Introduction to Beijing
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Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and is located in northern China, home to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City. Located outside of Beijing is The Badaling Great Wall which this is the most preserved part of the Great Wall of China which can easily be accessed by bus or taxi.
Transport
Subway
The subway system is the main type of public transport in the city and can be accessed using the many subway stations across the city. The subway is inexpensive, I was told it was only 2¥ for a single journey however my recent visit to Beijing I payed 3¥ for a single journey. The prices may have increased slightly but still very cheep.
Buses
Buses are the cheapest method of transport in Beijing, they cost around 2¥ for up to 10km. However after 10km its an additional 1¥ for every 5km. Buses operate between 5am and 6am to 8pm and 11pm depending on the route. The major problem for foreigners taking buses in China is that the route signs are only in Chinese. My advice is to write down your destination in Chinese before attempting to take the bus.
Taxis
When flagging down taxi in Beijing you can expect the rate to be around 13¥ for the first 3km, please beware there are many fake taxis in Beijing. Its easy to can be spot official cabs in Beijing by the “TAXI” shown on the canopy along with the license plate number prefix with “B”.
Taxi from Beijing Capital Airport to the centre is around 100¥ to 110¥.
Restaurants and Bars
Sanlitun Bar Street is the main bar area in Beijing, at night time most cafes in the area are transformed into nightclubs. The Sanlitun area has many bars and restaurants, there is also a shopping centre. The shopping centre area is very western focuses with many western fashion shops and high tech shops.
Sanlitun is home to many restaurants for example Italian, American, Mexican and Caribbean. This is great if you want a change from the local food.
Sightseeing
There are many things to see in the city and the surrounding areas. Here are some of the most famous places to visit.
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Sauare is a huge square in the centre of Beijing which is used for a lot for ceremonial purpose, the square can hold over a million people. The square is located close to The Forbidden City and is home to the famous Tiananmen Gate.
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is an ancient city located in the city centre, it was used as a palace during the Ming dynasty. The Forbidden City consists of 980 building which many are now open to the public.
Entry Price:
April 1-October 31, 60¥
November 1-March 31, 40¥
Great Wall of China
The closest part of the great wall to Beijing is The Badaling Great Wall and the easiest accessible from downtown Beijing. The Badaling Great wall is the most preserved part of the wall due to its reinforcement during the Ming dynasty.
Click here for Great Wall Tours
Gallery
Map
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