Trip Beijing-Shanghai 9D10N: Thanks for the Info, Guys!
Just wrapped up my 9-day, 10-night adventure in Beijing and Shanghai! Big thanks to the group admin and everyone who shared essential info – really gave me the confidence to explore on my own.
Original Plans vs. Reality
The initial itinerary was Beijing-Shanghai-Wuzhen-Shanghai, but a sandstorm messed things up! The high-speed train tickets from Beijing got cancelled due to the storm, which meant Wuzhen had to be scrapped. Ah well, maybe next time! Guess Beijing wanted me to stay a little longer.
Mutianyu Great Wall: Zanbus FTW!
For Mutianyu, I booked a bus tour on Trip. Highly recommend Zanbus! The tour guide takes you to the cable car, and then you're free to explore the Wall. The bus ticket was ¥140, and the round-trip cable car ticket was also ¥140. I went to Tower 14. Towers 6-4 are for those who aren't afraid of heights and love tobogganing! I booked the 9 am departure, and we met back at the gate at 4:00 pm to return. Pick-up point was at Dangshikou Exit C, and the drop-off was near Temple of Heaven, Gonghe Temple, and Hutong Street.
High-Speed Rail Tips
Getting to the high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai is easy enough. Just pay attention to the big screens to find your train gate. Get in line about 30 minutes before departure at the line with the staff member, as the machines on the other lines might not read your passport.
Budget Breakdown (Excluding Splurges)
I spent around 11 million VND on food, local transport, and entrance tickets, not including shopping, hotels, airfare, high-speed train tickets, bus tickets to the Great Wall, or Forbidden City tickets.
Getting Around
My main modes of transport were Didi (50%), walking (30%), subway (17%), and cycling (3%).
Beijing vs. Shanghai: Personal Preference
Personally, I preferred Beijing over Shanghai. The people in Beijing seemed friendlier and more helpful.
Shanghai Lesson Learned
A little word of advice from my Shanghai experience: always ask the price before buying anything if it's not displayed, and avoid taking taxis that don't use the meter – you'll probably end up getting ripped off.
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