Fantastic Beijing

» He Bei

Beijing Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Today's Beijing weather forcast

Beijing Seasons

Located at the North Temperate Zone, Beijing is a typical moderate city, where the four seasons are distinct:

Spring in Beijing is warm with flowers but dry, dusty and windy, sometimes even with sandstorms.

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Summer is hot, sometimes humidly hot and rainy.

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Autumn is cool, pleasant and comfortable with bright sunny sky and it is the best season of the whole year.

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Winter is clear but cold with some snow and sometimes it is severely cold with strong north wind.

Some Tips for Travlers

When is the best time to Beijing?

The autumn months between September and November have the best weather and fewer tourists. Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, when hotels typically raise their rates and the Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. Spring is less pleasant not many tourists but lots of wind and dust. In winter, you'll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts, just remember it's an ice box outside. Everything is chock block during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February).

What to pack for Beijing tours?

Besides the medicines you usually take at home, you need to bring pain killers, anti-inflammatory prescriptions and medicines for colds, fever and diarrhea. These medicines are especially helpful if you are going to visit Beijing.

What to wear on different seasons?

You'd better take proper cloth in season. In autumn, jeans and a sweater are usually enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants or shorts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.

How about the peak season there?

The most hottest three national holidays in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usu. in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labor Day (May1 to 3)and National Day(Oct 1 - 7). Spring Festival is an especially crowded time to travel. The advantage of being in China at this time is that you will get the opportunity to experience "first hand" the significance of these celebrations in Chinese culture.

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Top Beijing Attractions

Beijing History

Remote Past

Some 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] (/china-guides/chinese-culture/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.

A Mixture of Old and New

After dynasties of development, revolution and political changes, Beijing has become how it is now. Tian'anmen Square is still the center of Beijing, Chang'an Boulevard now running 38 kilometers from east to west. The palaces and city towers along both sides have been designated cultural relics for national protection. Former imperial residences and gardens have been opened for public viewing.

New buildings like the International Post Office and Bank of China have been built along the Second Ring Road, the former line of the Inner City wall. Old living quarters and blocks of traditional Beijing-style buildings, such as [Liulichang Culture Street] (/china-guides/china-attractions/liulichang-culture-street-beijing/), have been restored. Large-scale construction has been undertaken along the Third Ring Road and the fourth Ring Road.

Future development in Beijing will continue to preserve the symmetry of the old city layout while integrating modern architectural design into the over-all plan.

Beijing Food

Beijing Dishes

Beijing Roast Duck - Beijing's signature dish, which is the epitome of Beijing cuisine and is well known both at home and abroad. The dish is mostly prized for the thin, the crispy skin and tender meat, see more...

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Fried Yellow Croaker in Squirrel Shape - Just like its name, the cooked fish really has the shape of a squirrel. It looks wonderful and tastes a bit sour but while sweet. No one wants to miss this dish once they are in Beijing.

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Lamb Slices with Onion - Dishes with lamb are usually Xinjiang dishes? No, not this time. Sliced lamb fried with onion is pure Beijing dish. Drinking some beer while having this dish would be a wonderful experience.

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Featured Beijing Restaurants

Beijing Entertainment

Shopping

Shopping in Beijing is tremendously rewarding. Visitors will find the best products that China has to offer...

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Nightlife

Beijing's theaters, concert halls, galleries and underground rock clubs attract eager crowds, as do bars and cafes.

Sanlitun Bar Street is one of the best known and most popular bar streets in Beijing. Sanlitun, which is also used to refer to the general area, is located in Eastern Beijing in the Chaoyang District and forms part of the Gongti nightlife area.

Lake Houhai Area This place seems to be taking over from Sanlitun as the major bar area of Beijing. It is situated around a man-made lake at the north of Beihai Park. Boating is available on the lake till 11pm or 12am.

Yuandadu Bar Street is developed on Yuandadu Relics and also belongs to an up-and-coming youngster. Distinctive feature theme is its enchantment. Madami Mosuo flavor bar, gliding umbrella theme bar, Tibet breeding dog bar...There are more than 20 bars here.

Beijing Map

Map of Beijing

Click to view larger map

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Map of Attractions in Beijing

Click to view larger map

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Map of Beijing Subway

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Beijing Transportation

Get In

Evolved as the most important transportation hub in China, it's easy to reach China's capital Beijing.

Air - Beijing's primary airport is the Beijing Capital International Airport, linked to central Beijing by the Airport Expressway. Most domestic and nearly all international flights arrive at and depart from Capital Airport. Other airports include Beijing Nanyuan Airport etc.

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Railway - Beijing is easily accessible by train from all parts of China. There are railway lines from Beijing to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kowloon, Harbin, Baotou etc. Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station serve as major transportation nodes in the city.

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Expressway - Beijing is connected via road links from all parts of China as part of the National Trunk Road Network. Nine expressways of China connect with Beijing. Getting to Beijing by bus is easy, major long-distance bus stations are: Dongzhimen, Muxiyuan, Haihutun, Beijiao and Majun etc.

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Get Around

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Bird's Nest - It is the main venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies hosted. The design is inspired by the interwoven twigs of a bird's nest and consists of transparent, plastic shells, through which the stadium lights will shine.

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Great Wall - It is the most representative part of the Great Wall, a symbol of Chinese civilization, one of the wonders that the Chinese people have created. Many people hike up the Great Wall to practice the famous Chinese saying: "Not to Great Wall non-real man".

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Tian'anmen Square - Sitting at the very heart of Beijing, it is the largest urban square in the world. Many Chinese visit at dawn or dusk to see elite People's Liberation Army troops conduct flag raising or lowering ceremonies.

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Hutong in Beijing - The word "Hutong" came from the Mongolian language about 700 years ago, the typical of the old part of Beijing. They are formed by lines of Courtyard Houses and attract tourists from home and abroad rather than the high-rise buildings and large mansions.

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Beijing Highlights List

Natural Scene

• Xian Qi Cave

Historical Site

• Great Wall at Badaling
• Forbidden City
• Tian'anmen Square
• Temple of Heaven
• Ming Tombs
• Great Wall at Mutianyu
• Great Wall at Juyong Pass
• Hutong in Beijing
• Sacred Way
• Great Wall at Simatai
• Lama Temple
• White Cloud Temple
• Cuandixia Village
• Prince Gong Mansion
• Great Wall at Jinshanling
• Liulichang Culture Street
• Old Summer Palace
• Bell and Drum Tower
• Panjiayuan Collection Market
• Imperial College
• Confucius Temple
• Nanluoguxiang Alley
• Great Bell Temple
• OX Street Mosque

Cultural Site

• Forbidden City
• Summer Palace
• National Museum of China
• Courtyard Houses of Beijing
• Beijing Zoo
• Fragrant Hill
• Beihai Park
• Old Summer Palace
• Grand View Garden
• 798 Art Zone
• Songzhuang Art Community
• Beijing Shichahai Sports School

Nightlife

• Lake Houhai
• National Grand Theatre
• Tianqiao Theater
• Sanlitun Bar Street
• Hard Rock Cafe Beijing
• Poly Theater
• Chang'an Grand Theater
• Baby Face
• Coco Banana
• Suzie Wong Club

Day Entertainment & Sports

• National Aquatics Center
• Bird's nest, the National Stadium
• Sports Venues for '08 Beijing Olympic Games
• Beijing Badaling Ski Resort
• Beijing Jundushan Ski Resort
• Beijng Lianhuashan Ski Resort
• Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort
• Beijing Shijinglong Ski Resort
• Beijing Yunfoshan Ski Resort
• Beijing Aquarium
• Beijing Happy Valley
• Hard Rock Cafe Beijing
• Pine Valley Golf Club
• Beijing International Golf Club
• Beijing Country Golf Club
• Starbucks
• Jiu Hua Spa and Resort
• Chang An Club
• Blue Zoo Beijing
• Beijing Hong Kong Jockey Club Clubhouse

Shopping & Leisure

• Wangfujing Walking Street
• Lake Houhai
• Liulichang Culture Street
• Panjiayuan Collection Market
• Yansha Outlets
• New Oriental
• Lufthansa Friendship Shopping Center
• SCITECH Plaza
• Wangfujing Department Store
• 77th Street Plaza
• Beijing Kanasi Sports Store
• Central Golf Beijing Proshop
• Bayunxiang Silk Clothing Shop
• Beijing Parkson

Beijing Highlights

Beijing FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Is Beijing's weather fine all year round?
2. Which is the best season to visit Beijing?

  Transportation

1. Do taxes cost high in Beijing? Are taxi drivers friendly?
2. Can I take subway in Beijing? Is it fast and easy to find?

  Food

1. How much do you konw about Beijing cuisine? and local food?
2. What taste is a must in Beijing? Why is Peking Duck so popular in Beijing?
3. What should we pay attention to when having lunch or dinner in Beijing?

  Shopping

1. Can I use my credit card when shopping in Beijing?
2. What souvenirs can we buy in Beijing?

  Travel

1. Are toliet facilities clean in Beijing?
2. Where should I go if I love Beijing's nightlife?
3. Do you want to visit Tai Chi and Kung Fu performance in Beijing?

  Customs

1. Are you interested in chinese Facial Makeup?
2. Have you ever heard of "Chineses tea culture"? Do you want to learn drinking custom?
3. Why are "Hutong" so welcomed? May I take it as an symbol of Beijing?
4. Are you familiar with courtyard house (siheyuan)? Where can I visit it in Beijing?
5. What festivals do peking friends celebrate? How do they celebrate Spring Festival?
6. How much do you know about Beijing opera?

  Other Hints

1. What to pack for Beijing tours?
2. What is emergency number in Beijing?
3. What is Beijing time?
4. What do I need to prepare if I want to visit Beijing attractions?

• Is Beijing's weather fine all year round?

  No, The climate in Beijing is of the continental type, with cold and dry winters, due to the Siberian air massses that move southward across the Mongolian Plateau. The summers are hot owing to warm and humid monsoon winds from the southeast bringing Beijing most of its annual precipitation. January is the coldest month and July is the warmest. Winter usually begins towards the end of October. The summer months, June to August, are wet and hot with about 40% of the annual precipitation.

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• Which is the best season to visit Beijing?

  The autumn months between September and November have the best weather and fewer tourists. Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, when hotels typically raise their rates and the Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. Spring is less pleasant not many tourists but lots of wind and dust. In winter, you'll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts, just remember it's an ice box outside. Everything is chock block during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February).

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• Do taxes cost high in Beijing? Are taxi drivers friendly in Beijing?

  No, the cost is not expensive, around 1.6 yuan per kilometer. During the olym pic games is held in 2008, some tax's drivers are interested in learning English. They are so kind and friend that some may chat to you in English.

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• Can I take subway in Beijing? Is it fast and easy to find?

  Yes, the subway system in Beijing was rebuilt during 2008, until now it opened subway line 1, subway line 2, subway line 5, subway line 13, and line eight-passageway, covering the whole city and the airport. Morover, subway line 10 is plan to open during olym pic games period, which favor special for olym pic village. You may get to subway station easily in avenue. The subway is a great way to beat the growing Beijing traffic chaos.

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• How much do you konw about Beijing cuisine? and local food?

  Just like the capital's culture, Beijing cuisine has absorbed and been influenced by many of the flavours of China's regions. Chinese cuisine in general has the four distinct regional cooking styles of Sichuan (Chuan) to the West, Canton (Cantonese) to the South, Shangdong (Lu) to the East and Jiangsu (Huaiyang) to the North and the cuisine of Beijing brings together these contrasting styles. In Beijing you can find menus from around the world including Spanish, French and Italian restaurants that are well-established, and Japanese, Indian and Thai outlets, that are also very popular with local Beijingers.

  You can have steamed bread with bean filling, flour pancakes cooked with egg, coriander, chilli, and black onion seeds, pancakes stuffed with pork, egg and vegetables. These gems are available from little glass cabinettes on the back of three-wheeled bicycles or from stands on street corners, hidden down leafy hutongs.

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• What taste is a must in Beijing? Why is Peking Duck so popular in Beijing?

  Peking Duck, a delicious, lightly-smoked, rich meal complimented by pancakes, dipping sauce, vegetable filling and irresistible slivers of juicy meat, fat and crispy skin. As the favourit food in local Beijing, Peking duck is world famous nowadays.

  Peking duck has been prepared since the Yuan Dynasty, and is now considered one of China's national foods. Duck has been roasted in China since the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Peking Duck was first prepared for the Emperor of China in the Yuan Dynasty. The dish, originally named "Shaoyazi". In the Ming Dynasty, the Peking Duck was one of the main dishes on imperial court menus. By the Qianlong Period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, the popularity of the Peking Duck spread to the upper classes, inspiring poetry from poets and scholars who enjoyed the dish.

  Today, the Peking Duck had become a national symbol of China, favoured by tourists and diplomats alike. For example, Henry Kissinger, the Secretary of State of the United States met Premier Zhou Enlai in the Great Hall of the People on July 10, during his first visit to China. After a round of inconclusive talks in the morning, the delegation was served Peking Duck for lunch, which became Kissinger's favourite. The Americans and Chinese issued a joint statement the following day, inviting President Richard Nixon to visit China in 1972. The Peking Duck was hence considered one of the factors behind the rapproachement of the United States to China in the 1970's. Following Zhou's death in 1976, Kissinger paid another visit to Beijing to savour Peking Duck.

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• What should we pay attention to when having lunch or dinner in Beijing?

  • Restaurants in Beijing usually do not require tips or a service charge. Some expensive restaurants will charge 15% service.
  • Opening times usually 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm
  • Menus written in Chinese, so be warned: bring a friendly translator
  • Do not worry about getting the chopsticks right first time: practice not perfection
  • Do observe some of the taboos associated with eating in Chin.a

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• Can I use my credit card when shopping in Beijing?

  Yes, paying credit card is available in most shopping centre, Beijing. Just like Wangfujing walking street. however, It is easy to find the ATM bank in some downtown districts, and it will not be a problem if you want working staff help you handle routine banking bussiness. The money used in Beijing is the Chinese RenMinBi, or RMB for short. The Chinese call it Yuan or Kuai in Beijing. There are approximately 8 RMB to the US dollar. Most star hotels offer a good service for exchanging your cash into RMB. Anyway, you may not worry about it.

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• What souvenirs can we buy in Beijing?

  Fancywork, mintmark, fogle, tablecloth designed in dragon and phenix, herbal medicine, etc.

• Are toliet facilities clean in Beijing?

  Most toliets are repaired two years ago. Most are some squat toilets to Western ones, as your body won't have to come into contact with anything in there that might be dirty. No need to sit on dirty toilet seats.

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• Where should I go if I love Beijing's nightlife?

  Yuandadu Street is developed on Yuandadu Relics and also belongs to an up-and-coming youngster. Distinctive feature theme is its enchantment. Madami Mosuo flavor bar, gliding umbrella theme bar, Tibet breeding dog bar. There are more than 20 bars here. It is relatively quiet because of lower recognition.

  Hou hai bar area (lotus lane) seems to be taking over from Sanlitun as the major bar area of Beijing. It is situated around a man-made lake at the north of Beihai Park. Boating is available on the lake till 11pm or 12am (in the summer of course). Very pretty area.

• Do you want to visit Tai Chi and Kung Fu performance in Beijing?

  Tai Chi quan(shadow boxing) is a famous Chinese Kung Fu. All the Chinese Kung Fu can be divided into two kinds, the "In - style" and the "Out - style". Tai Chi is the representative kind of the "In-style". This kind of Kung Fu emphasizes on the stuffs inside the fighter's body, which include the calmness of the spirit, the sensitivity of the sense and the speed of the reaction. In contrast, the out - style Kung Fu is to fight before your opponent's move or try to destroy your opponent's attack.

  We will arrange you a nice Tai Chi lesson and Kung Fu performance if you like.

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• Are you interested in chinese Facial Makeup?

  The Chinese Facial Makeup art was developed from the mask painting art which was initiated by Lang-Ling Hwang in the Pei-Gee dynasty and by Wu-Hsiang Dee in the Song dynasty. The painted masks were originally used in the fields of battle to make dreadful figures to frighten the enemy. Later on the masks were employed in the stage to show.

  Social standing and disposition of characters. Owing to difficulty and inconvenience of manufacturing and wearing masks, the colors were directly painted on the faces, afterwards. Generally speaking, the face without painting represents faithful and nice fellows, the multi-colored face represents wicked people, the red face represents loyal and straight characters, the black face represent bravery and preseverance. The buffoons are painted with coloured spots. Up to now, there are many types of face-painting.

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• Have you ever heard of "Chineses tea culture"? Do you want to learn drinking custom?

  Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China. Tea culture in China differs from that of Europe, Britain or Japan in such things as preparation methods, tasting methods and the occasions for which it is consumed. Even now, in both casual and formal Chinese occasions, tea is consumed regularly. In addition to being a drink, Chinese tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese cuisine.

  There are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed:

  As a sign of respect
  For a family gathering
  To apologize
  To express thanks to your elders on one's wedding day
  To connect large families on wedding days
  To pass on the tradition

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• Why are "Hutong" so welcomed? May I take it as an symbol of Beijing?

  Hutong is a typical lane or small street in Beijing that originated during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). "Hutong" is a Mongolian word, meaning "water well". During that time, water well is the settlement around which people lived. There are tens of thousands of hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. In the past, Beijing was composed of countless courtyards. Hutongs were formed when people left a passageway between two courtyards to make entering them more convenient.

  As the symbol of Beijing City, a hutong has its own layout and structure, which makes it a wonder in the world. When taking a bird's eye view of Beijing, you will find the combination of hutongs and courtyards just like an orderly chessboard with delicate gardens, fine rockeries, and ancient ruins. Hutongs have witnessed the development of Beijing. Where there is a hutong, there is a story.

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• Are you familiar with courtyard house(siheyuan)? Where can I visit it in Beijing?

  Traditionally most urban Chinese used to live in quadrangles called siheyuan or "four-side enclosed courtyards." These courts, as the name implies, are formed by inward-facing houses on four sides, closed in by enclosure walls. Such a residence offers space, comfort and quiet privacy. It is also good for security as well as protection against dust and storms. Grown with plants and flowers, the court is also a sort of garden.

  In feudal times, the courtyard dwellings were built according to the traditional concepts of the five elements that were believed to compose the universe, and the eight diagrams of divination. The gate was made at the southeast corner which was the "wind" corner, and house was made to face the south with the main building on the north side which was believed to belong to "water" - an element to prevent fire.

  Today, Beijing still has about 400,000 residential quadrangles, mainly distributed over the East, West, Xuanwu and Chongwen districts of the city. Those in the East and West districts are in the best shape.

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• What festivals do peking friends celebrate? How do they celebrate Spring festival?

  Spring festival, Lantern festival, Qingming festival, Dragon boat festival, Double seven festival, Mid-autum festival, Double ninth festival, Winter solstice festival. These festivals are celebrated by Peking friends.

  The Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C. - 1100 B.C.) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. It is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back, becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from the Spring Festival.

  On spring festival, people decorate their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.

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• How much do you know about Beijing opera?

  Beijing opera is deemed the national opera of China. The accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and artistic. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents to the audience an encyclopedia of Chinese culture as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and acrobatic fighting. It is generally accepted that Beijing opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, and eventually became more accessible to the people.

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• What to pack for Beijing tours?

  Besides the medicines you usually take at home, you need to bring pain killers, anti-
  inflammatory prescriptions and medicines for colds, fever and diarrhea. These medicines are
  especially helpful if you are going to visit Beijing.

  You' better take apropriate cloth in season. In autumn, jeans and a sweater are usually enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants or shorts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. If you want to go local, you can buy a thick cotton army coat (jun da yi) for less than 100 yuan (12 bucks). Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.

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• What is emergency number in Beijing?

  Fire: 119
  Traffic: 122
  Ambulance: 120
  Police: 110

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• What is Beijing time?

  Beijing is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (London) and 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York), is the standard time used in China.

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• What do I need to prepare if I want to visit Beijing attractions?

  Some attractions need to pay cash, like Tian'an men square, summer palace, and other activities in hutongs. so it is much adivsible to take enough RMB when tour in local residents. A handerchief should be prepared for your Great wall explor. In addition, you'd better take storage battery with camera, because it costs expensive in some senenic spots.

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