Beijing VisitorBeijing VisitorTourist and resident information on Beijing including sight guides, images of the country and historical background. 
Articles
Bloomin? Beautiful
2008-04-26 13:55:00 While many of us living in Beijing probably don't need much reminder that the weather is finally warming and it is the most amazing time of the year to see the miracles of spring, those readers visiting Beijing might not be aware of the awesome displays awaiting discovery in Beijing's parks. A visit to the parks at this time of year is an incredibly rewarding experience.Not only will you see picture perfect row upon row of brilliantly coloured tulips, beds bursting with dazzling daffodils or trellises trembling under the load of pendulant bunches of wisteria, but you will get to mix with happy and friendly locals as they too enjoy the spectacle.Many will greet visitors or even practice their English with you given an opportunity. If you happen to visit Jingshan Park on a Sunday morning there is the extra special treat of free entertainment from hundreds of locals exercising their vocal chords as they sing their favourite tunes in unison or play various musical instruments around t... More About: China , Beautiful
Beijing Olympic Fever Continues to Build
2008-04-24 05:17:00 Olympic Fever continues to buildWith the recent synchronized swimming events in the Water Cube and the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in the National Stadium demand for tickets has reached even higher levels than before at many of Beijing ?s international sporting events.A chance to experience world class sporting venues newly opened to the public, along with the opportunity to enjoy world sport competitions is bringing thousands of people out to buy tickets. Gone are the days of entering a mad scramble or scrum to reach a ticketing window! Now all who are interested in buying tickets for events can relax in queues and know that their turn will come to buy a ticket, if they haven?t sold out. Sadly this writer was not able to purchase synchronized swimming tickets for the Water Cube as the demand was high and tickets sold out after only one hour of queuing. However, the attraction of the entering the freshly opened National Stadium (Bird?s Nest) was well worth queuing for tickets to the ... More About: Olympics , Olympic , Build
5th Annual That?s Beijing Reader Restaurant Awards 2008
2008-04-23 12:40:00 5th Annual That?s Beijing Reader Restaurant Awards 2008Having only been open four months, SALT?s Best Restaurant (non-Chinese) win at this year?s That?s Beijing Reader Restaurant Awards was all the more sweet for owner Gabby Alves and head chef Daniel Urdaneta. The team have managed to develop the restaurant, situated in an area beyond the 4th Ring Road, into a now widely known name that not only picked up best restaurant award but also bagged Best Service and Best Contemporary Cuisine.The 5th annual awards were held at CJW, The Place and saw many big names from Beijing?s Restaurant scene in attendance. Those attending included die-hard restaurant goers and professionals from the industry such as Cho Chong Gee of Bed Bar and the team at Alameda, last year?s successful winners of the Best Restaurant award. Between the presentation of awards guests sipped San Pellegrino, Jebsen fine wines and Stella Artois beer in the stylish surroundings.Hosted by Michael Wester of True Run media and...
Keeping Fit in Beijing
2008-04-22 05:11:00 Keeping FitAs part of their regular routine guards around all of Beijing ’s government and non-government institutions, parks and shopping venues have to maintain some degree of fitness. With the weather improving it is far easier for them to train and enjoy comradeship as they keep fit together.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Army Training Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Beijing Restaurant Review: SALT
2008-04-20 10:37:00 Mediterranean Style Restaurant : SALTSALT is the restaurant to indulge yourself if you enjoy Mediterranean style food. Open only for about 4 months above Frank’s Place this classy restaurant with minimalist, contemporary décor provides attentive service with food to delight!Advising customers and keeping an eye on standards throughout the restaurant you will notice the owner and manager, Gaby Alves, moving about assisting people with their orders, advising staff and maintaining a cheerful ambience. Gaby is eager to maintain high standards and ensure diners have a great night out enjoying superb food accompanied by outstanding wines.There is a positive feel to SALT with diners generating a real buzz and the restaurant usually either full or close to capacity.An open kitchen adds a spectacular dash of colour and excitement to the dining experience. Food from this kitchen will surely surprise and delight those who choose to eat here.SALT2nd Floor, Trio Building,Jiangtai Xi Lu, (West ... More About: Beijing , Review , Salt
Gobi Desert Inner Mongolia
2008-04-18 14:01:00 ??The Gobi Desert (also spelt Kobqi) is a 1500m long desert in northern China and southern Mongolia . The Gobi is Asia's largest desert and because of its northern latitude and average altitude of 900 meters above sea level is classified as a "cold" desert, with temperatures dropping well below freezing in winter. The desert is marked by extremes in diurnal temperature.The Gobi desert is expanding due to desertification caused by human activity in the area and the Gobi is now a major source of dust storms which can cover Beijing at this time of year and spread as far as Korea and Japan.The Gobi desert is an area of immense ecological interest and among the animals living in the desert are wolves, the wild Bacterian (two-humped) camel (which survives on snow in the winter), the Snow Leopard and a small number of Gobi bears - the only bears known to survive in a desert environment and extremely endangered with a population of only around 50 individuals.Images © Daniel AllenThe area de...
Beijing Restaurant Review: In and Out
2008-04-16 18:01:00 ????Located between Jenny Lou and April Gourmet grocery stores on Beixiao Street this contemporary Lijiang themed restaurant offers an authentic and unique eating option among many of Beijing ?s restaurants. The contemporary and spacious design of this third floor restaurant features newspaper lined ceilings and polished concrete floors. Tables along the windows overlooking the quiet street of In & Out are mostly separated from one another by potted palms which offer a more intimate dining option in this mostly open plan restaurant.Unlike many restaurants in Beijing the tables are generously spaced, thus allowing diners to enjoy conversation around their own table, rather than those of the neighbouring tables. Furnishings are somewhat rustic with solid wooden tables and chairs. Many of the chairs actually take the form of long benches. Such a design helps one understand the function of this fascinating restaurant named In & Out. You come in, eat and leave as comfort is not a ... More About: Restaurant , Review
Beijing Olympic Traffic Restrictions
2008-04-16 04:07:00 Beijing Olympic Traffic RestrictionsAuthorities in Beijing plan to introduce a range of traffic restrictions, including car bans, before the athletes start arriving in the athletes? village during July 2008. The restrictions will ease traffic jams and improve air quality in the city. Last August when the restrictions were given a trial run the city enjoyed a number of consecutive blue sky days.Vehicles will be banned on alternate days according to odd and even numbers. In effect the ban is likely to start around the 17th July and end after the Paralympic Games. Government vehicles will also be restricted during the same time.Beijing plans to assist Olympic participants by introducing special traffic lanes leading to venues. Extra subway trains are being added to the subway system and new buses will be added to the public transport system. Public transport hours will also be increased to improve accessibility around the city.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on ... More About: China , Beijing
Beijing Building Sites To Close Pre-Olympics
2008-04-15 10:14:00 From July 20th Beijing 's building sites will fall silent three weeks before the start of the Olympic Games in August in an effort to clear Beijing's skies before the big event kicks off.Concrete mixers will grid to a halt, outdoor paint-spraying will be banned, along with any digging.Cement manufacturers and concrete mixing facilities in and around Beijing have also been told to cease operations from July 20th.A ban on vehicles according to their registration numbers is also expected to come in to force.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing Olympics Book the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Building , Sites
Workers Indoor Arena
2008-04-14 02:39:00 The 13,000 capacity Workers Indoor Arena (Beijing Workers' Gymnasium) will stage the 2008 Olympic boxing event and the judo tournament at the 20008 Paralympics.The arena was completely renovated for the 2008 Olympics with the installation of barrier-free facilities for wheel-chair access. Also upgraged were the venue's acoustics, electrical, lighting, seating and ventilation systems. A VIP area was added and the press box expanded.The arena is located just to the north west of Workers Stadium.Completed in 1961 the arena staged the World Table Tennis Championships of that year.Workers Indoor ArenaGongti RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijingHotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsPeking PRC Workers Stadium 0lympic VenuesBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Season?s Place Shopping Centre, Beijing
2008-04-13 10:34:00 Season?s Place Shopping Centre , Beijing Beijing visitors staying in the Ritz Carlton or Westin Hotels are in a perfect location to shop at this heavily promoted shopping centre recently opened in Beijing. These hotels are set either end of a central park area with the Westin Hotel to the west and the Ritz Carlton Hotel to the East. Season?s Place occupies the southern side of the park area while a range of coffee shops and restaurants line the northern side of the park, now being referred to by some as Bar Street.Anyone needing a break from typical crowded, noisy, bustling Beijing shopping experiences will find themselves rewarded here at Season?s Place. If shopping in crowded shopping centres or squeezy markets is not your idea of an enjoyable shopping experience then try shopping at the new Season?s Place shopping centre.Shopping at Season?s Place at the end of March and into April 2008 provides shoppers with open expanses of smooth white marble floors in a brightly lit shopping p... More About: Season
Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 Update
2008-04-12 00:59:00 Stage 2 of the new terminal was implemented on 26th March. As planned most international flights now arrive and depart from Beijing 's new Terminal 3 building. The move for most airlines from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 occured on 26th March. International travellers have been using the new Terminal 3 building since that time.The new light rail link from the airport to Dongzhimen Subway Station is now in testing for the new line. No doubt many travellers will be looking forward to finally being able to use this rail link to the airport and thus avoid traffic jams on the airport expressway.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Beijing Airport Terminal 3 Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Ling Long Pagoda
2008-04-11 03:41:00 Ling Long Pagoda looms high above the surrounding skyline (see below left) and provides a new landmark in the Olympic Park area.Glimpses of National Stadium , Digital Beijing Building, National Indoor Stadium by night.As the summer draws close, the final touches are being put on the stadium. Workers are working feverishly to have everything ready to go on August 8th, 2008, at 8 pm.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China National Stadium Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Beijing Shop Sign
2008-04-08 17:54:00 "Money Laundering"A wonderful if slightly off translation found in Beijing .Sorry to disappoint, this is not a mafia or yakuza or tong-related company.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Chinglish Beijing OlympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Shop , Sign
Workers Stadium Beijing
2008-04-08 07:23:00 ?????The renovated Worker's Stadium will host quarter final and semi final matches at the 2008 Beijing Olympics soccer competition.Situated in the Sanlitun entertainment and shopping district, the 70,000 capacity stadium was constructed in 1959 and was one of the "Ten Great Buildings" constructed for the 10th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC). Other "Ten Great Buildings" include Beijing Railway Station, The Great Hall of the People and the Military Museum.The Workers Stadium was the main venue for the 1990 Asian Games, was renovated in 2004 and again in time for the 2008 Olympics. Local Beijing soccer team, Guo'an FC, occasionally play some of their games here.The Workers Indoor Arena, venue for the Olympic boxing event, is within the same stadium park area to the north west.AccessDongsishitiao Subway Station is a 15 minute walk to the west of the stadium.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Wo...
Smoking in China
2008-04-07 02:36:00 If Olympic medals were awarded for smoking, China would surely win hands down.China has more smokers than any other country in the world and an estimated 2 trillion cigarettes are smoked annually in the Middle Kingdom by the country's 350 million smokers.Beijing officials however are clamping down on the weed before the Olympics begin in August. From May 1 smoking is to be banned in government offices and on public transport, with heavy fines to be handed out for those failing to comply.Non-smoking areas are supposed to be made available in restaurants and bars, with the Olympic Village also becoming a no-smoking zone at the request of the IOC.However, smoking is very much part of male business culture in China and it will be difficult to enforce a complete ban on the habit. Cigarettes are cheap and one in four Beijingers smoke. Indeed after Deputy Sports Minister, Cui Dalin, announced that the 2008 Olympics would inspire the Chinese to live a healthier life, he prompty went in to ... More About: Smoking
Beijing National Stadium, Part II
2008-04-06 09:29:00 Warning: Don't stand still for too long!If you stand still for long around the housing compound across the road from National Stadium in Beijing you are likely to score a fresh coat of brilliant white paint. Workers are swarming over the buildings and anything else that stands still long enough throughout the compound and applying a generous coat of white paint.It is certainly giving everything a shiny new feel before the Olympic Games commence. Even the flag poles and the panda used for the Asian Games some 20 years ago are feeling the stroke of the painters brush!Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China National Stadium Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Part
Fengtai Softball Field
2008-04-05 17:03:00 Fengtai Softball Field in Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic softball competition.Fengtai Softball Field has a capacity of 13,000 spectators and has been completely renovated for the 2008 Olympics .Softball is a women-only sport (synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics are the only others) and is making its fourth appearance at a Summer Olympic Games.USA are the softball giants and won gold in Athens in 2004 followed by Australia and Japan. China placed 4th and will be hoping for a medal in front of a partisan home crowd.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China softball Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Beijing subways 24 hours
2008-04-03 06:28:00 The Xinhua news agency reported that Beijing 's subway system will "try" to run around-the-clock on the opening and closing days of the Olympic Games in an attempt to reduce traffic on those days - August 8 and 24.The new Subway Line 10 is expected to be extremely busy and will carry passengers to the National Stadium where 100,000 spectators are expected for the opening and closing ceremonies.Subway stations will have "green channels" for stadium ticket holders, Olympics staff and volunteers, who are exempt from the 2 yuan fare.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Beijing subway Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Hours
Brass tacks for Japanese judoka
2008-04-02 09:19:00 Pint-sized Ryoko Tani will be the star attraction this weekend at the All Japan Selected Judo Championships in Fukuoka as the nation?s top judoka vie for a place on the Olympic squad for this summer?s Beijing Games.Tani became the first judoka to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals when she defeated Frenchwoman Frederique Jossinet at the 2004 Games in Athens, and, barring a spectacular dip in form at the Fukuoka International Center on Sunday in the 48kg class, she remains a shoo-in for a ticket to China to try for a threepeat.Olympic berths for all but the men?s +100kg class will be decided this weekend, with the team?s official unveiling scheduled to follow the final bout on Sunday night.On Saturday, judoka in the men?s -60kg, -66kg, -73kg and -81kg and women?s -70kg, -78kg and +78 kg classes will compete.On Sunday, competitions in the men?s -90kg, -100kg and +100kg will be held, along with the women?s -48kg, -52kg, -57kg and -63kg divisions.Victory won?t automatically earn a jud... More About: Japanese , China Post , Brass
Mia Farrow to Head Beijing Olympic Committee
2008-04-01 10:52:00 Chinese President Hu Jintao lit the Olympic torch yesterday at a welcome ceremony in Tiananmen Square in Beijing . Then hurdler Liu Xiang, China 's best hope for a gold medal, ran through Tiananmen Gate holding the torch aloft.This marks the beginning of the round the world relay that will carry the torch to many countries and cities.Following the ceremony, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping announced to a packed news conference that the head of the Chinese Olympic Committee , Liu Qi, would be stepping down from his post immediately as he wished "to spend more time with his family."In his place, effective immediately, actress and activist Mia Farrow was named as the official head of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. "We have been in negotiations with Ms. Farrow's agent for several weeks," Xi Jinping told the stunned crowd, "and have at long last reached terms."Aside from an unprintable comment about Hollywood agents, he would not elaborate any further.Hein Verbruggen, Chairman... More About: Head
Beijing Olympics Draws Near
2008-03-30 07:32:00 Local Tourists have Olympics in their sightsTourists and residents alike are so keen to see Beijing ?s famous Olympic venues that they are causing traffic snarls on the north Fourth Ring Road on Beichen Bridge.Traffic creeps over the bridge as people stop to take photos of the Bird ?s Nest and the Water Cube both clearly to seen from this vantage point. Even with warning signs posted on and near the bridge people cannot resist the view and photo opportunity.Each day hundreds of people stop their cars to capture the site. Police are now videotaping and fining motorists 200rmb if they stop on the bridge. With the bridge being the only opportunity for people to see these incredible Olympic sites one can?t help but feel some sympathy for the sightseers!Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Beichen Bridge Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Ling Long Pagoda, Beijing
2008-03-29 05:16:00 Ling Long Pagoda Beijing Visitors are probably all asking the same question when sightseeing around Olympic Park. What is the huge steel tower out in the middle of the Olympic Park?Please contact us with your suggestions!Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Ling Long Pagoda Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
CCTV Tower Update
2008-03-27 15:19:00 As Beijing enjoys a week of clear blue skies during March 2008 work continues to progress at speed on the CCTV Tower s project just east of the 3rd Ring Road and north of Guo Mao area.Not only will the Towers hold the offices of CCTV but they will also house an upmarket hotel development.See images of the CCTV Tower construction taken last month.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China CCTV Tower Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Architecture , Update
One Planet One People One Universe
2008-03-24 15:44:00 On August 1, as Beijing is cast in shadow by a total eclipse of the sun, the planets of the solar system will descend to earth.Nine inflatable globes, illuminated from within by multimedia projection technology, will form the centrepiece of the most ambitious public art installation an Olympic host city has ever seen.Read more >>>Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Art Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: People , Universe , Planet
Images of Beijing
2008-03-23 14:50:00 Enjoy this image of the National Stadium in Beijing (aka the Bird's Nest), which will stage the opening and closing 2008 Olympic ceremonies and the track and field events at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China.The stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest" and designed by the avant-garde Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, will become the world's biggest enclosed space and is surely one of the world's most iconic buildings of the 21st century.Beijing Visitor supplies top quality photographs for publication in magazines, newspapers or online.Please contact us for a quote on our photography rates.Hotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China National Stadium Beijing 0lympicsBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel More About: Images
Lama Temple Revisited
2008-03-22 08:55:00 ???The last time we were at the Lama Temple , the weather in Beijing was dire - cold with an unrelenting drizzle.Now the spring weather in Beijing is perfect.The Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong) is one of Beijing's most visited religious sites and still an important functioning Tibet an temple.Don't miss the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Fortunes which houses the huge statue of Maitreya (the buddha of the future) carved from a single block of sandalwood. The statue was given to the Chinese Emperor Qianlong by the Tibetan Dalai Lama in 1750. The pavilion was built later to shelter the image.Yonghe Gong12 Yonghegong Dajie, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District, BeijingTel: 6404 4499Admission 25 yuanDaily: 9am-5pmNearest subway station Yonghegong on the Circle LineHotels in BeijingBuy 2008 Beijing Olympics TicketsBooks on China and BeijingTagsBeijing China Lama Temple Beijing TemplesBook the Fujian Hotel Beijing Book the Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel
Beijing Toilets
2008-03-21 07:04:00 Reports in western media have highlighted efforts to introduce throne-style toilets in Beijing 's Olympic venues in place of the traditional Asian-style squat toilet.Western style toilets will be introduced at the National Indoor Stadium, the National Stadium (Bird's Nest), and the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) in time for the arrival of athletes, media and Olympic organizers.Improvement to Beijing notoriously poor public toilets has been underway for some time with new star-rated toilets already installed at the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Beijing has presently over 5,000 public toilets around the city.With increased prosperity, many Chinese now seem to prefer the western style toilet to its Asian counterpart, despite the fact that squatting is the healthiest way to completely evacuate the bowels and is known to prevent painful piles.Visitors to Beijing should be prepared to bring along a packet of paper tissues as toilet paper is rarely available whe... More About: China , Olympics , Toilets
Shanghai Museum
2008-03-20 04:18:00 ?????Located in Shanghai 's People 's Park , the Shanghai Museum is well worth an afternoon. Devoted to ancient Chinese art, it also has wonderful exhibits of regional art and artifacts.The permanent collection consists of ancient chinese bronzes, sculpture, ceramics, jades, paintings, calligraphy, seals, stamps, furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and a large selection of crafts by ethnic "minorities" (i.e., non-Han).Perhaps the most interesting exhibits are of the the clothing and goods related to the many non-Han peoples who still live in China. From clothing to tools, handicrafts to boats, the well-laid out exhibit is a splash of color.There is very little English explanation, beyond what the item is and where it is from. The Museum though has worked hard to display the items in well-lit, elegant spaces.AccessWalking distance from Renmin Guangchang subway station. People's Park is quite centrally located, and it is possible to walk from the Bund (about 25 minutes).The Mu...
Nanjing Dong Lu, Shanghai
More articles from this author:2008-03-19 02:44:00 ?????Nanjing Dong Lu is a slightly tacky boulevard that runs from People's Park to the Bund. In the area near the Central Henan Road metro station it is a pedestrian mall, which is a relief from having to cross Shanghai streets.The street's most famous landmark is Victor Sassoon's Peace Hotel, which is almost to the Bund and currently undergoing renovations.Other establishments are not nearly as elegant. More typical is the store pictured bottom left. You can get trinkets and cheap gifts for those back home.A better shopping option is the large Shanghai #1 Department Store, which is catty-corner to People's Park.A more interesting shopping option is nearby Fuzhou Road, which has small boutiques.Then , there is the Bund itself for high-end goods.AccessIf you are on the Bund, Nanjing Dong Lu runs into it at the corner where the Peace Hotel is located. If you are coming from other areas, Central Henan Road is the closest metro stop. Exit 3 brings you onto the pedestrian mall.Buy 20... More About: Shopping , China 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
 |
|
 |
