First Time in Beijing: Ultimate Summer Getaway -

Since it’s our first time to visit Beijing, we managed to get a group visa! It’s easier than getting an individual visa.
To avail the group visa, I had to purchased a package from Perfect Destination – just the land arrangement and visa. We bought our own plane ticket via Cebupaficicair @P5500 each.

Here’s the itinerary our travel agency had provided for us.

BEIJING TOUR PACKAGE (LAND ARRANGEMENT)

Travel date: JULY 27-30, 2013 (4DAYS/3NIGHTS)

Rate: P3,300+ P450 (midnight surcharge) = P3,750 PER PERSON
**China visa (P3,400/person China group visa processing)

Hotel: SUPER 8 LONG CHENG

INCLUSIONS:
-3nights hotel accommodation
-breakfast
-roundtrip hotel transfers
-compulsory city based on below itinerary

EXCLUSIONS:
-roundtrip airfare
-China visa (P3,400/person China group visa processing)

ITINERARY:
Day O1 Manila / Beijing
Arrive in Beijing , meet and begin compulsory tour to the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City later enjoy a sip of tea at the Tea House before transfer to hotel
Day O2 Beijing (B, L)
After hotel breakfast, compulsory tour to Juyongguan Great Wall, jade museum, outside picture taking of 2008 Beijing Olympic sites and make a visit to Chinese herbal medicine research facility, then later transfer back to hotel
DAY O3 Beijing (B)
Free time for leisure
Day O4 Beijing (B)
After hotel breakfast, free time till transfer to airport for return flight

Aside for this, I also added some activities like:

Beijing Happy Valley
Cost: 200YUAN
How to get there:
By Bus
Take bus 674, 680 or 684 and get off at Huaqiaocheng Nan Station. Walk several minutes north to it.
Take bus 52 at Tiananmen Square and get off at Jinsongqiao Dong Station to take bus 41 and get off at Houfengqiao Nan Station;
By Subway
Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Dawang Lu Station from Exit A at the north side of Dawang Qiao to change bus 31 and get off at Houfengqiao Nan Station. Then walk 50 meters to the park.
Take Subway Line 10 and get off at Jinsong Station. Take bus 41 at the southeast side of Jinsong Qiao to Houfengqiao Nan Station.

Beijing Zoo
Cost: 20YUAN – Combo Ticket (including the panda’s house): CNY 20 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31);
Opens at: Mar.16 – Nov.15: 09:00-18:30 (weekdays); 08:30-18:30 (weekends), Zoo: 7:30 – 18:00 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31); 7:30 – 17:00 (Nov. 1 to the next Mar.31)

How to get there: Subway Line 4: get off at Dong Wu Yuan Station, get out of the station from Exit A (northwest exit), and you’ll find the south gate.

Wangfujing Street – Shopping District – Food Trip
How to get there:
You can take the subway and get off at the Line 1 Wangfujing (118) station. Alternatively, you can of course take the taxi. Show the following to the driver:

Chaoyang Theater
Cost: 110 Yuan (180 yellow zone (3-4 tickets))
Opens at : daily 5:15-6:30pm and 7:15-8:30pm
How to get there:
Chaoyang Theatre (subway line 10 get off at Hujialou exit C1, 20 meters south of the Hujialou station) 朝阳剧场，东三环北路36号

The Legend of Kung Fu Show
Cost: 180 YUAN – RMB180 side zone;upstairs /3-4 tickets
Opens at: Every evening at 7:30pm
How to get there:
Venue: Red Theater 红剧场，幸福大街44号( near the east gate of Temple of Heaven) subway line 5 get off at Tiantandongmen exit B， and then by a taxi just 10 RMB. The best way come to the theatre by subway.

The best way to get around Beijing is via Subway, it’s very cheap! Just purchase Smart Card. 2CNY per ride

“Over 170 designated points have been set in Beijing for users to rent and reload the card. These points are located at the ticket offices of all Beijing subway stations (05:30~23:00), some bus stations, supermarkets (e.g, Jingkelong Convenience Stores, Lianhua Quick, Good Neighbor Supermarket) and Post Offices (09:00~17:00).”