Beijing Travel Blog

Choosing a tour operator in Beijing can be tricky. There are more scams than real operators, and there seem to always be hidden costs and at-the-end add on costs. This adds a frustrating element to travel in China, and is an ongoing problem with tourism in the Middle Kingdom. Still, there are a few ways...

Beijing has a few great Irish pubs where you’ll find endless Erin Go Bragh signs and green felt banners touting the Leprechaun nationalism. Paddy O’Shea’s Irish Pub is one of the most popular Irish hang out spots in the city. You’ll find the Irish owner behind the bar shouting good naturedly...

Hiking in Beijing is an ongoing joy. Great groups like the Beijing Hikers, continue to innovative with new hiking routes and a great blend of culture and nature with hikes to the Great Wall, the gorge, hidden villages full of locals who live in a different century, and different way of life. Many of...

Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year in Beijing. Starting January 23rd, 2012, expect the city to look like a war zone. Fireworks will be going off in every corner of the capital, with explosions rocking the ground for around fifteen days. Starting the 23rd (officially at midnight though...

Nothing says romance like a sweet foray to the Middle Kingdom. Hit the capital, Beijing, in February and you’ll find a place swarming with hearts and paired up lovers. The Chinese, who traditionally celebrate lover’s day later in the year, have latched on to the western Valentine’s...

Beijing has an impressive love of wine. In fact, Decatur Magazine recently awarded a Chinese wine the top prize in the yearly assessment, making the Middle Kingdom a front-running contender in the wine business. Wine has been a growing industry in China for some time, and holds an impressive amount of...

There have been a few great new restaurant openings this past year, and some real flops. Some closures that we in Beijing were sad to witness, and some closures that were completely justified. Openings: Ganges, your favorite Indian eatery, has opened several new branches, most notably the one at Dongzhimen....

Beijing is pretty far north. Don’t be deceived by the beautiful, lush green photos of the Great Wall. From November until March the wall is covered in deadly patches of ice, the hills are bald and barren of trees and life, and the wall looks like a grey gash slashed through the countryside. All...

For an an amazing girls’ night out, Beijing is an amazing place for you to wet your proverbial whistle, have an amazing time and then head back home as tipsy and full of relaxation as any evening. Start of at the Spa at the Ritz-Carlton , where you’ll be pampered like a princess with your...

If you care to travel to China over Christmas and New Years, keep in mind that as a pagan nation, and an Eastern one, you won’t be inundated with Christmas cheer, or New Year’s countdowns on the square. Essentially, you’ll be a tourist in a big, cold city without much holiday cheer. Still, Beijing...