Attractions in Beijing

The city of Beijing is always changing and offers numerous sights and activities, so the best way to
discover what’s going on for the week is to pick up “Time out Beijing”, “City Weekend”, and/or “that’s
Beijing.” These magazines can be found at the Western cafes, bars, and sometimes universities across
Beijing. They fill you in on upcoming events/shows, great restaurants, and weekend activities and are a
great resource for the new student in Beijing.

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Patience is key in China since the culture is so different from the United States. Some culture shock is to
be expected when you first arrive. Chinese customs differ from ours in many ways: few people form lines
so keep your elbows up when buying tickets, getting on the subway, or any other thing you would need to
line up for. Don’t be afraid to push ahead, otherwise you’ll never make it on or off the subway during rush
hour. Spitting is also prevalent and can be done both inside and outside, so try to refrain from cringing
when you witness it. Trash can be a problem with people throwing trash out of windows and on the street.
If you are holding a bottle in your hand, you may be approached several times by people asking for it.
They are merely collecting the plastic bottles to get money from turning them in, so it’s a nice gesture to
give them any empty plastic bottle you have. Young children do not wear diapers but rather have split
pants so they can pretty much go to the bathroom anywhere and anytime around China.

Foreigners do stick out like a sore thumb, so don’t be alarmed if you find yourself being stared at or if
“Hello” is yelled at you followed by laughter when you respond. If you are walking around Wangfujing
and a young Chinese person approaches you speaking fluent English, they are more than likely an art
student trying to get you to their studio. Don’t go, as the art is usually way too overpriced, and you can get
stuck there for hours until you buy a painting.

The cheapest and most convenient way to get around Beijing is to take the subway. Traffic is horrible in
the city and can take you hours to get to your destination by taxi. The Lonely Planet Beijing guide has a
subway map included, and you can find one at http://www.thebeijingguide.com/subway/subway.html. The
website will not only provide a small map but gives you tips on what to do when you get to the subway
station for the first time. If you do take a taxi, make sure they have a meter and turn it on. Always get a
receipt as it prints out the telephone number and taxi number, important information if you ever leave
something in the cab or get ripped off. Avoid taxis that do not have a license or meter as they will
overcharge you and may not always take you to the place you want to go.

The www.thebeijingguide.com also lists some of the main attractions, shopping places, Olympic venues,
and so forth, so is a great website to check out before heading to Beijing and once you arrive. It can
provide helpful tips on communicating with friends and family at home. Many students buy an IP card,
which can be bought all over Beijing, to make long distance calls home. Check out
http://www.thebeijingguide.com/communications/long_distance.html for more information on long
distance calling with the IP card. You can also have your family or friends pick up a cheap international
calling card in the States.





The top places to see in and around Beijing are (in no particular order): Simatai (the least crowded and
least restored part of the Great Wall), Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, the Summer
Palace, and the Hutongs (the small traditional alleys which are quickly disappearing). The top shopping
places are Panjiayuan (the weekend market), Wanfujing (Beijing’s modern shopping district), the Silk

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Market (recently moved off the street and into a building), and Hongqiao Market (also known as the Pearl
Market). Never, ever, ever take the first price offered. China is all about bargaining, and you can bargain
for pretty much everything. Key things to remember are to smile and have lots of patience; start a little
lower than half of what they first say and work your way up to a price that is reasonable. Be willing to
walk away as you can get the price dropped that way. Always compare prices before you commit to
buying something and sometimes try to hand them the amount you wish to pay, as more often than not they
will take it; just make sure your things are in a bag first and ready to go.

Pretty much every type of food you can imagine can be found in Beijing. I would recommend looking in
your recent guidebooks or the magazines above to see what’s popular when you arrive. Western food dots
the landscape, including McDonalds, Pizza Hut and even Outback Steakhouse. Peking duck is the
specialty of the city, so if you eat meat make sure not to miss this. Quan Ju De, Ya Wang, and Li Kang are
supposed to be good restaurants to enjoy Peking duck.

Vegetarians can find it a little difficult to eat in Beijing, as fish is sometimes not considered a meat, but
Vegetarian restaurants do exist (Lotus in the Moonlight and Pure Lotus Vegetarian are both good choices).
When you order a dish in a non-vegetarian restaurant, make sure to emphasize that you do not want meat,
as sometimes little pieces of meat can be found in veggie dishes and tofu.

As for nightlife, there is a never-ending supply on Sanlitun Lu. Don’t be enticed by the Western food they
offer; though it may be a good place to have a beer and watch the busy street of people swarm by, it is not
the place to eat. There are also a number of bars and clubs located near the Workers stadium such as the
Den, Alfa, and Vics. Vics is probably one of the better places to dance and is packed on Friday and
Saturday nights. The magazines mentioned above will list an assortment of bars and clubs with a short
description so you can find the best one for you.

Always be careful late at night when you are returning home as people from other provinces flock to
Beijing for work, facing difficult times. Beijing locals and foreigners are thought of as being very wealthy,
so late night muggings do occur. Never travel alone at night and watch your wallet/purse at all times,
especially when you’re in a large crowd of people.

Specific Attractions

Beijing is one of the most historically rich cities in the world. Tiananmen is the spiritual center of China
and the most important tourist site of Beijing. It is a place of great political significance in the 20th century.
It also serves as the entrance to the Forbidden City.
Major Attractions in Beijing

Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square, site of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Great Hall of the People
National Museum of Chinese History
The Temple of Heaven, located in the southern area of urban Beijing
Lama Temple
Bei Hai Park
The Summer Palace
Beijing Zoo
Sections of the Great Wall, located 50 miles northwest of Beijing city
The Ming Tombs
Peking Man Cave