Two weeks in Beijing area, where should I go?

[Reiher]

I'll be two weeks in the Beijing area. Probb won't have money to take flights around the country, so I'm limited in terms of distance. Any suggestions?

[PeterWood]

one week in Beijing for:
Great Wall, Forbiden City, and so on. You may go to some university for lodging since it's economic and easy for you to communicate with locals. You may get some tourism info from students where you're going to stay.
one week outside of Beijing:
West: Xi'an (you may take train to be there);
North: Shenyang, Harbin;
East: Shanghai (take train too);
South: too far to go Guangzhou and Shenzhen, or Hong Kong by train, it takes 24 hours by train to go Guangzhou.
You may choose one or two directions for the 2nd week. No more.

[joerockhead]

Hope to see some pics upon your return.
Have a good trip

[lovesit]

Don't forget to do take the zip-line off the Great Wall!


http://uploads.webrats.com/files/506/great_wall_zipline_thumb.jpg
(http://uploads.webrats.com/files/506/great_wall_zipline.JPG)

Also, get a beer at the Tsing-Tao brewery in Qingdao.

See the Opera - if you enjoy Western Opera, you might enjoy this.

The hostel I stayed at in Beijing offered bus service to the Great Wall (Badaling) for Y90 + another Y90 for entry to the Wall (US$1=Y8.25). The zip-line was Y30.

If you take the train, make sure you upgrade to a "soft-seat." It's not like Europe where the second-class seats are only slightly less comfortable than first-class. "Hard-seats" are terribly cramped, and EVERYONE smokes like a chimney (I guess that's kind of like Europe.)

Have fun, and post photos when you get back!

[mistershow]

Go to as many ancient ruins and temples as you can. Apparently, they are the most worth it in the entire country.