Yearly Climate Information
Beijing has four definite seasons. Summer and winter are the two longest seasons with fall and spring being the shortest. The climate varies according to the season with autumn being the most pleasant time to visit. Autumn is usually clear with cool temperatures, while winter is dry and, at times, bitterly cold with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees F (-15 C). Spring is usually dry but very windy (protect eyes to keep out blowing debris), while the summer is rainy and hot with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees F (38 C).
Time Zone
Time used in Beijing and all over China is called Beijing Standard Time. It is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 8), and 13 hours ahead of New York time.
Busiest Tourist Periods
Beijing is a crowded busy city full of life and vitality. Visitors both from home and abroad come to experience the delights of Beijing at most times of the year. To avoid big crowds and still enjoy nice weather, you could try to plan your visit in late spring or early autumn. Summer is especially crowded because visitors, mostly Chinese, bring their children to see the capital of the country. Winter is the low season so it is possible to take advantage of better prices and fewer people. Whenever you visit, it is better to visit on Monday to Friday and to visit the attractions in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Holidays
The three national holidays, Chinese Spring Festival, International Labor Day and National Day are the peak travel times for the Chinese people. It is not a good idea to travel in China during these holidays. Spring Festival is an especially busy time to travel. The advantage of being in China at these times is that you will get the opportunity to experience “first hand? the significance of these celebrations in Chinese culture.
The main national holidays celebrated in Beijing are listed below:
- January 1 New Year's Day, 1 day off.
- January or February (according to Chinese lunar calendar) Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, 4 days off.
- March 8 International Women's day, 1/2 day off for women only.
- May 1 International Labor Day, 3 days off.
- May 4 Youth Day, 1/2 day off for young people.
- June 1 Children's Day, 1 day off for children.
- July 1 Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, party members celebrate through meeting.
- August 1 Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese PLA, 1/2 day off for active army.
- October 1 National Day, 3 days off.
Useful Numbers
China International country code number |
0086 |
Beijing city code number |
010 |
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Emergency Services |
- |
Ambulance |
120 |
Fire |
119 |
Police |
110 |
Domestic Long Distance Phone Number Information |
174 |
Asia Emergency Assistance Center |
010-64629100 |
Hong Kong International Medical Clinic-Beijing |
010-65012288 Ext.2346 |
International Medical Hospital |
010-65295284 |
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Travel Enquiries |
- |
Tourist Hotline |
010-65130828 |
Beijing China Travel Service |
010-65158264 |
China International Travel Service |
010-66011122 |
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Transportation Services |
- |
Air China |
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Ticket Office |
010-66017755 |
Dom. Flight Reservation |
010-66013336 |
International Flight Reservation |
010-66016667 |
Capital Airport Inquiry |
010-64563604 |
Beijing Railway Station Inquiry |
010-65128931, 65129525 |
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Credit Card Hotlines |
- |
American Express International |
010-65052888 |
Diner's Club |
010-65101868 |
Master card International |
010-65101090-95 |
Visa International |
010-65064371 |
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Courier Services |
- |
DHL |
010-64662211 |
Federal Express |
010-64623188 |
EMS |
010-65129947/48 |
TNT |
010-64677877 |
UPS |
010-64652227 |
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Taxi Services |
- |
Beijing Taxi Corp. |
010-68582661 |
Beijing Tourism Taxi Corp. |
010-65158604/05 |
Capital Taxi Corp. |
010-65138893 |
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Government Offices |
- |
Overseas Chinese Affair Agency of the State Council |
010-64035511 |
Hong Kong and Macau Office of the State Council |
010-68315014 |
Taiwan Affair Office of the State Council |
010-63098946 |
Overseas Chinese Affair Office, Beijing Gov. |
010-64163989 |
Beijing Taiwan Affair Office Inquiry |
010-68533453 |
Beijing Customs |
010-65194114 |
Expatriates Management & Visa Department of the Beijing Public Security Bureau |
010-65253102 |
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General Enquiries |
- |
Weather Forecast |
121 |
Time |
117 |
Chinese Currency
The Chinese currency is the RenMinBi (RMB), generally pronounced Yuan in written form, but spoken as Kuai. Paper money is available in RMB1, RMB5, RMB10, RMB50 and RMB100. Today, China is suffering from numerous counterfeit notes. Fake notes are sometimes easily recognizable since the paper feels different and the Chinese will check several times when they receive a RMB50 or RMB100 to make sure it is not a fake. Old and tattered notes can be difficult to exchange so try not to accumulate them.
Most of the time, vendors and taxi drivers ask for a small note when you pass them a RMB100 note, sometimes they cannot change it and sometimes are not willing to. So it is a good idea to stack up on RMB10 bills. If you have any problems with a note, exchange it for a new one or small change at a bank. A counter fake note will be confiscated.
Travellers cheques are the best way to carry money around in China, the exchange rate is fixed and it can be replaced if lost or stolen. Cheques can be cashed at the major branches of the Bank of China. Credit cards like Visa, Master card and American Express are useful in major tourist cities too. They can be used in most mid range to top range hotels, and some big department stores. You can get cash advances in the head branches of the Bank of China. however, a high commission will be charged (four percent).
Foreign currency can be changed in most banks and hotels. Exchange rates do not vary that much, so hotels are often the most straight forward place to exchange. Keep the exchange receipt with you in case you want to exchange any remaining RMB you have left over when you leave.
Shopping
The summer hours for most Beijing shopping malls are 9:00am to 21:00pm, and in winter they are closed either a half or one hour earlier than in summer. Many larger and Tourism Appointed stores will accept credit card payment. Bringing some cash is always necessary in the event that you'd like to buy something from street vendors.
Local Specialties: Beijing's 'Four Famous Representative Arts' are cloisonne (Jingtailan), ivory carvings (Yadiao), jade objects (Yuqi) and carved lacquer wares (Qidiao). They are handmade folk art. You may also find lifelike flour or clay figurines (Mianren or Niren), colorful kites, exquisite paper-cut, Chinese knots (Zhongguojie) and others in the street.
Beijing, the nation's capital, is an ideal tourist shopping city. There are four business areas in Beijing: Wangfujing Street, Qianmen Street, Xidan Commercial Street and Dongsi Street.
Wangfujing Street: starts with East Changan Jie in the south, ends with China Art Gallery in the north, this 700-year-old commercial street is about three Li (about 1640 yards) long. The first famous business zone in Beijing houses a wide variety of shops and boutiques where you will find commodities, some of which have world-famous brands. Nowadays Wangfujing Street is a modern commercial street which is said to be the sister street of the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
The Foreign Language Bookstore is also in this area. The Old-Beijing-Street is underground, and built in Ming and Qing styles. The outstanding characteristic of it is the centralized well-known longstanding stores selling shoes, caps, silk cloth, scissors, Chinese brushes and ink-stick, jade, teas, desserts, pickled vegetables, roast duck and other special Chinese products. Beijing Craftwork and Art Mansion, which operates and displays various industrial arts and artworks is famous all over Beijing and is in an old shop in Wangfujing Street. Xin Dong An Plaza and Beijing Department Building are large general merchandise retail shops, and Yong Zheng Tailors Shop is famous for its tailor made men’s formal dress. Customers can enjoy superior service here and it is said that the shop has even offered special services for state leaders and stars.
Qianmen Street used to be the business center 500 hundred years ago. Now it is filled with old brand stores.
To the west of Tiananmen Square is the Xidan Commercial Street, named 'the second Wangfujing' in Beijing. It consists of mainly food markets, clothes stores and commodities. It is an international standard modern commercial combination of shopping, dining, recreation and culture.
Liulichang Culture Street
As an antique collector, you should not miss Liulichang Culture Street. It is a few minutes' walk from the south of Hepingmen subway station. It is an established market selling jewelry, antiques, ancient calligraphies and paintings. Antiques of 100 years old and more are marked with a red seal and require an export license before leaving the country.
The best-known shop in this street is Rong Bao Zhai, which first opened about 300 years ago, and sells authentic works of art. There are also shops selling old watches and furniture. The China Book Store is located at No. 57 Liulichang West Street, where tourists can buy new editions of ancient Chinese books, new and old edition books on literature, history, philosophy and other subjects.
Silk Alley (Xiushui Street)
Silk Alley lies in Xiushuidong Jie (East Xiushui Street) off Jianguomenwai Street, near the US Embassy. It is a well-known place frequented by foreigners resident in Beijing who are looking for bargains. Whatever you wish to buy, like bags, shoes, handicrafts or sweaters, you should haggle a lot with the owners for the best price.
Women Street
Shops in this street sell clothing, general merchandise and shoes and hats, including imported from goods Guangzhou, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as other international fare. Women Street is believed to be the place that you can find anything you might want.
Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market
This is a holiday market selling old folk art wares, collectibles and decorations including old books, furniture in ancient styles, jade articles, porcelain, Chinese and foreign coins and folk costumes.
Address: 18, Huawei Li, Panjiayuan Road, Chaoyang District
Opening hours: Curio area opens every day while art wares area opens only on Saturday and Sunday.
You may choose to go to specialty stores as well as the large shopping malls for daily necessities.
Supermarkets: As the capital city of China, Beijing has many supermarkets. Wangfujing Shidu Department Store
Location: B3, 99, Wangfujing Da Jie
Beijing Hualian Emporium
Location: 1 Fuwai Da Jie, Xicheng District
Rice Smart (Haidian District Branch)
Location: A18, Xueqing Lu, Haidian District
Clothing: Parkson Plaza (101, Fuxingmennei Da Jie), Scitech Plaza (22, Jianguomenwai Da Jie) or Beijing Department Store (255, Wangfujing Da Jie), Xidan Shopping Center (132, Xidan Bei Da Jie) and Tianyuan Lisheng Sports Articles Emporium (201, Wangfujing Da Jie, Dongcheng District) are the usual choices of local people.
Books & Videos
Xinhua Book Store (Wangfujing Branch)
Address: 218, Wangfujing Da Jie (south end), Dongcheng District
Beijing Book Building: the largest retail book store in China now.
Address: 17, Xi Chang'an Street, Xicheng District
Electrical Appliances: Guo Mei Electrical Appliances Store, a linked retail commerce enterprise, operates household electrical appliance and computers.
Location: about 300 meters (328 yards) south of the turning of Qianmen Lu
Stamps & postcards: are available in most of the book stores or newspaper booths.
