General Information
Country: People's Republic of
Area: 16,801.25 km² (6,487 sq mi)
Location:
Population: 17,430,000
Major nationalities: Han - 96%, Manchu - 2%, Hui - 2%, Mongolian - 0.3%
Time zone:
Languages: Mandarin is the language spoken in
Religion: 3 major ones - Buddhism, Taoism & Confucianism
2 minor ones – Christianity & Islam
Currency: Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan (RM 1 = RMB 2.0)
* It is advised to convert the Ringgit into RMB before leaving
Geographical Information & climate
The city's climate is a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dwa), characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and harshly cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Average temperatures in January are at around -7 to -4 °C (19 to 24 °F), while average temperatures in July are at 25 to 26 °C (77 to 79 °F). Highest temperature ever recorded is 42°C and lowest recorded is -27°C. Annual precipitation is over 600 mm, with 75% of that in summer.
Traveling Facts & Tips
When to go
Of the shoulder seasons, autumn is optimal - the weather is gorgeous and fewer tourists are in town. Locals describe this short season as tiangao qishuang - literally 'the sky is high and the air is fresh' - with clear skies and breezy days. Spring is less pleasant - not many tourists but lots of wind and dust. 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. Winter is the extreme opposite but makes for pretty surrounds if you can stand the freezing temperatures; you'll have
Cultural Dos and Don'ts
1. It is generally polite to ask if one has eaten or not, which simply means ‘How is going?’ Do you see the importance of eating in
2. A nod or a wave of hand is generally taken as a greeting esp. from a distance.
3. Use a person’s title followed by the family name when addressing people.
4. Direct eye contact in public may be mistaken as weird.
5. Clap your hands if you are happy. Screaming is definitely impolite in public.
6. Push and shove a little bit in a crowd is okay, but people know you do not push that much in
7. Eat with chopsticks and a table spoon. Take whatever the host/hostess is serving, the more you eat, the happier he/she is.
8. Feel free to propose a toast to virtually everyone at the table. There is a saying, especially in the north, that “A friend indeed is a friend who with your fill will proceed.” So to drink or not to drink, it is up to you to decide.
9. Hug and kiss are increasingly seen in public, but far from being decent public behavior.
10. People don’t say ‘Love you’ that much, even between a couple, as in
What to Wear in
You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in during your
Other Useful Information
Special Telephone Numbers
0086-IDD code of
110-Police
119-Fire
120-Emergency
112-Telephone repair desk
113-Long distance operator
114-Directory inquiries and information
115-International operator
116-Long distance directory inquiries
117-Time
121-Weather
Electricity
The electricity in
Drinking Water
Only a few luxury hotels provide drinkable tap water, so don's forget to ask the hotel whether the tap water is drinkable or not. Boiled water is available in all guestrooms, and bottled mineral water is on sale everywhere.