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| http://www.paesionline.it/hotel_alberghi_pechino.asp THE GREAT WALL SHERATON BEIJING 10 NORTH DONG SAN HUAN ROAD/CHAO YANG DISTRICT - Pechino 86 (10) 65905566 (10) 65905938 THE PALACE BEIJING 8 GOLDFISH LANE, WANGFUJING - Pechino 86 (10) 5128899 (10) 5129050 BEIJING INTERNATIONAL BEIJING 9 JIANGOU MENNEI STREET - Pechino 86 (10) 65126688 (10) 65129961 BEIJING NEW CENTURY BEIJING 6 SOUTHERN ROAD CAPITAL GYM. 86 (10) 8492001 (10) 8319183 BEIJING PEACE BEIJING 3 TIN YU HU TONG WANG FU JING 86 (10) 65128833 (10) 65126863 BEIJING RAINBOW BEIJING N° 11 XIJING ROAD, XUANWU DISTRICT 86 (10) 63012266 (10) 63011366 CAPITAL BEIJING 3, QIAN MEN EAST STREET - Pechino 86 (10) 5129988 (10) 5120309 BEIJING ASIA JIN JIANG BEIJING 8 XINZHONG XIJIE GONGTI BEILU 86 (10) 65007788 (10) 65007318 HOLIDAY INN DOWNTOWN BEIJING 98 BEILISHILU, XI CHENG QU - Pechino 86 (10) 8322288 (10) 8340696 HOLIDAY INN LIDO BEIJING BEIJING JICHANG ROAD, JIANG TAI ROAD 86 (10) 4376688 (10) 4376237 |
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| Beijing Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tiananmen Gate Tiananmen Gate Delong Beijing means 'Northern Capital' and in many ways the name speaks for itself. It is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the capital of bureaucrats. The whole country supposedly runs on Beijing time and is supposed to speak the Beijing dialect. From here the Chinese Communist Party rules over its enormous empire while further to the south, you will find more and more free trading with new capitalists, having contributed to form the new face of China over the last decades. Beijing has come a long way from the dusty communist capital of the seventies and eighties to a modern city with the usual high rising buildings and shopping malls. At the same time, hotel and restaurant standards have improved enormously. It may not yet be able to compete with Hong Kong or Shanghai, but in its runup to the 2008 Olympics, it is trying real hard. Naturally, Beijing has some of the most superb examples of Chinese architecture. No other place in China offers such a large number of old buildings as Bejing. On top of that, Beijing is one of the more convenient starting points for visiting The Great Wall. Geographical Features Beijing is around 39o56' N, 116o20' E, and at an elevation of 44.38 meters above sea level. The total area of Beijing city is approximately 750 sq. km (290 sq. mi). Beijing has a very orderly design, which long, straight boulevards and avenues are crisscrossed by a network of lanes. The extensive Yanshan Mountain range forms a screen to the northeast, the long, winding Taihang Mountain range to the west. Just beyond, to the northwest, the vast Mongolian plateau begins. Beijing has a continental monsoon climate commonly found in the temperate zone with four definite seasons. Summer and winter are the two longest seasons with fall and spring being the shortest. The climate varies according to the season with autumn being the most pleasant time to visit. Autumn is usually clear with cool temperatures, while winter is dry and, at times, bitterly cold with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees Fo(-15 Co). Spring is usually dry but very windy, while the summer is rainy and hot with temperatures soaring above 100 Fo (38 Co). In winter, cold, dry winds blow out of Siberia and Mongolia in the northwest; in summer, warm, moist air currents from the southeast take over. A general change of wind direction occurs in March or April and again in September. Wind velocity in Beijing is comparatively low, averaging 2 meter/second. The average annual rainfall of 630 millimeters is regarded as a generous"heavenly endowment" for North China, which is otherwise predominantly dry and short of rain. The coldest month in Beijing is January, with an average temperature -4.7Co, while the hottest month is July, with an average of 26.1Co. Rapid temperature increases in the spring are often accompanied by sandstorms, but windless days in that season are wonderfully pleasant. Autumn, though short-lived, is a concentrated stretch of clear, crisp days and patchwork trees. People Beijing has over 13.8 million people, 9 million of which are temporary residents. In Beijing, the permanent residents are from all of the different ethnic groups such as Mongolian, Manchurian, Korean, etc. found in China with the Han's comprising over 95% of the population. Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken in Beijing, with Beijing's dialect being the standard form of Mandarin, while there are a considerably vast number of English speakers now. The major organized religions are Daoism (or Taoism), Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islamic. General Information A free, comprehensive resource for Beijing travel information is www.beijing-travel-guide.com. Travelers can use this site to learn about China's capital and even pick up some Chinese in the process. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.china-tour.cn/cityguides/beijing.htm __________Sights Edit This i Beijing is one of the most famous historical and cultural cities in the world. According to written records, the construction of the city took place in in 1045 BC, more than 3000 years ago. Once a capital of many different dynasties, Beijing has played an important role in the long history of China, e.g. during the 600 years after the emperor Hubilie had appointed Beijing as the capital in 1267 for Yuan dynasty, followed by Ming and Qing dynasties.Thus, more than 30 emperors in these three dynasties held swing of the vast land of China and so the heritage of the Chinese culture was continued and spread. Due to the 3000 years of history as a city and about thousand years as a capital, Beijing has got hundreds of historical, cultural and art ancient sites of great value. Scholars and learners call Beijing "the greatest individual project of the mankind". This is by no means an overestimation as the city itself appears to be a great historical museum: there is the Great Wall winding magnificently in the mountains, the imposing Forbidden City with its grandeur, the impressive Tienanmen Square, the Temple of Heaven venerable and solemn at the same time, the Summer Palace, Yuanming Palace and Beihai Park royal gardens as beautiful as pictures and a stunning religious architecture.These places are highly attractive while displaying the charm of oriental cultures. Literature and art of Beijing have a long and varied tradition as there were so many minority cultures gathered during the different times. However, behind the varieties, local and native characters are still thick and strong; Peking Opera as the quintessence of China is a most representative local art of Beijing. In this gradually modernized city, folk-customs still exist as a fine tradition, displaying an oriental civilization. While walking on Liulichang culture street, entering the old four-sided courtyard and visiting the temple fairs in Beijing, you will surely see the current reality remarkably mingle with the historical traditions. Display all or display just: Historical Sites Hotspots Museums Parks & Gardens Temples Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Forbidden City Edit This The Forbidden City is a vast imperial complex that can be divided into two main parts: the outer palace and the inner place. It will cost you at least a day to explore all facets of the complex, ranging from several palaces to several halls of harmony, such as the Zhonghedian, the Baohedian and the Jiaotaidan. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] The Great Wall Edit This The Great Wall is considered to be one of the most impressive structures in the world. It winds it way for endless (alright then, approximately 6,350) kilometers through Chinese valleys, desert areas and over mountains. The defensive wall dates back from the 5th century B.C. and was enlarged and lengthened in the following centuries by successive dynasties. The Great Wall is mostly visited at three spots. Badaling is the most easily accessible, and consequently most crowded, spot that is located at a two hours’ drive from Beijing (by train it might take more more.. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] Chinese Ethnic Cultural Park Edit This type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] address: Yayuncun tel: 6206 3626 Tiananmen Square Edit This Most people can probably recall the peaceful demonstrations for democracy on this square in 1989 that resulted in the killing of an unknown number of students (figures range from 300 to 3,000 victims). The square, where Mao announced the founding of the People's Republic of China, got its name from the Tiananmen, or "Gate of Heavenly Peace," on the southern part that lead up to the Forbidden City. Several impressive gates, such as the Tuenanmen Gate, the Qianmen Gate and the Xuanwumen Gate, mark the square. This is also the place where you can visit the Chairman Mao Memorial more.. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] Lama Temple Edit This Lama Temple (Lamasery of Harmony and Peace), one of the best-preserved temples in Beijing, is one of the most important attractions of the city. This complex, dating back to 1694, used to be the palace in which the son and successor of the Kangxi Emperor lived. It was converted into a lamasery in 1744. The lama temple, built on a north-south axis, has been preserved until today. The temple still houses a small group of Lamaist monks, young and old, who also manage the complex. The lama temple is divided into five important halls: Hall of the Celestial Guardians, Yonghe Gong Dian, more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: North Second Ring Road The Summer Palace Edit This This palace and its surrounding complex is also better known as the Garden of Cultivating Peace. In its vicinity, you’ll also find the Temple of the Azure Clouds and the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] Beihai Park Edit This The history of Beihai Park goes back more than 800 years. In the 10th century, an imperial residence was built here. When Beijing became the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, the first Yuan emperor, Kublai Khan, had the park splendidly designed. The large picturesque stones on the park grounds were brought here from the Imperial Garden of the Northern Song Capital, Kaifeng. In 1651, the White Pagoda was built on the site of the ruins of Guanghan Palace that had been destroyed by an earthquake. Main attractions in Beihai Park are Round City, Jade Flower Island, White Pagoda, Wanfo Lou more.. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] address: Coal Hill Area Yuanming Garden Edit This Yuanming Garden lies on the northwestern outskirts of the city, north of Beijing University and only 500m from the Summer Palace. It was built during the Qing Dynasty over a period of 150 years and included three gardens: Yuanming Yuan, Changchun Yuan and Qichun Yuan. They were laid out separately, yet in a way so that they complement each other harmoniously. The area covered about 340 hectares. The three-in-one garden was considered a masterpiece of Chinese gardening. In 1860, however, the allied forces of Great Britain and France reduced it to cinders within ten days. After more.. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Beijing Botanical Garden Edit This type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Temple of the Azure Clouds Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: Summer Palace area Ming Tombs Edit This The Ming tombs are really an outstanding sight to visit. Open daily from 8 am - 4 (or sometimes half an hour longer). They are located 50 km northwest of the city and usually visit see them on their way to visit the Great Wall at Badaling. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] Museum of Chinese Revolution Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: East of Tiananmen Square Tiantan – Temple of Heaven Edit This Temple of Heaven Temple of Heaven photo by: Praful Soneji The Temple of Heaven is located in the southeastern part of Beijing. Emperors of the Ming and Qin dynasties came here to pray for a good harvest in spring and for rain in summer, and to offer sacrifices to heaven in winter. type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: South of the Forbidden city Dragon King Temple Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: Island in Kunning Lake Museum of Chinese History Edit This This giant museum is rated as China's best. The exhibition is divided into four departments: primitive society, slave society, feudal society and semifeudal society. One major highlight is the Flying Horse of Gansu. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: East of Tiananmen Square tel: 6512 8901 Great Bell Temple Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: 31a Beisanhuan Xilu tel: 6254 1971 Daguanyuan – Grand View Garden Edit This type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] address: Southwest Beijing tel: 6326 2306 Temple of the Sea of Wisdom Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: Fragrant Hill Zhongshan Park Edit This type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Working People’s Cultural Park Edit This type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Baiyunguan - Temple of White Clouds Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: Outside Fuxingmenwai Temple of the Sleeping Buddha Edit This type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: northwest of the Summer Palace Hutong Edit This These 100+ year old neighborhoods in the traditional Feng Shui courtyard architecture are all over the city. You can visit some of the historic Hutongs, but a stroll through any shows an interesting piece of everyday Beijing. Most Hutongs are without toilets and hot water (only communal facilities every block or so), and many are being torn down and replaced with the international symbol of development: ugly apartment blocks. The historic Hutongs are being preserved, but be sure to visit one while you can. type: Historical Sites World66 rating: [rate it] Paleozoological Museum of China Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: 142 Xizhimen Waidaijie tel: 6835 5511 Chinese Art Gallery Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Guangdong Regency tel: 6401 7076 The Shudian – Capital Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: 13 Gouzijian Jie tel: 6401 2118 Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archeology Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Beijing University tel: 6275 1667 _____________History Edit This half a million years ago, Peking man lived in Zhoukoudian, in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. The climate of that time was warmer and more humid than it is today. Forests and lakes in the area supported large numbers of living creatures. The fossil remains of Peking man, his stone tools and evidence of use of fire, as well as later tools of 18,000 years ago, bone needles and article of adornment from the age of Upper Cave Man are the earliest cultural relics on record in China today. Some four to five thousand years ago, settlements to the southwest of Beijing were thriving on basic agriculture and animal husbandry. Story has it that the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) battled against the tribal leader Chiyou in the “wilderness of the prefecture of Zhuo.”Zhuolu, a town west of present-day Beijing, is perhaps the site of the first metropolis in the area. Yellow Emperor’s successor, Emperor Yao, was said to have established a legendary capital Youdu (City of Quietude) that was where the city of Ji was actually built. During the Warring States Period (475-221BC), the Marquis of Yan annexed the territory of the Marquis of Ji, making the city of Ji his new capital. The approximate location was north of Guang?anmen Gate in present–day Beijing near the WhiteCloudTemple (Baiyunguan). Early in the third century BC, the first Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huang) set about conquering six states and unifying China. The city of Ji was named administrative center of Guangyang Commandery, one of 36 prefectures in China’s first feudal empire. For 10 centuries, through to the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ji remained a strategic trading and military center and the object of frequent power struggles. wo emperors during that period -- Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty -- left their mark on the city. Emperor Yang amassed troops and supplies at Ji for expeditions against Korea. Emperor Taizong also used the city for military training. He built the Temple for Compassion for the Loyal (Minzhongsi), which is dedicated to troops who died in battle. This temple was the precursor of the Temple of the Origin of the Dharma (Fayuansi) located outside the old walls of the city. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Ji was little different from any other large feudal cities. Several centuries later, however, when the Tang was nearing a state of collapse, the Qidans (Khitans) came from the upper reaches of the LiaoheRiver and moved south to occupy Ji and make it their second capital. They called the city Nanjing (Southern Capital) or Yanjing. Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) carried out reconstruction projects and built palaces, which were used as strongholds from which the Qidans set out to conquer the central plains of China. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/beijing/history/ _________Practical Information Edit This [Add Practical address] That's Beijing Edit This That's Beijing type: Tourist information World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.thatsbj.com _________Getting Around Edit This The subway or Underground Dragon is definitely the best way of travelling quickly within Beijing. It can move at up to 70km (43mi) per hour - a jaguar compared to the lumbering buses. But while it's clean and easy to use the trains are starting to show their age. If you simply must catch a bus around town sharpen your elbows chain your wallet to your underwear and muster all the patience you can - you'll need it. Oversized and overstuffed buses are the norm in Beijing. There are about 140 bus and trolley routes which makes navigation rather confusing especially if you can't see out the window, even for locals. Beijing taxis are multiplying fast: finding one is not difficult, but making yourself understood in English may be a bit more problematic. If you don't speak Chinese bring a map or have your destination written down in characters. (The hotel brochure is essential for finding your way back if you are staying at an out-of-the-way place.) Telephone bookings are possible. Taxis cost between Y1.20 and Y2.00 per kilometer (their rate is indicated on the passenger side window). Be sure to ask the driver to use the meter. Pricier taxis seem to try to pull fast ones on tourists more often than cheaper taxis. Tipping is not standard. Get ready for a long ride if you grab a taxi in peak hour. Like much of China Beijing looks so much better once you're pedalling. A bike shortens those long dreary stretches avoids the footpath throng and helps you feel a lot more like a local. Hotels - especially budget hotels - often rent out bikes at reasonable rates or there are the numerous bike hire outfits in the streets around hotels and tourist spots. ________Museums Edit This Beijing Art Museum Beijing Art Museum is housed in the Wanshou (Longevity) Temple on Suzhou Street. Wanshou Temple was built in 1577 under the reign of Wanli Emperor of the Ming dynasty to store Buddhist scriptures in Chinese. It gradually became a temporary imperial dwelling and a place of birthday celebration for the imperial family during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Temporary exhibits by local artists are often featured here. The People's Government of Beijing Municipal City declared Wanshou Temple one of the city's "Key Cultural Heritage of Preservation" in August 1979. Having a reputation for "Mini-Forbidden-City in West Beijing", the construction of Temple consists of eastern, middle and western sections. Up till now, only the middle and the western sections remain well preserved. This museum has collected and preserved the precious historical relics such as bronze and jade articles of Shang and Zhou Dynasties (17th-3th centuries B.C), and the ancient art treasures as potteries, porcelains, enamels, carved lacquer ware, ivory carving ,wood carving, etc of the past dynasties. Among them, there mainly displays the valuable Chinese paintings and calligraphies of Ming and Qing Dynasties since 1368 A.D, especially the Chinese paintings within one hundred years, weavings and embroideries of Ming and Qing Dynasties, ancient coins of China and foreign countries, the modern Chinese and Japanese arts and crafts and paintings as the major characteristics of this museum. The Beijing Art Museum undertakes to study in depth the ancient and traditional art of China and the rest of the world so as to raise the cultural level of the whole nation, cultivate the taste of the people. Meanwhile the museum provides a venue where those pioneers who, in this new historical era, can bring their talents into full play; and to provide a favorable environment in which the art zealots from all walks of life can study and appreciate works of art. source: http://www.china-tour.cn/cityguides/beijing.htm _________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This ChinaExpat.net Free on line Classifieds ChinaExpat.net Free on line Classifieds ChinaExpat.net Nightlife was unknown to many people in Beijing 20 years ago, and the word wasn't even used. But nowadays it is very common, especially for young people, to go out in the evenings and spend their time at cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, song and dance halls, Karaoke clubs, restaurants or bars. Compared to people in south of China, Beijing people are more conservative. Most of them, married people in particular, like to stay at home watching TV or chatting with friends, which is why the streets are quite deserted after nine o'clock at night, when most of the stores are closed. Don't despair, you can always find places to spend your evenings if you are not tired after the day's sightseeing. Almost every four-or five-star hotel has facilities for entertainment. Besides hotels, nightlife venues are mostly in the city center. You can see the Peking Opera, acrobatics, dramas, local ballad singing, song and dance performances, or attend a music concert, or drop in at a roadside disco. It's best to stick to places that have been recommended by other tourists or Chinese friends. Now, the city has witnessed a mushrooming of foreign theme pubs, new exotic bars and locally run clubs. Foreign pubs, bars, cafes and disco clubs attract foreign residents and tourists as well as young Chinese. The admission fee is usually about 50-80 yuan and beer is 15-20 yuan. Display all or display just: Bars & Cafes Casinos Clubs and dancing Dancing Pubs general Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Entertainment place] Lounge & Bar Loco Edit This Loco is a brand new hip bar & lounge in the Wudaokou area. At Loco you can enjoy a variety of Western and Asian dishes, drink anything from cappuccinos to Jack Daniels, from Guinness to Absinth, or just relax smoking a HOOKAH!!! We are open for lunch, dinner, and more importantly whenever you want to drink. We speak Korean, Chinese, and English. At Loco we like to go crazy. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] ClosingTime: 11:30 AM - 2:30 AM tel: 10-62322288 address: Ground Floor, Xijiao Hotel, Wudaokou, Haidian Durty Nellie's Edit This type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: South Bar Lane, Sanlitun. tel: 6502 2808 New Bar Street Edit This In Beijing, there is "New Bar Street" and "Old Bar Street". New Bar Street is along the edges of Beihai Park (Northwest of the Forbidden City). These bars are where the hip young locals go for a night on the town, whereas the Old Bar Street is a bit more for the tourist clientele. New Bar Street is a wonderful place to stroll around on a warm summer evening, with gorgeous views around Beihai. type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: Beihai Nightman Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: 2 Xibahenanli, Chaoyang District. tel: 6466 2562 Banana Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: 5/F Haitian Market, 12 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. tel: 6599 3351-2 email: None url: None closingtime: None Hard Rock Café Beijing Edit This You should visit the Hard Rock Cafe at least once while you are in Beijing. Many expatriates are on hand every night as well as many locals. The Western style food is good and the entertainment is great. Almost every night starting around 10:00 p.m. a live band will perform 70's American music and the dance floor will be full. The bands are usually from other countries (e.g, Austrailia) and are excellent. [E.F.] type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Landmark Tower, Chaoyang District. tel: 6590 5566 X2571 CD Cafe Edit This type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: Dongsanhuan Bei Lu (200 metres south of Great Wall Sheraton), Chaoyang District. tel: 6501 8877 X3032 John Bull Pub Edit This type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: 44 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. tel: 6532 5905 Big Easy Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Nongzhanguan Lu, Chaoyang District (east side of Chaoyang Park). tel: 6508 6776 Poacher’s Cafe Edit This type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: 7 San Li Tun tel: 6532 3063 Get Lucky Bar (Haoyun Jiuba) Edit This Underground Rock Venue with amazing decoration. Live Shows every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. Own Brewery. - this bar has moved to Ladies' Street, Xingbalu, and is now called "New Get Lucky" -- same great shows, but no more home brew. type: Casinos World66 rating: [rate it] email: 8448-3335 address: Ladies' Street, Xingbalu openinghours: 5pm-2am JJ's Edit This Tel 6618 9305 type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: 76 Xinjiekou Bei Dajie, Xicheng District. Poachers 2 Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Tuanjiehu Park West Gate, Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District. tel: 6532 3063 Passion Edit This There is a dance floor, but the main attraction here are the girls who will dance with you or sit and talk to you for 500 RMB plus drinks (expensive). Other arrangements are available. Tel 6590 5566 X2191 type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Great Wall Hotel, 10 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District. Havana Cafe (Hawana) Edit This Latin Music Bar and Dance place, occasional latin dance lessons, south-american food, beer garden in summer. type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Northern Gate of Workers Stadium (Gongti Beimen), Chaoyang District openinghours: 11 am - late evening tel: 6586 6166, 6594 0048 Happy Paradise (Kaixin Leyuan) Edit This One of the best Punk, Rap and Metal Music Clubs.Regular Jam Sessions of local Punk Bands. Roller Skate and Pogo Dancing. Martin Kogge: This Bar has closed last year (2001) in August or September. Many of the Bands performing at Happy Paradise now can be seen at Get Lucky Bar or Sound Stage (ex Rhine River Bar). type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] address: West of Wudaokou Workers Club between Qinghua and Beijing Languages University, Haidian District openinghours: 24 hours tel: 6232 6821 Moonhouse Bar Edit This WuDaoKou, Hai Dian District It used to be right outside of Beijing University's west gate, but has moved to a slightly bigger location closer to Beijing Language and Culture University down the street. It's the bar "where everybody knows your name." type: Bars & Cafes World66 rating: [rate it] Jazz Ya Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: 18 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District. tel: 6415 1227 Vogue Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Xindong Lu (in between Dongzhimenwai and Gongti Bei Lu, near Sanlitun), Chaoyang District. Solutions Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Rmb 30 cover charge, Beijing University West Gate, Haidian District. tel: 6255 8877 Freezer Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: 1/F Holiday Inn Lido, Chaoyang District. tel: 6437 6688 X1410 Hotspot Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Sanhuan Dong Lu, Chaoyang District. tel: 6531 227 Jeffrey Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] |
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| Beijing Travel
Guide Beijing Travel Guide and Beijing Travel Information - TravelPuppy.com 'Cultural treasure-house of East Asia' The capital city of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Beijing (Peking) is a rapidly-growing, dynamic metropolis that, while welcoming foreign businesses and visitors, retains a strong grip on its rich cultural heritage and a tightly controlled Communist social order. It is a monolithic showcase that may give a distorted impression of China to foreign visitors. Beijing is a cosmopolitan city with high-rise buildings, shopping malls and huge international hotels linked by an elaborate freeway system crisscrossing the city. During rush hour, traffic jams can rival those of any major city around the world and the ringing of cell phones is incessant. However, the modern buildings hide traditional hutongs, parks, numerous architectural treasure and beautiful yellow-tiled temples whose prayer flags and wind chimes flap in the breeze created by the passing traffic. Beijing became China’s capital in 1421 and remained so until the fall of the imperial regime in 1911. It wasn't until late in 19th century that Westerners were permitted to reside there and all trading links had formerly been restricted to Canton. From 1911 to 1949 Beijing endured, as did the rest of China, from the battles fought between various factions trying to take over the whole country. The Japanese invasion in 1931 was followed by a nasty civil war, which ultimately led to Communist supremacy under Mao Tse Tung and the founding of the People’s Republic of China with Beijing as the capital. The first ten years of his power were victorious in many ways. Stability prevailed all over the whole country and great progress was achieved in agriculture, industry, education and health care. However, in 1966, Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution, an attack on his more liberal political colleagues, which resulted in several years of anarchy all through the country. After Mao’s death in 1976, China slowly began to open up, welcoming foreigners as investors and as tourists and local Chinese were allowed to set up businesses. Beijing is now keen to show what a thriving commercial capital it has become. A great place to begin exploring the city is Tiananmen Square, the location where Mao Tse Tung declared the foundation of the People’s Republic. Today, the Square is well known as a result of the suppression of the 1989 student-led pro-democracy protests. To stand – alongside thousands of visitors – and witness the imposing majesty of the Forbidden City to the north and the giant portrait of Mao Tse Tung on the Tiananmen Gate itself is to understand the awesome control that China’s leaders have always had on the people. Not to be missed is a morning visit to one of Beijing’s public parks. This is when residents let their hair down and relax by indulging in their particular favourite physical activity, whether it's tai’chi, jogging, singing or even ballroom dancing. Beijing is at its finest in late spring and autumn. Autumn is an especially pleasant time to visit as the weather is warm and the leaves of the many trees in the city turn amazing shades of red and gold. The heat and humidity of the summers and the chilling wind in winter can at times be extreme. ___________ Beijing Festival - Events Beijing Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com The following is a list of festival - events occurring in Beijing in 2005: Chinese New Year late January/early February, throughout the city International Women’s Day 8 March, throughout the city Beijing International Kite Festival April, various venues 'Meet in Beijing’ Arts Festival April/May, various venues International Labour Day 1 May, throughout the city Founding of the Chinese Communist Party Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party, 1 July, throughout the city Founding of People’s Liberation Army Anniversary of Founding of People’s Liberation Army, 1 August, throughout the city China Open Tennis tournament mid-September for two weeks, Beijing Centre Mid-Autumn Festival late September, throughout the city National Day 1 October, throughout the city Beijing International Marathon mid-October, city centre Beijing Fashion Week mid-November, throughout the city _______Beijing Getting Around Getting Around Beijing - TravelPuppy.com Public Transport The public transport system, particularly the bus system, is rarely tried by foreign visitors unless they can understand Mandarin Chinese. Travel by subway or taxi (see Taxis below) is definitely the best option. City buses operate between 05:30-23:00 and are extremely crowded, especially during rush hours (06:30-08:30 and 17:00-19:00). There is also a limited night service between 23:00 and 05:30 hours. Fares of RMB1-2 within the city (up to RMB2-10 for suburban bus routes) are paid to the driver. Air-con buses in the city cost between RMB2-8 depending on distance travelled. It is very important to have the destination written in Chinese because the driver almost certainly will not speak English. >Clean, fast and efficient, the subway (05:30-23:00) is an attractive alternative, however, be aware that the trains can be packed during rush hours. The subway has two lines: the East–West Line operates from Pingguoyuan to Sihui, and the Ring Line follows the Second Ring Road. Entrances can be located by looking for the logo of a square inside a ‘C’ shape and there is a flat rate of RMB3 for each trip. irrespective of distance travelled. Tickets can be bought from the ticket offices above the platforms and, as tickets are not dated and valid for all journeys, it is well worth buying a few at once to save queuing for every journey. However, by the end of 2002, individual tickets are due to be replaced with prepaid cards that will have to be inserted into a machine to gain access to the subway system. Announcements and signs are in Chinese and English. Taxis Taxis are plentiful, metered and cheap. They wait near major department stores, hotels and train stations and can be hailed on the street. Taxis in Beijing are small, red hatchbacks or saloons (known as Xiali) and usually, the older and smaller the car is, the cheaper the fare. All taxis display a sticker in the back window that specifies the rate per kilometre, but the normal rate is RMB10 for the first four to five kilometres and RMB1.2-1.6 per kilometre thereafter. There is a 20% surcharge after 2300. It is vital to write the destination in Chinese as most drivers don't speak English. Taxis can be booked in advance through Beijing Taxi Co (tel: (10) 6852-4088). Tipping is not expected but always appreciated. Limousines CITS, CITS Building, Fuxingmennei Avenue (tel: (10) 6601-1122 or 8292) can organise limousines for US$90 per day within the city limits. Driving in the City Not many short-term visitors to Beijing attempt to drive there, as hiring a car is a difficult process, parking is a problem and car hire is restricted to the city limits. Visitors also need to have a Chinese driving licence, which can only be acquired by those holding a Resident’s Permit. Driving regulations do exist, however they are regularly ignored and it is common to see aggressive lane-changing by buses and taxis or even traffic going the wrong direction on roads or roundabouts. Theoretically, traffic drives on the right but on smaller streets this is not always the case. Not many road signs are in English and it is important to be aware that in the case of an accident it will be assumed that the foreigner is at fault 100% of the time. Car Hire Visitors who want to hire a car in Beijing will have to hire a car and driver. CITS, Fuxingmennei Avenue (tel: (10) 6601-1122 or 8292), and CTS, 2 Beisanhaun East Road (tel: (10) 6461-8959), can organise car hire with a driver and the cost per day in the city limits starts at US$50-60. Hertz (tel: (10) 6595-8109) also have an office in Beijing at the Jianguo Hotel, 5 Jianguomenwei Avenue, however, cars still have to be rented with a driver for about US$90 per day. Bicycle Hire China has the most bicycles of any place in the world, it also has a huge supply of bicycle rental outlets. Although Chinese roads are unpredictable and at sometimes fairly dangerous, renting a bike can be preferable to relying on public transport. Bike lanes are on all main roads in Beijing, although these are occupied by thousands cyclists during rush hours. Bicycles are available for hire from hotels, including the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wangfujing Dajie (tel: (10) 6513-3388), for RMB20 per hour; the Peace Hotel, 3 Jingyu Hutong (tel: (10) 6512-8833), for RMB40 per half-day; and the Palace Hotel, Jingyu Hutong (tel: (10) 6512 8899), for RMB10 per hour but free for their guests. Shops are usually cheaper but rates can vary greatly. A deposit is always required. Bicycles must be parked in the special bike parking areas, which are guarded and are very inexpensive (RMB0.20). Bringing one’s own cycle lock is recommended. ______________- Beijing Culture Guide Beijing Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com Many Chinese art forms date back hundreds of years, however most strain to survive following the 1949 Communist revolution. Artists were organised into associations, meaning that the Party controlled every aspect, both administrative and creative. Travelling theatre, music and dance groups were created to deliver the Party's message to the population together with teams of projectionists screening reels of ideological films. Plays written prior to the 1950s, films with human interest and the Beijing Opera were quelled and their creators persecuted until the end of the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s. Presently, many pre-Cultural Revolution art forms are performed on a regular basis, as well as modern versions, which celebrate current, ancient, and ethnic differences. As is expected from a capital city, Beijing is the leader of China's cultural revival, and many teahouses have just recently reappeared in the capital that present a variety of Beijing Opera, acrobatics and martial arts and serve delicious tea and cakes. Western influences have espoused to change traditional Chinese art forms into contemporary pieces and the theatrical scene is quickly changing. A recent advancement has been a fashion for Chinese versions of Western plays, such as (most recently) Whose Wife is it Anyway, or local dramatists trying foreign styles, such as Absurdist theatre, or imitating influential playwrights, such as Samuel Beckett. Also, Western music and dance is now performed, and also, international acts often visit the city. The Beijing Concert Hall offers both Chinese and Western music, whereas the Zhengyici Theatre presents primarily Chinese productions. Also well worth seeing is traditional Chinese acrobatics, which have existed in China for over two thousand years and include anything from gymnastics and animal tricks to juggling and magic. The style could be vaudeville, but performances are truly amazing, with awe-inspiring feats. Tickets for various events can be purchased from Webtix (tel: (10) 6592-8449 or 6594-9460). Music The Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Bei Xinhua Jie (tel: (10) 6605-5812), just off Xi Chang’an Jie, is devoted to classical music, with regularly scheduled concerts by Beijing’s resident orchestra, as well as visiting orchestras from all over China and overseas. Beijing Opera is still quite popular and the best place to see it is Zhengyici Theatre, located at 220 Qian Men Xi He Yan Jie (tel: (10) 6303-3104), an easy walk from Heping Men subway station. Constructed in the 17th century, the theatre was originally a Ming Dynasty temple prior to being converted by some of the founding artists of the Beijing Opera company. Evening performances are presented place at 1930 at the Liyuan Theatre in the Jianguo Hotel, 175 Yongan Road. Theatre Spoken drama has only been a part of Chinese theatres during this century. The People’s Art Theatre in Beijing became its primary home and, prior to the Cultural Revolution, presented European plays that had a clear social message. The past ten years has seen a total turnabout, with the People’s Art Theatre, reformed in 1979, establishing its reputation with a presentation of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. They along with other companies perform at the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, (in the Capital Theatre), 22 Wangfujing Dajie (tel: (10) 6513-5801). Theatre will receive a significant boost in Beijing in 2003 when China’s first National Theatre is scheduled to open at Xi Chang’an Jie, just west of the Great Hall of the People. Teahouses Traditional theatre, such as story-telling with musical accompaniment, magic shows and acrobatics, is staged daily at the Lao She Chaguan, 2nd Floor, Da Wancha Building, 3 Qian Men Xi Jie (tel: (10) 6303- 6830), and at the Tianqiao Happy Teahouse, 113 Tianqiao Nandajie (tel: (10) 6303-9013). Acrobatics The most famous venue is the Wan Sheng Theatre, Bei Wei Lu, just west of the Tianqiao Happy Teahouse (tel: (10) 6303-7449). Nightly shows are also presented at the Chaoyang Theatre, 36 Dong San Huan Bei Lu (tel: (10) 6507 2421), and Universal Theater, 10 Dongzhimennan Dajie (tel: (10) 6502 3984). Performances at all venues begin at 1915. Film Many movie theatres in Beijing are devoted to satisfying a seemingly insatiable appetite for kung fu movies, although there is plenty of occasion to enjoy the serious and fairly controversial movies emerging from a new breed of younger film-makers. Foreign films are primarily dubbed and carefully censored by the authorities prior to being released to the public. A well known, central cinema is the Capital Cinema, 46 Xi Chang’an Jie (tel: (10) 6605-5510). The Sun Dong An Cinema City, 138 Wangfujing Dajie (tel: (10) 6528-1988), shows major American films. Beijing’s appeal for movie directors as a sweeping, cinematic panorama was most exquisitely demonstrated by Bernardo Bertolucci in his famous 1987 epic, The Last Emperor. Set in an old Beijing bathhouse, which is in danger by developers who want to convert it into a shopping complex, Zhang Yang’s 1999 film, Shower, depicts the tension between tradition and the dictates of commerce in modern Beijing. Farewell My Concubine (1993) is an amazing epic spanning 50 years of modern Chinese history including the Cultural Revolution and depicts the relationship between two friends coming of age in the world of Beijing Opera. It was an international success for the director Chen Kaige. A very funny film set in modern-day Beijing is Sorry Baby (1999) directed by Feng Xiao Gang, a story about a feud between a rich businessman and his driver. Cultural Events The Chinese New Year, ( late January or early February), is the most important holiday of the year. The anticipation and build up to the festival is as frantic as Christmas is in the West, with parties, the exchanging of presents, and houses and streets decorated with lights. Most Chinese celebrate the beginning of the New Year with their families. The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place in September or early October and is celebrated by displaying lanterns in many different shapes, such as animals, and by eating the traditional moon cakes made of ground lotus, sesame and egg. Literary Notes There is a funny joke in the most recent novel by the Chinese-American writer, Amy Tan – The Bonesetter’s Daughter (2001). A Chinese character from the book gives the following dismissive appraisal to a Westerner who is captivated by Beijing’s Forbidden City: ‘In those day, so many thing forbidden, can’t see. Now everyone pay money see forbidden thing. You say this forbidden that forbidden, charge extra.’ This says it all about current Chinese attitude towards Beijing where reverence towards the city because its history and tradition is geared very much to the effort of earning money. Many highly acclaimed contemporary works of fiction that explore China’s turbulent history and the effect of the Cultural Revolution have become international bestsellers, most notably Half of Man is Woman (1985), an autobiographical depiction of life in a labour camp by Zhang Xiangliang. Lauded as the Chinese Milan Kundera, Xianliang was born in Nanjing in 1936 and educated in Beijing. Additional celebrated novels include Wild Swans (1991) by Jung Chan and Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (1989). Lu Xun (1881-1936) is well known as the father of modern Chinese literature. His story, A Madman’s Diary (1918), is noted as the first story written in modern, colloquial Chinese – particularly in the language spoken by the masses instead of the classic literary language. Lu Xun embellished the early Communist movement and continues to be regarded as a hero by the authorities. The small house he lived in from 1912 to 1926 in beijing can still be seen near a museum (open Tues-Sun 09:00-15:30) devoted to his life and work at a hutong just off Fucheng Men Dajie, close to Fucheng Men subway station. However, for a modern Beijing-based writer who marks a change from the serious tradition of social and political responsibility embraced by the Communist Party, there is Wang Shuo. Dubbed the ‘Chinese Jack Kerouac’ for his mockery of almost every facet of Chinese life, delivered in a savvy Beijing slang, his novel Please Don’t Call Me Human (1989) is probably the finest introduction to his work for foreign readers. Written following the Tiananmen massacre, the book wickedly lampoons the state security machine and its need to mold the individual into serving the interests of the nation. ________ Beijing International Airport Beijing International Airport - TravelPuppy.com Capital International Airport (PEK) Tel: (10) 6456-3604. Beijing’s Capital Airport is situated 28km (17 miles) northeast of the city centre. In September 1999 the new international terminal opened to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and today serves 23 domestic airlines and 38 foreign airlines flying more than 54 international routes. Major airlines Air China (tel: (10) 6601-3336 (domestic) or 6601-6667 (international); fax: (10) 6456-3831) is the national airline. Domestic airlines include: China Eastern Airlines (tel: (10) 6468-1166), China Southwest Airlines (tel: (10) 6601-7579), China Southern Airlines (tel: (10) 6553-3623), China Northern Airlines (tel: (10) 6601-7594) and China Northwest Airlines (tel: (10) 6601-7589). Additional major carriers include: British Airways, Air France, Garuda Indonesia, Canadian Airlines, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Lufthansa, Thai International, SAS, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines. Approximate flight times To Beijing from: London: 9 hours 45 minutes New York: 14 hours 40 minutes Los Angeles: 12 hours 30 minutes Toronto: 16 hours 20 minutes Sydney: 13 hours 30 minutes Airport facilities These include ATM, bureaux de change, duty free and other shops, restaurants, cafés, left-luggage and tourist information. Business facilities There are four business centres located in the airport, three in the domestic area and one in the international section on the second floor. All offer Internet facilities and are open whenever there are departing or arriving. Departure tax RMB50 (domestic flights) or RMB90 (international flights) payable in cash (only Chinese currency accepted) on departure. Transport to the city Metered taxis operate from the airport. The fare will be RMB100-150 including toll (travel time – 60 minutes). The Airport-City Shuttle Bus departs every 1/2 hour from outside Arrivals and buses take three routes into the city – the most popular is to Xidan in central Beijing, an easy walk from the Forbidden City. The other routes are to Gongzhufen in western Beijing and to Zhongguancun in the northwest district. The fare is RMB16 (travel time – 45 minutes). ____________ Beijing Nightlife Beijing Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com Beijing’s entertainment and nightlife scene is presently experiencing something of a revolution, as modern Beijingers, who have recently acquired some disposable income and living through fairly liberal times, search for new outlets for having fun. During the 1990s, many new nightclubs opened up to serve a chic and wealthy clientele and new ones continue to open all the time. The music at these Western-style clubs covers a wide spectrum, with techno and house being very popular with both locals and tourists. Many nightclubs are open nightly until the early morning and charge an entrance fee of RMB100-200. The most popular bar area ( frequented lots of by foreigners) is Sanlitun, situated in the northeast of the city. All the bars here serve draught beer at Western prices, and are usually much livelier than any of the hotel bars. Other places are located on Xinjiang Kou, a street full of restaurants, which is a great place to go on hot summer nights. Most bars stay open until around midnight but are liveliest around 2200. Specifics of events (including gigs) are published in the city’s guide Beijing This Month or on the Xianzai Beijing. China Now also lists clubs, bars, and live music venues and the Beijing entertainment guide, City Weekend, has information and is published every two weeks. Bars Located in Tuanjiehu Park is the ever-popular Old Poachers Inn, 7 Sanlitun Lu. Deservedly Beijing’s most popular bar, this ex-pat watering hole is more English than most pubs in England, but, it is accessible, casual and comfortable. It is quite popular on Thursdays, when a jazz band plays, and also on Friday and Saturday when the attached club holds a disco. Durty Nellie’s is a friendly Irish pub on Sanlitun Lu offering live music and excellent beer. Sgt Pepper’s, located at the west gate of Chaoyang Park, is a layed back place to relax on a rooftop beer garden and pool table. Very popular with ex-pats is the Goose and Duck Pub, also at the west gate of Chaoyang Park, with a beer garden out front. The Pig and Thistle, Holiday Inn Lido, Jichang Lu, is another English-style pub. Casinos Casinos are illegal in China. Clubs Among the newest nightclubs in Beijing is the Heaven Star, Jianguomennei, with a huge dance floor and a quieter bar. Beijing’s most chic club is JJ’s, Xinjiekou Bei Dajie, a cavernous club with lasers, a sci-fi theme and scantily dressed Russian dancing girls; imported British DJs play a mix of techno, house and reggae. Kiss Super Club, 35 Xue Yun Lu, is a huge club boasting two dance floors and a booming sound system pumping out techno and house. Orange, 2-10 Xingfu Yicun, across from the Workers’ Stadium north gate, is a fairly new club popular for its retro interior. Resident and guest DJs play mostly techno and trance with some hip hop. Neo Lounge, 99 Xingfu Cun Zhong, Chaoyang District, is a slick, elegant club with minimalist decor playing house, trance and hip hop. Live music Live bands play nightly at the May Flower Bar, Chang’an Boulevard, playing mainly pop songs in Chinese, sometimes English. The CD Café, East Third Ring Road, was at one time dedicated to jazz but now offers more underground music. For a more authentic experience, the Sanwei Bookstore, 60 Fuxingmennei Dajie, offers light jazz and Chinese folk music and is popular with ex-pats and arty Chinese. Music The Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Bei Xinhua Jie (tel: (10) 6605-5812), just off Xi Chang’an Jie, is devoted to classical music, staging regular concerts by Beijing’s resident orchestra, and also visiting orchestras from the rest of China and overseas. Beijing Opera is still quite popular and the best place to see it is Zhengyici Theatre, 220 Qian Men Xi He Yan Jie (tel: (10) 6303-3104), an easy walk from Heping Men subway station. Constructed in the 17th century, the theatre was originally a Ming Dynasty temple prior to being converted by the founding artists of the Beijing Opera company. Performances are also held nightly at 1930 at the Liyuan Theatre in the Jianguo Hotel, 175 Yongan Road. Theatre Spoken drama was only launched into Chinese theatres this century. The People’s Art Theatre in Beijing became its most well-known home and, prior to the Cultural Revolution, presented European plays that had a clear social message. The last ten years has seen a total turn around, with the People’s Art Theatre, reassembled in 1979, making its reputation with a performance of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. They and additional companies perform at the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, (in the Capital Theatre), 22 Wangfujing Dajie (tel: (10) 6513-5801). Theatre will receive a big lift in Beijing in 2003 when China’s first National Theatre is due to open at Xi Chang’an Jie, just west of the Great Hall of the People. Teahouses Traditional theatre, such as story-telling to musical accompaniment, acrobatics and magic shows, are staged daily at the Lao She Chaguan, 2nd Floor, Da Wancha Building, 3 Qian Men Xi Jie (tel: (10) 6303- 6830), and also at the Tianqiao Happy Teahouse, 113 Tianqiao Nandajie (tel: (10) 6303-9013). Film Many cinemas in Beijing are devoted to satisfying a seemingly insatiable appetite for kung fu movies, although there is ample opportunity to see the serious and fairly controversial films emerging from a new wave of younger film-makers. Foreign films are usually dubbed and meticulously censored by the Government prior to being released. A well known, central cinema is the Capital Cinema, 46 Xi Chang’an Jie (tel: (10) 6605-5510). The Sun Dong An Cinema City, 138 Wangfujing Dajie (tel: (10) 6528-1988), screens major films from the USA. Beijing’s appeal for film directors as a sweeping, cinematic panorama was most exquisitely presented by Bernardo Bertolucci in his renowned 1987 epic, The Last Emperor. Set in an old Beijing bathhouse, which is now under threat by developers who would like to turn it into a shopping complex, Zhang Yang’s 1999 film, Shower, depicts the tension between tradition and the dictates of commerce in modern Beijing. Farewell My Concubine (1993) is an amazing epic covering 50 years of modern Chinese history including the Cultural Revolution and is a story about the relationship between two friends coming of age in the world of Beijing Opera. It was an international success for the director Chen Kaige. A very funny movie set in modern-day Beijing is Sorry Baby (1999) directed by Feng Xiao Gang, about a feud between a rich businessman and his chauffeur. Cultural events The Chinese New Year, which is celebrated either in late January or early February, is the most important holiday of the year. The anticipation and build-up to the festival is as frantic as Christmas is in the West, with parties, the exchanging of presents,, and houses and streets decorated with lights. Most Chinese celebrate the beginning of the New Year with their families. The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place in September or early October and is celebrated by displaying lanterns in various shapes, such as animals, and by eating the traditional moon cakes made of ground lotus, sesame and egg. ____________ Beijing Shopping Beijing Shopping Guide - TravelPuppy.com The opening up of Beijing to the west has had a huge impact on shopping. A wide variety of consumer items– both local and imported – are now available and bargains can be found throughout the city. The main shopping area is situated around Wangfujing Dajie, where there are many department stores, including the Beijing Department Store, which mainly caters for the Chinese market. Many shopping malls have international and upmarket shops. The best clothing shops are located on Dong Dan Bei Dajie, as well as Silk Alley, Xiushui Dong Jie off Jianguomenwai Dajie, where there are also silk stalls. Here, prices are displayed but it is worth it to haggle. The famous Friendship Store is just along the road, which has several floors of tourist souvenirs, jewellery, laquerware, clothes, carpets, and Chinese tea. Today the long-established markets in the city compete with many modern shopping malls, the most glamorous is the Lufthansa Centre, Liangma Qiao Lu, with its large number of international shops and snack bars. Another good shopping mall is the Xidan Shopping Centre, Xidan Bei Dajie, with shops offering a variety of food, electronic goods, jewellery, and clothes. Antique collectors should head for Liulichang, a short walk south of Heping Men subway station. This market is loaded with ancient-style shops, refurbished in a traditional way and offering an astounding variety of antiques and curios. The antiques more than 100 years old are marked with a red wax seal and an export licence must be obtained before taking them out of the country. The weekend market at Panjiayuan Jiuhuo Shichang is a huge, open-air place with excellent bargains on items such as jade, pottery, wood paneling, and bric-a-brac. Most shops hours are daily 09:00-20:00. There is no sales tax in China. Useful travel links ____________ Beijing Sightseeing Beijing Sightseeing Guide - TravelPuppy.com Overview Over the centuries, Beijing has endured the effects of war and revolution, extensive industrialisation and a building upsurge to satisfy the demands of a growing, modern city. Skyscrapers dwarf colourful temples and the intimate courtyards of the hutongs, ande traffic moves at a snail's pace along the streets surrounding peaceful parks. Beijing was once a walled city but little remains today apart from the grand Tiananmen and Qianmen gates, situated at either end of Tiananmen Square. The imposing square houses the Great Hall of the People, China’s parliament, the Mao Tse Tung Memorial Hall, where the body of Chairman Mao lies, and the Monument to the People’s Heroes, an obelisk depicting significant events of the revolution. Beijing’s main attractions are listed below, however the city and its environs are culturally and historically rich. If time permits, it is worth visiting the Old Observatory. Founded by Kublai Khan, it is presently a museum with a huge collection of Ming and Qing dynasty bronze astronomical instruments. The Beijing Zoo, is the world famous home of the giant pandas and is well worth a visit. Outside the centre, most visitors go to Badaling (see Excursions) to walk on the Great Wall but another area is Mutianyu, to the northeast of the city, which has fabulous views. It is worth including Zhou Kou Dian (Peking Man Site), 48 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of Beijing, the site where 200,000 and 500,000 year old skulls were found in 1929. The original fossils were misplaced during World War II, however there is an interesting museum with many implements and animal bones dating from that period. Tourist Information There is not a walk-in tourist office in Beijing however information can be acquired from two main travel agencies, the China International Travel Service and the China Travel Service. China International Travel Service (CITS) Fuxingmennei Avenue Tel: (10) 6601-1122 or 8292. Web site: www.cits.net China Travel Service (CTS) 2 Beisanhaun East Road Tel: (10) 6462-2288. For information and emergencies there is a 24-hour tourist telephone hotline (tel: (10) 6513-0828). Passes There are no tourist passes offered in Beijing. Key Attractions Tiananmen Square Situated at the heart of cosmopolitan Beijing – the location of many historic events – Tiananmen Square was refurbished during the first half of 1999, to prepare for the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. There are now two green areas, trees and subtle ground-level lighting. Attractions include the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where Mao Tse Tung’s preserved body is displayed, the Museum of the Revolution and the Great Hall of the People. Transport: Subway Qian Men and several buses. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 08:30-11:30, plus 14:00-16:00 Tues and Thursday (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall); daily 08:30-15:30 (Museum of the Revolution); varies for Great Hall of the People. Admission: Free (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall); RMB30 (Museum of the Revolution); RMB30 (Great Hall of the People). Forbidden City Constructed in the 15th century, the Forbidden City (or Palace Museum) is a sprawling complex with courtyards, pavilions, halls, and gardens, which once housed 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today it houses a huge collection of priceless relics, including paintings, bronzes and ancient pottery, and is one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city. Tiananmen Square Tel: (10) 6513-2255. Web site: www.dpm.org.cn Transport: Subway Qian Men. Opening hours: Daily 08:30-17:00 (10 Apr-14 Oct); 08:30-16:30 (15 Oct-31 Mar). Admission: RMB30. Temple of Heaven Just south of Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven (situated within Temple of Heaven Park), is China’s biggest temple complex, constructed in the 15th century and used for praying by the emperor to request good harvests. The architecture is exquisite and the roofs are adorned with blue glazed tiles. The grounds of this UNESCO World Heritage Site also boasts the Echo Wall, which carries the tiniest whisper. Tian Tan Lu (north gate entrance) Tel: (10) 6702-8866. Transport: Subway Qianmen. Opening hours: Daily 08:30-17:30; daily 06:00-20:00 (park). Admission: RMB15. Lama Temple Northeast of the city, the Lama Temple, constructed in the late 17th century, was a centre of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism. Presently, there are approximately 70 monks (or lamas) in residence. The temple is a series of halls, linked by courtyards. An impressive 18 metre (59 feet) Maitreya, carved out of a single sandalwood tree, stands in the furthermost hall, and is accessible to the public. Yonghe Gong Dajie Tel: (10) 6904-4494. Transport: Subway Yonghe Gong Opening hours: Daily 09:00-16:30. Admission: RMB20. Drum Tower and Bell Tower Every Chinese city at one time had drum and bell towers which were used to inform citizens of the time of day and to declare curfews. The Beijing Drum Tower, in the north section of the city, was originally constructed in the 13th century and reconstructed in approximately 1420 when the Bell Tower was originally built. The towers, which are very different in style, offer excellent views of Beijing. Di’an Men Wai Dajie Transport: Subway Gulou Dajie. Opening hours: Daily 09:00-17:30. Admission: RMB10 each. Further Distractions Beihai Park Beihai Lake sprawls over almost half of the 67-hectare (168-acre) Beihai Park and is a popular location for skating in winter and boating in summer. Qiong Hua Island (Jade Flowering Island), situated at the southern end of the lake, can be reached by an arched marble bridge and houses a Tibetan Buddhist shrine (the White Dagoba) and the Temple of Eternal Peace. Wenjin Jie Transport: Subway Tiananmen Xi. Opening hours: Daily 06:00-21:00 (park); daily 09:00-16:00 (halls and temples). Admission: RMB5 (park); RMB10 (park and temples). Jingshan (Prospect Park) Just to the north of the Forbidden City, Jingshan contains a hill, known as Coal Hill, which boasts amazing views of the golden rooftops of the imperial buildings. 1 of the 5 pavilions on the summit –Wan Chun Ting (Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs) – was once the highest point in the city. Jingshan Qian Jie Transport: Subway Tiananmen Xi or Tiananmen Dong. Opening hours: Daily 06:00-21:30. Admission: RMB2. |