Passport/Visa Requirements: Passport, visa and proof of onward passage are needed by Canadian and U.S. citizens. There is an airport departure tax (called a "construction tax") of 50 yuan for domestic flights and 90 yuan for international flights (including flights to Hong Kong) built into the fares. Do not pay a departure tax at your hotel or the airport. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Languages: Mandarin, also known as Putonghua. Beyond the major hotels you'll find few people, including taxi drivers, who speak English well. It's wise to have your destination written in Chinese characters. If you're leaving from a hotel, often the hotel staff can tell your driver your destination in Chinese.
Predominant Religions: Officially atheist, but Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Lamaists and Christians practice.
Time Zone: 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+8 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts, 50 cycles. There is no standard electrical outlet, although the outlet for three-prong plugs is the most common in hotels. Hotels usually have prong adapters but no voltage transformers, except for the ones built into the outlets for electric shavers and hair dryers.
Telephone Codes: 86, country code; 10,city code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
The local currency is the renminbi (RMB for short), also known as the yuan. The RMB is no longer tied to the value of the American dollar and has been rising steadily against it.
Exchange rates in China are set by the Bank of China and do not vary by location (the exchange rate at a hotel will be the same as at a bank). Most exchange outlets will give a slightly better rate for traveler's checks or credit cards than for cash.
Save any currency-exchange receipts you receive while in China. You'll need them to convert yuan back into other hard currencies upon your departure—which can now be done only at the airport. Without receipts, you have no proof that the yuan you are carrying were not illegally earned in China, and the bank will not change them back. To minimize leftover yuan upon departure, travelers may wish to change money frequently during their stay rather than to do so in one lump sum at the beginning.
Although Beijing has a proliferation of ATMs, it's best not to rely on them, because they are not always connected to international banking networks, and on weekends they are often not refilled. Many, however, are now able to calculate the current exchange rate and dispense money from U.S. accounts in local currency. (Machines that accept foreign ATM cards bear the CIRRUS or MAESTRO logos.) It is still best to have plenty of cash on hand.
There is a sales tax and a value-added tax (VAT), but both are included in the price of goods.
Hotel porters expect 10 yuan for carrying your bags to a hotel room or taxi. Chinese tour guides have also become accustomed to receiving a gratuity at the end of a trip. However, tipping elsewhere is not expected and may even be construed as offensive. Some restaurants add a 15% service charge, which is sufficient to cover any gratuity. Do not tip beyond that.
Beijing is renowned for its pleasant springs (65-75 F/18-24 C) and brisk falls (50s F/10-15 C). Summers are hot, with temperatures ranging 85-95 F/30-35 C. Winters can be extremely cold and dry, especially when Siberian winds blow in from the north. Expect frequent temperatures below freezing. Beijing's rainy season is in June and July. Be prepared for dust and sand storms at almost any time, but especially in early spring.
| Weather Forecast | Top  |
Weather forecast not available at this time.
| What to Wear | Top |
Chinese urban fashions are becoming increasingly aligned to those of Western cities. Except in business settings, dress is relatively casual in Beijing and is becoming more so every year. It's perfectly acceptable for women to wear shorts in the summer. For business, men wear suits and ties and women wear dresses or suits. Women commonly wear boots in winter, even for business.
| Communication | Top |
| Internet Access | Top |
Internet cafes became hugely popular in Beijing during the late 1990s. At one time there were more than 2,400 such establishments in the city. All that came to an end in 2001 when a fire at one cafe resulted in the deaths of dozens of users. The government immediately clamped down, and many cafes were shut down.
In recent years, the number of cafes has started to increase again, and there are now some large fancy ones in Chaoyang and Haidian districts, particularly near the Buynow computer center in Chaoyang (Bainao hui in Chinese), and some very cool Wi-fi cafes along the Nanluoguxiang hutong district. Most Starbucks now have wireless access, as do many of the larger hotels and some individual bars and cafes around town. Bookworm Cafe, for example, is a Wi-Fi center, attracting journalists, students and tourists. Your best bet is to check with your hotel in advance to see if they provide this service. The typical charge is 2 yuan per minute, with a 15-minute minimum, although many Chinese-owned hotels offer ADSL and Wi-Fi free of charge.
Many restaurants and bars offer free wireless Internet access. For a list of locations in Beijing, visit http://www.chinapulse.com/wifi.
| Mail & Package Services | Top |
The mail service is generally reliable for sending items out of China, although it can sometimes be difficult to receive items. Most hotels sell stamps and mail letters for their guests.
The main office of the Chinese postal service offers express domestic and international package delivery with its EMS service. Rates are comparable to private package-delivery services. Every branch will accept packages for express shipment. At the main international post office, the customs desk is open 9-11:30 am and 1-4 pm. All packages must be inspected before shipping, and no inspection is available outside of those hours. Two other branches are at the Holiday Inn Lido Hotel and the China World Trade Center. Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm. (The customs desk is open till 5 pm.) Second Ring Road (on the east side of the road, north of the Jianguomenwai intersection), Beijing. Phone 6512-8120.
| Newspapers & Magazines | Top |
Local English-language newspapers include the state-run
China Daily, weekly
Beijing Weekend and
Beijing This Week. All state-run publications are carried by hotel newsstands, bars and restaurants around town. The
Asian Wall Street Journal is the most commonly read business journal. It can be found at major hotels and the Friendship Store newsstand.
The South China Morning Post, an English-language paper published in Hong Kong, is available in the evening at hotel newsstands. The International Herald Tribune is also available in the evening at hotel newsstands, along with USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the Sunday edition of The Times of London.
A handful of other publications cater to travelers and expatriates. Most notable are That's Beijing, Time Out Beijing, Beijing Talk and City Weekend, which list restaurants, bars, nightclubs, art galleries, and musical and cultural performances. These publications are free and can be found in hotels, stores, bars, nightclubs and cafes around town. Look out for the twice-yearly Beijing Culture & Shopping Highlights magazine, available in top hotels.
Telecommunications in China are generally excellent and getting even better, and you can get a signal even in very remote places. You can buy SIM cards in the airport, supermarkets and foreign stores, but don't be afraid to ask questions to make sure you get a good-value card. You must dial 010 for Beijing when using phone cards and when dialing from a cell phone. Blackberries and iPhones are also usable.
| Transportation | Top |
Although taxis are the simplest way to get around the city, getting into a taxi in Beijing requires preparation. Because drivers don't speak English, be sure you get the address or exact location of your destination written in Chinese and carry a map in English and Chinese that you can point to for your driver's reference. Simply show the directions to your driver, and there shouldn't be a problem. Be aware that some drivers act as if they aren't familiar with an area so that they can run up the meter or avoid taking you to a nearby location. Always make sure the driver uses the meter. Most cabs charge 1.6 yuan-2 yuan per 0.6 mi/1 kilometer, with a minimum charge of 10 yuan for the first 1.8 mi/3 km (the price increases to 11 yuan for the first 1.8 mi/3 km after 11 pm).
If you must be on the road during rush hours (7-9 am and 4-7 pm), allow plenty of time to get through traffic. Gridlock is increasingly common, and traveling across town can take as long as an hour.
Getting around by bicycle is an option. Although the traffic in Beijing is chaotic, many streets have bicycle lanes, and many of the major sights are within bicycling distance of each other. The city is incredibly flat, so a cheap, single-speed bicycle is all you need. (Mountain bikes are a favorite of thieves.) Most hotels rent bicycles for about 30-60 yuan a day. If yours does not, ask the concierge or front-desk staff to direct you to a company that does—there are many in the city. You may be asked to leave a deposit (about 300 yuan) or your passport. Be aware that because bike paths border roads, it's impossible to avoid exhaust fumes. If you have asthma or are prone to upper-respiratory infections, bicycling is probably not a good idea.
Because the city is so large and spread out, walking around Beijing requires time and stamina. Within some areas, walking is a viable option, but be aware that city blocks are quite long.
The bus system is extensive but extremely crowded, and the maps are available only in Chinese.
Beijing is investing 80 billion yuan to extend and upgrade its subway system, which is slated to be the world's longest—extending up to 348 mi/561 km—by 2015. There are currently five functioning lines—lines No. 1, 2, 5, 13 and the Batong Line, with five more under construction. Trains are regular, cheap and English signage is ubiquitous. http://www.bjsubway.com/ens/index.html.
The much-improved Beijing International Airport (BJS) is 17 mi/27 km northeast of the city center. A state-of-the-art terminal is currently under construction, designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster, who also designed Hong Kong's airport (currently the world's largest). The airport expansion is due to open in time for the 2008 Olympics.
The current airport has some amenities, including duty-free shopping, a food court, a Starbucks and a multistory parking garage. There are two main terminals for domestic and international flights, with connecting shuttle buses. The difference between the two is notable, and the domestic terminal strikes one more as a bus station with planes. Be aware that domestic flights frequently change gates, so check and recheck as your boarding time approaches. Plans are under way to construct a connecting high-speed subway line linking the airport with Dongzhimen in East Beijing by July 2008 that will take only seven minutes to get to and from the airport. As in Hong Kong, passengers will be able to check their luggage and go through customs there, instead of at the airport.
Connecting Transportation
Best way:
Arrange for your hotel to pick you up. Generally, the hotels nearer the airport offer courtesy vans, and those farther away will pick you up for a charge. If you plan on taking the courtesy van, let your hotel know in advance of your arrival time. It will be more expensive, but you'll be met by someone who speaks English and knows exactly where you are going.
Other options:
Taxis can be found at stands located outside the main door of the airport. Get in line for a vehicle—don't go with touts who approach you, because they're more likely to overcharge, and some have reportedly robbed passengers. The approximate fare to the downtown area is 100-120 yuan. In addition, there's a highway fee of 15 yuan that the driver pays that you must reimburse at the end of the journey. Note that drivers will sometimes try to negotiate a price with you without running the meter. You should insist on running the meter. If you have a complaint about a driver, take note of his driver number (shown on the placard on the dash) and tell your hotel. It can arrange to help you voice your complaint.
Visitors to China are permitted to drive only if they pass a Chinese driving test, but they usually don't. A Chinese driver's license is required to get behind the wheel, and the process is so cumbersome that no one (except those staying a long time) bothers with a rental car. Even residents with licenses shun intercity car travel because roads and facilities are inadequate (although this situation is also improving), and drivers in Beijing tend toward oblivious at best, insane at worst. Travelers can hire a car with a driver by the day or half-day at most major hotels (but not the airport). The cost of a hotel rental car with driver is 200 yuan-700 yuan per day.
This company rents cars with drivers from 300 yuan per day. Passengers are no longer expected to cover the driver's meals, but this should be clarified in advance. Phone 6461-4003.
| Public Transportation | Top |
Adventurous travelers will find the subway a good, cheap way to get around, but schedules and information are available only in Mandarin. There are five lines, and the three most-used lines are Line 2, which wraps around Beijing's center along the lines of the old city walls; Line 1, which goes out to the western suburbs; and Line 5, which runs north to south.
Entrances to the subways are square, gray, concrete structures marked with an encircled letter D, which stands for di xia tie lu (underground railway). Purchase a ticket (3 yuan) at the underground ticket booth before boarding. The Beijing Tourist Communication Map and the Beijing Touring Map, as well as others, show the routes of the two lines and their stops. Check http://www.urbanrail.net/as/beij/beijing.htm for a map of Beijing's subway lines. For operational information, visit http://www.bjsubway.com/ens/index.html.
The city bus system, although extensive, is only for the intrepid traveler. Buses are slow and almost unbearable—a contest to see how many people can cram into a small space. Maps, although essential to figuring out your route, are only in Chinese. If you use the bus, it's best to do so only for direct trips when you're sure of the bus route number. Ask hotel staff for assistance.
Taxis are plentiful in Beijing. You can hail one easily on the street, at a hotel or at other tourist spots. Requesting a taxi by phone is possible but usually unnecessary. Taxi drivers generally don't speak English, so take along the name of your destination written in Chinese and a map in English and Chinese so you can point to your destination.
Taxis operate 24 hours a day, and passengers may share a cab—the fare is the same, and passengers split the fare themselves. Taxi fares are set by law, according to the size, age and condition of the car. Taxis are rated 1.60 and 2.00 (flag fall is 10 yuan), the latter being found only in line at top hotels. Prices are posted on a green sticker on passenger doors. Rates rise at night. Carry small bills—10-yuan notes are good—because drivers often cannot make change. Tipping is not necessary.
Although we've generally found Beijing taxi drivers to be honest, some travelers are victimized by age-old cabbie scams—skewing the meter or driving around to increase the fare. Use basic precautions: Select a taxi from a taxi stand when possible, make sure the driver starts the meter after you get in and check the meter to see if it starts with the proper amount (10 yuan). If you have a problem with a driver, wait until you reach your hotel to handle it: Hotel staff will usually take your side.
Beijing has two main train stations: Beijing Station (Beijing Zhan) and Beijing West Station (Beijing Xi Zhan). Trains from the northeast and coastal areas (including Shanghai) arrive at Beijing Station, which is near the center of the city, south of Changanjieis, right above a subway stop. Trains from the west and south (including the express train from Hong Kong) arrive at Beijing West Station, the gargantuan station west of Fuxingmen. Take a taxi from this station to the city center. If you do not speak Mandarin, get someone who does to call for schedule information. You also may need help at the station because most signs are in Chinese.
| For More Information | Top |
| Additional Reading | Top |
Beijing: From Imperial Capital to Olympic City (Lillian Li, Alison Dray-Novey and Haili Kong). This 321-page tome, published in 2007, shares the Chinese capital's rich history, from the imperial origins through to the preparations for its Olympic destiny in 2008.
Insider's Guide to Beijing (Immersion Guides). This is a lively and comprehensive guide, produced by That's Beijing magazine, for anyone who plans a longer stay in the city, but it has lots of information for the short-term visitor, too. Includes advice about living in Beijing from a foreigner's perspective, and compiles work by 30 writers.
Beijing Excursion Guide (Immersion Guides). A useful guide put together by the That's Beijing team for visitors with a little more time and looking to venture beyond the capital. Strong on chatty narrative and historic context, it also pinpoints precise transportation options for each destination.
| Tourist Offices | Top |
The China National Tourist Office has offices in New York (toll-free 888-760-8218) and Los Angeles (toll-free 800-670-2228). Or visit http://www.cnto.org.
Complaints about bad service from tour companies can be directed to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the Beijing Tourism Bureau's 24-hour Tourism Service Quality Supervision and Control Office hotline at 6513-0828. English-speaking operators are available.
This organization provides tourist publications such as
Touring in Beijing—but the staff is not exceptionally helpful, and most of the brochures are in Chinese. You're better off asking your hotel to arrange tours and travel. Offers a 24-hour Tourism Service Quality Supervision and Control Office hotline (in concert with Beijing Tourism Bureau). English-speaking operators are available. Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 am and 1:30-5 pm. 28 Jianguomenwai Dajie (in the Beijing Tourism Tower), Beijing. Phone 8516-2288. http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn.
This is the national, multipurpose tourist board and travel agency. The staff will arrange tours (expensive) and tickets for plane and bus travel. Daily 8 am-8 pm. 1 Dongdan Bei Dajie (655 ft/200 m east of the Peninsula Plaza Hotel, Wangfu Fandia), Beijing. Phone 8522-7948. http://www.cits.com.cn.
