Weather:

When is the best time for traveling in Beijing?

September and October are the best time for traveling in Beijing with the mild temperature and generous sunshine. Fragrant Hill in autumn is drenched in red maple leaves and nice for a relaxing stroll. The spring (Mar-May) is the season full of growing vigor and time to enjoy the blossoms. The summer (Jun-Aug) in Beijing is the burning hot with a temperature high up over 40ºC, and yet the mountain areas nearby Beijing are good places to shelter from the heat. The freezing winter can still be warmed up with the hot skiing activities or the bustling temple fair.

Transportation:

Beijing Downtown to Capital International Airport

You can get to Beijing city by airport express railway, taxi and airport shuttle bus.

Airport Express Railway:

There are 4 stops on the express railway, respectively Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, Terminal 3 (T3) and Terminal 2 (T2).

• Operating time: 06:35-23:10
• Transfer time and fee: 30 minute, CNY25/person
• Interval: 15 minutes
• Pick-up point:
  • T2: B2 of Parking Garage No. 2
  • T3: F2 of Parking Garage No. 3

By Taxi:

You can take a taxi to Beijing city for paying CNY 80 of the 1 hour driving time.

Pick-up point:

• T1: Gate 3 to 5 on F1
• T2: Gate 3 to 7 on F1
• T3: Please refer to the signs inside the terminal building

Airport Shuttle Bus:

The airport shuttle bus can bring passengers from airport to Xidan, Beijing Railway Station, Gongzhufen, Fangzhuang, Zhongguancun, Beijing West Railway Station, etc. It also offers convenience to passengers who want to go to Qinhuangdao and Beidaihe.

Ticket fare:

• Shuttle to city: CNY16/person
• Shuttle to Qinhuangdao: CNY126/person

Tickets offices

• T1: Gate 7 (inside) on F1
• T2: Gate 9 to 11 (outside) on F1
• T3: exit of Zone A, opposite of the exit of Zone C on F2; next to Gate 5, 7&11 on F1

Airport Shuttle Service number: 010-64594375/76

Get around City

By Subway

Beijing's Subway lines are all CNY 2 flat fare with unlimited transfers, except the express line to the airport, which charges about CNY 25. Yikatong--the electronic commuter fare card is accepted on all lines.

There are by now five lines in operation- Line 1, 2, 13, 5 and Batong Line. Generally, the subway runs from 05:00am--11:00pm. A ticket entitles an adult to take for free one child less than 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) in height. Children less than 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) in height should have adult company when taking the subway.

Line 1

It departs from Pingguoyuan to Sihuidong and takes about 56 minutes. Its flat fee is CNY 2. The electronic commuter card Yikatong is accepted.

Line 1 Timetable

Stations	Pingguoyuan to Sihuidong		Sihuidong to Pingguoyuan
	First Train	Last Train	First Train	Last Train
Pingguoyuan (苹果园)	05:10	22:55	05:40	0:11
Gucheng Lu (古城路)	04:58	22:59	05:35	0:06
Bajiao Amusement Park (八角游乐园)	05:01	23:02	05:32	0:03
Babaoshan (八宝山)	05:04	23:05	05:29	0:00
Yuquan Lu (玉泉路)	05:06	23:07	05:26	23:57
Wukesong (五棵松)	05:09	23:10	05:23	23:54
Wanshou Lu (万寿路)	05:12	23:13	05:20	23:51
Gongzhufen (公主坟)	05:15	23:16	05:17	23:48
Junshi Bowuguan (军事博物馆)	05:17	23:18	05:15	23:46
Muxidi (木樨地)	05:19	23:20	05:13	23:44
Nanlishi Lu (南礼士路)	05:22	23:23	05:11	23:42
Fuxingmen (复兴门)	05:15	23:24	05:10	23:40
Xidan (西单)	05:17	23:27	05:16	23:37
Tiananmen West  (天安门西)	05:19	23:29	05:14	23:35
Tiananmen East  (天安门东)	05:21	23:31	05:12	23:33
Wangfujing (王府井)	05:23	23:33	05:10	23:31
Dongdan (东单)	05:25	23:35	05:08	23:29
Jianguomen (建国门)	05:27	23:38	05:05	23:26
Yong'anli (永安里)	05:30	23:41	05:03	23:24
Guomao (国贸)	05:32	23:42	05:01	23:22
Dawang Lu (大望路)	05:34	23:45	04:59	23:20
Sihui (四惠)	05:37	23:48	04:56	23:17
Sihuidong (四惠东)	05:40	23:51	05:05	23:15

Line 2 (loop line)

It departs from Xizhimen and takes about 40 minutes for a one-way run. Its flat fee is CNY 2. The electronic commuter card Yikatong is accepted.

Line 2 Timetable

Stations	Outer Ring (counterclockwise) (外环) (Xizhimen-Fuxingmen- Dongzhimen-Xizhimen)			Inner Ring (clockwise) (内环) (Jishuitan-Dongzhimen- Fuxingmen-Jishuitan)
	First Train	Last Train		First Train	Last Train
		For the whole line	To Jishuitan only		For the whole line	To Xizhimen only
Xizhimen (西直门)	05:09	22:14	22:59	05:33	22:41	-
Chegongzhuang (车公庄)	05:11	22:16	23:01	05:30	22:34	23:24
Fuchengmen (阜成门)	05:13	22:18	23:03	05:28	22:32	23:22
Fuxingmen (复兴门)	05:16	22:21	23:06	05:25	22:29	23:19
Changchun Jie (长椿街)	05:18	22:23	23:08	05:22	22:27	23:16
Xuanwumen (宣武门)	05:20	22:25	23:10	05:20	22:25	23:14
Hepingmen (和平门)	05:22	22:27	23:12	05:18	22:23	23:12
Qianmen (前门)	05:24	22:29	23:14	05:16	22:21	23:10
Chongwenmen (崇文门)	05:26	22:31	23:16	05:13	22:18	23:08
Beijing Railway Station (北京站)	05:13	22:35	23:20	05:10	22:15	23:05
Jianguomen (建国门)	05:16	22:37	23:22	05:20	22:13	23:02
Chaoyangmen (朝阳门)	05:18	22:40	23:25	05:17	22:10	22:59
Dongsishitiao (东四十条)	05:20	22:42	23:27	05:15	22:08	22:57
Dongzhimen (东直门)	05:23	22:44	23:29	05:13	22:06	22:55
Yonghegong (雍和宫)	05:26	22:48	23:33	05:09	22:02	22:51
Andingmen (安定门)	05:28	22:50	23:35	05:07	22:00	22:49
Gulou Dajie (鼓楼大街)	05:30	22:52	23:37	05:05	21:58	22:47
Jishuitan (积水潭)	05:33	22:55	-	05:03	21:55	22:45

Line 13 (above ground railroad) from Xizhimen to Dongzhimen

It takes about 57 minutes for a one-way run. Its flat fee is CNY 2. The electronic commuter card Yikatong is accepted.

Line 13 Timetable

Stations	First Train		Last Train for the whole lines		Last Train for the half lines
	To Xizhimen	To Dongzhimen	Dongzhimen to Xizhimen	Xizhimen to Dongzhimen	Dongzhimen to Huoying	Xizhimen to Huilongguan
Xizhimen (西直门)	-	05:35	-	22:42	-	23:45
Dazhongsi (大钟寺)	05:24	05:38	23:31	22:45	-	23:48
Zhichun Lu (知春路)	05:22	05:40	23:29	22:47	-	23:50
Wudaokou (五道口)	05:19	05:43	23:26	22:50	-	23:53
Shangdi (上地)	05:14	05:49	23:21	22:55	-	23:58
Xi'erqi (西二旗)	05:10	05:52	23:17	22:58	-	00:01
Longze (龙泽)	05:05	05:57	23:12	23:03	-	00:06
Huilongguan (回龙观)	05:03	05:59	23:10	23:06	-	00:09
Huoying (霍营)	05:00	05:00	23:06	23:09	00:09	-
Lishuiqiao (立水桥)	05:54	05:05	23:01	23:14	00:04	-
Beiyuan (北苑)	05:51	05:08	22:58	23:17	00:01	-
Wangjingxi (望京西)	05:44	05:15	22:51	23:25	23:54	-
Shaoyaoju (芍药居)	05:41	05:18	22:48	23:28	23:51	-
Guangximen (光熙门)	05:39	05:20	22:46	23:30	23:49	-
Liufang (柳芳)	05:37	05:22	22:44	23:32	23:47	-
Dongzhimen (东直门)	05:35	-	22:42	-	23:45	-

Batong Line (Line 1 Extension)

It departs from Sihui to Tuqiao and takes about 31 minutes for a one-way run. Its flat fee is CNY 2. The electronic commuter card Yikatong is accepted. It is regarded as the Line 1 Extension for its link with the Subway Line 1 in the west at the stations of Sihui and Sihuidong.

Batong Line Timetable

Stations	Sihui to Tuqiao		Tuqiao to Sihui
	First Train	Last Train	First Train	Last Train
Sihui (四惠)	06:00	22:45	-	-
Sihuidong (四惠东)	06:03	22:48	05:49	22:34
Gaobeidian (高碑店)	06:05	22:50	05:47	22:32
Chuanmei Daxue (传媒大学)	06:08	22:53	05:44	22:29
Shuangqiao (双桥)	06:11	22:56	05:41	22:26
Guanzhuang (管庄)	06:14	22:59	05:38	22:23
Baliqiao (八里桥)	06:17	23:02	05:35	22:20
Tongzhou Beiyuan (通州北苑)	06:20	23:05	05:32	22:17
Guoyuan (果园)	06:23	23:08	05:29	22:14
Jiukeshu (九棵树)	06:25	23:10	05:27	22:12
Liyuan (梨园)	06:28	23:13	05:24	22:09
Linheli (临河里)	06:30	23:15	05:22	22:07
Tuqiao (土桥)	-	-	05:20	22:05

Line 5

It departs from Tiantongyuanbei to Songjiazhuang and takes about 49 minutes for a one-way run. Its flat fee is CNY 2. The electronic commuter card Yikatong is accepted.

• Beijing Subway Hot Line Service
  Tel: 010-6834 0565 (Monday-Friday, daytime)
  010-6834 0563 (Monday-Friday, night, the whole day of Saturday and Sunday)
• E-mail: dtservice@bjsubway.com
• Supervisor for passenger transport:010-6827 5087 (24-hour service)

By Taxi

The taxi flag down rate is CNY 10 and covers an initial distance of 3 kilometers (1.86 miles). After that, each additional kilometer will be charged CNY 2.

Tips:

• The passenger is responsible for any tolls.
• Night taxi (11pm to 5am) automatically charges an extra 20% to the fare price in the taximeter.
• If your trip distance is over 15 kilometers (9.32 miles), an extra fee for compensating the return trip (without a passenger) will be charged.
• If your trip is over 15 kilometers (9.32 miles), an extra charge of 50% for each additional kilometer (0.62 mile) is required by the drivers.
• Make sure the driver starts the meter. If they refuse or say the meter doesn't work, you can just get out and take the next taxi.
• Ask for an invoice whenever you use a taxi. The invoices are printed with the useful info like the taxi plate number, the company and the complaint telephone number which will be helpful for later contact reference in the case like dispute a fare, recover a lost article, etc.
• It is smoking-forbidden in the taxi.

By Bike

Bike is also the green cheap way to explore this old city. There are about 5,000 public rental bicycles in Beijing and about 31 bicycle-rental outlets authorized by the government. Beijing Hotel offers 100 rental bicycles and is equipped with POS machines. POS machines will gradually apply to all rental outlets.

After signing a contract and paying CNY 400 deposit, you can rent a bicycle and keep it yourself or in the parking lots of rental outlets. Customers can require without charge to change for a new bike or have it repaired. A long-term rent bicycle can be returned to a different rental outlet.

Renting Type	Rent Fare	Deposit
Long-term rent	CNY 100 per year	CNY 400
Short-term rent	CNY 20 per day
Short-term rent	CNY 5 per hour

Some bicycle-rent outlets:

District	Outlets	Location	Operation Hours	Telephone
Dongcheng District	Beijing Hotel (北京饭店)	No.33, Dong Changan Jie (东长安街)	24 Hours	400-896-5917
	Shatan (沙滩)	The junction of Wusi Dajie (五四大街) and Beiheyan Dajie (北河沿大街)	24 Hours	010-65258217
	Workers' Stadium (工人体育馆)	22 yardss east to the north gate of the Workers' Stadium	24 Hours	010-81875371
Xicheng District	The north gate of Beihai Park	The west of the north gate of Beihai Park	24 Hours	13681445603
	The east gate of Beihai Park	The east gate of Beihai Park	24 Hours	010-64049435
	Nanlishi Lu (南礼士路)	Exit C of Nanlishilu Station, Subway Line 1	24 Hours	010-80621262
	Hualian Department Store (Fuchengmen Brunch) (华联商厦阜成门店)	The opposite to the Exit A of Fuchengmen   Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	13681444284
	Drum Tower	Exit B of Goulou (鼓楼) Station, Subway Line 2	08:00-22:00	010-84043537
	Chenggongzhuang (车公庄)	Exit A of Chegongzhuang Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	010-68317143
	Parkson (百盛)	The opposite to the Exit A of Fuxingmen (复兴门) Station, Subway Line 1	24 Hours	010-86975071
	Xuanxi (宣西)	Diagonally opposite to the Exit D of Xuanwumen (宣武门) Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	010-83169524
	Xuanwumen (宣武门)	Between the Exit B1 and B2 of Xuanwumen Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	010-86080532
	Hepingmen (和平门)	Between the Exit B1 and B2 of Hepingmen Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	010-86175162
	Changchun Jie (长椿街)	Between the Exit B1 and B2 of Changchunjie Station, Subway Line 2	24 Hours	010-86080535
	Caishikou (菜市口)	The southwest to the junction of Caishikou  Dajie and Luomashi Dajie (骡马市大街)	24 Hours	010-86977162
Chaoyang District	Dawang Lu (大望路)	Exit A of Dawanglu Station, Subway Line 1	24 Hours	010-86971827
	Sunshine 100 (阳光100)	The junction of Guanghua Lu (光华路) and Xi Dawang Lu (西大望路), Dongsanhuan (东三环)	24 Hours	010-86977062
	Wanda Plaza (万达广场)	The west to the Gemdale International Garden (金地国际花园), Wanda Plaza	24 Hours	010-86976339

By Bus

The bus fare charges according to the bus type and the trip distance. The flag down rate for the common bus is generally CNY 1 and the fare will increase according to the distance to your destination. All prices are clearly marked on bus signs.

Bus Category	Bus Number	Ticket Fare and Charging Way
Downtown public bus/trolley bus/night bus	No.1 to No.212 Ye (212夜)	Flat fare CNY 1.00 for the entire line
Urban public bus/trolley bus	No.300 to No.526	Some adopt flat fare, and some charge by kilometer. Taking CNY 1.00 as flag down rate for 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), the price goes up by CNY 0.5 for every extra 5 kilometer (3.1 miles).
Public bus in residential area	No.601 to No.699
Urban public rapid	No.701 to No.758	Taking CNY 1.00 as flag down rate for 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), the price goes up by CNY 0.5 for every extra 5 kilometer (3.1 miles).
Public bus with air-condition	No.800 to No.858
Public bus from urban district to suburb	No.909 to No.996	Taking CNY 1.00 as flag down rate for 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the price goes up by CNY 1 for every extra 10 kilometers.
Yuntong buses	Beginning with 运通	Taking CNY 1.00 as flag down rate for 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), the price goes up by CNY 0.5 for every extra 5 kilometer (3.1 miles).
Double-deck bus	Beginning with 特

Tips:

• A baggage occupying the area that equals to a standing passenger will be charged another ticket.
• Keep your bus ticket when traveling on the bus since one some public buses the conductor will examine the passengers' tickets when they get off the bus.
• Check your bus number and destination before boarding the bus. Many destination names are the same or similar and this may cause some confusion.
• Take the bus form the right door and pay the fare for some buses only allow getting on from the middle door and off from the front and back.
• The bus-stop name announcement is always announced in Mandarin. But some stops that foreigner-frequent place like Chang'an Jie is announced in both Mandarin and English.
• Thefts frequent the bus and better to keep a close eye on your belongings.

Tourist Transport

Tourist Trains

With the scenic spot admission tickets bought at the authorized ticket offices, you can take the for free tourist trains leaving from Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing North Railway Station and Beijing South Railway Station. Depending on your train number, you can also take the Tourist Train at Pingguoyuan and Qinghuayuan subway stations.

The train ticket can be bought in the offices authorized by the Ministry of Railways like Beijing Railway Station, Beijing North Railway Station and Beijing South Railway Station. You could buy the train tickets in advance or after getting on the trains. The tourist group of 10 or more can buy the tickets via the ticket hotline (010-65636733) 3 to 10 days in advance and enjoy the visiting service.

Detailed Tourist Train Schedule:

Train No.	Departure Stations & Terminus	Depart Time	Ticket Fare
			Hard Seat		Soft Seat
No.6427	Beijing North Railway Station- Shacheng  (北京北站-沙城)	08:29	CNY 7		CNY 14
No.6437	Beijing West Railway Station-Laiyuan  (北京西站-涞源)	17:44	CNY 13		CNY 14
No.6095	Beijing West Railway Station-Taiyuan (北京西站-太原)	06:20	CNY 33		CNY 63
Train No.	Departure Stations & Terminus	Depart Time	Ticket Fare
			One-way trip	Round-way trip
No.1/2	Beijing Railway Station-Shitang Lu (北京站-石塘路)	Beijing: 08:32 Shitanglu: 15:22	CNY 8	CNY 12
No.3/4	Beijing North Railway Station-Hushiha (北京北站-虎什哈)	Beijing: 07:13 Hushiha: 16:42	CNY 8	CNY 12
No.5/6	Pingguoyuan Subway Station- Fenghuangling (苹果园地铁-凤凰岭)	Pingguoyuan: 07:12 Fenghuangling: 17:08	CNY 5	CNY 8
No.7/8	Beijing South Railway Station-Laiyuan (北京南站-涞源)	Beijing: 07:30 Laiyuan: 13:42	CNY 12	CNY 20
No.9/10	Beijing North Railway Station-Badaling (北京北站-八达岭)	Beijing: 07:44 Badaling: 14:44	CNY 15	CNY 25

Some midway stops of each train runs

• No. 6427: Qinghuayuan (清华园, 08:36), Juyongguan Great Wall (居庸关长城, 10:24), Qinglong Bridge (青龙桥, 10:53), Badaling Great Wall (八达岭长城, 11:07)
• No. 6437: Gushankou (孤山口, 19:27), Yunju Temple (云居寺, 19:43), Shidu (十渡, 20:10), Yesanpo (野三坡, 20:34)
• No. 6095: Gushankou (08:17), Yunju Temple (08:27), Shidu (08:55), Yesanpo (09:19)
• No. 1/2: Beijing Railway Station, Fan'ge Village (范各庄), Yanqi Lake (雁栖湖), North Huairou (怀柔北), Survival Island (生存岛), Hongluo Temple (红螺寺), Beizhai (北宅), Qinglong Gorge (青龙峡)
• No. 3/4: Qinghuayuan, Beizhai, Survival Island, Hongluo Temple, Fan'ge Village, Yanqi Lake, North Huairou, Qinglong Gorge, Shitang Lu (石塘路), Gubeikou (古北口)
• No. 5/6: Sanjiadian (三家店), Dajue Temple (大觉寺), Jiufeng National Forest Park (鹫峰国家森林公园)
• No. 7/8: Yunju Temple, Shidu, Yesanpo, Gouge Village (苟各庄)
• No. 9/10 (New style air-conditioned train): Qinghuayuan

Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch

The 'Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch'(BHTD) (北京旅游集散中心), a government-run company, offers special one-day tour package service to many Beijing famous attractions.

3 dispatch centers arranged by BHTD are in the Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) and Xuanwumen (宣武门).

• Tiananmen Dispatch Center (天安门广场发车中心)
  Location: Southwest corner of the Tiananmen Square
• Tiananmen Dispatch Branch Center (天安门广场发车分中心)
  Location: Southeast corner of the Tiananmen Square
• Xuanwumen Dispatch Center (宣武门发车中心)
  Location: Northeast corner of Xuanwumen Crossroads

Cultural Sites Packages (daily)

	Routes	Ticket Selling Time	Departure Time	Departure Place	Price
A	Badaling, Ding Tomb in the Ming Tombs	06:30-10:20	06:30-10:30	Tiananmen	CNY 160 (admission fees, round-trip tickets, lunch)
B	Juyongguan, Ding Tomb in the Ming Tombs	06:30-10:20	06:30-10:30	Tiananmen	CNY 125 (admission fees, round-trip tickets, lunch)
C	Badaling Great Wall	07:30-11:20	07:30-11:30	Tiananmen, Deshengmen	CNY 90 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)

Sightseeing Packages (daily)

Routes	Departure Time & Place	Price
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Huangchenggen Relics Park, Shicha Lake, Hutong, Quadrangle (courtyard), Prince Gong's Mansion	08:30 Qianmen  (前门)	CNY 200 (round-trip-tickets, admission fees, fee for tour guides )
Central Television Tower, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Wangfujing	08:30   Qianmen	CNY 180 (Central Television Tower, round-trip-tickets, admission fees, fee for tour guides)
		CNY 190 (Taipingyang Underwater World, round-trip-tickets, admission fees, fee for tour guides)
China Millennium Monument, Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace, Peking University (or Tsinghua University), Olympic Stadium, Asia Games Village	08:30  Qianmen	CNY 190 (round-trip-tickets, admission fees, fee for tour guides)

Holiday Tour Packages (available on the weekends and Chinese holidays from April 7 to October 15)

Routes	Ticket Selling  Time	Departure Time	Departure  Place	Price
Simatai Great Wall	06:00-08:50 (daily)	06:00-09:00 (daily)	Tiananmen  (daily)	CNY 95 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Xuanwuman
Mutianyu Great Wall, Hongluo Temple	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 110 (admission fees, round-trip tickets)
Eastern Qing Tombs	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 170 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
Shihua Cave, Tanzhe Temple	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 145 (admission fees, round-trip tickets)
Huanghuacheng Great Wall	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 75 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
Taoyuan Fairy Valley	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 85 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
Peking Man Site, Shidu	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 80 (admission fees, round-trip tickets)
Jinhai Lake	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 65 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
Yunmengshan National Forest Park	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 85 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)
Longqing Gorge	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 60 (round-trip tickets only)
Yougushentan, Yanqi Lake	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 95 (admission fees, round-trip tickets)
Qinglong Gorge, Hongluo Temple	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 105 (admission fees, round-trip tickets)
Black Dragon Pool (Beijing)	06:30-07:50	06:30-08:00	Tiananmen; Xuanwumen	CNY 85 (admission fee, round-trip tickets)

• 1. It is advised to buy tickets inside the ticket office of BHTD to avoid the trap of the illegal tourist buses and tour guides.
• 2. You can buy tickets for the day before departure time, or make reservation for the next day by calling 010-6601 5622, 010-5298 0138. Consultation Telephone is 010-8353 1111, 010-8353 5555.
• 3. Bus route:
  • Bus No.9, 67, 212, 301, 337, 673, 808, Te 2 (特2), Te 4 (特4), Te 7 (特7) to Qianmen Xi (前门西), or No.2, 20, 120, 126, 210 to Tiananmen Guangchangxi (the west of the Tiananmen Square, 天安门广场西).
  • Bus No.8, 9, 210, 209, 673, 729, 744, Te 2 (特2) to Qianmen Dong (前门东), or No.2, 20, 120, 126, 203, 210 to Tiananmen Guangchangdong (the east of the Tiananmen Square, 天安门广场东).
  • Bus No.7, 15, 67, 212, 808, 826, Te 2 (特2), Te 4 (特4), Te 7 (特7) to Xuanwumen Dong (宣武门东).

Rickshaw

Most famous Hutongs huddle in the areas around Shicha Lake for many attractions like temples, Prince Gong's Mansion, Former Residence of Song Qingling (wife of Sun Yat-sen), Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and some other ancient cultural building have assembled in this region.

Popular Hutong Rickshaw lines:

• 1. Qianhai Xijie (前海西街) → Liuyin Jie (柳荫街) → Longtoujing (龙头井) → Qiangan Hutong (千竿胡同) → Qianhai Xijie.
• 2. The west of Nanguanfang Hutong (南官房胡同) → the east of Nanguanfang Hutong
• 3. The east of Beiguanfang Hutong (北官房胡同) → the west of Beiguanfang Hutong → Houhai Nanyan (后海南沿)
• 4. Yinding Bridge (银锭桥) → Xiaoshibei Hutong (小石碑胡同) → Dashibei Hutong (大石碑胡同) → the north of Yaer Hutong (鸦儿胡同) → North bank of Back Lake (后海北沿) → Former Residence of Song Qingling (宋庆龄故居)
• 5. Qianhai Xijie (前海西街) → Zhanzi Hutong (毡子胡同) → Daxiangfeng Hutong (大翔凤胡同)

Shopping:

What are the great shopping places in Beijing?

As the capital of China, Beijing offers many cmmercial areas for your shopping. You can buy almost everything you want here from traditional handicrafts, antiques to fashion and luxury goods. Following are some popular business areas or street for your reference.

Wangfujing Business Circle

It is the most popular business circle in the Beijing city center combination of traditional and modern style, commerce and culture. Beijing Department Store, Xindong'an Department Store, China time-honored brand stores, etc. are recommended.

Xidan Business Circle

It is warmly welcomed by the youth for all the fresh fashion goods can be found here. Chungyu Department Store, Xidan Market, Juntai Department Store, etc. are recommended for your reference.

Qianmen Street

It is a 300-meter ancient business street. Lots of traditional China time-honored brand stores like Zhang Yiyuan, Tongrentang, Ruifuxiang are available on the street.

Dazhalan Street Business Circle, Dongdan Street Business Circle, Silk Market Business Circle, Liulichang Cultural Street, etc. are nice for shopping too.

Cuisine:

What are Beijing cuisine specialties and where can I found them?

Beijing Roast Duck, instant-boiled mutton, fried circle bread, pea flour cake, fried cake, soybean pastry, soybean juice, etc.

Gui Street, Wangfujing food street, Donghua Men food street, Ping'an Street, Xiaoyun Street, Laitai food street, Fangzhuang food street, Guang'an Men food street, etc are famous food streets that assemble plenty of Beijing cuisine and snacks.

What else cuisines can I savor besides the Beijing specialties?

Apart from the local Beijing dishes, there are else many delicious food from other parts of China and the whole world. Islamic cuisine, royal cuisine, feudal official cuisine, West food, Japanese food, Korea food, India food Thailand food in Beijing could satisfy your picky taste buds as well.

Nightlife:

Where can I color my night life in Beijing?

Tea Houses:

There are many old branded tea houses like

Laoshe Tea house(老舍茶馆) that blends the tea, shows (like opera, acrobatics, folk music, etc).

Location: Building 3, Qianmen Xidajie, Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-63036830 010-63021717

Tianqiaole Tea house(天桥乐茶园)features with its story telling and cross-talk.

Location: No. Yi 1, Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63040617 63040912

Santaosha Tea house(圣淘沙茶楼), is special with its ambience and tea ceremony performance.

Location: No. Jia 1, Waiguan Xiejie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-85285000 85285108

Bars:

Many hot bars concentrate in the bar streets like Sanlitun, Shichahai and Nanluogu Xiang.

Bed Bar:

It features with then antique beds, exquisite rooms as well as the Kang (traditional bed in China northern part). It has a lovely small courtyard decorated with antique chairs and tables also nice if you want to cool down thrill stirred by the first rate music of the bar.
Location: Zhangwang Hutong.

Tree:

The bar tucks away at the end of an alley, hidden behind big tree. It is a quiet place for a relaxing chat, pizza and chat with your mates. Lots of expats frequent here.

Location: NanSanlitun NO. 43(100m west of Sanlitun North Bar street, behind Poachers Inn), Chaoyang District.

Website:www.treebeijing.com

No. 52

Add: No.52, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District

,

Blue Lotus

Add: No. 1, Xihai Dongyan, Shichahai, Xicheng District

Passby Bar

Add:NO.Nanluogu Xiang
Site:www.passbybar.com

Theatre &concerts:

Huguang Huiguan Theater (for Beijing Opera)

Add: No.3, Hufang Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63529134

Liyuan Theater (for Beijing Opera)

Add: 1/F, Qianmen Jianguo Hotel, No.175, Yong'an Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63016688-8860

Laoshe Teahouse (for mixed flavors of Beijing Opera, acrobatics, cross-talk, Beijing folk music)

Add: No.3, Qianmen Xidajie, near the Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-63036830

Capital Theater (for Chinese drama)

Add: No.22, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65249847

Tianqiao Theater (for opera and ballet)

Add: No 30, Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-83156356

Beijing Concert Hall (for concert)

Add: No.1, Beixinhua Jie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-66057006

Festivals:

Is there any interesting festival hold in Beijing?

Yes, there are some special festivals worthy of a visit.

Beijing Changdian Cultural Temple Fair

It is a traditional festival in Xuanwu District of Beijing during the fist 15 days of a lunar new year. You could have chance to see Chinese traditional performances like the Lion Dance, traditional handicraft exhibition, Beijing opera, martial arts and acrobatic, etc.

Fragrant Hill Red Leaf Festival

The festival is held in Fragrant Hill and lasts from the mid-October to mid-November. The red maple leaves all over the mountain and plains could give you an unforgettable Beijing tour.

Yanqing Ice and Snow Festival

It features the grand snow landscape, rich snow activities and unique folk custom. During the festival, Longqing Gorge ice lantern, mountain skiing, motorcycle skiing, snow hot spring and snow temple fair are on.