has a few modes of transportation such as bus, taxi, and city train. The bus fare is the cheapest among them, which ranges from 1 to 2 RMB depending upon the destination or route you are going to choose.

In fact, we can reach Beijing via an airplane, but we rather chose to take the train to save some money.

Fare: 232 RMB (approximately $40)

If you could notice, there are a lot of types of train in China and each of them is different according to speed. The trains are classified by letters or numbers. 

The fare varies according to what type of train you will take. We took Z Train which means direct express. It directly ran to our destination with a few stops somewhere else. The train has major sections: seats and sleeper. The seats are soft but you cannot lie and rest for a distant destination, so we chose sleeper. Sleeper is air-conditioned and more comfortable than seats. The mattress was firm, the bed sheet and the blanket were clean and fresh from the laundry, and the pillows were soft and free of stain. We were able to sleep and never felt the jerk while the train was going all the way to Beijing.

The sleeper type has 3 levels and at that time, I was at the middle while Devin was on the highest deck. It was kinda hard for me to climb up the ladder because the 6 steps or rungs were to narrow. There was no room for you to fully-bend your knees when going up and down your bed, and it would be the worst if you are on the third level.

Tip: If you think you cannot climb the ladder, you can request from the ticket personnel to put you on the lowest deck.

I never brought too much so I only had a backpack with me. There was no designated space for luggage in this section of the train, so I just put it just right beside me while sleeping. If you think you have some valuables in your bag like wallet, some gadgets, and ticket, better put them near you instead of putting them under the first deck making them out of your sight. You may end up losing everything or leaving you nothing when you wake in the morning.

The train left Changchun at around 11pm, about 30 minutes behind from the schedule. Some staffs were changing the blanket and the pillow cases during that time while others outside were cleaning the windows. I think that’s their routine every time the train is going to start another journey. 

Approximately 9 hours from Changchun to Beijing

Eight-hour sleep was enough to start a new day of adventure.

It was 7:15 in the morning when we woke up and had our breakfast in the train. After about 30 minutes, we finally reached Beijing Railway Station. The weather was overcast and the temperature was still cool. I thought it was going to rain that day, but this kind of atmosphere in the city was normal during summer season (May-July).

Right after we got out of the train station, we went straight to our first itinerary- ‘The Forbidden City’

It had been a great advantage to be with someone who was very conversant in Chinese (Mandarin). Fortunately, I was with my student who had that skill. We never had any problems asking for directions whenever we were lost, haggling cheaper prices when we bought some souvenir items and food, and looking for our accommodation that day. I think, without my student’s huge help, it would be difficult for me to accomplish this tour.

Tip: Perhaps, if you plan to visit Beijing or anywhere else in China, being with someone who knows how to communicate in Chinese would be very essential. I had experience some frustrating situations where some locals could not understand what you were trying to convey. Sign language or gestures could sometimes help, but most of the case, it’s useless.

However, it’s a lot better if you know how to express a bit of their language. A few common expressions could make the locals smile when you say them properly or may be misunderstood if not.

Another important thing is making your itinerary well organized. If you don’t have anything planned, you will definitely waste your time of thinking where to visit first. Besides, if you have zero knowledge about the place, always consult Google for the information such as the directions, location using the Google Map, photos so you don’t need to imagine what to expect, fare and the prices admission, and the like.

I had a bad memory of finding our accommodation in Beijing. I thought my student booked a hostel or inn for us, but when we got there, that was the only time that we had to find one. After an hour of looking for a cheaper accommodation, my student called his friend asking for help. Then she gave us the details of an apartment unit with transient accommodation for backpackers.

Some condo units here accept backpackers for transient accommodation.

Mostly, the rooms are shared for two but the price is per person per night.

Each room has 2 single beds, one small side table for each, and one big table for your belongings. In addition, you are going to stay with the family of the owner. You are also allowed to use their bathroom and things in the kitchen or dining area. Before using their appliances or other staffs at the unit, you’d better ask their permission first.

Price: 45 RMB ($8) per night

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN PARK

This complex was built by the emperors of Ming Dynasty to hold the heaven worship ceremonies. The whole place covers an approximately 900,000 sq ft area which is divided into two major parts: the south and the north. The southern part is square in shape and higher than the other part, which represents the heaven. On the other hand, the northern part is semicircular in shape, symbolizing the Earth. In fact, this ancient site is 2 times larger than the Forbidden City. 
It was in 1988 when the temple was opened and served as the park for public.

photo courtesy of willgoto

Fasting Palace

Also known as the Palace of Abstinence, was built in1420 during Ming Dynasty. The place was used by the emperors to do abstinence from drinking, meat, music, women, and other state affairs 3 days before doing the sacrificial rituals at the temple. 

The palace has two major buildings:
1. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
2. Imperial Hall of Heaven


Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
The hall is a round structure made up of wooden frame with some columns and rafters depicting specific meanings. The roof has three layers, each of which has blue-colored decorations. Furthermore, this structure is 125 feet high with a diameter of 105 feet situated on a platform made of marble. The platform is called 'The Altar for Grain Prayers,' composing of three levels. Each is surrounded by marble railings and connected by staircases embellished with some blocks of stones.

Imperial Vault of Heaven (Imperial Hall of Heaven)
Initially, it was built as the hall of Celestial Treasure House of the Circular Mound Altar in 1530 during Ming Dynasty. Then it was renamed after 8 years as the Imperial Vault of Heaven. This structure stored God's tablets to be used at the ceremony praying for heaven. 
The hall is made up of wooden structure, roof with blue tiles, and blue-green ceiling with some coiling dragons and a pearl in the middle as the design.

Otther attractions inside the palace

Echo Wall

It is a wall encircling the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The sound waves can continuously travel along the hard and smooth surface of the wall. You can try this by standing at the back of West Annex Hall with another person behind the opposite hall. Both of you can hear your own voice vividly.

Firewood Stove

It is a large brick stone glazed with green color, used to burn the sacrifice such as cattle before the ceremony of praying for harvests started.

This ritual is performed in order to welcome the God of Heaven. Then, another ritual would be performed by the emperor by watching other offerings being burned in the stove.

Cypress trees in the palace

Locals having fun at the park while Chinese music is being played

Admission Fee: 10 - 15 RMB (the price varies according to season)

Schedule: 6:00am to 10:00pm

How to get there:

By subway- take line 5, then get off at Tiantan East Station

THE GRANDIOSE BADALING GREAT WALL

The great wall was made as a fortress of the whole nation from the invasion of Mongolian people from the north. Emperor Qinshinshuang was the one who started to build this structure with the thick wall made of sturdy stones and bricks. 

Badaling Great Wall is one of the frequently-visitted sites within Beijing territory after it was opened for both local and international tourists in 1988. Among others were Shuiguan, Jiankou, Gubeiko, Huanghuacheng, Simatai, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Juyongguan. 

photo courtesy of culturextourism

On July, 2007, the UNESCO recognized Badaling Great Wall as another world cultural heritage of China and enlisted it as one of the the new seven world's wonders during that time.

this welcomes you at the site- padlock with your wish

After a half-day tour in Olympic Green Village in Chaoyang District, we headed for Badaling Great Wall. Just right next to National Aquatics Center, we took a bus going to a Deshengmen Bus Terminal that took about 10 minutes. We were supposed to take Bus 877, the official no-stop bus going to this part of Great Wall; unfortunately, I and my student were not able to catch the last trip that day. We were so much worried that we might not visit this attraction of the city. To our surprise, we met a couple who also missed the bus. It has always been a great advantage being with a person who could communicate well with the locals, and my Korean student, Devin had this capability. He managed to talk to the couple and convinced them to hire a driver that could bring us there. 

After 5 minutes, we finally found one nearby the bus terminal giving us reasonable price. We were four in the car and shared the total fixed fare (35 RMB per passenger). Then it took over an hour to reach this part of Great Wall. 

one of the first few towers near the foot of the mountain

Tip:

If you have much time in Beijing, make this tour in the morning so you can catch Bus 877 in Deshengmen Bus Terminal. The fare is only 12 RMB compared to a tour using a cab.

The bus schedule usually starts as early as 6:00 in the morning until 12:00 pm, but the bus return schedule varies according to season.  

The entrance to Badaling Great Wall

Badaling Great Wall has two sections: the south and the north. But we chose the south section instead of taking the cable car in the north. Apparently, we wandered the site on foot for 2 to 3 hours.

Admission Fee: 40 - 45 RMB (the price varies according to season)

Tip:

The best time to visit this place is during summer season where temperature ranges from 22 to 31 degrees Celsius. 

Luckily the weather was fair and cool when were here.

It was such a surreal feeling to be in world-renowned landmark with other excited tourists like us. The grandeur from above was truly breath-taking.

As you can notice, there are plenty of beacon towers on different parts of the Great wall. This is actually a two-story structure that used to be the watch tower in the past. They stored the weapons on the first floor while the second floor has some holes for archers and served as the signal tower.

over-looking the beacon tower (signal tower)

some tourists on the top of the beacon tower

The impressive beauty of Badaling Great Wall 

with mountain ranges as a perfect backdrop

It looks like a mighty dragon is about to fly

A few beacon towers serve as one-stop mini store 

for exhausted tourists all the way to the top

Even tourists never stop making a daring pose on the steep part of the Great Wall

On our way to the topmost and end part of the wall. What a challenge!

Some become narrower as they get higher

Other parts of the Great Wall giving way to its various sites.

At last, I was able to climb the highest point of the wall 

It was cool and a little windy when we visited this site. But if I were you, you must wear something lighter and comfortable during summer season. Wearing jeans or pants and thick jackets may add up to your weight and make you tired easily. If you don't need some of your things during the hike, then leave them so. 

You must bring at least one bottle of water or tonics that will replenish your thirst. 

Don't bring an umbrella as it may be blown by the wind. 

Wearing Converse shoes was not a nice idea, instead you can have other comfortable footwear such as rubber shoes or trainer. Imagine, visiting this site is more than a total work-out.

To conceal the identity of my student, 

we just took our souvenir photo this way

The holes on the beacon towers helped the soldiers  

to shoot the enemies using their bow and arrows

One of the few advantages of taking a cab to Badaling Great Wall is a side trip to Ming Tombs, somewhat distant to this place.