Latest Reviews for Beijing

Hotel was excellent. Super position near to the drum tower and only 15 minutes walk into the Subway. Loads of restaurants and shops nearby. "Designer" look hotel, room and bathroom superb. breakfast buffet with great. Ideal for a short break in Beijing. Will stay again.

The review marks do not tell the whole story of Beijing, it is dirty, busy and noisy with very little old China left. What is does have though is some world famous sites (Forbidden City, Tiannamen Sq, Summer Palace) and is 2 hours from the great wall at Badaling and Muritariu - (not spelt correctly but the second is the one to visit) and also the Ming Tombs (a large hole in the ground that has no access for disabled or Children, and I wouldn't bother if I were you...).

It is the safest city I have ever been to and as mentioned previously safe for the lone Female traveller I would guess. DVDs are about 70p each and multi-region, but as there are no copyright laws in China, they are all pirate and therefore not legal to take out of China.

All in all 2 days will be enough for most in this city.

The Friendship hotel , like many parts of Beijing was built by and for Russians, but has been greatly expanded and modenised since then. Apartments in Building 8 are very good with kitchen facilities. Building 1 and 4 seem to have the executive suites and are all very comfortable. 5+ restaurants on site, but I haven't eaten in them all, Korean, Japeneses, Russian, Frensh and of course Chinese. There are also two 'accessable' bars in TGI Fridays and Georges Bar (quite expensive, even by UK standards). The reason I mentioned accessable was because there is a night club in building 4 but I have never tried to get in to it, but see a lot of business types and a lot of ladies going down and doesn't really tempt me...

Staff are great and leisure facilities are top class. Empty pool and Gym etc. Supermarket also on site. But like a lot of Beijing it is not near anything. It is in the business district (I know this as I work just down the road), but Taxis in Beijing and China as a whole are cheap and very well regulated so you won't get ripped off and the fair to Tiannamen and Forbidden city will only be about $15 tops...

We took the Classic China tour with Travelscope and it was the best value holiday I have ever had. All internal flights were included as were all meals (lunch and dinner in restaurants - 2 Chinese banquets a day! Heaven) and entry to all attractions for less than £1000. We spent very little out there as prices were so low.
We began in Shanghai where we saw the Bund, toured the city and went on a night cruise along the river.
We flew to Xian and saw the terracotta army which was the highlight for many of our group.
We then moved on to Beijing were we visited the Great Wall (breathtaking), Forbidden City and many other attractions.

The tour was exceptionally well organised - we felt safe at all times - our tour manager was available 24/7. We were in a group of 50 so by the end of the holiday, we had made friends. Because the holiday includes group meals in restaurants on large tables, the tour is particularly suitable for single people - there were a few lone travellers in our group but the way we were thrown together for the journeys meant that the atmosphere was very friendly.
This is not a trip for relaxing - it ws quite tiring because we always did a number of excursions a day but the sights we saw were overwhelming, and I defy anyone not to enjoy this trip.

Went on the tour of Beijing and Xi'an as a single female. Travelsphere was brilliant and China just takes your breath away. Stayed at the Friendship Hotel in Beijing, this place is fantastic, it is like a 5 star luxury hotel but for tourists.Specially built for that market.Close to 2 stores that sell dvd's and cd's at about 80pence, all excellent original copies.

Do not expect facilities for children or disabled at sites of interest.Lot of walking involved but the sites are worth it.The toilet facilities at the sites are dire, they are often unisex,just holes in the floor, without doors and the smell is indiscrible.Loo's at restaurants have both eastern and western styles but again doors are often not there.

The food is authentic and not styled to the western palate,eat it first and then ask what you have eaten.Always good but ate crickets in sweet and sour sauce, really good but if I had known before I wouldn't have tried them.Meal tends to be served in reverse, sweet,meat and fish dishes, then rice and finally soup.

Transfered to Xi'an and stayed at the Hotel Xi'an, lovely hotel with lots of extra room services like massage and acupuncture.Not as oppulant as Beijing but excellent Whilst here had minor accident, AandE service was superb with total time for ambulance, treatment, return to hotel took just 40 minutes.

Lots of street peddlars but not intimidating at all, all very friendly,watch the markets and try to pay with correct bills as change can be forged or totally foreign and useless like roubles.Had police escort from Summer Palace back to buses to prevent street robberies. After all this it is the safest place I have ever been, there are police and army at every hotel, corner and site.
Can highly recommend Travelsphere and China to everyone.