Introductions:
Beijing, the capital of China, is a city where the ancient culture and the modern civilization are well integrated, It attracts tens of millions of visitors and tourists both at home and abroad each year to enjoy its rich culture and wonderful scenery.
Beijing is located in the warm temperature zone and has a continental climate, The four seasons in Beijing are distinct, Winter is dry and cold and has little snow, Summer is hot and rainy.
The average temperature is 11.7°C throughout the whole year and during the exhibition period(April) it would be around 15 - 20°C during day times and 6 - 10°C in the evening, so warm clothes like formal suits or long coats are still necessary especially in the morning and evening .
Language / Communication:
The official language of China is Mandarin (in Chinese: pu tong hua). However, the regional dialects vary quite heavily. In tourist centers (e.g. international hotels) and business circles English is mostly spoken. If you take a taxi it is recommended to take a business card of your hotel with you or to ask for written directions in Chinese at the reception desk.
Currency / ATM / Credit Cards:
The official currency in China is the Renminbi(RMB), also called Yuan(¥) or Kuai.
Most Chinese ATMs will allow for withdrawals from foreign bank accounts for a small,flat,out of network fee. Before traveling, find out if your home bank charges a currency conversion fee on such transactions. Be sure to check for Plus or Cirrus symbols, as there are many ATMs which are not linked to international networks and may retain your card.
Credit cards (e.g. Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club) are accepted in most international hotels and in tourist stores.
Electricity:
Electricity in China is 220V, 50 cycles. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use. Most of the hotels have a socket in the bathroom for both 110V and 220V. However, outside of the bathroom, only 220V sockets are provided. Although an adapter may be borrowed from the hotel, it is recommended to bring your own adapter plug.
Mail / Telephone / Internet:
Mail: Stamps are available at post offices or at the hotel reception, where postcards and letters will also be mailed for you.
Telephone: The international country code of China is +86. International calls from the hotel are very expensive. Most major cities operate telephone booths, which can be used for international calls with telephone cards. In most cases your mobile phone will work in large cities. You can also use your mobile phone with a Chinese prepaid card, which can be bought in stores.
Internet cafes: can be found mainly in large cities and tourist centers.
Opening Hours (Reference Only):
Banks: Mo to Sa 9am – 12am and 1pm – 4:30pm
Offices: Mo to Fr 9am – 12am and 1pm – 6pm
Stores: Mo to Su 10am – 10pm There is no official closing hour.
Post Offices: Mo to Fr 7am – 7pm Sa to Su 7am – 5pm
Restaurants: Mo to Su 10am – 10pm
Sights: usually 8am – 4:30pm
Time Zone:
Despite the enormous size China has only one time zone (Beijing standard time). There is no daylight saving time, i.e. only standardized Central European Time (CET) plus 7 hours, during the European daylight saving time plus 6 hours.
Map of Beijing Famous Sights: Click to Download
Recommended Travel Routes:
Tian’anmen Square → Forbidden City → Beihai Park → Lama Temple → Wangfujing Street
Beihai Park →Temple of Earch → Lama Temple → HouHai Bar Area
Summer Palace → Old Summer Palace → Fragrant Hills
Great Wall at Juyongguan → Ming Tombs
Temple of Heaven → Beijing World Park → China century altar
BICC → Bird Nest(National Stadium) → Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) → Olympic Green