Fodor's Beijing

Exciting, rich, and kaleidoscopically colorful, the city of Beijing is a must-visit for travelers to China. Everyone heads here to experience the many ways this capital has used China's economic boom to fuel the country's artistic, culinary, and sociological revolutions. In this city travelers hurtle through the centuries, from courtyard-lined hutongs to brash, breathtaking skyscrapers, from the ancient opulence of the Forbidden City to the Dashaizi 798 Art District, Beijing's gallery-packed answer to New York City's Chelsea art district. To help navigate this popular destination (China is the fifth most-visited country in the world), Fodor's Beijing showcases the must-dos and clues visitors in to potential pitfalls. In all, this guide is a complete planning tool that will make a visit to Beijing the experience of a lifetime.

EXPANDED COVERAGE: Fodor's Beijing keeps pace with the latest and greatest, from Beijing's ever-expanding subway system to the best pedicab tours; from a chandelier-shattering performance at the Peking Opera to the hottest new nightclub on Lake Houhai (and where to go for a healing tai-chi session the morning after). Fodor’s on-the spot experts cover it all, as well as which palace-hotels roll out the red carpet for business leaders and which restaurants offer the spice-numbing "Imperial Banquet.".

ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Special magazine-like features illustrate distinctive aspects of Beijing's culture and history, including an informative tour of of the Forbidden City and a guide to getting the most out of a visit to the Great Wall.

INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Highlight-packed overviews help travelers understand different Beijing neighborhoods; additional detail-rich sections and maps have on-target tips for planning a visit and for getting around.

EXPANDED LANGUAGE CONVERSIONS: Each property is now listed in both Chinese characters and in Pinyin, with helpful summary lists appearing in each chapter.

DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's Beijing offers savvy advice and recommendations from local writers to help travelers make the most of their time. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks, from hotels to nightlife. "Word of Mouth" quotes from fellow travelers provide valuable insights.

ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts.