Experience the majesty of China’s rich traditions in a Deluxe Garden Villa, which presents a spacious bedroom, study and bathroom, all carefully furnished with local objets d’art in bold russet and gold colors.

Opened in 1987, Beijing International Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in the central district foreign affairs district on Chang’an Street. The hotel is very close to the embassy district, business district, and the central tourist attractions of Beijing. The hotel has 916 well appointed guest rooms and suites, and 4 restaurants including the acclaimed rooftop Starlight revolving restaurant which revolves once every 2 hours.

I have been to Badaling before and what sticks out in my mind about the trip is not the wall; it is the trouble of finding a cab for the day, of negotiating a fair rate, and waiting as our car crawled along the highway in the infamous Beijing traffic…. In the end, the transportation costs alone were 800 RMB and the day at the wall we had planned wound up being more of a day in the car.

So this weekend I went out to explore an alternative route to the wall by taking the newly opened commuter train from the Beijing…

What to wear depends mainly on two things; when and where you are traveling. China’s weather varies tremendously with these factors. Winters in the far north are extremely cold and the summers are hot and dry. In the central regions along the Yangtse valley area winters are short, cold and wet whilst the summers are long, sticky and hot. In the southern regions the climate is hot and humid from April to September (when it is also the rainy season) and are affected typhoons between July and September. Winters are short but chilly. The north western desert regions are hot…

You’re in China and you’re thirsty. Across the street from your hotel is a convenient store, providing an easy solution to your cravings. But what do you choose to drink? Sure, you could always grab something familiar like a can of Coke or a bottle of orange juice…but why not sample some of the diverse local offerings instead? In this post read about each of the main drink types in China and hear our advice on which brands to pack in your daypack and which ones to leave on the shelf.

Set on bustling Wangfujing Avenue, Crowne Plaza Beijing stands in the heart of the city’s vibrant shopping and international business centers. The hotel is Just 45 minutes drive from Beijing International Airport and 15 minutes from Beijing Railway Station. A short stroll or taxi ride will bring you to the magnificent Forbidden City and other historical landmarks including Tiananmen Square, Great Hall of the People, Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple.