Beijing

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Beijing, China

 

• Being is the capital and the second largest city of China, known as the most inhabited country all over the world.

The Life:

• Beijing is a very fun city and is very close to Chinese culture. Nightlife is even more exciting especially during the weekends.
• It has a reputation of being really strict but in many respects, Beijing is way more laid back than the US.

Cost of Living:

• It is cheap to visit Beijing. For $300 a month, US tourists can enjoy a comfortable bedroom that includes Internet access and everything else. Two-bedroom accommodations will not be higher than $800 per month. An apartment with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms cost about $1200; this is pretty cheap considering most locations are near the major hot spots of the city.
• Genuine clothes, electronics, etc are expensive but fake stuff is cheap and there are lots of them! There are remarkable deals on just about anything.

Poker:

• Chinese online poker is available but limited. More importantly, running online poker sites and all forms of gambling is illegal in China

Internet Access/Speed:

• Internet connection can be a problem.

Weather:

• Winter is described as dry and cold with little snow while summer is normally hot and rainy. Spring and autumn seasons are the best times to visit Beijing. This is around the months of February to April and August to October.

U.S. Visa/Entry Difficulty Level:

• It is not so easy to get a tourist visa to Beijing. The visa requirements may vary from state to state in the US.
• The process of visa application can be long and difficult. However, there are cases when a multi-entry visa is easy to obtain. However, such visa requires US tourists to leave the country every 60 to 90 days.
• Other tourists opt to teach English in Beijing as their fast access to a good visa.

Language:

• Mandarin Chinese is the main language of Beijing. This is also the best place to learn the pure form of the language.

Language Schools:

• There are language schools in Beijing with options for one-on-one tutorials. However, US tourists may find talking with locals, who also understand English, as the best way to learn the language.

Food:

• As food in Beijing is cheap, US tourists can get greater deals in restaurants where locals eat. In fact, the cheapest as well as the most sumptuous meals are found on the streets, with savory pancakes are the most popular.
• Lamb kebabs, Sichuan rice noodles, Beijing roast duck are only a few of the numerous specialties of the city.

Recreation:

• A visit in Beijing will not be complete without going to the Tiananmen Square. It is surrounded by other grand buildings. Furthermore, the Great Wall of China is an hour away from the city by train and should not be missed as well.
• Other great stopovers are the palaces, temples and national parks. The Forbidden City is one important palace to visit especially with its admirable historical background. Although the museums in the city are not up to the New York standards, it actually owns the Palace Museum, recognized to be part of the largest as well as the most popular museums in Asia.

Safety:

• For a city as large as Beijing, it is amazing to know that it is a very safe place. Violent crimes are very rare.
• Scams are common. There could be different ways to trick US tourists. It is best to always ask questions and have someone that knows and can explain what is happening.