Great Wall Of China - Mutianyu Section

This past weekend I took some friends that were visiting to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. We didn't have an incredible large amount of time to spend so Jinshanling and Simatai were out of the question, but I wanted to give them a more personal experience that can't be had at Badaling. One of my friends in Shanghai recommended that I take them to Mutianyu.

Mutianyu is a bit of a hybrid of the Badaling and Simatai sections.  It's still very well maintained and restored, but doesn't have the throngs of tourists that crowd up the wall at Badaling.  When you arrive at the entrance you have the option to take a cable car up (50 RMB one way, 80 RMB round trip) or you can hike up the mountain to the wall.  You will also need to pay a 45 RMB entrance fee to the wall as well.

Due to our time constraints my group decided to purchase the round trip cable car tickets. I wish we would have only purchased the single trip tickets however. As we were heading up the cable car we could see a toboggan (60 RMB per person) going down the mountain leading back to the entrance to the park. I wish this was advertised better as we would have liked to try that instead of taking the cable car back down.

Once you enter the wall you can head one of two directions. We ended up hiking up the direction that looked like it had less people.  I've been to the wall during the summer, the fall, and the winter. I can honestly say that the winter was my favorite season to visit.  It was pretty brutally cold, but the wall and everything around it was covered by a blanket of snow. It was one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen!

We ended up hiking for a couple of hours and it definitely felt like a good amount of time to be on the wall given how cold it was. We could have stayed longer, but we still wanted to visit the Summer Palace back in Beijing before it closed. Everything said, Mutianyu is an excellent part of the wall to visit and if you are on a time crunch I highly recommend it. If you have an entire day to spare, I would still recommend visiting the Simatai and Jinshanling sections instead.

How to get there:

The most convenient way to get there is to hire a private car. These can be found at the major tourist attractions in Beijing, and your hotel should be able to arrange one for you. The hostel we stayed at, The Happy Dragon Hostel, arranged a van for us for 800 RMB for the whole day.  I prefer this as the driver will wait for you at the wall and take you back when you are ready to return.

Many hostels, and hotels will also arrange daily trips that will take larger groups of tourists on a bus. These prices generally vary from 200-300 RMB per person (some include the price of admission to the wall).  Most of these tours will only strictly visit the Badaling section and take an entire day.

 You can also take the metro bus 867 (only available from March 15 - November 15) that departs from the Dongzhimen outer bus station. There are 2 buses that leave from this station (7:00 and 8:30 am) q=and costs 16 RMB each way.  The bus can be a bit difficult to find, and there will be a lot of private taxi's and buses that will try to tell you there is no bus that will take you directly to the wall. These people are lying to you to and will try to charge you high rates to take you to the wall themselves. If you are going to rent a car do it through your hotel or hostel since they are more trustworthy. There are a few other buses that will get you close to the wall, but if you do not know Chinese and are unfamiliar with the area, I wouldn't recommend those.

Cafe Russia (Luciya) - Harbin Restaurant Review

I was looking forward to returning to Harbin, not only to see the amazing Snow and Ice World, but to eat some delicious Russian food.  Harbin's unique history has left behind numerous Russian restaurants, some of which are still run by Russian families. I happened to find an amazing Russian restaurant last time I visited the city, and I sure wish that I would have grabbed a business card before I left.

Cafe Russia, Luciya 露西亚西餐厅 (located near the old Flood Control Monument off of Zhongyang Dajie), was the worst part of our recent trip to Harbin. I've grown accustomed to poor service in restaurants in China, but this place set a new record for poor service and incompetence, and I must be a glutton for punishment since I went two days in a row.

My first visit to the restaurant was the better of the two trips. The staff seemed friendly enough and they took our order as soon as we got in. The restaurant didn't seem too busy at the time we got there but it took over 90 minutes to get all of our food.  The dishes we ordered came out one at a time (not unusual in China as Chinese people typically share every dish family style) but one of the people I was with didn't get her food until the end.

None of the dishes we ordered were anything to write home about, but at least they were warm.  Our second visit, however, was absolutely terrible. The only reason we stopped there again was that half of our group was heading back to the airport to catch a flight back to Shanghai, and the restaurant was right next to where we happened to be.

We told the staff that we wanted the food for our friends that were going to be heading to the airport, and to bring the other half of the group's last.  They did the opposite. Our food also took much, much longer to come.  One of my friends ordered a pasta dish, and after about an hour and a half, they told us that thy didn't have the ingredients to make it.  She then had to order a soup instead, which took another 45 minutes to show up. 45 minutes!!! For soup!!! There were loads of people that came in after us, got their food, and left. Maybe this place doesn't like foreigners.

Regarding the food, I figured I'd share a few of the dishes that we ordered, and what we actually got:

What we ordered                                                                                       What we received
Russian Black Bread                                                                                 Regular wheat bread
"Traditional Caesar Salad"                                               Plate with shrimp, sliced bread, and coleslaw
Vegetable Salad                                                                                         Coleslaw 

When we complained to the manager at the end he said they were too busy and the best he could do was offer us a 5% discount. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs!! Sorry there aren't any pictures to accompany this post. Was too upset to think about it.

Rating:

Price: $$

Value: 1/5
Taste: 1/5

Service: 0.5/5

Selection: 1/5

Qianling Mountain Park - Guiyang, China

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When I first started looking into things to do in Guiyang I kept hearing that the most important attraction to visit was Qianling Mountain Park.  I decided to do a little research and after about five seconds I was sold.  What sold me on going to the park you might ask?  Monkeys; lots and lots of wild monkeys.

Qianling Mountain Park is home to hundreds of wild monkeys that roam freely throughout the park.  They have slowly grown accustomed to their human visitors and are no longer afraid to approach tourists in the hopes of getting some treats.  I simply could not pass up an opportunity to hike some beautiful, historically significant mountains and play with monkeys while doing it!

Qianling Mountain Park is a massive complex consisting of several mountains, loads of hiking trails, the Hong Fu Buddhist temple, a zoo, and a lake.  I definitely recommend setting aside an entire day for this place.

Walking through the main entrance gate you can either head up one of the paths leading up the mountains or take a cable car up the tallest mountain (on the North Eastern part of the park).  If you take the cable car it will drop you off about half way up the mountain not very far from the Hong Fu temple.

During my first visit to the park we chose to head up the path leading up the main mountain. It only took about 3 minutes after we embarked on our journey until we saw our first monkeys. It was so awesome.  I’ve never been in a place where wild monkeys just roam around in between people so carelessly.  The tourists that brought snacks immediately attracted them whether or not they intended on sharing said snacks with the monkeys.

 

Be careful about brandishing snacks or bottled drinks in the park. If a monkey spots it, you will lose it.  I only saw monkeys turn aggressive towards people if they refused to give up their food/drinks or if a tourist tried approaching a baby monkey or a mother carrying a baby monkey.  So if you do bring along drinks and snacks make sure not to take them out of your bag until you are in an area away from the monkeys.

It is a pretty amazing experience being able to interact with nature they way you can at Qianling Mountain Park.  When we visited the zoo was closed for renovations but I doubt it would be any more exciting than playing around with monkeys throughout the rest of the park.  I definitely would recommend visiting the beautiful Hong Fu temple. It’s a serene and highly active temple with a long rich history (more on that in a future post).

Later in the afternoon/evening large groups of people gather around the ground level of the park to play games, practice Tai Chi, dance, and sing patriotic songs.  This place is a blast and definitely worth the low admission fee.

How to get there:

Catch a cab and tell the driver you want to go to Qianling Gong Yuan.

Admission Fee: 5 RMB per person (cable car not included)

Hours: Daily until 5pm (entrance to the park is free after 5pm but the attractions inside close at 5.

Ming Xiaoling Tomb - Nanjing

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Ming Xiaoling Tomb - Nanjing, China

 The Ming Xiaoling tomb (named one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2000) in the Purple Mountain park provides an amazing opportunity to see and understand an important aspect of Chinese history.  This Ming tomb is the final resting place for the emperor HongWu, who founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368, the only Ming emperor to be buried outside of Beijing (the remainder of the Ming Dynasty emperors were buried in Beijing after HongWu’s son moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing).

The "Sacred Way"

The entrance to the Ming Xiaoling park commands a steep entrance fee (70 RMB per ticket), which would not be worth it if it were not for the beautiful park and other attractions within the compound.  Be prepared to spend a good 3-4 hours here as there is a lot of ground to cover. Starting at the main entrance is the “Sacred Way” which leads up to the tomb of the emperor. The path is lined with massive stone statues of various pairs of animals (elephants, camels, lions, qilin, etc) and pairs of stone guards and scholars) leading up to the base of the mountain. 

The path is absolutely stunning and the natural surroundings provide a peaceful and serene atmosphere. If you are lucky enough to visit in the fall you will be treated with the changing of the leaves on the trees that adorn the path and fill the park (consequently tourism traffic during this time of year is insane).

Ming Xiaoling - Nanjing, China

Once you arrive at the end of the sacred way you will cross a bridge that leads to the main building of the mausoleum.  The design of the building follows the traditional Ming architectural style.  I could not believe how massive it was while standing at the bottom entrance.  Hiking up a staircase tunneled through the middle of the building you can walk around the top platform of the building for a nice view of the Nanjing skyline.

On the backside of the main building is a path that leads up to the peak of the mountain.  When you arrive at the top you are treated to an amazing view of the entire Purple Mountain park area and the entire city of Nanjing.  You can either hike back down to the park area or take a cable car down to the entrance of the Purple Mountain Park.

Since this will take you out of the Ming Xiaoling area (and remember, you paid 70 RMB for your ticket) I would either recommend that you head back down the path and explore the rest of the beautiful Ming Xiaoling park or explore it before you visit the Ming tomb.

A beautiful pond in the Ming Xiaoling Park

The area near the “Sacred Way” contains a recently renovated park that provides some beautiful scenery as well as some other historical attractions.  There is a massive green park area that is an excellent place to have a picnic or just enjoy the afternoon.  Near the animal statue part of the path is a neat little compound that celebrates another great emperor in China’s history, Sun Quan. Sun Quan ruled during the famous Three Kingdoms period of China (he died in 252 AD) and there is some cool historical information about him provided here as well as a massive statue of him.

Statue of Emperor Sun Quan

The rest of the park is a collection of beautiful ponds, pavilions, and paths.  There is even a recently constructed outdoor theater (I wasn’t able to find any information about any performances however) that would be an excellent way to pass the evening.

A visit to this Ming tomb is a must for any visitors to Nanjing not only because of the historical significance of the site, but because it is located in an extremely beautiful mountain park. It is even worth a visit if you have been to the Ming Tomb’s in Beijing. I absolutely loved this park, and its close proximity to other attractions and historical sites makes it a perfect way to spend the day.  After visiting the tomb check out Sun Yatsen’s mausoleum, Xuanwu lake, or the Nanjing Botanical Garden.

How to get there:

From Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum – take the tourist trolley located at the base of the mausoleum for 5 RMB

From the city center – take a cab and ask to go to 明孝陵 (Ming Xiaoling)

Bus – Take Tourism Bus no. 3 or city buses no. 315 or 20 and get off at Ming Xiaoling

Hours of Operation:

Daily until 6:30pm

Entrance Fee: 70 RMB (Free entrance to the park after 6:30pm but the tomb and other attractions are closed)

On the "Sacred Way"

The Coffee Shop - Zhouzhuang Restaurant Review

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Food choices in Zhouzhuang are quite limited in their diversity, and unless you are looking for seafood and local cuisine, there really isn’t much you can do.  Fortunately for Westerners who are weary to eat at restaurants that don’t tend to place a high priority on sanitation, there is the Coffee Shop.

I have always been a bit hesitant eating in Zhouzhuang after my first encounter with food there back in 2009. After wandering around scoping out the various restaurants my friends and I picked the one that we felt might be the safest to eat at (I couldn’t have been more wrong). After getting some pretty nasty food poisoning (which ruined my last day of vacation in Shanghai) I vowed never to eat in Zhouzhuang again, opting to bring snacks with me for every subsequent day trip to the village.

On my last visit however, I decided to stay overnight for the first time. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Zhouzhuang at night which is impossible to experience unless you have your own car (or hire one) as the tourist buses all head back for Shanghai in the late afternoon. This being the case, I decided to give Zhouzhuang’s culinary offering one more try.

After checking in at our hostel, the Longxing Inn, we walked around the main commercial street to check out some restaurants.  Not far from the hostel we found the Coffee Shop which had advertisements for pizza and other western foods.  The outside of the hostel is beautifully decorated and inviting (the little window sill is pretty awesome).  After walking inside the main entrance I immediately fell in love with the place.

The lobby is very reminiscent of the trendy hostels I’ve managed to find all over the country.  Next to the entrance is a notice board with leaflets and fliers from other awesome hostels in other parts of the country (definitely worth looking into if you’ll be traveling around and are looking for cool places to stay on a budget). The restaurant and bar are open, comfortable, and tastefully decorated.  This is an awesome place to hang out!  The most coveted place in the restaurant is a table with 2 very comfortable couches and is situated at a large window looking into their small, yet beautiful, courtyard.

The menus, which are black construction paper, folded accordion style, with neon and white crayon writing (a perfect fit for the trendy atmosphere) are pretty cool as well.  They don’t have an incredibly large selection though, just a few sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, breakfast choices, and a few Chinese dishes.  I opted to try one of their pizzas (which ran about 35 RMB) and my wife tried the grilled ham and cheese sandwich (about 25 RMB).

The pizza, which was your standard 9 inches, size wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t the best pizza I’ve had, but given the location, definitely worth the money.  I ordered the Hawaiian pizza which had your standard ham and pineapple on it, but also had corn on it too.  It took a little getting used to, but once I got over it, it was actually quite good. The cheese and the sauce were a tad disappointing however.  The cheese wasn’t the best quality and was quite rubbery and bland, but what am I supposed to expect for 35 RMB?

The sandwich was pretty disappointing though. The sandwich should have been called “warmed up ham on bread with a slice of cheese and salad dressing on it.”  We were expecting a traditional grilled cheese sandwich with ham inside for added deliciousness.  The salad dressing definitely didn’t help the situation either.  Definitely avoid this sandwich!

What I loved about this place was just how "at home" I felt while there. The service is well above your typical Chinese restaurant. The staff is all very friendly and if you can speak the language, are always happy to chat with.  The hostel also has 2 very friendly dogs that live on the premises and will roam around the hostel and restaurant adding to that homely feel.

The restaurant also has a full bar and offers a variety of mixed beverages, local beer, juices, and sodas.  The restaurant can get quite busy during the peak lunch period (between 11:00 am and 1:30pm) but was almost empty in the evening.  This is the perfect place to wind down and throw back a cold one after a long day of exploring the village.  Highly recommended!

Rating:

Price: $

Value: 3.5/5
Taste: 3/5

Service: 4/5

Selection: 2.5/5

How to get there:

I can’t seem to find an address for the restaurant so starting from the Longxing Inn Hostel which is at 80 Beishi Jie, walk north along Beishi Jie (stay on the same side as the hostel) until you come across the Coffee Shop. It should be about 50 meters or so away from Longxing Inn.

**The Coffee Shop is actually a hostel as well, and this review is simply for the restaurant contained inside as I have not personally stayed overnight in one of their rooms.

Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum - Nanjing

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Statue of Dr. Sun Yatsen

Regarded as the father of modern China, Sun Yatsen holds a special place in the hearts of Chinese the world over.  When he died in March of 1925 he was buried in a beautifully elaborate mausoleum in Nanjing.  He was a key figure in the 1911 Revolution that marked the end of dynastic rule and the beginning of the Republic of China. He is revered both in mainland China and in Taiwan.

The mausoleum’s design was the result of a contest held shortly after his death in which Chinese designers around the world submitted plans as a part of a competition held by the government.

It is a beautiful design that is reminiscent of the old imperial style tombs and seems to mark the end of traditional China, ushering in a new era for the country.  The tomb is located in the Purple Mountain park in Central Nanjing and can be easily accessed from anywhere in the city center.

Lion Statue in front of Sun's famous saying, "天下为公“

If you take a cab or bus you will arrive at the parking lot near the south gate and can either hike your way up to the main entrance or pay for a ride on one of the trolleys that will take you up a scenic route to the gate which will set you back 5 RMB per person.

Once you enter the main gates you will work your way through a small shopping district that has various trinkets and souvenirs as well as a few eateries and snack carts.  Pushing your way through the small commercial area you will come to the beginning of the long hike up to the tomb.  I really loved the beautiful natural scenery that surrounded the different structures and buildings that make up the mausoleum. It is easy to see how highly the Chinese regard Sun Yatsen from the great care for the facilities and the reverence people show towards him.

The main hall at the mausoleum

As you make your way up the steps you can see tons of beautifully ornate flower pots and lion statues. One of the gates has Dr. Sun's famous saying "天下为公“ which means "Everything under Heaven belongs to Everyone." At the top of the compound is a structure that houses a giant statue of Dr. Sun. You can purchase flowers to be placed in front of his tomb and make your way through the building to pay your respects. It was interesting to watch people as they made their way through the room. It is almost as if they were praying to him and due to the seemingly sacred nature of the venue, pictures inside while inside the hall are prohibited. 

A lion statue on the stairway to Dr. Sun's tomb

The hike all the way up to the top is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the mausoleum area, the park, and a beautiful view of Nanjing’s skyline (providing you attend on a clear, smog-free day).  I must have spent a good 45 minutes just sitting on one of the many benches on the upper platform just looking out over the park and the city.  I really enjoyed this place!

Make sure you plan an entire day here as after you finish visiting Dr. Sun’s mausoleum you can visit one of the many other historical sites and attractions in the Purple Mountain Park.  At the base of the compound (near the entrance gates) you can take a trolley to the Ming Xiaoling mausoleum (the only Ming emperor to be buried outside of Beijing) and then hit up the Nanjing Botanical Garden or Xuanwu Lake.

How to get there:

Cab – Once in a cab ask to go to中山陵 (Zhong shanling).

Bus – either take Bus no. 9 or Nanjing’s Tourist Bus No. 1 and get off at the Mausoleum stop.

Entrance Fee:

Entrance to the mausoleum is free

Hours of Operation:

Daily from 8:30 – 5:00 (except for November 12, Dr. Sun’s birthday, which is 10:00 – 5:00).

Please note that the Sacrificial Hall and the Burial room are closed on Mondays for maintenance. 

The Great Wall of China - Jinshanling and Simatai

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One of the main highlights of any vacation in China is undoubtedly the Great Wall of China.  The wall, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and one of the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World, attracts millions of visitors each year.  The wall was originally thought to be 5,500 miles long and after a recent effort to confirm its length the number has actually more than doubled to 13,171 miles long.

In an effort to preserve the wall and attract more tourists the government has approved various sections of the wall to undergo restoration projects.  These restored parts of the wall offer a glimpse into what the wall might have looked like when it was being actively used to keep Mongolian raiders outside of the country.

The most famous of these sections is Badaling which also happens to be the most visited portion of the wall. While this is certainly a great experience, I feel that the experiences at some of the more remote and less commercialized are much more valuable.  Badaling is packed with tourists and you will constantly be surrounded by people unless you hike well out of the way.  By contrast a visit to Jinshanling and Simatai will be a much more personal experience (although this may not be the case in a few years as more and more people are choosing to visit this section each year).

When I first visited back in November of 2008 the group of friends I was traveling with were the only visitors on the wall that we say for the vast majority of the day.  My most recent trip in October of last year was still very much a personal experience but there were noticeably more tourists here than my first visit.

What makes the Great Wall such a great experience is that there is no perfect season to visit it. Each season offers a unique experience and beauty which changes as the year progresses. If you are able to visit Simatai and Jinshanling make sure you dedicate an entire day to it. The hike is long but worth it as you make your way up and down the mountainous terrain passing from watchtower to watchtower.

If I had one complaint about this section is that as more and more tourists have visited some of the local farmers have taken to selling souvenirs and t-shirts (With “I climbed the Great Wall” written across the chest). It wouldn’t be so annoying if they didn’t follow you along the hike for what seems like an eternity. They are relentless, and it doesn’t get any better if you buy something from one of them. If you buy something from one, all of the others will think they will be able to sell you something as well and will NEVER leave you alone.

Although you can buy snacks and bottled water at the little touristy village at the start of Jinshanling (at much higher prices than if you buy them in Beijing before you head out), I recommend that you bring plenty of bottled water and some snacks with you as it is easy to get dehydrated out there.  I did notice that some farmers have posted up in a few of the watchtowers along the way and will sell you drinks at exponentially higher prices (but if you are looking for a cold beer in the middle of nowhere, where else are you going to go, right?).

When choosing how to get to the wall I would take some time to ask the travel agency a few questions.  For my first visit I went with a small language school that I was taking classes from (The Hutong School).  This was wonderful because we arranged our own transportation and operated on our own schedule. We were out there as long as we wanted and were in no pressure to hurry our way along the wall. 

For my second visit I went with a travel group from one of the famous hostels located on Nanluoguxiang. The other people we were with were friendly enough (made friends with some pretty cool guys from Poland) but the tour guide was rushing us the entire way. It was much harder to really enjoy some of the beautiful panoramic sights that are to be had from the tallest watchtowers.  Just make sure you ask the travel agency how long you will have to be on the wall and if there is a set time that you have to meet at the pickup point.

Visiting the Great Wall has been a childhood dream of mine and I can wholeheartedly say that it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations.  I cannot describe how incredible the feeling is standing on such an impressive wall that stretches out as far as you can see in both directions. It is a really humbling experience, one that I will never forget. As I sat on top of the tallest tower in the Jinshangling section I reflected on just how impressive this wall really is. 

Most travel groups will arrange the entrance tickets (for the wall) as a part of the package fee you are paying them, but make sure that entrance tickets to both Simatai and Jinshanling are included if you plan to visit both sections.  When you are just about to cross over to the Simatai section there will be some workers that check for tickets before letting you pass. 

I highly recommend that you hike Simatai as well so you can cross this really awesome bridge (stunning view of the valley and a small river) as well as some pretty impressive watch towers with some more amazing views. Make sure to bring some good hiking shoes as this hike has some steep climbs in which the wall isn’t it the greatest condition. 

The beautiful natural surroundings, the more personal experience, and the less commercialized feel of Simatai and Jinshanling definitely make this one of my favorite places I’ve ever been too.  An absolute must-see!!

How to get there:

There are multiple ways to get to Jinshanling and Simatai. I recommend visiting The Beijinger’s website and have a look at the classified ads as tour groups are always organizing and advertising trips to these and other sections of the Great Wall.  Some groups can even arrange overnight trips for you.

You can also head to the Forbidden City to arrange a day trip.  There are tons of people that stand around in and around the ticketing area and will approach you asking if you want to take any number of pre-planned tour packages. They will also work with you to create your own individual tour or just simply hire a car for the day. Just make sure you agree to the price before you agree to use their services.  I prefer using The Beijinger as the people organizing the trips there are usually language schools and they have a better reputation and are easier to deal with.

Your hotel might also offer planned excursions to the Great Wall as well.  Contact the hotel concierge to see if they have any Great Wall packages.

Temple of Heaven - Beijing

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The Temple of Heaven , 天壇 (Tian Tan) in Chinese, has long been one of the major attractions for people of all ages when they come to Beijing.  The Temple of Heaven has long been one of my favorite places to visit in Beijing due to the plethora of cultural experiences that can be had there.

The Temple of Heaven was once the religious complex where the emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties visited for annual prayers and ceremonies for good harvests.  Some of the main attractions within the park include the iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Circular Mound Altar.

When most people think of the Temple of Heaven they picture the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.  This is the main attraction to the park and it is easy to see why.  The massive Hall sits on a tier of circular marble slabs.  Traditional Chinese music (most of which feature the ancient gu qin) can be heard from the speakers that resemble old lamps that surround the outskirts.  My favorite time to visit is during the week towards the late afternoon (just before the attractions inside the Temple of Heaven park start to close).  Usually most of the visitors have already left so it offers a chance to have a more personal experience, almost what it might have been like for the emperors visiting hundreds of years ago.

Imperial Vault of Heaven

The Imperial Vault of Heaven is worth a visit as well mainly because the circular wall surrounding the buildings contained within is known as the echoing wall.  It is not uncommon to see tourists standing along the guard rail shouting at the wall trying to hear their own echo.  Usually there is an extremely long line of people (especially during the peak travel times) waiting to climb up the stairs to get a peak into the main building.  There's not much to see in there (just a throne and some old furniture) so unless you absolutely have to see everything you will probably be fine skipping it unless you happen to visit when there's relatively few tourists there.

Tourists Shouting into the Famous
Wall of Echos

Just across from the Imperial Vault of Heaven is the Circular Mound Altar.  The round slabs of marble in the middle are elaborately decorated with dragons carved along the guard rail.  On the top tier in the middle of the platform is a small elevated circle.  This was once believed to be the center of the earth (which coincides with the ancient Chinese belief of China as being the center of the world). Throngs of tourists eagerly await for their chance to stand on the center of the Altar and have their picture taken so don't be afraid to just jump in there and have your own picture taken.

The Fabled "Center" of the World

Towards the West of the complex is the lesser-known Hall of Abstinence.  Most people seem to skip this attraction as it isn't within a close proximity to the other main attractions and it isn't featured on the combination ticket  This hidden gem, so to speak, has some interesting things to see in it.  There is a hall way that contains the portraits of past emperors and some cool historic artifacts.  You can also see several "wild" cats that have made the moat surrounding the Hall of Abstinence their home.

Circular Mound Altar

Of all of the main historic attractions in Beijing, it has been my impression that the Temple of Heaven brings the most local visitors, and thus more of the local culture can be experienced here.  Due to it's convenient location, cheap entrance fee for the elderly, and relatively late closing time (for the larger park area) hundreds of locals gather daily to play card games, sing traditional patriotic songs, dance, and play traditional Chinese instruments.  It is a blast to join in on one of the local favorite games (jianzi) that closely resembles hacky sac.

Locals Singing Patriotic Songs

There's not quite as much to see as the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City so if you can spare 3 or 4 hours you should be able to cover most of it.  No trip to Beijing is complete without a visit to the Temple of Heaven.  You can access it via subway (line 5) or by cab.  The cost for the tickets are: 10-15 RMB (depending on the season) for the basic entrance ticket or 30-35 RMB for the combination ticket.

Have you been to the Temple of Heaven before? If so sound off in the comments below and let us know what you thought of it!

Summer Palace - Beijing

Once the summer retreat for the imperial family, the Summer Palace or 颐和园 (Yi He Yuan) in Chinese is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The compound, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, spans a massive 2.9 square kilometers and is an absolute must-see attraction for any trip to Beijing.  The beautiful lake and natural surroundings make a for a pleasant visit during any season.

The park is located on the north-west side of Beijing and can be accessed via cab or subway off of the recently constructed line 4. Due to the massive scope of the park and the vast number of attractions within the park I recommend at least 6 hours to thoroughly enjoy everything the park has to offer.

The park offers a fairly large lake on the south side of the compound that wraps around the the north side.  During the warmer months visitors can rent paddle boats to cruise around the main part of the lake, or can buy tickets to take larger boats around the west side of the compound the the ancient market street (Suzhou Street) near the north gate. 

As a tip, if you do decide to take the passenger boat I would recommend purchasing the tickets from the ticket booth near the infamous Marble Boat (tickets here will cost about 40 RMB per person as opposed to being charged 180 RMB on Suzhou Street).

Starting at the south gate you can quickly visit the small island that has a gorgeous view of the palace and then hike back along the eastern bank of the lake and visit the historic theater that offers daily performances featuring different acts that might have been performed for the emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.  From there I would recommend hiking up any of the various trails that lead up the mountain around the west side of the temple and palace. 

This is one of my favorite parts of the park as these trails offer some seclusion from the throngs of tourists that tend to stick to the main attractions.  Every once in a while you will come across couples or families having picnics and enjoying the tranquil surroundings.   Once you make your way to the peak you can visit a Buddhist temple and the Hall of Burning Incense. Make sure you walk out the front gate of the Hall of Burning Incense for a spectacular view of the lake and historic buildings below. The view alone here makes the trip worth it.

Then making your way down the north side of the Buddhist temple you can visit the famous Suzhou Street which houses a bunch of souvenir shops and a few restaurants.  This area of the park is stunning and it would be a great shame if anyone misses it.  

Finally, don't forget to head back around the west part of the lake to visit the Marble Boat and take a stroll down the seemingly never-ending coridor before leaving the park.

Tickets to the park can be purchased for 20-30 RMB (depending on the season) for the entrance fee alone or 50-60 RMB for the combination ticket (which includes entrance tickets to some of the smaller attractions within the park).

Planning a trip to the Summer Palace? Share your experiences in the comments below!