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Beijing Tour: Beijing Normal University

  If you are on your Beijing tour you will certainly go pass more than one university. Not all universities are as famous as Peking University or Tsinghua University but there are lots of other universities in the city that are worth for a short visit on your Beijing Tours. Even if you’re not that interested in seeing inside you can walk around on the campus and take the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a little snack and a drink or have a look at what’s going on around you. On the weekends universities are places where not only students spend their free time but also visitors.

  When you look at the main building you wouldn’t think that its history goes back over a hundred years. It was founded in 1902 as one of the earliest established institutions of higher education in the country. After several changes it was named Beijing Normal University in 1923 and it is today one of the nation’s first ten key universities, situated northwest of Beijing’s center. In contrast to its past the architecture of the university is modern rather than traditional. Especially the entrance of the main building with its particular design the fountain in front of it offers a great opportunity to take some nice pictures. When you enter the main hall you’ll find a model of Normal University which gives you an impression on how big the grounds really are. At present, BNU has 22 schools, 6 departments, 14 research institutes and a number of research centers. Currently over 16,000 full time students are enrolled including 8,000 undergraduate students and over 7,000 master’s degree and doctoral candidates.

  The university’s main subjects include Chinese Language and Culture, Historical Studies, Psychology, Pedagogy, Pre-school Education and Studies of Educational Techniques. With a growing number of foreign students coming to Chinese universities BNU also offers different Chinese language programs and cooperates with numerous foreign universities. One reason why over 2,000 students from other countries are currently enrolled at BNU is China’s fast growing economy and with that the demand for Chinese speaking employees in foreign countries.

Beijing Tour: Negotiating the Markets

  Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best activities to undertake on a Beijing tour is shopping at the markets. This article will only provide a taste of some good markets to go, because, in the end, it is something which must be witnessed in order to experience their extravagance. The low prices of the items at the market do make me wonder whether people will (or do) take a China tour just to stock up on goodies. A few markets in which to explore include the Silk market, Yaxiu (Yashow) Market and the Pearl Market.

  You may have heard of the phrase, ‘Buyer Beware’; well, in the case of these markets it is probably useful to adopt this approach. Most of the marketers are highly experienced and will seek out deals with foreigners. It is somewhat amusing to see how far the venders will go to secure a deal. For example, I bought a jacket at the Yaxiu market in which the seller would pour water over the product to prove the quality. I even have friends who have bought handbags, for example, and the salesperson has swiftly used a lighter on the product to demonstrate its authenticity.

  Whatever the genuineness of the brands, the markets are still great places to buy low-cost items if you need to boost your wardrobe upon arrival to Beijing. If the stuff looks and feels okay, then I guess there is no major issue in purchasing. Compared to the other two markets, the Pearl Market felt slightly more civil in the sense that there was less beckoning from sellers to buy. Due to the character of the markets, it is necessary to haggle as these do not have fixed retail prices (so it is generally advisable not to compare prices to shops in your home country). Conversely, if you try to drive the price down too low then you may offend the seller and they will walk away.

  As their names suggest, the Silk Market is known for selling silk and the Pearl market for pearls and these professions standout in both markets. It is enjoyable to observe the expertise of the tailors in the silk market preparing material and the dexterity of the pearl sellers stringing together a necklace. I can vouch that the silk section of the Silk Market does have a lot of choice, especially as I was able to buy a green tie (for Saint Patrick’s Day) for under 10RMB. Electronics and gadgets can be found at all the markets, but again, the durability may be best bought on the high-street.

Beijing Tour: Written in the Stars

  Just off Exit C at Jianguomen Station is Beijing’s Ancient Observatory. The observatory was built in 1442 under the Ming Dynasty and by then it was given the name, ‘Platform of Star-Watching’. Only until the Qing Dynasty was it called an ‘observatory’. The observatory is a very significant landmark because it represents an exchange of ideas between Chinese and Western thinkers around the time of the renaissance. Also, the observatory is one of the oldest of its kind in the world. Give or take, you can comfortably spend about an hour at the observatory if you decide your Beijing tour. Lastly, it should be noted that since Jianguomen is transportation hub, it is easy to reach the observatory from many of the local Beijing hotels.

  The highlight of this attraction is the observatory platform which passes over 17 meters in height. At the top of the platform, this is where the magic really happened! Essentially, this is where the astronomers would stargaze and apply their knowledge by utilizing the marvelous pieces of equipment on display. The astronomical instruments which you will see are not just scientific gadgets, but they are finely crafted works of art fashioned from bronze. Below the platform, in the garden, there are also other instruments to be found. If anything, it is a good idea to visit the observatory just to admire the historical fusion between east and west.

  Constructed along the city wall, the observatory is reminiscent of a period of international innovation. The Forbidden City, the Observatory of Paris and the Royal Greenwich Observatory were all built around the same time, for instance. Indeed, the Ancient Observatory has its beginnings in a time of an international exchange of ideas. Essentially, it was a German adviser who influenced the Emperor to use western measuring and calculation methods. From then on, a number of astronomical instruments were built with some of the most notable today including the Armillary Sphere, Celestial Globe and the Azimuth Theodolite.

  What makes the observatory rather unique is its sense of preservation. For example, out of quite a few observatories under the old Chinese dynasties, the Ancient Observatory is only one to survive. The observatory is also very impressive considering it was able to recover many of the instruments it lost after they were looted in the past. Nevertheless, the observatory has gained recognition for its preservation achievements. For example, in 1982, the National Cultural Relics Protection Bureau recognised the observatory as a National Heritage site. Even famous people such as the ex-Prime Minister from Britain, Tony Blair, have visited the observatory!

Beijing Tour: The World Park in Beijing

  My biggest dream is to go on a wonderful tour round the world along with taking part-time jobs earning money. I am sure that many people just have the same dream. But this dream is hard to come true if without enough money and fluent foreign language. Though now you don’t have the chance to travel around the world, you don’t have to so disappointed, because there is a place that can satisfy your dream. When you have aChina tour, you should have a Beijing tour, where World Park is located.

  The World Park is located in southwestern Fengtai District, is 17 kilometers from Tian’anmen and 40 kilometers from the Capital International Airport. It have a convenient traffic though without no subway station.

  The park has 100 world-famous man-made and natural attractions from nearly 50 countries throughout the world.The park covers an area of 46.7 hectares. The layout is modeled after the five continents and four oceans, incorporating different spectacles and folklore of the world. Most of the architectural structures are built from marble, some with exquisite carvings. These reproductions are vivid.

  The park is divided into five areas: Asia, Africa, Europe, America and Latin America. Taking a speedboat one can have a “global voyage;” and if one takes a battery-operated car, he can sightsee around the park. The “Special Joy Adventure City” is a cinema with the latest technologies, and by visiting the “Modern African Primitive Folklore Exhibition” one can experience the life of the original inhabitants of Africa. From May to October, the park holds the cultural activities of various countries. In the park visitors can taste the cuisine of various countries and buy the tourist souvenirs of various countries.

  The park includes most of the recognized spots of interest on the globe. Among these are the Wooden Pagoda in China’s Ying County, the world’s oldest and best-preserved wooden pagoda, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pharoas of Alexandria and Eiffet Tower in Paris. China’s Qingyingjing Park, Japan’s Katzura Imperial Villa, and an old-style garden of the US are grouped together to represent the splendor of the world’s different gardening styles and in recognition of the many distinctive forms which landscape gardening has taken in China.

Beijing Tour: The Old Summer Palace

  Many people have heard of the Summer Palace, but what about Yuan Ming Yuan or the ‘Old Summer Palace’? Take some time of your Beijing tour and have a somber reflection of the once memorizing Imperial Palace. The palace can be reached from exit B at Yuanmingyuan Station, subway Line 4 which means it is quite manageable to access the palace from whichever of the Beijing hotels.

  Before entering the palace grounds, expect to be met by a showcase of entertainment. With performers encouraging you to join in, the atmosphere in the palace courtyard is rather thrilling. The apparatus which the performers use are slightly out of the norm, with diablo-like contraptions making whirling noises and that projects an almighty bang as if gunpowder has exploded.

  In the days of the Second Opium War, the Old Summer Palace was ransacked as retaliation by French and British troops so therefore today, the palace lies in ruins. Some parts of the grounds, have, nonetheless, been restored in the 1990s; such the Jianbiting in 1993, which in turn has made the place a rather attractive location to visit. Compared to the ‘new’ Summer Palace, the grounds have a more natural and raw appearance as opposed to the pristine gardens of its successor. Additionally, in contrast to the ‘new’ palace, the ‘old’ one has (from its remains) a European appearance. Indeed, the ruins can be likened to that of classical Greco-Roman architecture with marble-like white stones.

  In its heyday, as indicated by the ruins, the palace would have looked incredible. For example, the largest building at the palace, The Haiyan Hall was adorned with bronze sculptures with symbolic animal heads representing the 12-year cycle of human births would spray water. Whilst the exterior of Haiyan Hall would also have been a radiant sight with towering fountains glistening in the summer heat. Water certainly played a major role in old palace and this is made clear when observing the strange-looking structure called the Haiyantang. At first glance, the Haiyantang appears like a upturned pyramid, however, its original purpose was to act as a 160 cubic meters tin reservoir.

Beijing Tour: Wudaoying Hutong cafes

  Hutongs are excellent places to see the city’s old streets for your Beijing Tour. Stepping off the subway at Yonghegong Lama Temple tourists will encounter over the road from the temple, a maze of amazing cafes in the Wudaoying Hutong. This hutong is famous for its large gate and is the ideal place to have a beverage and refresh you from the hustle and bustle of Beijing tour.

  Sirena Bar is simply complements the alternative and recently regenerated nature of the hutong. Influenced by the Japanese ‘Hello Kitty’ franchise, Beijing has leapt on board to embrace the feline variety. The owners of the cafes have been successful with their venture with the café going from strength to strength with the café currently home to nine cats. Customers can choose to sit near the bar where it is likely you can spot a silky-smooth Siamese cat perched on rest. Yet, if in a small party, you could always hide on the couches upstairs which is pleasantly lit by natural light. The cats are supposedly kept away from the kitchen area for hygiene reasons, but because the cats generally lounge freely in the café, if you have an allergy towards cats, this place may not be ideal.

  Sirena’s somewhat Mediterranean appearance with white walls and blue fittings gives the feeling of being in a quaint village which it a wonderful contrast to the hutong outside. The cafes along Wudaoying Hutong are definitely special in how they all have a unique presence. In contrast to Sirena’s bright façade, a few doors away is a bar with has a dark vampire theme with blood-entitled cocktails. If you like the sounds Sirena Bar’s appearance (but you are not a fan of cats), then Sand Pebbles Lounge is might appeal. This fresh-looking café serves Mexican/American-style food with a refreshing seaside décor to match which is quite a change from Chinese cuisine or fast-food joints.

  Wudaoying Hutong does have a few eating places, although surrounding areas might be best if you are looking for cheaper and more localized dishes. Recommendations down the hutong include; the Vineyard, The Veggie Table and the V.A. (‘vanguard’) Bar. The only thing truly in common with these establishments is the letter ‘v’; apart that they all provide express their distinct vibes – The Vineyard with its romantic air, The Veggie Table for those who like their greens and the VA for its jazz music.

Beijing Tour: An Underground Experience

  Beijing is one of the few cities that never sleep. No matter what time of day it is, there is always traffic. While planning your Beijing tour, the best way to get around is via the subway lines, you can also organize and take the airport express from the airport when your Beijing flight has arrived. If you need to get somewhere in a certain time, avoid taking a taxi or bus and go to experience the subway. However the subways are always hectic as well, so this will outline what to expect and how to survive your subway adventure whilst enjoying your Beijing Tour.

  Firstly forget your personal space, in the subways they do not exist at all and they are long gone. Being pushed and squeezed on to the train is always an eventful experience, just try not to get your jacket caught in the door or end up missing a shoe. It feels as though everyone is late for something important so everyone wants to get on this one particular train, so the race is on. However words of advice do not get angry or upset if you do get pushed into the train or that you are underneath someone’s arm pit, it will get you nowhere further in your travels and you are not a victim in this ordeal. Secondly do not hesitate at all, if your mission is to get on that train, go straight for it. Because if you hesitate for a slight second you will never get to your destination and people behind you will go straight pass you. But don’t fret to much, trains come every couple of minutes. So put your game face on and do it how the locals do it.

  The best way to survive your trip is to know where you are going before you get on the train. There are many maps throughout the stations as well as online, so study your route before you head to the subway. The reason being is because no one is going to wait for you to work out where you need to go and which station you need to get off at. Everyone prepares themselves to get off the train the stop before and if you are not ready you will get charged at by the people wanting to get on the train. If you do plan your trip and familiarise yourself with the station names and exits, no matter how crazy busy the subway is your trip will be successful and will run smoothly. Within majority of the trains there are maps on top of the door highlighting which stations have already been passed and which is coming up next, so you cannot get lost.

  All the major tourist destinations within Beijing are next to or a short walk from a subway station. Therefore the subway is the most desirable transportation to go with. You will usually find that the maps and the voice overs on the train will say which stop to get off in order to go to the attraction. The major shopping markets are near subway stations, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City is right above a subway station and majority of museums and galleries are a short distance from the subways.