Copy of Copy of BEIJING

Home , Fragrant Hills, Malatang, Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, Nanluoguxiang, National Museum of China, Sanlitun

B E I J I N G

PREPARE | TRAVEL | EXPERIENCE

THINK AHEAD. LEARN MANDARIN.

WWW.HUTONG-SCHOOL.COM CONTENTS /////////////////////////////////////////////

INTRODUCTION ______CHAPTER #1 Before You Arrive ______CHAPTER #2 How To Survive Your First Week ______CHAPTER #3 Get The Most Out Of Your Week ______CHAPTER #4 Weekend Guide ______CHAPTER #5 Insider Secrets ______

INTRODUCTION

Beijing is a very spread-out city and for any newbie, it might get a little overwhelming – a new environment with people and honking everywhere! Luckily, our Hutong School Team is always there to help you. To keep you from feeling lost during your first days at Hutong School (or for any time while you're in China), we’ve created a "Hutong School's Insider Guide" for just about everything there is to discover around our school, including travel destinations close to Beijing and tips about how to get the most out of your stay at Hutong School.

In this e-book we’ll cover everything from the beginning until the end of your Hutong School adventure. We’ll walk you through the pre-arrival stage, how to maximize the experience of your first few days, how to get the most out of a week, and what to do during the weekend, including nightlife, cultural activities, weekend getaways, and ideas for a day in Beijing for under 100RMB.

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Chapter #1: Before You Arrive ______Coming to China requires a bit of preparation. Fortunately, our Hutong Team will help you with all the administrative work and once you have your visa - it’s time to start packing and getting ready to hop on the plane to Beijing! Read below to see how you can best prepare yourself for a China adventure.

What To Pack?

Clothes

Beijing has a temperate and continental monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons and large variations in temperature from day to night. Summers in Beijing are hot and humid, Winters are cold and dry, and Spring and Autumn are cool and pleasant (but short!). Luckily, Beijing is suitable for travel all year round - if you can only stay for a short while, Autumn (September to November) is the best season to visit Beijing. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Toiletries and Medicine

In bigger cities like Beijing and Shanghai, you’ll definitely find the more well-known health and beauty products that you may see at home. However, if there’s anything that you use on a daily basis and don’t want to miss in China, it might be best to take some with you. Make sure to pack anything over 100ml in your check-in baggage and put any liquids in your carry-on in ziplock bags - you’ll be asked to take them out at security.

One product that isn’t common in China is deodorant (people in China generally don’t sweat much). There are few options in the supermarket; i.e. good chance they may not have your favorite brand, to say the least. For the ladies, we advise that you come prepared with your product of choice for that time of the month.

It’s always a good idea to bring any medical supplies you’re used to if you’re going to a foreign country, just make sure to have prescriptions handy while going through security.

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Miscellaneous

For those who like to watch TV shows or movies in their free time, it might be a good idea to have some shows or movies on hand. With that being said, watching Chinese TV and movies is always a good way to improve your Chinese and you’ll find very few English programs on TV.

For packing, keep it light. As some say Beijing is a shopper’s paradise. With cheap prices and an abundance of choices, you may want to leave some extra space in your luggage.

_W__h_a__t_ T__o_ _I_n_s_t_a__ll_?______VPN We can’t stress this enough, but subscribing to a VPN service before you arrive in China will save you a lot of trouble. As of May 2017, Western social media and Google platforms are inaccessible in China. So, if you want to send a message to your friends and family to let them know you landed safely, get a VPN app installed ASAP!

Great news! Our students are entitled to have some discounts: 3 month subscription : 20% discount + half month free 6 month subscription : 20% discount + 1 month free 12 month subscription : 20% discount + 2 months free

Other popular options are Betternet and VPN Master (free on smart phones) or VPN Express and Astrill (monthly fee for computers and smartphones)

Chinese Learning Apps: Getting Around: Pleco: One of the best smartphone Apple Maps: Detailed and dictionaries for Chinese. The dictionary accurate app for finding is free, but the feature for drawing your way through the city. characters on the phone costs extra. Google Maps: Another ChinesePod: From newbie level to great option, but requires a advanced, ChinesePod offers over 3500 VPN. podcasts and videos on almost every China Trains: Plan your topic imaginable. journey from A to B and Google Translate: Comes with an offline view availability of tickets. dictionary for Chinese, foregoing the Metro Beijing Subway: need for a VPN. Clean and easy-to-use app WayGo: A visual translator that reads that helps you navigate the Chinese characters and translates them massive metro. into English.

Food: Keeping In Touch: Sherpa’s: Order food from most of WeChat: When meeting Beijing’s international restaurants using someone new, scan their an English-friendly platform. QR code with your phone DianPing: only in Chinese, offers lots of and you have a new contact! deals once you get used to it. WeChat will quickly È le’ me: Similar to DianPing. become your new best Other: friend as you learn to pay for groceries, transfer money, Alipay: After getting a Chinese bank buy tickets, and more, account, install this app and link it to directly from your phone. your bank card. Pay for almost anything For many Chinese and online and offline. expats, WeChat has become Air Quality China: Alerts you when the a godsend for convenience. air quality isn’t too good and it'll let you know when it’s best to wear a mask.

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Chapter #2: How To Survive Your First Week ______

Register The first thing you may want to do when your plane touches the ground is to get to your new abode. However, anyone arriving in China with the purpose other than travel needs to register at the police station. A staff member of Hutong School will help you with this registration, but just don't make too many wild plans immediately following your arrival!

SIM Card Next up, get yourself a SIM card. There are three carriers in China where you can get a SIM card: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. Usually, a new SIM requires a deposit of 50 - 100RMB. This can be done at any main branch by bringing your passport. If a smaller shop won’t provide you with a SIM card, they’ll likely point you in the right direction. If you’d like to skip the run-around, ask a Program Coordinator, an Intern, or a classmate.

Transportation Card Next up, you should definitely get a Beijing Public Transportation Card – luckily, Hutong School provides you with one! Put 50 – 100RMB on it and you’ll be able to use it to take the subway, bus (regular, tourist and long-distance), and the Airport Express.

Dos | Don'ts Do: Explore Chinese Restaurants If you think you know what Chinese food is all about, think again. The traditional Chinese cuisines are completely different from Chinese restaurants abroad. Sure, you may be familiar with dumplings and kung pao chicken, but other than that, the options in Beijing are endless. Don't: Go Crazy On The Street Food We know it smells divine (except maybe for the stinky tofu), but it might be a wise decision to leave the street food for what it is during your first week and give your stomach some time to adapt to Chinese cuisine. Even the most experienced China expat expert can’t always handle the street food and it’s always a risk ordering from someone grilling food on a cart in the middle of the street. However, that being said, street BBQ is amazing and you it’s definitely worth a try.

Another type of delicious Beijing breakfast street food is the warm savory thin pancake wrap called jianbing. Originally from Tianjin, it is an extremely popular breakfast food all around China. Jianbing is similar to a crepe. It's made from a buckwheat batter filled with, egg, green onions, coriander, cumin and a choice of hoisin or chili sauce, it works for vegetarians too. Looking for a dessert to finish off this meal? Tanghulu or bingtanghulu (冰糖葫芦) are crystalline sugar-coated hawthorns. Sweet and sour in taste, these bright red-colored skewered fruits are very popular here (especially in the winter!)

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Do: Get Familiar With The Dangers Of Do: Write Down Your Address Beijing Traffic Write down your home Don’t expect traffic rules to be the same address in Chinese and as in the US or Europe - be prepared for a English on a card that you taste of the Wild West. Cars are the king of can keep in your wallet the road and pedestrians are expected to and not only in your yield to them. When the light turns green phone. You never know for pedestrians, car drivers won’t always when this might come in pay attention. This also means that cars handy. rarely stop before turning right, so be careful at crossings and keep looking both directions. And yes, you guessed it, Do: Learn characters zebra crossings are more of a suggestion. Memorize the most important characters and Do: Get Lost learn how to pronounce Whenever you have an entire free day, put them. Often you will find on your walking shoes and go exploring these dishes on Chinese and get lost. This is the perfect way to get menus: chǎo fàn (炒飯; off the beaten path and to find hidden fried rice), ròu (⾁, meat), gems across the city - and trust us, there’s niúròu (⽜⾁, beef), zhūròu plenty to be found. (猪⾁, pork), mĭfàn (⽶飯, white rice), miàn (⾯, Do: Get Used To Stares noodles), shūcài (蔬菜, There’s no shame in staring and taking vegetarian). This will get pictures of laowai for many Chinese. The you started on your first best way to deal with it is to practice your week exploring Chinese modeling skills and strike a pose! If you’re restaurants. not in the mood, a simple wave ‘no, thank you’ will suffice. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WEEK \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Chapter #3: Get The Most Out Of Your Week

Shops and Restaurants Malatang Our Hutong School branch SOHO A small restaurant on in Beijing is located in the left hand side of Gongtiyuchang beilu Sanlitun, Chaoyang District, the SOHO complex, (Beijing’s most popular Foodie Town easy to walk right past it, but a great hotspot) where you can find A typical food court place for a healthy, a ton of options for eating that serves different fresh, warm meal. and shopping. Here is a list styles of Chinese with restaurants and shops food; noodles, rice, Annie's around our school, with jiaozi, soup etc. at The oldest pizzeria in some offering discounts for cheap prices. Beijing, Annie's is a our students (just make sure classic and a nice to get out your student card Poke Inn taste of the West. when you arrive). Offer different bowl Gungho combinations with Their thinly crusted meat or raw fish. It pizzas are just as can be a bit pricey delicious as their salads. but they offer HS They're located just a students a discount. small walk from SOHO. ______Topwin Center Sanlitun Nanlu Avocado Tree: Burritos and burrito bowls, students buying a burrito and a smoothie will get a discount. Shawarma Dareen: The best Shawarma/Kebab in town. Choose the meat or vegetarian falafel option (with hummus!) Gong Cha: Bubble tea, with tapioca pearls or without, with different flavors, or just au natural – take your pick! Croissant Village: Here you can get coffee, salads, sweet, and treats Lanzhou Mian: A small traditional Chinese restaurant where you can buy excellent hand made noodles. Slow Boat Brewery: Good home brewed beers along with a full meal. The Bookworm: This cute café is a great place to study and read while having a bite to eat and a good cappuccino.

W W W . H U T O N G - S C H O O L . C O M P A G E 1 1 GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WEEK /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Hidden City Gongtibeilu Jing A: Different types of Sanlitun beers and snacks to nibble Cantina Agave: A Mexican-inspired on while you relax and restaurant with half off specials. mingle with the crowd. Blue Frog: Find any burger you QMEX: A Mexican-inspired could ever want here! sports bar with different Crystal Jade: Try all sorts of Chinese deals on food and drink every food, especially dumplings. day. In & Out: Great tasting Yunnan food The Local: A fun alternative to with lots of vegetarian options. QMEX with good deals.

Useful Chinese Words And Phrases To Order Food ______

How many people? Jǐgèrén? Are you ready to order? Kěyǐ diǎn cài le ma? Yes, we are ready to order. Wǒmen yào diǎn cài. I would like to have… Wǒ yào… I want this. Wǒ yào zhègè. This is for me. Shì wǒde. Can I have the bill? Qǐng gěi wǒ mǎidān. How much is it? Duōshǎo qián? I am vegetarian. Wǒ sì sù shí zhě I do not eat meat. Wǒ bùchī ròu I am a Buddhist. Wǒ shì fójiàotú I cannot eat… Wǒ bùnéng chī…

I do not eat fish, milk, cheese, butter, eggs, honey, chicken stock, meat broth, fish stock, fish sauce, lard. Wǒ bùchī yú, niúnǎi, nǎilào, huángyóu, jīdàn, fēngmì, jītāng, ròutāng, yútāng, yújiàng, zhūyóu.

© H U T O N G S C H O O L P A G E 1 2 Shopping XIDAN Beijing has much to By far one of the most famous shopping districts offer when it comes in Beijing. The street is filled with malls on both to shopping. Ranging sides of the street, some even connect to one from elegant malls to another. International brands like H&M, ZARA, fashion streets, to a Forever 21, MUJI and Uniqlo are just a few that plethora of local you’ll find here. Western make-up brands can also markets - in Beijing be found in most of the malls but are more you can find expensive than in the West. In the midst of the everything you need! newer malls, there still exists a haggling market (see below for more details on haggling).

Sanyuanli: If you’re craving fresh fruit, vegetables and meat at a good price, take a look at the fresh food market called Sanyuanli, just a few stops away from our school.

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M___a_d__e_ _I_n__ _C__h_i_n__a______China is famous for markets that sell imitation products. There’s still a few spots left in the city where you can bargain your way through for some Nike shoes or Chanel bags and other cheap imitations. The two most famous are Silk Market (Xiushui Chaosi) and the Pearl Market (Hongqiao). Here you can practice your bargaining skills and purchase items for as low as 30% off the offered price.

A Few Tips On Bargaining:

Do not be rude. If unhappy with the stated price smile and walk away. They will follow asking what you are willing to pay. From then on it should be easy to get your desired price. Remember to state the minimum price you're willing to pay and work your way up to reach a common ground. Go with your friends and try to get a better deal when buying multiple items.

Zhège duōshaoqián? Chinese How much is this? phrases Nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ piányì yìdiǎn ma? Can you give me a discount? that you Taì guì le. can use This is too expensive.

If what you’re looking for is gadgets and electronics, then head down to China’s Silicon Valley (Centergate Como/Zhongguancun). It’s a four-story building full of mobile phones, iPods, mp3s, cameras, TVs, and DVDs - an electronics heaven! There are a few markets worth taking a look at even if you do not buy anything: Panjiayuan Market, Maliandao and Beijing Glasses Market.

Souvenir Shopping Nanluoguxiang is the best area to buy your souvenirs. It can get really crowded during the weekends so always be on the lookout for pickpockets. You can also visit Duolun Lu which is smaller and less crowded. ______CULTURE Home to China’s political, cultural, and educational centers, Beijing is definitely a paradise for avid culture lovers. The city’s history dates back three millennia and the metropolis has played an important role in China’s development ever since. Nowadays it is a flourishing metropolis where traditional Chinese culture meets the modern way of life and our school is located in the center of this development.

Forbidden City and Tiananmen Lama Temple: The biggest Square: Visit the most famous monastery devoted to Tibetan square in the city and get a great Buddhism in Beijing. Take line 5 to view of the entrance to the Yonggegong. Forbidden City. Drum and Bell Tower: Opposite Great Wall: Hike up the famous wall the Lama Temple, the towers were and take the slide down. used as a bedtime clock for the people and would ring whenever Temple of Heaven: One of the four Emperor Puyi would leave the sacrificial temples of the emperors. Forbidden City.

798: The art district with cafés, Summer Palace: The largest royal rooftops, restaurants, small shops, garden in Beijing with a large lake art studios, galleries, and museums. and other waterways.

Houhai Lake: A large lake lined with Olympic Stadium: Designed by Ai restaurants and unique shops for a Wei Wei, Li Xinggang and Stefan sunny day. Marbach for the 2008 Olympics.

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E__N__T__E_R__T__A__I_N__M__E__N__T

Besides the extensive list of museums and cultural activities in Beijing, there’s plenty of other options for entertainment while here.

Beijing Opera Popular with both local and foreign tourists, it combines music, vocal performances, mime, dance, acrobatics and kung fu. This style is different from what you might be used to. It is a must-watch at least once in your life. One good venue is called Liyuan Theatre. Hutong School arranges frequent theater trips there. Prices for the one-hour show range from 150-200 RMB and they (usually) have English subtitles.

KTV Cinemas By far the most popular activity in There are many places to watch China, karaoke bars can be found in international and Chinese movies. almost every area of Beijing. You’ll Close to Hutong School there is have a private room that you can Chaoyang Theatre where you can book for your friends. Look for the watch all kinds of movies (50-150 Ibiza KTV in Sanlitun SOHO - it has RMB depending on 2D or 3D). If you themed rooms - or Coolth in 3.3. prefer, there are smaller cinemas with cozy sofas and bigger screens. Parks and Zoo

If you want to see cute panda bears Theme Parks you should visit Beijing Zoo. If you If you like rollercoasters, try Happy like running, playing ping pong, Valley, one of Beijing’s biggest hacky sack or just enjoying the attraction parks. Tickets usually scenery it’s always a good idea to range between 200 and 300 RMB. visit parks like Beihai Park or Try to get there during the week as Chaoyang Park. weekends are usually pretty crowded.

© H U T O N G S C H O O L P A G E 1 6 WEEKEND GUIDE \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Chapter #4: N__I_G__H__T__L_I_F__E______Weekend Guide In this section we guide you through the all-time favorite places Throughout the week you may be to visit in Beijing during the a bit busy with classes or with your weekend. Whether you’re looking internship. However, with the for a fancy rooftop bar, or a quick arrival of the weekend, time to and cheap night out, below should dust off your fun hat! keep you busy for quite some time. Beijing is full of places to visit. From the traditional Chinese hutongs to student areas like WUDAOKOU Wudaokou and modern districts 五道⼝ is a paradise mostly like Sanlitun, Beijing has an reserved for university students. eclectic mix of tradition versus China’s most prestigious modern. Even with plenty to do in universities like Peking University Beijing, escaping on a quiet or and Tsinghua University are adventurous weekend get-away is located in this area. Beijing a good way to get the most out of Language and Culture University your adventure in China. is also popular amongst foreign students learning the Chinese Bars & Clubs language. Most clubs and bars are easy to find in Sanlitun or around the Propaganda: An underground Worker’s Stadium. There are all club right next to Wudaokou’s kinds of music available and subway station. there’s a good chance you’ll find something you’ll enjoy. Whether Lush: Is a more suitable option live rock music bars like School Bar for those who feel too old for in the hutongs, Latin-American clubs. bars such as La Social in Sanlitun, Irish pubs like Paddy O’Shea’s that Bla Bla Bar: For cheap drinks host regular pub quiz nights, or and a friendly atmosphere try alternative electronic music clubs the Bla Bla Bar (a.k.a. Bra Bra like Lantern or Dada, Beijing has Bar amongst the BLCU something for you! students).

W W W . H U T O N G - S C H O O L . C O M P A G E 1 7 SANLITUN Sanlitun (三⾥屯; Sānlĭtún) is the most popular drinking and dancing area for foreigners in Beijing, and offers some bars on the North Street. The South Street was once a bit of a cheaper option, but has since been demolished due to the ongoing gentrification of the city. The eastern side of the street leading from Gōngtĭ bĕilù to Dōngzhíménwài dàjiē is lined up with fancier (and pricier) bars, while the narrow hutongs on the west of the bar street offer a different style. The “Poachers Inn” is probably one of the most popular bars among foreigners in this area.

Migas This Spanish party bar offers something for everyone. Beijing’s nightlife scene would not be the same without its unparalleled rooftop, innovative cocktail menu, and strong music programming. There is always something happening, from Salsa Mondays to Ping Pong Wednesdays. There's also a great line-up of local and international DJs through the weekends. It is the sort of place you can come for a quiet drink or party till sunrise. Your choice!

Elements Elements is a well-known mainstream club and has played a key role in bringing international DJs and acts to Beijing for years. Although the floors are very small in Gongti clubs, Elements’ is always jammed with pretty people dancing the night away. Elements consistently host DJ Mag top 100 DJs and the biggest EDM stars, while its residents come from across Asia and Europe.

*Disclaimer: things move fast in Beijing. The places listed above are still open as of May 2017, but may be gone tomorrow. If you’d like to know if something is still open, check thebeijinger.com or ask one of the Program Coordinators - the Hutong School team is always happy to help!

W___E__E_K__E__N__D__ _G_E__T__A_W___A__Y_

Blessed with several neighboring cities just a short distance away, Beijing is a perfect base for exploring. The nearby water villages are worth a visit if you want to get a glimpse of ancient China. We have compiled a list of places to visit close to Beijing that are perfect for a weekend getaway.

Xiāngshān ⾹⼭ (Fragrant Hill) How To Get There: If you go by subway, take subway line 4 and get off at Beigongmen Station. Get out from Exit A and transfer to bus 563 to Xiang Shan Gongyuan Dongmen (East Gate of the Fragrant Hills Park) Station. It’s also possible to take bus 331 from Beihongmen Subway Station to Xiang Shan. If you go by bus, take bus 563 to Xiang Shan Gongyuan Dongmen Station. Then, take bus 318,331,360,630, or 698 and get off at Xiang Shan Station.

What To See: Do you enjoy spending your day out in nature? Take a leap of faith in the Fragrant Hills Park, which was built in the Jin Dynasty and later expanded in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. This imperial garden is situated at the foot of the Western Mountains in the Haidian District and is filled with hills and forests. Once you have climbed to the top of the hill (or if you’re not feeling quite up to it, with the cable car) you’ll be awarded with a most spectacular view of red leaves over the mountains. (Note: the red leaves are only visible during Autumn and the best time to go is between October and November).

W W W . H U T O N G - S C H O O L . C O M P A G E 1 9 Píngyáo 平遥 Chéngdé 承德

How To Get There: you can either How To Get There: The best way to take the slow train (D-train) or the get there is by train. We advise you high-speed G-train. to take a K-series train at Beijing The cheapest single ride by D- (East/West) Rail Way Station either train costs only 183 RMB. in the early morning or near To limit the amount of travel midnight to arrive at a decent time. time (< 4 hours), we advise The costs vary from 90 RMB to 254 taking the G-trains. The cheapest RMB if you want to get there single ride is 225 RMB. There are quickly. three trains per day.

What To See: This breathtaking What To See: Previously known as ancient city in central Shanxi Jehol or Rehe, Chengde is situated province, surrounded by old city in the northeast of Beijing in Hebei walls and home to many creaking province. Once chosen as the temples and buildings, is not only summer residence by one of listed under UNESCO World China’s greatest emperors, the Heritage but is also China’s best- Kangxi Emperor was one of the preserved ancient city. Within easy Manchu emperors that reigned reach of Pingyao, you’ll find during the Qing dynasty and Shuanglin Temple, an astonishing sought shelter there. Things to see Buddhist temple. Northeast of include an imperial park (避暑⼭庄; Pingyao, you’ll find Zhenguo Bìshŭshānzhuāng) and eight Temple. On top of that, you may monasteries built for the various find the 1000-year old Dragon ethnic groups of China. Among the Scholar Tree there. If you’d like to eight monasteries is one that looks hike instead, then Mian Shan with like a small replica of the Potala its characteristic temple Palace in Lhasa, just in case you architecture is a mountain worth don’t have time to visit Tibet. climbing.

P A G E 2 0 © H U T O N G S C H O O L WEEKEND GUIDE \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Xī'ān 西安 Dàtóng ⼤同 How To Get There: There are 11 How To Get There: The high-speed high-speed trains (G-trains) per (K-series) trains from Beijing (West) day. The trip takes 4.5 - 5 hours Rail Way Station to Datong take 6 - and costs 515 RMB for the 6.5 hours and cost 99 to 108 RMB. cheapest seat. It’s best to travel at night (before or after midnight) so you’ll arrive early What To See: Famous for its in the morning. Terracotta Warriors that were buried with the first emperor of What To See: If you like to explore China, Qínshĭhuáng, Xi’an is a the spiritual side of China, Datong, must-see in China. Other in the northern part of Shanxi interesting sites include the province, is the place to be. The Bànpó site, which remains one of Hanging Monastery (Xuánkōngsì) is the earliest settlements in China, quite breathtaking as it “hangs” and dates back 7000 years ago. from the side of the cliff. The Xī’ān was the capital of numerous Yungang Grottoes (Yúngăng dynasties, and the Shănxī Shíkū) is one of the three most Provincial Museum is one of the famous groupings of caves that are best in the country - definitely filled with Buddhist carvings. worth a visit if you’re in Xī’ān.

Huangshan 黄⼭（Yellow Mountain） How To Get There: High-speed trains depart from Beijing South Railway Station (G-trains) and take 6 - 7 hours. To get there fast, take the G27 train in the morning and arrive at Huangshan Station by late afternoon (a 5.5h trip). Once in Huangshan, take a sightseeing bus (at the train station) to get you to the foot of the mountain. Buses depart between 09:00 and 19:00 every 60 minutes. The bus ride is an hour and tickets are 20 RMB.

What To See: It is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site with a landscape of impressive peaks, strangely shaped pine trees, dramatic clouds and spectacular landscape which has been the source of inspiration for many painters throughout Chinese history. For those who have some more time, a trip to Hongcun is just a one-hour away from the mountains. This village, is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. An afternoon walk around this little village will bring you back to ancient China.

W W W . H U T O N G - S C H O O L . C O M P A G E 2 1 INSIDER SECRETS /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// A DAY IN BEIJING FOR LESS THAN 100RMB ______Tiananmen Square – Mausoleum of Mao Zedong – The Forbidden City – Wangfujing

Ready to delve into Chinese imperial history and for a busy day full of culture? Start your day early at Tiananmen Square and enjoy the vast view over the public square in the heart of Beijing. Amongst the (massive) parades, not far from the Forbidden City, you may also see the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in the distance at the square. Line up with tickets to enter the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao to take a look at one of the most influential persons in Chinese history. After a quiet visit to the Memorial Hall, head over to the astonishing grand Chinese imperial palace dating back from the Mid-Ming to the end of the Qing dynasty. Finally, after a long walk in the Forbidden City, enjoy some food around Wangfujing, walking distance from the Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square Free Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) 15 RMB The Great Hall of the People 15 RMB Mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong Free The National Museum of China Free Opening hours: the whole day The Forbidden City 60 RMB Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 Lunch/Dinner at Wangfujing 15 to 20 RMB Opening hours: 9:00-22:00 Total costs of the whole trip: 95 RMB

Chapter #5: Insider Secrets

Tip 1: Travel

These locations aren’t so secret that you’ll The trip to this part of the wall is around need to keep them to yourself, but are less 2 hours from Beijing, and is a great heard of among foreigners! excuse for taking a break from the busy city. It’s possible to hire a guide for this Gubeikou – Great Wall part of the wall if you’re not comfortable This part of the wall is not officially open to going alone. Prices vary, but don’t the public but has become popular with hesitate to ask HS staffers for help. Chinese hikers. The hike is an average 8- 10km depending on which route you choose to take. The wall consists of areas you can walk on and areas that nature has taken over, quite a difference from Mutianyu or Badaling!

Tip 2: Nightlife If you enjoy an ice cold cocktail with a relaxed atmosphere there are a couple of treasures hidden in the streets of Beijing. Hidden House is located in an art store where an antique sliding bookcase connects you to the bar. The cocktail selection is relatively small, but the bartender knows his stuff and it’s definitely worth a try!

Tip 3: Culture Dali Courtyard is a hidden treasure close to the busy Nanluoguxiang. Their courtyard has a special feel to it and is known for its Yunnan menu, good quality food as well as being open to hosting different types of events. To top it off, the courtyard is rumored to have once been a palace!

Besides a good restaurant with historical backgrounds, movie nights can be a nice change of scenery. Daguanlou is one of the oldest cinemas in Beijing and has recently been renovated while retaining its unique ambiance. Movie tickets are a fair price at 45RMB and even though most films are in Chinese, it can be a fun evening filled with nostalgia.

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