Beijing - Easy Independent Travel

Hello... Beijing, hello? Thank you, thank you.
And this is the Chinese we can speak, that's all we can really speak. (Will we survive?)

Beijing in 3 Days: A whirlwind tour of the Great Wall and beyond

This trip to Beijing was a quick one, squeezed in between business in Zhengzhou and a limited 4-day window. With the Great Wall calling my name, I decided to hop on a high-speed train and spend 3 days exploring the Chinese capital.

Preparation:

• Visa: While a visa is typically required for entry, this time I entered China visa-free.
• Passport: Always a travel essential, my passport was kept close at hand.
• Currency: I exchanged Thai Baht for Chinese Yuan (RMB) before leaving Thailand.
• Mentality: With a positive attitude and a thirst for adventure, I was ready to embrace the journey.

Intercity Travel:

Day 1:

Morning: I boarded a high-speed train from ZHENGZHOU EAST ST. to BEIJING WEST ST.

Train Ticket:

• Booked online, but physical tickets were required. E-tickets were not accepted.
• Tickets displayed the passenger's name and passport number (** / ###).

Beijing Transportation: Subway

The subway is a convenient and easy way to get around Beijing. It is a great option for tourists, as it is easy to navigate and covers many of the city's main attractions.

Lines 1 and 2 are the most popular lines for tourists, as they pass by many of the city's most famous landmarks.

Tickets can be purchased from automated ticket machines, which are available in English. The machines accept 5 and 10 yuan banknotes.

Yikatong Card

The Yikatong card is a reloadable transportation card that can be used on the subway and buses. It has a 20 yuan deposit.

Single-Ride Tickets

Single-ride tickets can be purchased from automated ticket machines. The price of a ticket varies depending on the distance traveled.

Yikatong Card is a top-up card with a deposit of 20Y.

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

We arrived in Beijing around 1:30 PM and checked into our hotel. We left the hotel again at 3:00 PM and headed straight to the Lama Temple (Subway Line 2). I didn't take any pictures because I was too excited.

Next, we went to Wangfujing (Subway Line 1), a pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants.

The first day is over... My stomach is full and my eyelids are getting heavy. I went back to the hotel and passed out.

Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall + Beixinqiao (Subway Line 5)

We booked a 1-day join-in tour to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall for 280 yuan. The tour includes entrance fees, lunch, an English-speaking guide, and round-trip transportation from Beijing city center.

• Schedule: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
• Time at the Great Wall: Approximately 3.5 hours
• Travel time: 2 hours each way (by tour bus)
• Cable car: Optional, 120 yuan roundtrip (walking is also possible)

Note: This is a translation of the provided text. I have not evaluated the tour or provided any personal opinions.

After visiting the Great Wall of China, we gathered at the meeting point for lunch. Around 3:00 PM, we took a bus back to Beijing city center. In the evening, we went to the Beixinqiao area (Subway Line 5) for dinner. Our dinner was hot pot, with a spicy mala soup base.

Day 2: Exhausted from walking the Great Wall of China. Climbing up and down, but glad to have seen it with my own eyes for once.

Day 3: Exploring Beijing's City Center by Subway

Morning:

• Tian'anmen Square (Line 1)
• Forbidden City (Line 1)
• Jingshan Park, Beihai Park

Afternoon:

• The Temple of Heaven (Line 5)

Evening:

• High-speed train back to Zhengzhou

Evening:

Take the inter-city high-speed train from BEIJING WEST ST. back to ZHENGZHOU EAST ST.

"It is understandable and unsurprising that China is one of the world's superpowers." The image of China in my mind is vastly different from the one I have seen and experienced.

Our 3-day, 2-night trip to Beijing has come to an end. I really wanted to stay longer and visit more places, but time was not on our side. I'm still grateful for the opportunity to have seen the Great Wall of China at least once in my life.

I will come back to you again...
- The Diary of H.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.