Thanks for the review. I was just looking around for a driver also for Beijing- no guide needed. Just emailed Kong Lin.

The guide should climb the Great Wall with the clients.Even a little bit,he or she should climb the Wall with the visitors.But if just hire a driver,the driver has to drop off clients at one entrance and wait at the other end at the Sacred Way.So the clients don`t have to come back.

Visiting The Fragrant Hill at end of October and begainning of Novermber is best time.the cable car close at 5:00pm.

Can someone tell me more about Fragrant Hill? Is this something we should plan into our itinerary? Violet - why is visiting there the end of October the best time?

Thanks

Fragrant Hill was derived from the huge piece of rock at the top of the Western Hills,namely the `Teat Peak Rock`.As it looks very much like a censer,often girdled by wisps of spiraling mist oas if ti were giving out incense-smoke hence it was called the `Censer Hill`,known in Cjomese as `Xiangshan`.

Covers 400 acres,a temple was built in 1186.

Terraces,Pavallians and pagodas were added by the subsequent dynasties.

The area was later turned into a park and renamed the Park of Tramqio;otu & Pleasure.

Thr park is a popular place in late autumn when the maple leaves redden.

Legend has it that a south wind carried the seeds of the red-leaf trees to Beijing.Ten the seeds survived,and years passed they grew into alovely forest.

In November,the frosted leaves of these trees,along with the persimmons and maples,spread over the hills like a thich red blanket.

If you stay in Beijing more than 4 days during that time,you should go to see it.

violet,

I will be in Beijing from Oct 8th till 11th, will the maple leaves in Fragrant Hill be impressive then ?

Normally how much time is required to visit Fragrant Hill ? Is a lot of walking required beside taking the cable car ? I will be visiting with my elderly parents.

Is it advisable to do it in the same day after Summer palace & Yuanmingyuan ?

Not a lot of walking but a lot of climbing at Fragrant Hill.Some parts are very stip.

If you want to climb with your parents,I think you will spend about 4 hours there.

It is not bad visit there at that time.There are some maple of leaves ture red.

>> A licensed tour guide (he e-mailed us a scan of his credentials)

How do you know the scanned document is authentic?

We had just used Kong Lin for a day trip to the Great Wall at JinShanLing and Simatai. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a driver in beijing, and it is especially comfortable in his Buick as it was very spacious and perfect for those longer journeys where you can go to sleep comfortably. He was punctual and driving was safe. However if you expect someone chatty, then he isnt (which i kinda like as I dont want someone to go on non-stop for hours talking away). English was not a problem.