Although there are enough things to do in Beijing to fill up several vacation itineraries, certainly a visit to the Imperial Palace--sometimes called the Forbidden City would be high on anyone's list of tourist activities. The palace of the 'Son of Heaven' is still under renovation and currently contains over 8700 rooms. Residences, gardens, artifacts and priceless art treasures are all on view in the Palace. Other places most visited by tourists to Beijing include Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People and Sun Yatsen Park. You can enjoy information about Confucius at his museum or visit one of the many parks, sometimes associated with historical buildings or personages that are common in the city.

Beijing shopping is more of an art than it is a process. Western tourists who visit Beijing would be well advised to spend some time researching the information about the shopping areas prior to visiting the country. Listen to veteran shoppers who describe where you can find certain types of products. For example, you can find bargain price, fresh water pearls, silk fabric, jewelry and artists supplies. It's important to haggle for the best prices, and also to save face with the Chinese shop owners. Look for small antiques (genuine), ethnic clothing and tailor made garments. Bargains in authentic Chinese furniture can be found in the Beijing markets and shipped home.

Car parking - car hire in Beijing is probably not a recommended practice unless you are familiar with the city and with how drivers typically take off. Driving in China is a fairly new procedure, so many drivers don't really know how to drive. This can lead to traffic accidents, dangerous assumptions about what the other driver is going to do. Rental fees for cars are quite reasonable, but the city is one of the more difficult places in the world in which to drive and drive safely. If you require transportation while in the city, consider hiring a taxi for the day instead of renting a car.

Those vising a Beijing hotel or Beijing restaurant have many choices . Beijing is capital of China and one of the most touristic cities in China. Many international visitors look for reservations at one of the fine old hotels which are located near the sites of interest. For luxurious surroundings, and slightly decadent atmosphere, choose a central location hotel in order to be close to all the amenities required. Cuisine in the Beijing area is as wonderful as you would expect. Typically Asian fare alternates with foods from other parts of the world such as U.S., Europe, and other oriental countries.