Beijing City Guide - overview

The capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing (formerly Peking) is a very modern and exceedingly busy city (nearly 14 million people call it home) with high-rise buildings, international hotels and sprawling suburbs. The city is abuzz and bristling with cranes on the skyline as construction projects give rise to new skyscrapers and modernisation proceeds apace. However, Beijing also encompasses numerous attractions of cultural and historical interest, of which some, such as the Great Wall, former Imperial palace (known as the Forbidden City), the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the remains of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, are UNESCO-endorsed World Cultural Heritage Sites. Chinese history and culture fascinates Western visitors, and Beijing is the place to start exploring it. The city abounds in imperial palaces, temples, mansions, gardens and tombs that epitomise classical Chinese architecture. It has 120 museums and more than 100 public gardens.

The first port of call for most visitors is the Forbidden City, which lies at the heart of Beijing with the rest of the city radiating out from it in a grid pattern. For five centuries this massive palace complex with 9,999 rooms functioned as the administrative centre of the country and home to a succession of emperors, who lived in luxurious isolation, surrounded by courtiers and retainers. The Palace overlooks the famous Tiananmen Square, site of so much political drama and dissent, the epitome of this capital city.

As host to the 2008 Olympics in August next year, Beijing has been busy readying itself to conduct what it claims will be 'the best in Olympic history'. Public transport is being improved, environmental issues addressed and a general clean up of the city has been ordered. The Chinese government sees the games as a chance for China to highlight its economic rise and emergence as a world power.

Getting around: Although Beijing's public transport system is extensive, including a comprehensive bus network and the subway, many visitors soon tire of hot overcrowded buses and rush hour congestion underground and make use of taxis. Cycling is also a good alternative with numerous bicycle rentals around the city, and well-defined bike lanes, bike parks and the company of millions of other cyclists, especially at rush hour. It may look intimidating, but can be the best way to get around for the more adventurous traveller. For the Olympics in 2008 there will be 50,000 brand new bicycles available to rent at outlets close to subway stations, commercial districts, Olympic venues, hotels and office buildings. The subway outside of rush hour is the fastest and easiest form of public transport to use. It is cheap, although not very extensive, and is much more pleasant than taking a bus. Buses are also very cheap, but uncomfortably crowded and care should be taken of valuables and bags. Taxis are plentiful and metered, and are the most common form of transport for visitors, but it is necessary to have the destination written in Chinese characters as drivers rarely speak English. Taxis come in all shapes and sizes with fares printed in the back window; generally the older and smaller the car the cheaper the fare, with luxury sedans that congregate around the main hotels and tourist sites the most expensive. Car hire is not recommended and generally not available - cars must be hired with a driver and are restricted to the city limits.