This is Beijing-Beijing English blog

China is launching new tour routes to showcase China’s culture and its tourist treasures in the best way. The nation’s first-batch of 12 officially recommended tour routes were announced on Tuesday by China National Tourism Administration.

 China hopes the new designation will attract more domestic and overseas tourists. The draft plan is now awaiting public comment.

 Among others, the 12 tour routes cover the world famous Silk Road, the Three Gorges, the Great Wall and the Yellow River. Here are the details of the 12 routes:

 1. Silk Road tour route.

This route, focusing on the history of silk across Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, has significant market appeal both at home and abroad.

 2. Shangri-la tour route.

This route is a trip from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang and Diqing in Yunnan Province, spreading into Sichuan and Tibetan areas, and introducing local ethnic culture and unique landscapes. It is another of the hottest trips, also very popular in the overseas market.

 3. Three Gorges tour route.

With attractions like beautiful valleys, spreading waters, views of the dam, and the traditional culture of the region, this route is a classic trip keenly promoted by China.

 4. Qinghai-Tibet railway route.

Qinghai-Tibet railway route rises from eastern Xining to western Lhasa and extends to other areas of Tibet. It leads across a snow-capped plateau attaching Qinghai to Tibet by rail.

 5. Great Wall tour route.

The Great Wall stretches across many provincial regions from Shanhai Pass in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west – not only a symbol of Chinese culture but also a major Chinese tourist resource.

 6. China Grand Canal tour route.

Descending through the eastern part of China, the tour begins in Tongzhou in the north and continues to Hangzhou in the south, spanning Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

 7. “Long March” tour route.

The “Red Army’s Long March” trip is currently the most popular route in revolutionary tourism. The route begins in Ruijin in Jiangxi Province, passing through Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi to Yan’an, connecting east, west, south and north China.

 8. Songhu – Yalu rivers tour route

This route runs through three northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, featuring immense forests, clear skies, blue water and snow, and introducing regional culture and frontier customs.

 9. The Yellow River tour route

The trip stretches from Shandong Province in the east to Qinghai in the west, covering the cultural areas of Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, and Shandong in the central plain.

 10. “The middle and lower Yangtze River” tour route

The trip, centering on the cities and world Heritage sites around the middle and lower Yangtze River, features city tours and heritage, and the landscape of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai.

 11. “Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai-Guilin-Guangzhou” tour route

The trip focuses on the air routes connecting 5 well-known tourist destinations: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin and Guangzhou. It was the first trip opened to the overseas market and its long-standing reputation justifies its title of the “Classic China” trip.

 12. Seaside holiday resort tour route

The trip covers China’s eastern seaboard cities by air and sea, working from north to south through Dalian, Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Lianyungang, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Haikou, and Sanya, and promoting China’s seaside holidays and leisure.

 (China.org.cn by Dong Qingpei, March 26, 2009)

Ever wondered, as you strolled down a particular hutong or street, what it was like 500 years ago? What scholars strolled these hutongs, what disputes echoed off these ancient walls, what intrigues were hatched?

Beijing by Foot provides at least a few answers to these intriguing questions. This collection of 40 walks around Beijing will take you through hutongs and high-rises, into the history and stories that still reside amidst the cement and construction.

Written by the tireless Eric Abrahamsen for Immersion Guides, Beijing by Foot has mapped the city like never before. We’ve walked every hutong and every street, in search of the forgotten gems and hidden details. And now the result is here, presented on stylish, easy-to-carry cards, each of which features a walk on one side and a map on the other, marked with sites of interest and a route, as well as the city’s best restaurants, bars and shops.

Old Beijing is still here, in our midst, if you know where to look. Though it may seem obscured by neon and scaffolding, there are still wonderful nooks and crannies all over our exploding city. Twittering magpies and mynah birds. Exquisite carvings adorning an otherwise unremarkable door. The city’s ancient waterways. Aged temples and most of all, Beijing’s life played out on the streets and hutongs, the sights and sounds and smells of a shared life outside the walls.

We’ve seen it all, by foot. Now it’s your turn.

Beijing by Foot is available for RMB 100 at various bookstores around town, see this site for a complete list of the stores where you can find it.

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How to Apply
To qualify for the Green card, you need to fulfill at least one of the following criteria:
I Be a high-level foreign expert holding a post in a business that promote China’s economic, scientific and technological development, or social progress.
II Have made outstanding contributions, or are of special importance to China.
III Have made large direct investment of over 500 thousand US dollars in China.
IV Come to China to be with your family, such as husband or wife, minors dependent on their parents, and senior citizens dependent on their relatives.

How to Apply for the certificate
I Submit an application to the public security organ of the People’s Government at the city level or the branch office or county office of the public security bureau of a municipality directly under the central government, which is in charge of the community of the applicant’s major investment or long-term residence,
II Provide the specified application documents.
III The public security body shall investigate and verify the conditions of the applicant according to the specified prerequisites.
IV The local department will submit the application to the Ministry of Public Security for examination and approval.
V The ministry shall decide whether to approve or reject the application for permanent residence permit within 6 months of receiving the application.
VI Upon the approval of the Ministry of Public Security, the applicant will be granted a Foreigner Permanent Residence Permit by the Ministry of Public Security.

AND To applicants outside China
A Foreigner Permanent Resident Status Confirmation Letter shall be issued by the Ministry of Public Security, with which they may apply for D Visas from a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, and receive the Foreigner Permanent Residence Permits from the public security organ which handles their applications within 30 days of entering China.

For holders of the previous resettlement or permanent residence certificates,  you can go to the Entry-Exit Administration of the Public Security Bureau and change over to the new green card.

You Should Submit:
A Valid Passport or equivalent
B Health certificate issued at state level
C Credentials proving no criminal record by China embassies or consulates
D Two passport photos, no hat
E Other relevant credentials if required.

Fees
The fee for the new green card certificate is 300 yuan or about 36 dollars.
The cost of getting a new card is 1500 yuan or about 180 dollars.

Validity
The Foreigner Permanent Residence Permits are valid for five or ten years.
–Certificates with five-year validity are granted to minors.
–Certificates with ten-year validity are granted to adults. 

About Chinese Green Card
With the approval of China’s State Council, the Minister of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Zhaoxing, jointly endorsed Decree No.74 and officially issued the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Foreigners in China for implementation on August 15.
According to this regulation, foreigners with eligibility for permanent residence in China will be granted a certificate of identification commonly known as a “Green Card.”

The regulation has 29 articles in all, specifying the explicit provisions on the prerequisites for foreigners wishing to apply for permanent residence permits in China, required supporting documents, steps to be followed, limits of authority, and cancellation of eligibility, etc.

History of Chinese Green Card
In 1986, for the first time China granted a German the permanent resident permit, which was looked upon as China’s first “Green Card” for foreigners.

In 1991, four foreigners got the certificate from the Tianjin Public Security Bureau for their outstanding contribution to Tianjin’s economic development.

By the end of 2001, China had devised a plan to regulate a “Green Card” system. Subsequently, major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou issued related regulations.

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners adopted by the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress in November 1985.

The Enforcement Regulations on Law of the People’s Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners revised in July 1994.
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With the Green Card, You can
– stay in China for an unlimited period of time
–enter and leave the country with your valid passport and Foreigner Permanent Residence Permits, with no need to obtain visas
–use the Greencard as your single legal document during your time in China.
–have a card even more useful than the resettlement certificate or permanent residence certificate.

However, you should not:
–Endanger national security and interests
–Be sentenced to expulsion from China by the People’s Court
–Gain permanent resident status in China by means of fraud
–Lack proof of residence in China for less than the required number of years

Your status of permanent residence may be revoked in the above circumstances

For a traveller, the most important thing for him is  not the money or luggage, it is the passport. Am i right? Unfortunately, if you lost your passport, what should you do? Don’t worry, the text below will help you:

1. If you lose your passport, you should report the loss to the consulate at once. (TEL: 86-10-6532-6775~6)

2. Report the loss to the security police.

3. The consulate will confirm your identity and report to you.

4. You will have a simple interview with the consulate, and you will be informed of a re issuance date.

5. Finally, your passport will be reissued. Required documents: – An application for re issuance of your passport, 3 applications referring to your identity – Identification,

6 passport photos It is best to keep your passport in your pocket and use care in handling this document, as it can be very time consuming to have your passport reissued. The rise of crime in passport transactions makes their re issuance more and more difficult. Students with verifiable identification may be able to have their passports reissued in a shorter time. Even so, it usually takes 2 months!

There are so many interesting things in the Chinese market, do you want buy something as gift for your family members or for yourself? I think the answer must be yes. Then do you know how to bargain in Beijing? May be the answer is no this time. If you want to buy something in Beijing, learn how to bargain will both save your money and accumulate your shopping experience. Below is the answer for the question in the title. You can take for a reference.

Bargaining is the rule here in Beijing. At least, at the many markets and back-street clothes stalls. Bargaining is an art and if you are unfamiliar with it we’d like to offer you some advice. The tips here are Beijing specific but may help you at any place in the world where bargaining is practiced. DO NOT say how much you want to pay for an item unless its near the end of the process. Always try and drop the seller’s offering price as much as possible before opening your mouth with a price. DO throw out really low prices like 10 RMB as long as you have a big smile. DO keep smiling throughout. The seller is much more likely to continue bargaining with a happy smiling face. Getting angry rarely gets you the price you want. BE AWARE the initial price offered by the seller is usually at least 40% over the general price acceptable. It can be up to 500% over. DO have an idea of what the item is worth. You can ask Chinese friends, hotel staff, ex-pats or look at our rough guide below. This is very general and is based on a market like Xiu Shui. You may not be able to get the lowest prices stated at Xiu Shui, especially on a weekend when there are lots of tourists around. DO walk away once you’ve given them your final price, even before. If you get called back, you know you are close. If you do not get called back, go to a similar stall and try again with a slightly higher price.

Bicycling down one of Beijing’s hutongs (ancient alleyways in Beijing) is a magical experience. And luckily, the city is home to a large number of bicycle rental shops – especially around subway and park entrances.

Each rental shop has its own specific rental policies, but we can still provide some helpful general information.
Cost

Renting a bicycle should be a fairly inexpensive proposition. The manager of “Bird of Freedom,” a well-known rental shop on historic Qianmen Dajie, charges 15 RMB / day for his nicer Giant brand bicycles, while only 2 RMB / day for his shabbiest, yet still functional, bicycles. Expect similar prices at other shops. If a shop is too expensive, simply go to another one.
Deposit

Foreigners looking to rent a bike should come with their passport, Chinese with their identity card. Rental shops will record your passport/identity card number and then ask for a cash deposit. Some might accept your passport/identity card as collateral, but we would advise against letting such important documents out of your possession.

While bicycle rental costs are low, deposits are generally high – usually the cost of the bicycle being rented – meaning several hundred RMB. This is to be expected, as rental shops realize that even with passport/identity card numbers, law enforcement won’t do anything over a missing bike.

Tips

(1) Inspect your bicycle before leaving with it. Inform the rental store manager if there is any pre-existing damage, so you won’t be held liable.

(2) The rental shop will provide you with a lock, or even two. But these locks are usually pretty flimsy. So try to park in a safe place. There are bicycle parking lots all across the city, each staffed with an attendant who guards the bikes. They cost just a few mao to park in and don’t have time limits. Another good idea, rent an ordinary-looking bicycle that few thieves would be interested in.

Asparagus: A market favorite, vibrant green spears of this cultivated member of the lily family taunt us from the first hint of spring into June. Young asparagus stalks are prized for their tenderness; the thicker the stalk, the more mature it is. Try roasting them — it brings out their sweet flavor. For a special treat, look for white asparagus, beloved by the French for its milder taste. White asparagus never sees the light of day, and consequently is more expensive. The Italians eat asparagus with slices of prosciutto ham and shaved Parmesan, a perfect noontime meal.
Strawberries: What other fruit conjures up the taste of spring like strawberries? Plump, sweet, and bright red, they look absolutely ravishing in their little green baskets, and they taste even better. The tiny wild woodland berry, sometimes called fraises des bois, is considered the “queen of strawberries,” and is especially sweet. Perfectly ripe (and just picked) berries are the ultimate breakfast fruit. Sprinkle with brown sugar, dip in chocolate or layer between shortcakes with softly whipped cream for the quintessential picnic cake — a kid’s favorite, and mine too.
Dandelion Greens: Oft referred to as chicory, but not a true relative, dandelion makes the occasional appearance at spring farmers’ markets. If you come across this delightful little green, grab a bagful. The name dandelion is from the French, dent de lion, meaning “lion’s tooth,” presumably for its jagged edges. Widely eaten in Europe, this slightly bitter green is excellent in salads when young and can also be cooked. Chefs are enamored of its earthy taste and versatility in the kitchen. Combine with fris??e, crisp bacon and croutons for a twist on the French classic salad, or top with a poached egg — a fitting entr??e into spring.
Rhubarb: In and out of fashion, rosy-colored rhubarb makes a comeback in my house every year. Whether in pie (hence its old name, pie plant), compote, or strawberry rhubarb jam — an American favorite — there is always room for it in my fridge. A relative of buckwheat, rhubarb’s celery-like stalks are extremely sour, and are usually cooked with sugar. It is popular in Middle Eastern stews, and has been used across the globe in both sweet and savory cooking. Thought to be one of the earliest harbingers of spring, rhubarb’s striking pink or chartreuse stalks make a stunning display at the marketplace and, when cooked, are a beautiful addition to the table.
Lamb: Spring into the holidays with a traditional lamb feast. The Greeks and Italians prize a whole lamb, roasted over a spit with herbs, for Easter dinner. Americans are fond of that tradition too, though a rack or leg in the oven will do just fine. Spring lambs are butchered around 2-4 months old, sometimes even younger, their meat a paler pink and tender when properly cooked. The English prefer their lamb with mint jelly — although quince marmalade, or red currant sauce, also provides the perfect foil for the succulent and savory meat. Serve lamb with a cornucopia of spring vegetables: asparagus, peas, artichoke, dandelion, carrots, and mache.

Before you get to Beijing, one thing you have to know is what should you do when there is an emergency. And the emergency mumbers which listed as below you’ better to keep memory in your mind.

Medical first aid: 120

Police-reporting service center of Beijing Bureau of Public Security: 110

Fire alarm: 119

Query of telephone numbers: 114

The weather in Beijing is of the continental type, with cold and dry winters, due to the Siberian air masses that move southward across the Mongolian Plateau. The summers are hot owing to warm and humid monsoon winds from the southeast bringing Beijing most of its annual precipitation. January is the coldest month and July is the warmest. Winter usually begins towards the end of October. The summer months, June to August, are wet and hot with about 40% of the annual precipitation.

Tips for travellers

Best season to visit Beijing: Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, when hotels typically raise their rates and the Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. The autumn months between September and November have the best weather and fewer tourists. Spring is less pleasant – not many tourists but lots of wind and dust. In winter, you’ll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts – just remember it’s an ice box outside. Everything is chock-a-block during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February).

Clothes for traveling: In autumn, jeans and a sweater are usually enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants or shorts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. If you want to go local, you can buy a thick cotton army coat (jun da yi) for less than 100 yuan (12 bucks). Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.

Avoid Peak Holidays : It is not a good idea to travel in China during Chinese holidays when it is the time Chinese people are traveling around. The most hottest three national holidays in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usu. in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labor Day (May1 to 7)and National Day(Oct 1 – 7). Spring Festival is an especially Crowded time to travel. The advantage of being in China at this time is that you will get the opportunity to experience “first hand” the significance of these celebrations in Chinese culture.

Others Tips: An umbrella should be taken with in case the unexpected rainfall especially in summer. Sun glass and sun cream are needed to protect yourself from being hurt.