- China Trip Planner
Beijing
- Please give us a brief introduction to Beijing.
- What are the major attractions in Beijing?
- What are the top 10 world-record tourist attractions in Beijing?
- How is the tourist industry in Beijing?
- What countries and regions do overseas tourists to Beijing come from?
- How do Chinese hotels keep tourists in touch with the outside world?
- Is the climate in Beijing friendly to tourists?
- How long is the history of Beijing?
- What is the relationship between Marco Polo and Beijing?
- What is the ethnic make-up of Beijing residents?
- What is the rhythm of life in Beijing?
- What are the national record holders in Beijing?
- What other records does Beijing hold?
- Why is locust named a municipal tree of Beijing?
- Why is cypress also selected a municipal tree of Beijing?
- What is special about Chinese roses?
- What are the most useful phone numbers in Beijing?
- What is the most famous dish of Beijing?
- How is the Beijing duck roasted?
- What is an "all-duck banquet?"
- What is special about Beijing courtyard houses?
- How many hutong are there in Beijing?
Please give us a brief introduction to Beijing.
Beijing means "capital in the north." Known as "Beiping" (pacifying the north) in the early Ming Dynasty, the city was later renamed Beijing and became capital of the nation on the 19th year of Ming Emperor Yongle's reign.
Covering an area of 16,808 square kilometers, Beijing is situated on the same latitude as Rome, Madrid and Philadelphia. The city is surrounded by mountains to the east, west and north, with the Yongding River flowing through the southwestern part. Of the 12 million population, 8.5 million live in the city proper and 3.5 million in the suburban areas. In addition, a mobile population of 3.8 million also dwell in the capital.
With a continental temperate climate characterized by seasonal winds, Beijing has long winters and summers. It is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the center of China's political and cultural life. Along with Shanghai and Tianjin, it is one of the three municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the central government, which enables it to enjoy power usually accorded to a province.
What are the major attractions in Beijing?
Beijing is known mostly for its ancient civilization, but its modernity is also very remarkable.
Therefore, a trip to Beijing should include such sites as imperial palaces and other buildings, ancient structures, museums, and natural scenic spots. However, such a trip would be incomplete without taking a look at the modern architecture that has sprung up in recent years or visiting the homes of ordinary Beijingers.
Statistics and my personal experiences show that the most attractive sites in Beijing are as follows:
1) The Great Wall;
2) The Forbidden City;
3) Tiananmen Square;
4) The Ming Tombs;
5) The Temple of Heaven i
6) Liulichang, or the Cultural Street;
7) The Yonghe Lamasery;
8) The Summer Palace;
9) Beihai Park;
10) Jingshan Park;
11) The Asian Games Village;
12) City Tours.
What are the top 10 world-record tourist attractions in Beijing?
1) The longest defensive city wall in the world--the Great Wall
2) The largest palatial complex in the world--the Forbidden City
3) The largest city-center square in the world¡ªTiananmen Square
4) The largest heaven-worshipping architecture in the world-- the Temple of Heaven
5) The best- preserved imperial garden in the world that boasts a great number of architectural masterpieces as well as scenic beauties--the Summer Palace
6) The oldest imperial garden in the world--the Beihai Park
7) The most massive and best preserved imperial mausoleum structures in the world--the Ming Tombs
8) The most culturally significant archaeological site for prehistorical Homo sapiens in the world--the Site of Beijing Man at Zhoukoudian
9) The temple with the largest collection of stone-carved Buddhist scriptures in the world¡ªthe Yunju Temple
10) The bell with the largest number of inscriptions in the world--the Yongle Bell.
Each of the above 10 world-record sites will be discussed in detail in this book.How is the tourist industry in Beijing?
Beijing is the most popular city in China for foreign tourists. Between 1978-1993, the city had received a total number of 14 million foreign tourists. In 1994 alone, 2.03 million foreign tourists came to Beijing.
At present, Beijing boasts over 300 hotels and over 200 specially-designated restaurants that can accommodate foreign tourists. More than 40 cuisines of both Chinese and exotic flavors are available at the city's restaurants. In addition, there are 237 tourist sites and 297 travel agencies in the city. The travel agencies pride themselves on their 7,000 outstanding tour guides and 180,000 employees involved in the tourist industry.
China is expected to replace France as the world's top tourism destination by 2014, according to experts.
What countries and regions do overseas tourists to Beijing come from?
They come mainly from Japan, the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Canada and Greece. In addition, a sizeable number of them also come from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. Including the small groups, foreign tourists come from 110 countries and regions to Beijing.
What itineraries can you recommend for businessmen in Belling who ideally would like to spend the least time for the best sights?
The following itineraries are designed for tourists with a tight schedule in Beijing:
Half-day tour:
If you can afford only half a day, then you should definitely go to see the Great Wall because, as the saying goes, no one would be considered brave without climbing the Great Wall.
One-day tour:
Start from Tiananmen Square, via the Workers' Cultural Palace, proceed to the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, and spend two hours in the City. After exiting from the Gate of Military prowess, take a taxi to dine at a Peking Roast Duck restaurant. Then pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven and go shopping for arts and handicrafts at Hongqiao Market, which is located at the north gate of the Temple of Heaven. Then go to the Summer Palace 'for the rest of the day.
Conditions permitting, the tourist can also go to the Great Wall early in the morning (leaving around five o'clock and returning around nine o'clock), spend some time in the Forbidden City, and then go to the Summer Palace.
Two -day tour:
First day-Temple of Heaven in the morning and the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs in the afternoon
Second day--following the itinerary for the one-day tour, excluding the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. Should the tourist take a particular interest in Buddhism, however, he or she
can drop by the Yonghe Lamasery on the way to the Summer Palace.
Three-day tour:
First day--Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Cultural Street
Second day-The Great Wall, Ming Tombs and a Sichuan-style restaurant
Third day--Museum of Chinese History, Beihai Park, lunch at Fangshan Restaurant, and Summer Palace in the afternoon.
Is the climate in Beijing friendly to tourists?
Beijing has distinct seasons. In springtime, Beijing is dusty and windy, forcing many women to wear a scarf for protection. Spring is short here and excursions are a popular form of tourism.
Summer is hot, but the hot weather is short-lived. Plus, rainfall is plentiful.
Autumn, lasting about 50 days, is the best season for tourism.
Winter is long and cold, but the ice lantern shows still attract many tourists.
Most of the city's tourist attractions are historical sites or folklore tours that are not affected by the change of season. Therefore, tourists can come to Beijing all year round.
Weather forecasts are available on major media and through the telephone service (121).
How long is the history of Beijing?
There are two dimensions to the history of Beijing. As a capital city, it has a history of 800 years. As a cradle for human civilization, however, Beijing has a history of over 700,000 years, as evidenced by the famous Peking Man caves at Zhoukoudian. Over 3,000 years ago, the Zhou Dynasty established a dukedom here. By the middle of the 12th century, the Jin Dynasty officially set its capital at Beijing. Throughout the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties,
Beijing was the political, cultural and economic center of China as it is today.
What is the relationship between Marco Polo and Beijing?
The renowned Italian traveler Marco Polo left home in the winter of 1271 for China with his father and uncle. The journey took over three years to complete. They arrived in Beijing in May 1275. He was the first Westerner to have walked on the Lugou Bridge and introduced it to the West. For that reason, the bridge is also known in the West as Marco Polo Bridge.
In his travelogue, Marco Polo described in great details the capital city of Beijing which aroused keen interest from the West in the city. Many of the places he described in his book became hot destinations for Western tourists. Many of Beijing's curio stores are named after the Italian traveler.
What is the ethnic make-up of Beijing residents?
For the past two thousand years, Beijing has been a city of major military importance. Despite the construction of the Great Wall, the Huns, Xianbeis, Chidans, Manchus and Mongols--all nomadic tribespeople from the north--broke through the defense of the Hans and poured into Beijing. It turned out, however, that over the long course of history, the cultures of these ethnic groups became assimilated with that of the Hans, the majority nationality in China. Beijing, therefore, is an ethnic melting pot where people of different cultural backgrounds blend into each other harmoniously.
As the capital of the nation, Beijing historically also attracted a huge number of people from outside provinces. Today, most of these hinterland residents are employed in government departments, scientific research institutions and cultural organizations. They brought with them their unique customs while blending into the local culture.
In recent years, millions of surplus laborers from outside provinces also joined the work force in the capital city and became part of the population.
What is the rhythm of life in Beijing?
Beijingers, particularly the old-generation residents, are known for their slow pace of life. Nurtured by the ancient culture, Beijingers have inevitably assumed an air of stateliness. They look carefree, strolling around neighborhoods.
In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchurian government decreed that Manchus not engage in labor. Hanging around was the only thing left to do. For the upper class, playing music and chess, practicing calligraphy and painting and going to Peking Opera houses became hot fashions, while the lower class killed time by raising pet birds, walking dogs and fighting crickets. Eventually, the ordinary residents also developed this laid-back lifestyle.
With rapid socio-economic development, of course, the pace of life has quickened in recent years. Young people no longer like to stroll around. Compared to the life of New York, however, Beijing still has far to go.
What are the national record holders in Beijing?
Beijing holds the national record for the following items:
The largest square--Tiananmen Square
The largest auditorium--the 10, 000-seat auditorium of the Great Hall of the People
The largest museum--the Forbidden City
The largest library--the National Library of China
The largest exhibition hall--the China International Exhibition Center
The largest garden--the Summer Palace
The largest train-station--the Beijing Train Station
The largest neurosurgical hospital--Tiantan Hospital
The largest food market--Chongwenmen Food Market
The largest department store the Longfu Department Store.
What other records does Beijing hold?
Beijing leads other big cities in China in the following areas:
The number of historical sites
The number of flyovers
The number of luxurious hotels
The number high-rise buildings
The variety of qu yi (performing folk art)
The number of institutions of higher learning
The number of travel agencies
The number of foreign-trade enterprises
The number of joint ventures
The number of traditional courtyard houses
The variety of local-flavored snacks
The number of "big-bowl tea" stands.
Why is locust named a municipal tree of Beijing?
Locusts are good for Beijing's cold, dry and windy climate and arid soil.
The crown of the tree is shaped like a globe, and the branches reach out lushly. The leaves are deep green and lustrous. Every year the tree blooms during June-July with yellow-green butterfly-shaped flowers. The tree's fruits look like strings of pearls.
The tree has a long life and can grow as tall as 25 meters, with a diameter of 1.5 meters.
Beijing has a long history of growing locusts along roads and residential areas. Currently, there are 2,776 locusts over 100 years old.
Why is cypress also selected a municipal tree of Beijing?
Cypress is an evergreen tree suitable for temperate areas. It is good for cold and dry weather, resistant to cold, draught, aridity and salinity. Generally, cypress can grow as tall as 20 meters, with a diameter of 1 meter. Its leaves are shaped like scales and flowers like pearls that grow atop.
Currently, Beijing has 16,900 cypress trees more than 100 years old. They are mostly planted in ancient gardens, mausoleums, parks and temples and are regarded as national treasures.
What is special about Chinese roses?
China started to cultivate roses in the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago and today the plant has more than 1,000 species.
Roses, by nature, bloom recurrently from May to November, earning a reputation as being "red from month to month."
They come out mostly in red, pink, yellow and white, but sometimes they also come out in a mixture of colors. Most of the flowers are aromatic.
Chinese roses are noted for their adaptability to cold and dry conditions. To keep rose species well and alive, Beijing has established special institutions that integrate research of roses with their production and utilization.
What are the most useful phone numbers in Beijing?
A tourist hot line is available in Beijing for any complaints that tourists may have. The number is 513-0828.
The most commonly used phone numbers in Beijing is 110 for police, 120 for emergency treatment, 117 for time, 114 for phone directory, 121 for weather forecasts, and 303-7131 for postcodes.
The Capital Airport also has an information inquiry number for tourists: 456-3604.
What is the most famous dish of Beijing?
Visitors to Beijing must do two things: Climb the Great Wall and eat Beijing duck. As the Chinese saying goes, "One cannot be called a man without climbing the Great Wall and a life is worthless without eating Beijing duck."
Indeed, visitors to Beijing, from heads of state and dignitaries to ordinary tourists, all regard eating Beijing duck as a must.
Incidentally, the Quanjude Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant at Qianmen, founded in 1864, is the most authentic place for eating Beijing duck.
How is the Beijing duck roasted?
As early as in the 10th century, roast duck appeared in Beijing. By the 13th century, it had become a royal dish.
Beijing ducks are known for their tender and fat meat. In making this delicious dish, restaurants in Beijing use force-fed, white- feathered ducks which have grown to proper size -- each weighing about 2.5 kilograms. Thin skin and a full breast are characteristic of these fowls.
Before roasting, the ducks must be filled with boiled water injected from an opening in the side, so that when the surface is roasting, the meat within remains tender.
Firing is the key to the roasting process. Too much fire will burn the duck, while the opposite will fail to result in crispness of the skin. Normally, 40 minutes roasting is sufficient. The roasted duck weighs one- third less than the uncooked one.
What is an "all-duck banquet?"
The entree of an "all-duck banquet" is roast duck, supplemented by the various parts and organs of the duck -- tongue, gizzard, kidneys, intestines, heart, liver, and, yes, feet. These parts are stir-fried, deep-fried or stewed and then served as hot or cold dishes accompanying the roast duck at the center of the table.
Whenever I accompany foreigners to an "all-duck banquet," I will tell them how good the Chinese are, at making use of everything. Some critical foreigners will ask, where the feathers are?'' I pat the chairs and reply, "They fill the cushions." To this they usually burst out laughing.
What is special about Beijing courtyard houses?
Courtyard houses are essential for an understanding of the culture of Beijing.
The courtyard house is the traditional form of residence for Beijingers. A house facing south is the most respectable. Since there is only one door leading into the courtyard, the courtyard is a world of its own. Rooms on the four sides within the compound all open their doors toward the yard, indicating a cohesive mentality in the Chinese family. The spacious courtyard is good for planting trees and flowers, as well as for raising birds and gold fish. Some wealthy families also build rockeries and cultivate bonsai to enjoy nature at home.
How many hutong are there in Beijing?
Statistics show that there are 7,000 hutong, with the widest being 4 meters and the narrowest 70 cm, just enough space for an overweight person to pass through. According to the 1990 edition of the Encyclopedia of Beijing, in the Eastern, Western, Chongwen and Xuanwu districts alone, there are 1,216 hutong.
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