Beijing Travel Tips
Climate and Weather
Due to the Siberian air masses that move southward across the Mongolian Plateau, the weather in Beijing is of the temperate continental monsoon climate, with hot and humid summers and cold and dry winters. The coldest month is January, while the warmest one is July. Towards the end of October usually comes winter. The summer months are from June to August, which are wet and hot with about 40% of the annual precipitation. The average temperature in summer could reach 30 degrees and 14 degrees in spring and 19 degrees in autumn.
Best season for foreign travelers in Beijing:Best season for foreign travelers in Beijing: Because there are many student groups and kids traveling with parents in summer (June to August), it is regarded as the peak season. To be exaggerating, the Great Wall may suffer from collapse under the weight of marching tourists. The best season for foreign travelers in Beijing is the autumn months between September and October, because they have the best weather and fewer tourists. Due to lots of wind and dust, even sand storm sometimes, spring is less pleasant. In winter, since it's an ice box outside, you'll have Beijing to yourself. At this time, many hotels offer substantial discounts. However, during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February), everything is chock-a-block.
Clothes for travelers:In autumn, it is enough for you to just bring jeans and a sweater here. In the warmer months, the best bet for you is to bring T-shirts and light pants or shorts. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. Buy a thick cotton army coat (jun da yi) for less than 100 Yuan (12 bucks), if you want to go local. Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.
Avoid Peak Holidays: During Chinese holidays people are traveling around the country. So it is not a good idea for you to travel in China. There are three most-popular national holidays in China: Chinese Spring Festival (usu. in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labor Day or May Day Holiday (May 1 to 3) and National Day's Holiday (Oct 1 - 7). Spring Festival is the most crowded time to travel, while it's also the best time for you to experience the authentic traditional Chinese festival and culture.
Other Odds and Ends
Useful Numbers:
Phone Dialing Code: 010
Postcode: 100000
Emergency Call
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Weather Forecast: 121
Consumers' Complaint: 12315
Post Office: An international airmail letter costs more than 5.4 Yuan according to the different region and weight. If you want to post to Hong Kong or Taiwan, you need to pay about 2.5 Yuan. Located on the east side of Bei Da Jie, Jianguomen, the International Post Office operates a receiving and posting international and domestic letters, parcels and express mails, making out invoice, cash draft and telegram drafts, domestic and international telegram and so on.
CAAC Ticket Center: Xidan CAAC Building, No.15, Chang'an West Street
Money Exchange:
Great Britain Pound, Euro, U.S. Dollar, Swiss Franc, Singapore Dollar, Swedish Crown, Danish Crown, Norwegian Crown, Japanese Yen, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Philippine Peso, Thai Baht are all exchangeable. At the Bank of China, foreign currency and checks with the face value of Eurodollar and Spanish Peseta are also exchangeable. Other authorized banks offer foreign exchange service. You will find that some hotels, restaurants and shops also accept foreign exchange services to meet the needs of foreign tourists.
Bank
Bank of China, Beijing Branch
Add: 8 Yabao Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 86-10-6519 9114, 6519 9432
Open: 9am-noon, 1-5pm
The Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC)
Add: Ground Floor, block A COFCO Plaza, 8 Jianguomennei Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6526 0668
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Master Card
Add: 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Bright China Chang An Building
Tel: 86-10-6510 1090
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Citibank
Add: China Bright Changan Building Jianguomennei Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6510 2458
Swiss Bank Corp.
Add: Room 3623-3624, China World Tower , CWTC 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6505 2213 ext 5
Bank of East Asia Ltd (BEA)
Add: Fuhua Plaza Jianguomen wai Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6554 3110
Credit card:You will find it quite convenient to use credit cards in star-rate hotels and the large emporiums of Beijing. So far, main international credit cards accepted in China are Master Card, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diners Card.
Internet: It is no longer an adventure to surf the internet. You can easily find internet cafés on the streets of Beijing. If you come to Beijing alone and want to chat with family or friends, or do business via the internet, there are plenty of venues for you to choose from.
Toilet facilities:Public toilets are easy to be found in subway station, railway station, airport, bus stations or sightseeing spots. You don’t have to pay for most of the toilets in Beijing downtown area except for some mobile ones.
Hospital
International SOS
Tel: 86-10-64629112
Address: Bloc. C, Beixin Jingyi Dasha, 5, Xi Wu Jie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District
International Medical Center
Tel: 86-10-64651561
Address: S106-S111, Ground Level, Lufthansa Center Office Building, No. 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Beijing United Family Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64332345
Address: 2, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District
Hong Kong International Medical Clinic
Tel: 86-10-65012288
Address: 3/F, Hong Kong Macau Center, Swissotel, 2, Chaoyangmen Bei Jie
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Tel: 86-10-65296114
Address: 1, ShuaifuYuan, Wangfujing
China-Japanese Friendship Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64221122
Address: Huixindongjie, YinghuaYuan, Chaoyang District
General Hospital of Navy
Tel: 86-10-66958024
Address: 6, Fucheng Lu, Haidian District
Beijing Ditan Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64211031
Address: 13, Ditan Park, Andingmenwai
Universities
Peking University
Address: Haidian District, Beijing
Tsinghua University
Address: Haidian District, Beijing
Beijing Foreign Studies University
Address: 2, Xi Sanhua Bei Lu, Beijing