Beijing is the capital of the People Republic of China, and was the capital for the imperial China for several centuries. The city has thousand of years of history and Beijing is moving forward to be an ultra modern city along with the China’s overall progression. As the host for the 2008 Olympic, Beijing has developed further by building many facilities to support the international event including the famous “Bird’s Nest Stadium”. In this page, you can learn some basic information about how to visit Beijing you can use during your stay in Beijing.

Before you go to China, or Beijing in particular, it is advisable to apply for visa a month ahead to give them time to process your application and send your visa to you, particularly if you come from USA.http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/shzx/x/116235.htm.

China’s official currency is Chinese Yuan. You can exchange your money at banks and money changers throughout Beijing. You can also exchange your money at hotels, although they might charge additional fees. There are also many ATMs which accept international cards.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/beijing/practical-information/money-costs Beware of scam from people who claim that they want to exchange money.

People in Beijing speak in Mandarin Chinese, and not everyone understands English. It is useful to learn some basic Chinese conversation before you come to China. Common greeting is “ni hao”, which will be replied with “ni hao”. “Dui pu chi” means “I’m sorry” or “excuse me”. “Xie xie” means “thank you”, which you reply with “pu khe chi” or “no bother”. “Wo pu ming pai” which means you don’t understand and “wo pu ce tao” means “I don’t know”.

If you come from abroad, you will need to take a plane to go to Beijing. From the airport, you can take airport trains or buses to reach the town and take a taxi to reach your destination. There are also many trains and buses that connect Beijing to other places in China.

If you can’t read Chinese’ characters or Hanyu it is inadvisable to take buses while you’re in the city because the bus guides and the destinations are in Hanyu. There are double-Decker buses in Beijing that provide more comfortable than normal buses. The better way to travel around Beijing is via the subway which is faster and list the destinations in English. You can also check out the maps from the internet.

Taxis in Beijing are quite cheap compare to other countries. There are 3 classes for taxi though, and it is advisable to take at least the middle and high class, which are still quite cheap. Drivers usually don’t speak English so tell you’re your destination in Chinese. To ask them to turn on the meter, tell them “qing da biao”.http://www.chinaguide.org/guide/beijing-tourism/

Driving is very strictly regulated in China. Most citizens choose to cycle. You can lend a bike at budget hotels. Cycle your way in Beijing’s hutong or alleyways to get the feel of Beijing people’s daily lives.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/beijing/transport/getting-around

Staying in Beijing is generally cheap compared t accommodation in Western countries or even most Asian tourist destinations. It allows you to stay at higher end hotels which give you better service and cleanliness. Hotel rates vary, even among 5 stars hotels, so check the best deals with your travel agents. You can also stay in budget hotels which are usually 1-3 stars hotels or youth hostels.

Beijing most famous cuisine is the Peking Duck, a duck which is roasted until the skin is crisp and served with pancakes and sauce. Peking Duck restaurants for tourists, such as Quanjude Roast Duck usually have higher prize than other restaurants. Times Magazine’s writer lists Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, a restaurant near Tiananmen Square as the best Peking Duck restaurant in Beijing.http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/boa/boa_body_peking_duck.html</re>

Other food that will delight you is the lamb meat steaks you can get at street food vendors. Also try authentic Chinese noodles during your stay in Beijing. Chinese tea is famous around the world. Try authentic Chinese tea to wash down your food.

If you are worried about hygiene or if you are more conservative in taste, there are many international food chains at Beijing such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and you can even find a Starbucks inside of the Forbidden City.

There are literally countless of places to visit in Beijing with many historical and cultural significance.

The most interesting place to see is the Great Wall China. It is the only manmade creation which is visible from the outer space. It was build during the Qin dynasty to ward off attacks from the Huns.http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/history/ Stairs are quite steep and you will walk for a long distance, so save your breath and stamina.

Forbidden City is a vast area where the Imperial family lived during the imperial area in China. You can see the imperial art and culture in the place and learn about Chinese history. Summer Palace is the place where the royal family rested during the Qing dynasty in summer.

Tiananmen Square is the historical place for modern communist Chinese. Leader Mao’s body was buried there and it is the place to hold many ceremonial events. The square will be closed if there are going to be a ceremonial event.

There are many places to shop in Beijing, from the street markets to the higher end shopping centers. In all places, be careful of fake branded items that are hardly discernible from the genuine ones. They are usually sold at much lower price than the original. As rule of thumb, avoid buying branded items unless you purposely want to buy the counterfeit ones.

There are literally countless of places to visit in Beijing with many historical and cultural significance.

The most interesting place to see is the Great Wall China. It is the only manmade creation which is visible from the outer space. It was build during the Qin dynasty to ward off attacks from the Huns.http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/history/ Stairs are quite steep and you will walk for a long distance, so save your breath and stamina.

Forbidden City is a vast area where the Imperial family lived during the imperial area in China. You can see the imperial art and culture in the place and learn about Chinese history. Summer Palace is the place where the royal family rested during the Qing dynasty in summer.

Tiananmen Square is the historical place for modern communist Chinese. Leader Mao’s body was buried there and it is the place to hold many ceremonial events. The square will be closed if there are going to be a ceremonial event.

There are many places to shop in Beijing, from the street markets to the higher end shopping centers. In all places, be careful of fake branded items that are hardly discernable from the genuine ones. They are usually sold at much lower price than the original. As rule of thumb, avoid buying branded items unless you purposely want to buy the counterfeit ones.