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Beijing's
geographical position at 39 decrees, 56 minutes north latitude,
about the same as Turkey, southern Spain and New York City, makes
it a temperate-zone city; its location on the east of the Asian
continent gives it a four-season continental climate: nice spring
and autumn, humid and hot slimmer, dry and cold winter. The annual
average rainfall about 630 millimeters, and the rain season is June
and July.
Getting
Around City
Taxicab Service: Taxicabs of varying types are available in large
and medium-sized cities. A ride costs one or two yuan per kilometer.
Subway:
Beijing now has two subways in operation with a total length of
54 kilometers by 2000. One runs from east to west and the other
loop line goes around the city. The current subway passenger transport
volume is 481 million. A subway ticket costs 3.00-5.00 yuan.
Bicycles:
bicycles are for rent in hotels. People can also look around in
Beijing by a three-wheeled vehicle driven by man.
Events
Beijing's four distinct seasons give ample opportunity for the staging
of popular events that range from the sedate and traditional to
the slightly strange. Here are some of the regular annual events.
Winter:
January 1: Mutianyu section, Great Wall Just as millions have done
over the centuries since it was built, you can watch the sun rise
over the Great Wall and its surrounding landscape. January 15-End-February
Long-qingxia: Beijing is cold in winter, just right for the formation
of ice and the carving of clear-ice sculptures that can be internally
illuminated. Definitely for the lover of the cold but beautiful.
Spring:
Spring Festival Grand View Garden: a unique look back into imperial
times, with the annual theatrical Ceremony of the Qing Dynasty concubine
Visiting Her Parents. Spring Festival Big Bell Temple Museum: the
annual festival at Big Bell Temple is one of Beijing's most popular
family events. Join in. Spring Festival Baiyuanguan Temple: The
Baiyungguan Taoist temple Fair is another local favorite, and the
invitation is out-join in. Spring Festival Dragon Pool Park: Another
organized yet spontaneous festivity to help while away those early
spring days and evenings. 3rd week of the 3rd lunar month Double
third temple Fair: Getting together and sharing the beauty of the
early spring at White Dragon Pool. 23rd day of the 1st lunar month
Yonghegong Lamasery: join the Buddhist priests in their religious
ceremony.
Mid-April
to Early May Peach Blossom Festival: winter's gone, spring's here
and summer's around the corner. It is time to wake up and smell
the peach blossoms at the Beijing Botanical Garden. April 15 to
may 31 Great Wall Ancient Art Festival. Held at the Badaling section
of the Great Wall, this features pieces of modern art that have
been done in the styles of the past. (Also September 15-October
31).
Summer:
Late June Watermelon Festival: Daxing County celebrates one of Beijing's
favorite fruits - or is it favorite vegetables? Seed-spitting contests
are not included. August Dragon Boat Races: held on the Ming Tomb
Reservoir north of Beijing.
Autumn:
September-October Double Ninth Mountain Tour. An event to attract
the fit, this sees hardy souls trudging up and around the peaks
of Badachu Park. September 24 to October 20 chrysanthemum Festival:
this favorite flower adds beauty to the lives of Beijing people
and is observed and revered in return. September Beijing International
Kite Festival: Beijing is very windy each autumn, with beautiful,
sometimes exotic and occasionally weird shapes sent aloft to challenge
the breezes. Mid to late September Mid-Autumn Festival. A former
imperial court preserve in Shisanling town ship is the scene of
this joyous time.
October
6-8 Tongzhou Snacks Festival: Snack, not fast, food is the norm
for Beijing and Xinhua Street in Tongxian county is famous for the
quality of its products. October 15- November 15 Great Wall golden
Autumn Festival: Gold and red leaves abound in the woodlands on
the hills around the great Wall. Come and enjoy. October 15 November
10 Fragrant Hill Red Leaves Festival: The East is Red when the leaves
change in the Fragrant Hills. An event to be celebrated.
Currency
RMB (Renminbi) is the sole legitimate currency of the People's Republic
of China. The basic unit of RMB is yuan (also known as kuai), which
is divided into l0 jiao (or mao), which is again divided into 10
fen. RMB paper notes include 1, 2, 5,10, 50, and 100 yuan, and the
smaller 1, 2, and 5 mao. There are also 1 yuan; 1, 2, and 5 jiao
and 1, 2, 5, fen coins, although these are not very common.
Money exchanges
can usually be found at international airports, large hotels and
tourist stores. The exchange rate fluctuates with international
market conditions. You are suggested to keep the form you fill in
when changing money, because it is necessary to show the form when
you change RMB back to foreign currencies. Most money exchanges
open seven days a week from 9:00 to 17:00.
Business
Hours
Offices in large Chinese cities generally open from 8:30-17:30,
with a lunch break of about an hour. Government-stipulated workdays
are from Monday to Friday. Offices usually close on public holidays
including New Year's Day on January 1, Spring Festival (the Chinese
Lunar New Year), when most Chinese take four days off, International
Labor Day on May 1, and National Day on October 1.
Business
Cards
It is very popular to exchange business cards in China so be sure
to bring a generous supply with you. If a considerable number of
your contacts are Chinese, make sure your cards are in both English
and Chinese (including your name and position in Chinese characters).
Make sure that you understand and are happy with the meaning of
both. Keeping cards you are given is an important step in building
a network of contacts in China. They are also useful for showing
addresses to taxi drivers.
Tipping
Tipping is still largely unnecessary on the Chinese mainland. Except
for occasional when your luggage boy helps you check into your hotel
room, or when in some posh restrooms, the boy offers you a coat
brush or a back "massage," you do not have to feel guilty leaving
without tipping. But if you really want to express your gratitude,
2-5 yuan of small change is an adequate tip.
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