北京

Beijing offers much for visitors to do. It is the gateway to the Great Wall, which is 1 - 2 hours drive from the city depending on which part you visit. Within the city, the major sights include The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hutong tours and cycle rickshaw rides.

Aside from the sights Beijing is a fabulous place to dine. Arguably, it has some of the best Chinese food in the world with lots of regional variations. Western food in Beijing is also excellent due to the abundance of foreigners and embassies.

Beijing also boasts some fantastic parks, with boating, amusements for children, Chinese martial arts and good people watching in a quiet green atmosphere.

The pollution in Beijing comes and goes, blown away by a good wind. Sometimes it builds into a haze, but visitors planning a short trip should not put off. It's just another aspect to life in a city of over ten million.

Hotels in Beijing vary greatly, with the huge buildup and many renovations that occurred in conjunction with the 2008 Olympic Games. There are some palatial five star hotels, plenty of great four star hotels and budget hotel abound. Finding the good ones can take some effort but we personally check the ones we use and recommend only the best.

When to visit

Beijing has a climate similar to Washington DC. It is cold in the winter with occasional snow. April, May and June are pleasant and there are flowering trees which can be especially picturesque in May. July and August, while still good can be hot. September and October are again pleasant, green and a popular time to visit. November is still nice with a fall feel in the air. December through March are winter months, a good time to go up to Harbin for the Ice Festival or go skating in Beijing's city parks.

Nightlife

For unique entertainment we recommend the Chaoyang Acrobat Show or The Legend of Kung Fu. We can add these in as part of your itinerary. An evening walk around Houhai Lake or Nanluoguxiang is a great way to enjoy the old part of the city.