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Navigating the City
Home » China » Beijing - City Overview » Navigating the CityAt first glance, Beijing seems astoundingly confusing. However it only takes a quick look at a map to see there is a measure of order in the chaos. The city surrounds the old Forbidden City, itself one of the primary tourist attractions. Around the Forbidden City lie four concentric circles, which serve as the main roads. They are named First Ring Road, Second Ring Road, etc. (working from the inside out). The Fourth Ring Road is primarily for commuting to the airport and the suburbs and will likely not factor into your visit once you arrive in the city.
Beijing has an effective metro (subway) system, which is currently undergoing expansion. The stations are numbered and well marked, and the announcements on the train are given in English, so the system is easily navigable for tourists.
If you prefer a taxi, Beijing has thousands of them. You should be aware of inevitable traffic delays, however. The old images many people have in their heads of a city filled with bicycles are no longer accurate. Though the bicycles still abound, automobiles have become terribly popular, meaning the traffic can be atrocious during the rush hour commutes.
When traveling via taxi, always have your destination written down in Chinese to show your driver where you intend to go, and keep one of your hotel’s business cards with you for when you are ready to return. Tipping is not necessary.
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- The Summer Palace
- Important Excursions Outside Beijing