In Emergency

In An Emergency When trouble strikes there are two important phone numbers that you should remember; that of your local consulate or embassy (see table) and 110, the number for emergency police assistance. You should be connected to an English-speaking officer, but if this is not the case, you can call the foreigners’ hotline of…

Women

Beijing is a relatively safe city for women. Although foreign women may receive lingering glances from local men, it rarely goes any further and women should feel free to dress as they wish. Beijing’s buses and the subway are safe for women travelling alone, and taxis are also generally safe; just refrain from taking unlicensed…

Children

Beijing is a fantastic place to bring up kids. Not only is it safe, there are world-class international schools, dozens of child-friendly attractions and hundreds of activity groups to keep tots entertained and parents sane. The best place to find a full directory of what’s on offer is www.tbjkids.com, an online version of the That’s…

People With Disabilities

Arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport you could be fooled into believing that the city is very accommodating to residents with disabilities; facilities are good and staff are friendly. But once you enter the city itself, the helpful smiles soon disappear, along with the lifts and ramps. Although the government, in the run up to…

What To Wear

Walk Beijing’s streets and you’ll see labels (and flesh) galore. Although Chinese girls traditionally keep their top halves covered, hemlines are soaring. Hip-hop wannabes and local art school students add further colour, with psychedelic clothes and dyed manes. So, although there are no rules of dress in Beijing, one factor that may affect your choice…

Dos & Don’ts

For westerners, who may be used to seeing smokers shunned at every turn, the prevalence of cigarettes may come as a surprise. Bars and restaurants are full of patrons who have mastered the art of simultaneous eating and smoking. This isn’t surprising in a country that is thought to smoke 30% of the world’s cigarettes.…

Photography

Although most Chinese people don’t mind having their photo taken, it’s always best to ask before snapping. Quickly showing the image in the digital viewer usually makes things easier. Airports are off limits for photography, although snaps from inside the terminal are unlikely to be reprimanded. Photographing military installations is forbidden and can result in…

Crime & Safety

In comparison to most of the world’s capital cities, Beijing is a safe place with a low (but growing) crime rate. In particular, juvenile crime is on the rise, with government statistics suggesting a jump of 33% between 2003 and 2006. These crimes are usually petty ones, like pickpocketing, which is common in Beijing’s tourist…

Police

Within Beijing’s Public Security Bureau there are seven branches of police. The regular police wear dark blue uniforms and hats, and carry batons instead of pistols. Traffic Police have similar uniforms but wear white helmets and usually drive motorbikes. The household registration police are the ones you’ll find knocking at your door to check if…

Lost & Stolen Property

If you have something stolen, report the crime at the nearest police station within 24 hours and, for insurance purposes, do not leave without getting a police report. Although translators should be at hand, be prepared for a long process. If you leave something in a taxi, check the receipt for the taxi number and…

City Information

The Beijing Tourism Administration is a government department dedicated to helping visitors and residents get the most out of the city. It runs tourist information centres in many districts, where the staff all speak some English. You can pick up maps and shopping guides and find out what’s on in the city’s theatres. The website…