Budget: From Shanghai
- Duration: 3 Days
- Person: 1
- Train: Shanghai – Beijing only 4h45 = RMB 1,100 ( round trip)
- Food: depends on your budget from USD 1 to 10 or more but you can eat very well with USD 3.
- Subway/Bus: very cheap and convenient
- Hotel: You will find plenty of possibilities on Booking.com
A bit of History:
For the last 3000 years Beijing has been the theater of the Chinese culture, politic, education, economy, history and technology. This is in 1420 under the Ming Dynasty that Beijing became the official capital.
Beijing has seven UNESCO world heritage sites:
- The Forbidden City (1420)
- Temple of Heaven (1420)
- Summer Palace (1750)
- Ming Tombs (1420)
- Zhoukoudian (Archaeological site)
- Great Wall (from 220 BC)
- The Grand Canal (1,794 km, From 5th century BC).
Where is Beijing?
Bejing or Pékin is the capital of China. The city is located in the northern part of the country, 北 (Bei) means North and 京 (Jing) means capital in Mandarin. Shanghai is about 1200 km south of the capital, both cities are linked by rail, road and flights.
How to get there?
From Shanghai, I would highly recommend to take the train from Hongqiao Railway station. They are comfortable, fast & convenient. In less than 5 hours you will reach Beijing station.
The flights are also an option nevertheless there are often delay, if you only have a short weekend don’t try it.
Where to stay in Beijing?
As my friend was studying in Beijing, I don’t have recommendation for the hotel. Check booking.com, plenty of accommadations are available from Hostels to 5-star hotels.
What to do?
3 days was very short to visit the city, everyone has his “must see”, let me introduce you mine and the reasons why.
The Forbidden city (紫禁城 Zíjinchéng=”Purple Forbidden City”) is an emblematic site in Beijing, the main entrance is in front of Tianamen square. Built under the Dynasty Ming its opening was in 1420, symbolic date for China as Beijing became the new official capital. Imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420-1912)
Common name: Gùgōng (故宫)
The great Wall, Mutianyu section. I was there in summer 2015, we took a bus at that time, it was not direct as we has to get out before arriving in Mutianyu. We stopped in the middle of the road where drivers were waiting or us and asking a lot of money just for 10 min drive. their price was RMB 200 per person ( round trip). After few years in China you get used to bargaining. The final price was RM 30/person. the driver took us to the ticket office and we asked to be back around noon. He was there and took us back to the bus station.
I would recommend this website, it seems they have updated information regarding the transportion from Beijing to Mutianuy.
Temple of heaven, (天壇 Tiāntán) gather religious buildings where the emperors from Ming and Qing Dynasties were present at annual ceremonies to pray heaven for good harvests. The complexe was built from 1406 to 1420 under the reign of the emperor Yongle. The architecture and paintings are worth to visit.
Summer Palace, (頤和園 Yíhéyuán) imperial garden under Ming Dynasty (1494) has the particularity of gathering palaces, gardens & lakes. Built in 1153 by the Jin dynasty it has been abandon for century. You will find beautiful architecture from the ancient China, paintings on the walls full of colors, stunning view on the lake & peaceful gardens. If you can spend the all day, just do it.
Beijing Duck: Enjoying Beijing Duck, 北京烤鸭 Běijīng kǎoyā, is the “must-eat”. Traditional dish, the duck is roasted for few hours before being served. The thin & cripsy skin will melt in your mouth. The duck meet is tender and perfectly cooked. The proper way to eat is to prepare the bread with the sauce and vegetable, add the meet and roll them. I recommend Da Dong 大董烤鸭店, the restaurant is also in Shanghai.
Da Dong Roast Duck (北京大董烤鸭店) | the Beijinger
Dong Hua Men night market (东华门) if you are looking for some exotism & bet with your friends about what they are able to eat, then this is the place to be. Chinese people are not eating insects or strange animals daily, this is not in their culture.
Cécile
experiencedtheworld.wordpress.com 
http://www.ceicia.com
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