Before you go to Beijing:

Beijing is a should-see student travel spot. Beijing is a city full of vitality. She is waiting for young students like you to feel and touch. Make travel plans for before you go.

1. You need a passport and a tourist visa.
2. Find the best airfare to Beijing from student airfare agencies like Student Universe and large travel websites like expedia and travlocity as well.
3. Study the major attractions in Beijing and find the favorable sites you like. See”Top 10 Must See Attractions in Beijing”.
4. Learn some Chinese simple sentences: Are you going to visit Beijing China? Worried about your inability to speak Chinese ? Please find below the useful information for you:

* It’s better to pick up some simple Chinese phrases before going. How to learn Chinese? You may turn to some websites for help. They offer Chinese learning lessons:

1. Learning Useful Chinese Phrases for Travellers
2. http://14.travel-way.net/~chinese/index.html
3. http://www.ecchinese.com/
4. http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/chinese/chinese.htm
5. http://www.craigslist.org./

Note: Chinese is a phonic language , very often similar words have different meanings based on pronounciation and different words have similar pronounciation. No pain, no gain!

• You may go to your local bookstore or library and getting some audio tapes for Chinese learning.
• You also try to find a community college or school offering Chinese learning for beginners.
• Each year a huge number of travellers with little knowledge of Chinese language visit or even work in China, actually you will have no big problem at all. You know more and more local Chinese are learning English. And they are pleased to practice with you. No worry! You can find assistance anywhere.

What should you pack for Beijing?

Learn how to pack the basics for Beijing. Winter ( from Dec. to Feb. ), Beijing is cold and dry, sometime coupled by strong winds. Your lips will feel very dry and uncomfortable. Don’t have to take a hat to keep from the wind. You can eaily buy a hat here in Beijing at a good bargain. Take a lipstick to moisten your lips. Beijing has heating system, which is a compulsory measure from the Beijing local government. So it’s quite warm and comfortable in your hotel or any indoor places during your trip. you don’t have to bring a overcoat from home which will be a burden for you for such a long trip. You can get it quite cheaply in Beijing. You may go to Yashow Market or Silk market for your overcoat, or a parka, hat, scarf, gloves, or warm socks. Since the indoor Beijing is quite warm, you suggest you have a fairly heavy overcoat and one thin sweater It’s a bad idea of having two or three sweaters ! Too many sweaters will make you uncomfortable and embarrassed once in a warm room while you have no way to take them off! Sweating inside! So overcoat + thin sweater is a ideal choice. Easily take on and easily take off. Spring and summer is the rain season in Beijing. Bring a very small umbrella and light rain coat or jacket that can be rolled tight for toting in your day pack while touring. The summer in Beijing is very hot! Don’t forget to get your sunglasses. Autumn ( Sept and Oct ) is the best season for sightseeing in Beijing.
See Beijing Weather and Beijing China Travel Tips.

Arriving in Beijing:

When you arrive at the Beijing Capital Airport, you may take a rest and have some coffee at Starbucks or KFC that have the outlets in the international arrival hall. You can exchange your money at the banks in the hall. See Currency Converter. Beijing Capital Airport has two terminals. Most of the international incoming flights land on the terminal two while terminal one is for a few domestic flights. The second floor of terminal two is for arriving flights and the first floor is for outgoing flights. So when you get to Beijing capital airport, you are on the first floor of the terminal two.

To get to the downtown Beijing from the airport, you have two choices – taking shuttle bus or taxi. For shuttle bus, you should go out of the hall and find some coaches waiting outside. There are several lines. Please be sure where you are going and choose the right line. It costs about RMB 20 ( USD 3 ). If you are not quite clear about the distance between your hotel and the bus stop, we suggest you take the shuttle bus to get to the Aviation Building in the downtown, then take a taxi to your hotel. For taking taxi from the airport to the downtown Beijing, you should wait in line for the taxis waiting outside. For taking taxi, please pass through the “black cab drivers” who may follow at your heels. These black taxi whose rates are far above the going fare. Please head straight for the taxi line outside the arrival doors. Make sure they use the meter, and if you notice irregularities, just point it out. Even local residents are sometimes the victims of meters that ominously read RMB100 (until, with the push of a button, the original fare is restored). You will have to pay an extra RMB10 (roughly US$1.4 = RMB10) for the Airport Expressway toll. Once it is learned that a foreign tourist is overcharged RMB 400 from the airport to the downtown area! Normally the ride costs about RMB 150 ( US$20). Most taxi driver speaks little English, maybe, just a few words. So please show your hotel in Chinese. Airport taxis come in RMB2. The flag of the former drops at RMB12 and goes up in RMB2 increments per kilometre after four kilometres. Taxis can be rented for the whole day for 8 hours, and the best way to do this is to bargain directly with the driver. Expect to pay at least RMB350 for the day. Please keep in mind – “a legal taxi’s plaque number starts with the number “B”!

Money Exchange in Beijing:

How and where to exchange your money when you travel to Beijing China ?
Usually you may do money exchange at the banks or ATM machine at the Beijing Capital Airport when you arrive. They make the same deal either you do it at the airport banks or at ATM machine. When you do the money exchange, don’t forget to take your passport. Please keep your receipt. It is vaild for three months! you can use the receipt to exchange your RMB ( Chinese money ) back to your currency when you leave China. When you run out of money, you can also exchange your money at the counter of your hotel in Beijing. Each hotel has the capacity to do the money exchange for you since Bank of China or other banks in China will have their counters at the foreign-related hotels

Where should you stay in Beijing? How much will it cost?

Beijing hostels are the best way to go for budget lodging in Beijing. Ask to see a hostel room before you pay and choose a dorm (several bunks in one room) for the cheapest Beijing lodging. Expect to pay US$ 8 – 15 for a Beijing hostel bunk.
Top 10 Beijing Hostels:

1) Saga International Youth Hostel, Beijing (????????):
Located in the Heart of Beijing central business district within walking distance to Beijing Central Railway Station and Tian’anmen Square. It takes you 10 minutes to walk to our hostel from the airport shuttle bus terminal of Beijing International Hotel. It is a good idea to stay here for the shuttle to the airport for the next day.
Address: 9 Shijia Hutong, Nanxiaojie, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Phone: 86-10-65272773
ZIP: 100010

2) Downtown Backpackers, Beijing (????????)
Downtown Backpackers is located in the center of the ancient capital of Yuan dynasty, hence called Downtown. This area is now the very famous protected area of old Chinese, called Hutong – Nanluogu alley. Downtown Backpackers is near the Forbidden grove and just behind Beihai Park.
Address: No.85 Nan Luo Gu Xiang, Dongcheng District Beijing
Phone: 86-10-84002429

3) Beijing Far East Youth Hostel (????????)
Far East International Youth Hostel, as one of the best hostels in Beijing, is located in a preserved and protected Hutong area, typical local residency neighborhood, 10 minutes’ walk away from the alleyways to Tian’anmen Square, Qianmen Business Center and Forbidden City. The well- known Liulichang Cultural Street is only 5 minutes walk. It is in a traditional Chinese courtyard attached to the main building as a comfortable hotel and the courtyard are built in the style of Qing Dynasty.
Address: 113 Tie Shu Jie Xuan Wu District Beijing 100050, China
Phone: 86-10-51958811

4) Beijing Leo Hostel
Leo Hostl is the most central hostel in Beijing, located inside the famous Da Zha Lan hutong market streets, which have over 600 years of history, only 5-10 minutes walk from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Qianmen bus & subway center. There is no problem taking transportation to anywhere you want to go in Beijing. The Leo Hostel is a traditional Chinese hutong hostel, beautifully decorated with traditional furniture and fittings. As an escape from the busy market streets outside, inside the hostel are several peaceful, green seating areas.
Address: Leo Hostel, Guang Ju Yuan Binguan, 52 Da Zha Lan Xi Jie, Qianmen, Beijing, 100051, China.
Telephone: (86) 10 86608923, (86) 10 63033318

5) Beijing Feiying International Youth Hostel (??????????)
The Beijing Feiying International Youth Hostel is well located in the heart of Beijing. To go there, you take the subway and get off at the Changchunjie stop through Exit C, then you will see the McDonald’s on your right. Just walk 150-metres east and turn right, you will see the hostel. From the Feiying hostel, you take a 5-10 minutes’drive, you will get to Tiananmen Square and the Liulichang Cultural street.
Address: Behind of No. 10 Building Xuanwumen West Street, Xuanwu District Beijing
Phone: 86-10-63171116
ZIP: 100053

6) Beijing Eastern Morning Sun Youth Hostel (??????????)
Beijing Eastern Morning Sun Youth Hostel is located on the Floor B4 east building of Oriental Square which is the largest architectural complex in Asia. It is also next to the very famous shopping street – Wangfujing Pedestrian Street.
Address: 8-16 Dongdan santiao, Oriental Palza Dongcheng District Beijing, China
Phone: 86-10-65284347
ZIP: 100005

7) Beijing Zhaolong International Hostel (??????????)
The Beijing Zhaolong International Hostel is well located behind the Zhaolong (Great Dragon) Hotel. It is near the Beijing’s popular Sanlitun Bar Street, the Lufthansa shopping. The hostel has 35 rooms, with two to six beds in each room. It features air-conditioning, 24-hour hot water, a self-catering dining room, laundry room, general store, game room and a reading room.
Address: 2 Gongtibei Lu Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: 86-10-65972299
ZIP: 100027

Beijing City Central International Youth Hotel (????????)
Beijing City Central Youth Hostel is located at the northwest corner of Beijing Zhan Qianjie, across from the Beijing Railway Station. The bus terminal, airport shuttle bus stop and taxi stands are next to the railway station, and Beijing Zhan subway station (Exit A) is just outside the door.
Address: No. 1 Beijingzhanqianjie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100005
Phone: 86-10-85115050, 86-10-65258866

9) Jade Youth International Hostel Beijing (????????) (??????????)
Jade Youth International Hostel is a two-star hotel. It is located in the most flourishing Beiheyan Avenue in Wangfujing, adjoining the Palace Museum in the west, adjacent to the business street of Wangfujing in the east. There are several bus lines around, the public transportation is excellent. The hotel has over 100 guest rooms now with internet center, self-service kitchen and so on will best serve you.
Address: No. 5 North Jade Lane, Beiheyan Avenue, Dongcheng District Beijing
Phone: 86-10-65259966
ZIP: 100006

10) Beijing Drum Tower Youth Hostel
The hostel have about 30 rooms with private facilities, there are air-conditioner & long-distance phone and cable TV in the room. In lobby you can get high-speed internet connect and you can use your own computer to surf the net for free. On the terraced roof you can view the drum tower and bell tower, also there have Chinese and western style restaurant can serve you good tastes food, tour office can help you to arrange your tours around BeiJing. It will make you feel comfortable and convenient. It is an ideal place to stay. Drum Tower Youth Hostel became the member of the International Youth Hostel Association in 2006. There have 23 dorm rooms with share facilities, the dorm rooms at third floor and B floor.
Address : No.51 Jiugulou Dajie, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
Phone : 0086 10-64037702/9907

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