About Beijing:Beijing (北京 Běijīng) is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions.The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis.

Beijing Transportation
Taxi:Foreign visitors to Beijing can usually afford to take a taxi everywhere they want to go.  The price ranges from 10 - 35 RMB for most destinations.  Airport can set you back up to 140 RMB.  Still, when you convert it back into local currency is still cheaper than most places in the world.  The main problem is communication.  Be prepared to have your destination written in Chinese characters to hand to the driver.  English is almost non-existent and even place names all have their own unique Chinese name. 
 
Subway:The subway in Beijing is rather limited at the moment with just 4 lines in operation. It costs 3 RMB to most destinations, with outlying suburbs costing 4 or 5 RMB, but this will change within the next few years.  By 2008 there is likely to be 13 lines in Beijing covering the whole city and the airport. Right now, the subway is a great way to beat the growing Beijing traffic chaos.

Bus:This is for the real adventurous people out there. There are many different kinds of buses with prices starting at 1 RMB for a non-airconditioned crowded bus.  2 RMB might buy you some air conditioning and a few less people.  Of course, the language is a major problem as there are virtually no buses with any English information.  Our tips to the left might help you though.
 

Beijing Attractions
Beijing is vibrant with amazing attractions, Forbidden City, the most magnificent palace in China; Ming Tombs, an imperial tomb cluster for thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644); Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world; Temple of Heaven, the worshipping site for the emperors; Summer Palace, the grandest imperial garden in China; Sacred Way, a divine road reflecting the pomp and dignity of emperors; Tiananmen Square, The largest square in the world; Lama Temple, a noted temple dedicated to Tibetan Buddhism; Beihai Park, a centuries-old park with marvelous scenery; Hutong, a carrier and mirror of Beijing folk culture.

Beijing Dining
While dining in Beijing, even the most experienced of Beijing visitors will get tantalized. The reason is that the city is filled with so many delicacies all from through the country that it is too difficult to make a decision.As the capital of China, Beijing has developed its own culinary identity- Beijing Cuisine. The perennial favorite in Beijing is authentic Beijing Roast Duck which can be found at Quanjude and Bianyifang restaurants. Other choices include Imperial Court Food, Official Food and tasty snacks, which can be enjoyed at the local flavor restaurants.Food in Beijing also boasts other exotic cuisines home and abroad. Other Chinese cuisine, each having a distinctive flavor, give a wide scope for diners to choose to one's taste. There is also a fill spectrum of international fine fare. If you are not a good eater of the Chinese food, these foreign cuisine restaurants can make up for it.

Venues range from small kiosks to large restaurants and from modest to luxurious. Food streets offer a wide variety of food, and some sites are always open. Typical food streets are the Donghuamen Night Snack Street, Gui Jie (Ghost Street) and Wangfujing Snack Street. Strolling a food street is a good way to learn the local food culture for our knowledge.Restaurant serving hours are usually from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 21:00. It is not customary to tip waiters in restaurants of Beijing, but some top-class restaurants may charge 10% to 15% extra service fees. Both cash and credit cards can be used to check in grand and mid-range restaurants.

Beijing Travel Map: