Beijing Tour,Beijing Coach Tour,Beijing Day Tour

Shopping
Shopping in Beijing may not be the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of this historical city, but it is one of the favourite and most popular activities and finding bargains and haggling for the best prices has become the norm.

Walking and bargaining in the countless markets in Xiu Shui Jie Shopping Mall or the Xiu Shui Market will no doubt build up an appetite, but luckily there is plenty of food at these stalls for shoppers to refuel. Popular buys include fake designer labels, clothing and bags. Bargaining is an essential skill and expected but remember to keep a smile.

The main shopping area is around Wangfujing Dajie, where a number of department stores can be found, including the Beijing Department Store. The Xidan area offers wonderful big department stores selling fixed price goods including electronic equipment. The Hong Qiao Market is a popular indoor market in the south central area of Beijing Coach Tour where bargaining is expected. Here buyers can haggle for goods such as cheap no-name or fake brand electronics, sunglasses, batteries, watches and jewellery.

Liulichang in the south of Beijing Tour is a great place for Chinese antiques. Buyers should be aware that authentic antiques over 100 years old display a red wax seal. An export licence must be issued in order to take these out of the country.

Shops in Beijing are open daily from 9am to 8pm and there is no sales tax.

Time: Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Plug types vary but the two-pin flat blade and oblique three-pin flat blade plugs are common. Adapters are generally required.

Money: The currency used in China is the Renminbi Yuan (CNY). The Yuan is divided into 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen. Make sure you exchange your leftover Yuan before returning home because this currency can be exchanged only within China’s borders. Travellers cheques, preferably in US Dollars, and foreign cash can be exchanged in cities at the Bank of China. Banks are closed weekends. The larger hotels and the special ‘Friendship Stores’ designed for foreigners will accept most western currencies for purchases. Major credit cards are accepted in the main cities at various establishments, but outside the major cities acceptance is limited. ATMs are scarce outside the main cities.

Currency Exchange Rates CNY 1.00 = A$ 0.16 C$ 0.15 € 0.11 NZ$ 0.21 £ 0.09 US$ 0.15 R 1.14
Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but there are hundreds of local dialects.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China. Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China. Passports endorsed British National (Overseas) are not recognized and holders should carry a ‘Returning Resident Permit’ together with their Hong Kong ID. Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians Beijing Tour require a passport and visa for entry to China. Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport and visa for entry to China. Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China. Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
Passport/Visa Note: Visa not required if coming for a stay of six Beijing Coach Tours days only if arriving from Hong Kong or Macao in order to take a trip to Zhujian Delta in Guangdong Province. Persons holding an APEC Business Travel Card do not require a visa, provided that it is valid for travel to China. Travel to Tibet will also require a special Tibet Entry Permit. All documents necessary for further travel and sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay are required. Period of validity is stated on visas, and care should be taken when reading dates on visas for China as they are written in year/month/day format.

Travel Health: There have been confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Mainland China. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas. There is a risk of malaria throughout the low-lying areas of the country, and it is recommended that travellers to China seek medical advice before departure. A total of 18 human cases of avian influenza (‘bird flu’) have been reported from China since November 2005. Twelve of the cases were fatal. Travellers are unlikely to be affected by bird flu, but live animal markets and places where contact with live poultry is possible should be avoided. All poultry and egg dishes should also be thoroughly cooked. Outbreaks of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) are few and far between, although the last fatality was in 2008. Travellers are warned to remain vigilant against this viral disease. Japanese encephalitis has been responsible for the deaths of a number of people in the Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in northern China, and rabies infects people every year, occasionally causing death. Outbreaks of dengue fever occur. A variant of hand, foot and mouth disease, an intestinal virus has also been prevalent in 2008, with children being at particular risk. Altitude sickness can occur in the mountainous regions of Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan. Outside city centres, visitors should only drink bottled water. Western-style medical centres with international staff are available in the major cities and usually accept credit cards. Health insurance is recommended.

Tipping: Tipping is not officially recognised, although the practice is becoming more common among travel guides, top-end restaurants, tour bus drivers and hotel staff. If wanting to tip leave a gratuity of 10%. Large hotels and restaurants often include a service charge in their bills, usually of about 10%.

Safety Information: China is generally safe, and there has been no evidence of a threat from global terrorism. Serious crime against foreigners is rare but does occur, particularly in isolated or sparsely populated areas. There has been an increase in the number of muggings and robberies at Beijing International Airport and the Jianguomenwai area of Beijing, as well as in Shenzen, bordering Hong Kong. If trekking alone, including following parts of the Great Wall, it is advisable to leave an itinerary and expected time of return with a third party. Travellers should take extra care in street markets and at tourist sites, which attract thieves and pickpockets, and around the popular expat bar areas at night where lone foreigners have recently been attacked. Travellers should be cautious about using pedicabs in Beijing, as tourists have been mugged and demands for money made by pedicab drivers; women in particular have been targeted. Seasonal heavy rains and typhoons cause hundreds of deaths in China each year, particularly those areas bordering the Yangtze River in central, southern and western China. Demonstrations took place in Lhasa, Tibet, as well as in some Chinese provinces in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet; although the situation seems to have stabilised, visitors are advised to stay up to date on the latest situation before travel.

Local Customs: The Chinese have three names, the first of which is their surname, or family name. As a result visitors should be prepared for hotels mistakenly reserving rooms under their first names. For clarity surnames may be underlined. When addressing Chinese people the surname should come first and official titles should be used. Chinese handshakes last longer than those in western countries, and in conversation it is customary to stand close together. Politeness in Western terms is foreign to them, and they rarely bother with pleasantries. All foreigners should carry ID at all times as spot checks are common and failure to show evidence in ID will result in a fine or detention.

Business: The Chinese are strict timekeepers and being late for a meeting is considered rude. When meeting people for the first time it is normal to shake hands and say ‘ni hao’, which means ‘how are you’. Business cards are exchanged at the start of meetings in China and it is customary to have one side printed in Chinese and one in English. When giving or receiving business cards, or a gift, it is customary to hold it with both hands. Chinese consider gifts as an important show of courtesy. During a meal or reception your host is likely to offer a toast; you may be expected to offer him one in return. Business hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. A five-day week is more normal in larger cities. Workers take their lunch break between 12pm and 2pm and it is not unusual to find offices empty during this time.

Communications: The international access code for China is +86. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Beijing is (0)10. International Direct Dialling is available in most cities. Phone cards are widely available and calls can be made from post offices and hotels; phone booths on the streets are usually for local calls only. In hotels, local calls are generally free or will be charged only a nominal fee. Mobile phone networks are very advanced. Operators use GSM 900 networks and have roaming agreements with most non-North American international operators. Internet cafes are available in most main towns.

Duty free: Travellers to China do not need to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes (600 cigarettes if stay exceeds six months), two bottles of alcoholic beverages (not more than 0,75 litres per bottle), or four bottles if staying longer than six months. Perfume for personal use is allowed. Prohibited goods include arms and ammunition or printed material that conflicts with the public order or moral standards of the country. Also prohibited are radio transmitters and receivers, exposed but undeveloped film and fresh produce. Strict regulations apply to the import or export of antiquities, banned publications, and religious literature. All valuables must be declared on the forms provided.

The capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing (formerly Peking) is a very modern and exceedingly busy city (nearly 14 million people call it home) with high-rise buildings, international hotels and sprawling suburbs. The city is abuzz and bristling with cranes on Beijing Tour the skyline as construction projects give rise to new skyscrapers and modernisation proceeds apace. However, Beijing also encompasses numerous attractions of cultural and historical interest, of which some, such as the Great Wall, Beijing Group Tour former Imperial palace (known as the Forbidden City), the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the remains of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, are UNESCO-endorsed World Cultural Heritage Sites. Chinese history and culture fascinates Western visitors, and Beijing is the place to start exploring it. The city abounds in imperial palaces, temples, mansions, gardens and tombs that epitomise classical Chinese architecture. It has 120 museums and more than 100 public gardens.

The first port of call for most visitors is the Forbidden City, which lies at the heart of Beijing with the rest of the city radiating out from it in a grid pattern. For five centuries this massive palace complex with 9,999 rooms functioned as the administrative centre of the country and home to a succession of emperors, who lived in luxurious isolation, surrounded by courtiers and retainers. The Palace overlooks the famous Tiananmen Square, site of so much political drama and dissent, the epitome of this capital city.

In preparing to host what they hoped were ‘the best games in Olympic history’, Beijing undertook many major renovations in 2008. Public transport was improved, environmental issues addressed and a general clean up of the city was ordered. The Chinese saw the games highlight its economic rise and emergence as a world power.

As the 2008 Olympic Games fade into history, Beijing, the capital city of the People’s Republic of China, is still seeking its post-Olympic identity. The extensive makeover of recent years has yielded an impressive portfolio of new hotels, shopping centres and office towers, but China’s political centre is still firmly retained in a strict grip of communist social order. The result is a monolithic showcase city that can seem Beijing Coach Tour both remote and inaccessible.

Mao Zedong and Beijing’s history
Beijing became China’s capital in 1421 and remained so until the imperial regime collapsed in 1911. From 1911 to 1949, Beijing suffered, as did the rest of China, from destructive factionalism. The Japanese invasion in 1931 was followed by civil war. In 1949, Mao Zedong’s communists prevailed and the People’s Republic of China was founded with Beijing as the capital.

Mao’s rule is synonymous with the Cultural Revolution – a frenzied attack on liberal, historical and social thought. Following Mao’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping gradually opened up China to the world from his Beijing Tour.

Old and new
Today’s soaring modern architecture and upgraded infrastructure are juxtaposed with grandiose socialist municipal buildings, broad boulevards and ring roads. Beyond the modernity, Beijing is blessed with myriad historic tourism attractions, including the fast-disappearing hutong lanes. Beijing Tour It also serves as a base to visit the Great Wall of China (see Excursions).

When to go
Beijing is at its best in late spring and autumn when crisp, sunny days are accompanied by tree leaves turning red and gold. The searing heat of summer and the biting winds in winter can be extreme.

Beijing Duck Beijing duck is the flavor of beijing.climbing the great wall,experiencing beijing opera and savoring beijing duck-for those visiting beijing for the first time,these are three things you cannot miss,the traditional method of preparing beijing duck has a history of over a hundred years and enjoys a gret reputation to this day. 1 Quan ju de Quanjude is one of beijing’s oldest and most famous beijing duck eateries,established in the 1860’s during the qing dynasty,it has a long history and a classic taste that everyone can enjoy. Quanjude has made a name for itself in china and aboroad by serving tradtional roasted ducks.the duck offered here is handcrafted with knowledge passed down by generations of palace chefs,dating back to the qing dynasty,the roasted ducks are a deep reddish brown and have a glossy silk-ling skin that will rouse the appetite of all those who set eyes on them.the skin is tender and crisp,exquisite and tasty.Quanjude maintains rigid standards for selectiong birds,after the ducks are plucked,a small hole is carved near the right wing and the bird is gutted and rinsed with fresh water,once the skin is air dried,the bird is filled with clear stock,and the hole is closed with a silk thread and roasted once more,the whole process is carried out withour the utmost precision,after the duck is roasted the skin becomes glossy and brown while the meat stays juicy and tender,creating a delicacy that you can enjoy day after day.After the Beijing Tour,almost tourist will have taste this food. Specialties:Roast duck,full duck banquets with:stewed dck,duck wings with bamboo shoots and mushrooms,fried duck wings,spicy diced duck,assorted braised vegetable,fried duck in a distilled grain sauce,three braised duck delicacies,assorted fresh otus,duck wings with three delicacies,roasted duck with assorted vegetables,spicy braised duck,.duck with winter melon soup,duck meat dumplings,crispy five spice duck strips,duck shreds with assorted garnished,deep fried duck wings,crispy duck moon cake with five nut sweet filling,blooming chrysanthemum,crystal magnolia,silver peony fungus,duck tongue with plum flavor,flying saarrow specialty.if you choose like the Beijing Coach Tour,you also can add this famous food on the tour.

 Average cost per person:100RMB

Business hours:11am-2.30pm,5pam-10.30pm

Credit cards accepted:yes
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At the southern end of the mausoleum area is a large memorial archway called Pailou. Built in 1540, it is now a monumental construction, built of white marble with five arches. Six rectangular pillars support it with beautiful bas-relief carvings (lions, dragons, lotus flowers). It is 14 meters high and 28.86 meters wide.

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At the very heart of Beijing, sits Tian’anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. This vast space, measuring 40 hectares, has a historical significance to rival its size. Enlarged in the 1960s, Tian’anmen Square now measures 880 meters from north to south, 500 meters from east to west and can accommodate up to one million people. Classical Beijing planning however, Beijing Coach Tourdidn’t permit public squares. They were seen largely as dangerous places where crowds could gather and diverted attention and focus away from the Emperor. Tian’anmen Square is therefore, one of Beijing’s most modern sites and largely Mao’s concoction. The May 4th demonstrations in 1919 against the Treaty of Versailles took place here. So too did anti-Japanese protests in 1935. Mao inspected his troops here during the Cultural revolution and in 1976, one million people gathered in the square to pay tribute to the Chairman. Today, visitors remember the square mostly for the images of the 1989 student demonstrations in this concrete mass which were relayed throughout the world. The incredible size of the square, the gray colour of the surrounding buildings, the historical memories and the various monuments dotted about, Beijing Tourleave some Western visitors unmoved by Tian’anmen. But the sheer wealth of historical sites and the political importance of the area make it a must-see for travelers to Beijing. This is not only the physical centre of China, but also the centre of power and politics. For Chinese visitors, the site is of utmost importance. Today, it’s filled with tourists visiting Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, or paying their respects at the monument to the heroes of the Revolution. In the evenings, after the ceremonial lowering of the flag, courting couples and families parade the heart of the city. The easiest approach to the square is from the south, where there’s a bus terminus and a subway stop. The Chinese flag is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset when PLA soldiers march up and down, drilled to perform at 108 paces per minute!
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Although Beijing has been the capital of China for five dynasties, the only imperial mausoleums in the immediate vicinity of the city today are those of the Liao and Qing emperors are in the northeast China and in Hebei Province respectively. The tombs from the Jin Dynasty were destroyed at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and since the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty had no specific funeral rituals, there are no extant burial sites from this period. The Ming tombs lie in a broad valley to the south of Tianshou Beijing Tour (Longevity of Heaven) Mountain in Changping County, about 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing proper. To the southwest of this valley, a branch of the Yanshan Range suddenly to breaks off and forms a natural gateway to the 40-quare-kilometer basin in which the tombs were built. This gateway is “defended” on each side by the Dragon and Tiger hills, which are said to protect this sacred area from winds carrying evil influences. Thirteen out of the 16 Ming emperors are buried in this peaceful valley. Visitors first pass by an elegant, five-arched white marble memorial archway. Built in 1540, this 29-meter-wide and 14-meter-high structure, with its delicate bas-relief carvings of lions, dragons and lotuses, is still in near-perfect condition. About one kilometer to the northeast of this archway stands the Great Red Gate (Dahongmen), the outermost gate of the entire mortuary complex. The Great Red Gate marks the beginning of the 7-kilometer-long Sacred Way (Shendao), Beijing Day Tour which leads to the entrance of the Changling, the tomb of Emperor Yongle (reigned 1403-1424). Continuing on, one comes to a tall square stela pavilion, with four tall white stone ornamental columns (huabiao) set at each of its four corners, standing boldly in the center of the Sacred Way. The pavilion houses a huge stone tortoise by the famous Avenue of the Animals, where pairs of lions, elephants, camels. Horses and a number of mythological beasts line the road. There are 24 stone creatures in all. These beasts are followed in turn by a group of 12 stone human figures, which represent the funeral cortege of the deceased emperors. Carved in 1540, this group is made up of military, civil and meritorious officials. Immediately beyond these human figures are the Dragon and Phoenix Gate (Longfengmen), which are pierced with three archways. Continuing north to the Changling, the Sacred Way passes over a river via two bridges of five and seven arches respectively. From here, all 13 tombs can be seen; the foothills and groves of trees dotted with golden yellow roofs stretch for 19 kilometers across this sacred valley. Compared to the other 12 tombs the Changling is the largest and best preserved. Built on a south-facing slope, the Changling‘ s three courtyards are entirely surrounded by walls. The first courtyard extends from the massive three-arched entrance gate to the Gate of Eminent Favor (Long‘ enmen); on the east of this courtyard stands a pavilion, which contains a stone tablet, a stone camel and a stone dragon. Inside the second courtyard stands the Hall of Eminent Favor. The central portion of the stairway, which leads up to this great hall is carved with designs of sea beats and dragons. To the east and west of the hall stand two ritual stoves where bolts of silk and inscribed scrolls were set aflame as offerings to the emperor‘s ancestors. The dimensions of the Hall of Eminent Favor (67 x 29 meters) closely match the dimensions of the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) in the Forbidden City, which makes it one of the largest wooden buildings in China. Four giant wooden columns and 28 smaller pillars support this structure, The four large columns are 14.3 meters high and 1.17 meters in diameter, and are extraordinary for the fact that they are each a single trunk of Phoebe nanmu.

Situated in the western outskirts of Haidian District, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from central Beijing. Having the largest royal park and being well preserved, it was designated, in 1960 by the State Council, as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Site of China. Containing examples of the ancient arts, it also has graceful landscapes and magnificent constructions. The Summer Palace is the archetypal Chinese garden, and is ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world. In 1998, it was listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Constructed in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), during the succeeding reign of feudal emperors; it was extended continuously. By the time of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it had become a luxurious royal garden providing royal families with rest and entertainment. Originally called ‘Qingyi Garden’ (Garden of Clear Ripples), it was know as one of the famous ‘three hills and five gardens’ (Longevity Hill, Jade Spring Mountain, and Fragrant Hill; Garden of Clear Ripples, Garden of Everlasting Spring, Garden of Perfection and Brightness, Garden of Tranquility and Brightness, and Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure). Like most of the gardens of Beijing, it could not elude the rampages of the Anglo-French allied force and was destroyed by fire. In 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled navy funds to reconstruct it for her own benefit, changing its name to Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). She spent most of her later years there, dealing with state affairs and entertaining. In 1900, it suffered again, being ransacked by the Eight-Power Allied Force. After the success of the 1911 Revolution, it was opened to the public. Composed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, The Summer Palace occupies an area of 294 hectares (726.5 acres), three quarters of which is water. Guided by nature, artists designed the gardens exquisitely so that visitors would see marvelous views and be amazed by perfect examples of refined craftwork using the finest materials. Centered on the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors. The Summer Palace can be divided into four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area. Front-Hill Area: this area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop, on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Glory, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, etc. Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: although the constructions are fewer here, it has a unique landscape, with dense green trees, and winding paths. Visitors can feel a rare tranquility, and elegance. This area includes scenic spots such as Garden of Harmonious Interest and Suzhou Market Street. Court Area: this is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials, conducted state affairs and rested. Entering the East Palace Gate, visitors may see the main palace buildings: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the office of the Emperor, Beijing Tour the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived, the Hall of Joyful Longevity, Beijing Day Tour Cixi’s residence, the Hall of Virtue and Harmony where Cixi was entertained. Front Lake Area: covering a larger part of the Summer Palace, opens up the vista of the lake. A breeze fluttering, waves gleam and willows kiss the ripples of the vast water. In this comfortable area there are the Eastern and Western Banks, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Nanhu Island, and so on. On the western bank float six distinct bridges amongst which the Jade-Belt Bridge is the most beautiful. 　

The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, the National Palace Museum, the Purple Forbidden City and Gugong （故宫）, is probably Beijing’s top tourist attraction. This huge palace complex (one full square kilometer), previously home to 23 successive Emperors, is located in the heart of Beijing, on the north side of Tiananmen Square. Because of its size, a visit to the palace can be a bit tiring as a good amount of walking is involved, so be prepared. Beijing Tour Three hours should be enough time to cover some of the palace but a person could spend twice that amount of time if they wanted to be more thorough. Not suprisingly, the Forbidden City is very well catered to tourists as shops selling sandwiches, drinks, guide books, and souvenirs abound. There is even a Starbucks! Whilst the palace buildings in themselves are beautiful, the incredible size of the complex can actually make it seem a bit like a ghost town. If you don’t learn a bit about the history of the palace before your visit you might find yourself wandering around aimlessly. Try and do a little research before you go to enhance your visit. Alternatively you can pick up an audio guide at the entrance for 40 yuan. Once you know something about the history of the Forbidden City it only takes a little bit of imagination to try and conjure up images of what life inside the palace would Beijing Coach Tour have been like centuries ago when it was populated with royalty, eunuchs, servants and concubines. The Forbidden City is rectangular in shape, surrounded by a moat and a 10 metre high wall, and has 9,999 rooms (one short of the heavenly number of 10,000). The southern section, or the Outer Court, contains the Hall of Sacred Harmony, Hall of Complete Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony. The northern section, or the Inner Court, contains a number of other halls and the Imperial Garden. It is here that the Emperor and the Royal Family actually lived. The complex is currently undergoing major renovations in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, so it is likely that some of the buildings and halls will be covered with canvas until then. Part of the renovation entails repainting the buildings; whilst the bright colours are beautiful it does seem to render the place less authentic as the buildings take on the appearance of looking slightly newish once they’ve been painted.