Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace Tour Recommendations

We have a free day, Friday 18 April in Beijing and wanted to tour these sights with an English speaking tour group. Any suggestions on who gives a good tour and is reliable are welcome.

Thanks, Joe

Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace Tour Recommendations

Jo, you do not need a guide for these places.

Temple of heaven easily found via taxi and so is Summer palace, the later taking approx 45 minutes to an hour to get to, so alow for traffic, may be do the Summer Palace first and see if you have enough time for Temple of Heaven, SP is very big.

Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace Tour Recommendations

Ann,

Thanks for the reply and information. After reading the Lonely Planet guide and seeing where are hotel is, I agree that the Summer Palace is a good first choice for us. Also, since we are older we might give out sooner rather than later. How long would you suggest that we spend at the Palace? From the pictures, it looks as if there are some sights on a hill. Is this correct?

You took a 45 minute taxi ride to the Palace; do you remember what that cost?

While in Beijing did you do the Opera and, if so, do you have any recommendations?

did you ride the subway while there? If so, what was your impression?

Thanks, Joe

A question I forgot to ask-when returning from the SP, was it easy to get a taxi?

Thanks, Joe

The Summer Palace is a huge complex. Spend 3 hours there to cover most important sites - the main entrance is at the East Palace Gate (Gong Dong Men). The main sites are Longevity Hill, the Garden of Virtue and Harmony (served as a theatre), the Long Corridor (my pick), the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (close to the entrance - this houses Cixi%26#39;s throne), the Marble Boat. You can go on a boat cruise on the Lake too.You could enquire at your hotel for a guide and transport.I suggest you do the Temple of Heaven on your own by taxi - there is enough English signage to get around and understand on your own. Try to get out at the East Gate. You will see a footbridge over the road. Use this to check out the famous Pearl Market which is opposite. Don%26#39;t forget to walk around the garden at the Temple of heaven. It is a dynamic place full of very interesting culture - people doing all sorts of amzing things.

Joe, l am 45 and also tire easy! We travel slowly and at our own pace, we found the the Summer palace a huge site and only did that for the day, we enjoyed watching the chinese enjoying their day out, they were dancing in one part of the gardens it was a great day.

It cost us 60 to get in but we may have paid a few extra RMB%26#39;s for a few extra halls or temples. It cost us 60 RMB for the taxi one way and it took us roughly 50 minutes, but longer on the way back and was 80 RMB as it was busier. We did%26#39;nt bother with the lake ride, but wished l had%26#39;ve now, would;ve liked to go out to the thingo in the middle!

Our hotel was near the back gate to the Forbidden City, just for you to use as a guide as to taxi prices. There are sights on a hill, but not all.

Ann,

Thanks for the reply and information. After reading the Lonely Planet guide and seeing where are hotel is, I agree that the Summer Palace is a good first choice for us. Also, since we are older we might give out sooner rather than later. How long would you suggest that we spend at the Palace? From the pictures, it looks as if there are some sights on a hill. Is this correct?

We went to the acrobats which were unbelievably good, we booked that with Cycle China who are opposite the a gate to Jingshan Park, so can%26#39;t tell you how much it cost as l can%26#39;t find any info from that, sorry! We had a booklet but can%26#39;t find it!

We did use the subway and l was worried it would be hard to figure out but if you look at the maps you can figure out how many stops and it will also be in English on the station, but as its getting closer to the Olympics l think there will be a lot more English signage, the local chinese were very helpful when we did catch the Subway. Very cheap.

Hope this helps, we were there last April/ May

It was easy to get a taxi, your hotel can give you a taxi map which will have sights in chinese and english and you just point which one you want to go to, heaps of taxi%26#39;s to get back as well, not a worry.

Thanks you very much Ann and Xiantraveller. The specific information is what I needed. Trip Advisor is a great asset!

Since we are staying somewhat near the Summer Palace, the taxi would be inexpensive, easy and fast. But to get to the temple, since our hotel is near the #13 line and the traffic is an issue, it sounds as if the subway is the way to get to the city center.

The questions about the subway is whether they are open until 10PM. I have seen conflicting information on this issue as well as whether the line 5 is now operating. If anyone has current information on these questions I would appreciate it.

Thanks, Joe

As far as I can see from the Beijing metro official website, line 5 is operational.

What station/line/direction are you asking for the last train timings? I think all are operational till after 2200.

Lines 2 and 13 for a return after 2100 to go to Zhi Chun Lu on line 13.