Bars and clubs in Beijing
Dec 16, 2014 à 10:53 PM
Beijing offers wide opportunity for enjoying great nightlife with an array of popular bars and clubs in the city. Sanlitun is the most popular district for night lovers, where people can indulge in boozing and drinking in the bars and clubs in Beijing till the wee hours in the morning. The Sanlitun district has a famous ‘Bar Street, which is commonly known as Sanlitun Bei Lu where you can find numerous popular bars. This place serves those who like to hang around in small time bars and clubs rather than sticking to bars at five star hotels, which are more stylish, appealing and more costly too. In fact, the appearance of hotel bars has gained quite fame among high society people in Beijing due to its classy and varied options. However, for expatriates and tourists, the Sanlitun district is a good option to enjoy drinks in a cozy environment. Like tourists, locals also like to hang out with friends over a glass of beer, or a drink or two in the bars and clubs in Beijing. In addition to bars and clubs, Beijing nightlife also presents numerous disco and karaoke clubs where you can be certain of having a great time. On one hand, you have the exciting nightlife with unlimited bars and clubs in Beijing. While on the other hand, the city presents an exciting range of teahouses where you can attend tea ceremonies and enjoy some relaxing time. Many tea houses serve tea and snacks with an added dose of entertainment in the form of opera shows, or martial arts and acrobatics. Visiting a tea house is sure to bring huge delight as you can experience new and interesting things over a cup of tea. Moreover, you also get to choose from a range of varied and different teas for yourself. Overall, the Chinese tea houses present an opportunity for you to get a taste of some traditional Chinese theatre, musical shows, magic or even acrobatics at any of the popular tea houses in the city. However, you must enquire the rates charged by the particular tea house you are planning to visit as the prices can range variedly and some such tea houses can charge exorbitantly.
Wool and Yarn in Beijing
Jan 24, 2015 à 12:19 PM
Beijing experiences a long winter with temperature really going down to freezing level during January when the weather is extremely chilly. To keep people warm and cozy, they need to wear layers of warm cloths including sweaters, jackets and so on. And Beijing is the best place to buy woolens as you can get variety in stuff and quality. You can find some very fine quality of wool and yarn in Beijing. There are different reputed stores in different markets in the city where you can buy good quality wool and yarn in Beijing. The fine quality of wool here can influence you to start your hobby of knitting. Moreover, you can see elderly ladies knitting woolens at home during free time in winters to make warm clothes for family members. The different stores selling wool and yarn in Beijing offer huge collection including cotton wool, cashmere and mohair. Moreover, camel and novelty yarns are also available in the stores in Beijing. You can see a thriving yarn culture in Beijing. Most stores will have yarn stacked in different shapes and sizes. Some are in hanks and some are shaped into balls, while some of the wools can be seen in the shape of cones. Here you can get natural fibers in most cases and the prices are determined per kilo. However, the fact that most shop keepers don’t speak English might get you into bit trouble in terms of investigating the yarns well. If you can understand or speak Chinese, shopping for wool and yarn can become lot easy. The locals in Beijing have great fashion sense and you can see the smartly dressed people on the streets during winter. The markets offer wide variety of smart clothes to suit the temperature. Be it malls or street shops, you are sure to get appealing and gorgeous clothes in Beijing. The quality and range caps and scarfs found in the city is praiseworthy and you can buy these woolen items as souvenirs to take home. If you visit Beijing ever, you must check out the stores selling beautiful wool and yarn so that you can pick bag full of them and fulfill your hobby of knitting for your family. ...
Traffic and Transportation in Beijing
Dec 20, 2014 à 05:45 PM
Earlier Beijing had a reputation of being a difficult city to get around. However, the notion has now changed with the additions of the subway and highway systems in the last few years. But there has been not much change seen in terms of the notorious traffic of Beijing city. The city is still facing much air pollution which tends to block the inner ring roads as well as highways during the day. This comes down only when the traffic clears in the evening after the rush hours. Due to this constant traffic problem, the subway-taxi combination is regarded as the best one when talking about traffic and transportation in Beijing. This way one can limit the road time to reach a particular destination. Though the trains normally remain packed, but the system is well-organized and quick, which makes it viable. Moreover, with the increasing numbers of cars in the city, cycling is becoming less appealing to many. But many primary roads have separate bike lanes, which make it easy to explore the Beijing city for locals and tourists on bicycles. Another good way to explore the hub of the city is walking. But that is not possible for distant places. And Beijing being a large city using cabs such as taxi or pedicab becomes necessary for many visitors to deal with the traffic and transportation in Beijing. Subways in Beijing run from 5:00 in the morning to 11:00 in the evening. When it comes to taxi, Beijing taxi drivers have a reputation for trapping tourists. Black taxis commonly try to trick people at the airport. So it is important to ensure that you're sitting in a metered cab and don't accept negotiated fares. Beijing has many pedicab that run along the busy intersections and tourist areas, offering to pick weary pedestrians. But you must remember to bargain in a pedicab before boarding. Bicycle, by far, is the safest and cheapest mode of transport that deals effectively with the traffic and transportation in Beijing. Using bicycles presents a wonderful perspective of the capital, especially if you travel through the narrow alleys of the city and remain away from the large boulevards. You can rent a bike at any of hotels or hostels in the city. ...
Graphics and advertising in Beijing
Dec 15, 2014 à 02:56 PM
Like in many other places, you can see graphics and advertisements in Beijing bus stops. These ads could feature anything and everything. Most of these ads are written in Chinese, however there may be some that is written in English. These ads do attract not only the locals, but the travelers as well. Promotions by means of ads is a very common and popular way by which more and more people can be made aware of any thing. This way of advertisement is also very interesting and significant. Besides the bus stops, these ads can be seen in different other places in terms of hoardings and billboards. You can see such graphics and advertisements in Beijing malls as well. So during your trip to Beijing you are sure to see some such lovely ads and graphics. Just keep your eyes on the different unique and interesting billboards on your way to the various attractions in the city and you will see many ads. If you are fascinated about graphics and paintings, you will surely like these graphics and advertisements in Beijing. ...
Parks and recreational areas in Beijing
Jan 12, 2015 à 02:44 AM
Beijingers love the idea of spending quality time with family and friends. During holidays and on weekends, you will find families recreating and having fun together in the popular hotspots in the city. Some love to dine out, whereas many like to shop around with near and dear ones. Moreover, there are many people who head to the various places of attraction in the city including beautiful parks. Parks are recreational areas in Beijing especially suits those who have small children. While the parents can sit and relax in one corner of the park, the kids can run around and play. This way it serves the purpose of both. There are good number of appealing parks and recreational areas in Beijing, including some very popular ones such as Jingshan Park, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven Park, Ditan Park, and Zongshan Park among others. Then there are other parks like Fragrant Hills Park known in Chinese as Xiangshan Park, Beijing Botanical Garden and Jade Lake Park (Yuyuantan Park) and so on. Many large parks feature spacious walking and jogging paths, which serves the purpose of people coming for exercise in the morning. While those coming here for leisure can spend peaceful time under the shade of lovely trees and plants. People can also play different games and enjoy a picnic with family. Some parks offer rides for small children so that they can stay busy and cheerful. In fact, children also love the peaceful and green environment of the parks. There are a few parks in the city where the kids can watch fishes in the lake of the park. The colorful fishes make it wonderful treat for kids. Some such parks even offer the opportunity to boat or row within its limits. Overall it is great pleasure to see people spending relaxing time in parks and recreational areas in Beijing. Kids get enough space to run and play, while the elders get to chat with fellows or play some games too. While in Beijing, you are sure to encounter such beautiful sights and people all around the city. Moreover, domestic tourists from other cities in China are also seen mingling well with the locals and enjoy their vacation in Beijing. ...
Bicycles in Beijing
Dec 31, 2014 à 01:00 PM
Over two decades ago roads in Beijing were full of uncountable numbers of bicycles. This is because people in general preferred using this means of transport for commuting within the city. But as times changed the more comfortable and contemporary modes of transport has taken over this interesting two-wheeler or bicycle in Beijing. However, due to over use of cars and other modes of transport, Beijing has turned into a traffic-clogged city. With the rapid drop of bicycles the lanes and parking lots used for parking bicycles are now seen as being filled with parked cars and other vehicles. Irrespective of this you can still see many bicycles in Beijing running on the streets. A typical looking bicycle in Beijing will have one-gear and a metal basket on the front. And you can still see many elders on the roads riding this machine. China was once known as the bicycle kingdom. But it is no more a kingdom of bicycles as the country has seen a sharp fall of bicycles in the past two decades, while private ownership of cars has increased rapidly. Beijing progressed and modernized in terms of latest cars, but they are still fighting the issues of traffic generated due to increase in cars in the road. With traffic air pollution has also aggravated, which has its own hazards like illness. In addition to health issues, the increased traffic issues have also impacted the economic productivity of the city in a negative way. People waste a lot of time in commuting and many a times reaches late in their destinations. All these problems have led to the revival of the bicycles in china. The government in the city is enforcing many preventive measures to reduce the pollution level in Beijing. But they are still away from curbing enough air pollution in the city. And now Beijing has turned to bicycles to solve the heavy traffic issues faced in the city. Even tourists have started opting for bicycles as compared to taxis and buses for traveling small distances. But it is expected that with the various initiatives being undertaken by the Chinese government, they will be able to curb the air pollution level in Beijing. ...
Hutongs in Beijing
Feb 20, 2015 à 06:32 AM
The lanes or hutongs in Beijing have their unique layout and structure. The cross interlacement of the hutongs make every household connected to the other. This really makes it easy for people living in hutongs to keep in touch with their neighbors. So when an outsider enters any of these hutongs, they could easily feel the warmth of relationships among people. And this feature is not common in the modern world and can hardly be seen in other places. And it is in these twisted lanes or hutongs where people, especially visitors can experience the life of the ancient Beijing people. Most courtyard houses in hutongs do not have private washrooms and only public bathrooms and toilets can be found in these lanes. These public washrooms were used by everyone for their convenience. Most shops in these hutongs will sell all kinds of goods to meet the daily need of local people here. You can find people gossiping in these hutongs in Beijing and they take it as a way of strengthening their relationship. These hutongs have witnessed every aspect of Beijing’s development and have many stories to tell too. Beijing has now over 1,000 Hutongs left as compared to many thousand hutongs in the earlier times. However, of the remaining hutongs, there are some distinctive ones too, which attract thousands of tourists every year. There are many popular eating joints located in and around the popular hutongs in Beijing. There are rickshaws available for tourists to take on a hutong tour in Beijing, whereby they can roam across the lanes and by-lanes here. Moreover, bicycle tour of hutong is also an interesting option if you are sure of not getting lost in the different lanes. Moreover, these hutong tours are also associated with learning new art and craft of china. Those who are actually interested in some of these tours can contact their tour guides for details. There are lessons to be learnt on cooking, or learning Chinese crafts or even local Chinese games. Overall, a hutong tour in Beijing is something that no one can miss at any cost. Be it the first time visitor or regular visitor, everyone like to get a hang of the hutongs during their tour to Bejing. ...
Transport in Beijing
Dec 29, 2014 à 03:36 PM
For local transport in Beijing there are many options. The locals use bicycles and rickshaws along with buses, subways and taxis. For tourists using subways and buses is a good option. Besides they can also use bicycles and rickshaws for short distances. Beijing has introduced the public bicycle rental service in 2012, which is a popular option for tourists, especially backpackers and others traveling without kids. By using rented bicycles you can explore the beautiful places within the city on your own taking your own time. Moreover, they are cheap too and offers good way for tourists to enjoy short trips. Another popular mode of transport in Beijing is the rickshaw, which is again used for short distances. Rickshaws are used for exploring hutongs and for transfers from one pace of attraction to another in case of short distances. Locals also use bikes and motorcycles for commuting within the city. Additionally, the city bus transit system is also well organized in Beijing. Not only it is one of the busiest, it also carries most number of passengers in the world. Buses cover more areas in the city including many suburban areas. Then the option of using subways and taxis is also there. Taxi being a flexible mode of transport in Beijing carries maximum tourists as it is easy and comfortable too. Over the years, subways have become the fastest means of local transport system in Beijing. Subway lines present good connectivity along with being quick and cost effective means of transport. Moreover, when it comes to traveling outside the city, there are equally good options of transport in Beijing. Be it air transport, rail or road system, the city is well connected with other cities in China and across border. There are two airports in Beijing including the Beijing Capital International Airport and the Nanyuan Airport. In addition, the capital city has four railway stations and dozens of bus stations for boarding long distance buses. If you travel across the country by means of road and railway transport, you would get the opportunity to explore the fascinating views of Chinese countryside. ...
Commute in Beijing
Jan 18, 2015 à 12:10 AM
For easy commute in Beijing, especially to reach the city centre just after landing in the capital, you could use taxi or airport bus. The International Airport of Beijing is at a distance of about 30 km northeast of the city center. And it takes about 45 minute by car in a less traffic road to reach the city centre. Talking about trains to commute in Beijing, the city has two main train stations including the Beijing Railway Station known as Beijing Zhan and Beijing West Station known as Beijing Xi Zhan. It is important to always cross check your ticket to ensure that you reach the correct departure station. Beijing Railway Station serves chief destinations such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Harbin. On the other hand, the Beijing West Station connects to long-distance destinations such as Vietnam and Hong Kong. Moreover, there are six smaller stations which provide additional regional service. Tourists can purchase tickets at the foreign passenger ticket office in the main station or ask your hotel authority or travel agent to arrange them for you. When it comes to buses for commuting in Beijing, there are over 12 long-distance bus stations in the city providing numerous options for travelling around China. However without the knowledge of the local language, your bus travel can become risky. Major bus stations in Beijing are namely Xizhimen, Dongzhimen and Zhaogongkou. Talking about local buses, they are cheap but slow and crowded in most cases. If you want you can ask your travel agent and hotel official to arrange tour buses for you. For local sightseeing, travelers can use pedicabs, rickshaws, bicycles and taxis too. Bicycle is the cheap ad pleasant mode of transport, which presents wonderful perspective of the city. If you travel through the narrow alleys or hutongs in Beijing in your bicycle, you will get to see the real Beijing. Renting a bike is possible at any of hotels or hostels in the city that you choose to stay in. As such Beijing suffers greatly due to heavy traffic issues in the city, which leads to air pollution. That is why people prefer to use bikes to travel for short distances. ...
Beijing in General
Dec 11, 2014 à 06:42 AM
Talking about Beijing in general, the city was instituted and urbanized with the joint efforts of all the Chinese nationalities from generations. The city serves as a melting pot of long-established Oriental Civilization and the heritage of Chinese culture. The city witnessed prosperity throughout centuries as a capital during various dynasties such as Liao, Jin Yuan, Ming and Qing in the past. The city also witnessed many major historical events and national achievements and together aimed at a peaceful and happy existence. Being an ancient cultural city, Beijing saw the rise of many eminent personalities in its land whose achievement’s contributed splendidly to the national history. Moreover, there were many eminent figures across world who travelled to Beijing and lived here for many years. Marco Polo was one such personality who came to China in 1275 during the Yuan Dynasty. His travels offered one of the initial glimpses into China to the West. Then there was Matteo Ricci who came to China in 1582 and reached Beijing in 1601. He was the one who introduced the Western natural sciences to China. Another thing about Beijing in general is that the city has very early and good relations with foreign countries on principle leading to mutual benefit. However, if you talk about coming into full contact with the outside world, it happened only in the late 70s of this century. This was mainly due to the reforms and open policy approved throughout the country. And this has pushed economic development of the city vigorously. Today, Beijing is rising as a modern city, where ancient civilization meets and mingles with modern achievements thereby creating a new spirit. The city has seen remarkable level of modernization both in terms of urban and rural areas. Off late Beijing invested hugely in infrastructure, which has resulted in improvement in terms of living by improving transportation, communications, environmental protection, and much more. As a whole, Beijing in general is a thriving city with innumerable prospects. The city and its people are lively and energetic and so tourists across the world love to explore the city. Many expats like Beijing so much that they have been staying in the city since years and have made Beijing their second home. ...
Pedestrians in Beijing
Feb 10, 2015 à 09:36 PM
Despite the fact that the number of automobiles in Beijing is increasing rapidly, including the rising number of privately owned cars. And the fact that Beijing presents very good means of local transport facilities, you can see many Beijingers commuting on foot, especially to cover short distances. Locals in Beijing love to explore markets on foot, which is why you can see large number of Pedestrians in Beijing since the locals try to avoid the congestion in roads and the heavy traffic jams. You will find Pedestrians in Beijing roaming across markets and streets in the city. Along with locals, tourists also love to explore the city on foot. There are many shopping junctions in the city which you must explore on foot. One such interesting market is the Qianmen market, which is located towards the south of the Tiananmen Square. This is commercial center of Beijing, which has been standing proud since more than 500 years. This market is a good place to purchase interesting Chinese traditional products. This market has been constructed as per the architecture style of ancient emperors who ruled during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The market hosts many old and famous shops, which represent the Chinese tradition and culture. The Silk Market is another popular market, where you can see large number of Pedestrians in Beijing. Tourists also flock in large numbers here. This is a seven story building, which is full of beautiful silk products including robes, scarves, tops and much more. Moreover, you will also get enough variety of textiles here including cashmere scarves, attires and other useful articles of daily use. Not only this, traditional Chinese handicrafts are also readily available here. This makes the Silk Street much more than mere silk. Other articles like antiques, carpets, paintings, calligraphy, hand-knit outfits, dolls, trinkets, and fine jewelry are also available here. Moreover, the fact that most of the things available here is cheap than that is available at any of the stores in other markets. However, you must remember to bargain for articles here. Pedestrian in Beijing, especially tourists like to explore the different markets in the city and purchase souvenirs to take back home. ...
Kids in Beijing
Feb 16, 2015 à 10:04 PM
The sight of small kids in Beijing playing and having fun all over the city is very pleasing. You will see beautiful children all over the places; in hutongs, in parks, temples, malls and so on. Most of them will be accompanied by their parents or elders. Beijingers love to enjoy family time and you can see them strolling through gardens and other interesting places in the city with their families. Or you can also see them having shopping around with their dear ones. Beijing is a lovely city and it also receives thousands of travelers every month, many of whom travel with their families and children. The city has many historical places, gardens and other destinations where along with elders kids can also play and have great fun. If you talk about kids in Beijing and their activities the city offers plenty of open spaces for kids to play. On one hand, parents and elders can discover the historical attractions in the city and the children can be delightfully enjoy in the open spaces in most in the parks and monuments in Beijing. Whether you are in the Forbidden City, the temple of heaven or any of the large gardens in Beijing, the children can have equal fun and enjoyment as that of the elders. Moreover, many kids also get fascinated to know about the history and facts associated with the places in the city. In addition, there are many places in the city such as amusement parks, Beijing zoo, Indoor skating rink and Beijing Aquarium among others where kids in Beijing can have great time. Besides, there are many indoor playgrounds where children can play games. Beijing World Park is another good place for kids to have fun in Beijing. Besides, Beihai Park and Jingshan Park are some of the beautiful parks where children can have great fun and enjoyment. These along with many other beautiful parks and gardens in the city also host as places for children in Beijing to play and enjoy amidst nature. The Beihai Park is a historical park built by erstwhile emperors for the royal family to relax and have pleasure while surrounded by lush green trees and a huge lake. ...
