Itinerary of my recent solo trip to China. The trail. [img=540x540]http://i.imgur.com/cmzeB.jpg[/img] In this post I only write the Beijing part. Some people like @cropped.head etc. maybe would find some of this information useful (Sorry if it's not very detailed, just search the net for more). [spoiler]For most people, entrance permit/visa is needed to enter China. Requirements might be different depending where you are from. Just go to the Chinese embassy in your country and give them all the required documents. Piece of cake. [hr]My flight was with AirAsia, arrival at Tianjin, a city not so far from Beijing. [hr]Make notes or print the Chinese names of places. For instance: [ Beijing South Railway Station -> 北京南站 ] so that when you're heading there and you can't see the English sign of that place you'll still have another chance. [hr]Things are generally quite cheap. Entrance fees to some tourist places can be expensive though (Can be free in some places if you go through back door/secret passage, or jump the wall/fences). [hr]Cheapest way to move from city to city is by train. Seat (or bed, in some trains) availability is very limited because pretty much all Chinese people also use this mode of transport. Buy train tickets long before your departure date if possible. [hr]Y = Chinese Yuan 1 USD = 6 Yuan / Y6 (approximate)[/spoiler] ~ [b]Day 1[/b] - Touchdown. Get out of Tianjin airport arrival area, there should be a shuttle bus going to Tianjin Railway station (Y10). - From Tianjin Station get a ticket to Beijing South Railway Station (Y55). 30 minutes in a [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/403081_10150526112547102_670772101_9125885_613928678_n.jpg]bullet train[/imgview]. - Go to the downtown Beijing. Dongcheng area, a lot of cheap hostel and it's close to major attractions like Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, etc. - Visit the night market at Donghuamen / Wangfujing st. 10 minutes walking distance. A lot of [imgview=http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/404881_10150533918772102_670772101_9145373_1374249628_n.jpg]foods[/imgview] (+- Y2 and above) and [imgview=http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/423538_10150533958167102_670772101_9145447_661820064_n.jpg]souvenirs[/imgview]. - Go to the Beijing Railway Station, buy train ticket for [i]Day 4[/i] to go out from Beijing to the next city. (I bought a ticket to Datong Y99 hard sleeper class in Beijing West) - Stroll around the city. * [imgview=http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/399966_10150548599362102_670772101_9193317_347932665_n.jpg]Subway[/imgview] in Beijing (Y2 one way) is pretty good, similar with those in HongKong and Singapore. If you feel more adventurous use the bus (Y1). Or just walk if you got a pair of strong legs (Y0). * I stayed at the Happy Dragon hostel ([imgview=http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/423844_10150533821277102_670772101_9145120_315033921_n.jpg]Y160 room[/imgview]), not that cheap and not the closest to Tiananmen but all the girl staff are all cute. There are also many other places with rooms or mixed dorms for under Y100. * There are many fast food and local eateries in this area. For one meal expect to pay anything between Y5 - Y30 (or more in fancy restaurants). [b]Day 2[/b] - In the morning walk to the [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/421301_10150533841107102_670772101_9145180_1992032392_n.jpg]Tiananmen square[/imgview] (Y15) (If you get there before sunrise you'll see the flag raising ceremonies). There are also some monument, [imgview=http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/417455_10150533832202102_670772101_9145140_206731652_n.jpg]memorial hall[/imgview], museum etc. in this area. - [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/423422_10150547750162102_670772101_9189965_1628643179_n.jpg]The Forbidden City[/imgview] (Y60) is just North across the street. Spend a few hours walking through all the courtyards in here. - Jingshan park, North of the Forbidden City. There's a hill with a nice view of [imgview=http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/417512_10150547861592102_670772101_9190521_142701644_n.jpg]Beijing[/imgview]. - Visit [imgview=http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/423109_10150553143227102_670772101_9212886_1965990518_n.jpg]Yonghegong temple[/imgview] (Y25). [b]Day 3[/b] - Go to either: Temple of Heaven and Earth, or Summer Palace (both if you have time). The [imgview=http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/399853_10150548583767102_670772101_9193243_355419438_n.jpg]Temple of Heaven[/imgview] [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/427695_10150548589617102_670772101_9193277_1068572714_n.jpg][*][/imgview] complex is surrounded by a large park with many local people [imgview=http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/427695_10150548589622102_670772101_9193278_970461165_n.jpg][*][/imgview] [imgview=http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/427695_10150548589637102_670772101_9193280_2136429685_n.jpg][*][/imgview]. I didn't go to the Summer Palace. - Beijing Drum/[imgview=http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/417267_10150553203387102_670772101_9213237_413485966_n.jpg]Bell tower[/imgview] (Y30). - Houhai, one of the most famous lake in Beijing. When I was there some part was [imgview=http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/420999_10150553207122102_670772101_9213261_1266624651_n.jpg]frozen[/imgview] you can walk on it. - Stroll around the old neighborhoods and alleyways of Beijing (A.K.A. Hutongs). Most Hutongs are located around Houhai and between the Bell Tower and Yonghegong temple. [imgview=http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/396393_10150553159372102_1710668177_n.jpg][*][/imgview] [imgview=http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/396393_10150553159377102_670772101_9212966_1631189234_n.jpg][*][/imgview] [imgview=http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/404951_10150553197532102_670772101_9213194_1349421795_n.jpg][*][/imgview] Also try some local foods. [b]Day 4[/b] - The Great Wall. There are several segments of the Wall that can be visited. They're located far outside Beijing. Possible to commute but it's easier to get there via tour from hostel. I picked the Jinshanling Wall because it's further, it seems abandoned, not so touristy (Y240 including transport and meals). There were only around 20 people in the whole area. Very windy and much colder than in Beijing. [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/404878_10150556241777102_1834209887_n.jpg][*][/imgview] [imgview=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/427148_10150556241492102_670772101_9223377_232839931_n.jpg][*][/imgview] [imgview=http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/432220_10150556269437102_670772101_9223425_622585674_n.jpg][*][/imgview] - If there's some time left, go to this huge sports complex which was used during Olympic in Beijing (Free entrance). The [imgview=http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/s720x720/65771_10150559302487102_670772101_9234536_1838558379_n.jpg]Olympic Green stadium[/imgview] looks great it's made entirely from steel. - Go to the Beijing West Railway Station for the night train to Datong or other city. * Some options after Beijing: - Further North. Super cold and heavy snow during winter. City: Harbin. - West. Inner Mongolia grassland. City: Hohhot. - South/East. Coastal area with mainstream tourist destinations. Cities: Qingdao, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou. - South/West. Deeper to the mainland China with some cultural/historical sites. Cities: Datong, Pingyao, Xian. (I did the last one) Video clips compilation. [flash=540x302]http://www.facebook.com/v/10150863119147102[/flash]