GET YOUR VISA FIRST
Wangiing SOHO
Credit: iStock.com/bingdian
Regardless of when you decide to see China’s legendary sights,
remember the toughest part of going to China (for most foreign
nationals) is getting your Chinese visa to enter the country.
That means some serious planning, especially if you are from the
United States and don’t live in one of the places where the Chinese
government has an embassy or a consulate (D.C., New York, Chicago,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston). As an American planning a
trip to China, the first step in getting to Beijing and the Great Wall is to
check your passport because China requires visitors to have at least six
months of remaining validity and at least two blank pages.
Once you have your passport, an in-person application is required for
a visa that allows you to enter China. It costs $140 and you must leave
your passport with them, generally for four working days. Not only
does it have to be dropped off in-person, you’ll have to return to the
Chinese consulate/embassy to pick it up. Be certain to apply to the city
consulate that corresponds to the section of the country where you
live, or it will be denied and you will have to try again. Many people pay
a travel agent to do this for them. Allow even more time for this, and
be ready to pay $200 (or more) for the service.
GETTING THERE
United Airlines (UAL) and Air China (CA) offer nonstop flights from
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Beijing (PEK). Choose
a nonstop flight, remembering that “nonstop” and “direct” mean two
different things when booking with an airline. A “direct” flight can
stop along the way, if the same plane filled with continuing passengers
goes on to the final destination while a “nonstop” flight does not
stop. A nonstop (usually overnight) flight between Washington Dulles
International Airport (IAD) and PEK should take about 14 hours. Getting
into the city center is easy, via subway, bus, taxi or private car. Be
certain to have your destination written in Chinese because few drivers
in Beijing speak English.
HOTELS NEAR THE ACTION
Choosing the luxurious Peninsula Hotel is sure to relieve all your
worries. From the moment you land in Beijing, hotel staff are there to
take care of you. The chauffeur will meet you, driving your choice of
Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz or BMW. They will whisk your luggage into
the car and away you’ll speed, right into the very heart of the gigantic
city. Situated in the Wangfujing area of Dongcheng, the amenity-
packed hotel is within walking distance to many key historical sites
that typify a trip to Beijing. This district is in the heart of the action —
especially great for first-time visitors.
Other welcoming (and less expensive) hotels in the Dongcheng District
include the legendary Beijing Hotel, built in 1900, as well as the chic
boutique-style Kapok Hotel.
Dongcheng is the best neighborhood to stay in as a tourist because
Beijing is a huge, traffic-congested city and can take hours to traverse
by taxi or bus. Walking is limited to the immediate neighborhood where
you are staying. Trying to walk, for instance, from the Central Business
District (CBD) to Dongcheng and the Forbidden City can take almost
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two hours, with no dawdling. You’ll often find yourself needing a ride,
and even then, what seems close can be quite a trek. Fortunately, the
subway is easy to negotiate, even for English-only speakers.
Or choose to stay in the large Chaoyang District, which encompasses the
Central Business District (CBD), Embassy Row, the Olympic Park, the Silk
Street shopping area and the 798 Art Zone, and get around the rest of
the city using subway, bus or private chauffeured car (don’t try to drive
in China unless you can read Kanji, for there are few signs translated
into English). The Opposite House is a cool boutique hotel in Chaoyang.
VISIT HISTORICAL SITES
Begin your adventure in Beijing wearing sturdy and comfortable
walking shoes as you head to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen
Square. Start in the vast square where tanks have often rolled, and
then make sure to visit the mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong
where you can view his embalmed body.
Exploring the Forbidden City, home to China’s historic royal dynasties,
can take most of the day. It is the largest palace complex in the world,
so give yourself plenty of time to traverse the expansive courtyards
and palace buildings. Join an English-speaking tour at the front
entrance, or wander on your own, using a guidebook for reference,