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Also known as Peking before 1949, Beijing is the capital city of the
People’s Republic of China. Over 17 million people live in Beijing,
which lies in the northeastern corner of China. Beijing’s 18 districts
cover an area of about 6500 square miles. The Olympic rowing course is
located in the Shunyi district, situated to the northeast of central
Beijing.
Time Zone
Beijing is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Currency
The Chinese currency is the Renminbi, or “peoples currency”, and
consists of units called yuan. Prices are noted with either RMB
(Renminbi) or CNY (Chinese yuan). The symbol for the yuan is ¥. As of
October 2007, $100 converts to about 750 yuan.
Check current exchange rates
Getting Money
The Bank of China has ATM machines all around Beijing that accept most
major ATM cards. However, be sure to check with your bank before
traveling that your card will be accepted. Credit cards can also be set
up to dispense cash from ATM machines. This must also be arranged with
your bank in advance.
Credit cards are not as widely accepted in Beijing as they are in
America. Find out your hotel’s payment options when you make your
reservation. When sightseeing or shopping, especially outside of
Beijing or at markets, plan on using cash only. It is also helpful to
have small bills handy (smaller than 100 yuan). To have cash when you
arrive in Beijing, there is a currency exchange desk in the baggage
claim area of the Beijing Capital Airport, or you can order yuan from
your bank before you travel.
Many banks today have a policy of “freezing” accounts when they notice
charges coming from another country, particularly China, that might be
suspicious. Alert your bank before you travel to avoid this
inconvenience.
Getting Around
Taxis:
Generally, taxi drivers in Beijing do not speak English. However, it is
easy to use a taxi if you have your hotel or destination’s name written
out in Chinese. Most hotels have “take me there” cards printed for
tourists that have their name and location, and the names of popular
attractions, written in English and Chinese so you can show your driver
where you would like to be taken. (You should always carry one of these
cards with you in case you get lost and need to ask for directions.) Be
prepared to pay for your ride in cash.
NEW!! USRowing has prepared a downloadable "take me there" card for Olympic parents. Instructions: click on the link below to download the file. Print the page and fold it in half three times to get a reversible, wallet sized card with phrases helpful for both sightseeing and getting to the rowing venue.
USRowing Take Me There Card
Subway:
The subway in Beijing is easy to use for quick trips around downtown,
especially considering the constant heavy traffic. There are two main
lines. The 1, “horizontal”, red line, and the 2 “loop” blue line. It
costs 3 RMB to travel to any destination. Announcements and signs are
in both Chinese and English.
Weather
Summer in Beijing is hot and humid. Temperatures average around 90°F.
Sunscreen is a must, even on “cloudy” days when the sun is not visible.
Also make sure to pack a hat or visor to shade your face. When sitting
outside for long periods of time, try to keep bottled water and a fan
with you.
August is also the rainiest month of the year, with on average almost 8
inches of precipitation. Be prepared with a rain jacket and hat, and
remember that the use of umbrellas is not allowed in the stands.
Food and Drink
Never drink water from the tap in China. Always request bottled
water and make sure that any bottled beverage is sealed before you open
it. Make it a habit to bring bottled water around with you.
There is no better place to taste traditional Chinese cuisine than
China, but for those who are not adventurous eaters, most hotels also
offer Western style options. Peking Duck is a famous specialty in
Beijing and it is definitely worth eating one of the many Peking Duck
restaurants if you want to get a traditional Chinese culinary
experience.
It is strongly recommended NOT to eat food from street vendors!
Peking Duck Restaurants
Shunyi Restaurants
Local Attractions
There is a lot to see and do in Beijing: Tiananmen Square, the Temple
of the Sun, the Forbidden City, the silk market, the Temple of Heaven,
the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall to name a few.
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