BEIJING GUIDE GUIDE BEIJING GUIDE

Beijing is one of the most magnificent cities in Essential Information Money 4 Asia. Its history is truly impressive. The me- tropolis is dynamically evolving at a pace that Communication 5 is impossible for any European or North Amer- ican city. Holidays 6 As is quite obvious from a glance at Tianan- men, the literal center of the city, Beijing is Transportation 7 the seat of communist political power, with its vast public spaces, huge buildings designed ac- Food 11 cording to socialist realism principles and CCTV systems accompanied by ever-present police Events During The Year 12 forces. At the same time, this might be seen Things to do 13 as a mere continuity of a once very powerful empire, still represented by the unbelievable DOs and DO NOTs 14 . With Beijing developing so fast, it might be Activities 17 difficult to look beyond the huge construction sites and modern skyscrapers to re-discover . the peaceful temples, lively streets and beautiful parks built according to ancient prin- ciples. But will be rewarded for your ef- Emergency Contacts forts – this side of Beijing is relaxed, friendly and endlessly charming. Medical emergencies: 120 Foreigners Section of the Beijing Public Se- Time Zone curity Bureau: +86 10 6525 5486 CST – Standard Time (UTC/GMT +8 hours), Police: 110 no daylight saving time. Police (foreigner section): 552 729 Fire: 119 Contacts

Tourist Contacts

Traffic information: 122 Tourist information: +86 10 6513 0828 Beijing China Travel Service: +86 10 6515 8264 International Medical Center hotline: +86 10 6465 1561

2 3 MONEY COMMUNICATION

Currency: (RMB). 1 Yuan (元, kuai) = 10 At markets, don’t be afraid to ask for 15% of the Electricity the province where the SIM was purchased. SIM Jiao (角) suggested price and expect to bargain hard for The standard electricity supply in China is 220 volt cards can be purchased in cell phone shops or everything. Check the prices of desired goods on – 50 Hz AC with NEMA 1-15 USA 2 pin (North Amer- directly with the operators but you will need your The easiest way to obtain Chinese money is to the internet beforehand. Effective tactics are to ican socket with flat blades) and CEE 7/16 Euro- ID to buy it. The prepaid cards have usually the withdraw it from an ATM belonging to one of the state that you’ve seen it elsewhere cheaper or plug (two round pins) in one socket. You will most domination of 30, 50 or 100 元. larger banks. Regional banks usually don’t accept walking away – the price may drop significantly. If probably need an adaptor or transformer, to be foreign cards but there are always some working the seller agrees with your price, you are obliged bought only at authorized shops. There are also many public phone booths. Note ATMs. Standard international charges apply and to buy. that you can use them only with a special pre- you can be sure of not getting any counterfeit Languages paid card called IC that can be purchased in bills. The student discounts are usually applicable only newsagents’ or at post offices. The main spoken language is Chinese, with sim- for students of Chinese universities. plified characters. Expect conversational knowl- Exchanging money in banks is safe too, only more Meal, inexpensive restaurant – 30 元 The country dial code is +86, the area code for Bei- edge of English only in touristy areas and in the difficult – it is truly a bureaucratic process with Street food – 1 – 10 元 jing is 10. tourism industry. lots of forms to be filled in that can take an enor- Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant, three-course mous amount of time. You need your passport to – 180 元 Internet The best way to get by is to phonetically learn exchange money. Combo meal at McDonald’s – 27 元 the basic phrases and memorize basic charac- There is an abundance of cheap Internet cafés Small bottle of water – 1 元 ters (restrooms, exit, up/down for traveling with and almost every hostel has at least one com- Exchange bureaus are very rare and they require Domestic beer – 10 元 trains – the bunks in sleeper trains are marked puter for use by guests. Despite this, Internet your passport as well. Never exchange money on Souvenir t-shirt – 30 元 with the characters, numbers). Always have the access may be quite limited as extensive cen- the street or in an unofficial bureau. Keep your Gasoline (1 liter) – 7.85 元 name and/or address of the place you are stay- sorship is in operation. Luckily, there are many exchange receipts in case you will want to ex- Hostels (average price/night) – 50 元 ing written in Chinese, the same applies for the ways to outflank the protection, such as various change RMB back to your currency when leaving 4* hotel (average price/night) – 600 元 sights you want to visit – this is the only way to software or VPN. China. Car-hire (medium-sized car/day) – 880 元 communicate with taxi drivers. Also, learn the Chinese signs for numbers; they are different to Internet Resources Don’t count on using cards. Visa, MasterCard and Tipping Western ones. Official Beijing Website (www.ebeijing.gov.cn) American Express are accepted at bigger hotels, Tipping is not customary in China. There is one Beijing Practical Information (www.beijingpage. restaurants and in better shops but that’s it. It is exception though: the tour guides usually depend Mobile Phones com) also always safer to pay with cash. on tips (as a result of very competitive prices of There’s a standard mobile network (GSM 900/1800) Useful blog about travelling in China (www. tours for non-Chinese). ’ china-mike.com) Tax Refunds and Chinese CDMA network that s incompatible with American SIM cards. If coming from Europe, There’s no VAT except for in Hainan and there- the probability that your phone will work there fore, no tax refunds. is high and it can be legally used. Needless to say, the roaming will be probably expensive and Prices there’s a portion of randomness – you phone or Bargaining is essential and not just at markets; operator might or might not work. you might need to bargain even in small grocery shops – they always try to charge tourists more, China Mobile and China Unicom are the two even for basic goods. most popular phone operators. Their SIM cards work nationwide but roaming applies beyond

4 5 HOLIDAYS TRANSPORTATION

January 1 – New Year Public Transportation The fares are very cheap (usually just 1 元) and are 1st day of 1st lunar month – Chinese New Expect public transport to be extremely crowded usually paid to the bus attendant during the ride. Year during rush hours. The subway is still prob- Buses numbered 1 to 300 serve the city center March 8 – International Women’s Day ably the fastest way to travel in Beijing. The and buses with numbers above 900 connect the 5th solar term (April) – Qingming Festival streets constantly suffer from congestion and rural surroundings of Beijing. May 1 – Labor Day the chances of getting stuck on a bus or in a taxi May 4 – Youth Day is almost 100%. There are night buses numbered 200+ that run June 1 – Children’s Day from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 5th day of 5th lunar month (June) – Dragon (bjsubway.com) – employs com- Boat Festival prehensible maps and bilingual signs every- If you are staying longer, you might consider pur- August 1 – Army Day where. Its network is expanding very fast; make chasing the Yikatong (一通) prepaid card with 20 元 15th day of 8th lunar month (September) – sure you have an up-to-date map. The system deposit. The cost of subway tickets is unchanged, Mid-Autumn Festival is simple enough: A single ticket costs 2 元 and but it significantly reduces the cost of using buses October 1 – National Day allows any interchange except for the Airport Ex- (up to 60 %). The celebration of and National press. Purchasing tickets is very easy; there are Day lasts three days. It is not advised to travel dur- vending machines at every station. Don’t forget To get to the Great Wall, or other ing those dates – the majority of shops and places to keep your ticket as you will have to use it when sites beyond the Beijing metropolitan area, don’t are closed and it is very difficult to get train tickets leaving the subway as well. be afraid to take public transport – the sites are and accommodation – family visits are customary well-connected and you will always be helped to during holidays. Check out the Flash Subway Tour (www.ebeijing. find the right stop and line. Overall, the experi- gov.cn) if you'd like to learn more about the sub- ence is incomparable to tour buses arranged for Opening Hours way. the foreign tourists, not to mention the difference The standard opening hours for banks and post in price. offices are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The big shops and Buses (www.bjbus.com) – the bus system is quite shopping malls are usually open 10 a.m. to 10 difficult to use. For instance, there are usually no Taxis p.m. and restaurants serve meals from 10 a.m. to English signs and no maps of the route. At the Taxis are inexpensive in Beijing. However, there 11 p.m. Expect the main sights to be open daily, same time, no trip to Beijing is complete with- is always the risk of being ripped off or getting 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but some stay open longer out this experience and you might see places stuck in traffic. Always have the name of your or shorter. you wouldn’t have seen otherwise! You can also destination written down in Chinese – pronounc- search for the buses marked with 特 – these dou- ing the name correctly is very difficult and you ble-deckers connect tourist attractions. may end up on the other side of Beijing – don’t expect drivers to speak English or to be able to During rush hours, you might encounter brightly- decipher your pronunciation of even the most dressed staff near the main sights or stops who popular tourist sights. The majority of taxi dri- will help you find the right stop or bus. Be careful vers come from the countryside so don’t count not to be led to some private (scam) minibus by on them knowing the city well either- always en- fake attendants. sure they know where you want to go or take another taxi.

6 7 TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

As soon as you get in, make sure that the meter There are four classes: Using buses, even for the long distances, is in- Expressways – 120 km/h is on. If the driver doesn’t want to turn it on, just Soft sleeper () – most comfortable, the price is creasingly popular and some routes can be equally Seatbelts are compulsory but almost never get another taxi. At night and in remote areas, usually comparable to domestic flights bought as comfortable as trains and even quicker. It re- used by locals. You should use them if avail- the drivers may try to set their own price. Either in advance. Spacious sleep compartment with ally varies, though, as some roads still remain able, though. negotiate a reasonable sum or get another taxi two or four bunks. in shocking condition and the buses may be old The radars are marked with the 雷速区 sign and the willing to switch the meter on. Ask for the receipt Hard sleeper (硬) – open to the corridors, three and crowded. Don’t be surprised by the erratic risk of being fined when speeding more than 10 when paying. bunks in a column. Space is limited but the driving style or the attendant telling jokes and km/h is relatively high in the most developed ar- bunks are comfortable. Upper bunks (上) are stories into the loudspeaker throughout the jour- eas. Speeding is common elsewhere, though. Avoid illegal taxis. There are also many fake taxis the cheapest and the lowest (下) most ex- ney. The buses are also easily delayed thanks – you can recognize them by their license plate; pensive, but prices varies only slightly. Hard to construction works, weather conditions and The rules for riding motorcycles vary from province it should begin with 京B. If not, don’t get in. The sleeper is probably the best value for what congested streets. to province and often change. It is best to avoid fake taxis are usually stationed in the vicinity of you get. them – the sellers or renters will of course assure the main sights and very rarely hailed from the Soft seater (座) – comfortable seats found in For longer distances, you generally need to pur- you that it is okay but a foreigner on a motorbike street. day trains traveling on routes up to 8 hours in chase your ticket at the bus station while shorter will always attract the attention of the police. duration and high speed trains. distance tickets can be paid for on board to the Hailing a taxi from the street might be quite dif- Hard seater (硬座) – the most genuine experi- attendant. As a rule, motorcycles are forbidden on the free- ficult – there is a constant lack of taxis and some ence. Padded seats, long-distance journeys as ways. of them don’t want to take foreigners. Still, it is well. There are also standing tickets sold for Driving always safer to get a taxi from the street and not this class so the train can get really crowded. You need to have a Chinese driving license to Walkability to take the touted ones. Despite officially being non-smoking, don’t re- drive in China – the International Driving Permit Due to its rapid development, Beijing has lost lots ally expect this. Very cheap and adventurous, is not recognized. If you want to rent a car, you of its walkability mainly to the distances that one The basic fee is 10 元 (11 at night) for the first three though. also need a residence permit. Getting a provi- has to overcome when sightseeing. The new Bei- kilometers, and every subsequent kilometer is 2 Tickets can be bought up to seven days in ad- sional license is not impossible, but is expensive. jing has been planned mainly with cars in mind – 元. vance. You might get English speaking attendants The procedures and rules are subject to frequent and it has yet to change. The sprawling construc- at major city stations, or at least those willing to change. tion sites may also get in your way. It is not very expensive to rent a cab for the whole communicate despite the language barrier. Since day if you want to visit sights beyond the city. Let January 2012, it has been necessary to present It is doubtful whether it is worth undergoing this One solution is to rent a bicycle. Apart from short- your hostel/hotel arrange it and expect to pay be- your ID when purchasing tickets. bureaucratic process; the driving experience it- ening the distances, it is also a genuine Beijing ex- tween 500 – 800 元 per day. self may be stressful, the Chinese drivers have perience – the streets once used to be full of com- General guidelines, what to expect: their own rules that are very difficult to adjust to muters on bikes. There are many biking lanes but If you’d like to call your taxi yourself, here are There is one attendant per every train. They and there’s lots of chaos, too. You can expect you should not count on their exclusivity – cars some numbers: will take your ticket and exchange it for a card almost anything to happen on Chinese roads, dri- and scooters like to use them sometimes as well. 96103, Yinjian Taxi with your seat number. So they will know your ving is not for the faint-hearted and may prove Just keep your eyes open and be very careful – the 961001, Beiqi Taxi (www.beiqitaxi.com.cn) destination and will make sure you don’t miss tricky even for those used to driving in Asia. An experience is well worth it. If staying for a longer your stop. alternative would be to rent a car with driver, time, it might be cheaper to buy your own bike Regional Transportation The toilets are locked when the train is ap- which is easy in Beijing. and then sell it again, as rentals are quite expen- Trains proaching a station. Maximum speed on city roads with single lane sive. Don’t forget to get a good lock, too – bike Bring enough food, as the dining cars vary and per direction – 30 km/h thefts are very common. There’s an extensive train network – a most popu- you might end up eating instant soups for an Maximum speed on city roads with several lar way to travel long distances. The whole system exaggerated price. Boiled water is available. lanes – 70 km/h is well-organized and easy to use. Buses Expressways in cities – 100 km/h

8 9 TRANSPORTATION FOOD

Fortunately, some of the traditional There’s no need to be afraid of Beijing food. The Wine – most popular brand: The Great Wall. (community-centered housing neighborhoods) rule of thumb is: if the restaurant is full of people Don’t expect good quality, though. have survived the development fever – and it is a or the street stall has a queue, the food is safe. – distilled from grains, the most popu- delight to walk there. Beijing also has many huge Observe whether locals buy the food or not – if lar liquor. Comes extremely cheap, 5 元 for parks that are more than inviting for a pleasant they do, you are unlikely to have any problems. a small bottle. Sold even in gallon containers stroll. right next to containers with water, for similar Street food prices – don’t mix them up! is the most Beijing is not the friendliest of cities for wheel- Beijing yoghurt expensive baiju brand – good as a souvenir. chair users. There have been some efforts to Savory pancakes improve – for example, there are now ramps at Tanghulu – candied fruits on a stick. Usually Legal Age some of the main sights. But unfortunately public with Chinese hawthorn, cherry tomatoes or The legal drinking age is 18. Officially, you need to transportation is not wheelchair accessible at all. exotic fruit be 18 to be able to enter a nightclub but in reality Almond tea – almond and rice paste with almost no-one checks the IDs. peanuts Specialties Beijing roast duck served with chisels, cucum- bers, pancakes and plum sauce Mutton hot pot Hot and sour soup – usually with mushrooms and tofu Sweet & sour spare ribs Stir-fried tomato and scrambled eggs Moo shu pork – pork chop, scrambled eggs and sesame seeds Zhajiangmian noodles – noodles with ground pork and yellow soybean paste Tea – most popular are jasmine tea and green teas (for example Zhejiang Longjing). Pu-erh tea from is also consumed a lot. Be- ware of tea scams, though – when people on the street try to befriend you and then invite you for tea to a place of their choice, be wary. You might end up paying outrageous prices for just an ordinary tea. Beer – usually sold in 0,75 bottles. The most popular brands: Tsingtao, Yanjing beer (brewed in Beijing) and Great Leap (local mi- crobrewery).

10 11 EVENTS DURING THE YEAR THINGS TO DO

January 798 Art Festival (www.798district.com) (con- Free Things To Do and those goods are not really expensive even Laba Festival – religious ceremony in Yonghe- temporary art) Square though the seller will of course state otherwise. gong Lama Temple October Chairman Memorial Hall – you need to get up Longqing Gorge Ice and Festival Celebrations of the National Day – fireworks early and be prepared to wait in a long queue. February Beijing Music Festival (www.bmf.org.cn) Silk Street Chinese New Year – the most important days Jazz-E Festival (www.jazzefestival.com) Panjiayuan Flea Market of Chinese year, the largest celebrations all International Film and Video Festival of Beijing Qianmen Dajie – commercial street, a symbol over the city Film Academy (www.isfvf.cn) of contemporary China Lantern Festival – night markets March Scenic Area Music + Art Festival (www.juefestival.com) Hutongs China International Clothing & Accessories 798 Art Fair (www.chiconline.com.cn) National Museum April Olympic Park (Water Cube, Bird’s Nest) Beijing International Kite Festival (www.bjkite You need to pay entrance to the majority of Bei- -sport.com) jing parks, but the fee is 10 元 at most. Midi Music Festival (www.midifestival.com) (rock music festival) Shopping Art Beijing & Photo Beijing (artbeijing.net) Shopping for souvenirs is easy in Beijing. There May are many markets with great variety of goods and International Labour Day – celebrated on the streets are full of shops where you are likely to randomly come across many interesting goods. INTRO (acupuncture-records.com) (electronic The most classic souvenirs are: tea (either loose music festival) tea or tea discs in beautiful packages), porcelain June (tea sets), silk garments, pearls, jade. You also Dragon Boat Festival – traditional celebration might come across beautiful calligraphy scrolls August or landscape paintings. Players will appreciate Beijing International Art Exposition (www. elaborately decorated mahjong sets. Very orig- bjiae.net) inal and personal gift is the custom-made seal September made of wood or a special kind of wax. Kites are Beijing Fringe Festival often sold in the touristy areas. They are nicely Fashion's Night Out decorated and really fly. Foodies will appreciate Beijing NineGates Jazz Festival the dried Beijing duck sold in huge bags. A real Beijing International Music Competition (www. curiosity to amuse your friends is the chicken feet bjimc.cn) (classical music) sealed in plastic as a snack. The 48 Hour Film Project (www.48hourfilm. com) – Beijing film-makers create a film in 48 Remember to bargain hard for everything – un- hours, the movies are then screened in the less you come to a specialised shop off the beaten the 798 District. path, the majority of sold stuff is made for tourists Beijing Design Week

12 13 DOS AND DO NOTS DOS AND DO NOTS

DO expect the Chinese not to speak English Truthfully, there’s little chance of avoiding being order anything before knowing how much it – and be prepared to cope with a few learnt ripped off. Luckily, China is a cheap country, so costs. phases and a notebook with things written you will probably lose less money than you would The most common scams: down in Chinese. in other countries. Rickshaws, tuk-tuks and pedicabs – avoid us- DO take care when crossing the street as dri- ing them if possible. The touts are usually very vers rarely stop at the green light. Common guidelines to avoid rip offs: pushy and the probability of getting ripped off DO always ask about prices and negotiate. Always ask about the price and negotiate it is high. Overall, they are more expensive than DO rent a bike to experience Beijing differ- in advance. Also, make sure that you agree official taxis. ently. on prices in yuan (kwai). This applies even “English students” – people who approach you DO reserve yourself enough time for aimless for small items such as bottles of water or ice on the street for the purpose of practicing strolling around hutongs. cream – if you don’t ask, the water may charge English. Never agree to go have coffee or a DO eat on the street – street food is cheap and you ten times more. meal with them as you will be expected to pay delicious. In taxis, always make sure that you are at the a hefty bill. DO NOT discuss Chinese politics with the lo- desired destination and pay only upon arrival. Fake alcohol – if drinks are significantly cheaper cals. Never use illegal taxis and don’t accept any than in other places, there might be a reason DO NOT stick chopsticks upright into your service that is forced upon you on the street. for it. food – it is a way to sacrifice food to ancestors. Avoid organized tours offered by hawkers at Fake money – always check the texture of the DO NOT be shocked to witness people expec- tourist sites. If interested in taking a tour, visit bills. torate and spit even on public transport – it is CTS (China Travel Service) or ICTS (Interna- KTVs – avoid going without Chinese-speaking just a cultural difference. tional China Travel Service). The tours that people. These entertainment complexes with DO NOT get involved with any drugs – even the are presented together with notebooks full of karaoke booths are the site of many scams possession of marijuana is illegal. recommendations in various languages, and aimed at tourists. those offered by hostels you are staying in are If you get into an unpleasant situation, you might Safety usually alright. Nevertheless, always ask for a try to pretend calling the police – as they have a This might seem surprising, but Beijing is a safe detailed program and agree on a price. strong authority. You may also try calling your city despite its size. Tourist scams and pickpock- If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. hostel for advice or assistance. ets occur but violent crimes are very rare. Exer- No exceptions. cise your common sense and try to keep an eye Always check your change – you might have re- The tap water is not safe to . You can buy on your belongings. You should also watch out ceived less than you should or you might have bottled water or use the thermos with boiled on the streets – the Chinese are famous for their been given a 5 jiao banknote instead of 5 yuan (and usually still hot) water available in hostels reckless driving style. There have been some one. Always check the 100元 and 500元 ban- and public places. cases of robbery at distant and abandoned parts knotes for originality. Be wary of anyone who of the Great Wall, too – avoid this risk by visiting wants to give you these bills back for obscure Always use hand sanitizer. in small groups. reasons (such as a “special price”). Reject bills if they are badly torn, seem thin or the water- Don’t be put off by the numbers of police officers, mark seems weird – it is not considered impo- soldiers, cameras and security staff all over the lite. city – you’re in China, after all. Expect to undergo Double-check the prices in restaurants, espe- a security check when entering the subway or the cially if there’s a special English menu. Never main sights.

14 15 DOS AND DO NOTS ACTIVITIES

Forbidden City / 故 A An absolute must-see. Smashing palace complex that served for more than 500 years as imperial residence. A place of immeasurable beauty.

GPS: N39.91588, E116.39211 Phone: +86 10 8500 7421 Opening hours: Apr 1 – Oct 31: Daily: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Last entry: 4:10 p.m. Last tickets sold: 4 p.m. July 7 – Aug 26: Daily: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Last entry: 4:10 p.m. Last tickets sold: 4 p.m. Nov 1 – Mar 31: Daily: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Last entry: 3:40 p.m. Last tickets sold: 3:30 p.m. Throughout the year 2013 the Museum is closed every Monday afternoon excluding national holidays. On these days the opening hours are from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Admission: Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 60 Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 40 Children (under 1.20 m): free

Galerie Urs Meile B Established gallery known for promoting Chinese contemporary art in Eu- rope and mediating contacts between European and Chinese artists.

GPS: N39.99765, E116.49642 Phone: +86 10 643 333 93 Opening hours: Tue – Sun: 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Admission: Free entry.

17 ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

Tiananmen Gate / 天安 / 景山 C F The entrance to the Forbidden city decorated with huge portrait of Mao This artificial hill is simply the best place to overlook the Forbidden city in Zedong is the most photographed landmark in Beijing. its entirety. A must do! The views are stunning.

GPS: N39.90742, E116.39140 4号 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China Opening hours: GPS: N39.92252, E116.39176 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Opening hours: The reviewing stands are open on the first day of each month upon reser- Jan – Mar, Nov – Dec: 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. vation. Apr – Oct: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Admission: Admission: Adult: CNY 15 CNY 2/person Student, Senior (up to 70): CNY 5 Some exhibitions require extra fees. Reservation necessary.

Wangfujing / 王府井 G Tiananmen Square / 天安广 Beijing's premier shopping street is flocked by tourists and locals alike. D The largest square in the world. Lined with stern buildings, dotted with Rich in history, full of shops. memorials, statues (and CCTV). Don't miss out the flag ceremony! GPS: N39.90995, E116.40616 GPS: N39.90525, E116.39252

Summer Palace / 和 H / 天 Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, the imperial complex with its vast E Beautiful park dominated by Taoist temples where the Emperor used to scenic gardens is undoubtedly a must-see. pray for good harvest. So much to see, reserve half a day for it. GPS: N40.00136, E116.27018 GPS: N39.88178, E116.40795 Phone: Phone: +86 10 62881144 +86 10 67036062 Opening hours: Opening hours: Season: Gate: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Apr 1 – Oct 31: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. The scenic spots inside the Temple of Heaven: Off-season: Mar 1 – June 30: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Nov 1 – Mar 31: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 1 – Oct 31: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission: Nov 1 – Feb 28: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Combined ticket (Entrance & Attractions): Admission: Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 60 Entrance Ticket: CNY 10 Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 50 (no half-price tickets can be purchased) Reduced Ticket: CNY 5 Entrance: Through Ticket: CNY 30 Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 30 The Divine Music Administration and The Palace of Abstinence: CNY 10 Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 20 (half-price tickets can be purchased)

18 19 ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

Mausoleum of / 毛主席念堂 Bird's Nest / I K A stately building that holds the relics of Mao Zedong. The morning Modern landmark of Beijing. Unique building co-designed by Ai Weiwei for queues are long but worth it – an unique experience. the purpose of 2008 Summer Olympics.

GPS: N39.90155, E116.39277 11号 Tianchen East Rd, Chaoyang, Beijing, China Opening hours: GPS: N39.99183, E116.38863 Mon: closed Phone: Tue – Sun: 8 a.m. – noon +86 10 84373011 Sep 9, Dec 26: 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Opening hours: Admission: Apr – Oct: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Free entry, but prepare to queue for about 20 minutes. Nov – Mar: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Admission: Bird's Nest General Admission: Adult: CNY 50/person / 北海公 J Child (under 18): free Vast Chinese-style park that will overwhelm you by its great beauty and Student: half price serene atmosphere. Full of interesting structures. Two museum ticket Bird's Nest, Water Cube: GPS: N39.91853, E116.38595 Adult: CNY 80/person Opening hours: Child (under 18): free Jan – Mar, Nov – Dec: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Student: half price Apr – May, Sep – Oct: 6 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. June – Aug: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Donghuamen Night Market / 夜市 Admission: L More a touristic attraction than a real Chinese market, but well worth visit- Adult: CNY 5 ing anyway – how about a bite of fried centipede or snake? Student: CNY 2 Donghuamen St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100006 GPS: N39.91394, E116.40318 Opening hours: Daily: 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Miaoying Temple / 妙寺 M This white stupa overlooks Beihai park and the Forbidden city. Unique fairytale-like structure with great ambiance.

GPS: N39.92484, E116.38424 Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ticket office closes at 4:30 p.m. Admission: CNY 20/person

20 21 ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

Nanluogu Xiang Beijing / 北京物 N Q An interesting blend of old hutongs and retail stores. Everything from Amazing ZOO with astonishing variety of animals and marvelous historical things of daily use to kitschy souvenirs. pavilions. Its main highlight, Panda Hall, is a must-see.

GPS: N39.93597, E116.39198 137号 Outer St, Xicheng, Beijing, China GPS: N39.93780, E116.33369 Opening hours: Apr 1 – Oct 31: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Shichahai / 什刹海 O Nov 1 – Mar 31: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Scenic lakeside complex consists of historical temples of serene beauty, Admission: breath-taking sceneries and quaint atmosphere. Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 15/each season GPS: N39.93282, E116.38737 Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 10/each season Child (under 1.2 m): free Senior (with a valid card): free

Badaling Great Wall / 八 P Fully restored and probably the most visited section of the fascinating Prince Gong Mansion / 恭王府 structure. A lifetime experience! R Ornate residence complex and well-manicured gardens hold Beijing opera GPS: N40.35399, E116.00911 stage and library. Unique example of the traditional layout. Opening hours: GPS: N39.93638, E116.38014 6:40 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Phone: Admission: +86 10 83288149 Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 45 Opening hours: Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 40 High season (Mar 16 – Nov 15): 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cable Car: Low season (Nov 16 – Mar 15): 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CNY 40 (single way) Admission: CNY 60 (round trip) Entrance Ticket: Tour length: 1.5h Adult: CNY 40 Child (under 1.2m): free Through Ticket: Adult: CNY 70 Child (under 1.2m): free

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Water Cube / 水立方 National Art Museum of China / 中国美 S T Built for the Summer Olympics, this cuboid was recently remodeled to Simply huge art museum displays a wide range of Chinese art ranging from serve as a water park. Its pools, slides and spas are surely inviting! the imperial art to contemporary approaches.

11号 Tianchen East Rd, Chaoyang, Beijing, China 1号 Wusi St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100010 GPS: N39.99188, E116.38553 GPS: N39.92383, E116.40394 Opening hours: Phone: Visit: +86 10 64006326 Adult: CNY 30 Opening hours: Concession (student, senior 65+): CNY 15 Daily (including festivals and holidays): 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Child (under 1.2 m), disabled: free No entry after 4 p.m. Swimming: Admission: CNY 50/person Free entry. Leisure Park: Adult: CNY 200 Lama Temple / 雍和宮 Child (under 1.2 m): CNY 160 U Admission: The most popular temple in Beijing. Seat of the state-controlled branch of Visit: Tibetan Buddhism. A showcase of astoundingly beautiful architecture.

May – Oct: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. 41号 Yonghegong St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China Nov – Apr: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. GPS: N39.94658, E116.41226 Swimming: Opening hours: May – Oct: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Weekdays: 12:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Admission: Weekends: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. CNY 15/person Nov – Apr: Weekdays: noon – 8 p.m. Weekends: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Leisure Park: May – Oct: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Nov – Apr: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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Mutianyu Great Wall / 慕田峪城 Old / 明 V X This section is fully restored but offers an amazing experience nevertheless The palace was destroyed by French and British troops during the Second – it is remarkably less crowded than Badaling. Opium War. Walk the ruins that are still entangled with powerful atmos- phere. GPS: N40.43089, E116.56514 Opening hours: GPS: N39.99883, E116.30761 Apr – Oct: Daily: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Opening hours: Nov – Mar: Daily: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Admission: Admission: General Admission: CNY 45 CNY 10/person Child (under 12): CNY 25 Cable Car One Way: CNY 60 National Centre for the Performing Arts / 国家大院 Child (under 12): CNY 30 Y Cable Car Two Way: CNY 80 Smashing architectural gem holds mind-blowing performances of tradi- Child (under 12): CNY 40 tional Chinese ballet, acrobat shows, Beijing opera and theatre. Cableway-Toboggan: CNY 60 GPS: N39.90371, E116.38311 Child (under 12): CNY 50 Phone: Toboggan Return: CNY 80 +86 10 6655 0000 Opening hours: Mon: closed Pearl Market / Hong Qiao W Tue – Sun, National Holidays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Popular shopping destination: five floors of practically everything from Last entry: 4:30 p.m. sunglasses to traditional silk dresses, fans and pearls. Admission: 9号 Tiantan Rd, Dongcheng, Beijing, China, 100062 Onsite purchase at the Ticket Hall at the North Gate: CNY 30/person GPS: N39.88513, E116.41551 Student, Senior (with a valid card): CNY 15/person Phone: Family (1+1): CNY 40 +86 10 6711 7429 Family (2+1): CNY 65 Opening hours: Half-price tickets are only available in the box office at the North Gate. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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Great Wall Museum Z Exhibition covering more than 3,000 square meters illustrates the fascinat- ing history of the Great Wall. Unnecessarily underrated.

GPS: N40.35650, E116.00482 Phone: +86 10 8119 1011 Opening hours: 6:40 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Admission: Apr 1 – Oct 31: CNY 45 Nov 1 – Mar 31: CNY 40 Cable Car: CNY 40 (single way) CNY 60 (round trip)

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