北京英文旅游指南手册 Beijing_travel_guide
北京旅游指南英语pdf

北京旅游指南英语pdfBeijing is the capital city of China and a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and modern attractions, Beijing offers a diverse range of experiences for visitors. In this travel guide, we will explore some of the top attractions, activities, and tips for making the most of your trip to Beijing.The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic landmarks in Beijing. Stretching over 13,000 miles, the Great Wall is a must-visit for any tourist. Visitors can hike along the wall, take in the stunning views, and learn about the history of this ancient wonder.Another must-see attraction in Beijing is the Forbidden City. This historic palace complex was once the home of Chinese emperors and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the ornate buildings, beautiful gardens, and learn about the fascinating history of this ancient site.For a taste of traditional Chinese culture, be sure to visit the Temple of Heaven. This beautiful temple complexis a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, especially during the morning when you can see locals practicing taichi and other traditional activities.Beijing is also home to a vibrant arts and culture scene. The 798 Art District is a must-visit for art lovers, withits galleries, studios, and street art. The National Centre for the Performing Arts is another cultural hub, with awide range of performances including opera, ballet, and concerts.When it comes to dining, Beijing offers a wide range of culinary delights. From traditional Peking duck to street food snacks, there is something for every palate. Be sureto try some local specialties like jianbing (Chinese crepes) and lamb skewers from the city's many street vendors.In terms of transportation, Beijing has an extensive public transportation system including buses, subways, and taxis. The city's subway system is clean, efficient, and easy to navigate, making it a convenient way to get around. Taxis are also readily available, but be sure to have yourdestination written in Chinese characters as many drivers do not speak English.For accommodation, Beijing offers a wide range of options from luxury hotels to budget guesthouses. Thecity's major tourist areas like Wangfujing and the hutongs offer a range of choices for every budget. Be sure to book in advance during peak tourist seasons like Chinese New Year and National Day.Overall, Beijing is a fascinating city with a mix of ancient traditions and modern innovations. Whether you're interested in history, culture, or cuisine, Beijing has something to offer every type of traveler. With careful planning and an open mind, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience in this vibrant metropolis.北京是中国的首都,也是世界各地游客的热门目的地。
北京旅游指南英文版

Exploring the Charms of Beijing: A TravelGuideWelcome to Beijing, a city steeped in history and culture, brimming with modern conveniences and offering a unique blend of old and new. This travel guide aims to assist you in navigating the city's vast landscape, fromits famous landmarks to its hidden gems, ensuring that your visit to Beijing is an enriching and memorable experience. **1. The Forbidden City**A visit to Beijing is incomplete without a stop at the Forbidden City, once the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This vast complex of palaces, temples, and gardens is a testament to the grandeur and splendor of ancient China. Wandering through its vast courtyards and intricate architecture, you can imagine the bustling life that once thrived here.**2. The Great Wall of China**One of the world's most renowned engineering feats, the Great Wall of China is a must-visit destination in Beijing. Stretching for thousands of kilometers, this massive wallwas built to protect China from invaders. A trip toBadaling or Mutianyu sections of the wall offers breathtaking views and a chance to walk in the footsteps of history.**3. Tiananmen Square and the National Museum ofChina**Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing, is a hub of political and cultural activities. Surrounded by important buildings like the National Museum of China and the Monument to the People's Heroes, this vast plaza is a must-visit for anyone interested in Chinese history and culture. The National Museum of China, in particular, boasts a vast collection of artifacts that trace the country's rich historical journey.**4. Hutong Tours**To experience the authentic flavor of old Beijing, a hutong tour is recommended. These narrow alleyways, oncethe lifeblood of the city's old neighborhoods, are now a haven for history and culture. Cycling or walking throughthe hutongs, you can visit traditional courtyard houses, taste local delicacies, and engage with the friendly locals.**5. Modern Beijing**In addition to its rich historical heritage, Beijing is also a vibrant and modern city. The Central BusinessDistrict (CBD) offers a glimpse into the city's economic prowess, with skyscrapers and bustling shopping malls. The Olympic Park, with the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium and the Water Cube, is a must-visit for sports enthusiasts.**6. Culinary Delights**Beijing cuisine, a blend of northern Chinese flavors,is a must-try for food lovers. Dishes like Peking Duck, a thinly sliced duck served with pancakes and sweet bean sauce, are a delicacy not to be missed. Other local favorites include dumplings, noodles, and various types of fried buns.**7. Traditional Arts and Culture**Beijing is home to various traditional arts and cultures, including Peking Opera, Chinese calligraphy, and tea culture. Watching a performance of Peking Opera, with its intricate costumes, vibrant music, and powerful vocals, is an immersive experience that brings you closer to theheart of Chinese culture. Visiting a tea house to enjoy a cup of fragrant tea while watching traditional performances is another way to unwind and immerse yourself in the city's slow pace.In conclusion, Beijing is a city that offers something for everyone, from its rich historical heritage to its modern conveniences, delicious cuisine, and vibrant arts culture. This travel guide hopes to assist you in makingthe most of your visit to Beijing, ensuring that you havean enriching and memorable experience.**探索北京的魅力:旅游指南**欢迎来到北京,这座充满历史与文化的城市,融合了现代便利,展现了古老与现代的独特融合。
北京旅游指南 英语作文

Exploring Beijing: A Travel GuideBeijing, the capital city of China, is a vibrant and historical destination that offers a unique blend of ancient culture and modern metropolis. From the Forbidden City to the bustling shopping streets of Wangfujing, Beijing has something for every traveler. Here's a travel guide to help you explore the city like a local.**1. The Forbidden City**Known as the "Forbidden City" in English, this is the largest and most complete ancient wooden architectural complex in the world. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is now a museum displaying a wealth of cultural relics. Take a guided tour to learn about the rich history and architecture of this remarkable place.**2. The Great Wall of China**One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China is a must-visit for any visitor to Beijing. Stretching over thousands of kilometers, this ancient military defense structure offers breathtaking views and asense of awe at its immense scale. Choose a section close to Beijing, such as Badaling or Mutianyu, for a day trip. **3. Tiananmen Square and the National Museum ofChina**Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, is the heart of Beijing. Surrounded by historical buildings like the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the National Museum of China, this is a great place to people-watch and soak in the hustle and bustle of the city. Don't miss the National Museum, which houses a vast collection of Chinese historical artifacts.**4. Hutong Tours**To experience traditional Beijing life, take a hutong tour. Hutongs are narrow alleyways that were once the backbone of the old city's residential area. Cycling or walking through these alleyways, you'll find charming courtyard houses, local snacks, and interesting shops.**5. Modern Beijing**Beijing is also a modern city with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Wangfujing and Xidan aretwo of the main shopping districts, while the bustling nightlife of Sanlitun and Houhai吸引了大量的游客。
北京旅游指南英文版

北京旅游指南英文版Beijing is a captivating city that seamlessly blends ancient history and modern wonders. As the capital of China, it offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, breathtaking landmarks, and a vibrant urban landscape. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the best of what Beijing has to offer.One of the most iconic and must-see attractions in Beijing is the Forbidden City also known as the Imperial Palace. This vast complex of ornate palaces, temples, and courtyards served as the exclusive domain of China's emperors for centuries. Visitors can marvel at the intricate architecture, explore the grand halls, and immerse themselves in the grandeur of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to China's imperial legacy.Another renowned landmark in Beijing is the Tiananmen Square the world's largest public square. This expansive plaza is surrounded by significant buildings such as the Tiananmen Gate, the Great Hall ofthe People, and the National Museum of China. Visitors can witness the daily flag-raising ceremony, explore the monuments, and soak in the energy of this iconic civic space.Nearby, the Temple of Heaven is a stunning example of traditional Chinese architecture and a testament to the country's rich spiritual heritage. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the site of elaborate annual ceremonies where emperors would pray for good harvests and the well-being of the nation. Visitors can stroll through the serene gardens, admire the ornate buildings, and gain insights into China's ancient traditions.For those seeking a glimpse into Beijing's modern transformation, the 798 Art District is a must-visit destination. This former industrial area has been transformed into a vibrant hub of contemporary art galleries, trendy cafes, and cutting-edge design studios. Visitors can explore the unique blend of Bauhaus-style architecture, street art, and avant-garde exhibitions that make this neighborhood a cultural hotspot.One of the most impressive natural wonders near Beijing is the Great Wall of China. This iconic fortification snakes its way across the rugged terrain, offering breathtaking vistas and a chance to connect with one of the world's most remarkable engineering feats. Visitors can choose from various sections of the Great Wall to hike, such asthe well-preserved Badaling or the less crowded Mutianyu, each offering its own unique challenges and panoramic views.In addition to its renowned landmarks, Beijing is also renowned for its rich culinary scene. From the ubiquitous Peking roast duck to the delicate dumplings and fragrant hot pot, the city's diverse range of dining options caters to every palate. Visitors can explore bustling night markets, high-end restaurants, and family-run eateries to savor the authentic flavors of Beijing and the broader Chinese cuisine.Beyond the city's iconic sights, Beijing also offers a wealth of cultural experiences. Visitors can immerse themselves in the traditional arts by attending a Peking Opera performance, witnessing the graceful movements of a Tai Chi class, or exploring the intricate world of Chinese calligraphy and painting. These cultural activities provide a deeper understanding of the country's rich heritage and the enduring traditions that continue to shape modern-day Beijing.For those seeking a respite from the urban hustle, the Summer Palace is a tranquil oasis on the outskirts of the city. This expansive imperial garden features serene lakes, ornate pavilions, and picturesque landscapes that transport visitors to a bygone era. Visitors can stroll through the grounds, admire the iconic Marble Boat, and enjoy the scenic vistas that have inspired artists and poets throughout the centuries.In addition to its cultural riches, Beijing also boasts a thriving contemporary art scene. The 798 Art District, as mentioned earlier, is just one example of the city's vibrant creative community. Visitors can also explore the cutting-edge galleries and studios in the Caochangdi and 751 D-Park neighborhoods, where local and international artists showcase their innovative works.For those interested in the city's historical legacy, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower are two iconic landmarks that offer a glimpse into Beijing's past. These towering structures were once used to mark the passage of time in the imperial capital, and today, they stand as reminders of the city's rich heritage. Visitors can climb to the top of the towers for panoramic views of the surrounding neighborhoods and gain a deeper understanding of Beijing's storied history.Finally, no visit to Beijing would be complete without a stroll through the hutongs the narrow alleyways and traditional courtyard residences that have long been the heart of the city's local communities. These charming neighborhoods offer a glimpse into the daily lives of Beijingers, with their quaint shops, family-run eateries, and a sense of timeless authenticity.In conclusion, Beijing is a city that captivates the senses and offers a wealth of experiences for travelers. From the grandeur of theForbidden City to the vibrant contemporary art scene, this dynamic capital seamlessly blends its ancient heritage with modern sensibilities. Whether you're exploring the city's iconic landmarks, indulging in its culinary delights, or immersing yourself in its rich cultural tapestry, Beijing is a destination that will leave a lasting impression on all who visit.。
北京出游指南中英文

北京出游指南中英文英文Version: Beijing Travel GuideBeijing Travel GuideIntroductionWelcome to Beijing, the capital of China! This ancient city is rich in history and culture, offering visitors a wide range of attractions and experiences. Whether you’re interested in historical sites, modern architecture, or local cuisine, Beijing has something for everyone. Here’s a guide to help you plan your visit.Top AttractionsThe Great Wall of China: Explore one of the world’s greatest wonders. Choose from several sections, including Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling.The Forbidden City: Discover the imperial palace that served as the home of emperors for nearly 500 years. Marvel at its grand architecture and priceless artifacts.Tiananmen Square: Visit the largest city square in the world, where you can see the Monument to the People's Heroes and the portrait of Chairman Mao.Temple of Heaven: Admire the beautiful architecture and serene gardens of this ancient temple, once used for imperial rituals.Summer Palace: Enjoy a peaceful walk around the lake and explore the stunning gardens and temples of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.Local CuisinePeking Duck: Try this iconic dish at Quanjude or Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant.Noodles and Dumplings: Sample handmade noodles and dumplings at local eateries like Da Dong or Dali Courtyard.Street Food: Explore the food stalls in Wangfujing Snack Street for a taste of Beijing’s street food culture.ShoppingSilk Market: Shop for souvenirs, clothing, and electronics at this bustling market.Qianmen Street: Walk along this historic street lined with traditional shops selling crafts and souvenirs.Dashilan: Visit this pedestrian street for a variety of local goods, including snacks and traditional handicrafts.Getting AroundSubway: Beijing’s extensive subway system is convenient and affordable.Taxis: Taxis are widely available but can be expensive during peak hours.Biking: Rent a bike to explore the city at your own pace.ConclusionBeijing is a city that seamlessly blends the old with the new, offering a unique cultural experience. Whether you’re exploring ancient palaces or enjoying modern amenities, there’s always something exciting to discover. Plan your trip to Beijing and immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant culture of this fascinating city.中文Version: 北京旅游指南北京旅游指南介绍欢迎来到中国的首都——北京!这座历史悠久的城市蕴含丰富的文化和历史遗迹,为游客提供了丰富多彩的景点和体验。
北京英语旅游指南作文

北京英语旅游指南作文英文回答:Beijing, the capital of China, is a vibrant metropolis with a rich history and a fascinating culture. It is home to some of the world's most iconic landmarks, including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and Tiananmen Square.There are many things to see and do in Beijing. For history buffs, a visit to the Forbidden City is a must. This vast palace complex was once the home of the Chinese emperors and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another popular tourist destination is the Great Wall of China. This ancient fortification is one of the most impressive feats of engineering in human history.For those interested in culture, Beijing has a thriving arts scene. The city is home to many museums, theaters, and art galleries. There are also a number of traditional Chinese markets, where visitors can find unique souvenirsand handicrafts.Beijing is also a great place to experience Chinese cuisine. The city has a wide variety of restaurants,serving everything from traditional Chinese dishes to international fare. For a truly authentic experience, be sure to try Peking duck, a local delicacy.Getting around Beijing is easy. The city has a comprehensive public transportation system, including buses, subways, and taxis. Taxis are relatively inexpensive, butit is important to be aware of the potential for scams.Beijing is a safe city to travel in. However, as with any major city, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against petty crime.Here are some tips for planning your trip to Beijing:Book your flights and accommodation in advance, especially if you are traveling during peak season.Learn a few basic Chinese phrases, such as "hello" and "thank you."Be prepared for crowds, especially in popular tourist areas.Dress comfortably and in layers, as the weather in Beijing can be unpredictable.Bring a camera to capture the many sights and sounds of Beijing.中文回答:北京英语旅游指南。
北京英文旅游指南手册,Beijing_travel_guide

B e iji ng i s a huge c ity with se v e r a l d i s tr i ct a rt i c l es cont a i n i ng s i ght see i ng,restaurant, n i ght lif e and a ccommod a t i on li s t i ng s—con s i d e r pr i nt i ng them a ll.B e iji ng(北京Běijīng)i s the c a p i t a l ofthe most popu l ou s country in the world, thePe op l e's R e pub li c of Ch i n a,a nd a l s o i t ssecond l a rg es t city a f t e r S h a ngh a i.It wasa l s o the seat of th e Ming and Qing dynastyemperors until the f orm a t i on of a r e pub li cin 1911. B e iji ng i s the po li t i c a l,e duc a t i on a l a nd cu l tur a l centre of thecountry and as such it i s rich in h i s tor i c a ls i t es a nd i mport a nt government and cu l tur a li n s t i tut i on s.The city i s w e ll known for i t s fl a tn ess and r e gu l a r con s truc t i on.There are only three h ill s to b e found in the city li m i t s(in J i ng s h a n Park to the north of the f a mou s Forb i dd e n City). L i k e th e con fi gur a t i on of the Forb i dd e n City, B e iji ng has conc e ntr i c "ring ro a d s", which are a ctu a ll y r e ct a ngu l a r,that go around the m e tropo li s.B e iji ng was host to the 2008 Summer O l ymp i c G a m es.LandmarksThe centre of the city and most i mport a nt l a ndm a rk i s T i a n a nm e n Square in Dongcheng D i s tr i ct. Th i s i s the wor l d's l a rg es t public square and a m ust see for a ll v i s i tor s from abroad and from e l se wh e r e in Ch i n a.The square i s surrounded by grand bu il d i ng s i nc l ud i ng the Great H a ll of th e P e op l e,the Museum of Ch i n ese H i s tory,the Museum of the Ch i n ese R e vo l ut i on,the Q i a nm e n Gate and the Forb i dd e n City. It i s a l s o home to the Ch a i rm a n Mao M e mor i a l H a ll and th e Monument to the P e op l e's M a rtyr s.The N a t i on a l S t a d i um or B i rd's Nest in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct i s a new m a j or l a ndm a rk and th e s ymbo l of the 2008 Olympic Games. Two contemporary bu il d i ng s in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct a r er e m a rk a b l e l a ndm a rk s : the CCTV Building and the World Trade Center Tower III. Both a r e out s t a nd i ng e x a mp l es of contemporary a rch i t e ctur e . There are a l s o a number of r e m a rk a b l e r e m a i n s from the m e d i e v a l city including the Ming Dynasty City W a ll S i t e Park (the only r e m a i n s of the city w a ll ) inChongwen D i s tr i ct, the Drum and B e ll Towers in Dongch e ng D i s tr i ct,and Q i a nm e n in Chongwen D i s tr i ct. Palaces, temples and parksThe c i ty's m any green oases are a wond e r f u l break from w a l k i ng a l ong the never e nd i ng bou l e v a rd s and n a rrow hutongs. L oc a l s s i m il a r l y flock to B e iji ng's p a l a c es , t e m p l es andparks whenever they have t i m e . Th e green areas are notonly used for r e l a x i ng but a l s o for sports, d a nc i ng,s i ng i ng and g e n e r a l r e cr ea t i on.The most i mport a nt p a l a c e , bar none, i s th eForb i dd e n city in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t. Th e Forb i dd e n City was home to the I mp e r i a l Court during the Ming and Qing Dyn as t i es . Un li k e many other h i s tor i c a l s i ght s , the Forb i dd e n City was r e l a t i v e l y untouched during the cu l tur a l r e vo l ut i on due to the t i m e l y i nt e rv e nt i on of pr e m i e r Zhou En l a i , who sent h i s troops to guard th e p a l a c e from the ov e r-z ea l ou s Red Guards. The T e m p l e of Heaven (天坛) in Chongwen D i s tr i ct i s the s ymbo l of B e iji ng and i s surrounded by a li v e l y park typ i c a ll y packed with hordes of l oc a l p e op l e drinking tea, pr a ct i c i ng c a lli gr a phy or t a i -ch i or j u s t w a tch i ng the world go by. Th e Yonghegong (Lama T e mp l e ) ( 雍 和 宫 ) in Dongcheng D i s tr i ct i s one of the most i mport a nt a nd b ea ut if u l t e mp l es in the country.Other parks are scattered around B e iji ng. Some of the best are Zhongshan Park ( 中 山 公 园 ) in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t, B e i h a i Park ( 北 海 公 园 ) in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t, Chaoyang Park ( 朝 阳 公 园 ) in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and R i t a n Park (日坛公园) in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct. The B e iji ng Zoo (北京动物 园 ) in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t i s f a mou s for i t s tr a d i t i on a l l a nd s c a p i ng and g i a nt pandas, however li k e many zoos, the cond i t i on s for the a n i m a l s have been qu es t i on e d.H a i d i a n D i s tr i ct i s home to the Summer p a l a c e (颐和园), the ru i n s of the Old Summer Pa l a c e ( 圆 明 园 ), Fr a gr a nt H ill s(香山), and the B e iji ng Bot a n i c a l Garden (北京植物 园). Allare qu i t e c l o se together and worth a v i s i t.Museums and galleries The museums in B e iji ng are g e n e r a ll y not yet up to the standard seen in c i t i es such as Pa r i s , Rom e and New Y ork. However the city cont a i n s one of the l a rg es t and most w e ll known museums in A s i a , the P a l a c e Museum a l s o known as the Forb i dd e n City. It i s a l s o a UNESCO World H e r i t a g eS i t e.Ch i n a's government i s d e t e rm i n e d to change the backward p e rc e pt i on of i t s museums and h as i nv es t e d h ea v il y in th e i r d e v e l opm e nt. It has a l s o made most of them (not the Forb i dd e n City) f r ee to v i s i t.However, for some museums t i ck e t s must be reserved three days in a dv a nc e.One of the most w e ll-known museums in B e iji ng i s the N a t i on a l Museum ( 国家博物馆) in Dongcheng D i s tr i ct,wh i ch has been c l o se d for r e nov a t i on s i nc e2007 and i s expected to reopen in2010. The M ili t a ry Museum (军事博物馆 ) in H a i d i a n D i s tr i ct has long been a f a vor i t e with do m es t i c and f or e i gn tour i s t s.The C a p i t a l Museum (首都博物馆 ) in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t i s a n e w high pro fil e museum with h i s tor i c a l and art e xh i b i t i on s.F i n a ll y, a number of restored f orm e r r es i d e nc es of f a mou s B e iji ng e r s,es p e c i a ll y in X i ch e ng D i s tr i ct,g i v e a good i n s i ght into d a il y lif e in f orm e r t i m es.The contemporary art scene in B e iji ng i s boom i ng and a l a rg e number of a rt i s t s e xh i b i t and se ll th e i r art in g a ll e r i es around the city. The g a ll e r i es are concentrated in a number of art d i s tr i ct s, inc luding the o l d es t and eas i es t a cc ess i b l e, but a l s o i ncr eas i ng l y comm e rc i a l and m a i n s tr ea m, D as h a nz i Art D i s tr i ct in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t.Other newer and perhaps more cutting edge a rt d i s tr i ct s i nc l ud e C a och a ngd i i n Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and Songzhuan A rt i s t's V ill a g e in Tongzhou D i s tr i ct.The languages of BeijingStandard M a nd a r i n i t se lf was the a dm i n i s tr a t i v e l a ngu a g e of the Ming and Q i ng dyn as t i es and w as based m a i n l y on the B e iji ng d i a l e ct. For l a ngu a g e students th i s makes s tudy i ng in B e iji ng a n e xc e ll e nt chance to l ea rn the l a ngu a g e in a r e l a t i v e l y pure form. That b e i ng sa i d,B e iji ng d i a l e c t cont a i n s n asa l "e r" sounds at the end of many words. Hence the ub i qu i tou s l a mb kabobs (羊肉串yán g ròu c h uàn) become "yán g ròu c h uàn r". In a dd i t i on,the B e iji ng d i a l e c t con s i s t s of many l oc a l s l a ng s which have not been i ncorpor a t e d into standard M a nd a r i n.B e iji ng t a x i dr i v e r s are f a m ou s l y chatty and will g l a d l y engage students of the l a ngu a g e o ff e r i ng e xc e ll e nt chances to p r a ct i c e the l a ngu a g e and get a f ee l for the changes in the city and country from an "Old B e iji ng e r".Eng li s h i s spoken by s t a ff at the m a i n tour i s t a ttr a ct i on s,as w e ll as at m a j or hot e l s.Oth e rw i se, Eng li s h speakers are not common, so a l w a y s get your hot e l's bu s i n ess card to show the t a x i dr i v e r in case you get l o s t. L i k e w i se,have s t a ff at your hot e l wr i t e down the names of any tour i s t a ttr a c t i on you p l a n to v i s i t in Ch i n ese,so l oc a l s can po i nt you out in the right d i r e c t i on.Scenic and Historic Interest Areas* The Great W a ll of Ch i n a (长城Chángchéng) about a 1 hour tr a i n trip or 1.5 hour bus r i d e from the city (be aware of bus scams). See Great W a ll for g e n e r a l i n f orm a t i on on the Great W a ll and see the suburb a rt i c l e for i nd i v i du a l li s t i ng s.The B a d a li ng se c t i on i s the most f a mou s,but a l s o over-restored and crowded. J i n s h a n li ng,Huanghuacheng and S i m a t a i are more d i s t a nt but o ff e r a better v i e w of the w a ll away from the crowds. M ut i a nyu has been restored, but i s f a r l ess crowd e d than B a d a li ng.Crowds are a d e fi n i t e i ss u e with the Great W a ll:at popu l a r se ct i on s at popu l a r t i m es,it becomes not the Great W a ll of Ch i n a, but rather the Great W a ll of Tour i s t s.It i s po ss i b l e to rent a t a x i for ¥400-800 for the round trip including w a i t i ng t i m e.You may want to bring a j a ck e t a g a i n s t the wind or cold in the ch illi e r season - in the summer you will need l ot s of w a t e r,and it will be cheaper if you br i ng your own.* Hutongs ( 胡同Hútòng). B e iji ng's a nc i e nt a ll e yw a y s,where you can find tr a d i t i on a l B e iji ng a rch i t e ctur e.They date back to when B e iji ng was the c a p i to l of the Yuan dyn as ty (1266-1368). M o s t bu il d i ng s in hutongs are made in the tr a d i t i on a l courtyard (四合院sìhéyuàn) s ty l e.Many of these courtyard homes were or i g i n a ll y occup i e d by a r i s tocr a t s,though a f t e r th e Comm un i s t takeover in 1949 the a r i s tocr a t s were pushed out and r e p l a c e d with poor f a m ili es. Hutongs can s t ill be f ound throughout the area within the 2nd Ring Road, though many are b e i ng d e mo li s h e d to make way for new bu il d i ng s and w i d e r roads. M o s t popu l a r among tour i s t s are th e hutongs near Q i a nm e n and Houh a i.The hutongs may at fi r s t f ee l i nt i m i d a t i ng to tr a v e ll e r s used to the new w i d e streets of B e iji ng, but the l oc a l s are very f r i e nd l y and will o f t e n try to h e l p you if you look l o s t.Theaters and concert hallsN a t i on a l Centre for the Pe r f orm i ng A rt s in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t wasfi n a li se d in 2007 and fi n a ll y gave B e iji ng a modern th ea t e r comp l e xcov e r i ng opera, mu s i c and theater. Th i s i s worth a v i s i t even ifyou do not go to a p e r f orm a nc e.The B e iji ng Opera i s con s i d e r e d the most f a mou s of a ll the tr a d i t i on a l opera p e r f orm e d a round Ch i n a.Th i s kind of opera i s noth i ng li k e western opera with costumes, s i ng i ng s ty l e,mu s i c a nd spectator r ea ct i on s b e i ng d i s t i nc t l y Ch i n ese.The plot i s u s u a ll y qu i t e s i mp l e,so you m i ght be a b l e to understand some of what happens even if you do not understand the l a ngu a g e.Some of the b es t p l a c es to watchB e iji ng Opera are found in X u a nwuD i s tr i c t including Huguang Huguang Theatre and L a o SheTeahouse. There are a l s o a number in Dongch e ng D i s tr i c ti nc l ud i ng Chang'an Grand Th ea tr e.A c rob a t i c s shows are a l s o worth a v i s i t if you want to see sometr a d i t i on a l Ch i n ese e nt e rt a i nm e nt.Some of the b es t shows arefound in T i a nq i a o A crob a t i c s Theatre in Xuanwu D i s tr i ctand in Chaoyang Theatre in Ch a oy a ng D i s tr i ct.Drama p l a y s has had a s l ow start in B e iji ng and i s s t ill notas w i d es pr ea d as you might expect for a city li k e B e iji ng,and you will most li k e l y not be a b l e to find m a ny Westernp l a y s.However, some good p l a c es for contemporary Ch i n esep l a y s do e x i s t including C a p i t a l Theatre in DongchengD i s tr i c t and Century Theater in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct.C l ass i c a l mu s i c has got a much stronger foothold in B e iji ng than drama p l a y s.Some of the best p l a c es to go are the N a t i on a l Centre for the Pe r f orm i ng A rt s and the Century Theater both m e nt i on e d above as w e ll as B e iji ng Concert H a ll in X i ch e ngD i s tr i c t.ShoppingThroughout n ea r l y a ll markets in B e iji ng, h a gg li ng i s esse nt i a l . E s p e c i a ll y when brow s i ng through l a rg e ,"tour i s ty " s hopp i ng areas for common i t e m s , do not put i t beneath yourdignity to start b a rg a i n i ng at 15% off the vendor's i n i t i a l as k i ng pr i c e . Inf a ct, in the most "tour i s ty " markets fi n a l pr i c es c a n o f t e n be as low as15%-20% of the i n i t i a l as k i ng pr i c e , a nd "r e mov i ng a z e ro " i s n't abad entry point in the b a rg a i n i ng proc ess . A f t e r s p e nd i ng some t i m eh a gg li ng, never h es i t a t e to thr ea t e n w a l k i ng away, as th i s i s o f t e n thequ i ck es t way to see a vendor l ow e r h i s or her pr i c es to a r eas on a b l e l e v e l .Buying in bulk or in group s may a l s o l ow e r the pr i c e . Beware that if you start your b a rg a i n i ng a ttoo low of a pr i c e , such as 50% off the as k i ng pr i c e , the vendor may j u s t i mm e d i a t e l y g i v e up on trying to se ll the i t e m to you. How high or low the vendor sets the as k i ng pr i c e depends on th e customer, the vendor, the product's popu l a r i ty, and even the t i m e of day. Vendors a l s o tend to target v i s i b l e m i nor i t i es more, such as C a uc as i a n s or p e op l e of A f r i c a n d es c e nt.The are a number of i nt e r es t i ng markets around B e iji ng where you can find a ll kind of cheap (a nd o f t e n f a k e ) s tu ff . Some of the most popu l a r p l a c es are X i zh i m e n in X i ch e ng D i s tr i c t, S il k Street or Pa n ji a yu a n in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct and Hong Q i a o M a rk e tin Chongwen D i s tr i c t.A s an a l t e rn a t i v e to the markets you can go to some of th es hopp i ng areas li n e d with shops. Th i s i nc l ud es N a n l uoguox i a ngin Dongcheng D i s tr i ct and Q i a nm e n D a ji e P e d es tr i a n Street,D as h il a n and L i u li ch a ng in Xuanwu D i s tr i ct. If you are looking for tr a d i t i on a l Ch i n ese food shops tryY i nh e hu a V e g e t a r i a n in Dongcheng D i s tr i ct,D a ox i a ngcun, Liubiju or The Tea Street in Xuanwu D i s tr i ct and Chongwenmen Food Market in Chongwen D i s tr i c t.V i s i t i ng hot e l shops and department stores i s not the most ch a r a ct e r f u l s hopp i ng in Ch i n a , but worth a look. W h il e g e n e r a ll y s i gn ifi c a nt l y more e xp e n s i v e , they are l ess li k e l y to se ll truly low qu a li ty goods. The old s ty l e of Ch i n ese r e t a ili ng i s gr a du a ll y b e i ng tr a n s f orm e d by shops with a better d es i gn sense and s ouv e n i r i t e m s are g e tt i ng better each year. S il k c l oth i ng, t a b l e se tt i ng s a nd so on and other spots around town, are worth a look, as are porc e l a i n, s p e c i a l ty tea and oth e r tr a d i t i on a l i t e m s . Some of the most popu l a r areas for th i s kind of s hopp i ng are W a ng f u ji ng a nd The M a ll s at Or i e nt a l P l a z a both in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t as w e ll as X i d a n in X i ch e ng D i s tr i ct. Cuisine The best way to eat w e ll and ch ea p l y in B e iji ng i s to enter one of the ub i qu i tou s restaurants wh e r e the l oc a l s are ea t i ng and pick a f e w d iff e r e nt d i s h es from the menu. Truth be told, anyone f a m ili a r with Western currency and pr i c es will find B e iji ng a very i n e xp e n s i v e city for food, es p e c i a ll y con s i d e r i ng that t i pp i ng i s not pr a c t i c e d in Ch i n a .Some of the cheapest and most d e li c i ou s m ea l s can be had on the streets. Savory pancakes (煎饼果子 J i ānb ĭng g uŏz i ) are one of the most popu l a r street snacks, eaten from morn i ng till n i ght with most carts op e r a t i ng during the morning commute and then op e n i ng a g a i n at night for th e a f t e r-c l ub crowds and n i ght-ow l s . Th i s d e li c i ou s pancake i s cooked with an egg on a gr i dd l e , a f r i e d dough cr i s p i s added, and the who l e thing i s dr i zz l e d in s c a lli on s and a savory sauce. Hot sauce i s opt i on a l . D i e h a rd f a n s o f t e n go on a quest for the best cart in the city. Th i s treat s hou l donly cost ¥2.50, with an extra egg ¥3.Lamb kebabs ( 羊 肉 串 儿 yángròu chuànr) and oth e r kebabsare gr ill e d on m a k es h if t stands a ll around B e iji ng, from the l a t e a f t e rnoon to l a t e at n i ght. W a ng f u ji ng has a "s n a ck s tr ee t "se lli ng such mundane f a r e li k e l a m b, ch i ck e n, and b ee f as w e llas mu l t i p l e s ty l es of nood l e d i s h es , such as S i chu a n s ty l e r i c enood l es , but the br a v e can a l s o sa mp l e s il kworm, s corp i on, and v a r i ou s org a n s a ll skewered on a s t i ck and gr ill e d to ord e r.A w i nt e r s p e c i a l ty, c a nd i e d haw b e rr i es ( 冰 糖 葫 芦 b īngtáng húlu) a r ed i ppe d in mo l t e n sugar which i s l ef t to harden in the cold and s o l d on a s t i ck.You can a l s o find v a r i a t i on s with oranges, grapes, s tr a wb e rr i es , a nd bananas, ord i ppe d in crumb l e d peanuts as w e ll as sugar. Th i s s w ee t snack can a l s os om e t i m es be f ound in the s pr i ng and the summer, but th e haw b e rr i es are o f t e nfrom l as t season's crop.The most f a mou s street for f ood in B e iji ng i s prob a b l y Gu iji e (簋街/鬼街 Gu ǐj i ē).B e iji ng Roast Duck i s a f a mou s B e iji ng s p e c i a l ty served a tmany restaurants, but there are qu i t e a f e w r es t a ur a nt s d e d i c a t e d tothe art of ro as t i ng the p e r f e ct duck. Expect to pay around ¥40per who l e duck at budg e t-r a ng e es t a b li s hm e nt s , and ¥160-200 ath i gh-e nd restaurants. B e iji ng duck (北京烤鸭 B ĕij īng kăo y ā) i sserved with thin p a nc a k es , p l um sauce (甜面酱 t i ánm i àn ji àng),a nd s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and cucumbers. You dip the duck in the sauceand roll it up in the pancake with a f e w s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and/orcucumb e r s . The end r es u l t i s a mouthw a t e r i ng comb i n a t i on of thecool crunch i n ess of the cucumber, the sharpness of the s c a lli on s , and the rich fl a vor s of the duck.B e iji ng i s a l s o known for i t s mutton hotpot (涮羊肉 shuàn yáng ròu), wh i ch or i g i n a ll y came from the Manchu p e op l e and e mph as i z es mutton over other meats. L i k e v a r i a t i on s of hotpot (g e n e r a l name 火锅 hu ŏ g uō) from e l se wh e r e in Ch i n a and Japan, hotpot i s a cook-i t-your se lf a ff a i r in a s t ea m i ng pot in the center of the t a b l e . Un li k e S i chu a n hotpot, mutton hotpot f ea tur es a sa vory, non-s p i cy broth. If that's not e xc i t i ng enough for you, you can a l s o request a s p i c y broth (be a w a r e that th i s i s fl a m i ng red, fill e d with peppers, and not for the w ea k !). To p l a y it sa f e and sa t i s f yeveryone, you can request a y i ng-y a ng(阴阳yīnyáng) pot d i v i d e d down the m i dd l e,with s p i cy broth on one s i d e and r e gu l a r broth on the other. Raw i ngr e d i e nt s are purchased by the p l a t e, i nc l ud i ng other types of meat and sea f ood,v e g e t a b l es,mushrooms, nood l es,and tofu, so i t's a l s o p e r f e ct l y po ss i b l e to have v e g e t a r i a n hotpot. A d i pp i ng sauce, u s u a ll y sesam e, i s served as w e ll; you can add ch ili s,g a r li c, c il a ntro,etc, to cu s tom i z e your own sauce. Wh il e "r a w" s ound s dangerous, boiling the meat your se lf i s the best way to ensure that more r i s ky meats li k e pork a r e fully cooked and f r ee of germs. In the city center, hotpot can run as much as ¥40-50 per p e r s on, but on the out s k i rt s it can be f ound for as li tt l e as ¥10-25. Low-budget types may reuse the s p i c es or cook i ng broth from pr e v i ou s guests, a l though it has been boiling for se v e r a l hour s.B e iji ng prov i d es an i d ea l opportun i ty to sa mp l e f ood from a ll over the country. Some of B e iji ng's best restaurants serve f ood from S i chu a n,Hunan, Guangzhou, T i b e t,Yunnan, X i n ji a ng,and mor e.For v e g e t a r i a n s,B e iji ng's fi r s t pure v e g e t a r i a n bu ff e t restaurant i s l oc a t e d a Con f uc i u s T e mp l e,see Dongcheng D i s tr i c t for f urth e r d e t a il.Or i gu s has numerous l oc a t i on s throughout B e iji ng,and o ff e r s an a ll-you-c a n-ea t p i zz a/p as t a bu ff e t for ¥39, i nc l ud i ng s o f t dr i nk s and dessert bar. If you're in the mood for Texan f a r e,head for th e T i m's Texas BBQ near the J i a nguom e n subway s t a t i on.Th e y'll h a pp il y prov i d e you with your f a vour i t e A m e r i c a n food and drink. Tony Rom a's has a l oc a t i on in W a ng f u ji ng(in the Or i e nt a l P l a z a).Korean restaurants are a l s o very common in B e iji ng. A f r e qu e nt m ea l i s the gr ill-i t-your se lf barbeque, i nc l ud i ng b ee f, ch i ck e n,and sea f ood i t e m s as w e ll as som e v e g e t a b l es i nc l ud i ng gr ee n s and pot a to es.All luxury hot e l s have at l eas t one restaurant, wh i ch can be of any cu i s i n e they b e li e v e th e i r guests will e n j oy. You will find French, I t a li a n, A m e r i c a n,and Ch i n ese restaurants in most hot e l s. Restaurants that serve a b a l on e and s h a rk fi n are con s i d e r e d the most e xp e n s i v e restaurants in th e city. Expect to pay upwards of ¥800 for a "ch ea p" m ea l at one of these restaurants, much more if s p l urg i ng.Places to drinkM o s t of B e iji ng's bars are l oc a t e d in one of the bar c l u s t e r s around thecity. A f e w years back, the only one was Sa n li tun, but a l mo s t everyyear the l as t f e w years have seen a new a r ea emerge. The mosti mport a nt areas a r e:* Houh a i in X i ch e ng D i s tr i ct l oc a t e d around the l a k e,Houh a i* N a n l uogu X i a ng in Dongcheng D i s tr i ct l oc a t e d in th em i dd l e of the hutong s* Sa n li tun in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct was once the centre of n i ght lif e in B e iji ng and s t ill popu l a r with expats but i ncr eas i ng l y un i nt e r es t i ng for tr a v e ll e r s and l oc a l s.* Workers S t a d i um in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct has taken over part of the a ct i on in nearby Sa n li tun.* West Gate of Chaoyang Park in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s one of the newest bar areas in B e iji ng* L a d i es'Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct. By day it has som e f as h i on shops, as i t s name s ugg es t s, but it i sa l s o home to some i nt e r es t i ng new bars, restaurants and c l ub s.* Yuan Dynasty W a ll Bar Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s a new ready-made bar area l oc a t e d n i c e l ya l ong a s m a ll r i v e r and a park but with qu i t e un i nt e r es t i ngb a r s.l oc a l un i v e r s i ty students hang out. There are a number of bars andrestaurants wh i ch serve a great v a r i e ty of w i n e,beer a nd liquor for cheap.Th i s area i s a l s o w e ll known for i t s huge K or ea n popu l a t i on and a goodp l a c e to find Korean food.* D as h a nz i in Chaoyang D i s tr i ct,B e iji ng's trendy art zon e, th i sold warehouse and f a ctory d i s tr i ct has been taken over by a rt g a ll e r i es,art shops and bars. W e ll worth the trip to e xp e r i e nc e th e B e iji ng artscene. A l s o known as Factory 798 (798 工厂Qījiǔbā Gōn gchǎng).。
北京英文旅游指南手册 Beijing_travel_guide

B e iji ng i s a huge city with s e v e r a l d i s tr i c t a rt i c l e s c on t a i n i ng s i gh t s ee i ng, restaurant, n i gh t li f e and a cc o mm od a t i on li s t i ng s — c on s i d e r p r i n t i ng them a ll .B e iji ng (北京 B ěij īng ) i s the c a p i t a l ofthe most popu l ou s country in the world, theP e op l e 's R e pub li c of Ch i n a , a nd a l s o i t ssecond l a r g e s t city a f t e r S h a ngh a i . It wasa l s o the seat of t h e Ming and Qing dynastyemperors until the f o r m a t i on of a r e pub li cin 1911. B e iji ng i s the po li t i c a l ,e du c a t i on a l a nd c u l t u r a l centre of thecountry and a s such it i s rich in h i s t o r i c a ls i t e s a nd i m po rt a n t government and c u l t u r a li n s t i t u t i on s .The city i s w e ll known for i t s f l a t n e ss and r e gu l a r c on s tr u c t i on. There are only three h ill s to b e found in the city li m i t s (in J i ng s h a n Park to the north of the f a m ou s Fo r b i dd e n City). L i k e t h e c on f i gu r a t i on of the Fo r b i dd e n City, B e iji ng has c on c e n tr i c "ring r o a d s ", which are a c t u a ll y r e c t a ngu l a r , that go around the m e tr opo li s .B e iji ng was host to the 2008 Summer O l y m p i c G a m e s .LandmarksThe centre of the city and most i m po rt a n t l a nd m a rk i s T i a n a n m e n Square in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t . T h i s i s the w o r l d 's l a r g e s t public square and a must see for a ll v i s i t o r s from abroad and from e l s e w h e r e in Ch i n a . The square i s surrounded by grand bu il d i ng s i n c l ud i ng the Great H a ll of t h e P e op l e , the Museum of Ch i n e s e H i s t o ry , the Museum of the Ch i n e s e R e v o l u t i on, the Q i a n m e n Gate and the Fo r b i dd e n City. It i s a l s o home to the Ch a i r m a n Mao M e m o r i a l H a ll and t h e Monument to the P e op l e 's M a rtyr s .The N a t i on a l S t a d i u m or B i r d 's Nest in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s a new m a j o r l a nd m a rk and t h e s y m bo l of the 2008 Olympic Games. Two contemporary bu il d i ng s in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t a r er e m a rk a b l e l a nd m a rk s : the CCTV Building and the World Trade Center Tower III. Both a r e ou t s t a nd i ng e x a m p l e s of contemporary a r c h i t e c t u r e .There are a l s o a number of r e m a rk a b l e r e m a i n s from the m e d i e v a l city including the Ming Dynasty City W a ll S i t e Park (the only r e m a i n s of the city w a ll ) inChongwen D i s tr i c t , the Drum and B e ll Towers in D ong c h e ng D i s tr i c t ,and Q i a n m e n in Chongwen D i s tr i c t .Palaces, temples and parksThe c i ty 's many green oases are a w ond e r f u l break from w a l k i ng a l ong the never e nd i ng bou l e v a r d s and n a rr o w hutongs. L o c a l s s i m il a r l y flock to B e iji ng 's p a l a c e s , t e m p l e s and parks whenever they have t i m e . T h e green areas are not only used for r e l a x i ng but a l s o for sports, d a n c i ng, s i ng i ng and g e n e r a l r e c r ea t i on.The most i m po rt a n t p a l a c e , bar none, i s t h eFo r b i dd e n city in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t . T h e Fo r b i dd e n City was home to the I m p e r i a l Court during the Ming and Qing Dy n a s t i e s . U n li k e many other h i s t o r i c a l s i gh t s , the Fo r b i dd e n City was r e l a t i v e l y untouched during the c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i on due to the t i m e l y i n t e rv e n t i on of p r e m i e r Zhou En l a i , who sent h i s troops to guard t h e p a l a c e from the o v e r-z ea l ou s Red Guards. The T e m p l e of Heaven (天坛) in Chongwen D i s tr i c t i s the s y m bo l of B e iji ng and i s surrounded by a li v e l y park ty p i c a ll y packed with hordes of l o c a l p e op l e drinking tea, p r a c t i c i ng c a lli g r a ph y or t a i -c h i or j u s t w a t c h i ng the world go by. T h e Yonghegong (Lama T e m p l e ) ( 雍 和 宫 ) in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t i s one of the most i m po rt a n t a nd b ea u t i f u l t e m p l e s in the country.Other parks are scattered around B e iji ng. Some of the best are Zhongshan Park ( 中 山 公 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , B e i h a i Park ( 北 海 公 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , Chaoyang Park ( 朝 阳 公 园 ) in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and R i t a n Park (日坛公园) in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t . The B e iji ng Zoo (北京动物 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t i s f a m ou s for i t s tr a d i t i on a l l a nd s c a p i ng and g i a n t pandas, however li k e many zoos, the c ond i t i on s for the a n i m a l s have been qu e s t i on e d.H a i d i a n D i s tr i c t i s home to the Summer p a l a c e (颐和园), ther u i n s of the Old Summer P a l a c e ( 圆 明 园 ), F r a g r a n t H ill s(香山), and the B e iji ng B o t a n i c a l Garden (北京植物 园). Allare qu i t e c l o s e together and worth a v i s i t .Museums and galleries The museums in B e iji ng are g e n e r a ll y not yet up to the standard seenin c i t i e s such as P a r i s , Ro m e and New York. However the city c on t a i n s one of the l a r g e s t and most w e ll known museums in A s i a , the P a l a c e Museum a l s o known as the Fo r b i dd e n City. It i s a l s o a UNESCO World H e r i t a g eS i t e.Ch i n a's government i s d e t e r m i n e d to change the backward p e r c e p t i on of i t s museums and h a s i n v e s t e d h ea v il y in t h e i r d e v e l op m e n t. It has a l s o made most of them (not the Fo r b i dd e n City) f r ee to v i s i t.However, for some museums t i c k e t s must be reserved three days in a d v a n c e.One of the most w e ll-k no w n museums in B e iji ng i s the N a t i on a l Museum ( 国家博物馆) in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t,w h i c h has been c l o s e d for r e no v a t i on s i n c e2007 and i s expected to reopen in2010. The M ili t a ry Museum (军事博物馆 ) in H a i d i a n D i s tr i c t has long been a f a v o r i t e with do m e s t i c and f o r e i gn t ou r i s t s.The C a p i t a l Museum (首都博物馆 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t i s a n e w high p r o f il e museum with h i s t o r i c a l and art e x h i b i t i on s.F i n a ll y,a number of restored f o r m e r r e s i d e n c e s of f a m ou s B e iji ng e r s,e s p e c i a ll y in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t,g i v e a good i n s i gh t into d a il y li f e in f o r m e r t i m e s.The contemporary art scene in B e iji ng i s boo m i ng and a l a r g e number of a rt i s t s e x h i b i t and s e ll t h e i r art in g a ll e r i e s around the city. The g a ll e r i e s are concentrated in a number of art d i s tr i c t s, including the o l d e s t and ea s i e s t a cc e ss i b l e, but a l s o i n c r ea s i ng l y c o mm e r c i a l and m a i n s tr ea m, D a s h a n z i Art D i s tr i c t in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t.Other newer and perhaps more cutting edge a rt d i s tr i c t s i n c l ud e C a o c h a ngd i in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and Songzhuan A rt i s t's V ill a g e in T ong z hou D i s tr i c t.The languages of BeijingStandard M a nd a r i n i t s e l f was the a d m i n i s tr a t i v e l a ngu a g e of the Ming and Q i ng d y n a s t i e s and w a s based m a i n l y on the B e iji ng d i a l e c t. For l a ngu a g e students t h i s makes s t ud y i ng in B e iji ng a n e x c e ll e n t chance to l ea r n the l a ngu a g e in a r e l a t i v e l y pure form. That b e i ng s a i d,B e iji ng d i a l e c t c on t a i n s n a s a l "e r"sounds at the end of many words. Hence the ub i qu i t ou s l a m b kabobs (羊肉串yán g ròu c h uàn) become "yán g ròu c h uàn r". In a dd i t i on,the B e iji ng d i a l e c t c on s i s t s of many l o c a l s l a ng s which have not been i n c o r po r a t e d into standard M a nd a r i n.B e iji ng t a x i d r i v e r s are f a m ou s l y chatty and will g l a d l y engage students of the l a ngu a g e o ff e r i ng e x c e ll e n t chances to p r a c t i c e the l a ngu a g e and get a f ee l for the changes in the city and country from an "Old B e iji ng e r".Eng li s h i s spoken by s t a ff at the m a i n t ou r i s t a ttr a c t i on s,as w e ll as at m a j o r ho t e l s.O t h e rw i s e, Eng li s h speakers are not common, so a l w a y s get your ho t e l's bu s i n e ss card to show the t a x i d r i v e r in case you get l o s t.L i k e w i s e,have s t a ff at your ho t e l wr i t e down the names of any t ou r i s t a ttr a c t i on you p l a n to v i s i t in Ch i n e s e,so l o c a l s can po i n t you out in the right d i r e c t i on.Scenic and Historic Interest Areas* The Great W a ll of Ch i n a (长城Chángchéng) about a 1 hour tr a i n trip or 1.5 hour bus r i d e from the city (be aware of bus scams). See Great W a ll for g e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i on on the Great W a ll and see the suburb a rt i c l e for i nd i v i du a l li s t i ng s.The B a d a li ng s e c t i on i s the most f a m ou s,but a l s o over-restored and crowded. J i n s h a n li ng,Huanghuacheng and S i m a t a i are more d i s t a n t but o ff e r a better v i e w of the w a ll away from the crowds. M u t i a n y u has been restored, but i s f a r l e ss c r o w d e d than B a d a li ng.Crowds are a d e f i n i t e i ss u e with the Great W a ll:at popu l a r s e c t i on s at popu l a r t i m e s,it becomes not the Great W a ll of Ch i n a,but rather the Great W a ll of T ou r i s t s.It i s po ss i b l e to rent a t a x i for ¥400-800 for the round trip including w a i t i ng t i m e.You may want to bring a j a c k e t a g a i n s t the wind or cold in the c h illi e r season - in the summer you will need l o t s of w a t e r,and it will be cheaper if you b r i ng your own.* Hutongs ( 胡 同 Hútòng). B e iji ng 's a n c i e n t a ll e yw a y s , where you can find tr a d i t i on a l B e iji ng a r c h i t e c t u r e . They date back to when B e iji ng was the c a p i t o l of the Yuan d y n a s ty (1266-1368). M o s t bu il d i ng s in hutongs are made in the tr a d i t i on a l courtyard (四合院 s ìh éy u àn ) s ty l e . Many of these courtyard homes were o r i g i n a ll y o cc up i e d by a r i s t o c r a t s , though a f t e r t h e Co mm un i s t takeover in 1949 the a r i s t o c r a t s were pushed out and r e p l a c e d with poor f a m ili e s . Hutongs can s t ill be f ound throughout the area within the 2nd Ring Road, though many are b e i ng d e m o li s h e d to make way for new bu il d i ng s and w i d e r roads. M o s t popu l a r among t ou r i s t s are t h e hutongs near Q i a n m e n and H ouh a i . The hutongs may at f i r s t f ee l i n t i m i d a t i ng to tr a v e ll e r s used to the new w i d e streets of B e iji ng, but the l o c a l s are very f r i e nd l y and will o f t e n try to h e l p you i f you look l o s t .Theaters and concert hallsN a t i on a l Centre for the P e r f o r m i ng A rt s in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t wasf i n a li s e d in 2007 and f i n a ll y gave B e iji ng a modern th ea t e r c o m p l e xc o v e r i ng opera, m u s i c and theater. T h i s i s worth a v i s i t even ifyou do not go to a p e r f o r m a n c e .The B e iji ng Opera i s c on s i d e r e d the most f a m ou s of a ll the tr a d i t i on a l opera p e r f o r m e d a r ound Ch i n a .T h i s kind of opera i s no t h i ng li k e western opera with costumes, s i ng i ng s ty l e , m u s i c a nd spectator r ea c t i on s b e i ng d i s t i n c t l y Ch i n e s e . The plot i s u s u a ll y qu i t e s i m p l e , so you m i gh t be a b l e to understand some of what happens even if you do not understand the l a ngu a g e . Some of the b e s t p l a c e s to watchB e iji ng Opera are found in X u a n w uD i s tr i c t including Huguang Huguang Theatre and L a o SheTeahouse. There are a l s o a number in D ong c h e ng D i s tr i c ti n c l ud i ng Chang'an Grand T h ea tr e .A c r ob a t i c s shows are a l s o worth a v i s i t if you want to s ee sometr a d i t i on a l Ch i n e s e e n t e rt a i n m e n t . Some of the b e s t shows arefound in T i a nq i a o A c r ob a t i c s Theatre in Xuanwu D i s tr i c tand in Chaoyang Theatre in Ch a o y a ng D i s tr i c t .Drama p l a y s has had a s l o w start in B e iji ng and i s s t ill notas w i d e s p r ea d as you might expect for a city li k e B e iji ng,and you will most li k e l y not be a b l e to find m a n y Westernp l a y s . However, some good p l a c e s for contemporary Ch i n e s ep l a y s do e x i s t including C a p i t a l Theatre in DongchengD i s tr i c t and Century Theater in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t .C l a ss i c a l m u s i c has got a much stronger foothold inB e iji ng than drama p l a y s . Some of the best p l a c e s to go are the N a t i on a l Centre for the P e r f o r m i ng A rt s andthe Century Theater both m e n t i on e d above as w e ll as B e iji ng Concert H a ll in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t .ShoppingThroughout n ea r l y a ll markets in B e iji ng, h a gg li ng i s e ss e n t i a l . E s p e c i a ll y when b r o w s i ng through l a r g e ,"t ou r i s ty " s hopp i ng areas for common i t e m s , do not put i t beneath yourdignity to start b a r g a i n i ng at 15% off the vendor's i n i t i a l a s k i ng p r i c e . Inf a c t , in the most "t ou r i s ty " markets f i n a l p r i c e s c a n o f t e n be as low as15%-20% of the i n i t i a l a s k i ng p r i c e , a nd "r e m o v i ng a z e r o " i s n 't abad entry point in the b a r g a i n i ng p r o c e ss . A f t e r s p e nd i ng some t i m eh a gg li ng, never h e s i t a t e to t h r ea t e n w a l k i ng away, as t h i s i s o f t e n thequ i c k e s t way to see a vendor l o w e r h i s or her p r i c e s to a r ea s on a b l e l e v e l .Buying in bulk or in g r oup s may a l s o l o w e r the p r i c e . Beware that if youstart your b a r g a i n i ng a t too low of a p r i c e , such as 50% off the a s k i ng p r i c e , the vendor may j u s t i mm e d i a t e l y g i v e up on tryingto s e ll the i t e m to you. How high or low the vendor sets the a s k i ng p r i c e depends on t h e customer, the vendor, the product's popu l a r i ty , and even the t i m e of day. Vendors a l s o tend to target v i s i b l e m i no r i t i e s more, such as C a u c a s i a n s or p e op l e of A f r i c a n d e s c e n t .The are a number of i n t e r e s t i ng markets around B e iji ng where you can find a ll kind of cheap (a nd o f t e n f a k e ) s t u ff . Some of the most popu l a r p l a c e s are X i z h i m e n in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , S il k Street or P a n ji a y u a n in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and Hong Q i a o M a rk e tin Chongwen D i s tr i c t .A s an a l t e r n a t i v e to the markets you can go to some of t h es hopp i ng areas li n e d with shops. T h i s i n c l ud e s N a n l uoguo x i a ngin Dongcheng D i s tr i c t and Q i a n m e n D a ji e P e d e s tr i a n Street,D a s h il a n and L i u li c h a ng in Xuanwu D i s tr i c t .If you are looking for tr a d i t i on a l Ch i n e s e food shops tryY i nh e hu a V e g e t a r i a n in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t ,D a o x i a ng c un, Liubiju or The Tea Street in Xuanwu D i s tr i c t and Chongwenmen Food Market in Chongwen D i s tr i c t .V i s i t i ng ho t e l shops and department stores i s not the most c h a r a c t e r f u l s hopp i ng in Ch i n a , but worth a look. W h il e g e n e r a ll y s i gn i f i c a n t l y more e x p e n s i v e , they are l e ss li k e l y to s e ll truly low qu a li ty goods. The old s ty l e of Ch i n e s e r e t a ili ng i s g r a du a ll y b e i ng tr a n s f o r m e d by shops with a better d e s i gn sense and s ou v e n i r i t e m s are g e tt i ng better each year. S il k c l o t h i ng, t a b l e s e tt i ng s a nd so on and other spots around town, are worth a look, as are po r c e l a i n, s p e c i a l ty tea and o t h e r tr a d i t i on a l i t e m s . Some of the most popu l a r areas for t h i s kind of s hopp i ng are W a ng f u ji ng a nd The M a ll s at O r i e n t a l P l a z a both in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t as w e ll as X i d a n in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t .CuisineThe best way to eat w e ll and c h ea p l y in B e iji ng i s to enter one of the ub i qu i t ou s restaurants w h e r e the l o c a l s are ea t i ng and pick a f e w d i ff e r e n t d i s h e s from the menu. Truth be told, anyone f a m ili a r with Western currency and p r i c e s will find B e iji ng a very i n e x p e n s i v e city for food, e s p e c i a ll y c on s i d e r i ng that t i pp i ng i s not p r a c t i c e d in Ch i n a .Some of the cheapest and most d e li c i ou s m ea l s can be had on the streets. Savory pancakes (煎饼果子 J i ānb ĭng gu ŏz i ) are one of the most popu l a r street snacks, eaten from m o r n i ng till n i gh t with most carts op e r a t i ng during the morning commute and then op e n i ng a g a i n at night for t h e a f t e r-c l ub crowds and n i gh t-o w l s . T h i s d e li c i ou s pancake i s cooked with an egg on a g r i dd l e , a f r i e d dough c r i s p i s added, and the w ho l e thing i s d r i zz l e d in s c a lli on s and a savory sauce. Hot sauce i s op t i on a l . D i e h a r d f a n s o f t e n go on a quest for the best cart in the city. T h i s treat s hou l d only cost ¥2.50, with an extra egg ¥3.Lamb kebabs ( 羊 肉 串 儿 yángròu chuànr) and o t h e r kebabsare g r ill e d on m a k e s h i f t stands a ll around B e iji ng, from thel a t e a f t e r noon to l a t e at n i gh t . W a ng f u ji ng has a "s n a c k s tr ee t "s e lli ng such mundane f a r e li k e l a m b, c h i c k e n, and b ee f as w e llas m u l t i p l e s ty l e s of nood l e d i s h e s , such as S i c hu a n s ty l e r i c enood l e s , but the b r a v e can a l s o s a m p l e s il kw o r m , s c o r p i on, and v a r i ou s o r g a n s a ll skewered on a s t i c k and g r ill e d to o r d e r .A w i n t e r s p e c i a l ty , c a nd i e d haw b e rr i e s ( 冰 糖 葫 芦 b īngtáng húlu) a r ed i ppe d in m o l t e n sugar which i s l ef t to harden in the cold and s o l d on a s t i c k .You can a l s o find v a r i a t i on s with oranges, grapes, s tr a w b e rr i e s , a nd bananas, ord i ppe d in c r u m b l e d peanuts as w e ll as sugar. T h i s s w ee t snack can a l s os o m e t i m e s be f ound in the s p r i ng and the summer, but t h e haw b e rr i e s are o f t e nfrom l a s t season's crop.The most f a m ou s street for f ood in B e iji ng i s p r ob a b l y G u iji e (簋街/鬼街 G u ǐji ē).B e iji ng Roast Duck i s a f a m ou s B e iji ng s p e c i a l ty served a tmany restaurants, but there are qu i t e a f e w r e s t a u r a n t s d e d i c a t e d tothe art of r o a s t i ng the p e r f e c t duck. Expect to pay around ¥40per w ho l e duck at budg e t-r a ng e e s t a b li s h m e n t s , and ¥160-200 ath i gh -e nd restaurants. B e iji ng duck (北京烤鸭 B ĕij īng k ăoy ā) i sserved with thin p a n c a k e s , p l u m sauce (甜面酱 t i án m i àn ji àng ),a nd s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and cucumbers. You dip the duck in the sauceand roll it up in the pancake with a f e w s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and/orc u c u m b e r s . The end re s u l t i s a m ou t h w a t e r i ng c o m b i n a t i on of thecool c r un c h i n e ss of the cucumber, the sharpness of the s c a lli on s ,and the rich f l a v o r s of the duck. B e iji ng i s a l s o known for i t s mutton hotpot (涮羊肉 shuàn yáng ròu), w h i c h o r i g i n a ll y came from the Manchu p e op l e and e m ph a s i z e s mutton over other meats. L i k e v a r i a t i on s of hotpot (g e n e r a l name 火锅 hu ŏ gu ō) from e l s e w h e r e in Ch i n a and Japan, hotpot i s a c oo k-i t-y ou r s e l f a ff a i r in a s t ea m i ng pot in the center of the t a b l e . U n li k e S i c hu a n hotpot, mutton hotpot f ea t u r e s a s a v o ry , non -s p i c y broth. If that's not e x c i t i ng enough for you, you can a l s o request a s p i c y broth (be a w a r e that t h i s i s f l a m i ng red, f ill e d with peppers, and not for the w ea k !). To p l a y it s a f e and s a t i s f yeveryone, you can request a y i ng-y a ng(阴阳yīnyáng) pot d i v i d e d down the m i dd l e, with s p i c y broth on one s i d e and r e gu l a r broth on the other. Raw i ng r e d i e n t s are purchased by the p l a t e, i n c l ud i ng other types of meat and s ea f ood,v e g e t a b l e s,mushrooms, nood l e s,and tofu, so i t's a l s o p e r f e c t l y po ss i b l e to have v e g e t a r i a n hotpot. A d i pp i ng sauce, u s u a ll y sesame, i s served as w e ll; you can add c h ili s,g a r li c, c il a n tr o,etc, to c u s t o m i z e your own sauce. W h il e"r a w"s ound s dangerous, boiling the meat y ou r s e l f i s the best way to ensure that more r i s ky meats li k e pork a r e fully cooked and f r ee of germs. In the city center, hotpot can run as much as ¥40-50 per p e r s on, but on the ou t s k i rt s it can be f ound for as li tt l e as ¥10-25. Low-budget types may reuse the s p i c e s or c oo k i ng broth from p r e v i ou s guests, a l t hough it has been boiling for s e v e r a l hou r s.B e iji ng p r o v i d e s an i d ea l oppo rt un i ty to s a m p l e f ood from a ll over the country. Some of B e iji ng's best restaurants serve f ood from S i c hu a n,Hunan, Guangzhou, T i b e t,Yunnan, X i n ji a ng,and m o r e.For v e g e t a r i a n s,B e iji ng's f i r s t pure v e g e t a r i a n bu ff e t restaurant i s l o c a t e d a Con f u c i u s T e m p l e,s ee Dongcheng D i s tr i c t for f u rt h e r d e t a il.O r i gu s has numerous l o c a t i on s throughout B e iji ng,and o ff e r s an a ll-y ou-c a n-ea t p i zz a/p a s t a bu ff e t for ¥39, i n c l ud i ng s o f t d r i n k s and dessert bar. If you're in the mood for Texan f a r e,head for t h e T i m's Texas BBQ near the J i a nguo m e n subway s t a t i on.T h e y'll h a pp il y p r o v i d e you with your f a v ou r i t e A m e r i c a n food and drink. Tony Roma's has a l o c a t i on in W a ng f u ji ng(in the O r i e n t a l P l a z a).Korean restaurants are a l s o very common in B e iji ng.A f r e qu e n t m ea l i s the g r ill-i t-y ou r s e l f barbeque, i n c l ud i ng b ee f, c h i c k e n,and s ea f ood i t e m s as w e ll as some v e g e t a b l e s i n c l ud i ng g r ee n s and po t a t o e s.All luxury ho t e l s have at l ea s t one restaurant, w h i c h can be of any c u i s i n e they b e li e v e t h e i r guests will e n j o y. You will find French, I t a li a n,A m e r i c a n,and Ch i n e s e restaurants in most ho t e l s. Restaurants that serve a b a l on e and s h a rk f i n are c on s i d e r e d the most e x p e n s i v e restaurants in t h e city. Expect to pay upwards of ¥800 for a "c h ea p"m ea l at one of these restaurants, much more i f s p l u r g i ng.Places to drinkcity. A f e w years back, the only one was S a n li t un, but a l m o s t everyyear the l a s t f e w years have seen a new a r ea emerge. The mosti m po rt a n t areas a r e:* H ouh a i in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t l o c a t e d around the l a k e,H ouh a i* N a n l uogu X i a ng in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t l o c a t e d in t h em i dd l e of the hu t ong s* S a n li t un in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t was once the centre of n i gh t li f e in B e iji ng and s t ill popu l a r withexpats but i n c r ea s i ng l y un i n t e r e s t i ng for tr a v e ll e r s and l o c a l s.* Workers S t a d i u m in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t has taken over part of the a c t i on in nearby S a n li t un.* West Gate of Chaoyang Park in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s one of the newest bar areas in B e iji ng* L a d i e s'Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t. By day it has some f a s h i on shops, as i t s name s ugg e s t s, but it i sa l s o home to some i n t e r e s t i ng new bars, restaurants and c l ub s.* Yuan Dynasty W a ll Bar Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s a new ready-made bar area l o c a t e d n i c e l ya l ong a s m a ll r i v e r and a park but with qu i t e un i n t e r e s t i ngb a r s.l o c a l un i v e r s i ty students hang out. There are a number of bars andrestaurants w h i c h serve a great v a r i e ty of w i n e,beer a nd liquor for cheap.T h i s area i s a l s o w e ll known for i t s huge K o r ea n popu l a t i on and a goodp l a c e to find Korean food.* D a s h a n z i in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t,B e iji ng's trendy art z on e, t h i sold warehouse and f a c t o ry d i s tr i c t has been taken over by a rt g a ll e r i e s,art shops and bars. W e ll worth the trip to e x p e r i e n c e t h e B e iji ng artscene. A l s o known as Factory 798 (798 工厂QījiǔbāGōng c hǎng).。
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B e iji ng i s a huge city with s e v e r a l d i s tr i c t a rt i c l e s c on t a i n i ng s i gh t s ee i ng, restaurant, n i gh t li f e and a cc o mm od a t i on li s t i ng s — c on s i d e r p r i n t i ng them a ll .B e iji ng (北京 B ěij īng ) i s the c a p i t a l ofthe most popu l ou s country in the world, theP e op l e 's R e pub li c of Ch i n a , a nd a l s o i t ssecond l a r g e s t city a f t e r S h a ngh a i . It wasa l s o the seat of t h e Ming and Qing dynastyemperors until the f o r m a t i on of a r e pub li cin 1911. B e iji ng i s the po li t i c a l ,e du c a t i on a l a nd c u l t u r a l centre of thecountry and a s such it i s rich in h i s t o r i c a ls i t e s a nd i m po rt a n t government and c u l t u r a li n s t i t u t i on s .The city i s w e ll known for i t s f l a t n e ss and r e gu l a r c on s tr u c t i on. There are only three h ill s to b e found in the city li m i t s (in J i ng s h a n Park to the north of the f a m ou s Fo r b i dd e n City). L i k e t h e c on f i gu r a t i on of the Fo r b i dd e n City, B e iji ng has c on c e n tr i c "ring r o a d s ", which are a c t u a ll y r e c t a ngu l a r , that go around the m e tr opo li s .B e iji ng was host to the 2008 Summer O l y m p i c G a m e s .LandmarksThe centre of the city and most i m po rt a n t l a nd m a rk i s T i a n a n m e n Square in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t . T h i s i s the w o r l d 's l a r g e s t public square and a must see for a ll v i s i t o r s from abroad and from e l s e w h e r e in Ch i n a . The square i s surrounded by grand bu il d i ng s i n c l ud i ng the Great H a ll of t h e P e op l e , the Museum of Ch i n e s e H i s t o ry , the Museum of the Ch i n e s e R e v o l u t i on, the Q i a n m e n Gate and the Fo r b i dd e n City. It i s a l s o home to the Ch a i r m a n Mao M e m o r i a l H a ll and t h e Monument to the P e op l e 's M a rtyr s .The N a t i on a l S t a d i u m or B i r d 's Nest in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s a new m a j o r l a nd m a rk and t h e s y m bo l of the 2008 Olympic Games. Two contemporary bu il d i ng s in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t a r er e m a rk a b l e l a nd m a rk s : the CCTV Building and the World Trade Center Tower III. Both a r e ou t s t a nd i ng e x a m p l e s of contemporary a r c h i t e c t u r e .There are a l s o a number of r e m a rk a b l e r e m a i n s from the m e d i e v a l city including the Ming Dynasty City W a ll S i t e Park (the only r e m a i n s of the city w a ll ) inChongwen D i s tr i c t , the Drum and B e ll Towers in D ong c h e ng D i s tr i c t ,and Q i a n m e n in Chongwen D i s tr i c t .Palaces, temples and parksThe c i ty 's many green oases are a w ond e r f u l break from w a l k i ng a l ong the never e nd i ng bou l e v a r d s and n a rr o w hutongs. L o c a l s s i m il a r l y flock to B e iji ng 's p a l a c e s , t e m p l e s and parks whenever they have t i m e . T h e green areas are not only used for r e l a x i ng but a l s o for sports, d a n c i ng, s i ng i ng and g e n e r a l r e c r ea t i on.The most i m po rt a n t p a l a c e , bar none, i s t h eFo r b i dd e n city in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t . T h e Fo r b i dd e n City was home to the I m p e r i a l Court during the Ming and Qing Dy n a s t i e s . U n li k e many other h i s t o r i c a l s i gh t s , the Fo r b i dd e n City was r e l a t i v e l y untouched during the c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i on due to the t i m e l y i n t e rv e n t i on of p r e m i e r Zhou En l a i , who sent h i s troops to guard t h e p a l a c e from the o v e r-z ea l ou s Red Guards. The T e m p l e of Heaven (天坛) in Chongwen D i s tr i c t i s the s y m bo l of B e iji ng and i s surrounded by a li v e l y park ty p i c a ll y packed with hordes of l o c a l p e op l e drinking tea, p r a c t i c i ng c a lli g r a ph y or t a i -c h i or j u s t w a t c h i ng the world go by. T h e Yonghegong (Lama T e m p l e ) ( 雍 和 宫 ) in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t i s one of the most i m po rt a n t a nd b ea u t i f u l t e m p l e s in the country.Other parks are scattered around B e iji ng. Some of the best are Zhongshan Park ( 中 山 公 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , B e i h a i Park ( 北 海 公 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , Chaoyang Park ( 朝 阳 公 园 ) in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and R i t a n Park (日坛公园) in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t . The B e iji ng Zoo (北京动物 园 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t i s f a m ou s for i t s tr a d i t i on a l l a nd s c a p i ng and g i a n t pandas, however li k e many zoos, the c ond i t i on s for the a n i m a l s have been qu e s t i on e d.H a i d i a n D i s tr i c t i s home to the Summer p a l a c e (颐和园), ther u i n s of the Old Summer P a l a c e ( 圆 明 园 ), F r a g r a n t H ill s(香山), and the B e iji ng B o t a n i c a l Garden (北京植物 园). Allare qu i t e c l o s e together and worth a v i s i t .Museums and galleries The museums in B e iji ng are g e n e r a ll y not yet up to the standard seenin c i t i e s such as P a r i s , Ro m e and New York. However the city c on t a i n s one of the l a r g e s t and most w e ll known museums in A s i a , the P a l a c e Museum a l s o known as the Fo r b i dd e n City. It i s a l s o a UNESCO World H e r i t a g eS i t e.Ch i n a's government i s d e t e r m i n e d to change the backward p e r c e p t i on of i t s museums and h a s i n v e s t e d h ea v il y in t h e i r d e v e l op m e n t. It has a l s o made most of them (not the Fo r b i dd e n City) f r ee to v i s i t.However, for some museums t i c k e t s must be reserved three days in a d v a n c e.One of the most w e ll-k no w n museums in B e iji ng i s the N a t i on a l Museum ( 国家博物馆) in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t,w h i c h has been c l o s e d for r e no v a t i on s i n c e2007 and i s expected to reopen in2010. The M ili t a ry Museum (军事博物馆 ) in H a i d i a n D i s tr i c t has long been a f a v o r i t e with do m e s t i c and f o r e i gn t ou r i s t s.The C a p i t a l Museum (首都博物馆 ) in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t i s a n e w high p r o f il e museum with h i s t o r i c a l and art e x h i b i t i on s.F i n a ll y,a number of restored f o r m e r r e s i d e n c e s of f a m ou s B e iji ng e r s,e s p e c i a ll y in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t,g i v e a good i n s i gh t into d a il y li f e in f o r m e r t i m e s.The contemporary art scene in B e iji ng i s boo m i ng and a l a r g e number of a rt i s t s e x h i b i t and s e ll t h e i r art in g a ll e r i e s around the city. The g a ll e r i e s are concentrated in a number of art d i s tr i c t s, including the o l d e s t and ea s i e s t a cc e ss i b l e, but a l s o i n c r ea s i ng l y c o mm e r c i a l and m a i n s tr ea m, D a s h a n z i Art D i s tr i c t in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t.Other newer and perhaps more cutting edge a rt d i s tr i c t s i n c l ud e C a o c h a ngd i in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and Songzhuan A rt i s t's V ill a g e in T ong z hou D i s tr i c t.The languages of BeijingStandard M a nd a r i n i t s e l f was the a d m i n i s tr a t i v e l a ngu a g e of the Ming and Q i ng d y n a s t i e s and w a s based m a i n l y on the B e iji ng d i a l e c t. For l a ngu a g e students t h i s makes s t ud y i ng in B e iji ng a n e x c e ll e n t chance to l ea r n the l a ngu a g e in a r e l a t i v e l y pure form. That b e i ng s a i d,B e iji ng d i a l e c t c on t a i n s n a s a l "e r"sounds at the end of many words. Hence the ub i qu i t ou s l a m b kabobs (羊肉串yán g ròu c h uàn) become "yán g ròu c h uàn r". In a dd i t i on,the B e iji ng d i a l e c t c on s i s t s of many l o c a l s l a ng s which have not been i n c o r po r a t e d into standard M a nd a r i n.B e iji ng t a x i d r i v e r s are f a m ou s l y chatty and will g l a d l y engage students of the l a ngu a g e o ff e r i ng e x c e ll e n t chances to p r a c t i c e the l a ngu a g e and get a f ee l for the changes in the city and country from an "Old B e iji ng e r".Eng li s h i s spoken by s t a ff at the m a i n t ou r i s t a ttr a c t i on s,as w e ll as at m a j o r ho t e l s.O t h e rw i s e, Eng li s h speakers are not common, so a l w a y s get your ho t e l's bu s i n e ss card to show the t a x i d r i v e r in case you get l o s t.L i k e w i s e,have s t a ff at your ho t e l wr i t e down the names of any t ou r i s t a ttr a c t i on you p l a n to v i s i t in Ch i n e s e,so l o c a l s can po i n t you out in the right d i r e c t i on.Scenic and Historic Interest Areas* The Great W a ll of Ch i n a (长城Chángchéng) about a 1 hour tr a i n trip or 1.5 hour bus r i d e from the city (be aware of bus scams). See Great W a ll for g e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i on on the Great W a ll and see the suburb a rt i c l e for i nd i v i du a l li s t i ng s.The B a d a li ng s e c t i on i s the most f a m ou s,but a l s o over-restored and crowded. J i n s h a n li ng,Huanghuacheng and S i m a t a i are more d i s t a n t but o ff e r a better v i e w of the w a ll away from the crowds. M u t i a n y u has been restored, but i s f a r l e ss c r o w d e d than B a d a li ng.Crowds are a d e f i n i t e i ss u e with the Great W a ll:at popu l a r s e c t i on s at popu l a r t i m e s,it becomes not the Great W a ll of Ch i n a,but rather the Great W a ll of T ou r i s t s.It i s po ss i b l e to rent a t a x i for ¥400-800 for the round trip including w a i t i ng t i m e.You may want to bring a j a c k e t a g a i n s t the wind or cold in the c h illi e r season - in the summer you will need l o t s of w a t e r,and it will be cheaper if you b r i ng your own.* Hutongs ( 胡 同 Hútòng). B e iji ng 's a n c i e n t a ll e yw a y s , where you can find tr a d i t i on a l B e iji ng a r c h i t e c t u r e . They date back to when B e iji ng was the c a p i t o l of the Yuan d y n a s ty (1266-1368). M o s t bu il d i ng s in hutongs are made in the tr a d i t i on a l courtyard (四合院 s ìh éy u àn ) s ty l e . Many of these courtyard homes were o r i g i n a ll y o cc up i e d by a r i s t o c r a t s , though a f t e r t h e Co mm un i s t takeover in 1949 the a r i s t o c r a t s were pushed out and r e p l a c e d with poor f a m ili e s . Hutongs can s t ill be f ound throughout the area within the 2nd Ring Road, though many are b e i ng d e m o li s h e d to make way for new bu il d i ng s and w i d e r roads. M o s t popu l a r among t ou r i s t s are t h e hutongs near Q i a n m e n and H ouh a i . The hutongs may at f i r s t f ee l i n t i m i d a t i ng to tr a v e ll e r s used to the new w i d e streets of B e iji ng, but the l o c a l s are very f r i e nd l y and will o f t e n try to h e l p you i f you look l o s t .Theaters and concert hallsN a t i on a l Centre for the P e r f o r m i ng A rt s in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t wasf i n a li s e d in 2007 and f i n a ll y gave B e iji ng a modern th ea t e r c o m p l e xc o v e r i ng opera, m u s i c and theater. T h i s i s worth a v i s i t even ifyou do not go to a p e r f o r m a n c e .The B e iji ng Opera i s c on s i d e r e d the most f a m ou s of a ll the tr a d i t i on a l opera p e r f o r m e d a r ound Ch i n a .T h i s kind of opera i s no t h i ng li k e western opera with costumes, s i ng i ng s ty l e , m u s i c a nd spectator r ea c t i on s b e i ng d i s t i n c t l y Ch i n e s e . The plot i s u s u a ll y qu i t e s i m p l e , so you m i gh t be a b l e to understand some of what happens even if you do not understand the l a ngu a g e . Some of the b e s t p l a c e s to watchB e iji ng Opera are found in X u a n w uD i s tr i c t including Huguang Huguang Theatre and L a o SheTeahouse. There are a l s o a number in D ong c h e ng D i s tr i c ti n c l ud i ng Chang'an Grand T h ea tr e .A c r ob a t i c s shows are a l s o worth a v i s i t if you want to s ee sometr a d i t i on a l Ch i n e s e e n t e rt a i n m e n t . Some of the b e s t shows arefound in T i a nq i a o A c r ob a t i c s Theatre in Xuanwu D i s tr i c tand in Chaoyang Theatre in Ch a o y a ng D i s tr i c t .Drama p l a y s has had a s l o w start in B e iji ng and i s s t ill notas w i d e s p r ea d as you might expect for a city li k e B e iji ng,and you will most li k e l y not be a b l e to find m a n y Westernp l a y s . However, some good p l a c e s for contemporary Ch i n e s ep l a y s do e x i s t including C a p i t a l Theatre in DongchengD i s tr i c t and Century Theater in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t .C l a ss i c a l m u s i c has got a much stronger foothold inB e iji ng than drama p l a y s . Some of the best p l a c e s to go are the N a t i on a l Centre for the P e r f o r m i ng A rt s andthe Century Theater both m e n t i on e d above as w e ll as B e iji ng Concert H a ll in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t .ShoppingThroughout n ea r l y a ll markets in B e iji ng, h a gg li ng i s e ss e n t i a l . E s p e c i a ll y when b r o w s i ng through l a r g e ,"t ou r i s ty " s hopp i ng areas for common i t e m s , do not put i t beneath yourdignity to start b a r g a i n i ng at 15% off the vendor's i n i t i a l a s k i ng p r i c e . Inf a c t , in the most "t ou r i s ty " markets f i n a l p r i c e s c a n o f t e n be as low as15%-20% of the i n i t i a l a s k i ng p r i c e , a nd "r e m o v i ng a z e r o " i s n 't abad entry point in the b a r g a i n i ng p r o c e ss . A f t e r s p e nd i ng some t i m eh a gg li ng, never h e s i t a t e to t h r ea t e n w a l k i ng away, as t h i s i s o f t e n thequ i c k e s t way to see a vendor l o w e r h i s or her p r i c e s to a r ea s on a b l e l e v e l .Buying in bulk or in g r oup s may a l s o l o w e r the p r i c e . Beware that if youstart your b a r g a i n i ng a t too low of a p r i c e , such as 50% off the a s k i ng p r i c e , the vendor may j u s t i mm e d i a t e l y g i v e up on tryingto s e ll the i t e m to you. How high or low the vendor sets the a s k i ng p r i c e depends on t h e customer, the vendor, the product's popu l a r i ty , and even the t i m e of day. Vendors a l s o tend to target v i s i b l e m i no r i t i e s more, such as C a u c a s i a n s or p e op l e of A f r i c a n d e s c e n t .The are a number of i n t e r e s t i ng markets around B e iji ng where you can find a ll kind of cheap (a nd o f t e n f a k e ) s t u ff . Some of the most popu l a r p l a c e s are X i z h i m e n in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t , S il k Street or P a n ji a y u a n in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t and Hong Q i a o M a rk e tin Chongwen D i s tr i c t .A s an a l t e r n a t i v e to the markets you can go to some of t h es hopp i ng areas li n e d with shops. T h i s i n c l ud e s N a n l uoguo x i a ngin Dongcheng D i s tr i c t and Q i a n m e n D a ji e P e d e s tr i a n Street,D a s h il a n and L i u li c h a ng in Xuanwu D i s tr i c t .If you are looking for tr a d i t i on a l Ch i n e s e food shops tryY i nh e hu a V e g e t a r i a n in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t ,D a o x i a ng c un, Liubiju or The Tea Street in Xuanwu D i s tr i c t and Chongwenmen Food Market in Chongwen D i s tr i c t .V i s i t i ng ho t e l shops and department stores i s not the most c h a r a c t e r f u l s hopp i ng in Ch i n a , but worth a look. W h il e g e n e r a ll y s i gn i f i c a n t l y more e x p e n s i v e , they are l e ss li k e l y to s e ll truly low qu a li ty goods. The old s ty l e of Ch i n e s e r e t a ili ng i s g r a du a ll y b e i ng tr a n s f o r m e d by shops with a better d e s i gn sense and s ou v e n i r i t e m s are g e tt i ng better each year. S il k c l o t h i ng, t a b l e s e tt i ng s a nd so on and other spots around town, are worth a look, as are po r c e l a i n, s p e c i a l ty tea and o t h e r tr a d i t i on a l i t e m s . Some of the most popu l a r areas for t h i s kind of s hopp i ng are W a ng f u ji ng a nd The M a ll s at O r i e n t a l P l a z a both in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t as w e ll as X i d a n in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t .CuisineThe best way to eat w e ll and c h ea p l y in B e iji ng i s to enter one of the ub i qu i t ou s restaurants w h e r e the l o c a l s are ea t i ng and pick a f e w d i ff e r e n t d i s h e s from the menu. Truth be told, anyone f a m ili a r with Western currency and p r i c e s will find B e iji ng a very i n e x p e n s i v e city for food, e s p e c i a ll y c on s i d e r i ng that t i pp i ng i s not p r a c t i c e d in Ch i n a .Some of the cheapest and most d e li c i ou s m ea l s can be had on the streets. Savory pancakes (煎饼果子 J i ānb ĭng gu ŏz i ) are one of the most popu l a r street snacks, eaten from m o r n i ng till n i gh t with most carts op e r a t i ng during the morning commute and then op e n i ng a g a i n at night for t h e a f t e r-c l ub crowds and n i gh t-o w l s . T h i s d e li c i ou s pancake i s cooked with an egg on a g r i dd l e , a f r i e d dough c r i s p i s added, and the w ho l e thing i s d r i zz l e d in s c a lli on s and a savory sauce. Hot sauce i s op t i on a l . D i e h a r d f a n s o f t e n go on a quest for the best cart in the city. T h i s treat s hou l d only cost ¥2.50, with an extra egg ¥3.Lamb kebabs ( 羊 肉 串 儿 yángròu chuànr) and o t h e r kebabsare g r ill e d on m a k e s h i f t stands a ll around B e iji ng, from thel a t e a f t e r noon to l a t e at n i gh t . W a ng f u ji ng has a "s n a c k s tr ee t "s e lli ng such mundane f a r e li k e l a m b, c h i c k e n, and b ee f as w e llas m u l t i p l e s ty l e s of nood l e d i s h e s , such as S i c hu a n s ty l e r i c enood l e s , but the b r a v e can a l s o s a m p l e s il kw o r m , s c o r p i on, and v a r i ou s o r g a n s a ll skewered on a s t i c k and g r ill e d to o r d e r .A w i n t e r s p e c i a l ty , c a nd i e d haw b e rr i e s ( 冰 糖 葫 芦 b īngtáng húlu) a r ed i ppe d in m o l t e n sugar which i s l ef t to harden in the cold and s o l d on a s t i c k .You can a l s o find v a r i a t i on s with oranges, grapes, s tr a w b e rr i e s , a nd bananas, ord i ppe d in c r u m b l e d peanuts as w e ll as sugar. T h i s s w ee t snack can a l s os o m e t i m e s be f ound in the s p r i ng and the summer, but t h e haw b e rr i e s are o f t e nfrom l a s t season's crop.The most f a m ou s street for f ood in B e iji ng i s p r ob a b l y G u iji e (簋街/鬼街 G u ǐji ē).B e iji ng Roast Duck i s a f a m ou s B e iji ng s p e c i a l ty served a tmany restaurants, but there are qu i t e a f e w r e s t a u r a n t s d e d i c a t e d tothe art of r o a s t i ng the p e r f e c t duck. Expect to pay around ¥40per w ho l e duck at budg e t-r a ng e e s t a b li s h m e n t s , and ¥160-200 ath i gh -e nd restaurants. B e iji ng duck (北京烤鸭 B ĕij īng k ăoy ā) i sserved with thin p a n c a k e s , p l u m sauce (甜面酱 t i án m i àn ji àng ),a nd s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and cucumbers. You dip the duck in the sauceand roll it up in the pancake with a f e w s li v e r s of s c a lli on s and/orc u c u m b e r s . The end re s u l t i s a m ou t h w a t e r i ng c o m b i n a t i on of thecool c r un c h i n e ss of the cucumber, the sharpness of the s c a lli on s ,and the rich f l a v o r s of the duck. B e iji ng i s a l s o known for i t s mutton hotpot (涮羊肉 shuàn yáng ròu), w h i c h o r i g i n a ll y came from the Manchu p e op l e and e m ph a s i z e s mutton over other meats. L i k e v a r i a t i on s of hotpot (g e n e r a l name 火锅 hu ŏ gu ō) from e l s e w h e r e in Ch i n a and Japan, hotpot i s a c oo k-i t-y ou r s e l f a ff a i r in a s t ea m i ng pot in the center of the t a b l e . U n li k e S i c hu a n hotpot, mutton hotpot f ea t u r e s a s a v o ry , non -s p i c y broth. If that's not e x c i t i ng enough for you, you can a l s o request a s p i c y broth (be a w a r e that t h i s i s f l a m i ng red, f ill e d with peppers, and not for the w ea k !). To p l a y it s a f e and s a t i s f yeveryone, you can request a y i ng-y a ng(阴阳yīnyáng) pot d i v i d e d down the m i dd l e, with s p i c y broth on one s i d e and r e gu l a r broth on the other. Raw i ng r e d i e n t s are purchased by the p l a t e, i n c l ud i ng other types of meat and s ea f ood,v e g e t a b l e s,mushrooms, nood l e s,and tofu, so i t's a l s o p e r f e c t l y po ss i b l e to have v e g e t a r i a n hotpot. A d i pp i ng sauce, u s u a ll y sesame, i s served as w e ll; you can add c h ili s,g a r li c, c il a n tr o,etc, to c u s t o m i z e your own sauce. W h il e"r a w"s ound s dangerous, boiling the meat y ou r s e l f i s the best way to ensure that more r i s ky meats li k e pork a r e fully cooked and f r ee of germs. In the city center, hotpot can run as much as ¥40-50 per p e r s on, but on the ou t s k i rt s it can be f ound for as li tt l e as ¥10-25. Low-budget types may reuse the s p i c e s or c oo k i ng broth from p r e v i ou s guests, a l t hough it has been boiling for s e v e r a l hou r s.B e iji ng p r o v i d e s an i d ea l oppo rt un i ty to s a m p l e f ood from a ll over the country. Some of B e iji ng's best restaurants serve f ood from S i c hu a n,Hunan, Guangzhou, T i b e t,Yunnan, X i n ji a ng,and m o r e.For v e g e t a r i a n s,B e iji ng's f i r s t pure v e g e t a r i a n bu ff e t restaurant i s l o c a t e d a Con f u c i u s T e m p l e,s ee Dongcheng D i s tr i c t for f u rt h e r d e t a il.O r i gu s has numerous l o c a t i on s throughout B e iji ng,and o ff e r s an a ll-y ou-c a n-ea t p i zz a/p a s t a bu ff e t for ¥39, i n c l ud i ng s o f t d r i n k s and dessert bar. If you're in the mood for Texan f a r e,head for t h e T i m's Texas BBQ near the J i a nguo m e n subway s t a t i on.T h e y'll h a pp il y p r o v i d e you with your f a v ou r i t e A m e r i c a n food and drink. Tony Roma's has a l o c a t i on in W a ng f u ji ng(in the O r i e n t a l P l a z a).Korean restaurants are a l s o very common in B e iji ng.A f r e qu e n t m ea l i s the g r ill-i t-y ou r s e l f barbeque, i n c l ud i ng b ee f, c h i c k e n,and s ea f ood i t e m s as w e ll as some v e g e t a b l e s i n c l ud i ng g r ee n s and po t a t o e s.All luxury ho t e l s have at l ea s t one restaurant, w h i c h can be of any c u i s i n e they b e li e v e t h e i r guests will e n j o y. You will find French, I t a li a n,A m e r i c a n,and Ch i n e s e restaurants in most ho t e l s. Restaurants that serve a b a l on e and s h a rk f i n are c on s i d e r e d the most e x p e n s i v e restaurants in t h e city. Expect to pay upwards of ¥800 for a "c h ea p"m ea l at one of these restaurants, much more i f s p l u r g i ng.Places to drinkcity. A f e w years back, the only one was S a n li t un, but a l m o s t everyyear the l a s t f e w years have seen a new a r ea emerge. The mosti m po rt a n t areas a r e:* H ouh a i in X i c h e ng D i s tr i c t l o c a t e d around the l a k e,H ouh a i* N a n l uogu X i a ng in Dongcheng D i s tr i c t l o c a t e d in t h em i dd l e of the hu t ong s* S a n li t un in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t was once the centre of n i gh t li f e in B e iji ng and s t ill popu l a r withexpats but i n c r ea s i ng l y un i n t e r e s t i ng for tr a v e ll e r s and l o c a l s.* Workers S t a d i u m in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t has taken over part of the a c t i on in nearby S a n li t un.* West Gate of Chaoyang Park in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s one of the newest bar areas in B e iji ng* L a d i e s'Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t. By day it has some f a s h i on shops, as i t s name s ugg e s t s, but it i sa l s o home to some i n t e r e s t i ng new bars, restaurants and c l ub s.* Yuan Dynasty W a ll Bar Street in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t i s a new ready-made bar area l o c a t e d n i c e l ya l ong a s m a ll r i v e r and a park but with qu i t e un i n t e r e s t i ngb a r s.l o c a l un i v e r s i ty students hang out. There are a number of bars andrestaurants w h i c h serve a great v a r i e ty of w i n e,beer a nd liquor for cheap.T h i s area i s a l s o w e ll known for i t s huge K o r ea n popu l a t i on and a goodp l a c e to find Korean food.* D a s h a n z i in Chaoyang D i s tr i c t,B e iji ng's trendy art z on e, t h i sold warehouse and f a c t o ry d i s tr i c t has been taken over by a rt g a ll e r i e s,art shops and bars. W e ll worth the trip to e x p e r i e n c e t h e B e iji ng artscene. A l s o known as Factory 798 (798 工厂QījiǔbāGōng c hǎng).。