+1, but if you want to do ToH, slot it first in order to avoid backtracking.

Thanks! I appreciate it! Does Simon pick up from the airport?

EDITED: never mind, the answer was right in front of me.

So I contacted Simon, and he was unavailable on the day I'm in Beijing. However, he is arranging a tour through his colleague. Has anyone encountered this? Just want to make sure everything is on the up and up.

Check this thread, and work from most recent posts backward (newer plugs are most likely to still be valid):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...-services.html

I had the same response about a week or so ago and just chalk it up with already being booked. I agreed to work with his partner and things seem fine.

If any of you guys have done this drill recently, I'm curious about current options on the north end of the journey. I have not been to the Gulou area during the past 5 years (we never have time during business trips).

The initial and middle parts still work quite well. You need to eat duck, see the Forbidden City, and visit one of the two parks above it.

ETA: The plan isn't viable for almost all of you, at present. I hope this changes soon.

Why would anyone even attempt to go to Beijing at the moment? Talk about an unwelcoming place!

I don't want to go there right now either, but if YariGuy manages to score hockey tickets, I'm in.

I read an article in the Beijinger several years ago that argued all of the things we complain about are a source of the city's electricity. Note that there are no "One Night in Shanghai" or "One Night in Hong Kong" songs. Too cushy here. The reason we have the "One Day in Shanghai" thread is because tourists used to visit us, not because it's an exciting city.

I'm going on the record now and saying chances of getting any Olympics tickets, let alone the hockey finals, are close to nil. It's 50 days to the opening ceremony, and they just announced rules for ATHLETES a couple of days ago (prioritize charter flights, try to avoid commercial, fly only into Beijing Capital, etc.) I have a feeling any audience, if any, will be hand-picked insiders or for-show schoolkids.

Yeah, I would be shocked if they opened up tickets to the general public.

In what way?
Here's a pic from this morning on my way to work (SE Beijing):

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...13e43dd5cb.jpg

It’s very difficult and complicated to travel to Beijing at the moment. Tests needed, phone calls from the cops once you arrive and a general unwelcoming atmosphere in the city. I mean metal detectors for subway stations? Really?

That doesn’t mean Beijing can’t have nice sunrises though.

Beijing subway stations have had metal detectors since 2008. Shanghai has them too. This isn't related to the current Covid situation.

I haven't used the subway in Beijing for quite some time, but I use the Shanghai subway frequently. There are no visible metal detectors...just bag xray machines (which you don't need to use if you let the staff peak inside your bag).

Metal detectors are present at most subway stations in China I've been to, even if they're just unplugged frames you walk through while a bored attendant vaguely gestures at you with a security wand.

Entering Beijing from a place that doesn't have medium- or high-risk areas just means getting a test 48 hours before departure. Check-in counter at the airport will confirm it and then everything proceeds as normal.