Beijing Flight Guide

Beijing literally means “the northern capital” and is a city of contrasts where the modern Western World meets Ancient China. The shiny commercial buildings on one side and the historic Old Town on the other invite every visitor to explore the two different worlds. Lake Houhai is a perfect place to relax while the various neighbourhoods offer cultural, musical and artistic entertainment. With its multicultural population of 17 million people, Beijing is a diverse city with many languages, religions, nationalities and traditions.

The main attractions lie in the eastern part of the city centre while the western area is of little interest except for the impressive television tower. Particularly worth seeing are the two central districts Dongcheng and Xicheng where visitors go to explore the historic Old Town. The area around Lake Houhai is popular for its numerous small bars and restaurants in beautifully restored old buildings. A little further south is the Tiananmen Square from where tourists can catch a glimpse of the Forbidden City which is Beijing’s centre of power.
The nightlife is concentrated in Sanlitun, featuring the most upscale restaurants which attract the wealthy. Younger people and students prefer the northern district Wudaokou, to have a fun night out in one of the cheaper pubs that have live music. Those interested in modern Chinese rock and pop music can make their way to Gulou, where various live performances take place several nights a week. A visit to Beijing is only complete after visiting the Olympic City in the north.

The Beijing Jihousecn Hotel is the perfect address for luxurious accommodation in an authentic and traditional Chinese courtyard. A cheaper alternative is the Beijing Templeside Deluxe Hutong House, which offers fair prices and has received positive reviews from past guests. Qantas and Singapore airlines offer various flights from Australia to Beijing with an average travel time of 12 hours.

http://www.hotelsaccommodation.com.au Hotels Accommodation
http://en.beijing2008.cn/ Official website 2008 Olympic Games Beijing
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/ Visitor information Beijing
http://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/jks/jkxw/t209905.htm Entry and Exit regulations China
http://en.bcia.com.cn/ Beijing airport
http://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.htm China Airlines
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/ - Australian Embassies worldwide
http://www.airfaresflights.com.au Airfares Flights
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ Smart Traveller