China's economical, political and commercial centre is a big, brash, busy city. It is different to many other Asian cities in that tourism doesn't overrun its heart and soul. It is far less commercialised than its counterparts and it seems at even at the city's best-known landmarks the number of locals outweighs the tourists. It is also a city steeped in history and has been the Chinese capital since 1421.
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Download GuideSuper polluted and gray. Not the cleanest city. Go to the must see spots and move one because the pollution is pretty bad. Do not bother getting the Beijing Duck, it is overpriced and turned out to be disappointing.
Insider Tip:When going to the Wall go super super super early (take the first bus) and don't pay more than 30 yuan per person for the minibus. Don't waste money with a tour.
Not my first time in Beijing and I am still surprised by how nice people are over there. I am fond of the smiles and the friendlyness. If you're too overwhelmed by all the pollution, cars, noise in the main streets, you just have to turn in the small streets and wander a bit. Serenity will come catch you !
Insider Tip:If it is your first time in Beijing, visit the "not-to-be-missed" spots ... but take time to wander around, catch the whole ambiance of the city and enjoy ! Each corner you'll take is a new discovery for both architecture and people.
Obviously, Beijing is a crazy city, with 22 million people living on top of each other! It was a lot of fun, but a bit of a culture shock. The air pollution is out of control, and for the entire time we were there, we only saw the sun once, but it was faint through a thick layer of smog. Sometimes, Chinese people can be rude, so you have to be very patient, and understand that it's not you, it's just culture.
Insider Tip:They love taking pictures with foreigners, so don't be afraid when they keep snapping pictures in your face. Politely tell them NO if you are not interested, and really mean it! ALSO DO NOT TAKE A RIDE ON THE TUK TUK! They will rip you off and bring you to the middle of nowhere and demand that you pay 10 times the price of a cab! This was my only negative experience of Beijing! Also, babies don't wear diapers. They have slits in their clothes and parents just squat them under trees or on the streets.
Maybe the best Chinese city for sightening， the Summer Palace and Great Wall are the highlights！
Insider Tip:Stay near Qianmen Area， really good for shopping and dining。 Don’t miss the Kung Fu show， and the Hongquiao Market if you wanna grab a bargain， but neeed to develop your bargaining skills。 Start by offering 10-20% of the price and see how you go from there， you‘ll most likely get what you want for 20% of the listed price。Although being the major tourist attractions， the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven are just ok， too crawded with Chinese tourists coming in groups。better to go ea
Thousands of years of history make this place unique in the world. Tiananmen Square, the forbidden palace and the great wall are just a few of the wonders you'll see here. The city is smoggy as so don't expect to be breathing like you do at home but in the end its all worth it.
Insider Tip:Get Peking Duck!!
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