FYI we were also first timers..Per the Lonely Planet's guide book went to Mutiananyu section.
To save time and energy took the cable car R Trip. Half a day is enough if you start early as in 6 oR 7 am. Use the left over time to drive to Olympic sites.......

Mutianyu is nicer for sure, but since you're staying downtown, Badaling would be quite a bit more convenient, and even taxis by the meter aren't super expensive (still negotiate, of course).

Try Hertz China Driver Service
 

I travel to China on average each month, but until this month, had never visited Beijing. I'm familiar with Hertz driver service in Shanghai and Hong Kong- so I used them in Beijing for airport transfers and travel to MuTianYu. This will cost you considerably more than a taxi, but for a short trip to Beijing, I'd highly recommend them.

For the airport to hotel (and back again) you can reserve a dedicated driver who will have a sign with your name printed on it who will meet you at the airport (and at the hotel, too). For any of the Great Wall sites, you can reserve a Hertz car and driver to take you, wait for you, and take you back again.

In our case, the cost of the trip to MuTianYu covered the driver for 9 hours. We had started at 1:30pm, so after the Great Wall, he kindly took a path past all the Olympic sites (all lit at night), then to our hotel. All of this he offered to do. After return to the hotel, he waited for us at the hotel, then took all of us to and from dinner. He knew MuTianYu very well and helped us find the best way to the top.

I'd highly recommend this for a quick visit- confirmed dependable, don't need translations- could be good idea just in case- can pay by credit card.

You can find more on Hertz here: https://www.hertz-europe.com/rentaca...tedRegion=Asia
This page talks about luxury service with Mercedes and such, but they also have more modest accommodations. My wife and I had Camrys for airport transfers. We and our friends had a Buick for the MuTianYu visit.

Have a great trip!

Float some numbers by us so we can slice and dice, please. (I honestly don't have any beefs against Hertz; I'm merely curious about the cost spread in relation to the extra benefits afforded.)

Well, YMMV as the say... I'm led to believe that my employer gets discounts from Hertz, so I really don't have the public prices. I'd estimate about RMB1,800-2,000 for the 9-hour car. The airport transfer was considerably less.

That's $150 more than what the rest of us pay.

It seems you live in China- so I would assume it's easier for you to book locally at a more reasonable rate? For a first-time visitor that has little time to book locally (and maybe little familiarity with the area), this could be difficult.

Using your number, you're estimating that a fair rate is RMB1,000 or so? That does seem fair, as I had local contacts with drivers that quoted around RMB900 (some were even less, but not deemed very reliable). But, these cars would only have taken us to MuTianYu and back. They would not have been with us for 9 hours, and would not have had an English speaking driver. For me, that's no problem, but in the event my flight PVG-PEK was delayed and our friends already in Beijing used the car without me, that would have been an issue.

So for first-time visitors that don't speak the language and want to book remotely, I still recommend Hertz, even though I agree that cheaper alternatives exist. But, if you know drivers or companies in the RMB1,000 range that offer all of the above, share!

We have a really long thread on Beijing drivers in this forum. Y600 is the going rate for a decent car (e.g. Sonota) to Mutianyu right now. And, that blocks the driver off for as long as you need him, though I always by the driver lunch, and pay a little extra if I go over 8 hours. Most drivers do not speak good English (if they did, they would have a better job), but this isn't really an issue at all any more since everybody has cell phones.

As i know that, it is quite difficul to catch a taxi in China, so you are advised to contact to travel agent in China and ask them for assistance.

That's overkill. Plus all drivers love doing gw trips.

cannot agree with that ! only time taxis were not available was in Yangshou. Found three at a stand, turned out it would be a short ride to the hotel (lost our way walking back!). Should have been 5 CNY or so, up front he wanted 15. paid the ransom as we needed him more......

Getting a cab in BJ can be difficult -- in the rain, or at Wangfujing (without getting ripped off). But the airport is not one of those places. I've had to wait ages for a cab off some flights due to long queues (the v. late AA ones come to mind), but one can always get one.

I would never pay 2000 RMB for a day trip in BJ. That is way, way over the market rate.

tb

quick question , i'll be entering china on a TWOV within the 72 hour rule, is the Mutianyu spot OK to visit ? i know its further so i wanted to check if you know anything about it or if its with in the allowed area.

thanks,

I got a quote for a 700 RMB for a city tour ( Tiananmen and forbidden city) and great wall ( Mutianyu) . seem to be close to whats on the market now. driver with us for 9 hours to and from hotel.

Yes.

tb