Official Language:
Mandarin Chinese
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Currency:
Chinese Yuan
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Population:
Approximately 12.8 Million people call Beijing home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Beijing: The climate in Beijing is one of extremes, often with very hot summer days whilst in winter the temperature can drop considerably. Autumn is the best time to visit when the weather is sunny and warm and fewer tourists crowd the attractions. Average Temperatures Low-High in Jan 33-36°F/1-3°C, May 78-82°F/26-28°C, Aug 84-88°F/29-31°C, Oct. 66-69°F/19-21°C.
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As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as being the most important center in China for international trade and communications. It has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history. By the time of the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC), it was serving as the capital of the Yan Kingdom. Because of its role in the life and growth of China, there is an unequalled wealth available for travelers to discover as you explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting 21st Century world. In 2008 when Beijing hosts the Olympic Games, Beijing will show the world something so special that everyone will be awestruck by Beijing's latest accomplishments combined with its ancient history.
The magnificent Forbidden City is the world's largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex. Surrounded by a moat that is six meters deep and a ten-meter high wall are 9,999 rooms – just one room short of the number that ancient Chinese believed represented divine perfection. Once having entered the Forbidden City, visitors are transported to a spacious world of great luxury that had a culture of its own. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative center of the country as well as being the pleasure home of the emperors and empresses who were served by thousands of people. Walking along the corridors and through various rooms it becomes easy to understand the impact of the rulers who lived here and their isolation from the rest of Chinese life. Regardless of how much history you have read, or movies featuring the Forbidden City you have seen, the place itself is not to be missed by any Beijing visitor. (Self-guided audio tour tapes are available in several languages at the entrance.)
For a peaceful and interesting stroll, visit one of Beijing's many beautiful parks, such as Beihai Park, which was probably built by the Great Khan centuries earlier than the Forbidden City. This park was enjoyed by the various rulers of China for hundreds of years and features pavilions, architecturally interesting walkways, the 27-meter-long (about 88 feet) Nine Dragon Screen (built to scare off evil spirits), a jar that is the last remnant of the Khan's court that had been there, the Five Dragon Pavilion dating from the mid 1600's, and a large lake with an island in the middle. Another park that is a definite "must see" is the Summer Palace, a famous classic imperial garden with breathtaking beauty. Bold and generously designed, the northern gardens skillfully blend into the exquisite delicacy of the southern gardens. The Summer Palace holds a special place in the history of Chinese gardens. These are only two of the many majestic gardens in Beijing. Sometimes, you can find exceptional gardens within or surrounding Beijing's many ancient temples.
Beijing has many beautiful temples that at one time served as the focus for religious life. Temple of Heaven is the largest group of structures in the country dedicated to rituals that pay homage to heaven. This temple was built specifically for the worship of heaven and prayers for good harvests during the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are two amazing acoustical spots here. On the top of the tri-leveled round altar (originally built in the 1500's) there is a spot where your words reverberate around you. You can easily imagine the power that temporal rulers felt as their prayers for abundance echoed as if they issued down from the heavens. The other is at the Echo Wall that partially encloses a circular courtyard that is 65 meters (213 feet) in diameter. Words whispered at one end travel along the wall and can be heard clearly by someone listening at the other end. The entire temple complex is a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural design and art. Symbolic shape combinations (the temples are round on square bases signifying heaven and earth) and various mystical numbers are the basis for much of the design work. The temple structures themselves are stunning works of art. All of this and more is set in the midst of a beautiful park.
How can one city boast so many phenomenal places? Beijing's long and illustrious history starts approximately 500,000 years ago. It is here that the ancestors of modern Homo sapiens, Peking men, lived in caves. Records show that Beijing has been an inhabited city for more than three thousand years and has lived through invasions, devastating fires, dynasties, warlords, Anglo-French troops and has emerged each time as a strong and vibrant city. For more than 800 years, Beijing was a capital city – from the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Thirty-four emperors have lived and ruled in Beijing and it has been an important trading city from earliest days. Although now Beijing is modern, fashionable and full of 21st Century vitality, you can experience authentic Beijing life and become acquainted with "old Beijing" by exploring many tea houses, temple fares, Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard and enjoy the Peking Opera. Adding these to your Beijing tour, you will leave feeling in your heart a special appreciation for this ancient city that has truly seen it all and tells its story with matchless grace and beauty.
Beijing is close to Tianjin Municipality and is partially surrounded by Hebei Province. Beijing covers a total area of more than 16,800 square kilometers (6,487 square miles) and has a population of 13.82 million people. Beijing's climate is a semi-humid, continental climate with an average temperature of 12C. It's rainy season, which brings most of its nearly 600 millimeters of rain, starts in July and ends in August. Beijing summers are very hot and rainy while winters in Beijing are dry, cold, and snowy. The short spring season is temperate and autumn is clear and clean. Beijing is at its best in late spring and autumn, particularly during the months of May, September, and October when people can enjoy bright sunlight and blue skies. While Beijing can be enjoyed by every traveler, it truly rewards the adventurous soul. It's a safe city, with plenty of room for exploration. Although you'll be tempted tospend most of your time near Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, it is best not to limit yourself. There is plenty to see around the city's outskirts, and a short trip to the Great Wall is a must. There are many other fascinating temples in Beijing, among which are: the Yunju Temple, which houses the most stone inscriptions of Buddhist scriptures in the world, the White Cloud Taoist Temple, which is one of the oldest and still the most active of Taoist temples in Beijing, and the Temple of Confucius. Visiting these temples can help elucidate three primary philosophies that formed the basis for early Chinese life and culture. For example, much of traditional Chinese medicine's principles and theories were derived from the work of Taoist doctors and masters.
The largest city central square in the world, the solemn and respectful Tiananmen Square is not only the symbol of Beijing but also the symbol of China. This immense courtyard is the site of many historic events. The square is surrounded by a variety of significant edifices: Chinese Revolution History Museum, Mao Mausoleum, Great Hall of the People, the elegant and beautiful Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace Gate), and Qianmen (Front Gate). The daily flag ceremony at the square, performed at sunrise and sunset each day, is most exceptional and well-worth making time to view. The Great Wall is one of the eight wonders of the world and is the only man-made structure that is visible from the moon. This immense wall was built to keep out invaders as well as to retain the inhabitants. It spans five provinces (6,700 kilometers, or 2,587 miles) from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west. Like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands and mountains. Just outside Beijing, it is possible to climb a section of the Great Wall and enjoy a splendid panoramic view that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Other famous Beijing attractions include the Ming Tombs, the burial site of 13 ancient emperors; the Drum Tower built in the 1400's; Tiantan Park with its excellent Ming architectures; Fragrant Hills Park; the Ancient Observatory that dates back to the days of Kublai Khan; The Silk Market; Botanical Gardens; the Indian-designed Temple of Azure Clouds and many, many more wondrous places. Any reader of the classic The Dream of Red Mansions will want to visit Prince Gong's Mansion of the 18th Century, which is purported to be the model for mansion in the novel. Cruise ships dock at the Port of Tianjin, in nearby Tianjin. Transportation will be provided for you to continue on to Beijing. Local Transportation in BeijingTaxis are plentiful and usually pretty inexpensive. Make sure that the meter is running to avoid a confrontation about your bill once you reach your destination. Buses in Beijing are neither comfortable nor efficient. Two subway lines run underneath Beijing, with stops at most tourist locations. Beijing's flat terrain is perfect for navigating by bicycle. Most hotels rent bikes out. When riding, don't be intimidated by other cyclists, just ride slowly and with caution.
Car Rental - Tourist are not allowed to drive in China. People with Residence Visas can.
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Attractions |
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Forbidden City:
The Forbidden City, which was off-limits to most of the world for 500 years, is the biggest and best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. Although the 'hundred surnames', or hoi polloi, are now permitted entrance, its original owners, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty, insulated themselves from the masses and maintained a rigid one-way communications flow. Regal fiats from the nerve centre of the country were delivered to peasant subjects beyond the wall by eunuchs and other powerful court officials.
The old world of beautiful concubines and priapic emperors, ball-breaking (and -broken) eunuchs and conspicuous wealth still hovers around the lush gardens, courtyards, pavilions and great halls of the palace. Most of the buildings are post-18th century; there have been periodic losses due to an injudicious mix of lantern festivals and Gobi winds, invading Manchus and, in this century, pillaging and looting by both the Japanese forces and the Kuomintang. A permanent restoration squad takes about 10 years to renovate its 720,000 square metres, 800 buildings and 9000 rooms, by which time it's time to start all over again. The Great Wall, or Changcheng, was built over thousands of years. Over 2,400 miles of wall were constructed. Most of the earliest walls have disappeared, as they were made of wood, but the brick walls constructed during the Ming dynasty still stand. The Manchu invasion that overthrew the Mings in 1644 proved that the wall wasn't so great after all, at least as a defense mechanism. The Great Wall was looked upon with disdain for some time, with people tearing sections down for use as raw materials, but there has been a surge of wall restoration over the last two decades. Since you are on a limited time budget, just go to Badaling Fortress to take your photo at the Great Wall.
Summer Palace:
The Summer Palace with its cool features - water, gardens and hills - was the palace of choice for vacationing emperors and Dowager Empresses. It was badly damaged by Anglo-French troops during the Second Opium War (1860) and its restoration became a pet project of the Empress Dowager Cixi, last of the Qing dynasty rulers. Money earmarked for a modern navy was used for the project but, in a bit of whimsical irony, the only thing that was completed was the restoration of a marble boat. The boat now sits at the edge of the lake in all its immobile and nonmilitary glory. The Palace's full restoration was hampered by the disintegration of the Qing dynasty and the Boxer Rebellion.
The place is packed to the gunwales in summer with Beijing residents taking full advantage of Kunming Lake, which takes up three-quarters of the park. The main building is the lyrically named Hall of Benevolence & Longevity, while along the north shore is the Long Corridor, so named because it's, well, long. There's over 700m (2300ft) of corridor, filled with mythical paintings and scenes. If some of the paintings have a newish patina, that's because many of the murals were painted over during the Cultural Revolution.
Tiananmen Square:
Forever sullied, Tiananmen Square lies at the heart of Beijing, and is a vast desert of pavestones and photo booths. Though it was a gathering place and the site of government offices in the imperial days, Tiananmen Square is Mao's creation, as is Chang'an Jie - the street leading onto it. Major rallies took place here during the Cultural Revolution when Mao, wearing a Red Guard armband, reviewed parades of up to a million people. In 1976 another million people jammed the square to pay their last respects. In 1989 PLA tanks and soldiers cut down pro-democracy demonstrators here.
Today the square is a place for people to wander and fly kites or buy balloons for the kids. Surrounding the square is a mish-mash of monuments past and present: Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace), hung with a vast likeness of Mao; the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Revolution; the Great Hall of the People; Qianmen (Front Gate); the Mao Mausoleum, where you can purchase Mao memorabilia and catch a glimpse of the man himself (when his mortuary make-up isn't being refreshed); and the Monument to the People's Heroes.
Tiantan Park:
Tiantan Park is an icon of such enduring value that it shorthands the entire city. The park's classic Ming architecture gives it heaps of symbolic value and the name has been used to brand products from tiger balm to plumbing fixtures, as well as decorating a plethora of tourist literature. It's set in a 267-hectare (660-acre) park, with four gates at the cardinal points, and walls to the north and east. It originally functioned as a vast stage for solemn rites and rituals.
All of the buildings in the park, including the Round Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests are tangible conversations between the gods and mortals. The buildings are carefully thought out paeans to ancient gods and beliefs; fengshui, numerology, cosmology and religion all played a part in their original construction, and the result is an awesome display of god in the architecture and the devil in the detail. Tiantan Park remains an important meeting place where many city dwellers start the day with a spot of t'ai chi, dancing or game-playing in the park. By 9am the park reverts to being just a park so get there early if you want to see what Beijingers do before breakfast.
The Great Wall of China:
The Great Wall, as a metaphor, has gone through a few restorations in its time. When it was originally built 2000 years ago by the Qing dynasty it was a sturdy 'No Trespassing' sign directed at neighbouring kingdoms. For centuries after that it remained neglected and forgotten until 18th-century Europeans, infatuated with progress and artifice, appended a 'Great' to it and sat back to marvel at man's prehensile capacity to build Bloody Big Things. Today it's a tourist attraction, half Wonder of the World and half Kitschville, but to many Chinese it's just a wall. They seem to reserve for it, and the foreigners who come to marvel, a kind of bemused tolerance. To peasants in rural areas the Great Wall is less majestically known as 'old frontier'.
The majority of visitors climb the wall at Badaling, along with the tourist packs, the touts, and the sellers of reclining buddhas with lightbulbs in their mouths. If you want to experience the wall far from this madding crowd, you'd do better to travel a little farther afield and take a walk on the wilder side of the Huanghua section, the Yellow Flower Fortress section, 60km (35mi) north of Beijing. It's a classic and well-preserved example of Ming defence with high and wide ramparts, intact parapets and sturdy beacon towers.
Lama Temple:
The Lama (or Tibetan) Temple, with its beautifully landscaped gardens, stunning frescoes and tapestries, and incredible carpentry, is a temple to die for. Inside is a Buddha statue for every occasion, but the most impressive is the 18m-high (60ft-high) sandalwood statue of the Maitreya (future) Buddha in the Wanfu Pavilion, carved from a single tree. The first thing you encounter is the holy shins - they're at eye level - and from there it's a head-tipper to the ceiling as the statue soars up and over the galleries. Flitting around the Buddha's head is what appears to be spinning prayer wheels, emitting a sweet, harmonious whine. Closer inspection reveals them to be pigeons with whistles attached. You can't help thinking the poor things are on one of the lower levels of samsara or Wheel of Life - it's a crappy job even for a pigeon.
The temple is a working lamasery so it's closed early in the mornings for prayer. Some have questioned whether the monks in the tennis shoes are real monks or government stooges. Most tour guides will answer that of course they are real Tibetan monks; that the alleged oppression of Tibet is propaganda put about by the Dalai Lama; that Tibetans love the Chinese; and that the existence of the temple is proof of China's good intentions. Take this with a grain of salt.
Underground City:
In the late 1960s, with a Soviet invasion looming, Beijing's citizens started to go underground. The shadow city which resulted was constructed by volunteers and shop assistants living in the Qianmen (Front Gate) area south of Tiananmen Square. About 2000 people with simple tools and 10 years of spare time created this subterranean network, which has now been put to use as an unofficial tourist attraction and site for everything from warehouses to hotels, restaurants and even a roller-skating rink. There are roughly 90 entrances to the complex, all of which are hidden in shops along Qianmen's main streets. A fluorescent wall map reveals the routing of the entire tunnel system.
Simatai Great Wall:
While the tourist masses tend to head for Badaling to grope the Great Wall, there are more challenging stretches of this historical and architectural marvel within an easy day trip from Beijing proper. One of the least developed (for now) is Simatai, and it's not for the faint-hearted. The 19km (12mi) section is very steep, with a few slopes built at a 70-degree incline, but it's worth it to see the Wall au naturel, in contrast to the heavily touristed Badaling and Mutianyu sections, which are so well restored they could have been built yesterday.
Tianjin:
OK, it's not in Beijing - but this fourth-largest city in China is Beijing's port. Officially a special municipality belonging to no province, Tianjin is nicknamed ''Shanghai of the North'' because of its history as a foreign concession port, its Europeanised architecture and its impressive industrial output. Apart from wandering around imagining you're in Vienna, you should investigate Tianjin's antique market, a massive collection of junk and gems which miraculously survived the Cultural Revolution. Ancient Culture Street is an attempt to re-create an ancient Chinese street, complete with traditional-looking buildings and vendors flogging cultural goodies to the strains of Western music. Hai River Park is lined with photo booths, people fishing, early-morning t'ai chi exponents, outdoor opera singers and old men toting birdcages. The old part of town is stuffed full of lanes, traditional architecture and dilapidated temples.
Drum Tower:
This tower is the Big Ben of Beijing. Drums were beaten to mark the hour and time was kept with a water clock. Not surprisingly the rise and rise of Rolex and other watchmaking companies has made the tower somewhat redundant. The buildings also came close to ruin during the Cultural Revolution, when they were reviled as artefacts from a feudal past. The Drum Towers have survived both Swiss engineering and Maoist scorn and are now protected treasures.
It's easy to spend money in an inept manner in Beijing: the tourist emporias with their hectares of jade and pearl are enticing but prices are comparable to those you'll pay back home. Beneath the Drum Tower, however, opposite a hutong fruit market, is a labyrinth of junk shops that will appeal to happy-go-lucky shoppers and bargain hunters. Antiques, gems and other Chinese goodies are more reasonably priced and there's a greater range of off-beat items. There is more than enough to see and do in Beijing. Since you're on a limited time budget, be sure to ration your time effectively. There are some miss-miss sights in Beijing, but much of what you'll want to see is centrally located. Tiananmen Square has become infamous since the 1989 massacre, but the largest public square in the world is still the city's center. In the center of the square is the Renmin Yingxiong Jinianbei or Monument to the People's Heroes. The monument stands 125 feet high, with carvings, writings, and depictions of the revolution all over it. Despite its past tragedy, the square remains the main meeting place for locals in Beijing. Nearby is the Zhongguo Lishi Bowugan (East side of Tiananmen Square, tel. 010/6512-8986), or Museum of Chinese History. Ancient Chinese artifacts and tombs are on display here. Just north of Tiananmen Square is the Forbidden City. Constructed by Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, 200,000 workers built the intricate series of walls and roads in only fourteen years. From 1420 until 1911, through two dynasties, this was the center of the kingdom of China. During this time, no other building in China was allowed to be taller than the walls of the city. Even after the monarchy collapsed, the Forbidden City remained intact. Today, there is enough to see here to last you an entire day. The Nei Ting, or Inner Palace, was where the emperor would conduct his daily routines. The Kunninggong, or Palace of Earthly Peace, was where royalty would first consummate their marriage. Another royal throne is in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, or Qianquinggong. The Qianqingmen, or Gate of Heavenly Purity, was only used by the emperor himself. The Taihedian was where the biggest bashes were traditionally thrown. Bronze and gold adorn the room, used to celebrate birthdays and weddings. The Hall of Jewelry, or Zhenbaoguan, rivals anything you will see at the Tower of London. Tiantan (Yongdingmen Daije, Chongwen District, tel. 010/6702-2617) was constructed by the aforementioned Yongle at around the same time as the Forbidden City. Tiantan, otherwise known as the Temple of Heaven, was built for sacrifices to be performed during the two solstices. Pay particular attention to the symmetry of the temple. The four gates are at the exact north, south, east, and west points on the compass. Enter from the south gate and rent the audio tour; it's well worth it. The Sanyin Cheng, or Echo Wall, is acoustically brilliant. Climb the bell tower and ring the bell for good luck.
Shopping in Beijing:
NEVER just pay the asking price. Some stores the price may be fixed - ask politely - the worse they can say is no. But in the markets expect to negotiabe. But you need to be buyer beware - some fakes. First know what the range of pricing is for an item - in other words practice buying the item in a few shops. Don’t shop well dressed and don’t carry large denomination currency - they won’t have the proper change. When practice buying - as you walk out be aware of one final offer - this is common and how you get the lowest price - so do this when you really want to buy. Also when you go into a shop don’t first inquire about the item you really want - ask about others and sometime throw in an inquiry about the item you want and mumble can’t afford or it is way too much. Best to negotiate the price when the store is not crowded - preferably when no one else is in the store or at least no one is within listening range of your negotiations. Have a figure in your mind you will pay and don’t go over it - go to the next store instead. If you really want an item and it is still too much in your mind - do the best negotiating you can and buy it - it will still be cheaper than in your own country.
Shopping areas:.
-Wangfujing Street
-Xiushui Silk Market
-Dazalan - narrow alley in old Beijing - narrow alleys or back lanes are sometimes called a “hutong”Tourists traditionally flock to the Beijing Friendship Store, (17 Jianguomenwai Daije, tel. 010/6512-4488) for all of their souvenir hunting. If you don't mind digging a little bit deeper, you can unearth some real shopping gems. Silk Alley, at the corner of Xiushui Nanjie and Xiushui Dongjie, is a bazaar filled with silks and cashmere. Pearl hunters will find a bounty at Hongqiao Market (Tiantan Lu, tel. 010/6702-9103). The best Oriental rugs are found at Beijing Carpet Import and Export Corporation (Hong Kong Macao Center, Dongsishitiao, tel. 010/6501-2568). Dining & NightlifeTraveling all the way to Beijing without trying Peking Duck is a crime, and you're not a criminal, right? The best Peking Duck in town is at the Four Seasons (3 Jianguomenwai Dajie, tel. 010/6500-2233) in the Jinaguo Hotel. Another great Chinese restaurant is Chao Hao Wei (2/F Jianguomenwai Drive, tel. 010/6517-1916).Of course, Beijing offers much more than just Chinese food. Sushi lovers will delight at Sansi Lang (52 Liangjiu Lu, tel. 010/6464-5030). Moscow Café (135 Xizhimenwai Dajie, tel. 010/6835-4454) was more popular when Communism was still raging throughout Europe, but the restaurant has maintained its charm, serving up chicken Kiev and other Russian dishes. Surprisingly, you can find delicious Mexican food in Beijing at Cabo (24 Jianguomenwai Drive, tel. 010/6515-6826). American tourists nostalgic for a taste of home should visit Frank's Place (Gongrentiyuguan Dong Lu, tel. 010/6507-2617). Travelers with adventurous palettes should try Tibet Shambala (301 Xinjiang Xiao Lu, tel. 010/6842-2631), a restaurant that specializes in serving every part of a yak's anatomy. Literally. After hours, Busy Bee (208 Dongsi Beije, tel. 010/6402-5788) and Arcadia (Tian Yu, Jindu Apartments, tel. 010/6764-8271) are great places to hear live music. If you would prefer to dance the night away, Nightman (2 Xibahenanli, tel. 010/6466-2562) and Hotspot (Sanhuan Donglu, tel. 010/6531-2277) are usually rocking.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Beijing:
Beijing Travel Information
http://en.beijing-2008.org
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing.htm
http://www.bjreview.com.cn
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