Originally Posted by
Salamander20
Thanks to both of you. Your info is very helpful!
S43R - It looks like we can take a bus to the central train station, a short walk from the hotel (850m). Do you know anything about the local bus system or if this would be feasible?
I was thinking of staying in Jiaxing for 5 nights (so we get the free night) and going to the train station daily and taking excursions to see Shanghai, Hangzhou, and maybe Ningbo/Zhoushan area. Just starting to do my research of where to go and how to get there so not sure exactly what is best. So much to plan! It is both overwhelming and interesting to do so.
Pimevai - Maybe I will try and add Beijing back in. What is the best way to venture out from the Double Tree there? We are very open to walking to bus/train if need be but I understand that China is not the safest place as a pedestrian so I'm a bit apprehensive in that area as well.
Starting December 28th, 2014, there is a Subway station about 200m from the hotel. Very convenient as the Subway network covers most of the city, and taxis are easier to get in the winter months.
Also Cherry in the Executive Lounge lives across the street from the hotel, so ask her if you need any local tips. Without the Subway, this hotel is kind of out of the way for most tourist spots or shopping (although Xidan is not far off). But now that the Subway is operational (I last stayed here Dec 12-19 so I haven't taken it) it should make it much more convenient.
In terms of safety for pedestrians (due to traffic), Beijing is much better than smaller cities, the Olympics helped a lot. There are overpasses for pedestrians on most larger roads. As for safety in general I feel Beijing is MUCH safer than any western city I've lived in (Washington DC, New York, Montreal, London), having a police force larger than most small armies makes Beijing a very safe city as long as your not looking for trouble.