I've just returned from a short-but-constantly-on-the-go vacation in China, my first visit to this magnificent country. Over the course of 10 days I hopped trains and planes from Xi'an to Dunhuang to Urumqi and Beijing. My itinerary kept me constantly moving and was physically challenging but stimulating and extremely satisfying. I have returned to my country immeasurably enriched from the experience ... with some 500 photos and a long train of memories of sights and new acquaintances, as keepsakes.
To make this impossibly fast-paced journey possible, just a couple of weeks before my departure date I contacted Ms. Selina Zhao, for help arranging my stay in Beijing, the last 3 days of the trip. From the very first email, Selina offered helpful suggestions for tours and practical essentials such as hotel, airport-to-hotel transportation, and the like. She sent me several email reminders as I was shuttling eastward from Urumqi (near way-off Kazakhstan) to Beijing. So that, when I landed in Beijing, Selina was guiding my steps into a taxi and ensuring I was safely deposited at my hotel in Dongcheng District in center-city Beijing.
Selina had made arrangements for us to spend a day touring the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City areas, and so by mid-morning we were off to ride the Beijing metro a few stops west and begin our day's excursion. We emerged near Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People. Despite it being late in the season, the place was thronged with visitors, Chinese and foreign, but Selina was up to the task and was able to navigate some alternative paths for us, using her status as a licensed guide and her street smarts.
Our first destination was the National Museum, on the west side of the Square. Selina proved a knowledgeable, tactful and engaging guide, answering my many questions about dynasties and locations and origins with adeptness and tact. We left the museum, crossed the Square, and detoured through a maze of traditional hutongs (which could a bit inaccurately be described as back-alley-residence neighborhoods) and shaded park areas, and made our way back to the Forbidden City, which sits immediately to the north of Tiananmen Square. Selina and I then walked the inner perimeter of a series of pavilions and admired the general layout, as well as the statues and adornments, and the buildings themselves. Then we strode uphill to an observation area, now in late afternoon, and took in a grand view of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square to the south and a Tibetan temple on a nearby hill.
We descended and walked thorough a lovely park, then emerged in the street and on my request, walked to a popular, traditional-style "hot pot" restaurant which Selina knew of. Inside the restaurant, it was packed, and we were seated at a low communal table in the waiting area until a table became available. We passed about an hour chatting and munching on peanuts and watermelon slices and sipping liquid refreshments, then were seated at our table and enjoyed a delicious meal. Afterwards we walked through a noisy, busy night-spot area in Houhai hutong, stepped in a restaurant for a snack of fried ice cream, then took a taxi to our respective destinations.
The next day Selina was off to Chengdu with a group, but found time to send a few messages on WeChat (a popular Chinese instant message service) to thank me and to make sure I was settled in a group tour of Mutianyu section of the Great Wall which she had arranged on, again, short notice the day before.
I heartily recommend Ms. Selina Zhao for a personal or group tour of Beijing, to English-speakers. Her rate was very reasonable, payment arrangements (thru PayPal) extremely convenient, and her energy and resourcefulness, not to mention her companionship, made the day a very pleasant experience.
In short, Selina Zhao made a challenging schedule of mine into a Mission Possible. I recommend her services wholeheartedly.
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so i got a slotted spoon and a fork we tryed " hot pot" Wow weary strong"
