Local Informaiton

Beijing is a historic city with a fascinating and vibrant mixture of old and new. Some prior knowledge of Chinese customs and traditions will greatly enhance your visit. From banking hours and visa requirements, to local practices and cultural etiquette, you’ll find the information you need here.

Language
Chinese is the official language in Beijing, with Mandarin being the predominant spoken dialect. English may be used and understood at hotels, shopping retailers, banks, restaurants and at most tourist attractions.

Currency
The Renminbi (RMB) is the name of the official currency, with the Yuan being the currency unit.
Bills come in denominations of RMB 100 (red), 50 (green), 20 (beige), 10 (blue), 5 (purple), 2 (dark green), and 1 (green).

Taxes
Value-added Tax (VAT) is already included in the price of any retail products. The surcharge on hotel accommodation is 15%.

Customs
Visitors are allowed to bring in 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars, and 1.5 litres of alcohol. It is not permitted to bring in more than one camera, one video camera, and one computer. It is also not recommended to bring in too much printed matter, as some may be considered by the Chinese government as sensitive subjects. Visitors are also limited to bringing in or out no more than RMB 6,000 in cash.

Business Hours
Retail shopping hours are generally from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily.
Banking hours are from 9:00 am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday.

Electricity
China’s electricity voltage is 220 volts, 50Hz. The three-pronged angled sockets are the most commonly used, while three-pronged round, two-pronged flat, and two-pronged round sockets are also in use.

Staying Connected

Telephone - Country & Area Codes
The international telephone country code for China is 86 and the area code for Beijing is 10. All land line numbers have eight digits.

Mobile / Cellular Phones and IP cards
China uses the GSM900/1800 systems for its mobile network. China Mobile and China Unicom are the two mobile networks.

Generally mobile or cellular phones do not require an area code. The numbers vary between each mobile network operator, so the following are for reference only.
China Unicom on GSM network are prefixed with 130, 131 or 132 followed by eight digits.
China Unicom on CDMA network are prefixed with 133 followed by eight digits.
China Mobile on GSM network are prefixed with number from 134 to 139 followed by eight digits.

Internet Protocol (IP) cards can be used with land lines and mobiles. They are available from most newsstands, convenience store, and phone shops.

Public Phones
Public phones in China accept pre-paid phone cards, which comes in units of RMB 20, 30, 50, and 100, available from most newsstands, convenience stores and phone shops.

Internet Access
Most deluxe hotels provide internet access from guest rooms at a charge.
Hotspots or wireless internet access is only available in at deluxe hotels and at some major business or shopping complexes. Once again, wireless Internet access is available at most franchised coffee chain stores.

Traveller's Tips

Shopping and Paying
Reminbi (RMB) is the predominant currency for cash payments. Most fast food outlets will only accept cash payments. Credit cards are accepted only at hotels, well-established restaurants, major shopping centres and department stores.

Tipping
Tipping is optional in Beijing.

Emergency Numbers
All emergency numbers can be dialled free on any land line or mobile phone. Numbers are as follows:
Police 110
Fire alarm 119
Medical Emergency 120 or 999
Traffic accident 122

Attraction

Yuan Ming Yuan
Former Imperial Residence in Park Setting

Address: 28 Qinghua West Road Hai Dian Beijing 100084 China

This site consists mainly of broken columns and marble facades of the pleasure palace of the Qing Dyansty Kongxi Emperor. The original palace, which was highly influenced by Western designs, was destroyed by Anglo-French troops who set fire to it after the Taiping Rebellion in 1860. Few relics survived the three-day fire, but traces of the palace's architectural beauty can still be seen. The site, including a vast lake, is far larger than the new Summer Palace. Offering the charm and romance of abandoned ruins, one of the highlights of the park is a fully intact labyrinth.

Forbidden City
China's Greatest Imperial Palace Complex

Address: 4 Jingshan Qianjie Beijing 100009 China

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, was the imperial residence of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. The complex has 70 structures and more than 9000 rooms. It is surrounded by a 10 meter high wall dotted with elaborate watchtowers and encircled by a moat. Turned into a museum in the early 20th Century, it houses an extensive collection of fine treasures. The Nationalist Party took a large number of these treasures to Taiwan in 1949 but 900,000 priceless relics remain. Behind the palace is a delightful royal garden that is surprisingly quiet in contrast to the throngs of international visitors at Tiananmen Gate, the museum's official entrance. The Palace Museum that is commonly known as the Forbidden City is actually the inner core of the warren of buidlings and alleys, no longer standing, that made up the imperial Forbidden City that would have take up all the land now enclosed by the First Ring Road. Within the wall of the museum China's dynastic world was centered. The outer buidlings, now torn down, literally housed a city, its inhabitants' occupations made up exclusively by means to serve the emperor and the extensive royal family, including gold and silver smiths, butchers, seamstresses and imperial manufacturers. It is said that the design of the watchtowers that surround the outer walls of the moat were inspired by grasshopper cages. Do you see a resemblance?

Ming Tombs
The Resting Place of Emperors

Address: Jundushan Changping District 102213 China

Some 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Beijing and hidden amongst scenic mountains are 13 tombs from the Ming Dynasty era. The Emperor Yong Le first chose to build his tomb here in 1407, and successive emperors have followed suit. The tomb of Emperor Shen Zong is one of three excavated so far. Dubbed the Underground Palace, it is a dark and gloomy cement-like bunker. Perhaps more noteworthy are the more than 3000 archeological artifacts displayed in the vaulted stone halls. Usually, a trip to the Ming Tombs is a part of Great Wall tour package offered by travel agencies.

Fahai Temple
Beautiful Buddhist Murals

Address: South Cuiwei Mountain Moshikou Beijing China

This temple was constructed in 1443, funded by donations collected by Li Tong, a eunuch from the Ming Dynasty era. The temple has a distinguished international reputation because of the beautifully preserved Buddhist murals on display. They depict Buddhist ceremonies, the sacred land of Buddhism, flying Apsaras and the Goddess of Mercy. The figures on the murals in the main hall are particularly life-like. The temple opens daily at 9am.