National week - too busy/expensive?
 

I was thinking about flying to PEK or PVG for a short stay/mileage run arriving September 29 and leaving Oct 4. I understand this is Chinese National week. Should I avoid China at this time or if I stay primarily in Beijing or Shanghai will I be okay as far as expense and getting around?

Thanks!

In Beijing, the main tourist sites (Badaling and Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City/Tiananmen, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven) will be crowded with provincials visiting the capital. But still lots of places to see that won't be that crowded...and there are parts of the Wall that are little-visited if you are willing to put in a little extra effort. Beijing would be my recommendation for a visit over Shanghai. If you can get a good deal on airfare and hotel, the rest of the associated travel expenses (food, sightseeing, etc) won't be much different than any other visiting time. And the time you have--4 full days + maybe some partials--is a perfect time span for a Beijing visit. You won't lack for things to do.

I'd avoid it if possible, but if not you'll be fine so long as you expect every place you go to be VERY crowded, and I mean on Chinese standards, not US ones.

This topic comes up every year around this time like clockwork, and my view remains unchanged; it's simply not a good time to visit BJ or SH.

-enormous crowds at tourist sites
-deserted nice hotels/restaurants
-lots of "nationalism", some of which might be directed against your country (subject to recent diplomatic incidents and the whims of those in power)

Forget it. The crowds get quite crazy and it's just not worth the time and effort to put up with them.

Speaking of crowds, I am arriving at PEK on Saturday Oct. 8 @ 3:30 in the afternoon from the US to begin my China vacation. Will it be difficult to get a taxi from the airport to the Cap Ren hotel at this time of day? Are the Chinese who live in Beijing and have been traveling during National Week all coming home on Saturday or Sunday? Should I try to arrange a driver to pick us up or just grab a cab at the airport? We will have luggage so I don't want to take the metro.

IMO, the transportation 'nuts' time of National day, Oct 1st, is the weekend of it & the last 2 days of september. Oct. 8th will be just another busy day at PEK. With T2 & T3 the taxis at that time of day will be ok.

The weather in BJ will be great in october.

My first trip to Beijing was at the tail end of national week last year -- I had a job interview on the saturday immediately post the festival. I did tour the forbidden city, lama temple etc during that time just before my interview -- it was crowded, but not in an intolerable way.

There may be better times to visit, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the sights I saw.

tb

Oct. 8 & 9 are work days in 2011
 

The china government, and most business will be open on Sat-Sun these 2 days of this weekend.
The days of 8th & 9th are listed as 'compensated' work days for the national holiday week days of the 6th & 7th. So, normal nasty weekend BJ traffic, just avoid the Ikea store on the 4th ring road.

As much as I enjoy shopping at Ikea stores when I travel since there is not one in Kansas City, it wasn't on my list of must do's in China.

Unless you want to take pictures of the Chinese sleeping there.

^

Great Swedish product.
Very relaxing for the Chinese market.

http://sandboxworld.com/wp-content/u...kea-china1.jpg

Please explain. This must be an inside/local joke or thing. I'd like to know the real story.

IKEA in Beijing is not just a furniture/decor store, it's a destination resort for the Chinese! :D

See for yourself, its no joke. But is quite funny!;)

Ikea Beijing -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30808846@N08/5997222831/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3080884...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3080884...n/photostream/