Beijing Lifestyle

Beijing is the capital of The People's Republic of China, and this larger than life city covers an area of nearly 17,000 square kilometers and is home to over 13 million people.

Beijing is an ancient city and was originally built to impress and inspire the population of China and show them the strength of the Emperor. It was built as a place for ceremonies and events, and despite being very populated, the city is opulent and attractive.

Due to the large population, Beijing itself has very few natural resources and farming and agriculture is minimal; although iron and limestone are mined in the outskirts of the city. Tourism is an important part of the lifestyle in Beijing, and much of the city is built to support this industry- especially since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Beijing is a cosmopolitan metropolis and has an eclectic mix of traditional and modern Chinese cultures. The city is made up of thousands of 'hutongs', which are long winding laneways that house communities of Beijing residents, some of whom have lived there for generations. These hutongs are vastly different to the busy metropolis of the city that surrounds them, and are popular destinations for tourists who want to see authentic Beijing lifestyle.

Modern day Beijing is a far cry from what it used to be less than 10 years ago. People everywhere are on mobile phones and wearing the latest designer clothes. It is a very polluted and dusty city due to the sheer mass of people that reside there, but it is relatively litter free and recycling is a regular part of every Beijing resident's life.

Traffic congestion is unbelievably bad and there are very few pedestrian crossings around the city, but because traffic moves so slowly it is not hard to cross the streets safely. Taxis and public transport are incredibly cheap, with a maximum cab far within the confines of the city being approximately US$3, and a bus fare being the equivalent of 7 cents. Bicycles are usually a faster alternative, although these aren't as popular as they were ten years ago.

In the mornings, masses of Beijing residents head to their local parks or the Temple of Heaven to do traditional exercises such as Tai Chi and other martial arts.

Another popular past time for Beijing residents is the Peking Opera, particularly with the elderly. In traditional Chinese style, the shows put on at the opera are full of colorful costumes, masks and martial arts. The Opera has a history of over 200 years, and it is also attracting many tourists to their flamboyant and exciting shows.

Beijing is famous for it's nightlife, and much of the younger generation head out regularly for a night on the town at the local bars or nightclubs. San Li Tun Bar Street, Wangfujing and Xidan are some of the most popular night spots.

If you are after a shopping haven, Beijing is sure to impress, with late night shopping every day of the week and more shops than anyone would have time to visit in any trip. There are many designer boutiques as well as traditional markets and world-renowned chain stores. Bargaining is a normal way of purchasing items in Beijing, apart from in shopping malls where prices are fixed. You are sure to grab a bargain at one of the many flea markets throughout the city.
The climate in Beijing is described as "continental monsoon", and there are four distinct seasons. Temperatures range from -4 to 38 degrees Celsius.

People in Beijing are generally very friendly and are used to tourists and are willing to help out. But it is good to be aware of differences in etiquette and culture.

For food lovers there is no lack of choice in Beijing. There are thousands of food outlets throughout the city with many of them being street vendors, which is interesting as you can see them prepare your food in front of you. Food is also generally very cheap in Beijing.

The currency in Beijing is the Yuan (CNY), and the bank note denominations are: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 yuans. There are strict regulations on currency exchange, and to turn yuans back into your home currency you usually require a copy of the original exchange receipt.

Traditionally Beijing has very much been a cash-based economy with few people owning bank accounts of credit cards, but these days due to the economic growth of the city, financial institutions are popping up all over. There are ATM's throughout the city, but credit cards are not as widely used as cash - although this tradition is changing.

Overall, life in Beijing is very busy and fast-paced and it can take quite a lot of getting used to particularly if you are from a much smaller city. But it is also very exciting and vibrant and you will not have trouble finding things to do.