[79attendees] Forbidden City Recommendations

[Ed Jankiewicz <[e-mail]>]

1.  Definitely get the audio tour in your preferred language.  There is 
a lot to see, and it helps to hear the stories.

2.  If you exit via the North Gate, there seems to be little in the way 
of food, etc. but turn left about 2 blocks, there is a courtyard with 
street food, and next door a small restaurant with indoor seating and a 
full menu.  Fast and cheap, and it was good.

3.  whatever you do, don't accept a ride with one of those power 
richshaws - basically a scooter with an aluminum box.  We grew desperate 
at the lack of taxis, and were not going far (to Temple of Heaven) and a 
pleasant young fellow talked us into it.  At least the back alley he 
wanted to drop us off was within sight of the Temple, and I was 
following our route on a map, which may have kept him on the right 
path.  Of course, the negotiated price was revealed to be HUNDREDs 
rather than RMB.  He loudly argued in Chinese (apparently his good 
English escaped him at that moment) other than to ridicule my 1 RMB 
notes as "coins",   I offered him 20.  He grew more belligerent but my 
wife was really upset and crying and I think he started to worry that 
she would really scream and draw attention, luckily there were people 
around.  Maybe to calm us, he cracked open the door, and I knew we were 
close to settling.  I pulled out another 20 and said "40, that's it" and 
we bolted out.  Could have been much worse.

I'd say we learned a valuable lesson, but we knew this before we got in 
the silly thing.  Heck, we're from NYC and NJ where the shakedown was 
invented.  Our guard was down, we were tired, and no taxis in sight.  
Maybe we'll save someone else from this or worse mistake.  Stick to the 
licensed taxis.

4.  Temple of heaven is beautiful, though we were a bit too upset to 
really enjoy it.  That is certainly one of the top sites as well.

Have fun, but be careful out there!