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The capital city of China and a well- known city with historical, cultural and modern sightseeing
Beijing (formerly Peking) is the
capital of the People's Republic of China. It is situated in northern China
close to Tianjin Municipality and also, in part, surrounded by Hebei Province.
Home to nearly 14 million people, it
is a bustling modern city. However, despite its international hotels and
high-rise buildings, it is also home to many attractions, historical and
cultural.
When many people think of Beijing
they think of the Great Wall of China, The Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace , and the Forbidden City. The latter lies at the heart of Beijing with the rest
of the city radiating out from it in a grid pattern. This incredible palace was
home to numerous emperors and functioned as the administrative center of the
country. Overlooking Tiananmen Square, it is the epitome of the city.
The city underwent numerously
modernizations for the 2008 Olympics making improvements to the public
transport system as well an environmental clean-up.
With history, culture, modernity,
fantastic shopping and a buzzing nightlife, Beijing is an incredible city just
waiting to be explored.
Beijing has
four very distinct seasons, with a wide temperature variation between winter
(down to well below freezing) and summer. During the height of summer (July and
August) Beijing is subject to sudden evening downpours of rain. Spring, (February
to April) tends to be warm and windy while autumn (August to October), is
regarded as the best season to visit because of its blue skies, mild
temperatures, and slight humidity.
The average
monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
2 |
4 |
11 |
20 |
27 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
26 |
19 |
10 |
3 |
|
Night |
-10 |
-7 |
-1 |
7 |
13 |
18 |
22 |
20 |
14 |
7 |
-1 |
-7 |
If you love
shopping, you’ll fall in love with Beijing. Unlike many cities, just because it
has a wealth of culture and history doesn’t mean that there is a lack of
shopping opportunities. The main area is Wangfujing Dajie where you’ll find
numerous outlets for clothing, souvenirs, department stores, and the Oriental
Plaza Shopping Mall.
If your the pocket can stretch to it, the China World Centre, Penninsula Hotel Plaza and
Guomao Shopping Mall (which includes a basement ice rink) is home to the more
upmarket stores.
Beijing Curio The city is the place to go for antiques and curios whereas in south Beijing,
Liulichang is a wonderfully atmospheric area for antiques, art, and calligraphy.
For the
bargain hunters amongst you, Xiu Shui Jie Shopping Mall and Xiu Shui Market are
great for affordable holiday shopping.
Entertainment
in Beijing can be divided into 2 categories – there is the traditional opera,
music and acrobatic shows, and the modern clubs and bars.
If you
enjoy the more traditional delights, the tea houses in Beijing are growing in
popularity as venues for traditional music and entertainment. The Tianqiao area
in particular is well worth a visit, especially Tianqiao Theatre and Tianqiaoe
Tea House in the Xuanwu District. Other venues worth a mention are (details
about what’s on can be found in Beijing
This Month):
For those
looking for a livelier night-scene, the Sanlitun Pub Street (Chaoyang District)
is the place to go for pubs and bars (also the up and coming Hou Hai Bar Area).
Some names to look out for are:
January
February
April
June
July
September
October
Beijing is
a captivating city with numerous things to see and do during your stay. However, you may wish to explorer afield during your stay and see what else this part of
China has to offer. Here are just a few highlights you could enjoy during your
stay.
You will be
expected to pay for any medical treatment you undergo whilst in Beijing
therefore you are strongly recommended to ensure you have sufficient medical
insurance in place before traveling.
The tap
water is not considered safe to drink and you are therefore advised to drink
bottled water. Crime is not considered a major problem but you should take the
usual precautions when in busy areas.