While Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in the economic field, Peking is generally recognized as the political, instructional and cultural centre of the Country, with a jurisdiction over eighteen districts and counties.  To get around this metropolis you could find handy these temporary suggestions on public transports when you land there. 

Public Bus and trolley Bus : you want to remember some numbers.  Buses Nos.  1-200 and trolley buses run in the town ( 1 yuan per person ) ; buses Nos.  201-212 run at night ; buses Nos.  300-599 go to the burbs, charging according to the distance covered.  Air conditioned buses beginning with n.  8 are charged according to the distance covered.  They usually run thru the busy streets.  Buses starting with n.  Six go to the home areas and so on.  ( for details see bjbus.com ). 

Beijing Capital world airport ( 010 645 63 604 ) is one of China’s major gateways.  It is 28 km from the city centre, about 40 minutes’ ride by car.  Taxi costs roughly one hundred yuan. 

There are four railways stations in the city : Beijing Railway Station ( ph.  5101 ninety nine 99 ), Beijing West ( the biggest ; ph : 5182 6253 ), South ( ph : 63030031 ) and North railway stations.  Passengers may buy train tickets from the ticket offices ten days ahead or book by telephone ( ph.  010- 51827188 from 9am-9pm every day ) or net ( 036.com.cn ) 5 to 11 days in advance. 

There are 3 different types of taxi charges ( 1.2, 1.6, and 2 yuan per kilometer ) and they’re very convenient to explore the town.  ( Call the taxi centre : 010- 683 73399 )

train : four lines criss-cross the city of Beijing.  Line one, Line 2, Line 13 and Batong line.  The second two are city rails.  They run from 5am till roughly 10 or 11 in the night.  Subway entrances feature a grey cement structure with a designated lamp box.  An one-way ticket is about 3-5 yuan. 

Bikes and bikes!  As usual we can’t avoid mentioning a healthy, environmentally friendly, convenient, cheap, safe and fun method of travel transport and recreation!  The bike!  China truly is the ‘Bicycle Kingdom’, manufacturing and using more bikes than any other nation in the world.  Cycling in China is a kind of life style for the Chinese people.  Don’t forget that in the traffic and in the narrow alleys of the Hutongs bikes are the best means to explore the city and is a super-individual way of transport by your own pace!  Try firms like The cycle dominion to lease your own bike. 

Also, to avoid long nerve wracking researches on where to go and what to do, here we have highlighted for you some of the central Beijing districts divided by main interest.  Haidian District is home of China’s Silicon Valley -Zhongguancun- and 39 schools including Beijing, Tsinghua and Renmin Universities, so basically good for shopping feaver.  Xuanwu District is a good area for everything related to conventional medication whilst the Chaoyang District is the 798 Art District and flea market district.  Dongcheng District is an area where many nice backpackers youth hostels are found.  Just to mention some names : the nine dragons youth hostel, Beijing city Central youth hotel, the courtyard Hotel, Beijing harbor hotel hostel, the saga youth hostel, the Beijing New Dragon Hostel. 

Xicheng District hosts some public parks as the Beihai park, Jingshan Park, Yuetan Park and the Beijing Zoo.  In the area the famous Zhongnanhai and the popular Houhai bar.  If you like this ‘green’ area, we also suggest a very nice boutique value hotel nested in an hold traditional hutong called the Spring Garden courtyard Hotel.  A hotel in a Chinese standard, deluxe yard, comprises an autumn and a spring garden offering a completely unique cultural connotation.  In truth, each of the rooms introduces you to the life of different distinguished emperors in Chinese history and the dynasties that they lived in.  In the multifunction hall, there are approximately one hundred pictures with English translations depicting Beijing ( Peking ) past.  These include places of interest, culture, faith, and every day life in the city.  There is also a staff member available to answer questions and explain the 800 years of Beijing history ). 

Other central location districts are : Fengtai District ; Shijingshan District ; Chongwen District.

Thinking about traveling outside of the country? Famouswonders.com can help you decide where to go on your next vacation, or you can view Xian City Wall.