Jacqueline Chang's Life As A Hairdresser: Part 1: How to travel to Beijing within your budget?

Hi everyone it's our yearly trip again. This year we felt so lucky that we get to visit Beijing China. Thru this blog I will share with you on how to keep your travel cost low. And also I will share with you if Beijing is a nice place to travel to; as we occasionally get bad comments from friends about how bad Beijing is.

1st day in Beijing

It's tradition yearly; to travel based on budget; based on the lowest air tickets rate I could possibly find. And it's a year of advanced planning as usual. I always bought the airtickets a year in advanced to grab the great rate. As usual I am always alert with AirAsia promotion. Last year some time in October; I managed to get low airfare from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing at Rm 411 per person.. I bought it separately to get cheaper rate. All in from Kuching to Beijing cost me about Rm 540 per person (rate without seats and luggage); and this is not a check through trip. We have to check in and out luggages every flight; which we don't mind as we wanted a cheap airticket overall.

How to travel and enjoy Beijing at the lowest cost?

From Beijing Airport to Dongsi District

Tips no. 1: Using Subway

We reached Beijing at 4.40am. From Beijing airport, we used Airport Express to Dongzhimen station, and then changed route to Chaoyangmen; and from Chaoyangmen; we travelled to Dongsi station where we then walked to Exit C, and from exit C, we turned to our left and then at the traffic light (without crossing the road) we turned left again and walked passed few shops; such as winter clothing shop named Fast Fish on your left. We walked about 5 minutes and we stopped at Lishi Hutong which the hotel by the left small street.

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/subway-map.htm

in Beijing bicycle is the main mode of transportation

I have planned Beijing ground trip with subway as our mode of transportation as I believed that; to experience life as a local; you must travel like the locals; which is using subway. I only planned for car ride the last day of our trip; which is to Beijing airport for our flight home.

Tips no. 2: Stay at affordable Hutong boutique hotel: 161 Wangfujing Hotel

Outside the Hotel

Lishi Hutong Street; just outside the hotel

I booked hutong hotel at Lishi Hutong, 161 Wangfujing Hotel which is 5 minutes walk to the Dongsi Subway station; and 15 min walk to Wangfujing. I chose this hotel due to its great reviews; good location, affordable rate and its a Hutong hotel which looked traditional and unique. For a family room (4 nights) and twin room (3 nights) costs about RM 1648.40 in total (https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Hotel_Review-g294212-d1405804-Reviews-Beijing_161_Wangfujing_Hotel-Beijing.html)

Based on the review 8.0; I decided to use this hotel even though I am worried. But, when I reached the hotel, it met my expectations and we stayed here comfortably and happy. Room is simple, but space is reasonably good; Bathroom is great; shower is strong and hot; tv channel is great; wifi is fast! Hotel staffs are amazingly helpful and friendly!

Beijing 161 Wangfujing Hotel

Hotel chandelier

at hotel lobby

at the street near Dongsi Station

Tips no. 3: Eat wisely at cheaper restaurant

We reached the hotel at 10 am and put our luggages at the hotel. We then headed to McDonald's nearby. It was just a 5 minutes walk to McD which was located next to WuMart, a market. We just have to try their pork burger and their burgers tasted yummy and juicy!

yummy McD on the first morning in Beijing - RMB 25 per set

Pork Burger

beautiful bun

After breakfast at McD, we went to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City and National Museum of China. From Dongsi station, we travelled to Dongdan station, and transferred to Tian'anmen East Station for RMB3 only. Then we queued for about 30 minutes to get in as the security is tight. Please do not forget to bring your passport along to get in.

It is advisable to visit these 3 places as early as you can as the queue can be horrifying in the afternoon.

wall of art everywhere

National Museum of China

Forbidden City

National Museum of China - Free Entrance

After that, we went to Wangfujing which is a station away from Tian'anmen East Station. Time for food again yippeee... We went to GouBuLi to try their pork bun and their cold salted dishes which are eaten with their yellow bean porridge; unique huh? While waiting for the food to come, I went to Wang Ju De restaurant to take away Peking duck for dinner at the hotel later. I paid RMB 297 for the yummy duck.

GouBuLi

Pork bun; cold salty dish with yellow porridge

Cold and salty dishes at GouBuLi

Wang Ju De Peking duck

Forgotten to take the duck before the feast; this is the leftover haha...JUICY!

After Wangfujing, we walked back to the hotel which took us about 15-20 minutes. With the nice cold weather; we could walked comfortably and looked at the city and buildings. We checked in to our comfy rooms at around 9.30 pm, and then went for our supper at Liang Lao Er; just opposite the hotel.

the map from McD's Wangfujing to 161 Hotel.

Opposite this hotel, there were so many eateries. But we loved Liang Lao Er most; their food were all very yummy especially the Beef Noodle soup, the Vege salad, and the meat sanchwich. The food were also very very affordable. For 6 person, each person a bowl of food, with drinks only cost us about RMB 110; which is about RM 70.

Our favourite Hutong restaurant; Liang Lao Er - Best Beef noodle just opposite 161 Hotel

Best Vege salad

Best Beef noodle

Best pork sandwiches; we had it every breakfast.

We went back to our rooms at 10.30 pm feeling so full and tired; got our lovely hot bath and then had a great sleep.

Below are some of the photos we took during our trip. Beautiful Hutong!

Part 2:
http://jacstylist.blogspot.my/2017/10/part-2-how-to-travel-to-beijing-on-your.html