Answered by MAS from Germany | Dec. 13, 2012 07:45
I just came back from my trip to Beijing last week i.e. December 9, 2012.
If you are staying in a hotel, I would advise that you take the hotel tour. Our first experience in Beijing and it was superb. The one day tour include the Ming Tombs and Great Wall at Badaling. Besides that we were taken to the Jade factory and lunch was included in the tour. Later in the afternoon, we visited the Tea House and tastes some really good quality tea. It does make a different to the usual cheap tea we drink at coffee houses.
The tour guide even gave us some tips on the other sight seeing spots. It was worth the tour as we do not have to worry on the public transport and entrance fees. It cost RMB 450 per person.