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Air Travel
With 63 international air routes, Beijing is linked to 54
cities in 39 countries and regions. There are also more than 550 domestic air routes linking the capital to all major cities and travel destinations in China.
There are 26 foreign airlines have their booking offices in Beijing.
The Capital Airport, for both international and domestic
flights, is located 27 kilometers from the city center. There is a airport highway in use from February 1996. Taxi fare is approximately 80 yuan from downtown area to the airport.
Shuttle buses run around the clock between the China Aviation Building and the airport every 30 minutes. The bus fare is 13 yuan. For more information, call 4563604 at the Capital
Airport Information Desk.
Reminder: Visitors should reconfirm departure flights as soon as they arrive, or risk having their bookings canceled. This can be done by asking the hotel reception.
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Electricity
Most hotels have built-in converters in bathrooms for shavers and hair dryers. Otherwise, come equipped, because there is no standard type of plugs in
use. Generally, the voltage is 220 watts.
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Water
Only a few hotels can offer quality tap water. It is advised to have flasks of hot and cooled boiled water in the room. Bottled mineral water is widely
available.
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Transportation
There are plenty of taxis found around hotels, tourist area, department store and main streets. They can also be hired by telephone. The small taxis
are either hatchback or with a trunk. The costs for the first four kilometers 10.40 yuan and adds up 1.6 to 2.5 yuan per kilometer thereafter.
Plain (Yellow Minivan, called "mian-dee") taxis
costs 10-yuan flat rate for 10 kilometers and 1 to 1.5 yuan per kilometer thereafter. Receipts are provided on request. Few taxis driver speak English, so it is advisable to have
destinations written out in Chinese. City bus provides a much cheaper way to get around Beijing. The buses are trolley buses, tend to be crowded most of the time. Fares are just
50 fen. Please avoid taking public transport in rush hours from 6:30 to 8 am or 5 to 7 p.m. Mini Bus is a choice between dear taxis and crowded buses. Running regular services the
small vans can guarantee you a seat even in rush hours and stop wherever you require along the route. Fares vary from one to six yuan.
Subway trains are fast and convenient. There are two lines.
One circle city line and the other extend to its far western suburbs. Straight Line runs from Xidan to Pingguoyuan. Tourists can get off at Muxudi near the White Cloud Taoist
Temple, the Military Museum, or the Shijingshan Amusement Park. One way fare costs 50 fen. Stations are marked in pinyin. The subway operates in short intervals from 5 am to 11:30
p.m., but tourists should avoid rush hours (7 to 9 am and 4:30 to 6 p.m.).
Bicycles provide a form of transportation for a majority of
Beijingers, so cycling are set aside on all major roads. The city proper is flat for easy riding and there are repair stands with air pumps and spare parts on the way. Bicycles
can be rented from large repair shops as well as from hotels. It can be an experience to pedal; around the Inner City. It takes only one and a half-hours to cycle from the
Tiananmen Square to the Summer Palace. Rental charges vary from 2 yuan per hour for top brand bikes to 25 yuan for 24 hours for average ones.
Rickshaws offer an experience for tourists. Found around big
hotels and street corners in cozy seasons. Rickshaws provide a more relaxing way to explore the city. The fare can be bargained with the rickshaw pullers.
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Weather
Located in the north temperate zone with a continental monsoon climate,
Beijing enjoys an annual mean temperature of 11.8 C and an annual mean precipitation of 630 mm which concentrates mainly in the summer. January is the coldest month with the
monthly average temperature of -4.7 C while July the hottest month with a mean temperature of 26.1 degrees. Beijing spring is relatively short, and people used to say that when
the last day of the winter is gone, the summer is about to set in. Summer is usually hot with abundant rainfall. Autumn days are cool with clear sky and gentle breeze, making it
the best season to travel. As winter is severe, outing naturally require heavy clothing. Climatically, Beijing four seasons cater to different interests of tourists.
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Medical Service
There is a big difference in China between medical services in the towns and in the countryside. It is possible that, if you are traveling in the
countryside, there will be no appropriate medical services. Some of the hospitals in the big cities have a special section for foreigners where English is spoken. In Beijing,
there is even a separate hospital for foreigners. Many of the big modern hotels have their own ambulance section or doctor. If you want to get treatment from a traditional Chinese
doctor, you will have to make a special request. Normally, foreigners are treated with Western medicines. You can get the addresses of the hospitals from CITS or your hotel.
Payment has to be made straight-away for treatment, medicaments, transport and interpreter. In Beijing, it is possible, in serious cases, to consult the doctor at some of the
embassies.
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Business Hours
Shops are open on all days of the week, including public holidays. Opening hours are usually from 8.30 a.m. (or 9 a.m.) to 8 p.m. Government offices
and banks are usually open from Monday to Friday, 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with a lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. This does not necessarily apply to the banks in the big
hotels.
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Clothing in Beijing
The climate dictates seasonal clothing. In winter it is a good idea to wear layers of garments - thermal or silk underwear with a sweater and
cotton-padded jacket. It is easy to take once indoors. Casual clothing is advised for comfort in warm weather. Revealing mini skirts and halter necklines may draw unflattering
stares. Slacks are recommended for strenuous traveling and sightseeing.
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Tipping
Officially, it is still illegal to accept tips in China. It has, however, become the custom for travel groups to give a tip to the Chinese travel guides
and bus drivers. If you are traveling with a group, ask your guide, who is responsible for the "official" contacts of the group, whether and how much you should tip. On
the other hand, tipping is still not usual in most restaurants and hotels although it is accepted in the modern top hotels and restaurants. Small gifts such as paperbacks,
cassette tapes and Western cigarettes continue to be appreciated. Note that it is part of the ritual that any gift or tip will at first be firmly rejected.
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Safety
There is still less crime in China than in many other countries. You can walk around safely in Chinese towns and cities without being pestered - this
goes for women as well. However, criminal activities against tourists have increased in recent years. There have been thefts in tourist hotels, and money, valuables or
photographic equipment have been stolen from foreigners. Don't leave your money, jewelry or valuables lying around in your hotel room, and try to keep your money safely on you.
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Visa
Foreign visitors can obtain individual or group visas form Chinese embassies and consulates, or China Travel Service offices in Hong Kong, usually within
a day or two. Most Group tourists are included in-group visas, not inserted into passports. Individual travelers, single entry visas are valid for entry within three months.
Business or commercial visas are issued upon presentation of a letter, fax, telex, etc., from a Chinese official organization or company, and sometimes there are multiple-entry
visas good for six months at a time.
Each visa is valid for a stay of 30 or 60 days, and can be
extended in China for a small fee and usually without delay at the Foreign Affairs Section of the public Security Bureau.
Visitors should be sure to carry their passports while in
China as they are needed to check into hotel, make plane or train reservations, exchange money or establish the holder's identity.
Loss of a passport should be reported immediately to the
holder's embassy or consulate, and the Public Security Bureau of the Beijing Municipality, Foreigners Section, 85 Beichizijie, Tel. 555486
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Customs
All visitors must fill out customs declaration forms to present on arrival. The copy should be kept, handed in on departure. Reasonable amounts of currency
(including Chinese Foreign Exchange Certificates or FEC) can be brought in, along with alcohol and cigarettes for personal use, cameras, radios, computers and tape-recorders.
Certain valuable items, such as video cameras, office
machines, computers and gold declared on the form must be brought out of China or else import duty will be charged on them.
Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosives;
printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuffs. It is also forbidden to take out any of these items or
endangered species of animals or plants and antiques without export permit.
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