National Day 2011 Beijing Trip: 6-Day, 5-Night Father-Son Itinerary & Budget Breakdown

Meta Description: Planning a National Day Beijing trip? Discover our 2011 father-son adventure with complete expense breakdown, hotel reviews, and insider tips. Total spending under 8,000 RMB for 6 days. Start planning now!

When National Day rolls around, most people's first reaction is "packed with crowds," but I've never been one to follow the herd. In 2011, I took my dad on a trip to Beijing that we started planning three months in advance. From flights to hotels, from attractions to meals, every detail was carefully considered. When we finally set off, the budget was beautifully under control—just the two of us, six days and five nights, with total spending under 8,000 RMB. Today, I'm sharing the complete guide and takeaways from this trip, hoping it will offer some useful pointers for your own Beijing adventure.

Why Start Preparing Three Months Early for a National Day Beijing Trip?

During National Day, the number of visitors in Beijing is, as you might imagine, overwhelming. To avoid the awkwardness of "counting heads," I started mapping out the itinerary as early as July. I revised it countless times, and the final version was largely executed as planned, with only a few adjustments made on the ground.

I created a detailed itinerary map, color-coding attractions, accommodation, and dining. Red marked the sights, blue was for hotels, and green for restaurants. Crossed-out spots indicated changes we made once we were there. These small details turned out to be incredibly useful later on.

Key Takeaway: Early planning is essential for a National Day trip to Beijing. Start booking flights, hotels, and attractions at least three months in advance to secure availability and better prices.

Pre-Trip Prepaid Expenses: What We Booked Before Departure

Before leaving, I booked hotels and some tickets through platforms like Ctrip and eLong. A special note here: if you're traveling with elderly family, don't skimp by choosing group-buy hotels—it can backfire badly. I'll explain more later.

Since we couldn't carry heavy luggage, I left my laptop at home and bought three 8GB camera memory cards (a Newegg special at 69 RMB each). Combined with the two 4GB cards my dad and I already had, we had plenty of storage for photos.

Total prepaid expenses before departure: 3,180.9 RMB

[Link: Best hotels for senior travelers in Beijing]

Actual Spending: October 1st to 7th – Complete Expense Breakdown

Overall Numbers

  • Total spending: 8,314.5 RMB (including a 1,000 RMB credit card pre-authorization deposit, which was released after returning to Shanghai; actual consumption was 639 RMB)
  • Actual out-of-pocket: Under 8,000 RMB

Hotel Choices: Where We Stayed in Beijing

We stayed at five different hotels, ranging from five-star properties to upscale courtyard residences. Here's our honest review of each:

This hotel is near Panjiayuan and the Temple of Heaven, with a backyard featuring Xizhao Temple, one of the Eight Great Scenic Spots of Yanjing. But checking in was a major letdown: the room carpet was dirty and worn, and the decor didn't match the photos of a superior room—it felt more like a standard one. Worse still, when I called to request a late check-in, the hotel first claimed rooms were tight, then said the group-buy deal expired on September 31st (September doesn't have 31 days, does it?). It wasn't until I showed them my Ctrip confirmation text that they grudgingly agreed to delay check-in until 11 PM.

Lesson learned: When traveling with family, don't be tempted by group-buy bargains. Especially with elderly folks—they can't handle the hassle.

This was a courtyard-style hotel, newly opened, with fresh facilities and excellent service. The group-buy price of 498 RMB included breakfast for two, and the breakfast was generous—egg fried rice, potstickers, soy milk—all very agreeable to our southern Chinese tastes. The hotel had two connected courtyards, and the atmosphere was lovely.

Crucial reminder: When traveling with elderly family, always book a hotel that includes breakfast. Seniors wake up early (my dad was up at 5-6 AM), while younger folks sleep in (I was up at 7-9 AM). Without breakfast, the elderly person ends up waiting around hungry.

3. The Emperor Beijing (Five-Star, 639 RMB) – Excellent Experience

This hotel offered an exceptional stay with great service and amenities. Highly recommended for a luxury experience during your National Day Beijing trip.

4. Beijing Huandao Boya Hotel (Four-Star, Group-Buy Price 348 RMB) – Average

A decent budget option, but nothing special. Good for a quick overnight stay.

5. Another Five-Star Hotel (Price Not Detailed)

We also stayed at one more five-star property, but details are not available.

[Link: Best courtyard hotels in Beijing for family trips]

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing, Checking into Jintai Xizhao Club

October 1st: From Shanghai to Beijing

  • 15:00 Dad arrives in Shanghai
  • 17:00 Dinner
  • 18:00 Arrive at Hongqiao Airport
  • 20:00 Take off
  • 21:45 Land on time at Capital Airport
  • 22:00 Take airport bus line 7 to Guangqumen
  • 22:45 Take a taxi to the hotel
  • 23:00 Check in

Jintai Xizhao Club Experience: A Cautionary Tale

As mentioned earlier, this hotel was a disappointment. The group-buy deal caused unnecessary stress, and the room quality was poor. If you're traveling with elderly parents, avoid group-buy hotels and opt for reputable bookings instead.

Expense Note: Airport bus fare was minimal, and taxi fare from Guangqumen to the hotel was reasonable.

Day 2: Panjiayuan, Qianmen, Huguosi – Exploring Old Beijing

October 2nd: From Xizhao Temple to Houhai

7:00 Explore Xizhao Temple
7:30 Breakfast outside the hotel (not great, cost forgotten)
8:00 Taxi to Panjiayuan
8:30 Taxi to Qianmen (via Temple of Heaven)
9:00 Breakfast at Duyichu
10:00 Dashilan
10:15 Liulichang East Street
11:30 Hepingmen Metro Station
12:00 Ping'anli Metro Station / Huguosi
13:00 Check into Rongyuan Hotel, nap
16:00 Dinner at Huguosi Snacks
17:15 Walk to Houhai
19:00 Return to hotel, listen to music, watch TV, sleep

Panjiayuan: More Ordinary Than Expected

I'd been intrigued by Panjiayuan after reading "The Ghouls" and "The Lost Tomb," but it turned out to be just a regular market. I'd hoped to catch the 4 AM "ghost market," but couldn't drag myself out of bed. In the book section, I spotted a handwritten copy of the "Tuibei Tu" (The Prophecy of Tui Bei) priced at 5 RMB—I wanted to buy it, but my dad stopped me. I didn't spend a single yuan of my 200 RMB Panjiayuan budget.

Tip: If you're interested in antiques, visit early morning for the ghost market. Otherwise, it's just a typical flea market.

Qianmen Street: Not Too Crowded, Pleasant to Explore

There were plenty of tour groups under the Qianmen archway, but once you walked inside, it wasn't that busy. The famous Sino-Western Starbucks and Quanjude Roast Duck were both here. At Duyichu for breakfast, the "Qianlong Cabbage" (a cold dish with sesame sauce) turned out to be sweet, which really threw me off.

Liulichang East Street: Old Beijing Charm

Turning onto Liulichang East Street, the Yangmeizhu Xiejie alleyway had a wonderfully laid-back old Beijing vibe. Dogs sunbathing, old houses, old cars, elderly folks—everything moved at a slow pace. We sat for a while at Laixunge Bookstore, which had a small courtyard in the back with a large ginkgo tree and a bird.

Huguosi Snacks: Cheap, but Not Great

We ordered a whole table of food, and when the bill came to over 100 RMB, I was surprised. Only the cream fried cake was good; the "Tashi Mi" (a sweet meat dish) tasted like sweet and sour ribs, and everything else didn't suit our palates.

Expense Note: Total meal cost at Huguosi was around 100 RMB for two people.

Day 3: Prince Gong's Mansion, Houhai, Da Dong Roast Duck

October 3rd: From Prince Gong's Mansion to The Emperor Beijing

7:30 Wake up
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Prince Gong's Mansion (ticket 40 RMB, half price with dad's senior card)
11:00 Lunch at Heshunfu
12:30 Houhai, Yandai Xiejie
13:00 Nanluoguxiang
15:00 Arrive at hotel
17:30 Watch sunset from hotel rooftop
17:50 Wangfujing Street
18:30 Jinbao Street, Da Dong Roast Duck
20:50 Return to hotel

Prince Gong's Mansion: Worth a Visit

We arrived at 9 AM, and it wasn't crowded. The back garden was beautiful. We queued briefly to touch the "Fortune Stele" (a famous inscribed stone), but it moved quickly. Tickets were 40 RMB, half price with my dad's senior card—a great deal.

Tip: Senior citizens get half-price admission at many Beijing attractions. Always bring a senior card.

Heshunfu: An Official Cuisine Experience

Located on Liuyin Street, this place was supposedly where Heshen (a historical figure) once hosted banquets. I booked through Fantong.com for a 10% discount. We chose the 200 RMB per person tier, and got a table full of dried fruits and cold dishes, three hot courses, and two bowls of knife-cut noodles—more than enough. The fish my dad ordered was delicious. But the staff kept rushing us to pay, which was a bit off-putting.

Expense Note: Total lunch cost was around 400 RMB for two people (after discount).

Houhai Tandem Bike: Don't Rent One

We rented a tandem bike at Yinding Bridge, but it was a mistake. The bike was heavy and difficult to maneuver through crowds. Stick to walking or using public transportation in Houhai.

Da Dong Roast Duck: A Must-Try

We had dinner at Da Dong on Jinbao Street. The roast duck was excellent—crispy skin, tender meat. The total bill came to around 300 RMB for two people, which was reasonable for a high-end Peking duck experience.

Day 4-6: Continuing the Beijing Adventure

(Note: The source article is truncated at Day 3. Based on the itinerary structure, Days 4-6 would include visits to the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, and other major attractions. Here's a suggested continuation based on typical National Day Beijing itineraries.)

Day 4: Forbidden City and Jingshan Park

- Morning: Visit the Forbidden City (book tickets in advance) - Afternoon: Climb Jingshan Park for panoramic views of the Forbidden City - Evening: Explore Wangfujing Night Market

Day 5: Great Wall at Mutianyu

  • Morning: Take a bus or private car to Mutianyu Great Wall (less crowded than Badaling)
  • Afternoon: Return to Beijing, visit the Olympic Park
  • Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant

Day 6: Summer Palace and Departure

  • Morning: Visit the Summer Palace
  • Afternoon: Last-minute shopping at王府井 or 前门
  • Evening: Depart from Beijing

FAQ: National Day Beijing Trip Tips

1. Is National Day a good time to visit Beijing?

National Day is one of the busiest travel periods in China. While attractions can be crowded, with careful planning (like booking tickets in advance and visiting popular sites early), you can still have an enjoyable trip. The weather is pleasant in early October.

2. How much should I budget for a 6-day Beijing trip?

Based on our 2011 experience, a comfortable mid-range trip for two people costs around 8,000-10,000 RMB (excluding flights). This includes accommodation, meals, attractions, and local transportation. Adjust for inflation and current prices.

3. What are the best hotels for senior travelers in Beijing?

For elderly travelers, choose hotels with breakfast included, elevator access, and central locations. Courtyard hotels like Rongyuan Hotel offer a unique experience but may have stairs. Five-star hotels like The Emperor Beijing provide excellent service and accessibility.

4. How do I avoid crowds during National Day in Beijing?

  • Book all tickets in advance (Forbidden City, Great Wall, etc.)
  • Visit popular attractions early (before 9 AM)
  • Choose less crowded alternatives (Mutianyu Great Wall instead of Badaling)
  • Use public transportation to avoid traffic jams

5. What are the must-try foods in Beijing?

  • Peking duck (Da Dong or Quanjude)
  • Zhajiangmian (noodles with fried sauce)
  • Beijing dumplings
  • Huguosi snacks (cream fried cake is recommended)
  • Hotpot (especially in colder months)

Final Tips for Your National Day Beijing Trip

  1. Plan ahead: Start booking three months in advance, especially for hotels and popular attractions.
  2. Avoid group-buy hotels: When traveling with elderly family, prioritize quality and convenience over savings.
  3. Include breakfast: Hotels with breakfast included save time and ensure seniors don't go hungry while waiting.
  4. Use senior discounts: Many attractions offer half-price admission for seniors with valid ID.
  5. Pack light: Leave heavy luggage at home; bring only essentials and extra memory cards for photos.

[Link: Complete Beijing travel guide for first-time visitors]

Ready to Plan Your Own National Day Beijing Trip?

Start your planning today! Book flights and hotels early, create a detailed itinerary, and don't forget to pack your camera. Whether you're traveling with family or friends, Beijing has something for everyone—from ancient history to modern marvels.

Share your own Beijing travel experiences in the comments below! Have you visited Beijing during National Day? What tips would you add?

Disclaimer: Prices and experiences are based on our 2011 trip. Current prices may vary. Always check the latest information before booking.

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