Beijing Xian Tips on tour

Hi

We will be travelling to Beijing late September (arrive early 27, leave early 2nd Oct) 5Days/5Nights. Very much like to visit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracota warriors.

Does anyone know any reputable guides that we can use in Beijing and Xian? We were originally going to join group tours, but from what I%26#39;ve read they can be quite dodgy and spend unnecessary time stopping at shopping places which we are definitely not interested in.

My initial thoughts are we book the hotels ourselves for 3 nights, with 2 nights on the soft sleeper to Xian. Then all we need is a guide for a day in Xian and another guide for Beijing.

Also does anyone know of GOOD vegetarian places to eat in Beijing and approximate cost of the places? Preferably places with tofu... I love tofu!

Thanks in advance you guys! Really interesting reading all the postings on Beijing...

Beijing Xian Tips on tour

Wow, only 5 days! Very rushed if you want to see both Beijing and Xi%26#39;an.

Do a forum search for ';Beijing guide'; or similar, plenty of previous posts on this topic.

Or, just bring a guidebook and Mandarin phrasebook and DIY. That%26#39;s what a lot of backpackers do, and none the worse for the experience!

Beijing Xian Tips on tour

I%26#39;ve recently returned from 2 weeks in china - taking in Beijing, Pingyao, Xi%26#39;an, Shanghai.

I had a friend in Shanghai but for the other places I had a guidebook and found my own way around.

I had 2 days in Xi%26#39;an - using overnight trains to get in/out. I stayed at the Bell Tower Hostel which is very central, I booked this over the internet. To get to the Terracotta Warriors I left my bags at the train station and caught the green 306 bus this only costs 7 yuan one way.

Being central I could walk to Drum/ Bell towers, muslim Quarter. I caught the bus to Big Goose Pagoda. The busses cost between 1 - 4 yuan depending on how far you were going.

I didn%26#39;t use the services of a guide and had no problems getting around either walking or on the bus.

If you need any more help message me and I%26#39;ll try as much as I can

thank you both, i%26#39;ll keep your advice in mind!