Train travel can be a great experience in China. On my visit during October 2006 we had the opportunity to travel to a remote village to experience life untouched by modern China.

To get to our destination we travelled by train for seven hours and then a further two hours by taxi.

This was my first experience on a Chinese train and, to be honest, I was impressed. They were on time!

Arriving at the train station in Beijing we were amazed by the size of the station, it was massive compared to any train stations I have been to in the UK.

Twenty minutes before our departure time, the ticket collectors began to inspect tickets, there must have been 600+ people waiting their turn to get their tickets clipped. We didn't think there would be enough time for everyone to make the train and the allocated time for leaving.

We were worried as we were at the end of the queue and we may not have got on board in time. But having our own guide made the difference, she called a porter to carry our bags to the train. This was a great decision, the porter cost very little and he took us to the train by an underground walk way, by-passing the the 100s of people who were patiently waiting.

Once on board the train we located our accommodation. We had reserved a soft sleeper. This was a cosy compartment for four people and each had their own bed. The upper bunk beds cost a little less than the lower bunks. Each bed comes with its own bedding, ample for our needs.

A flask of hot water was provided and topped up as required by staff.

There are bathrooms located on each carriage, but don't expect western facilities, unless you use a T train.

Overall it was a really relaxing experience and later this year when i travel from Beijing to Xi'an I will use the train instead of flying.

So consider the train if you are travelling overnight, its a worthwhile experience.

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This is a very nice hotel, good value, the staff are friendly and most speak good English.

Although the name says 'Central' it's a little misleading if you are looking for a hotel located in central Beijing.

The hotel is only a short taxi ride from the Forbidden City. Due to the cheap cost of taxis in Beijing, it makes good sense to consider booking this hotel.

I had a very enjoyable time staying here and made good use of the local shops, only a short walk down the street. These shops are not your tourist shops, these are local shops at local prices.

A half-litre bottle of a famous cola cost me 12p, the same cola is nearly 75p or more at home.

There are ample restaurants close to the hotel to cater for different tastes.

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Consider going to a restaurant where the locals dine for your Peking Duck. Ok, you may not get the fancy furniture and uniforms that you will get in the touristy restaurants, but what you will get is a restaurant full of character and, of course, local people.

Think about it, if you have been to any of the advertised Peking Duck restaurants for tourists, have you seen many locals ? Of course the answer is probably no. The reason is probably due to the costs involved.

Myself and a few friends went to a restaurant close to a Hutong and had Peking Duck for three people. It cost less than £7.50 for the whole meal including beer and cola, not bad for three people. The portions were very large and we couldn't finish what was served.

Do consider trying a local restaurant, you will be amazed at the reception you will get and the locals will enjoy you as much as you will enjoy the experience of dining with them.

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I have recently returned from Beijing after spending ten amazing days exploring some of what China has to offer the visitor.

I always make my own travel plans and on this occasion I was glad that I hired my own guide for my stay.

I felt a pity on the many groups of people who were following their tour guide, they seemed to be rushing through the attractions, no doubt to get to their coach and go to their next destination. Of course, group travel suits some people, but I believe more people would have a better experience exploring with their own guide.

By having your own guide you can take your time exploring the various sites, dining in local restaurants and you can plan how you spend your time.

I always try to see the real places wherever I visit, not the areas which seem to cater for the tourists.

Use your guide and get off the beaten track, explore, explore and explore.

Incidently, my guide saved me a lot of money on admission prices to many attractions and evening shows.

Search the web for details of how to contact the guide I used on my vacation.
A good Government-licensed guide should cost you £15-£25 per day.

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Book your hotel room directly with your casino as far ahead as possible.

Check their cancellation policy and you will find that most of the hotels give a full refund on cancellations.

By doing this you will be able to pick and choose a different hotel closer to your arrival time to see if you can get a better deal.

If you are not able to get a better deal, you already have your previous booking made many months before you travel.

I have used this tip and I have, on a number of occasions got better deals.

Go directly to the casino websites to make your booking.

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