When in Beijing
Beijing was first inhabited around 500,000 years ago. The city is crammed full of people, making for a manic, yet intoxicating experience for the traveller.
The city has been controlled by many peoples during its existence. Modern Beijing is based upon the resurrection of the original town burnt to the ground by Genghis Khan in 1215 AD. We have his grandson, Kublai Khan, to thank for Beijing's revival, which has led to the great Ming and Qing dynasties and the turbulent times of the last century.
Visitors to Beijing looking to indulge their interest in communist history and Mao Zedong's People's Republic will be able to find what they came for. But they will do so amid the backdrop of what has become a thoroughly modern city and one which would have been completely unrecognisable to the visitor to Beijing 30 years ago, had anyone been allowed in.
Today, popular youth culture prevails where once Maoist agendas ruled and the city is a fascinating mix of the new and old, with the modern quickly gaining the upper hand as Beijing prepares for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Places such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Lama Temple must be visited to gain a sense of what Beijing was ? they are simply awe-inspiring in their grandeur and the years of history connected to them.
The majority of travellers flying in to Beijing will arrive at the Capital International Airport, 18 miles to the north-east of the city. From here there are shuttle buses that take three routes into the city centre, with stops at many of the major hotels. Taxis are also available in abundance, with the journey taking between 40 minutes and an hour.
Although it is almost impossible to find a coach that will take you to Beijing from the surrounding regions and countries, trains provide regular services to Beijing Train Station from Moscow, Ulaan Baatar and Pyongyang. In addition, trains from Hong Kong and Vietnam arrive at Beijing West Train Station.
Once settled in the city, the Underground Dragon metro system is recommended as the easiest way of getting around, with busy and bewildering buses taking the fun out of many a stay. Taxis are also a good option although the language barrier can prove difficult to overcome.
But for a real taste of Beijing, why not join the masses and hire a bike to take you between the sites?
Autumn is generally regarded as the best time to go, when skies are clear and the temperature amenable. Spring is also a good season to visit. However, from May to September, temperatures are regularly above 30°C and the air quality is poor. Winter, meanwhile, is bitterly cold, with temperatures capable of falling to minus 20°C.
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Introduction
