Ray and I have spent 2 weeks in Beijing in 1996 and another week in 2006. In '96 we spent it at the Palace Hotel(now the Peninsular) very close to the main inner city areas. We hired a car,driver and guide for all day touring.
The Beijing Classic Day Tour from US$ 60 p/p
Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City + Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace Tour Code: BXIT-F01 would be my first choice.
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace ( Ming Tombs ) from US$ 55 p/p Tour Code: BXIT-F02 would be my second choice.....Even that many years ago it took HOURS to get back from the WALL....traffic is terrible.
If you have time I've included the address for Prescription glasses. I took my prescription with me but Ray had his done in the shop.Our Opthemoligist checked them out on our return and said they were "dead-on correct". Get there early(when door opens) they rushed and delivered them to our hotel by 8pm the same night....Have Chinese currency to pay for them. The savings are unbelievable.
http://www.shoppinginbeijing.com/Glasses_city.php At the southeastern part of the Third Ring Road is a small, modest bystreet. The street ends at a four storey-building which is best described as a paradise for every four-eyed person.
Just while strolling down the thin street, you will find ten or so glasses shops. These small shops contain everything necessary to make a pair of eyeglasses. The shops in the building, however, rarely handle the eye-testing and glasses- production. This takes place in a room in the building next to it.
If you have a pair of glasses with the correct strength for your eyes, be sure to bring these with you. In that case, their strength can be read and a similar pair can be made without you having to test your eyes. But if you do not have any glasses with you, you can still find a good pair. Just seek out a pair of frames you like, and the staff will help you with the eye-testing without any extra charge.
Salespeople and atmosphere
Some salespeople speak English. If you find a pair of frames in a shop with non-English-speaking staff, you can buy the frames there and then let a shop with English-speaking staff take care of the lenses. Prices are negotiable and range from about two hundred yuan and upwards, depending on which frames and lenses you choose.
Address
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Dongsnhuan Nanlu 64
Chaoyang district
Taxi
Approximately price:
25 yuan from
Opening hours
Daily 9am - 6pm
Subway
Line: 10
Station: Jinsong, approximately 8 minutes walk to Beijing Glasses City.
We even had our guide take us to the "Fragrent Hills " outside the city....beautiful...we were the only Occidentals there.
The best thing I brought back this time was a Silk Quilt ...it's the only thing we have on our bed winter and summer.
Anyway sorry to but in, but thought this might be of some help.
Pat.
