Beijing Bound! What are the BIGGEST red flags & tourist traps? SOS, help me!

[Lorena Runolfsson]

Oh my, reading about the travel strategies in Beijing gave me a huge headache!🤯

• It feels like there are so many different views on the internet:

  • Some people praise a place sky-high while others say one thing is not as good as the other, I am totally confused. Just like everyone says, given Beijing's vastness and rich culture, it's easy to get lost for the first-time visitors.

• So, I'd really like to sincerely ask for advice from everyone here:

  • Is there any travel tips for Beijing that doesn't favor anyone and is quite practical?
  • And most importantly, what are some notable things to watch out for or little tips during traveling?
    • For instance, how could we have fun without being "ripped off" (aka spending unnecessarily)?
    • Which places do outside visitors (especially those who are less familiar with Chinese culture) usually ignore or misunderstand?
    • Speaking of popular scenic spots such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, where crowds are bound to be large, are there any strategies to avoid them or at least ensure a more pleasant experience?
    • I heard that some "Hutong tours" by tricycle might charge ridiculously high prices or take you to bizarre shopping areas, how can we avoid these?

Greatly appreciate all your help in advance! ️
#Travel Tips #Beijing #Beware #Travel List #Q&A

[Morris Schneider]

Everyone, please be careful when reading the comments and don't get scammed!

[Benjamin Dooley]

Couldn't get tickets for the Forbidden City.

[Guadalupe Barton]

The most important tip for Beijing: don't join a tour group! Unless you're heading to the outskirts, public transport is super convenient, making a tour group completely unnecessary. During morning and evening rush hours, avoid taxis – the subway will save you more time.

[Andrea Hand]

Trust advice from locals like me (check the IP!), not from outsiders trying to convince you to join a tour group.

[Jo Douglas]

Just thinking about battling the crowds in Beijing during the May Day holiday... I'm already feeling overwhelmed.

[Dr. Wade Boyer]

What a coincidence, me too.

[Ms. Beatrice Abernathy]

Avoid Nanluoguxiang. It's crowded, expensive, traffic is terrible, and the food isn't good. We locals rarely go there.

[Ellis Sauer DVM]

You can't go wrong following the locals.

[Lucia Feest]

Beijing, Beijing, Beijing!!! You absolutely have to visit the capital! Watching the flag-raising ceremony is just breathtaking, truly breathtaking. Explore all three floors of the National Museum! And when you climb the Great Wall, you'll genuinely feel the saying, 'He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true hero.' Beijing offers an incredible sense of security, with traffic police at every intersection, day and night! I joined a tour and visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Shichahai, the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace, Tsinghua and Peking Universities, the Great Wall, and the Bird's Nest & Water Cube. It was a fantastic and relaxing five-day, four-night trip.

[Tanya Bogisich IV]

Please share the details!