History
Beijing in Chinese means "capital in the north". Its establishment could be traced back to more than 3000 years ago. From 1272 to 1911, Beijing was the capital of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. After the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, Beijing is the capital of new China.
Temperature
Beijing is located in the temperate zone affected by continental monsoon. The temperature of August 15 about 25 -30 ℃. The temperature goes down gradually from the beginning of autumn.
Transportation in Beijing
Air
Beijing's main airport is the Beijing Capital International Airport, which is about 20 kilometers northeast of Beijing city. Flights from all major continents land in Beijing. This airport is also where a lot of domestic lines land.
Subway
The Beijing Subway now has 8 lines, 200 kilometers of tracks and 123 stations in operation. Subway travel is generally fast, clean and economical. A flat fare of CNY 2 with unlimited transfers applies to all lines, except the express link to the airport, which costs CNY 25. The subway network is still undergoing rapid expansion. Current plans call for 19 lines and 561 km by 2015.
Bus
There are more than 500 bus routes in the city. Basically, you can travel to any destination by using its huge but complex bus system.
Taxi
There are more than 60 thousand taxies in Beijing. Taxi fares depend on the vehicle type: these start at CNY 10 for the first 3 kilometers, and go up by CNY2.00 per extra kilometer; the per-kilometer charge is based upon the make and model of the vehicle.
Dining
Cuisines from many different cultures permeate the Beijing dining scene. With literally thousands of restaurants available, dining choices are practically unlimited. And the best part is that you can splurge at a fancy restaurant or dine supremely well (any much more cheaply) at any of the smaller family-run operations located all over the city. Islamic cuisine which uses mainly beef and mutton has an important place in Beijing cuisine. Donglaishun's "Mutton Hotpot" has a long standing history and is loved by many for its special taste. The Peking Duck, named "China's Tastiest Dish", is made of grilled "stuff duck". The two varieties of Peking Duck are hang-grilled duck represented by those served at Quanjude Restaurant and stew-grilled duck represented by those served at Bianyifang Restaurant.
Shopping
Many five star hotels have internationally known designer boutiques with higher prices than their countries of origin. No bargains here. With a population of over 12 million, Beijing needs and has a wide variety of shopping venues at all cost levels. Don't miss stopping in at a neighborhood grocery store when you see one, or strolling in a neighborhood market where one will truly see fresh food. Lots of works of fine arts with particular oriental characteristics will attract you: silk, Chinese medicine, ceramics, pearls, jade carvings, embroidery, antiques, carpets, chops, lacquer ware, painted snuff bottles, paintings and calligraphy scrolls, cloisonné, books, kites...
Sightseeing
Beijing, both the ancient capital and showcase of the modernizing China, is home to some of China's most stunning sights: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Temple of Heaven, to name just a few. With construction spree fueled by the Olympic Games, the skyline of Beijing is changing everyday. Newly constructed venues like Bird’s Nest and Water Cube should be added to you list of must-sees.
Entertainment
Beijing offers a wide variety of entertainment. All kind of exhibitions and shows are available like arts museums etc. You can take part in various kinds of sports like shooting, bungee, indoor skating and so on. Visitors can enjoy the traditional Chinese performances of Beijing Opera, Chinese Drama and acrobatics staged at theaters and teahouses or stop off a private Karaoke TV room to sing, or at a bar for a drink. For those who prefer more active pursuits, Yoga, bungee-jumping and rock-climbing are also available.
Conference center
Opening in late 2009, China National Convention Center (CNCC) is China's largest and newest international conference center with primary location and completed facilities. It's China's most versatile venue ideal for congresses, meetings, exhibitions and various events. Sitting in the heart of Olympic Green, CNCC is right next to the Bird Nest (China National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) and enjoys unparalleled easy access. The seating capacity of the plenary hall is 6,000, the grand ballroom is able to accommodate up to 3,500 pax and the exhibition space is 24,000 sqm (258,334 sqft). In addition, there are nearly 100 meeting rooms of various sizes, ideal for congresses, meetings, incentives and other events. CNCC enjoys unparalleled location. It takes only 30 minutes to the airport and the subway linking city center and the airport has one stop at CNCC.
