Answer to One China Travel Question
|
| |
Q: I will be staying at a hotel near the Forbidden City and would like to go to Simatai and the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park. Are there any tours to Simitai or public transportation? I assume I can access the Ethnic Culture Park by public transport.
| | A: Indeed the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park not too far away, just on the outskirts of Beijing (rapidly becoming part of the city). It is close to North Forth Ring Road. There are buses that go that way. Or you can take a bus or light rail from where you stay and go north. If the bus does not get you there all the way, then take a taxi to cover the rest of the distance. That will save you a few yuan. (Actually even if you take a taxi and go all the way there, it would be just something like 40 yuan or so, if traffic is good)
Simatai Great Wall is 120 km or 80 miles northeast of Beijing. It is less frequented than other sections of the Great Wall near Beijing such as Badaling or Mutianyu. Many tour operators run Beijing city tour, and a trip to the Great Wall is part of it. A combination of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall may cost US$60 or 80, depending or if you're going with a group or just on your own (with a guide and a car specifically for you). If you just want to Simatai with them and leave the city for yourself, you can talk about it. It shouldn't cost all that much. It varies of course. One particular group that organizes hiking trips to Simatai is the Great Wall Adventure Club. You may not want to join the group or do the trip with them, but a look at their activities gives you some ideas what to expect on a trip like that - http://greatwalladventure.com/joinus.htm
| | | | | |
|
|
