Beijing is situated in the northeastern corner of China and is an independently administered municipal district. Beijing covers an area of 16,808 sq km (10,421 sq. mi.) and has 18 districts and counties. King Wu declared Beijing the capital of China in 1057 BC, after which it then went by the names of Ji, Zhongdu, Dadu, and finally Beijing in 1421. Before 1949, Beijing was known as Peking in the West.
One word that can be used to describe Beijing is ‘massive’. Beijing is a massive metropolis which houses over 12 million people. It can appear chaotic at times, especially in traffic, but if you take a closer look, you will notice that it is actually very orderly and well designed. Places of interest are usually easy to find on the avenues, but they are sometimes located in the hutongs (narrow alleys) and finding them can be a problem. It is best to carry a Beijing map if you do not speak or understand Chinese. The Forbidden City is a landmark in Beijing which is surrounded by a network of roads, including Five Ring Roads which encircle the city centre. The First Ring Road is the road surrounds the Forbidden City.
The rest of the roads are multiple lane expressways. Within the Second Ring Road are the four central districts of Beijing: Xicheng, Dongcheng, Chongwen and Xuanwu. Outside the Second Ring Road lie three additional districts, followed by tiny villages or neighborhoods called ‘li’.
Beijing Map: Beijing Neighborhoods
Dong Cheng (or East City) spreads north and east from the southwest corner of Tiananmen Square until it reaches the Second Ring Road. It includes the square itself, the Forbidden City, major temples (such as the Lama Temple and Confucius Temple), and the major shopping streets of Wangfujing and Dong Dan.
Xi Cheng spreads further west, beyond the original city wall, at the Second Ring Road. Here you can find the Zhong Nan Hai (the central government compound also known as the new Forbidden City), Bei Hai Gongyuan and the Bai Ta Si (or White Dagoba Temple). Popular among writers, musicians, foreign teachers and young expatriates, Xi Cheng has many trendy bars and cafes at the waters' edge.
Chaoyang forms a huge arc around the northeast and eastern sides of the city and houses two main diplomatic compounds (the Sanlitun and Chaoyang), drinking districts where all the bars and pubs are located and the newly created Central Business District around the China World Trade Center. This is the richest district in Beijing and boasts many international hotels and restaurants.
Haidian houses Beijing University and Zhongguancun is the center of the majority of internet cafes of the city. It is a high-tech district and often dubbed China's Silicon Valley. Also found here is the beautiful Summer Palace which is considered the highlight of a Beijing tour.
Getting Around
Taxis are a fairly cheap and reliable way to get around Beijing. However, when on Beijing tour you should be sure to only travel by metered taxis because cabs without a meter are illegal. Seeing the city by bicycle is a unique way to tour Beijing and a fun way to travel for short distances for the adventurous traveler.
Beijing also has a range of buses and minibuses that are very cheap but very slow due to traffic jams. Keep in mind that few people speak English well, so it is a good idea to have someone write your destination in Chinese and carry a Beijing map. These are a great help if you get lost during your Beijing tour.
Traffic in Beijing can be quite difficult during peak hours, but Beijing's two underground rail lines provide a fast, convenient service around the inner city. There are two main railway stations in Beijing, the Beijing and Beijing West stations. Tickets can be purchased at the train station or through a travel agent. Getting to and from the Beijing Airport is easy. It takes about half an hour to get to the city by taxi. There is also a shuttle bus service available from the airport but it is not as convenient.
When to Go on a Beijing Tour
Beijing has a continental monsoon climate. Spring is dry and windy, summer is hot and humid and autumn has the best weather by far with plenty of sunshine. Winter in Beijing is very cold because the city is affected by freezing the winds that come off of Siberia.
June to August is peak tourist season and hotels typically raise their rates during this period. A particularly interesting time to visit Beijing is during Chinese New Year when the roads are all colorfully decorated and there are many parades. While it can be a fun time, they city tends to be quite crowded during the Chinese New Year and the hotels are incredibly expensive.
