Beijing, China Travel Guide
About Getting Around Attractions Hotels Eats & Nightlife Essentials & Practicals
Practicals in Beijing
Practicals in Beijing
LAYOUT
The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square stand directly in Beijing’s city center. The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are adjacent to each other, with the Forbidden City north of Tiananmen Square. Stretch out a couple/few kilometers in all directions from these monuments and you’ll run into the 2nd Ring Road. Then, the 4th and so forth. Beijing’s city center is made up of these concentric “ring roads.” There is, by the way, no 1st Ring Road. The ring roads are made up of various streets. Example, the south end of the 2nd Ring Road is Qianmen. As a reference, the Olympic Green (National Stadium, etc.) is located at the north end of Bejing’s city center at the 4th Ring Road; the Summer Palace, near the northwest corner of 4th Ring Road. A few more kilometers more, you have the 3rd Ring Road.
LANGUAGE
Mandarin Chinese is spoken.
CHINESE VISA
In Los Angeles, California, the Chinese Visa and Passport Office is located on Shatto just off (north of) Wilshire. Don’t confuse this building with the Chinese Consulate building across the street.
You can go to the website of the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles, download a pdf of the visa application, fill it out and get to the visa office before 9am. It takes about 4 business days to get your visa from the time of turning in your application at the visa office. You will need an extra copy of your passport photo to hand in with the visa application as well as your passport. Then, you will be given a receipt confirmation which you will need to keep in order to pick up your visa and your passport about 4 business days later at the office. You can pick up the visa or someone else can. They will need your receipt.
Cost for Chinese Visa: The cost for a Chinese Tourist Visa these days (in 2008) is $130 USD for a 6 month visa.
Location: 3rd Floor, 500 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020, Ph: (213) 807-8006, website: http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/, email: visa@chinaconsulatela.org
ELECTRICITY
220V 50Hz
INTERCULTURAL
The race to modernization seems to have left out modern attitudes in many Beijing folks. This, I believe, is due to a lack of exposure to diversity of other cultures. As well, handicap people in Beijing don’t go out. The Chinese have a certain look on their faces, almost a scowl or a hard look. That seems to be their normal look. They may approach you if you are in a wheelchair. Certainly, they stare. No, it’s not your imagination; they stare. It’s because a wheelchair, or disabled person, is different and not widely accepted as is the case in the United States. Check out the pics and videos in this Beijing section. While I’m checking out tourist attractions, tourists and Chinese locals are checking me out. I should qualify that I am a Korean guy in a wheelchair and that adds to the curiosity of people.
TIMES TO GO
High Season: Late Spring