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The Art of Bargaining
ince I first decided to travel to China, I was really excited to meet fellow students, teachers, get immerse into chinese culture and, why not? to learn the art of bargainig. But where to practice this “art”, literally in every market place you can think while touring in China....
ince I first decided to travel to China, I was really excited to meet fellow students, teachers, get immerse into chinese culture and, why not? to learn the art of bargainig. But where to practice this “art”, literally in every market place you can think while touring in China. Silk market, pearl market and yashow market just to mention few. Markets are considered a huge business for chinese and a place where great deals can be made. For this you most know that not any object has a fixed market price, that price can vary from one business to another.
How to communicate with the seller, if your going to make a good deal or not, what the original price is and even feeling shy about it are some of the things that might come to your mind before starting the whole “bargaining process”, as I name it. Well, not any one of these things should you worry about. Let’s delve into the process I just mention:
You enter the store and start looking for things that you might like (actually you don’t even need to be inside the store for sellers to start yelling at you trying to call your attention). They will ask if you like every single thing you look at. So, it is very important for you not to ask the price of something unless you really want it.
You ask for the price and exactly at this point is where the game begins. The seller will tell you a price that’s actually 4 or 5 times more than its original price. By the way, they always use a calculator to give the prices so, actually you don’t need to comunicate much. Besides, surprisingly, they know a little of every language; english, spanish, I’ve even heard them speak russian. Of course, to say a few phrases in Chinese, always gives you a sort of extra points in the game.
You will never know what the real price is, so just tell them is too expensive and start your offer. Start low so you can have a considerable margin to bargain.
It’s always necessary to show some acting skills we might have and do much fuss and drama. Don’t be shy, Chinese will do the exact same thing; they’ll grab you when you pretend your leaving the store and even tell you it is a special offer for you.
You might spend several minutes or even an hour trying to make a good deal. although to succeed in bargaining everyone should keep in mind that the time of the person you have in front is very valuable; try to make it quick if not it might get tiring for the person with whom your playing against.
Don’t accept anything that’s not, at least, half price.
Once you are comfortable with the price, a deal is made.
At last, congratulations!! You’ve experienced the art of bargaining. In one hand you have what you wanted for a really good price even cheaper than in your country and in the other hand; well, I guess Chinese wouldn’t be selling something if it didn’t represented a win for them too.
In your China tour, when making stops in markets now you’ll know that the original price is never revealed, if they quickly accept the price you give it probably means that you could have lowered the price even more, although you think something is really cheap, keep in mind that Chinese would buy it for a far less price, so don’t be shy and bargain. And what is really important; the best price is the one you feel comfortable paying.
You might think your not the best at bargaining, but remember practice makes perfect!
Have a Date with Beijing in Autumn (with the 72-Hrs Visa-Free Stay in Beijing)
If you happen to transit in Beijing in autumn，then congratulations！You can not only enjoy the 72 hours visa-free, but also a lot of beautiful scenery that only exist in the autumn in Beijing....
If you happen to transit in Beijing in autumn，then congratulations！You can not only enjoy the 72 hours visa-free, but also a lot of beautiful scenery that only exist in the autumn in Beijing. There is a famous Chinese writer Lao She who said, in autumn you have to live in Peiping，Autumn in Peiping and nothing make you unsatisfied. Actually Autumn is the best time to have a visit in Beijing since the temperature is not too high or too cold.
It is necessary to go to the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven，on condition that you come to Beijing for the first time. In addition to these well known landmark attractions , there are some scenery you can only experience in fall. They are the background of the autumn. Maybe you can feel the mysterious ancient city deeply through the view in autumn.
Here are some good destinations for autumn in Beijing:
Fragrant Hills Park
Fragrant Hills Park has the best red maples in Beijing. When autumn arrives, the hill is covered by flaming autumn leaves. The leaves all over the hill turn yellow or red, while some others remain green, tier upon tier, like a colorful painting. Every year, thousands of tourists come to it in order to see the red smoke tree leaves over the mountains which is the most spectacular natural scenery. In addition the cable cars are a great way to take in the beautiful scenes.
Fragrant Hill is one of the most famous places in China to see the red leaves. Red Leaves Festival is held every Mid-October to early November. That is the busiest time of it. Travelers had better go there in week days to avoid great number of visitors in the weekends.
Beijing Diaoyutai Gingko boulevard
Diaoyutai gingko boulevard is a famous beauty in Beijing. Personally, it is a spectacular and beautiful scene ,in the late autumn, the golden ginkgo leaves fall to the ground quietly ,and you can just forget all about your bothering , just enjoy the beauty of this moment! In late October is the best time to go to this place, however the precious time is so short that you should come here early to grasp the amazing moment.So, if you intend to see the beautiful autumn scenery, do not waste your time!
The Mutianyu Great Wall
The Mutianyu Great Wall is quite famous for its autumn foliage. It has an extremely beautiful natural landscape once you are up on the wall, green, densely wooded. People can find the whole mountain is covered all over by colorful leaves. The Great Wall is also overshadowed by green cypresses and red maples, smoke trees , chestnuts and more.
Beijing’s foggy and cloudy days in summer are leaving us, coming with Beijing’s cooling autumn, with a blue sky, comfortable sunshine and the colourful leaves in and around Beijing.
It’s always comfortably cool outside, exploring the city’s streets and hutong, killing your time in the numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants, climbing the suburban mountains, being a hero by hiking the great wall and enjoying the best autumn hues feasting your eyes.
Get out and enjoy the best fall colours probably the most ideal period mid-October throughout mid-November in Beijing with many trees stripped of their leaves by the end of October. Snap pictures or just take in a feast for the eyes!
So you can’t procrastinate too much.
Experience in Beijing----Journey to NanLuoGuXiang
Once I have heard about a saying that “One wouldn’t say he has been to Beijing if he hadn’t been to NanLuoGuXiang”, but although I have studied in Beijing for a year and I have been to so many interest places I still didn’t experience the beauty of NanLuoGuXiang....
Once I have heard about a saying that “One wouldn’t say he has been to Beijing if he hadn’t been to NanLuoGuXiang”, but although I have studied in Beijing for a year and I have been to so many interest places I still didn’t experience the beauty of NanLuoGuXiang. So today, under the mist and the rare quiet in Beijing, I got on the bus and headed to my destination---- NanLuoGuXiang.
A long but narrow street and 8 more narrow Hutongs on each side are what called NanLuoGuXiang. I walked slowly on the main street, passed by many visitors, felt the excitement in NanLuoGuXiang. It’s sure that there are many delicious dishes and creativity shops. Because I was the first group of visitors, arrived at 9 o’clock, I found some waiters and waitresses of the specialty restaurants were sweeping the floor and wiping the glass. And they were looked at me surprised as if I disturbed their preparation. I continued walking along side the main street and into some interesting shops I thought fun. My friends always say that I am crazy about postcards because wherever I go or how expensive the postcards are, once I see one I like, I would buy it. So I walked into many postcard shops, all these postcard shops were creative and filled with a feeling of missing. I took many photos that showed the decoration of the shops, the beautiful postcards. When I saw the visitors selecting postcards, I thought they were blessed because they had friends to post cards and there were loved by their friends.
Apart from the postcard shops, another creativity shop named Childhood, left me a deep impression. The shop was very small, if six people in it at the same time, you would feel crowded. But this small shop contained me whole childhood, the snacks which companied me along my childhood. There were many kinds of snacks that disappeared now and some of these even were forgotten by me. But my first glance at them reminded me of my happy, colorful and glutton childhood.
Another famous shop which must be mentioned is the cheese shop named WenYu. It’s fame can be known by the long waited people in front the door. I also waited for 10 minutes to have a taste of the famous cheese. No wonder so many people spent time waiting in line, it’s truly a delicacy.
Enjoy the time alone, the time walking in an unfamiliar place while to find something I was familiar, the time to experience away from campus. Although NanLuoGuXiang had a little difference with my image, was a little modern and did not have it own creativity, these a little didn’t block me to have a great time.
Top Beijing Tours
$300 Per Day
10 Days Cuisine Feast Tour with All the Major China Cuisines
Day 1 Arrival Beijing (D)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.
Dinner: Tonight the spectacular Peking duck banquet at Qianmen Quanjude Beijing Duck Restaurant- the most famous Beijing duck restaurant in the world. With a history of 137 years, it will give you an enthusiastic welcome.
Day 2 Beijing (B, L, D)
Day 1 Arrival Beijing (D)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.
Dinner: Tonight the spectacular Peking duck banquet at Qianmen Quanjude Beijing Duck Restaurant- the most famous Beijing duck restaurant in the world. With a history of 137 years, it will give you an enthusiastic welcome.
Day 2 Beijing (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
Dinner: Fujian cuisine
Fujian cuisine is noted for its light touch, sweet and sour flavor. The cooking puts great attention in choosing the choicest ingredients, and is thus particularly apt in preparing seafood dishes. The dishes mostly marinated in wine, are souring sweet, specialize in all kinds of seafood, stir-fired, quick-fried and shallow oil-fried; simmered, with stress on flavor soup.
Restaurant: BaMinShiFu
Tel: 86-010- 64428833-5855
Address: No. 11, 3section AnZhenXiLi Chaoyang District, Beijing
Day 3 Beijing (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors. In addition, you will encounter the marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors.
On the way back to hotel, you will be driven to visit the main 2008 Beijing Olympic venues, take an exterior visit of both the, Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium), National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube'),feel free to take some photos of the stadiums.
Dinner: Anhui cuisine
Anhui cuisine follows strict rules in the use of heat and salt; stewed in brown sauce with stress on heavy oil and sauce.
Restaurant: Huangshan Hui Restaurant
Tel: 86- 010-63031467
Address: TianQiaoLiuXue Road ChongWen District, Beijing
Day 4 Beijing / Shanghai (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Hutongs, Summer Palace
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw this morning. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.
We will continue by visiting the Summer Palace. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. Until nowadays, it is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. You will regret it if you leave Beijing without having visited this grand imperial garden.
Then you will take the flight to Shanghai. Arriving in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our local guide. Together, you will take a walk to the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund. They are among the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai and therefore a must-see when visiting Shanghai.
Dinner: Zhejiang cuisine
Zhejiang food is represented by Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Shaoxing styles. Zhejiang cuisine is tender, mild and fresh.
Restaurant: FeiHuangRenWen Restaurant
Tel: 86- 021-63249533
Address: No.330 Tiantong Road Hongkou District, Shanghai
Day 5 Shanghai (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yuyuan Garden
Today we will start the day with a visit of Shanghai Museum which is the biggest museum of China. It incorporates a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics and is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy.
Then we head to the Jade Buddha Temple. The old-time and classical architectural style makes the temple unique and inimitable in this modern city. Both, the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha are carved with whole white jade. If you're lucky, you can watch the monks serving a ceremony in a side room.
After lunch, we will visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV Tower in Asia, which creates a picture of 'twin dragons playing with pearls'. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors all year-round.
Then we will take a relaxing walk to the lovely Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Wandering through it, you will find pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural features.
Dinner: Shandong cuisine
Shandong food consists of Jinan and Fushan food. Jinan food makes good use of soup seasoning, frying in deep oil and steaming. Shandong roast chicken is especially good with wine and the chicken is and tender. Tasting it is guaranteed to make the diner believe. Shandong cuisine is known for its light seasoning, qualities of freshness, clear colors and delicate fragrance and pure tastes.
Restaurant: Luwei Restaurant
Tel: 86-021-63738270
Address: No.18 Yunnan Nan Road Huangpu District, Shanghai
Day 6 Shanghai / Suzhou (B, L, D)
Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us
Sightseeing: Humble Administrator's Garden, Zhouzhuang.
In the morning we'll depart from your hotel and take the express train to Suzhou. Suzhou is praised as the "Oriental Venice" and called 'paradise on earth' along with Hangzhou.
Upon your arrival in Suzhou, our guide will meet you and escort you to a local restaurant for lunch. Then you will visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the largest classical garden in Suzhou and one of the four most famous ones in China. Originally built in 1513 AD, the garden consists of three parts with different types buildings around streams and ponds.
We will spend the afternoon in Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China. Situated in Kunshan City, which is only 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou, it is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. Let us explore this town with a history of more than 2500 years and get to know about the architecture, lifestyle and inhabitants there.
Afterwards you will be transferred back to Suzhou to spend the rest of your day on your own.
Dinner: Jiangsu cuisine
The origin of Jiangsu cuisine can be traced to pre-Christian times. Jiangsu cuisine specialties are lightly flavored, whether they combine sweet-and-salty tastes. Soya sauce and spices are mild and used sparingly, although the use of rich-flavored broth is extensive.
Restaurant: BaoFangYuan Restaurant
Tel: 86- 0512-67206597
Address: No. 207 Pishi Street Pinjiang District Suzhou.
Day 7 Suzhou / Hangzhou (B, L, D)
Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us
Sightseeing: West Lake, Meijiawu Tea Plantation
Our guide and driver will escort you from Hotel to train station (Suzhou). Upon your arrival in Hangzhou, our local guide will meet you and escort you to beautiful West Lake. We will take a cruise boat across the lake to see the 3 pagodas in the lake. The West Lake is the most famous tourist spot of Hangzhou. Graceful mountains surround it on three sides. It has a charming scenery and many cultural relics and historic sites. Then you will visit the Meijiawu Tea Plantation. Tea village is seated at the hinterland of West Lake Park and it is famous for its tea production. Everybody will feel relax in such a natural environment; enjoy the special tea culture and the beauty there.
Dinner:Hunan cuisine
Hunan cuisine takes curing, simmering, steaming and stewing as the main cooking methods. It is fragrant and fresh, sour and peppery, yet soft and tender.
Restaurant: DingXianFang Restaurant
Tel: 0571-87823878
Address: No.456 Qingtai Road Shangcheng district, Hangzhou.
Day 8 Hangzhou (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Six Harmonies Pagoda, Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng (also named Ling JiuFeng)
Today you will also visit Lingyin Temple including the Feilai Feng. The Feilai Feng is situated in the east of Ling Yin Temple. Isolated from others, its stone quality is totally different from that of surrounding mountain groups. It is 167 meters high, on the peak there are many grotesque stones in the shapes of charming dragon, prostrate tiger, walking elephant and scared ape. The main hall of Lingyin Temple is about 34 meters (111 feet) tall - incredibly high for a one-storey building. In the center of the hall you'll find the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was carved from 24 pieces of camphor wood. The temple was named Lingyin Temple for its extremely beautiful environment which is serene and suitable for "Soul's Retreat".
After that, we will drive to the Six Harmonies Pagoda, highly erected next to Qiantang River and in the south of the West Lake. It is a perfect example of brick-and-wood structure built in ancient China and was built in 970 AD in the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) to press down the evil of the river tidal bore in Qiantang River.
After lunch, our guide and driver will escort you to the bus station (Hangzhou), upon your arrival in Huangshan; our local guide will meet you and escort you to hotel by a private air-conditioned car. Then you will spend the rest of day on your leisure.
Dinner: Sichuan cuisine
Distinct features of Sichuan style: they prefer steaming, simmering, and smoking. The cooking is elaborate and meticulous and the flavoring highly varied and mixed. The taste of each dish is very distinct. A common Chinese saying about Sichuan cuisine is that each meal has its own unique taste, and no two dishes have the same flavor. Sichuan cuisine is world-famous for its diverse hot and spicy flavor.
Restaurant: ChuanLiuBuXi Restaurant
Tel: 86-0571-86069777 87172577
Address: No.246 Jiefang Road Shangcheng District, Hangzhou
Day 9 Hangzhou-Guangzhou (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
Upon your arrival at the airport you will be met by your local guide. Then you will start your sightseeing tour by visiting Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It is a magnificent building in the shape of octagon and an important place for large scale meeting and performance. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was built in order to commemorate the contributions of Sun Zhongshan, the great predecessor of Chinese revolution for democracy. It is a memorial construction donated by the people in Guangzhou and the overseas Chinese and is listed as one of the first class cultural relics in Guangdong Province.
Afterwards you will visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family which is also called Chen Clan Academy. It is a place both for offering up sacrifices to ancestors and for study. Now the Chen Clan Ancestral Temple in Guangzhou City, the Ancestors' Temple in Foshan City, the former Residence of Sun Yat-sen in Zhongshan City and the Opium War Memorial Hall in Dongguan City are regarded as the four major cultural tourist sites in Guangdong Province.
Dinner: Guangdong cuisine
In preparing the Guangdong cuisine, dozens of varieties of ingredients are often involved and more than 30 different kinds of cooking methods such as frying, grilling, stewing, simmering, deep-frying, roasting, and braising, etc. Freshness is everything to the Guangdong cuisine.
Restaurant: ALiuShiJia Restaurant
Tel: 86- 020-83516761
Address: No.302 Huanshizhong Road Yuexiu District, Guangzhou.
Day 10 Guangzhou (B, L)
Sightseeing: Yuexiu Park, Temple of Six Banyan Trees, Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum
In the morning we will start off to Yuexiu Park, the biggest comprehensive sight-seeing park. Yuexiu Park consists of seven hummocks and three artificial lakes. Yuexiu Park is well-known for beautiful hills and waters and plenty of antiques which you can enjoy at ease in the park. There are verdant grasses and trees, birds' singing, and fragrant flowers all through the year. Travelers will lose themselves in the elaborately engraved and Lingnan-styled pavilions, platforms, towers, and corridors; and the rippling water of the lakes.
Then you will head to the Temple of Six Banyan Trees. It has a long history in Guangzhou and is an ancient monastery famous at home and abroad. There are majestic towers, dense trees, plenty of antiques and valuable heritage from those famous people in the history. It is one of the four Buddhism temple complexes in Guangzhou is an important unit for the preservation of antiques.
Finally you will visit Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum, which is the oldest and largest Han tomb with the most funerary objects in Lingnan (South of the Nanling Mountain) Area. As one of the 80 famous museums in the world, the museum covers 14,000 square meters (150, 699.6 square feet) with 10 exhibition halls.
In the evening you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to the next destination.
$300 Per Day
Shicha Hai
Shichahai is a famous scenic area that includes three lakes (Qian Hai, meaning Front Sea; Hou Hai, meaning Back Sea and Xi Hai, meaning Western Sea), surrounding places of historic interest and scenic beauty, and remnants of old-style Beijing residences, Hutong and Courtyard. It is located in the northwest part of Beijing, and covers a large area of 146.7 hectares (about 363 acres). We can take a walk along the lake and have a cup of hot coffee after some strolling.
...Read moreShichahai is a famous scenic area that includes three lakes (Qian Hai, meaning Front Sea; Hou Hai, meaning Back Sea and Xi Hai, meaning Western Sea), surrounding places of historic interest and scenic beauty, and remnants of old-style Beijing residences, Hutong and Courtyard. It is located in the northwest part of Beijing, and covers a large area of 146.7 hectares (about 363 acres). We can take a walk along the lake and have a cup of hot coffee after some strolling.
The greatest point of interest in Shichahai today is its residences, Hutong and Courtyard. In and around Beijing City, Shichahai is one of the best places to view well-preserved Hutongs and courtyards.
Hope you can enjoy!!
$200 Per Day
Private Beijing Antique Shopping Tour with Lunch
Start your private tour with pickup from your central Beijing hotel, and meet your private guide.
Hop inside your private, climate-controlled vehicle and travel to your first stop: Liulichang Antique Street. Situated in old Beijing, this history-steeped street is lined with stone shop-houses selling antique books, handicrafts, paintings, rubbings, glazed pottery, and other treasures.
Hear about Liulichang’s history, and get advice from your guide as to the best shopping opportunities....Read more
Start your private tour with pickup from your central Beijing hotel, and meet your private guide.
Hop inside your private, climate-controlled vehicle and travel to your first stop: Liulichang Antique Street. Situated in old Beijing, this history-steeped street is lined with stone shop-houses selling antique books, handicrafts, paintings, rubbings, glazed pottery, and other treasures.
Hear about Liulichang’s history, and get advice from your guide as to the best shopping opportunities. Sift through the traditional shops and stands, and explore the side lanes (hutongs), where the shops still bear original Ming and Qing architectural features like ornately carved doors and upswept roofs.
Next, drive to Panjiayuan Market, a so-called ‘weekend market’ that’s open daily. Weave through the throng of stands, perusing the huge array of antiques, curios, ceramics, Tibetan rugs, calligraphy, and other finds.
After shopping here, refuel with lunch at a Chinese restaurant, and continue to Baoguosi Cultural Market, set around an old temple. Scour the courtyards of vendors hawking stamps, books, coins and jade, and get tips on scouting out and clinching the best deals from your guide.
If time allows, squeeze in a visit to Hongqiao Market, a mall known for its pearl traders, and electronics, art, clothes, and accessories shops. Trawl for bargains, and haggle over pearls and other precious gems as perfect keepsakes of your time in Beijing.
After seven hours, your tour concludes with a hotel drop-off.