Beijing

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 39.90601
• Longitude: 116.387909

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• 82 Beijing Hostels
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Introduction

Mao is still watching the Forbidden City

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Beijing (北京), the capital of China, is looking much more into the future than into the past. Nowadays, it is a city crowded with tourists from China and all over the world. But just a stone's throw away in the past, the city was hardly ever visited by any foreigners. Since 1989, many things have changed and Beijing has been growing into a huge metropolitan area with around 16 million people living on a vast, expanding area. The old residential neighbourhoods, the Hutongs, have been almost entirely replaced by apartment buildings and shopping malls and the road system seems to change almost every day!

The city doesn't look as modern as Hong Kong or Shanghai, but it remains one of the most important cities in China from a cultural and political standpoint. The Forbidden Palace, in front of Tiananmen square, is a good example; but hidden between the high rise buildings and 10-lane motorways are some other magnificent examples of culture and religion, like the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha.

Close to the city are other significant historical attractions like the Ming Tombs and of course the biggest structure on earth ever built by humans: The Great Wall of China.

All these attractions deserve at least a week to visit; that is if you don't want to taste all the delicious food you can get in Beijing!

Neighborhoods

Beijing's neighborhoods are quite confusing and informal. In general everything inside the 2nd ring road is considered the city center. The more formal system is the districts. There are districts in Beijing City and also in the greater Beijing area. The eight urban districts in Beijing are Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Chongwen District, Xuanwu District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Fengtai District and Shijingshan District.

Sights and Activities

Beijing

© All Rights Reserved Q'

Tiananmen Area

• Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) is the main square in Beijing. If up in the early morning, a great activity is to watch the flag raising at sunrise.
• The Forbidden City (紫禁城) was the winter palace to the Emperor from the Ming Dynasty till the Republic. Be aware that the Forbidden City is under renovation with signs stating that they would be ongoing until 2020, they have reduced the entrance price to reflect this but several of the major halls are off limits. Entrance price in November 2007 was 45 RMB.
• The Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) is where the peoples congress meets. If you're interested in communist architecture this is a must see sight.
• Chairman Mao Mausoleum is in the middle of Tiananmen Square and is where Mao's body lies. It is also one of the few sights in China that is actually free to enter!

South of the City Center

• The Temple of Heaven (天坛公园) is a stunning temple where the Emperor would go to pray to the gods for good times. The Temple of Heaven is located in the Temple of Heaven Park and there are several other interesting sights there that date back to the Qing and Ming dynasty. To enter the park is only 10 RMB, for a ticket that allows you to see all the sights is around 100 RMB.
• The Pearl Market is located at Hongqiao Shichang, just across from the east gate of the Temple Heaven Park and is open from 8:30 am to 7 pm. If looking for cheap to expensive jewelry (especially pearls), electronics, clothes and maybe some antiques this is the place to go. Bargaining is a must, be prepared for some crazy mark ups. In the basement there is a live seafood market that is worth checking out.

North of the City Center

• Beihai Park (北海公园) is a nice park north of the Forbidden City. There are several bars and restaurants located around the southern lakes. The northern lakes enter very quiet hutong neighborhoods and locals can be spotted fishing in the lakes.
• The Summer Palace (颐和园) - Is a stunning palace with an amazing lake. The palace is about 12 kms outside of Beijing.
• Great Wall of China is one of the most famous sights in China and very easy to get to from Beijing. Remember to choose a section of the Great Wall that will make you happy because the different sections can be completely different.
• Hutongs are the old residential neighborhood which are narrow chaotic and lots of fun. Slowly disappearing in the name of development many people around the world are calling for their preservation. Luckily some areas have been saved but many of the hutongs are losing their working class feel as the land is just becoming too valuable. Many wealthier Chinese are buying the traditional homes from the Qing and Ming dynasty that were divided up under the communist to rebuild grand mansions. This time with indoor plumbing, air conditioning and garages.

West of the City Center

• Miaoying Temple Dagoba is a nice Yuan Dynasty temple located at Fuchengmennei Dajie, open 9 am to 4 pm. The highlight of this temple is the large collection of Tibetan style bronzes and statues. There are decent English translations.

East of the City Center

• Dongyue Temple (东岳庙) is located at 141 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, open 9 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday-Sunday. This a very nice traditional Taoist temple and has good English translations. There are several Taoist Hades ranging from the Department for Wandering Ghosts to the Department of Hell. The best time to visit is during Chinese New Year.
• Xiushui Silk Market is located on Xiushui Shichang right off of Jianguomenwai Dajie near the Jianguomenwai subway stop. This market is a clothes shoppers dreams. It has everything from the finest silks to the best knock-off designer goods. Bargaining is a necessary here but very difficult because of the all tourists that forget to do it. Just be prepared walk away a couple of times or come early in the morning. There are a lot of pickpockets at the Silk Market so watch your belongings closely.

Events and Festivals

Beijing countdown clock

© All Rights Reserved loubylou

• Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year (as it is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar), signifies the beginning of a new year for the Chinese. The next New Year is on 14 February 2010, when the Year of the Tiger commences.
• Beijing Pop Festival is an annual festival of international and Chinese pop and rock acts at Chaoyang Park.
• Beijing International Marathon, held annually in October, is one of China’s most prestigious international races, notably for its start at the Tiananmen Square.
• Mid-autumn Festival (中秋节 zhōng qiū jié) is a harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese for over 3000 years. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around mid or late September. Remember it is tradition to eat mooncakes, just watch out for the spicy ones or the ones with shredded pork on the inside.
• National Day, on 1 October, celebrates the day the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

Weather

Except for the summer months, it usually is pretty dry in Beijing. Summer months can be very hot with temperatures up to 40 °C. Winter months on the other hand can be bitterly cold with temperatures below -15 °C at night. The best times to visit the city are the spring months of April and May and autumn (October).

Getting There

By Plane

The Beijing Capital International Airport (北京飞机站) (PEK), the city's main airport, is about 20 km northeast of the city center. It is the sole hub for Air China and also a hub for Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Getting to and from the airport can be interesting. There are several buses to different areas of Beijing including the Beijing International Hotel. These buses range in price although are usually around 20 to 40 rmb. There is even a direct bus to the neighboring city of Tianjin. A taxi should cost between 60 to 100 rmb depending on traffic and where in Beijing someone goes.

By Train

Busy station

© All Rights Reserved UStravel23

There are two main train stations in Beijing. Between these two train stations you can get direct trains to almost every major city in China. There are also several international trains to cities including Moscow, Ulan Bator and Hanoi. There is even talk of creating a direct train to Kazakhstan. For more information read the articles Trans-Siberian Railway and International trains. Remember both of these train stations are pretty far from each other so double check your ticket before grabbing a taxi. Many popular destinations, such as Xi'an, have daily departures from both of the main train stations. There is also one train a day to Lhasa, depending on the time of the year.

All of the train stations can seem pretty crazy most of the year round. It might be worth having your hostel or hotel book a ticket for you instead of making the trip yourself. It is easy to lose half a day trying to buy tickets at a Beijing train station. Or buy tickets for your next city when you arrive in Beijing instead of making a separate trip.

• Beijing Train Station (北京火车站) is the main train station in Beijing. The train station looks like it is straight out of a communist text book and is massive in scale. It is located slightly east of the city center and has subway access on line 1 (or the circle line) at the Beijing Zhan stop. This train station has international trains to Moscow and Ulan Bator. Remember there is a ticket office for foreigners in the northwest corner of the 1st floor.
• Beijing West Train Station (北京火车西站) is also a very important train station in Beijing. This train station has a neo-imperial Chinese architectural style to it. Most of the trains going to the west of China leave out this train station. This train station is located pretty far west of the city center so give plenty of time to travel there. Many of the trains going to Vietnam or Hong Kong leave from this station. There is a ticket office for foreigners on the 2nd floor that is open 24 hours a day. If you're craving one last Western fix before heading out into the sticks of China, there is a McDonalds in the waiting area.
• Beijing South Train Station (北京火车南站) or Beijing North Train Station (北京火车北站) also has trains to cities closer to Beijing. Both of these train stations are located on the Second Ring Road.

By Car

There are several expressways leading to and from Beijing. Most of them are toll roads and the tolls cost as much as European tolls. Because of this there tends to be little traffic on the expressways. At night be prepared for lots and lots of big industrial trucks. A driver can take side roads to avoid the tolls but this is technically illegal. Many small towns will charge an unofficial toll if you drive through their town, which is a fraction of the expressway toll.

By Bus

There are over 12 bus stations in Beijing. The best thing to do is to ask someone, at your hotel or hostel, what bus station you should go to for which city. It is pretty easy to buy bus tickets day of. Rarely you might need to buy a bus ticket the day before.

By Boat

Beijing's international sea port is outside of Tianjin (City) in Tangu. There are direct trains and buses to Tangu. Although it might be easier to connect in Tianjin (City) then goto Tangu.

Getting Around

By Car

Traffic is terrible in Beijing! Never ride a taxi or drive a car during rush hour, you will be in parking lot traffic the entire time. The taxi's have a flagfall of 10 RMB and go up. There used to be different prices depending on the quality of the taxi but that is no longer happening. Another option is riding on the back of a motorbike. This can be much quicker because the motorbikes can go in the bike lanes. Just remember that all pay for motorbike rides are technically illegal. (Note: motorbikes have been banned from the city areas.)

By Subway

Beijing Subway

© All Rights Reserved Blakei

Subway is a very easy way to get around the city. Other then line 1 and line 2 you pay per every few stops (most journeys now cost a flat 2 RMB, tickets easily bought from either the ticket counter or vending machines) The several subway lines can get you around the city pretty easily. It is also the only way to avoid the horrible Beijing traffic. (There are now 5 lines operating, 13 are scheduled during the Olympics)

By Bus

There are countless public buses in Beijing. Just remember you pay different amounts depending on the distance. Usually the ticket seller is walking around the bus in a purple uniform, most journeys cost between 1-2 RMB.

By Foot

Walking around Beijing can be great, especially in the Hutongs. Beijing is a huge city so walking the entire time is very difficult. Also during the summer the heat can be so intense that an AC taxicab sounds amazing. Be aware though that because Beijing is changing rapidly, even the newest of maps can be wrong with some roads not shown...resulting in the tourist getting hopelessly lost! Try and get an up to date map when you arrive.

By Bike

The charm of riding a bike around Beijing is starting to fade. The side streets can still be very quiet and charming. But all the main roads have become clogged with tons of cars. Many of the main roads have bike lanes, which can make it easier, but still the constant pollution from cars can be a little too much to handle. If you do decide to rent a bike remember to always pay someone to watch it. In the last 4 years electric push bikes have become increasingly popular, watch out they are silent!

Eat

Megabite meal

© All Rights Reserved loubylou

Beijing being the capital has different restaurants from all over China and the world. Just try to mix it up some. Eat at some fancy restaurants and some tasty crowded food stalls. Try to avoid restaurants near touristy areas and only eat in places that are crowded. Many of the the western bars, such as rickshaw, have good western food.

Many shopping malls have their own versions of foodcourts, such as Food Forum, Food Republic etc. they are either in the basement or on the upper floors. Most have an IC card system, where you pre-purchase a card (with a deposit) with any amount of RMB of your choosing, this can be topped up at any time, to use when buying food from the various stalls. At the end of your stay you can redeem the card, your deposit and what ever money you have left on the card. Some cards are interchangeable between malls.

• Oriental Plaza Shopping mall (1 Dongchang'an Jie) - Has a huge food court which has plenty of cheap eats and is very popular with middle class locals. One place in this food court is called Megabite and it is seriously good value. You get huge, wholesome portions of meat and veg with rice for under US$2. The best thing is that all stalls have the dishes on display, so for non Mandarin speakers it is very easy to order.

• Donhuamen Night Market - For a huge selection of grilled meats, vegetables and scorpians! And many other yummy things too!

Drink

Bars

bla bla bar in Beijing

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There are bars spread out all over the city and their popularity changes greatly with the times. There are few bar streets though that always have something fun going on. If in town for only a few days just go to one of the bar streets and explore.

Sanlitun Bar Street (三里屯), pronounced Sanlatur, is one of the main bar streets. Beers can be a little pricey depending on the place ranging from 20-40 rmb for a big class. There are three main sections of Sanlitun. The easiest is north and south off of Gongti Beilu but there is another section just west of the north section. Just follow one of the side streets going west. Here are a few recommendations but there are countless other bars to choose from.

• Rickshaw (人力车) is a great bar located just south of Gongti Beilu on Sanlitun. This bar offers nice western food and during the summer has an amazing outdoor eating and drinking area. They even have a beer pong table for people that like to play drinking games.
• The Bookworm is library, bookstore, restaurant and bar all added together! Although not the ideal place for a wild night out, it is a great place to relax and pick up some new reading material. The Bookworm is located right off the southern section of Sanlitun.
• The Poachers Inn is a great british pub located on the western side-street of Sanlitun.

Nanluogu Xiang (南锣鼓巷) is a great budget bar street, with several restaurants. Located in one of the Hutongs this is a very nice relaxed place to have a beer. Many of the bars are converted courtyard homes and have roof decks for drinking. The beer in general is pretty cheap, for Beijing, and around 10-15 rmb a bottle.

Houhai Lake (后海湖) has several bars and restaurants aimed at Chinese tourists and locals. Although with the best view of all the bar streets this place can get a little overwhelming. It is recommended to go early in the evening and enjoy the sunset over the lakes before moving on to different bars. This is also a great date spot.

Nightclubs

Vics and Mics are two of the largest nightclubs in Beijing. It located at the north gate of the workers stadium (工人体育场). This place is packed every night of the week and can have a hefty cover charge.

Sleep

Budget

• The Lostus Hostel is a nice traditional Chinese home turned into a hostel. They offer dorms and private rooms. There is a nice common room with TV and internet. Xisi Bei7 taio, Xicheng District 西城 西四北七条29号

• The Down Town Backpackers Accommodation is located at No. 85, Nan Luo Gu Alley, Jiao Dao Kou Dong Cheng District, 东城交道口南锣鼓85号

• The Qianmen Hostel is a nice hostel with free wi-fi internet and a decent restaurant serving cheap food. They offer shared and private rooms with TV. It is located at No. 33 Meishi Street, Qianmen, Xuanwu District, 前门煤市33号

• The Peking Youth Hostel is located at No 5 Beichizi Dajie, Beichiziertiao, Dong Cheng District, 东城北池子二条5号

• Templeside House Hostel has 2 'Hutong style' accomodation located in the XiCheng District. (See website)

• Red Lantern House has 3 'Hutong style' accomodation located in the XiCheng District. (See website)

Mid-Range

Many of the budget youth hostels and guesthouses have mid-range private rooms. Some of these rooms are in traditional courtyard homes. Some of them are pretty standard hotel rooms.

Upscale

• The Grand Hyatt in Beijing is at 1 East Chang An Avenue and is a great luxury hotel within walking distance from Tiananmen Square and Beijing's main shopping street. The restaurant has a full Asian and Western menu with stunning service. Because it is a very high end hotel the rooms are New York/Tokyo prices.

Work

Unless you want to be an English teacher, have particular skill or speak fluent Chinese, finding work in Beijing can be difficult. It is possible to find low end sales jobs working for real estate companies but these jobs can be very difficult. If you really want to work in Beijing, and not have any of the above qualifications, it is best to set up camp and take any job that comes your way not matter how bad the pay is. Or go to a remote part of China and study Chinese for a year and come back.

Learn

Beijing - Chairman Mao outside the Agricultural University

© All Rights Reserved Gelli

There are countless universities in Beijing. The most famous ones are listed below and are some of the universities that offer classes to foreigners:

• Peking University (北京大学) is considered the best University in China except in physical science and engineering.
• Tsinghua University (清华大学) is China's premier science university and is compared to MIT in the United States.
• Renmin University of China (中国人民大学) is considered one of China's best schools in law, social science and the humanities.
• Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) has an excellent teaching Chinese to foreigners program.

Keep Connected

Internet

There are several Wangba (联网) in every area of Beijing. Just walk a little bit away from a tourist sight and you can find one very quickly. Several hostels now have free wi-fi internet in their rooms for those travelling with laptops.

Post

See also International Telephone Calls

It is best to ask your hostel, guesthouse or hotel staff were the nearest post office is.

Around Beijing

• Ming Tombs (明朝十三陵) are stunning tombs about 50 kilometers outside of Beijing.