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BEIJING TRAVEL GUIDE
Beijing - fondly known as Jing - is the heart and soul of China, being a major centre for education, culture, politics and economics. The city is a juxtaposition of ancient and modern and is home to over 14 million people.
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BEIJING WEATHER - When To Go
Beijing has four separate seasons. The best time to travel is in late spring (April or May). Autumn (September and October) is another excellent time of year for a visit. If you like the snow then feel free to stop by Beijing in December and January for a cold snowy landscape and some skiing in Beihai.
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BEIJING ATTRACTIONS - Things to See & Do
Begin a tour of Beijing at the Forbidden City. This is the most amazing Imperial Palace in China. The palace had 9,999 rooms although only 8,000 rooms remain. The palace is surrounded by a moat six meters deep and a wall ten meters high and is quite a formidable structure. It was the home of emperors and empresses and the administrative centre of China for five centuries. There are self-guided tours available in many different languages. This is a must-see attraction.
Because Beijing was home to so many dynasties there are numerous royal mausoleums. Do not miss the Ming Tombs, Eastern Oing Tombs and Western Oing Tombs. The architecture of these mausoleums is quite amazing.
Tiananmen Square is a solemn and reverential courtyard, and the site of many historical happenings both past and present. Here, open for tourists, are the Chinese Revolution History Museum, the Mao Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, and the Tiananmen Tower and Qianmen (front gate). Visit this square during sunrise or sunset to enjoy the amazing daily flag ceremonies.
A day-trip to one of the ‘Eight Wonders of the World’ is a necessity when visiting Beijing. The Great Wall of China is an amazing feat of engineering and architecture. It was built to keep invaders out and the natives in. It is 6,700 kilometres long and winds through mountains, deserts and tundra. It is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space. Climb the Badaling portion of the Great Wall and enjoy the surrounding view of the countryside.
While there are many beautiful temples in Beijing the largest temple complex is the Temple of Heaven. A temple to worship heaven and good harvest, it is full of ancient Chinese treasures and architectural design. For other ethereal temples do not miss the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Earth.
Other temples that are worth a visit include the Temple of Confucius, the Great Bell Temple, Niujie Mosque and Yonghe Lamasery. The final temple is the largest lamasery in China.
Other attractions not to be missed include the Bell and Drum Towers erected in the 1400s, Fragrant Hills Park and the Ancient Observatory from the days of Kublai Khan. The Silk Market is another place not to be missed as is Liulichang Street of Chinese Culture for those fascinated with Chinese art. Visit the gardens of Beijing Happy Valley, Grand View Garden and the Botanical Gardens to enjoy gardens full of beauty and serenity.
While there are many impressive parks in Beijing, do not miss Beihai Park built by the Great Khan before the Forbidden City was erected. There are beautiful pavilions, garden paths, a 27-meter dragon screen and a large lake in the middle of the park. The Summer Palace is another sight not to be missed. The royal gardens are absolutely spectacular. The Old Summer Palace is just to the east and blends Chinese and western scenery and architecture.
Do not forget to visit Shichahai also known as Peking Man Site. The three lakes called Qianhai, Xihai, and Houhai are a very scenic area to see. They showcase traditional Beijing culture and homes. To the East is the Yinding Bridge that has an awesome view of the Western Hill. Do not forget to take a hutong tour and then visit the Prince Gong’s Mansion for a relaxing afternoon.
If you are crazy about Panda Bears make sure you visit Beijing Zoo. These beautiful little creatures are a major focus in China and Beijing has a wonderful Panda care facility and nursery for the Panda cubs. Other native animals highlighted as this Zoo are the Manchurian tiger, golden snub-nosed monkey, yaks, and some non-natives such as polar bears, zebra and kangaroos. In total there are over 7000 animals representing 600 species. It is quite an amazing complex.
For a fun day of shopping be sure to visit Wangfujing. A large portion of the road is closed to cars so people can move easily about the streets. This area has been a shopping plaza since the Ming Dynasty. Here are some of the modern shopping centres - home to over 200 name brand stores.
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BEIJING - Eating Out & Nightlife
For a fun night out head to the Houhai district located on a small sparkling lake just north of the Forbidden City. There are numerous bars and cafes and live music from jazz to rock pours out onto the streets. For a good meal head to South Silk Road with its many delicious restaurants that will work for all budgets.
Another fun place to go is the Wangjujing Night Market for a visit to Snack Street. Here you can try some of the more exotic delights such as deep fried scorpions, insects and starfish! Or try the more traditional Chinese dishes such as Chuanr which is a meat kebab made mostly of lamb or Tang hu lu, a candied fruit that makes a perfect dessert.
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BEIJING - Getting Around & Local Transport
Beijing has an amazing array of public transportation choices. There are literally hundreds of bus routes to ferry the visitor around the city. However this is a popular transportation choice for natives so try to avoid the buses during rush hour, as they can be very crowded. And, if it is very hot, look for buses with the number ‘8’, as these are air-conditioned. Also look for public bus ‘9’, as this is the bus earmarked for tourists.
The easiest way to get around Beijing is by taxi. Thanks to the Olympics, all the taxi drivers now speak English. Just remember that rush hour can make the going very slow.
The quickest way around Beijing is by subway. This is the best way to avoid rush hour traffic. Stops are announced in both Chinese and English
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BEIJING FLIGHTS - FLYING THERE FROM THE UK
Both British Airways and Air China offer direct flights to Beijing from London.
Other flights to Beijing involving a connection (such as in Dubai) can be found via online flight-booking websites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers.com.
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