PEK to Beijing CBD - best way and cost

[MEL_Traveller]

Are spirits / wine / Champagne etc cheap or expensive in China?

Compared to Australia, going out to a 'western' bar or deluxe hotel bar is inexpensive. Top-shelf coughtails will set you back around AUD20-25. And that's for a drink about twice the size you'd get in Australia. Champagne and imported wines are expensive. Here's a drink list for the Waldorf Astoria's Long Bar in Shanghai which is typical of pricing in most 'de luxe' hotels and bars in China:
http://www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com/pdf/menu_LONG BAR_Drink list.pdf

The Long Bar: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

Most if not all bars (including many hotels) have extensive happy hours where drinks are half price. While living in China probably gives you the heads-up on where to go, you can read on-line one of the local equivalents of Time Out (for example That's Shanghai/That's Beijing (etc)) for information.

Restaurants you'd expect to pay somewhere less than hotels depending on the quality of the restaurant.

Buying from local shops to drink at your hotel... ummm... fake alcohol is a major problem in China. Unless the fake is obvious (incorrect label), you probably won't find out until the next morning Beer is less likely to be faked.

If you want alcohol for the hotel, I'd suggest buying duty free on arrival in china. Cheap and the quality is good.

 

[Steady]

Compared to Australia, going out to a 'western' bar or deluxe hotel bar is inexpensive. Top-shelf coughtails will set you back around AUD20-25. And that's for a drink about twice the size you'd get in Australia. Champagne and imported wines are expensive. Here's a drink list for the Waldorf Astoria's Long Bar in Shanghai which is typical of pricing in most 'de luxe' hotels and bars in China:
http://www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com/pdf/menu_LONG BAR_Drink list.pdf

The Long Bar: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

Most if not all bars (including many hotels) have extensive happy hours where drinks are half price. While living in China probably gives you the heads-up on where to go, you can read on-line one of the local equivalents of Time Out (for example That's Shanghai/That's Beijing (etc)) for information.

Restaurants you'd expect to pay somewhere less than hotels depending on the quality of the restaurant.

Buying from local shops to drink at your hotel... ummm... fake alcohol is a major problem in China. Unless the fake is obvious (incorrect label), you probably won't find out until the next morning Beer is less likely to be faked.

If you want alcohol for the hotel, I'd suggest buying duty free on arrival in china. Cheap and the quality is good.

Thanks MEL_Traveller

 

[moa999]

Plenty in the Western convenience stores.

Last time on Shanghai staying at the Hilton, happened across a Lawson's Creek party of a bunch of mostly Mandarin students and some hospo staff drinking outside a Lawson (think 7/11).. Quite crazy

 

[Yoz]

Assuming I don't have a lot of time - how long should be allowed to do these things ?

If you go along with a tour then you can easily hit up all of these things in about a day and a half I think.

A couple years ago we went on a tour (Beijing Tour: Beijing Tours, Beijing China Tours - Tour-Beijing.Com) and did the following on a 2 day tour for $60 USD pp.:
Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
Silk Factory
Summer Palace
Ming Tombs
Jade Factory
Mutianyu Great Wall
Olympic Stadium

Our tour guide Tommy was awesome. Very friendly and fun to follow around viewing all the sights.

When heading from Beijing to your hotel I would ask the hotel for an approximate cost so you don't get shafted. I've always found taxi drivers try to negotiate and overcharge for taxi rides.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

When heading from Beijing to your hotel I would ask the hotel for an approximate cost so you don't get shafted. I've always found taxi drivers try to negotiate and overcharge for taxi rides.

Do you mean from PEK airport into town? If yes - definitely wrong - have never had any such negotiations in 100 trips into PEK - always meter - always.

 

[Yoz]

Do you mean from PEK airport into town? If yes - definitely wrong - have never had any such negotiations in 100 trips into PEK - always meter - always.

Hmm. Not PEK specifically but I have had it happen a few times in China. Perhaps Guangzhou and Shanghai.

Can't say anything about Beijing/Tianjin as I usually get picked up from the airport in those cities - which I much prefer given my lack of Chinese

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Any airport or train station in China you arrive always proceed to official taxi queue - never go with a tout - if you do they will definitely screw you on price.

Only places in BJ that taxis will not use meters is around major tourist attractions and late at night around some bars of ill repute - so I have heard.

 

[seanpodge]

Fully agree with Cruiser Elite for PEK. Don't even make eye contact with the touts inside the terminal and just follow the signs straight to the official taxi rank. Have the address of the hotel in Chinese characters and you should be fine.

 

[Steady]

Are there any issues getting receipts for taxi rides?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are there any issues getting receipts for taxi rides?

there shouldn't be, just ask for fapiao (phap-yow)

 

[trentusjuventus]

Are there any issues getting receipts for taxi rides?

From memory the meter automatically prints a receipt when it is started, stating where it started from, and then prints the rest when the meter is stopped at the other end with the details of the journey. I must admit I've never actually bothered to take it so can't comment on exactly what is written on it, but it's the standard issue format for cabs in Beijing.

Plenty in the Western convenience stores.

Last time on Shanghai staying at the Hilton, happened across a Lawson's Creek party of a bunch of mostly Mandarin students and some hospo staff drinking outside a Lawson (think 7/11).. Quite crazy

Yep convenience stores all sell alcohol and it's very cheap compared to Australia and to drinking in bars. If you're so inclined, there's also absolutely no problem pulling up a pew outside on a bench or ledge and having a drink, it can make for some good people-watching as well depending on the area.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I must admit I've never actually bothered to take it

...but... having the receipt is handy in case you leave something behind in the taxi! It's probably the only way you can trace the driver.