where to travel to china

Travelling outside your home country is definitely a great, but somewhat troublesome experience.
Troubles come when you start to arrange all the necessary papers to obtain a visa.
This especially applies to a country with strict and to a certain extent unique regulations, like China.

However, things are not as bad as they might seem at first glance.
Nowadays, there is a good number of agencies and companies eager to offer you the service of facilitating in visa process, to provide you with all the necessary and most accurate information. One of such companies is Get in2 China. 

The name of this company speaks for itself. Beijing-based, service-oriented Get in2 China company offers a wide range of services for people who either want to come to China or already live in this country. 
Providing information, accommodation, internship placement, Chinese language courses, visa support, travel arrangements - these and many other services are available for people of different ages and from different countries.

Get in2 China company has developed and introduced various types of programs in China in accordance with the purpose of your visit.
If you simple want to see the world-famous sights of China, i.e. the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, etc., the Travelling and Sightseeing program is the right option.
The duration of this program is normally one or two weeks, which is just enough to visit around 1/3 of all China's must-sees!
A two-week program includes travelling to different cities of China, such as Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, etc.

For those wishing to pick up the basics of the Chinese language or improve the current level Get in2 China offers Chinese language programs.
Both General (10 hours per week), Intensive (20 hours per week) and private language courses are available. All the study materials are provided by the company's language school and are included in the program fee.

Get in2 China's Business Internship program is specifically recommended to recent graduates seeking to get some working experience before hitting the global labor market. Business Internship program includes internship placement, accommodation, visa support, language course and other concomitant services. 

Get in2 China carefully studies the resumes of its clients and finds the right Chinese or foreign Beijing-based company for internship placement. All internships provided are paid, the monthly stipend ranges from 150 to 500 euro. Business Internship program is a splendid opportunity to get a valuable experience of working in a dynamic environment of world's third largest economy.

Well, if you are just an expat living in China and facing troubles with your Chinese visa, Get in2 China company is here to give you a hand. Even the most complicated cases can be solved, and it is not always necessary to leave China and come back!

So, how to get to China? Easily! With Get in2 China company. 
More information about the company, its programs and services is available at

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travel tours to china

So you've decided to go on a tour to China, but now how can you choose a tour guide? China is a vast country with a huge number of tour companies and independent tour guides. It's important to pick somebody that's knowledgeable of their area, is trustworthy, and for most tourists, it's important to pick somebody affordable. Ask the tour guide how long they will work in a day. It isn't uncommon for the tourist to forget that the tour guide also has a life to live. If you expect them to be with you all day, you better be sure that they have agreed to that.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, is one of the largest and most prosperous cities in southern China. Situated between the Baiyun Hill in the north and the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta Plain in the south. The city is 125 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River. As a tourist spot, China offers a limitless variety of spectacular scenery and historical wonders. Generally May, September and October are ideal for touring anywhere in the country. During June to August, travelers often visit central and northern China, as rainfall is likely to occur in southern China during this time. Moreover October is ideal to travel anywhere and any region in the country.

The terracotta army of Xian, Buddhist caves, temples of Tibet, Great Wall of China, the ancient places of Beijing and Shanghai are some of the most popular attractions in China. There are over 13000 travel agencies offering adventure tours in mountains and rivers in the different provinces of China. If you are looking for Chinese Kong fu excursions, Shaolin, the legendary name always comes into your mind first. Shaolin temple in Dengfeng, Henan province is considered as the origin of Chinese martial art, Kong fu and the Zen Buddhism movement. This article presents my unforgettable Chinese Kong fu tour. It's more than a tour.

Many travelers prefer to travel to China taking advantage of various tours special that can be found at any travel agency and on the Internet. But for those who know where they want to go and what they want to see, a customized tour is the way to go. Travel agencies can customize their tour packages according to your requirements and tastes. A good agency will offer you tailor-made programs taking you wherever you want to go and provide you with options to participate in activities of your choice. Travelers along this legendary route can also have opportunities to experience the unique local cultures. If your tour starts from Xian heading for Urumqi and Kashgar, you will see the gradual transition from Buddhist culture to Islamic culture. Urgur people are known for their hospitality and they are always quick to invite you into their home and serve you homemade food, and the fresh local fruits. Nearly every Urgur people can sing and dance. Dancing is an integral part of every Urgur people life. Urgur people sing and dance for nearly every event: weddings, funerals, gatherings, and just for fun.

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Spectacular Scenes Of Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling, located in the mountainous area in Luanping County, 125 km northeast of Beijing, is a section of the Great Wall. It is connected with the Simatai section to the east, and Mutianyu section to the west. Jinshanling was built from 1570 during the Ming Dynasty, and is 10.5 km long with five passes, 67 towers and 2 beacon towers. [Gu du zi you ren/bbs.fengniao]

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Beijing's best shopping areas

Since founding a namesake hat brand in 2007, Elisabeth Koch's designs have decorated the heads of A-listers and the pages of international fashion magazines. The Beijing-based Dutch designer is also an obsessive scourer of far-flung markets and back-street boutiques in China's capital. After calling on various Beijing shops and markets for four years, Koch, 33, shares six of her favorite shopping areas in the spread-out city. 1. Nali Patio (那里花园) "There's nowhere else quite like it in Beijing," raves Koch about this melting pot of design talent squeezed into a whitewashed arcade in Sanlitun. "I love Dim-Sum of All Things Asian (D-SATA) for sustainable handbags and stylish clutches, " says Koch, "and Paloma Sanchez for amazingly original handmade jewelry -- she gets her stones from all over the world." For high-end couture, Elisabeth recommends Elysee Yang. "She studied clothing design in Paris and her clothes are really top-notch, definitely worth a look if you have a party or wedding to go to." On the third floor, boutique Lu12.28 sells unique, chic clothing by Chinese born, New York-educated designer Liu Lu (刘璐). "Oh, and my hats are stocked there too." Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯路81号. Most shops open from noon to about 9 p.m. 2. Yashow Market (雅秀服装市场中心) Out-of-towners flock to this indoor market to cram cases with counterfeit couture -- but there's more to Yashow than cheap Chanel, insists Koch. "I shop mostly for children's clothes, bits and pieces for hats, party items like balloons, candles and paper plates, but they have everything -- watches, pearls, jewelry, cuff-links, tailors shops, belts, suitcases, toys, sports equipment, cameras, phones." Koch's a regular at the no-frills manicure and pedicure stalls, like Lily Nails on the fourth floor. "It's great for people watching; you sit in a row getting a face massage or your toenails clipped in view of other shoppers," adds Koch. "Lots of men go there too." Yashow Market, 58 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区工体北路58号, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., www.yashowmarket.com 3. Gulou neighborhood (鼓楼) Best known for Nanluogu Xiang, a well-worn alley of boutiques, cafes, dive bars and souvenir shops, this historic corner of central Beijing is a hot-bed of hipster retail. From designer T-shirts to bespoke leather ware, there's much to discover; Elisabeth says the side streets throw up the most interesting finds. "When you're shopped-out, seek out Black Sesame Kitchen, a tiny cooking school and restaurant where they show you how to cook great home-style Chinese food." Gulou Dongdajie to the north is lined with retro fashion stores like Tiger Vintage (No. 62 Dongdajie) and Mega Mega Vintage (No. 241 Dongdajie), which also stocks bespoke Elisabeth Koch designs. Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District 东城区鼓楼东大街 4. Sanlitun Village (三里屯Village) The Village didn't exist when Koch first came to Beijing four years ago. "I used to cycle by the construction site every day, and when it finally opened -- bliss." The southern half of this Hong Kong-designed open-plan mall is the haunt of high street brands like Mango, Reiss, Lacoste, Nike, Starbucks and the Apple store, and some of Beijing's best Western dining. The newer, northern half is more high-end. "I love to roam shops like Alexander McQueen, Maison Martin Margiella and Balenciaga so I can stay on top of the latest collections." After a hard day's pavement pounding, Elisabeth is all about wellness, courtesy of The Village's Opposite House hotel. "Kocoon Spa is the perfect wind down, and they have really unique programs like reiki sharing and crystal workshops." Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区三里屯路19号, +86 10 6417 6110, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., www.sanlitunvillage.com 5. Lady Street Market (女人街) "I like this market because it's perfectly un-touristy," says Koch, who comes here mostly for its warehouse full of exotic flowers and plants, steamy warm even in winter. "Whenever I explore it's like I'm suddenly on a golf floor, and then a floor full of random things made out of porcelain." Koch admits she never quite knows what she's looking for until she sees it. "Recently I bought a giant butterfly made out of plastic and paper and turned it into a hat. And at one point, I found a taxidermist stall of stuffed birds -- I hoped this could help me with feathers for my hats, but when I returned a week later it had vanished." Lady Street Market, Tianze Lu, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区亮马桥天泽路, +86 10 6462 3377, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 6. Muxiyuan Fabric Market (木樨园纺织品市场) "Don't wear your nice shoes" is Elisabeth's advice if you're thinking of braving this chaotic, rough-and-ready outdoor market by the city's south third ring road. But whilst most come to reupholster furniture or make curtains, Elisabeth scouts for design inspiration. "I've spent long day browsing endless stalls of tartan-row, cotton-area, sequins, zippers, wool, silks, leather, ribbons, elastics, labels, you name it, even a whole department just for buttons." Elisabeth regularly takes friends and other designers here to show them around. "My favorite stall sells just one item -- a top quality brand of ribbon I use to line the inside of my hats." Dahongmen Lu (south of Muxiyuan long-distance bus station), south of Muxiyuan Qiao on South Third Ring Road, Fengtai District 丰台区大红门路木樨园长途汽车站以南, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Wandering about hutongs in Qianmen

This has been a shopping strip for more than 500 years, and remains one of the most memorable experiences in the city. Flashy lights, neon signs and cheap clothing stores vie for space amongst the Chinese restaurants and hutongs that snake off to the side. The street is under renovation marked for completion by the time the Olympics start, which will hopefully make it cleaner. Qianmen Dajie runs north to south from the bottom of Tiananmen Square and is intersected by the famous Dazhalan Hutong, where ancie nt Chinese medicine shops, fine silk clothing and age-old handicrafts are crowded together. The red lanterns and bustle along both streets make for a quintessential Chinese experience, especially after dark. Shops are open daily from 08:30 to 18:00.

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Climbing the Great Wall of China

So much has been written and published about the Great Wall of China but one thing is certain, if you travel to China without visiting this world renowned landmark, then your trip is incomplete. The history of the great wall is one which is difficult to comprehend, although it is said the construction of the wall began in the warring states period in the early seventh century BC.
The Great Wall of China is the one the artificial wonders of the world which symbolizes the greatness of China.

With a functionality of over a thousand years, the great wall was built to protect the villages from the invasion of the northern tribes providing a stable life, culture and government. The history of this wall is what contributed to the growth of China in terms of political, economy, culture and tourism.

The length of the Great wall extends approximately 6700 kilometers across deserts, and plateaus from the border of China to the Hun territories in the north. The beauty of the great wall is such that you cannot appreciate its beauty except you climb it step by step. It is better seen from an aerial perspective if you are on the plane or a helicopter.

In the ancient times, it was called the Wall of ten thousand li (a li is one third of a mile) and its construction started as earth works built for the protection of the different kingdoms. Each kingdom had its own section of wall; like in the east, the wall was built out of stones and bricks, while the section on the western part of China was built with less durable materials. The individual sections of the wall was later renovated and connected to one another during the time of the Qin dynasty (221 – 206 BC) when Emperor Qin recruited peasants, soldiers and farmers to work on the wall. This tradition continued for centuries until each dynasty added to the height, length and design of the wall through forced labor. The wall has now become a major landmark for tourists visiting China.

The Great Wall of China can be climbed from different sections all of which serve different purposes. The four main sections best suited for climbing and sightseeing are the Badaling section, Mutianyu section, Simatai section and the Shixiaguan section.

The great wall at Badaling became a strategic point of the wall since the Warring states period when it was built. Being the very first section of the wall to be opened to tourists, it has recorded a statistics of about 140 million visitors who have climbed successively. This section was built with huge bar stones which weighed hundreds of kilograms with watch towers at every distance. These watch towers were used as the deployment points for the military during the olden days. This section of the wall is very crowded being that it is the most visited section.

The Simatai Great Wall is located in the northeast of Beijing. Its construction started in the Ming dynasty and measures around 5.4 kilometers with 35 watch towers. This section of the wall retained its original feature and has earned the reputation of being the most beautiful section of the wall. Unlike the other sections, Simatai section of the great wall is very quiet and remote and this has challenged many hikers to climb this section in quest of adventure.

The Mutianyu section of the great wall is the most preserved section of the great wall which is very important in Chinese military history. This section has cable cars installed allowing tourists to move from end to the other. It is slightly rugged and full of green plans making it the greenest part of the wall. The Mutianyu section is noted as the essence of the great wall because of the distinct style and construction of this part. Shixiaguan Great Wall is the most part of the great wall to be opened to visitors and still shows the ruins of some of the old construction from the ancient times.

In conclusion, the great of china is definitely a must see on your next trip to china. In order for you to enjoy your tour around the wall, it is advisable to consult the services of a tour operator in China to assist you with the itinerary.

For comments and inquiries about this article, visit Great Wall of China

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China’s World Heritage Sites – Beijing, From the Forbidden City to the Great Wall

Stonehenge, Egypt's pyramids at Giza, Easter Island… all have something in common besides crackpot theories about aliens. They're all members of the exclusive UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the world's honor roll of the most mind-blowing natural and cultural attractions on the planet. China's no slouch, boasting 38 UNESCO sites at the moment (all of which were, of course, built by aliens). Only Italy (44) and Spain (41) have more, and as China continues to restore ancient sites and protect natural beauty and biodiversity, it's expected that the world's most populous nation will soon also boast the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Indeed, 50 "tentative" sites are under consideration, with holy Buddhist mountain Wutai Shan having been the most recent to join the World Heritage ranks, having been certified in 2009.

Sites are chosen for their "outstanding universal value." Popularity alone won't win them recognition. World Heritage Sites must either demonstrably be a "masterpiece of human creative genius," bear testimony to "a cultural tradition or to a civilization," showcase "exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance" or otherwise embody some paragon of human cultural attainment or natural wonder. And the world's oldest continuous civilization has such sites in abundance, from the world-famous to the little-known.

Everyone knows about the Great Wall of China and Forbidden City, but how many travelers to China know about, say, southern Anhui Province's ancient Xidi and Hongcun Villages, or the Zhoukoudian Peking Man site outside of Beijing? For every "must-see" straight from your guidebook there are a handful of intriguing surprises, making the UNESCO list a great guide to hitting all the old favorites while mixing in off-the-beaten path wonders seldom seen by foreign travelers.

In China, everything revolves around Beijing, and the concentration of famed World Heritage sites in and around the ancient capital make it clear why.

Beijing: World Heritage Site Central

With the country's best art galleries, craziest modern architecture, and a seemingly endless list of cultural and historical attractions to its name, a traveler could explore the city and its environs for weeks and just scratch the surface. However, with eight World Heritage Sites within day-trip range (often within walking distance of each other), seeing the best couldn't be easier.

Follow the Emperor: Beijing's Heavenly Axis

Three of Beijing's most famous World Heritage Sites are the direct result of one man's ambition. Two of these form the axis around which Beijing as we know it once revolved. A day trip exploring the masterworks of Ming Emperor Yongle (1360-1424) traces this great ruler's public life as well as providing great insight into the foundations of Chinese society.

Following geomantic north-south lines along which construction of Beijing has long been ordered, the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, both World Heritage Sites, lie in line with a string of other major attractions: Tian'anmen Square, the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, and the reconstructed Yongdingmen, formerly a major gate in Beijing's massive city wall (if Mao hadn't dictated that the wall be torn down and replaced by a ring highway and subway, Beijing would almost certainly boast one more World Heritage Site). The two sites can be done in a single day if you wish, though the massive Forbidden City alone is worth repeat daylong visits.

For those looking to venture deeper into the world of the Ming, the Ming Tombs further testify to Yongle's ambition, power and aesthetic genius. Not only did he preside over the creation of the world's largest palace and a temple dedicated to his mandate as "Son of Heaven" after relocating the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing, but he furthered his bid for immortality by establishing a new, massive dynastic burial complex.

Yongle chose the site for its excellent feng shui, created by the surrounding wooded mountains and calm waters and balancing aesthetics and the five traditional Chinese elements (wuxing), while the spare beauty of the site as a whole exemplifies sober Confucian design.

Imperial playground: Beijing's Summer Palace

Contrasting with the Ming Tomb's solemn dignity, the Summer Palace is an erstwhile playground of emperors and comprises the largest preserved historical garden in China. The Summer Palace's expansive grounds rise from an placid lake in which the Qi, with numerous sights, can easily take a full day to appreciate.

Once you're done with sites within city limits, it's time to get out of town. This is where you'll find both the most and least-known world heritage sites in Beijing. While the Great Wall of China was the shield protecting Chinese civilization, Zhoukoudian is where Homo Erectus fashioned the tools promising Chinese civilization its evolution before it was even born.

The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is where paleo-anthropological debates roared to life and huge contributions to the understanding of human evolution were made. For those interested in Chinese and world pre-history, the commute out to the museum is well worthwhile.

Don't forget the Great Wall!

As the largest structure ever built, the Great Wall of China presents visitors with the unique challenge of a site that, at over 6,000 km in length, can't possibly be fully explored in less than say, eight months. However, there are numerous spectacular spots along the Wall that can be reached and explored in a day from Beijing.

As with the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Wall's fame is also a detriment. Though many sections have been rebuilt to make them safe and to restore their original aesthetic appeal, other problems such as overcrowding and commercialism make choosing the right part of the wall important to get the most enjoyment out of the experience.

Experts in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship rating top World Heritage Sites have commented that the Badaling section of the wall is "a sea of KFCs and tour buses." It is the most convenient section to Beijing, and there's no doubt that the sight of the wall snaking past dramatically jutting ridges and peaks is impressive, but the view is compromised by the highway, giant parking lot and enormous crowds delivered daily.

Fortunately, there are plenty of other Great Wall sites to visit, some of them more remote and rugged, others equipped with cable cars and easy-access approaches. Just north of Badaling is the Juyongguan Pass section. Featuring a massive white marble tower, it is less crowded, and at just 50 km from the city, still within easy day-trip range of Beijing, making it a fine alternative to Badaling.

Connecting to Juyongguan is the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Also easily accessible at just 70 km out of town, it features a cable car that whisks visitors straight to the top. It's also perfect for hikers, who can explore Mutianyu's 22 watchtowers on foot.

For the most dramatic scenery, and most challenging hikes, the Simitai, Jiankou, Gubeikou and Huanghua sections of the great wall are tops. You'll see great, crumbling towers standing sentinel over vast mountain ranges as un-restored sections of the wall plunge and climb over peaks around them, and best of all, there's a good chance that they'll be practically deserted.

Gubeikou, in particular, was singled out by the expert's panel as being the "best new tourist site that encompasses geotourism benchmarks," with little to no badgering and plenty of respect for historical relics and the environment. Just make sure you've got a good pair of hiking boots on.

The other Forbidden City

Considered by UNESCO to be an extension of the Forbidden City, Shenyang's Imperial Palace (Mukden Palace), built by China's first Qing (Manchu) emperors, is a considerable haul from Beijing, but for true China enthusiasts, it's a must. The "extension" classification may seem curious at first, upon further consideration it's revealing of the breadth, depth and richness of China's history. When the Manchus overthrew the Ming and established their own dynasty, the Qing, they took residence in Yongle's Forbidden City.

However, to distinguish themselves from their Han subjects and maintain a vital connection to their northern roots, the Manchu established a second palace in their old capital, modeling it after Beijing's Forbidden City. And despite the distance from Beijing, it's not out of the question to make a day trip of it; the short flight from Beijing to Shenyang can be as low as RMB 200 one way (USD 30). The reward is significant: The Manchu-built palace showcases a fusion of Tibetan, Manchu and classic Chinese architecture unique in the Chinese architectural cannon.

Travel tips

Booking Beijing flights and hotels is easy with our partner Ctrip, China's leading provider of online travel services. The company's English-language website and call center provide excellent service, and you can almost always find a deal. We suggest a hotel in the center of the city close to the Temple of Heaven and Forbidden City. You'll have the flexibility of exploring central Beijing by foot, bike or car, with or without a guide. As for the Summer Palace, Great Wall, Ming Tombs and other outlying attractions, all major tourist hotels offer transportation and tours to Beijing's World Heritage Sites, though quality varies. Ctrip also offers quality Beijing tours (private and group) and activities, bookable online.

World Heritage Sites are to be preserved for benefit of all, so always be respectful of the site and the culture of the people who live there.

Leave as light a footprint as you can, appreciate the locals and try to make a meaningful connection with the place. Learning a bit of the local language opens up new worlds and will put a smile on your hosts' faces, so give it whirl!

Finally, Google provides an interesting interactive map specific to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Click here to navigate to that page and then scroll down to pick the country you'd like to find out about. Dragging the little orange man in the top left corner onto a destination should give you street level views of the selected site.

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Where to shopping

The Silk Market Despite its name, the Silk Market has much more than just silk. The Chinese silk products in the market are cheap, but good quality and therefore popular, but there are also lots of cashmere garments, down jackets, leather goods, shoes, hats, watches and some handicrafts. One of the main things about the market is the fact that none of the prices is set. It all depends on your bargaining skills. If you are a proficient bargainer, then you can get great deals on all kinds of clothing, if you are soft-hearted and don’t like confrontation, then you may get taken for a ride.

Liulichang Cultural Street (the Antique Shops Area): The name originated from the kilns that had been set up to make glazed tiles and bricks in the 13th to 17th centuries when the Yuan and Ming dynasties had their respective capital built in Beijing. By the time of the mid-18th century during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the street, lined with curio, calligraphy and painting stores became prosperous. Busy with cultural activities during the past 200 years, this old street has taken on a completely new look after reconstruction and looks more splendid.

Beijing Antique Store is located right here in this very ancient cultural street. The store consists of eleven branch shops, Bogu Zhai, Moyuan Ge handle original works of calligraphy and painting by famous Chinese scholars and painters of different times and embroideries as well; Yungu Zhai, Cuizhen Zhai, Yunyu Zhai, Zhenhuan Ge deal mainly in bronzes, stones, ceramics and cloisonné, as well as ivory, wood and bamboo carvings, etc; Qingyun Tang & Guanfu Zhai sell ink sticks of different times, and seals made by famous seal engravers; Yueya Tang operates as the country’s exclusive licensed dealer of the most ancient works of art.


Wangfujing Street: The street came into being in the Yuan Dynasty more than 700 years ago. It is said to have received its name in the Ming Dynasty more than 500 years ago. One of the emperors was said to want all his 10 brothers to build their mansions in the place now known as Wangfujing so as to make it easy for him to keep a wary eye on them for fear that they might pose a direct threat to him. Nowadays, the street is one of the busy shopping areas in Beijing. There are more than 200 shops on the 810 metre-long. Tourists love to go shopping here. Every day about 200,000 shoppers came to Beijing Department Store, but later, about 50,000 came to do shopping at Beijing Department Store.



Dazhalan (literally meaning “large wicker gate”) the 270-metre-long Dazhalan Street is one of the shopping centers in Beijing. Along the street are more than 50 units, including a department store, garment shops, a store of traditional Chinese medicine, cinemas and a theater. The street is rather narrow and the houses on either side are closely located, with a huge flow of customers and pedestrians, averaging 80,000 people per day.

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Night Life in Beijing

Entertainment: Acrobatic performance: The acrobatic art has been existent in China for more than two thousand years. In the long course of development, the Chinese acrobatic art has formed its own style. The ancient acrobatics stemmed from the people's life and had a close link with their life and productive labor. Instruments of labor like tridents, wicker rings and articles of daily use such as tables, chairs, jars, plates and bowls were used in their performances.

Peking Opera: The traditional Chinese art. Not all foreigners and young Chinese could adapt to it but it still considered as National Treasure.

Bar Street in Beijing: Located in the northeastern part of Beijing near the diplomatic quarters, Sanlitun Bar Street came into being in 1993 and is now very popular with foreigners and young Chinese. Most bars invite young and energetic bands and singers to put on live shows from 8 pm till midnight throughout the week. When night falls people come to the bars in an endless stream, chatting with friends and enjoying beer and music. Especially in summer, drinkers like to sit at tables outside and talk late into night. 

Bars

Banana Three floors of glass walled seating surround a packed dancefloor, tended by some of the world's top DJs. It is big, bold and brash, with a mammoth sound system you could shake a filling at. Weekdays 8:30pm-4:30am; weekends 8:30pm-5am. Scitech Hotel, 22 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. 6528-3636. , 22 

Bar Blu Perched atop Tongli studios, features private booths, a pool table and a cool roof terrace. Mon-Thu 5pm-late; Fri&Sat 11am-4am; Sun 11am-late. 4/F Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District. 6417-4124).4

Bed Tapas & Bar

Surprisingly large, with a maze of rooms offering sprawls of cushions and bed-type booths, providing a perfect Saturday night-in feel for those preferring a low-key evening. Tapas and Asian food served. Mon-Tue 4pm-late; Wed-Sun 12pm-late. 17 Zhangwang Hutong, Xicheng District. 8400-1554. , 17

The Brewery Tap Far from the madding crowed, English and Belgian beers served in comfy surroundings. Mon-Fri 5pm-1am; Sat-Sun 3pm-1am. S111A, Blue Castle International Apartment, 3 West Dawang Lu, Chaoyang District. 8599-9092. , 3(S111A, )

Browns

Browns has stormed the Beijing bar scene and occupied the middle ground that was previously no man's land. It impresses on entry, with its high ceilings, pictured and plasma screened walls and a huge "wine tower" holding centre stage, that will surely become a landmark of the post Sanlitun Nanjie bar scene. 2am till late. 4 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. 6591-2717. 4

Buddha Bar 1 Opposite the Moscow restaurant, acid jazz, trip-hop and kitsch go hand in hand. Daily 11am-1am. 2 Yinding Qiao, Shichahai, (facing Kaorouji Restaurant), Xicheng District. 6617-9488. 1, 2

Centro Style tops the menu at bar. Its hotel-bar feel by day gives way to a comfortable, warm atmosphere at night. Cosy sofas set away from the venue's centrepiece, an Indonesian bar counter with inset lights, provide the perfect atmosphere. Daily. The Kerry Centre Hotel

Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District. 65618833 ext 42.

Champagne Bar With its vibrant ambience the bar is the place to be on Wangfujing Avenue for Champagne, fine wines, top end cigars and great music. Daily 5pm - 2am. Crowne Plaza Beijing, 48 Wangfujing Avenue, Dongcheng District. 65133388-5. 48

Cheers Caf Despite the name, the feeling inside is definitely Latin and not Bostonian. There's live music Wednesday to Sunday, with flamenco on Fridays and flamenco fusion on Saturdays. It is another Sanlitun South survivor that is picking up a lot of trade as people pass by on the stairs to Bar Blu. 2nd. Floor Tongli Studio, Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District. 13520446062.

Chimo Cafe

Located in Lido area, the shop creates a quiet and confortable enviroment for business chats, friend gatherings as well as romantic talks. Visitors may browse through the shop's unique collection of books while sipping coffee or having western foods served. Daily. Rm 101 Parkview Centre, 5 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District. 8456-7856. 5101

Club Football Centre Football both European and American style in real pub surroundings, good food too. Daily 11am-midnight. Red House Hotel, 10 Chunxiu Lu, Chaoyang District. 6416-7786. , 10

Club Re V Euro dcor, sofas and booths with cocktails. Daily 7pm-late. Building 88, Workers Stadium, west gate, Chaoyang District. 6553-1266.88, 16,

Club Top Nice layout, no hip-hop, but still struggling for custom, situated as it is next to many other well frequented clubs. Sun-Thu 4pm-3am, Thu-Sat 4pm-6am. 4/F Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Beilu (next to Bar Blu), Chaoyang District. 6413 1019. 4, Bar Blu

The Den Sport - the staple of which is football, rugby and cricket - is subtly piped through in such a manner so as not to be intrusive, as large groups of friends meet for cheap eats, while individuals read or simply people watch. This is the beauty of The Den. Dancefloor upstairs. Daily 24 hours. 4 Gongti Donglu, (next to City Hotel main entrance), Chaoyang District. 6592-6290. , 4,

Durty Nellie's Irish bar with obligatory Guinness and stew. Pool, darts and occasional live music. Daily 10am-1:30am. 1/B Liangmaqiao Flower Market, Chaoyang District. 6593-5050. , 1/B

High Society Take in some jazz whilst choosing from a selection of European wines. Good menu. Daily 11am-2am. 55 Xingfu Zhongjie (1/F Jiezuo Dasha), Chaoyang District. 6417-9780.

Hometown Bar A Mongolian bar for Mongolian people, but all are a welcome as songs from the grasslands are belted out nightly. Daily 9:30am-late. 30 Huangsi Dajie (above the Caoyuan Feiyangfu Mongolian Restaurant), Xicheng District. 6206-4256. , 30()

Hutong Bar Open layout provides a refreshing change from the intensity of its Houhai neighbors. Daily 2pm-2am. 8 Houhai Nanyan, Xicheng District. 6615-8691.

Inner Affair A moneyed crowd groove on down beneath a giant golden Buddha. Drinks attentively chilled and served. Toilets in adjacent office blockodd. Daily 6:30pm-late. 6 Xiliujie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District. 8454-0899.

Goose and Duck Pub A mainly expat crowd in this pub cum sportsbar venue. Nice beer and great food served in spacious seating area. Daily 24 hours. 1 Bihuju Nanlu, Chaoyang Park west gate, Chaoyang District. 6538-1691.

John Bull Pub Trad English fodder like Yorkshire pud and roast beef served up in authentic surroundings. Quiz on Tuesdays. Daily 11am-midnight. 44 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. 6532-5905.

La-Signe Gourmet Club

Gold is the colour at the club which obviously tries to live up to its Chinese name, which means "luxury and colour."

The food is French style. Daily 7pm-2am. B2 HQ Ritz Hotel, A 8 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. 6581-6089.

Link Claims to be the highest bar in the city. Good views on clear days and nights. Daily 10pm-2am. Building A, 26th Floor, Jianwai Soho, Chaoyang District.

Lush Student favourite Lush, provides a daytime study sanctuary and crowded beered-up evenings. Good food, well managed but the waitresses seem to be deaf during the day. Daily 24 hours. 2/F Building 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, (across from the Wudaokou light-rail station), Haidian District.

Maggie's Bar A favourite for Mongolian girls and German businessmen, the new venue is good fun, whatever your mission. Sun-Wed 7:30pm-4:30am; Thu-Sat 7:30pm-5am. South Gate of Ritan Park, Chaoyang District (8562 8142/8143).

Mix Guest foreign DJs and a hip-hop crowd in this large light and airy space. Daily 8pm-late. Inside Workers' Stadium north gate, Chaoyang District. 6530-2889.

Nanjie Rack'em Pack'em and Stack'em: shots 100RMB for 12. Easy atmosphere, young crowd and pizza to die for. Daily 5pm-late. Gongti Beilu (opposite the Workers Stadium north gate, to the right of the parking lot gate) Chaoyang District. 6413-0963.

Nashville The Sanlitun South survivor now comes with a "deep South" feel second floor, decked out with tan leather chairs, dark wood panelling and a flimsy looking humidor with a wide selection of Cubans and co, should you wish to chug on a big fat one. Daily,11am-3am, Haoyun Jie, 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District. 5867-0298.

No Name Bar The original kid on the block heralding the start of the Houhai circus. Easy atmosphere and nice toilets. Daily Noon-2am. 3 Qianhai Dongyan, (next to Kaorouji Restaurant), Xicheng District. 6401-8541.

On/Off It's shabby street sign belies the interior of this bar/restaurant and internet caf. Live music events with a queer ambience some nights. Daily 7:30pm-2am. Lianbao Apartments, 5 Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang District. 6415-8083.

Pass By Bar Good place to take a girl, or a guy, Pass By has an intimate atmosphere and a comprehensive Italian menu. Great for listening to guys' cheesy chat lines. Was well known for its (often inaccessible and unorganised) book collection until Bookworm came along and stole the show. Daily 9am-2am. 108 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. 8403-8004.

The Pavillion is proving a hit with its 90 wine cellar, 40 scotches, range of cigars, Guinness and leather sofas. Good place for networking. Reasonable menu. Mon-Fri 5pm-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late. Opposite the west gate of the Workers' Stadium, Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. 6507-2617.

Poachers Inn With the same tunes every week, Poachers takes full advantage of the transient population but does it well. A young local and expat student favourite. Non-stop dancing. Daily 8pm-late. 43 Bei Sanlitun Lu Chaoyang District. 6417-2632 ext 8506.

The Pomegranate Small menus are often the sign of good food and so it is here. Situated in an old hutong, sport is the focus with some nice artwork on the walls. Daily 11am-midnight. 19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District. 8046-2558.

Propaganda The king of clubs in Wudaokou, Propaganda caters for a young international crowd in a large, tightly packed venue. Daily 8pm-4am. 100 metres north of the east gate of Huaqing Jiayuan, Wudaokou, Haidian District. 13691376777.

Rock & Roll A veteran of the Beijing night scene, Rock & Roll is a fascinating place to while away an hour or two, regardless of age.Young Beijingers have it to techno while an interesting array of night creatures prowl the periphery. Daily 8:30pm-5am. Yard 4, Gongti Beilu (behind The Loft), Chaoyang District. 6592-9856.

Salsa Carib A pirate theme and a boat protruding from the outside, Salsa Caribe dances to a Latin beat. Women - expect to be hit on. Daily 7:30pm-late. 4 Gongti Beilu (across from the Loft) Chaoyang District. 6507-7821.

Stone Boat Bar Who would have thought this would float? A perfect sanctuary from city life situated in Ritan Park. Take lots of mozzy repellent in the summer. Daily 10am-late. Lakeside, southwest corner of Ritan Park, Chaoyang District. 6501-9986.

Suzie Wong

Taking its inspiration from a 1930s opium den, it offers dimly lit curtained alcoves along with spacious main seating areas, ornately furnished with antique Chinese furniture and hanging lanterns. While the dance floor is a bit on the small size, sturdy tables provide makeshift podiums.

1A South Nongzhanguan Lu, Chaoyang Park West Gate. 6593-6049.

Tango This massive club, divided into three areas, is replete with another - Mango - on top and a KTV in the basement. The venue provides something to suit all tastes. Daily 24 hours. South gate of Ditan Park, (next to Jindingxuan Restaurant), Dongcheng District. 6428-2288.

Tianchang Club Home to rocker, Zang Tianshuo and his band, the club also hosts other local bands. Beer and darts provide the remainder of activities. Daily 8:30pm-late. 200 metres north of Changdongqiao, beside Shunfeng Restaurant, Chaoyang District. 6595-1899. , 200,(2)

Vics A young, mostly expat crowd getting it down to the wee hours to a mix of hip-hop, funk, soul and reggae. Daily 8:30pm-late. Inside Workers' Stadium north gate, Chaoyang District. 6593-6215.

West Wing Bar DVD booths and a punchbag provide the distractions in this bar cum teahouse. Daily 2pm-2am. Inside the west end of the Deshengmen Tower, Xicheng District. 8208-2836.

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Chinese Cuisines

Chinese cuisine is renowned all all over the world for its appearance, aroma, and flavor. Its unique style of preparation, cooking and presentation can be traced to the beginnings of Chinese history more than 5,000 years ago. Chinese restaurants are a dime a dozen nowadays around the world, but for a taste of the authentic fare, China is definitely the place to be.

Chinese cuisine by and large falls into six schools:

Imperial Dishes: These dishes originated in the kitchen of the imperial palace for the exclusive enjoyment of the emperor and empress in bygone days. Graceful names that give wings to imagination, impeccable selection of ingredients, and state-of-the-art cooking techniques designed to preserve natural hue, aroma and taste are the major hallmarks of these imperial dishes. Peking Duck is one of such dishes.

Mansion Kitchen Fare: High officials and famous personages who cared so much for what they ate in bygone days went out of their way to hire famous chefs with handsome pay. With superb culinary skills, these chefs become a school of their own behind the walls of the mansions of the rich and powerful, and eventually their styles of cooking found their own way to the public. The Confucian Mansion and the Tan Family are representative of the mansion-style of Chinese cuisine.

Local Cuisine: Regional differences in resources, climate and folklore have given rise to a variety of cooking schools in China. The Shandong, Sichuan, Yangzhou and Canton are the four major schools. Another theory puts the number at eight, with the addition of Hunan, Fukien, Anhui and Zhejiang. A third theory includes Beijing and Shanghai so that the nation has ten major schools of Chinese cooking. Shandong, Sichuan, Yangzhou and Cantonese cooking, however, are generally regarded as the most influential of all schools of Chinese cuisine-the others are simply regarded as branches.

Ethnic Dishes: These dishes were first invented by minority peoples and later spread to other parts of the country. These include the mutton hot pot of Inner Mongolia and the roast whole lamb and shish kebab of Xinjiang.

Monastic Dishes: Otherwise known as vegetarian’s dishes, monastic dishes had their origin in Buddhist temples around the country. This school of cooking are understandably dominated by vegetables, and it is flourishing because the rising standard of living has prompted many people to become more health-conscious and stick to vegetarian’s dishes. Some of these dishes are prepared to resemble the flavor and shape of meat dishes. Apart from their special flavors, the monastic dishes are stomach-friendly and help protect people’s health.

Beijing Restaurant Choices:

The best restaurants in Beijing hand picked for you
Beijing
Imperial
Eat like an emperor. A wide range of dishes with light flavors and exquisite presentation paying careful attention to color, smell and taste.

-Bai Family Mansion BFM have not only managed to recreate the splendour of the Qing dynasty in terms of atmosphere but also with its menu. Chefs select the best ingredients and dishes from Ningxia wolfberries to Dongbei mushrooms. Open 10am-10.30pm daily. Meal for two 150RMB.

白家食府，海淀区苏州街29号 Tel: 62654186

-Dazhaimen Decent Beijing dishes accompanied by a fun mask changing performance, a bit of opera and an acrobatic show that will impress out of town guests. Open 11am-10.30pm daily. Meal for two 150RMB.

大宅门，海淀区首体南路甲20号国兴家园旁（近车公庄路）Tel: 88356687

-Fangshan Restaurant Great service and Cixi’s favorites, for just less than the price of a mable boat. Daily 11am-1.30pm, 5-8pm.

仿膳饭庄 西城区文津街1号北海公园东门内 (Tel: 64011889)

-Gege Fu An enclave of the Qing dynasty lives on. Try the great duck hotpot. Daily 11am-1.30pm, 5-10pm

格格府 朝阳区美术馆后大街大取灯胡同9号内 (Tel: 64078006)

-Tiandi Yijia Aristocratic food, environment and prices, a stone’s throw away from the Forbidden City. Daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm.

天地一家 东城区南池子大街140号 （Tel: 85115556）

-The Red Capital Club This beautifully restored courtyard restaurant is dedicated to the hedonistic things in life-fine food, good wine and cigars-and the spirit of Chinese capitalism. Open 6-11pm daily. Meal for two with drinks 400RMB.

新红资俱乐部，东城区东四九条66号 Tel: 64027150

-Shun Yi Fu The dumplings made here are not as salty as in other places and all the tastier for it. The clean environment and friendly service are a bonus. Meal for two 50RMB.

顺义府，东城区王府井甘雨胡同36-3号 Tel: 65281960

Guangdong

-Huang Ting Huang Ting’s elegant traditional courtyard design matches the refined and delicate Cantonese cuisine. Meal for two 400RMB.

凰庭，东城区金鱼胡同8号王府饭店. Tel: 65128899 ext. 6707

-Lei Garden, a reputable Cantonese restaurant, not only offers a lavish menu of shark’s fin, abalone and bird’s nest, but also ordinary fare at reasonable prices. Meal for two 200RMB.

利苑，东城区金宝街89号金宝大厦三层 Tel: 85221212

-Longji Cha Canting A Cantonese bistro serving inexpensive but decent Cantonese food and a great set lunch for under 40RMB. Open 7am-midnight. Meal for two around 70RMB.

龙记茶餐厅，朝阳区建国门外1号金之桥大厦西翼京伦饭店东侧 Tel: 65958546

-Gu Zhenhuang The beauty of coming here is that you don’t have to worry about ordering. The set gourmet menus, designed by a Hong Kong master chef, are tailored to include appetizers, hot dishes and dessert for your convenience. Open 6pm-9.30pm, Mon-Thur; 11am-2pm, 6pm-9.30pm Fri-Sun. Meal costs 250RMB to 1,400RMB per person.

古镇煌美食房，西城区前海西街3号. Tel: 66139641

Guangxi & Guizhou

Characterized by dishes that are light on onion and ginger, and flavors that are tart and slightly spicy. Includes Miao minority style cooking featuring pineapple rice.

-No. 28 Courtyard Small and casual courtyard with a date tree and a little pond where fish are kept alive until the kitchen calls. No. 28 serves Zhuang specialities from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Open 11am-11pm. Meal for two 80RMB.

28号院子，东城区戏楼胡同1号 （雍和宫南侧）Tel: 84016788

-Jun Qin Hua A small and simple restaurant specializing in the Miao cuisine of Kaili. Their zaola dishes are quite addictive. The best deal in town for decent food at low prices. Open 10am-11pm. Meal for two around 150RMB.

君琴花餐厅，东城区美术馆后街88号. Tel: 64047600

-Long Yuan Tang A quaint little place where you can enjoy a quick dip into Guangxi food culture. Daily 10am-11pm.

元堂 东城区东四北大街香饵胡同6号 （Tel: 84049502）

-Miao Minority Restaurant This restaurant caters to the dinner-and-show type crowd with its nightly Miao minority show. Dishes include oven roasted bullfrog and Guizhou-style dog meat hot pot.

盛祥 1）西城区复兴门大街54号（民族宫对面） （66079738）； 2）海淀区清华大学西门北侧300米路西 （62569150）

-Three Guizhou Men The delicious food served here is a fusion of the different regions of Guizhou but dishes are one notch less spicy than what Guizhou natives may be used to. Meal for two 150RMB.

三个贵州人，朝阳区工体西路8号；（Tel: 65518517）朝阳区光华西里3号 (Tel: 62186060)；北四环理想国际大厦2层 (62186060).

Hakka

Originally hailing from central China, Hakka communities are now spread throughout Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Taiwan. Hakka food features dishes that emphasize the natural taste of fresh ingredients.

-Han Cang The Hakkas or “Guest People”, settled in Guangdong and Fujian provinces, bringing with them their earthy and hearty food such as shrimps cooked in rock salt and braised eel-good, honest grub. Open 11.30am-3pm, 5-10.30pm daily. Meal for two 180RMB.

汉仓，西城区后海什刹海东岸.

Home Style

Chinese comfort food; dishes that are ubiquitous throughout China.

-BaizhouXiang Rice porridge, in all its many forms, supplement the congee collection with a variety of homestyle xiaochi. Open daily 24 hours.

百粥乡 1）朝阳区枣营北里6号（佰宁花园一层）（Tel: 65079656） 2）东城区中街9号东环广场A座一层 (64185681)

-Hua Jia Yi Yuan Serves tasty homestyle fare in a swanky courtyard setting with comfortable private rooms. Their spareribs, kaomantou (roasted buns), mala xie (spicy crayfish) and draft beer are popular. Daily 24hrs.

花家怡园 1）东城区东直门内大街235号；（Tel: 64051908） 2) 东城区东直门内大街5号； （84078281/88）

-Xiao Wang Fu Serves homestyle fara and duck in a bustling, efficient environment. The Ritan Park location is swankier and also pricier.

北京小王府 1）朝阳区光华路东里2号楼；（Tel: 65913255） 2) 西城区前海北沿15号； （Tel: 66175558）3) 朝阳区日坛路日坛公园北门内

-Yijia Xiaoguan The décor is your standard hole-in-the-wall type, with bare walls and a handful of sturdy tables, clean and simple. Yet Zhang and his friendly, no-frills, little neighborhood joint will remind you of why you came to Beijing in the first place. Daily 10am-late

屹家小 东城区交道口北二条26号 （Tel: 84028544）

Hunan & Hubei

Hubei: Famous for its freshwater fish, tender meat and thick soups that go well with rice.

Hunan: Thick and pungent in flavor. Dishes use copious amounts of chili, pepper and shallots.

-Tanzhou Jiulou Excellent smoked duck. Brilliant dishes in a rough environment. Daily 11am-11pm.

潭州酒楼 朝阳区花家地北里1号楼 （邮局北边） (Tel: 64734418)

-Tianzhao Jiayuan Huisuo Daily 10am-10pm

天兆佳苑会所，海淀区西直门北大街41号

-Xiang Hai Lou The former Yue Ming Lou now serves Hunan food in a traditional environment. Head up to the third floor terrace for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding hutongs. Daily 10am-11pm.

湘海楼 西城区什刹海鸦儿胡同21号 （Tel: 64028408）

-Xiang Ming Yuan Nice, clean and brightly lit restaurant serves Xiangcai favorites like hongshaorou (braised pork in claypot) and duojiaoyutou (fish heads with sweet peppers) to a predominantly white collar dinner crowd.

湘明园 朝阳区工体南路1号 （Tel: 65525493）

Hot Pot

Raw foods brought to your table and cooked in a bubbling broth. Tastes vary with regional styles.

Ding Ding Xiang The best hot pot in town with quality meat and fresh vegetables all in a trendy setting. Individula pots allow you to cook everything from lamb, beef and fish balls to live prawns and crab claws. The jinpaijiang, gold medal dipping sauce, is well named. Open 11am-10.30pm daily. Meal for two 250RMB.

鼎鼎香，东城区东直门外东中街元嘉国际公寓二层（东环广场酒店式国际公寓对面）Tel: 64179289

Hot Loft The Hot Loft has dragged the bubbling hot pot into the 21st century by increasing the range of soup bases with everything from sour and spicy Thai to a duck-based broth, and a variety of novel dipping sauces. Open 10am-5am daily. Meal for two 150RMB.

鼎酷， 朝阳区工体西路8号楼五层 (Tel: 65527992)；朝阳区工体北路4号 (Tel: 65017501)

Long Island Hot Pot Massage and spa giant, Long Island, has ventured into the restaurant business and their latest Hong Kong-style hot pot joint offers an entirely organic menu. Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10.30pm.

长岛香港海鲜火锅 朝阳建国门外大街16号东方瑞景一层 （赛特饭店东侧） Tel: 65691616/1919

Miao Ling Located on the renao Guijie, this perpetually crowded Guizhou-style hot pot restaurant offers suan tang yu, a sour, tomato-based soup with a whole fish. Some complain that the soup is not spicy enough, yet they keep coming back for more. Daily 24hrs.

苗岭酸汤鱼 东城区东直门内大街232号 （Tel: 64049765）

Xiangjiang Mingcheng Spacious and cheerful, enjoy authentic Canto hotpot in a clean, casually sophisticated environment. Daily 11am-4am.

香江名城 东城区中街东环广场B座2层 (Tel: 64183666/3777)

Ye Shan Jun Wild Fungus House Mushroom hot pot inspired from Yunan and Fujian. Daily 9.30am-12.30am.

野山菌菇宴 崇文门前东大街甲2号 （Tel: 65122708）

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Beijing Scenic Spots

Beijing is the capital of China for many dynasties and there are many highlights that worthwhile for visit:



Tian'anmen Square



Forbidden City

Downtown Area:TianAnmen Square: It is the largest city center square in the world which can hold half million people. In the past the square has witnessed many historical events, while today it attracts millions of people from all over the world every year.
Forbidden City: Also called Palace Museum, this former dwelling of Chinese emperors is the most amazing royal palace complex.

Hutong Rickshaw tour

Hutong Tour by pedicab: Hutong, originating from the Mongolian language means “well”, where there is a well there is a living quarter. It is actually alley and you can take those pedicabs to feel how traditional people live. Among those hutongs locate dwelling compounds or quadrangles which are one important aspect of the city’s architectural heritage.

Jingshan Park: Imperial garden and you can climb to the top pavilion to get the best view over the Forbidden City

Beihai Park: Oldest and best preserved imperial garden in the downtown area.

Lama Temple:  Pray in this biggest lamasery in Beijing and bring good luck back home.



Hall of Paying for Good Harvest



Drum beating Peformance



Drum Tower and Bell Tower: Back in the Ming Dynasty, they were used to mark time, an equivalent to Big Ben in London. You can watch the drum beating performance at the Drum Tower.

Temple of Heaven: Offerings to Heaven were made here by emperors to benefit crops and harvests.

Capital Museum: The building itself is a great piece of art. Collections are very well sorted by theme, including jade, bronze, porcelain, painting…Don’t miss the historical Beijing exhibits.


Suburb Area:

Summer Palace



Jingshanling Great Wall

The Summer Palace: It is the best-preserved imperial garden in the world and the largest of its kind still in existence in China today. It is formed mainly with Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Summer Palace occupies a total area of over 290 hectares. The Longevity Hill covers one-fourth of the total area while the Kunming Lake covers the rest of the three-fourths. The beautiful former imperial garden is set off by a multitude of highly decorative buildings, halls, pavilions, bridges, towers, islands and courtyards. With these buildings built in the Summer Palace, it does not give an impression of disorder; instead, people can strongly feel its perfect and magnificent structure and harmonious layout in the Summer Palace.

The Great Wall: it symbolize China’s ancient civilization which is one of the famous, grand and splendid ancient construction wonders in the world. It is just like a giant dragon starting from Yalu River and crossing high mountains, deserts and grassland to the Pamir Plateau. For many centuries, the Great Wall, as a military gigantic defensive project, kept out the invading troops of the northern nomadic tribes. Now the Great Wall has become a famous historical scenic spot for tourists. When the spacemen looked down with their naked eyes onto the earth from the spaceship, one of the man-made projects on earth that could be seen is the Great Wall of China.



Jiankou Great Wall



Huanghuacheng Great Wall



Mutianyu Great Wall

There are many famous sections of Great Wall that you can visit: such as the Badaling, Juyongguan Pass, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Simatai which are renovated by the government. There are some others called the “wild great wall” that keeps the original appearance such as the “Yellow Flower Great Wall”. You can either choose to take the cable car or climb upstairs by yourself.

798/DaShanzi Art District

798 Art District

Forty-five minutes out of town, this Soviet-funded, German-designed, ex-electronics factory compound is a hotbed of cutting-edge art and design. Since 2002 artists‘ studios started to pop up in the district. Properties are mostly rented and new life and light has been created in these once hollow, unused buildings. They were gradually turned into a combination of galleries, art centers, studios, design companies, fashion stores and bars. It‘s an opportunity and an outlet for modern young artists to enthusiastically pursue their ideals. It has also provided them with a spiritual homeland. And they‘re breathing new life into an area of Beijing which needed exactly that. Don’t miss it, but avoid Mondays as most galleries are closed.

Undergrand Palace

Ming Tombs: The thirteen Ming Tombs are located in Changping District covering an area of 40 square kilometers with 13 Ming emperors, 23 empresses, many imperial concubines, princes and princesses buried there. These tombs are the best-preserved of all Chinese imperial tombs.

Cuandixia Village

Cudixia Village

Astop on the ancient trade route between ShanxiProvince and Beijing, this 400-year-old dumpling shaped village, called Chuandixia village is now under national architectural protection and attracts numerous tourists, photographers and filmmakers. Most families under the same surname Han since the village was originated from one family moved from Shandong. Tour the ideal courtyard houses, climb the hills opposite to collect a overview of the interesting shape of the village.

Eastern Qing Tombs and Manchurian Village

East Qing Tombs

The last Dynasty Qing is ruled by Manchurians from north eastern China. Their tombs are designed to overcome the splendor of the previous dynasty Ming. The stone carvings and Tibetan Buddhism reflection in the tomb of the most influential Emperor Qianlong, the unimaginable luxury in the bomb of notorious but most powerful woman Dowager Cixi, and the massive tomb robbery by warlords in 1920’s brought it to everyone’s attention.

Longer distance than the Ming Tombs make it less visited so you will enjoy the peaceful time reading the history.

Longqing Gorge & Guyaju at Yanqing County

Longqing Gorge

Yanqing County is located in the suburb of northwest Beijing. The Countyoccupys an area of about 1,992 square kilometers and a population of about 275,000. The county houses many ancient tombs and caves, as well as the picturesque Longqing Gorge  and Badaling Great Wall.



Tour Description: Pick you up at your hotel at 8:00am. First go to the Longqing Gorge ( Ravine ). It is located about 90 kilometers to the north of Beijing. The Longqing Gorge is flanked on both sides by green peaks. The Gucheng Reservior built in 1n 1981, lies north of the gorge. People often say Longqing Gorge is a small Li River in Guilin, but it is more beautiful than Li River; it is a small three gorges on the Yangtze river, but it is more dangerous than the Three Gorges. Boating on the Longqing Ravine, you will feel the gentle breeze blowing against your face as if you are on the Lijiang River, you are entirely immersed in a picturesque view. During the lunch time you will enjoy the local farm lunch with the locals. After lunch, move on to Guyaju ( Ancient Rock Dwelling ). Guyaju cave dwellings are in the cliffs of Yanqing County, Beijing. With over 1000 years of history, the mythical caves still confuses historians. Records show it was constructed between the Tang and Liao Dynasties by the Xi tribe. The caves have "rooms" of a variety of shapes and styles that comprise doors, windows, kitchen ranges, and closets. It takes 1,5 hour drive from Beijing Longqing Gorge. After the tour, transferred back to your hotel in downtown Beijing.

Banboo Ralfting at Ten Ferries

Ten Ferry-“Little Guilin”

The Shi Du (Ten Ferry) scenic spot is the most typical canyon full of karst, ridges and peaks and is the closest to the capital city, unique in the northern part, and the biggest in Huabei region. The canyon features 12 marvelous geological sites such as natural "Stone Buddha", "Flied over Stone", "One Line Sky", "Buddha" character of the dragon mountain, "Water Flowing Up", "Stone in the Stone" and so forth. It has enjoyed the fine reputation of being the "green mountain and wild ferry, decorated corridors of hundred miles" for years. The Juma river is just like a piece of jade ribbon winding circuitously, passing through the mountains, complementing each other with the peaks and forests. The scenery has North China's imposing character, it also carries the elegance of South of Yangtzi River. Here you can do hiking, rafting, horsing, living in the peasant families, eat local specialty foods and enjoy the natural beauty. It will take 2 hours driving from the city.

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