Living in Beijing

How many medals will China win at the Beijing Olympics? More than Australia? Perhaps more than the United States? Does it really matter?
　　I hope China does well at the Summer Olympics, but the best prize has already been won. China is already the champion. Your country is hosting the biggest sporting event in the world, and you have proven that you will be ready to welcome the world to Beijing.
　　The competition will be strong at the Olympics, and we should wish all athletes the best of luck as they pursue their dream of being the best in the world. Some will stand on the podium* and win medals, while others will be sad at not reaching their goal. Some will be happy just to compete and try their very best as the whole world watches.
　　I think too often we confuse winning as being the only prize to be won in sports. The honour and glory* of being an excellent host is also important. When guests come to our homes we hope they can go away feeling good about the whole experience.
　　Let the world enjoy the Olympic competition in Beijing, but let them also see the history, the culture, and the friendliness of the Chinese people. That is what they will remember most. They will go home and tell wonderful stories about your land, and they will want to come back.
　　China is already the champion. The biggest Gold medal is already yours.

Located at the center of Beijing City is Tiananmen Square, where you can visit Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and see the national flag raising ceremony. Thousands of people come to the Square every day. It is the must place to visit in Beijing City.

At the north end of the Square is Tiananmen Tower. Initially built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D.- 1644 A.D.), the Square was the front door of the Forbidden City. The most important use of it in the past was to declare in a big ceremony to the common people who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.

The granite Monument to the People’s Heroes is just at the center of the Tiananmen Square. Built in 1952, it is the largest monument in China’s history. ‘ The People’s Heroes are Immortal’ written by Chairman Mao is engraved on the monument. Eight unusually large relief sculptures show to the people the development of Chinese modern history. Two rows of white marble railings enclose the monument, simple and beautiful.

West of the Square is the Great Hall of the People. This building, erected in 1959, is the site of the China National People’s Congress meetings and provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities.Twelve marble posts are infront of the Hall which has three parts–the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall.The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall seats 10,000. The Banqueting Hall is a huge hall with 5,000 seats.

Mao Zedong Memorial Hall is at the south side of the Square. This Hall is divided into three halls and our dear Chairman Mao’s body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.

Another important place for the tourist to visit is the China National Museum at the east side of the Square. It just came into existence in 2003 and is a combination of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum faces the Great Hall of the People. Inside the Chinese Revolutionary Museum are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models to present the development of modern China. The Chinese History Museum shows a large number of cultural relics illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1921 when the last emperor left the throne.

Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the ceremony every day.

The present Tiananmen Square has an area of 440,000 square meters and has become a relaxing place for the common people to fly kites and walk. On a holiday, the whole square is covered with fresh flowers.

Peking Man was discovered in Zhoukoudian village, on the Longgu Mountain, Fangshan district, Beijing, which was listed as a world cultural heritage site in 1987. In the 1920s archaeologists discovered a complete skull of an ape-man dating back 600,000 years which was later named as Peking Man. Stone tools and evidence of Peking Man’s use of fire were later found on the mountain. Studies have shown that Peking Man walked on his feet and lived 690,000 years ago. His society lived in groups in caves and survived by hunting. The group could make use of rough stone tools and knew how to use fire for heating and cooking.

　　The discovery included six complete skulls of Peking Man, 12 skull fragments, 15 mandibles(1), 157 teeth and some sections of broken femur(2), shinbone(3), and upper arm bones belonging to more than 40 individuals of different ages and sexes. In addition 100,000 fragments of stone tools were found together with sites used for fire and burnt bones and stones.

　　Peking Man created a unique Old Stone Culture which had much influence to the Old Stone Culture of north China. Stone tools are the principal relics of this remote culture. Also discovered in Zhoukoudian are stone points, a new production tool then, and bone articles made and used by Peking Man. Found in the caves were such tools as the larger end of an antler that had been used as a hammer and the sharp end of an antler used as a digging tool.

　　The use of fire was a milestone of the development of civilization and the discovery of Peking Man has pushed back the time that man first used it by tens of thousands of years. The largest ash pile discovered in the caves is six meters thick. Fire allowed people to eat cooked food instead of raw food and promoted the development of the brain and improved health. With his rough tools and simple living conditions Peking man created a unique and very ancient culture.

　　Included in the UNESCO(4)  world heritage list in 1987.

Yonghegong (The Lama Temple) is a famous lamasery located in the northeastern part of the old city of Beijing. It was a palatial residence built in 1694 by Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, Prince Yongzheng who later succeeded to the throne. This magnificent temple consists of five main buildings lying on the?north-south axis, with annex halls standing on both sides. The temple is listed by the Chinese Government as one of the important historical monuments under special preservation. After the death of his father, Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Forbidden City. The compound was closed to ordinary people and was renamed yonghegong (the Palace of Harmony). Green roof tiles were replaced by yellow ones to suit a monarch’s home. In 1744 his successor Emperor Qianlong converted the palace into a lamasery.

    Several renovations?have been carried out since 1949.The temple has taken on a new look and was reopened to the public in 1981.It is now not only a functional lama temple, but also a tourist attraction.

    Of interest to visitors in the Lama Temple are the 18-metre-high Maitreya statue engraved from a 26-metre-long white sandal-wood log, “the Five hundred Arhats Hill” made of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin, and the niche carved out of nanmu (this kind of Phoebe nanmu can give off a unusual scent reputed to repel mosquitoes in summer). These three objects are accredited as the three matchless masterpieces in the Lama Temple.

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace–and blessings from China–to children all over the world. Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China’s most popular animals–the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow–and the Olympic Flame.  Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name–a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow. When you put their names together–Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni–they say “Welcome to Beijing,” offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.  Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature–the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky–all stylistic rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.  In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading blessings through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing–and will honor this tradition by carrying their blessings to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe. At the heart of their mission–and through all of their work–Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games–and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.   Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China’s landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying’s flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals put under protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing commitment to a Green Olympics. His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China. Strong in track and field events, Yingying is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the yellow Olympic ring. Every spring and summer, the children of Beijing have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular. Nini’s figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies. Swallow is also pronounced “yan” in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among Fuwa, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring. 
 In the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport–and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008–and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people–can be felt. The firery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals–with just a touch of China’s traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.   Jingjing makes children smile–and that’s why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing’s headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature’s gifts–and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring. 
In China’s traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.    The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring. 

Beijing thrives today as the political and cultural capital of China as well as a center of international activity and an important socialist base.

Great changes have taken place since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The city walls were demolished to facilitate transportation and allow for general expansion. By 2001, the population exceeded 12.5 million, and the total municipal area was increased to over 17,800 square kilometers. The city is presently divided into 16 districts: Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chongwen, Xuanwu, Chaoyang, Haidian, Shijingshan, Fengtai, Shunyi, Changping, Mentougou, Tongzhou, Fangshan, Daxing, Huairou and Pinggu. In addition to these urban districts, the municipality is comprised of two counties: Miyun and Yanqing.

Plans for future development retain the symmetrical layout of the old city on its north-south axis, extending out into the suburban districts.

From Dingfuzhuang in the east to Shijingshan in the west and from Qinghe in the north to Nanyuan in the south, the overall plan covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers. A traffic network of four concentric beltways, 28 radial roads, and underground and suburban railways are being further developed to link the city center with outlying areas and surrounding towns.

With Tian’anmen at the center, offices along 38-kilometer-long Chang’an Boulevard will concentrate on state, political and economic affairs. The areas around the Palace Museum (Imperial Palace or Forbidden City) and city gates as well as the lakes — Zhongnanhai, Beihai and Housanhai — have been designated landmark districts. And with a look to the future, an increasing number of historical, cultural and revolutionary sites are being renovated and opened to the public.

Those who are fortunate enough to spend time travelling around China will discover that styles of cuisine in the north and south of China are different. In the south, rice is much more popular as the main staple of the Chinese diet, while in the north, wheat products such as noodles, flat breads, dumplings and steamed buns are as popular or more popular than rice as the staple. As China’s economy develops and more people move around, this trend may change, but it is a good rule of thumb to understand Chinese cuisine.

For example one can find Jiaozi (small boiled dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables) in many places throughout China, but if you travel to Beijing or Harbin in Heilingjiang province or anywhere in Northern China, you may find many more people eating Jiaozi and eating many more varieties of Jiaozi than elsewhere in south China.

Peking Roast Duck

Peking Duck has the reputation of being the most delicious food Beijing has to offer. Eating Peking Duck is seen to be one of the two things you are absolutely supposed to do while in Beijing. The other one is climbing the Great Wall.

The place that offers the best Peking Duck is the Quan Ju De Restaurant, which has outlets at Qianmen, Hepingmen and Wangfujing. It was established 130 years ago.

At Quan Ju De, ducks are immersed in condinments unique to the restaurant and are roasted directly over flames stoked by fruittree wood. The best roasted duck is date-red, shining with oil, but with a crisp skin and tender meat.

The chef cuts the meat into thin slices at table. Then the meat is served with Chinese onions and special sauce.

Another famous restaurant offering Peking duck is the Bian Yi Fan (Cheap Restaurant), which opened in 1855, nine years earlier than Quan Ju De. At Bian Yi Fang, roasting is done in an enclosed container fueled with crop stalks.
 

Imperial Court Food
 

Imperial Court Food is a style of Chinese food that has its origins in the Imperial Palace. It is based on the foods that were served to Emperors and the court. Fang Shan in Beihai Park and Ting Li Guan in the Summer Palace are the best ones. 150 years ago

you would never have been able to eat this stuff, so give it a shot. It is a little expensive, however.
 

Imperial Official Food
 

The most famous type of official food is Tan Family Food, which can be had in the Beijing Hotel. This is the preferred food of the Qing Dynasty official Tan Zonging, and was later introduced into restaurants.

Another type of food is that which is describe in the classic novel “Dream of Red Mansions”. The author, Cao Xueqin, describe a number of dishes in the book and now there are several restaurants which serve this style of dish. The most famous place is the Beijing Grand View Garden Hotel. This hotel is right next of the Beijing’s Grand View Garden which is modeled after the garden described in the “Dream of Red Mansions”.
 

Medicinal Food
 

There are hundreds of dishes that are medicated with such choice tonic materials as ginseng, deer musk, bear’s paw, Chinese wolf berry and soft-shelled turtle, the cream of the crop of Chinese medicine. The “Yang Sheng Zhai” Restaurant of Xiyuan Hotel has the best reputation among such food. Although it has been changed to Sichuan Restaurant, it still offers medicinal foods.
 

Hot Pot
 

Beijing winters can get very cold so “hot pot” is a natural favorite with local people. In recent years, Cantonese and Sichuan flavor hot pots have have grown in popularity, overtaking the more typical Beijing tradition of boiling thin slices of mutton in a seasoned broth (otherwise known as Mongolian hot pot). The basic ingredients of a hot pot meal include thinly sliced beef and mutton with fresh vegetables.

In some styles, various types of sea food are added. Cantonese style hot pot has a relatively mild flavor in the broth used to boil the ingredients and in the condiments in which the meat and vegetables are dipped after having been cooked thoroughly. On the other hand, the Sichuan style hot pot is known for its wickedly hot, spicy flavor that may leave you with a slightly numb feeling on your tongue.

Another hot pot trend is that many places now offer “self-service” hot pot where you can select your own hot pot ingredients, broth seasonings and condiments in an “all you can eat” setting. Try Donglaishun Restaurant for traditional Beijing “Mongolian hot pot”.

Are you expecting a Beijing China trip advisor or travel expert to design a tailor-made Beijing China travel package or travel service for your trip to Beijing China? Then you are visiting the right page! We have over 40 Beijing China trip advisors who are all university graduates and have received strict professional training. They all love their work and are very eager to offer their expert advice to you for your travel to Beijing and other parts of China either for sightseeing or on business. If you have any travel enquiry, please Contact Us! You will receive our prompt reply, free travel advice and personalized service.    Frequently asked questions from our real internet travellers:1. Which is the best way from the Beijing Airport to town?You should take a taxi from outside the Airport,the cost should be around RMB 150. Or take an airport shuttle bus. See more information on Beijing Airport shuttle bus lines and Beijing Taxi.

2. How many sections of the Great Wall in Beijing? How to visit the Great Wall?There are many sections of the Great Wall and the section closest to Beijing (and thus the most crowded and touristy) is Juyongguan and Badaling. The next further section is Mutianyu. Beyond that (about 2 hours away from Beijing) lies Simatai and Jinshanling. The further sections are more rugged and you get to see more the real Great Wall but their distance tends to discourage folks from visiting them. To visit the Great Wall, you have three main choices: taxi, Public bus or organized tours.— Taxi— Public Bus— Organized Tour

3. I will be in Beijing for New Years Eve this December. Any special celebrations for 31st Dec? Anyone tells us more information on Chinese Holidays & Festivals?NYE is not traditional Chinese holiday, people will have one day’s holiday on Jan 01. People maybe go to cinema and watch TV all tha night or have dinner with family and frends, or some people have firecracker, that’s all. No special celebrate. As for the Chinese Holidays & Festivals, this link offers some very good info:— Chinese Holidays & Festivals

4. Traveling to Beijing in December, is it too cold? Any Fun?It is quite cold. You can buy a heavy coat from the shops in Beijing. December has short days, dark 5pm. But a lot of people walking around Wangfujing etc. Most attractions are closed after 4.30pm. Make sure to take some warm clothes with you. The sights stay open all around. And you can enjoy more of the sights and the city. The advantage going in Dec is that there are fewer tourists around, you can have great wall photos. And the travel cost is lower too.

5. Will we have language barrier in Beijing China?Many of the large and popular restaurants tend to have an English menu these days so it shouldn’t be difficult. As for hotels, they will give you a card with the address of the hotel. NEVER lose this card, and just give it to your taxi driver when your done sightseeing, and he’ll take you back. The major signboards on the streets are both in Chinese and English.

6. Would appreciate any indication of tipping practices in Beijing?Usually tipping is generally not practiced in China, but for some hotels you book, or organized tours you take, you should pay a little.

7. Is it advisable to purchase Travel Insurance for a trip to China?No matter you travel independently or buy an organized tour, you should purchase Travel Insurance for a trip to China. You never know when you are out of luck and what situation you might encounter. When you visit a public hosptial in China, very often, the first thing they asked, other than your name, is money. In addition, the local tour operators in China usually don’t buy a travel insurance for you, they only buy the travel agency insurance for themselves.

8. Any cheap and accessible accomodation in Beijing?Beijing hostels are the best way to go for budget lodging in Beijing. Ask to see a hostel room before you pay and choose a dorm (several bunks in one room) for the cheapest Beijing lodging. Expect to pay US$ 8 - 15 for a Beijing hostel bunk. See Beijing Top Hostels for more information.

9. We are planning on an overnight sleeper train to Xi’an, when should we buy the ticket?You have three ways for train ticket booking. First, you can get them in the hotel directly. Many hotel tour desks have ticket booking service from the front desk, but you need pay about RMB 20 -30 yuan for handling charge. The second way is that you can buy the tickets directly from the train station. For this it is quite hard for you, lining up and having some language barrier. Last way is for you to turn to a local travel agency or ticket booking agency. When you use this method, you should book early. Many local travel agencies only offer package tours including ticket booking and tours. And don’t offer ticket booking only service. By the way, you are advised not to take trains during Chinese big holidays like Spring Festival, May Day, and National Day. There will be a huge nunber of travelling people. It is very much difficult to buy the train tickets.

10. I am a single traveller in Beijing for 1 week, any safety in Beijing?If friendly young Chinese people approach you on the street for tea or art, just say “no”. This is a common problem in Beijing; the old teahouse and art student scams designed to extract money from unsuspecting tourists. Never accept rides from taxis that don’t have a working meter. Just get out and find another one. Don’t go hiking far alone on remote sections of the Great Wall. There are no dangerous areas of downtown Beijing that you need to be concerned with as a foreigner. Petty theft is always a problem in the vicinity of China’s train and bus stations, but that tidbit was included in your box of street smarts.

11. Is it easy to find a taxi on the tourist sites in Beijing?It is very easy to find taxis in Beijing, especialy next to touristic attractions. The taxi fleet has recently been upgraded, and taxi drivers have to learn some english (though it might still be a bit difficult to communicate with some of them). When you take a taxi, don’t forget to ask for the receipt (Fapiao in chinese): it could be usefull if you forgot something in the cab ( a telephone number is written on the taxi driver’s license in the taxi. Make sure they are metered. Last, but not least important is to make sure the taxi’s plaque starts with “B”, otherwise, it is a black taxi!

12. Any advice on Beijing weather, safety, footwear, money exchange?1) Beijing weather 2) Footwear, sport shoes, sneakers etc are ok ie covered footwear. 3) Currency exchange booths at the airport or banks downtown. The rate is fixed so don’t bother shopping for a “better” rate. The rate at the airport is no worse than in town.

13. How to recognize an illegal tour guide?It is quite easy to tell an illegal tour guide. An illegal tour guide has neither official IC card nor travel plan from a travel agency. They, just like illegal self-employed tour guides, touch the tourists directly by using some low-cost sales channels like web forums, phone calls, direct encounter at some scenic areas. Some trendy illegal tour guides also make a simple travel website and contact the internet travellers directly! You are kindly advised not to use their services even though their service charges are much lower maybe. To put yourself in the hand of an illegal tour guide is dangerours!

14. Must see in beijing?- Forbidden City - Tiananmen Square - Great Wall (Badaling, Juyonguan, Mutianyu,Jinshanling, or Simatai) - Summer Palace - Hutong tour - Qianhai/Houhai area - Temple of Heaven - Yonghegong Lamasery - Panjiayuan market (early weekend morning)- Wangfujing street- Wangfujing night food market - Peking duck meal - Chinese acrobat performance - Chinese opera performance More about Top 10 Must See Places in Beijing.

15. Is it better for us to travel independantly or go with an organized tour in China?If you want to be adventurous, you don’t need a tour to help, as you know tons of travellers visit indepedently a great number of places in China every year without any knowledge of Chinese. If you have no time for searching for the travel information and don’t want to be intrepid for your trip, taking a group tour is a good way!

16. Traveling around Beijing without knowing Mandarin, possible?Yes, definitely possible. A great number of travellers in the same boat like you have managed it, and so will you! A phrasebook is invaluable for communication — Rough Guide’s Mandarin is recommended. Beijing and Shanghai is a popular destination, so the tourist infrastructure is good. Metro is the best way to get around Beijing. The subway stations are clearly signposted in both English and Chinese, and you don’t get stuck in any traffic jams! See more information on Beijing Subway.

17. Where to learn Chinese before heading to China?a. You may turn to some websites for help. They offer Chinese learning lessons: 1) Learning Useful Chinese Phrases for Travellers 2) http://14.travel-way.net/~chinese/index.html 3) http://www.ecchinese.com/ 4) http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/chinese/chinese.htm 5) http://www.craigslist.org./ Note: Chinese is a phonic language , very often similar words have different meanings based on pronounciation and different words have similar pronounciation. No pain, no gain! b. You may go to your local bookstore or library and getting some audio tapes for Chinese learning. c. You also try to find a community college or school offering Chinese learning for beginners.d. Each year a huge number of travellers with little knowledge of Chinese language visit or even work in China, actually you will have no big problem at all. You know more and more local Chinese are learning English. And they are pleased to practice with you. No worry! You can find assistance anywhere.

18. Good Muslim or Xinjiang food in Beijing?The most famous is “Dong Lai Shun”, famous main dish is mutton hot pot, the address of the biggest one is :198 avenue Wang Fu Jing tel:0086-10-65253562. If you want to eat something like Kebab, giros, you can go to “Kao rou yuan”, with 300 years of history, address: 93 avenue Fu Xing Men nei, tel: 0086-10-66013123. Another time-honored restaurant serving Muslim cuisine is “Kao Rou Ji”, located 14 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District, telephone 6404-2554.

19. How to recognize a legal taxi in Beijing? Any advice on illegal tour bus?1) The taxi plaque number starts with the number “B”2) The taxi should be equippped with the light on the top and meter measuring.3) It’s better to take a taxi on the road instead of a taxi waiting somewhere. The empty taxi must show a red light in the front window. Watch out! Don’t come aboard the black “illegal tour bus”:In Beijing, there are also some black illegal tour bus sending tourists to the Great Wall. You will have a terrible trip once you get on it. To promote their illegal tours, these sales people always deliver a small card to passing-by travelers wanting to go to Great Wall tour by standing on the some public places like the street, Tian’anmen Square, or the entrance of Forbidden City. Very often they use their “unbelievable low price” to attract those “blind” tourists. But once you come aboard their bus for the Great Wall, they have to make you pay additional fees again and again. Sometimes even the Great Wall is not real Badaling section!! We remind you not to take their card if you happen to meet them. Actually it’s very easy to recognize an illegal tour bus in Beijing. A legal tour bus plaque starts with “B”, if not, you possiblely get on a “black tour bus”.

The Great Wall was the greatest manmade military defense structure in ancient China. Its construction started during Ancient Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring Stated Period (770-221 B.C.) At that time, walls were built by some warring states to protect their own territories. In 221 B.C., Qin Shihuang, who became the first emperor of a unified China, linked the separate walls into a ¡°ten-thousand-li wall¡± to defend against invaders from the North. From then on, the Great Wall was continuously extended and repaired by following dynasties. Most of wall has deteriorated badly; at present, the best preserved is the wall built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)).