Beijing was declared the capital city of China in 1057 B.C. At an elevation of 43.2 metres above sea level, greater Beijing covers 16,808 square kilometres (6,500 square miles), including 18 districts and counties. The city enjoys a continental climate of cold dry winters and hot summers; January being the coldest month and July the warmest.Plug TypeLanguageChinese (English is widely understood)Population17.2 millionTime ZoneGMT + 8 hoursMeasuresMetric SystemVoltage220 voltsMobile PhonesGSM 900/1800Visas must be obtained by all nationalities prior to arrival and normal processing time is four working days. A passport with a minimum six months’ validity and at least one blank page is required for application at a Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country before departure.
Validity of a single-entry visa is usually three months from issuance date, and duration of stay is usually 30 days unless specified otherwise. Types of visa and entry vary according to purpose of visits.
Regulations and costs are subject to change without notice. It is always prudent to check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, either personally or online.
Visa Requirements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Chinese currency is the Renminbi (RMB) or Chinese Yuan (CNY), and is not easily convertible outside of China except in some ASEAN countries. It is the general practice to bring major currencies into China and exchange at local banks or residential hotels.Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.RMB 1.00 equals:
.11
Euro (EUR)
.14
US Dollar (USD)
.21
Australian Dollar (AUD)
.09
British Pound (GBP)
1.08
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
13.55
Japanese Yen (JPY)
.21
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
.17
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Hotels and some restaurants do levy a surcharge (usually five percent) for taxes. Other establishments do not have additional charges, as taxes are included in displayed prices.
A ten percent service charge is usually added automatically to all hotel and restaurant bills in Beijing. Tipping is discretionary. Where desired, ten percent is appropriate.Bank Hours9am to 4pm (some to 5pm). Some banks have branches that are open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Not all foreign cards are accepted by local banks’ ATMs, and there are only two foreign banks with ATMs: HSBC and Citibank.Office Hours8am or 9 am to 5pm or 6 pm, Monday through Friday.Shop Hours9am or 10am to 9pm or later throughout the week.
Department stores and Malls are open 8am or 9am to 8pm or 9pm all week.
Check with your local clinic about vaccination requirements. Tap water is not potable and bottled drinking water is available in the hotel. Shangri-La and Traders hotels provide complimentary bottled drinking water in guest rooms.
Beijing has four seasons with very cold winters and hot summers, and suitable clothing for the seasons is recommended. Suits are appropriate for business and formal occasions. Unless specified, smart-casual attire is generally acceptable in restaurants and at social events.Beijing enjoys a continental climate with very distinct seasons. Temperatures range from:
Spring: March to May (5 to 25C)
Summer: June to August (22 to 32C)
Autumn: September to November (10 to 28C)
Winter: December to February (-5 to 10C)