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Travelling to Beijing? You'll need this guidebook to help you find your way. It'll show you where to stay, eat, visit and shop. It also contains useful travel tips, and lets you in on what to expect with the local food and culture. You wouldn't want to miss it!
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| Help Save the Giant Panda! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The Giant Panda, native to the southwestern and central-western parts of China, is listed by the IUCN Red List as an endangered species. It is threatened by continued habitat loss, poaching and a very low birthrate, both in the wild and in captivity. The Giant Panda's diet consists almost exclusively of bamboo leaves, but did you know that it has the digestive system of a carnivore? This means that it can't digest cellulose efficiently, so a Giant Panda has to eat around 9 to 14 kg of bamboo shoots a day, just to get the nourishment it needs. That's a lot of chewing! |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Beijing, also known as Peking is a metropolis situated in northern China. As the nation's capital, it is recognised as a political, educational, economic and cultural center. Although it is now a vibrantly modern city, its history dates back thousands of years. As such, the city possesses an incredible number of historical and cultural attractions, as well as national treasures.
The pride of the city, however, is the 500 year-old Forbidden City. Once home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors, it now acts as a vast public museum. It houses approximately 800 buildings, 9,000 rooms and the sprawling Imperial Garden. Not far from The Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. It houses the Mao Zedong mausoleum and is perhaps best known as the site of various historical events and political protests.
Another of Beijing's main attractions is the remarkable Great Wall of China. Built from as early as the 5th century BC, it stretches over 6,400 km. Approximately 2 to 3 million people died during the construction of this immense fortification. Other historical sites of interest include The Ming Tombs, where 13 Ming emperors are buried, and countless temples, such as the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven). There is also The Summer Palace, an immense classically landscaped garden with magnificent halls, pavilions, corridors, pagodas and bridges.
As an imperial city, Beijing was the focal point of artistic endeavours that survive to this day. These include performing arts like the Peking Opera and Chinese acrobatics; fine arts like calligraphy, literature and paintings, as well as decorative arts such as cloisonné, ceramics, carvings and silks. Beijing's culinary arts are not to be forgotten. One simply must try authentic Peking duck and pay a visit to at least one of the many traditional teahouses. There is also Mongolian hotpot, Chinese Muslim dishes, as well as Imperial cuisine to try.
Beijing is also a shopper's haven. Wangfujing Street is a popular place for souvenirs, while numerous markets offer locally crafted jewellery, statuettes, vases and curiosities. Places like Hong Qiao Pearl Market offer a lot more than just pearls. Like other major cities, some parts of Beijing stay up past midnight, with neon-bright discotheques, karaoke lounges and live performances to choose from. There are also plenty of places to stay, often within a stone's throw of major tourist attractions.
The city's infrastructure has been given a big boost, as it is hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. There are now dozens of railways, roads, motorways and international lights leading to Beijing, though the bicycle remains a main mode of transport for most residents. Billions of dollars have been spent to construct new architectural wonders such as the egg-shaped National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing National Stadium. These structures and their gleaming exteriors embody Beijing's modern-day global identity.
If you're planning a trip to Beijing, apply for a Visa at any embassy or consulate of China near you. A single-entry Visa typically costs around USD40. Traveling Visas are valid for one month and cannot be extended once expired. Bear in mind that Olympic season may mean more stringent regulations for Visa application.
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