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Journey to Beijing
By Brittaney Carter
China’s Capital is a collision of worlds welcoming WFC Conference attendees and Olympic fans.
Beijing is a cross-section of government meetings, economic activity, cultural offerings and international communications. The great city is the also site of the 2008 Olympic Games, which will take place Aug. 8-24. In addition, the World Federation of Chiropractic will convene here on Nov. 10-11 with 100 educators in the field of chiropractic for its multinational WFC/ACC Education Conference. Whether you are planning a business conference or just traveling to the Far East to take in the culture, Beijing is a city that you will want to visit more than once.
Beijing from the Beginning
This city is the capital of the third-largest country in the world, boasting 5,000 years of history that makes for one of the world’s earliest—and most captivating—civilizations. Beginning with the ancestry of Homo sapiens—those known as Peking men—all the way to the modernized capital it is today, Beijing holds many surprises for its visitors. The city has been inhabited for more than three millennia and has held capital status for eight centuries. Beijing has been swept by demolishing fire, attacked by foreign foes and ruled by 34 emperors. Today, every inch of the city tells the story of how Beijing came to be, and it is a tale that will enthrall you.
The capital is much more than a paradise for history buffs, however. Beijing has undergone a rapid modernization and can give any of the world’s major metropolitan cities a run for their money—literally. Here you’ll find skyscrapers that seem to penetrate the clouds, streets crawling with colorful taxicabs and shopping malls like as Yansha and Guomao. The pulse of the city changes after sunset, offering a taste of Beijing’s best entertainment such as the Peking Opera, cinema and dance clubs.
Planning Your Trip
If you’re planning a trip to the Far East, the most pivotal decision you will make is when to go. The best time to visit the capital is in May, September and October when the weather is mild. Be aware, however, of the peak times for domestic tourism—Chinese New Year and the two week-long holidays that the city observes during the beginning of May and October. If your favorite season is winter, travel to Beijing in February so that you can take part in the Longqing Gorge Ice and Snow Festival, complete with ice lanterns, ice fishing and fireworks. If you are a fan of warmer weather, the best weather for experiencing Beijing is its summer season.
As you create a packing list, remember to bring both business attire and casual clothes for exploring the city. It is always a good idea to arrange ensembles that can be layered and inquire about your hotel’s laundry service before you arrive. Once you have included the basics, consider all of the important documents you will need to travel. These can include guidebooks, maps and most importantly, a valid passport with at least one blank page in it and a visa. You can book your flight through most airline websites and travel agencies, and the sooner you get your plane ticket the better your chances are of having the best rates and flight schedule.
Remember to bring a form of currency that you can easily exchange. You can cash traveler’s checks at any of the major installments of the Bank of China, and most hotels and banks can exchange your U.S. dollars for RenMinBi, the Chinese currency. Some of the bigger hotels and commercial stores within the city will also accept major credit cards like MasterCard or American Express. It is important to keep your exchange receipts in case you want to convert your money back into U.S. dollars at the end of your trip. Beware of counterfeit notes, which often feel different than genuine RenMinBi, and make sure to carry smaller notes since most taxi drivers are unable to accept large ones.
Getting Around the City
When it comes to traveling the city, you have several options, including the subway, the public bus and the taxi. If you opt for a group tour, all of these modes of transportation will be much easier to navigate. However, if you are exploring solo, keeping a couple of tips in mind will make your trip go smoothly.
You can reach many of the must-see attractions by subway, and with trains running every three to five minutes, this is the fastest way to get to your destination, especially during rush hour. In its preparation for the 2008 Olympics, the city has even added three more rail lines to its system. If you’re a first-time visitor to the Chinese capital and you want to explore the city, subway Line 2 will take you to most of the must-see attractions—including Qianmen Station hub that will lead you to Tiananmen Square and Jianguomen Station, where you will find your way to the Silk Market and the Ancient Observatory.
The subway does not cover the entire city, so for the sites that are farther from the Beijing’s center, the public bus is a good choice for transportation and the least expensive way to travel. The bus will take you to some popular Beijing sites like the Great Wall, Badaling Safari Park and Xingminghu Holiday Village. These sightseeing lines are known as the “9” lines and are identified by their 900 numbers.
Beijing is crawling with more than 60,000 taxis at any given moment, offering another viable way to travel. Not all of the taxi drivers speak English, but there are ways to get around the language barrier. Ask your host hotel if they have any brief guides that can help you communicate with the drivers. These may come in the form of tourist sites printed in Mandarin so that you can simply point to where you want to go.
Chinese Cuisine
Open any Beijing restaurant menu, and you are almost sure to find the signature dish of China—the Peking duck. This centuries-old recipe entails a unique combination of spices, sugars and a glaze coating. Perhaps the most famous eatery that serves this Chinese delicacy is Quanjude restaurant on Qianmen Street where the chefs cook the duck over an open flame until the skin is crisp and the meat is tender. With almost 150 years of experience, this restaurant has perfected the art of the roast duck.
For more of the area’s definitive dishes, visit Huguo Temple Snack Restaurant, a world renown brand that prepares rich snack foods. Tourists and locals come here to nibble on the likes of Stuffed Glutinous Rice Flour Balls and Fried Glutinous Rice Balls with Sesame, Pea Flour Cake and Fried Doughnuts. Even the names of these meals are rich, and just trying to order them will be a mouthful. Another great eatery for snack time is the Ruibinlou, home of the Dalian Pie Stuffed with Meat.
Tourist Attractions
One of the most recognized legends of China is the Forbidden City, the grandiose palace at the heart of Beijing. Here emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled the country and presided over extravagant displays of richness and royalty. The city is divided into north and south, designating the inner court where the emperor resided with his family and the outer court where he implemented his political power. The site has 9,999 buildings surrounded by a moat and a wall that reaches 10 meters high. The palace is washed with yellow to symbolize royalty—today the rooftops still reflect a golden hue as well as palace decorations and walkways paved with yellow bricks. Tours through the Forbidden City are available through personal guides or audio guide devices. The site encompasses many attractions, so it is a good idea to give yourself a few hours to delve into the old-world treasures you will find here.
If you travel south from the Forbidden City, you will arrive at Tiananmen Square—home to Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People and Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Once considered a great entrance to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square is now a center of daily activity. For a memorable cultural experience, make it to the Square before dawn in order to see the raising of the national flag.
As one of the most iconic representations of Chinese history and culture, the Great Wall spans more than 4,000 miles. The wall itself initially began as separate entities built by the states of China, which were later unified under Emperor Qin Shi Huang in order to defend the country. The structure was continually renovated and refortified in various areas until the Ming Dynasty, which ended in the mid-17th century. If its captivating history does not draw you in, the experience of visiting this architectural wonder will.
China’s capital is a place where worlds collide, unifying ancient civilization with the thrill of a booming metropolis. Beijing is also a place of cultural exchange, characterized by modern development and known as a welcoming center of global commerce. One visit will not be enough to take in all of the wonder of the capital city, but if you arrive in China with an open mind, you will leave with a truly unique cultural experience.
©2008 Today's Chiropractic