BEIJING
Dining
Beijing is well known for its variety of cuisine and choice of restaurants, but perhaps its most famous dish is Beijing Roast Duck. Although available in many eateries, the best places to enjoy this dish is at Quanjude or Bianyifang; both restaurants have secret recipes and cooking methods which capture all the crispiness and flavour Beijing Duck is famous for.
Culture
A visit isn't complete without seeing the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and Tianenmen Square - China's most famous and awe-inspiring landmarks. By contrast, the city's narrow lanes form a fascinating anonymous open-air museum.
Shopping
Spend, spend, spend! seems to be the order of the Beijing day. Give your wallet a work out in the Western-style mega malls at Wangfujing Dajie, the city's grandest shopping area or Liulichang - the liveliest and oldest, loved for its atmosphere and Chinese-style goods.
Getting around
The subway, or Underground Dragon, is the best and easiest way of navigating Beijing. A Pedi-cab is a good choice for sightseeing, but agree a price with the driver before you start your journey. Legally registered Pedi-cabs can be identified by a certificate attached to the cab and the driver has a card hanging around his neck.
GMT: +8 Hours
Flight Time: Approximately 10 hours
Currency: Chinese Yuan
CHOOSE A RESORT
WEATHER
CLIMATE
In Beijing the climate is continental, with hot summers and cool, dry winters. From May onwards temperatures can surge well over 30°C while in winter temperatures can dip well below freezing. The best time to visit is in March or May, or from September to October.
TEMPERATURE / RAINFALL
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEMP (°C) | -4 | -2 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 4 | -2 |
RAINFALL (MM) | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 35 | 78 | 243 | 141 | 58 | 16 | 11 | 3 |
HOW ABOUT
Hong Kong
From the hustle and bustle to the hushed temples, quiet park corners, and surrounding idyllic island oases - whatever you want, always-on-the-boil Hong Kong has it.
More info
HOW ABOUT
Shanghai
Shanghai has become the latest "It" city of the world - sophisticated, innovative, exciting. For all its glossy modernity, its colonial legacy gives it an East meets West character all of its own.
More info