Have a local friend on hand
by calcaf38
If you visit a huge city like Beijing in a mad rush like I did, it makes a great difference if you have a local friend who can give you advice, and perhaps show you a thing or two.
Young Chinese students are starving for the opportunity to practise their English. I was lucky to make contact with a VT member, Happy_Maoron.
Before my trip, he helped me with some Beijing opera questions, and then we met once I was there. Happy_Maoron and I spent a day I will never forget: we were the first to arrive at the Great Wall, and the last to leave the Summer Palace.
We talked about the historical aspects of the monuments, of course. But we also touched on many subjects, all the way from Iris Chang to Karen Carpenter and the hate-eating-disease (the Carpenters are still extremely popular on Chinese radio).
I definitely would have had a much less satisfying trip without knowing Happy_Maoron. For that, I am very grateful to Virtual Tourist.
SEASONS
by ancient_traveler
If you come to Beijing in spring, you could wear a thin sweater, a pair of sweat pants, and a coat. But sometimes it may be a good idea to bring a warm cap because it is windy and sandy during this period though it is not cold. In summer the temperature could reach as high as 30. When you go out, you could take an umbrella along with you if it doesn't bother you much, because a downpour may come unexpectedly at evenings from July to August. Autumn is the most beautiful season, but after October you may feel the constant changes of the weather and you may encounter light rains at any moment. So it is better to bring some heavy clothes with you. In winter, you need a heavy woolen sweater, and a long wind coat or a down jacket. Generally there will be two or three heavy snowfalls each winter, so it is always wise for you to have anti-skidding shoes with you when you come. Lastly, don't wear light-color clothes in winter. Beijing has distinct seasons. In springtime, Beijing is dusty and windy, forcing many women to wear a scarf for protection. Beijing is dry and windy in spring. Spring is short and excursions are a popular form of tourism. Summer is hot, but hot weather is short-lived plus rainfall is plentiful. Pretty and transient in autumn. Autumn is the best season for tourism. Winter is cold and clear. Most of the city’s tourist attraction are historical sites or folklore tours that are not affected by the change of season.
Packing List
by Kisu
Don't take too much luggage with you...it happend to me that I found nice and very cheap backpack and suitcase overthere and had to trough old ones away.... I also decided that next time I go to China I won't take big luggage with me at all....I can buy all I need when I get there good shoes to walk with and if you arrive before april, take some warm clothes with you
buying at the silk market
by kangningchang about Silk Market
silk market carries just about anything you could imagine. mostly knock off stuff, clothing, bags, watches ect. it is the largest silk/pearl market in Beijing, and you can usually find some pretty good stuff here...
be warned though if you look foreign, it's better to have a local friend come with you, i've bargained for a string of pears, got asked for about 85, talked it down to about 50, still though it was too expensive (aiming for like 30 rmb) then when walking away, heard them tell a foreigner that the same string of pearls were 300 RMB.
they can get very greedy, esp on the weekends when the place is flooded with people.
i hear a good day to go is the day before Christmas eve? the place according to my friend was deserted and it was very easy to talk prices down. knock off bags, clothing, jewelry, beijing souvenirs, electronic appliances ect... depends on the quality of the item, just remember pay whatever you feel the item is worth, but check that it is not damaged before you pay!
Lotus Cafe/Bar
by Lemonita about Lotus
This was the first bar in Houhai area that I went to and this is probably why I like it best. Actually in all the area, along the lake, there are a lot of cafe/bars that have opened in the last 2 years I've been told.
Lotus isn't easy to find, especially at night but you would recognize it by its round window on the 2nd floor. It's accross a thai restaurant, also named Lotus, which has the same owner.
The bar is decorated in a very cosy way. I just had the impression I was going into a friend's place and not a cafe/bar.
This cafe/bar is opened all day and it's really nice on the afternoon. We can go out on the small terrace and have an excellent banana milkshake (I strongly recommand it if they don't have, try the apple milkshake instead)! Casual
Confucius
One for Norman....lol
Desk with Plasma TV
Chinese wall
