What to see in Beijing: vivid impressions of walking. Travel to China
The city occupies a huge area and is full of historical and architectural monuments. When deciding what to see first in Beijing, you can easily get confused. Therefore, it is worth starting from the very center. The Square of Heavenly Peace is rightfully considered the “heart and brain” of the Chinese capital.
Despite its euphonious name, it has always been a place of boiling political passions, folk festivals and celebrations. The square is considered the largest in the world - various museums, monuments and landmarks line the perimeter of Tiananmen.
The spirit of the city can best be felt by walking through the ancient district - here narrow streets run between houses built in the 13th century. One of the main monuments of the Old City are two towers - the Bell and the Drum. Once upon a time, the music coming from here replaced the chiming of clocks for local residents.
When thinking about what you can see in Beijing, you cannot pass by, the largest and most visited in the world. Hundreds of thousands of exhibits are collected here, telling about the history of the state over 5 thousand years. And lovers of the modern trend in painting should take a stroll around, where the workshops of sculptors and artists are collected, as well as quite famous art galleries.
The symbol of the Celestial Empire is . But it’s not only this creation of human hands that you should look at while in the capital. The main attractions of Beijing are the luxurious palaces of the Chinese emperors, collected on the territory of the Forbidden City, the famous Lama Temple - a refuge of Tibetan Buddhist monks, a complex of mausoleums and tombs, decorated with hundreds of unique statues.
When choosing what to see in Beijing, you must come with a respectful visit to the city, which has been adorning the city for 5 centuries. Get acquainted with the architecture of the Olympic Quarter - the pride of modern Beijing. And then take a break from the bustle of the big city in the kingdom of silence, lakes, fountains and relict pine trees.
If you decide to visit Asia and get acquainted with its unique culture, then our useful guide will certainly come in handy. Especially for you, we have collected the most necessary information about Beijing for independent tourists, useful tips and tricks. Beijing is an amazing city, there is something new for everyone here. It will certainly captivate you from the first day of your stay. Here you can stroll through beautiful parks, have a picnic by the lake, spend an evening in an authentic bar, try delicious dishes and simply enjoy the local flavor. You really can't go wrong if you visit Beijing in the spring or fall. Of course, you can visit the city in the summer, but keep in mind that many at this time will find it too stuffy and not very comfortable for long walks. In winter, a vacation in Beijing is also possible, but you may not be able to take colorful and beautiful photos. Many are dissuaded from traveling to Beijing when the Chinese New Year is celebrated here, frightening them with crowds of tourists, but, as practice shows, at this time you can have a wonderful rest here without any discomfort. A nice bonus is various additional discounts in stores.
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The easiest way, of course, is by plane. It is convenient to travel without transfers using Aeroflot flights. The flight from Moscow will take 7.5 hours, the return flight will take a little longer. You can also make a flight with transfers by purchasing tickets for Turkish airlines, Azal, China Southern Airlines, Finnair, but this is less comfortable and more expensive.
Visa to China
If you purchase a ready-made tour, then you do not need to worry about a visa. The travel agency will take care of the registration. If you are traveling on your own, you can obtain a visa at the Consulate or visa center. To obtain a visa you must prepare the following documents:
- A completed application form, which can be downloaded on the visa center website chinavisacenter.ru in the “Forms” section
- International passport. Keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you come to apply
- Copy of foreign passport (page with photo)
- One color photograph 3*4 cm
- Flights
- Hotel reservation
- A copy of the first page and page with registration of the Russian passport
- If available, copies of previously issued visas to the PRC
You will also need to make a payment of 2,500 rubles. Processing time is 5 working days. If you need to get a visa faster, it will cost more. It is possible to obtain a visa in one day.
Address of the PRC visa center: Moscow, st. 1st Kadashevsky lane, 13, building 1, floor 2.
How to get around in Beijing
The most convenient way, of course, is the metro. The fare is two yuan. So, without any problems or traffic jams, you can easily get from one end of the city to the other. For convenience, we recommend downloading an application with a metro map; it will definitely be useful to you. Keep in mind that you definitely won’t be able to avoid large crowds during rush hours, so try to choose a more suitable time to travel on the metro.
There are several possible options. One of the most convenient is the Aeroexpress, the route of which passes through terminals 2 and 3, as well as Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao metro stations. Aeroexpress will easily transport tourists to the city from 6 am to 11 pm. The fare is 25 yuan. Don't rush to throw away your ticket, as you will need it when you leave. If you arrive late at night, we recommend taking a taxi. For travel from the airport to the city you will pay about 100 yuan. Keep in mind that you will have to wait in line.
Of course, private traders will offer their services to you, but we strongly recommend that you refuse them. To avoid problems with the driver, prepare a note in advance, written in hieroglyphs, with the required address, since local taxi drivers are not doing well with any foreign languages. Another option is to print a hotel business card from the website. The Internet can help you here. The cheapest way to get from the airport to the city is by bus. The trip will cost you approximately 1 to 3 yuan. The only obstacle may be the language barrier if you don't know the exact stop or route. In general, in order not to get lost and not to practice sign language and facial expressions on local residents, we recommend that you find out in advance what route you need, the bus number, and the name of the stop.
Where to stay in Beijing
Grand Millennium Beijing
Indoor pool, spa, 4 restaurants
Amazing
Booked 55 times today
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Inner Mongolia Grand Hotel
400 m from Beijing Railway Station
Amazing
1384 reviews
Booked 18 times today
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Happy Dragon.R J Brown hotel
Just 10 minutes drive from Tiananmen Square
Amazing
1758 reviews
Booked 12 times today
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Where to eat. Trying local cuisine
For detailed information on local establishments, visit CityWeekend or TheBeijinger. We can advise you to check out one interesting bar - Beetle In a Box. An original interior, good service, aromatic coffee and delicious sandwiches are guaranteed. There is a choice of stronger drinks. Address: Jiaodaokou, 交道口. Bldg 4, 24 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District, 东城区交道口东大街4号楼24号.
Not far from this bar there is another wonderful place - Alba Café. It's not difficult to find, you just need to go a little further in the same direction. Here you will be offered very tasty dishes. You will certainly appreciate the interior of this establishment and attentive service. In addition, the cafe has Wi-Fi.
If you are thinking about where to spend the evening and have dinner, we recommend choosing one of the most popular places in Beijing - F1 First Floor. Address: Ground Floor, Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang district, 朝阳区三里屯北小街同里大厦一层. It’s especially nice to visit this place on Monday, because on this day there is a 50% discount on the entire menu. Free Wi-Fi is provided to clients of the establishment.
For picky and budget-conscious tourists, we recommend trying delicious dishes in local cafes. These are small restaurants serving Chinese cuisine. Of course, you won’t see starched napkins and porcelain cups here, but you will definitely be able to eat on a budget and very satisfyingly. Portions in chifanki are always huge and various pleasant “buns” are often offered: free snacks, beer, etc.
If you need something quick to eat between sightseeing, then you should definitely try zaverton, which you can buy near the metro. You can also buy sweet pancakes, flatbread with herbs and ham from the seller with the cart; exotic lovers can try fried scorpions on a skewer. For sweets, we definitely recommend trying hawthorn berries in sugar syrup. Also in Beijing you can always find familiar and familiar food at Pizza Hut or, for example, KFC. In general, you definitely won’t go hungry in Beijing.
First day
Sightseeing usually starts from Tiananmen Square. It is a kind of departure point. Its unique feature is its size. It is the largest in the world. But this is where tourists encounter scams. Be vigilant and do not be fooled if someone shows special friendliness towards you.
National Theater
Near the square there is another popular attraction - the National Theater. If you didn't make it to any performance, don't worry. In any case, you need to go in, because inside there is something to look at and something to admire.
Now is the time to go explore the Forbidden City. What attracts tourists so much? Of course, the scale and the opportunity to see unique architecture with your own eyes. Of course, due to the crowds of tourists it is quite difficult to get to the windows of the imperial chambers, but it is definitely worth a look.
Hotels near the Forbidden City:
Bei Chang Jie No.25
0.4 km from the Forbidden City
Amazing
50 reviews
Booked 4 times today
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Beijing Fuyou Street Hotel
1 km to the Forbidden City
Amazing
50 reviews
Booked 4 times today
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Beihai and Jingshan Park
If you go north of the Forbidden City, you will find yourself in Beihai Park, and Jingshan Park is also very close. We recommend visiting both, because, for example, in Beihai Park you can enjoy peace and tranquility. Jingshan Park offers unique attractions. In addition, in this park you can see the place where the emperor committed suicide.
Second day
Today you can spend time exploring Qingyuan Park, known as the Summer Imperial Palace. We recommend going there as early as possible, since already around ten o’clock it’s simply too crowded and it’s quite difficult to appreciate the beauty of the place. The easiest way to get to the place is by metro. You need Line 4, Beigongmen Station. This park has remained virtually unchanged since the reign of Emperor Qianlong and is still divided into three zones. In the first of them you can see palace buildings located near the Eastern Gate. In the second zone there is the Fosyange tower, which rises on the southern slope of the Mountain of Longevity. The third zone is located behind the mountain and is notable for the fact that the Suzhou Canal Street was recently restored here.
Garden of Perfection and Purity
Not far from Qingyuan Park is the Garden of Perfection and Purity. Here you can take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the beauty of the lakes and hills. You can also see the ruins of palaces here.
The third day
Today you can visit the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), which includes a complex of buildings and a park area. This complex is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance fee per person is 15 yuan. If you plan to visit temples located within the park, you will need to pay an additional 20 yuan.
You can get to the place by metro. You need Line 5, Tantandongmen stop. In the Temple of Heaven, be sure to take a photo of the blue tiles, watch the calligraphy masters, make sure that the Wall of Echoes really works, and conduct an experiment with the Heavenly Soul Stone.
Today you can also visit the National Bolshoi Theater, which is unlike any other theater in the world. They worked on the development of the project for 50 years and the result is simply amazing. The author of the project was the French architect Paul Andre. Unusual architecture is a distinctive feature of this building.
Even if you are not a theater lover, you will find something to do here. Restaurants and shops are open to visitors at the National Bolshoi Theater. The entrance ticket costs 30 yuan. To get to the place, use the metro. You need the first line, Tiananmen West Station.
Fourth day
Zoo
Today you can have an exciting time in one of the largest zoos in China, founded in 1906. Almost 15 thousand fauna representatives live here. On the territory of the zoo there are ponds and lakes dating back to the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Big Panda House deserves special attention, where the most popular mammals live, including the unique giant panda. You can get to the zoo by metro, line 4, Beijing Zoo station.
Another attraction of Beijing that certainly deserves attention is the Ancient Observatory. Today it presents a thematic museum, which displays ancient exhibits - astronomical equipment. The observatory was built in 1442. If you take the subway, then you need the first and second lines, Jianguomen station.
8 metro line
Also dedicate time to metro line 8 (Olympic Branch Line), the opening of which was timed to coincide with the Olympics, which took place in Beijing in 2008. You can visit the National Bird's Nest Stadium and the National Water Cube Swimming Center, which currently houses a water park.
Fifth day
Today we recommend visiting another unique place - Art Zone 798 (Dashanzi Art District). On site you can visit various exhibitions, which are updated frequently. Previously, visiting the Art Zone was absolutely free; today, for the most part, an entrance fee is required.
It is noteworthy that there used to be a factory on this territory, so galleries and exhibitions are located right in the workshops of abandoned buildings. The easiest way to get to the gallery is by taxi, since the metro does not go to this site. Get off at Lianmaqiao Station, which is on Line 10, catch a taxi and show the address: 大山子798艺术区.
Sixth day
Today we are going to visit the Great Wall of China. The easiest way to get to the place is to purchase a tour, which is sold in almost all hotels. This way you can get to the attraction you need comfortably and without any problems. Another option is to take a tourist bus, which leaves early in the morning from Tiananmen or Xuanwumen. Buy a ticket and get ready for an exciting excursion. The most courageous tourists who are not afraid of difficulties can get to Badaling on their own by purchasing a ticket for the train that departs from the northern station.
An important point, if you decide to buy excursions, then choose the Mutianyu wall section, since many hours of traffic jams await you on the way to Badaling. Also, do not count on a tour in English and, especially, in Russian. The narration is conducted exclusively in Chinese. Bring a light snack, as all snacks near the tourist site are very expensive. Before you go for an inspection, remember the number of the bus you arrived on and check the exact time of meeting with the guide.
Seventh day. Shopping in Beijing
It would be simply unforgivable to come to Beijing and not spend time shopping. Shopping can and should be combined with an excursion program. If you prefer such famous brands as: Uniqlo, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, H&M, Zara, GAP, then be sure to check out the U-Town shopping center or any other that comes your way. These brands are not uncommon in Beijing. If you are more interested in local designers, then pay attention to the Hot Wind brand. Also, for interesting shopping spots, check out The Place tower complex. Here you can see the LED screen, already familiar to everyone from photos on the Internet. We highly recommend checking out Charterhouse, a bookshop where you can buy literature in English.
You can bargain and purchase copies from the collections of famous brands at the Silk Market. If they tell you the cost of an item, you can safely divide it by 10. In general, you can have a lot of fun here.
If you are looking for interesting souvenirs for relatives, friends or colleagues, then head to Nanluoguxiang. Here you will definitely find something interesting. If you want, we recommend taking a walk to Houhai Bar Street, it is nearby. Here you can combine shopping and walking with exploring picturesque places. Since the place is touristic, the prices are correspondingly higher than in other places. If you want to save money, you can go to hutongs for a snack. The food here is no less tasty. If you want to buy interesting souvenirs made of stone or porcelain, ivory or bamboo, wood, or antiques, then go to Liulichang Street.
Do you prefer exquisite silk products? The shops you need are located on Xiushui Street. Branded items in Beijing can be bought on Xidan Street. The markets of Beijing deserve special attention. Five markets will be of interest to tourists. Wangfujing Market, which is essentially a shopping street and is located near the Forbidden City, offers tourists branded products in various boutiques, souvenirs, and bookstores. We recommend coming here in the late afternoon. It is at this time that a “food lane” opens here, where you can taste freshly prepared exotic kebabs, for example, scorpion skewers. You can also combine a walk and shopping with a visit to the Chinese Theater, entry to which is free for everyone.
To get to Xiushuijie Silk Market, you need to take the subway to Yonganli Station. The market itself is located in a multi-storey building, where mainly only tourists shop, since the prices here are very inflated. There will be no language barrier with the traders, as they all speak English. It is unlikely that you will be able to bargain on the price here; for the most part it is fixed. You can purchase similar goods as in the Xiushuijie market, but only more affordable in price and quality, in the Yasiu (Yashou) shichang market. We take the metro to Dongsishitiao station.
A must-see for all shopaholics is the Hongqiao Shichang Pearl Market. Here you can find the most reasonable prices and good quality products. Another popular market in Beijing is Yabaolu. Here you can buy all the goods that you see in shopping centers in Russia. This place is popular among Russian tourists because only here you can easily exchange rubles for dollars, and all the sellers speak Russian. The prices will also please you.
Where to go in Beijing at night
The main advice to all tourists is not to try strong alcoholic drinks in clubs, as in Beijing they are of very low quality. Even familiar luxury whiskey brands do not guarantee original content. In general, there is a high risk of running into burnt alcohol. One exception is the Mao Mao Chong bar. It’s cozy here, the food is delicious and they carefully monitor their reputation; I offer only high-quality alcohol. The interior of the bar is decorated with paintings painted by the owner of the establishment himself. He and his wife can often be found at the bar. They will offer you high quality service, attentive attitude and branded tincture.
Beijing, as the capital of one of the most ancient countries in the world, China, is rightfully considered the center of culture and education throughout the PRC. Although not the oldest city in the country, it is nevertheless considered very interesting, which is why it attracts thousands of tourists every year.
The city skillfully combines the speed of modernity and the tranquility of the past, which is manifested to a greater extent in the variety of architectural styles harmoniously mixed in the metropolis. In addition, Beijing is known for its parks and gardens, World Heritage sites and, of course, business and shopping districts.
“What to see in Beijing?” - This is a frequently asked question to the local population from tourists who visit the city for the first time.
City climate: when is it most beautiful?
Beijing's geographical location determines its humid continental climate with frequent monsoons, which means unbearably hot summers, with temperatures of +30˚C, and cold winters with ice, due to the presence of strong northern winds.
The city residents themselves claim that Beijing is unforgettable in the fall, when a “fresh wind blows through the city” and “clear skies” are visible. Spring will also delight lovers of flowering gardens and parks, but there is a high probability of sandstorms.
However, despite any weather conditions in Beijing, it is beautiful at any time of the year, as each of them has its own charm and characteristics.
Walking around Beijing for any time of year
What to see in Beijing in winter, because for many tourists, winter is not the best time of year in Beijing, due to the gray color scheme that predominates in the city. However, only those who were not in the city at this time of year think so.
The streets of the “northern capital” begin to be brightly decorated for the New Year, after which celebrations and festivities begin. It is at this time that the most important holiday for the entire country, Dongzhi (winter solstice day), takes place. Therefore, you should definitely see WangFuJin Street, which has the most beautiful decoration and the largest number of shops.
There are ice sculpture exhibitions held in numerous parks in the city, the most famous of which is held at the Helongtan Park Complex, and there are also excellent places to visit in winter. Unique ice sculptures in the form of characters from famous fairy tales and films, or animals from zodiac signs are located on almost three thousand hectares.
Earth Altar Park is the site of the Miaohui Festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Running for almost a week since the end of January, it includes large-scale fairs, performances (including the People's Opera) with dances and “re-enactments” of ancient rituals.
In addition, there are many snow complexes throughout the city where you can have a great time ice skating and sledding.
Evening Beijing
Many tourists who annually visit the capital of China as “savages” initially do not know where to go in the evening in Beijing.
City life in the evening hours is completely different from the rest of the time. In addition to a large number of exquisite restaurants, where you can try national dishes and delicacies, noisy bars and nightclubs, guests of the city will have an unforgettable experience of the Beijing Opera in the evening, learning about tea ceremonies and learning self-development.
Peking Opera is considered the “pearl” of the city’s cultural life. Located in the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater, it delights the audience every evening with an excellent repertoire, which is based on such interesting themes as mercy, wisdom, sense of duty, etc. The opera reveals to the viewer all the unusualness of the country's culture, as well as the spiritual and moral values of the nation. Particular attention is drawn to the costumes of the actors, made of bright fabrics, with oriental prints and handmade embroideries.
The tea culture of Lao She is particularly spiritual and traditional. Therefore, Qianmen Tea House is a great place to visit in Beijing. This is a large complex that reveals to tourists all the subtleties of the culture of Chinese tea drinking and feasting. In addition, various performances (dancing, singing, etc.) take place here every evening, also introducing the guests of the complex to the culture of the country.
The Red Theater with the famous play “The Legend of Gongfu” is a must-see in Beijing. There is no better place in the city that will introduce you to this art of self-development, which includes elements of martial arts, dance, acrobatic elements and other types of self-defense. The action that opens before the audience tells the life story of the monk Chun Yi, transferring all his thoughts, feelings and moods into the hall.
When preparing for a trip to the “northern capital” of China, all tourists traveling on their own prefer to develop plans for future excursions in advance. To do this, just search the Internet for “Beijing interesting places”, and there will be a large number of options. They can all be divided into three groups:
- temples;
- park complexes and gardens;
- historical monuments.
Therefore, everyone can choose exactly what they like most.
The place to go in Beijing for the “best” experience of the city is, of course, the ancient narrow streets and neighborhoods (hutongs), which on both sides consist of beautiful one-story houses with complex courtyards. Here you can always hire a rickshaw, which will not only take you around the neighborhoods, but also take you to the Yinding Bridge.
Beijing Zoo
The city is home to the Beijing Zoo, famous throughout China, which is home to a large number of the country's rarest animal species. Built on the same principle as most parks in the city, it is a Chinese garden with enclosures for wild animals.
The pride of the zoo are giant pandas, Manchurian tigers and elephants. The total number of inhabitants of the zoo is 5,000 individuals belonging to 450 species. Every year, the zoo management introduces visitors to at least one new rare species of animal, and regularly collaborates with zoos in other countries, thus trying to preserve populations of endangered species.
It is also home to the Beijing Aquarium and many historical monuments dating back to the Qing Dynasty. The Western-style “Tower of Beautiful View” is the only surviving structure that served as a temporary refuge for the emperor, which was used as a residence for high-ranking Chinese officials in the 20th century.
If, having arrived in the “northern capital”, the tourist still does not know, and has not decided in advance, when going to Beijing, what to see, where to go, then he needs to go to Tiananmen Square. Because the most grandiose buildings and attractions that personify and tell about the history and culture of an entire people are concentrated here (the building of the People's Assembly, the Opera House, the Historical Museum, etc.).
To feel the grandeur of the entire square and surrounding buildings, it is best to go here in the morning. Moreover, every day, regardless of the weather and situation, the Chinese flag is raised here. This tradition, which is several decades old, still captivates visitors and delights the local population.
The size of the square (nine hundred meters long and five hundred meters wide) allows for many public events to be held here, such as kite flying, an extraordinary tradition that brings a lot of fun to both children and adults.
Peace Park
The “Interesting Places in Beijing” program must necessarily include a visit to the Peace Park, the peculiarity of which is the location in it of smaller, authentic copies of the most interesting sights of countries around the world. The Paris Eiffel Tower, the Moscow Kremlin, the Pyramids of Egypt and much more will allow you to momentarily be transported to different countries of the world and take unforgettable photos. There is the opportunity to stroll along San Francisco's Golden Bridge or feel the spray of Niagara Falls.
For those who like vivid impressions, there is an opportunity to take photos and ride an elephant for a while. The very idea of the park was aimed at strengthening friendly relations with various countries.
You can’t come to Beijing without visiting the most famous palace complex in the world, which is also the largest. Built in the center of the globe (according to astronomers), it is filled with the philosophy and spirituality of Chinese culture. It impresses with its grandeur and beauty. For many centuries, access to the palace was allowed only to the emperor's family, high officials and ambassadors. Ordinary townspeople were prohibited from entering, with immediate death penalty for violating the ban.
Today, this historical monument is the location of the Imperial Museum “Gugun”, the entrance to which is open to everyone. The museum's collection is updated annually and numbers about 1 million items, including valuable exhibits of painting, books, clothing and the emperor's jewelry.
Around the city there is a high wall with a moat, through which several bridges lead. Its territory is picturesque, filled with various buildings, gardens and lakes.
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- and its attractions
At the request of readers of an article about transit at Beijing airport, I wrote this article recalling my summer trip. It’s easy for me to give exact prices, because... We manage the family budget. When exploring Beijing in transit, you can spend a day in Beijing or 72 visa-free hours in the most useful, educational and enjoyable way possible, especially since the Beijing metro map given here makes it easier to get to the main interesting places. This article contains the main attractions of Beijing with addresses and transport to them. We decide on our goals: a walk through the main attractions of Beijing, shopping in Beijing, a gourmet excursion. In accordance with the goal, we act according to one of the following plans.
General points
1. Exit to the city and luggage
We go through passport control; if the luggage is not in transit to the final destination, we pick it up. In order not to carry suitcases with you around the city if you only have one day in Beijing, you can immediately check your luggage for your next flight (hurray for the DPRK electronic baggage check-in and logistics system!), if the wait is longer, you can use the luggage storage. There is a yellow sign with a drawn suitcase in the passage between T1-T2, in T2 there is also about gate 9 (arrivals block) and gates 8 and 10 in the departures block on the 2nd floor, of course in T3 there is also one in the arrivals hall on the 2nd floor. m floor. It’s a bit expensive, though, from 50Y per seat per day (because if you start using it, try to put everything in one suitcase/bag; we wrap everything in a huge black bag and rent it out as one seat, instead of 3).
When transiting up to 3 days, it may be more convenient to take your luggage with you to the hotel so that everything you need is at hand.
2. Transport to the city
The easiest way to get to any point in the city is definitely a taxi. From the airport to the city it is almost 26 km, boarding a taxi costs 10Y, plus the meter from 1.8 to 2.5Y/km. A trip to the city will cost about 85 yuan with the meter on, already including the highway fee (15 yuan) - it’s better to decide the price before the trip, the driver should have all the prices printed out (or even posted on the glass) - read it. If funds allow, but there is a lot of luggage or time is limited, this is convenient. It is important for the taxi driver to take with you the name of the end point of the trip in Chinese. You can't always count on English in China.
The fastest way to avoid traffic jams is by taking the Airport Express train. The exit from Terminal 3 can be found by following the signs - block C, 2nd floor. Then the train goes to Terminal 2, then to the Beijing Metro. The travel time is only 18 minutes, the cost is 25 yuan. The express goes to the station. Dongzhimen metro station with a stop at Sanyuanqiao metro station. Thus, by airport express you can get to lines 2, 10 or 13 of the Beijing metro. The price of a metro ticket is only 2 yuan (about 9 rubles), ATTENTION do not buy tickets in reserve, they are valid only for the current day.
Beijing subway map can be increased
If you are going to book a hotel, check if they want to send a shuttle to the airport for you, many hotels do this. True, usually for an additional small amount.
There is also a regular bus from the airport terminal to the center of Beijing, ticket 20 yuan.
To combine business with pleasure, as they say, and get to the desired point in the city, and make sure that there really is something to see in Beijing, you can go from the airport by bus along one of the most interesting routes. A simple traffic scheme of six lines from the airport to different parts of the city has been developed. Exit to buses into the city in T2 on the 1st floor, exits 9 and 10, and in T1 on the 1st floor, exit 7. Buses leave every 15 minutes (or half an hour, as they fill up) from 7 am to 24 pm. The most popular route is Xidan (Xidan) - this is justified, because... This route has the most of Beijing's main attractions. The trip to the city takes about an hour, costs 16Y, tickets can be bought at all stops.
Bus routes
Red line: Airport - Liangma Bridge - Baijiazhuang - Guomao - Panjiayuan - Shilihe - Fangzhuang;
Blue line: Airport - Sanyuan Bridge - Dongzximen - Dongsi Shitiao Bridge - Xidan;
Blue line: Airport - Yuyang Hotel - Dongba Bridge - Chaoyang Men - Yabao Lu - Beijing Central Station;
Green Line: Airport - International Exhibition Center - Xibahe - Anzhen Bridge - Madian Bridge - Bei Taipingzhuang - Jimen Bridge - Friendship Hotel - Beijing TV Station - Zizhu Bridge - Hangtian Bridge - Gongzhufen;
Pink line: Airport - Xiaoying - Yayuncun - Xueyuan Bridge - Zhongguancun;
Purple Line: Airport - Wangjing Huayuan Xiqu - Wangjingjie Xikou - Guangshun Dajie Beikou - Wangjing
Payment in cash during the day is 1 yuan, at night 2 yuan, on the outskirts and outside the city 1 yuan every 10 km.
Prepaid smart card Ikatong (Yikatong) or IC-card - type of travel card (profitable if you travel a lot and for more than 2 days, you can pay on buses, subways and even taxis (not all) card price 20 yuan plus travel money ) 0.4 yuan in the city per trip and 0.8 yuan outside the city.
3. Communication
China is a modern country and all types of communications are available here. High-quality and expensive communications are offered in international hotels. Quite good quality communication in post offices and pay phones in hotels. It’s easy to call Moscow: 007-095 subscriber number in Moscow, to Yekaterinburg 007-343 number in Yekaterinburg. It is also easy to call your number in Beijing: 8-10-86-106 hotel number in Beijing. When calling cell numbers, you do not need to dial the area code. In Moscow the cell number is 007, when calling to China it is 86 and the cell number in China.
It is better to choose cellular communications from the main operators - China Mobile and China Unicom. You can buy a SIM card for 100 yuan. The price for calls on the home network is about 3 jiao, abroad - about 4.8 yuan.
Or just use your number in roaming if you don’t make a lot of calls and don’t mind the money.
4. Necessary telephone numbers
I hope your day in Beijing goes by without calling emergency numbers, but keep them handy. If you're lucky, you can even get an English-speaking operator on these numbers.
Firefighters - 119
Police - 110
Ambulance - 120
Road accident - 122
Telephone information (international) - 108
Russian Embassy - (86-106) 532-20-51 (12-81, 13-81)
Consular Section in Beijing 6532-12-67
China International Travel Service (CITS) at 103 Fuxingmennei Dajie, telephone (86-106) 01-11-22.
A must see even if only one day in Beijing. The main attractions of Beijing
Goal 1. Cognitive
1.
The main attraction of Beijing is Forbidden City(Gugong - gugong, in Chinese), without visiting him, a transit day in Beijing will not reflect the spirit of this nation. Conveniently located in the heart of the city, it is fraught with centuries of history. It is often called the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Winter Palace in guidebooks. Here you can touch history, walk along marble bridges across an artificial river, feel the East in the three palace pavilions of Harmony (pavilions of Supreme Harmony, Preservation of Harmony and Complete Harmony).
A ticket is 60 yuan, if you arrive after the ticket office closes, you can buy it from nosy locals for 100-150 yuan. When purchasing a ticket at the box office, you can take a Russian-speaking (or another language) electronic guide for 40Y (deposit 100 yuan - refunded upon exit) - very convenient.
Open 8.30-17.00 (entrance until 16.00).
How to get there - bus No. 1, 4, 20,52,57 to the Tiananmen stop. There, go through the two gates Tiananmen and Duanmen, at the main entrance of Wumen take trolleybus No. 101,103,109 stop. Gugun Museum. From the stop, go to the back gate, Shenumen. It is much easier to take the metro to the station. Tian "anmen East on line No. 1. It is better to exit through the north. There are beautiful parks there.
2.
One of them is a beautiful (Jingshan) mountain with a beautiful landscape, the main highlight of which is the amazing views of Beijing, including the Forbidden City, from a 43-meter high mountain. Beijing is generally famous for its most beautiful and unusual parks, which began with the imperial dynasties.
Ticket 5 - 10 yuan. Open from 6 to 21.
Walk from the northern exit of the Forbidden City to the right along Jingshanquan Street for 300 meters to the intersection with East Jingshan Street, then turn left and walk another 150-200 meters - here is one of the entrances.
3
. Beihai Park. In the park, it’s interesting early in the morning to watch (and maybe join in))) how local pensioners and others like them do exercises.
This is a nice, well-kept park. On this island, named after the Jade Flowers Islet (an additional ticket to the island is required for another 10 yuan), you can satisfy your aesthetics with views of active Buddhist temples, and at the top a beautiful pagoda (entrance is another 3 yuan, but worth it), all the buildings contain a large number of frescoes and figurines - beautiful.
You can take a boat ride on the lake. Or walk around it and explore the Wall of Nine Dragons and their pavilion.
Getting there: go through Jingshan Park, exit onto West Jingshan Street, cross it and you will find yourself on a small shopping street, along which you can go to Beihai Park. If you are not coming from Tiananmen Square, you can take the metro along line 4 to the station. Ping"anli, there is a 1.5-kilometer walk along Ping"anli street (this is not tiring, because along the way you can taste and buy tea and imperial desserts, souvenirs) and enter the park from the back side, move along it in side of the square.
Ticket price is 10Y in summer, 20Y in winter. Open 6.30-21.
4.
Tiananmen Square(Tian "anmen Square) Square of Heavenly Peace) is the main square in China and the largest in the world, located south of the Imperial Palace.
On the north side is the Tiananmen Gate, its height is 33.7 m. In the center of the square is the Monument to the People's Heroes. In the south of the square is the House of Memory of Mao Zedong, and in it there is a Mausoleum.
To the east is the Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolution Museum. They are from 8.30 to 16.00 seven days a week. Every day at dawn and dusk, the national flag of the People's Republic of China is ceremoniously raised and lowered in Tiananmen Square. Tourists like it beautiful and significant. On holidays, the square is decorated with flowers and lanterns. How similar we are to them - the square resembles our Red Square in Moscow, the leader’s mausoleum again. And Russians also love to read, to learn new things in the toilet, so to speak. China is a country of modern industry, here the guys went further - in this famous square in a public toilet you can use a computer with the Internet.
Transport: metro to the station. Tian "anmen East on line No. 1, this is the north of the square, near the southern entrance to the Forbidden City or to Qianmen station on line No. 2 - exit to the south of the square.
5. Temple of Heaven. Very impressive, perfect architecture. And also a beautiful park with a unique landscape design.
Input 30Y. Open from 9 to 16.
It’s easier to get there, as always, by metro line 5 to the station. TianTan Dongmen - exit directly to the gate.
6. Summer Palace(Summer palace) amazingly beautiful palace buildings and unimaginably beautiful park. What is the building for the imperial meal made of white marble in the shape of a boat on the lake?
Ticket 30Y (more during the season). From 9 to 16.
The palace is located in the suburbs of Beijing, but it doesn’t take long to get there. Hotels and excursion bureaus say that you can get there either with them on a tour bus or by taxi for 50-60-100 yuan, but you and I are independent travelers, we know that, of course, there must be public transport. Here is one of the options for metro line 4 of the Beigongmen station (penultimate) there, walk about 500 meters, first almost 300 to the intersection, then turn left and another 200. Or the Xiyuan metro, also on line 4 (but the walk takes longer - about a kilometer, but in a straight line) It takes about an hour to travel from central Beijing. Or a bus from the zoo, Tananmen Square and other attractions (about 3 hours from the center).
7.
(The Great Wall). If time permits, then it is worth going to the outskirts of Beijing to see this wonder of the world. Much has been written about the greatness of the Wall, but you can truly appreciate it only by seeing it with your own eyes and climbing it with your own feet. Among the interesting things on the wall you can buy a certificate and a medal with the date of ascent, the name and date will be written for free, the price is 40Y.
Getting there: The section of the wall closest to Beijing is almost 70 km from the city. Near the railway station Badaling. You can accordingly get there by train, of course by taxi, and as an option by bus. If a taxi is a city taxi (with checkers at the top) with a meter, or negotiate the price “on the shore”.
A lot has been written on the Internet about bus No. 919 and the problems with finding it and getting off at the correct station (since Sten is not the final station), scam - like they drop you off a kilometer away to their taxi drivers. Nerves and time.
Therefore, we are looking at the train option. From the North Station we buy a ticket for one of the morning trains in Yanqing to the station. Badalin. I’m listing the schedule there for morning flights and back for evening flights to help you get your bearings. All trains are equipped with air conditioning, the distance is 61 km, the travel time as you can see is about 1.5 hours. It’s better to buy a ticket there early (so that you have enough), you can buy it back there - tickets are sold according to your passport. Today I once again double-checked the time-price information for you from the Chinese Railways and compiled the following sign (I hope it will be convenient to take with you in this form) relevant as of March 09, 2013.
|
There |
Back |
|||||
|
Train no. |
Beijing North |
Badaling |
Train no. |
Badaling |
Beijing North. |
|
|
S201 |
6:12 |
7:49 |
S216 |
12:59 |
14:23 |
|
| S203 |
7:58 |
9:38 |
S218 |
14:58 |
15:08 |
|
| S205 |
8:34 |
10:05 |
S220 |
15:43 |
17:25 |
|
| S207 |
9:02 |
10:33 |
S222 |
16:14 |
17:39 |
|
| S209 |
10:57 |
12:31 |
S224 |
17:30 |
18:54 |
|
| S211 |
12:42 |
14:19 |
S226 |
19:31 |
21:11 |
|
The ticket price is 13-162 yuan one way depending on the type of seats (hard-soft-seated-sleeping).
Hard seats: 13 yuan
Soft seats: 19 yuan
hard sleeper (upper): 100 yuan
Hard Sleeper (Medium): 105 RMB
hard sleeper (lower): 108 yuan
Soft Sleeper (top): 156 yuan
soft sleeping (lower): 162 yuan
Entrance 45 yuan, electronic guide 40 + deposit 500 yuan.
Climbing the wall with your legs. Or by cable car - ticket 60Y up and down, 80Y round trip.
Summary
With limited time
or 1. Summer Palace, then the center with its Forbidden City, square and Park with the mountain.
Or 2. trip to the wall. If you are very athletic and energetic, try 3. Square-Gugong-Wall.
It is important to remember: only sports shoes, comfortable clothes. Insulate yourself on the wall - it is windy at the top. Bring water and snacks with you so as not to waste time looking for provisions and the ritual of bargaining.
8. If you have time, visit the circus, aquarium, or zoo.
Goal 2. Shopping
Beijing presents goods from all over the world. There are many outlet malls here, where brands from previous seasons are sold at discounts of up to 90%, but I think it’s also worth buying colorful, local items here. These are porcelain, silk, electronics, tea and other goods.
All trading places are divided into several groups.
Firstly, large shopping centers, where they are not cheap, but of high quality.
Secondly, shopping centers where it is almost cheap are usually of high quality. Here you can already bargain.
Thirdly, markets or small shops, where they are definitely cheap and if you choose well, they are of high quality. Here you must bargain and reduce the price up to 10 times. Instead of 1000 yuan, I paid 100 for a pancake of pressed Pu-er tea (relatives ordered) and received a package of cookies as a gift. The main thing is to smile during the bargaining process.
The largest centers of trade in Beijing are the following streets:
Wang Fuijing - many shopping centers, pedestrian (Wang Fuijing metro).
Qianmen. Already 500 years ago this was a shopping street, this is a favorite shopping place for Beijing residents.
Not far to the west is Xidan, which is called the second Wangfujing.
Xiushuijie "Silk Market", Xiushui Jie metro station "Yonganli" (Yonganli Street) or metro station Qianmen, but the walk takes longer, but it is interesting through the hutongs (small colorful streets with the same small hotels and shops).
Lyulichan Street – antiques, art objects. Hepingmen metro station (hepingmen).
Russian shopping district Yabalou st. Chaoyangmen metro station. This is the only corner where they can speak Russian. Everything is built for our shoppers. Mainly wholesale. You need to have remarkable bargaining skills.
Silicon Valley - since China is famous for cheap electronics, this time I went straight to Silicon Valley to buy some Apple. By metro to the station. Zhongguancun traveled for a long time, the contingent of passengers changed from “white collar workers” in the center, to “expensive tracksuits” as they approached their destination. The shopping center itself looks good. There are several Apple departments. I liked one thing better (more like the original). I came in and asked: Do you have a 32 GB iPad? Yes. Show me what the price is? They answer: Do you need documents? We'll bring it right now. Then doubts crept into my soul. I ask: Is there one for 35 gigs? Yes.)))!!! At this time they brought me a 32GB one to watch. Okay, so what, I turned it on and scrolled through it. At the next table, the conversation between the seller and the buyer is getting louder and louder. I don’t understand Chinese, but judging by the buyer’s gestures with an iPhone in his hands and his unfriendly facial expressions, I understand that they don’t want to return the money for a non-working device purchased at a serious price. The buyer jumped up from the sofa (he turned out to be unexpectedly tall) and simply grabbed the medium-sized salesman and threw him across the entire store. Over there, my 4-year-old son was sitting on a bar stool, playing on a demo iPad. My wife grabbed our son in an instant and we ran out of the store. A crowd instantly gathered behind the glass wall. The onlookers did not even think about separating their opponents. Everyone filmed what was happening and commented on the clarity of the blows - so that they could have fun with their friends afterwards. This is what it is like, the eastern Silicon Valley. The price is attractive, but there is nothing to do there with children. You can go if you understand technology (so as not to buy 33 or 35 GB))), if you are physically strong and you know the prices.
And of course, it is possible to buy souvenirs, tea, etc. in Beijing near all the tourist spots, but it is somewhat more expensive than in shopping streets.
3. Gourmet Walk
You should definitely try Peking Duck – you won’t be able to try this anywhere else.
You should also visit Beijing Food Street, if not to eat, then to be impressed and photograph various things: kebabs, ducks, scorpions, and other animals unknown to Europeans.
Of course, try different salads and especially desserts.
As in all places where tourists gather, incl. At the attractions, be careful, ignore the sticky ones. Don’t go and have tea with local pretty girls or guys who (oh finally, at least someone!))) speak English) - the bill for such tea can be up to $200. Follow your route clearly, do not leave your things unattended, take care of your passport, check your change - they often “forget” to add a large bill.
Overall, Beijing leaves mixed impressions. Huge, crowded, special, with ancient culture. Colorful, many architectural, cultural, historical places, unusual cuisine, multi-dimensional shopping.
Good luck friends!