Beijing Location

Beijing is situated at 40 degrees north latitude and 116 degrees of longitudes. It is 43 meters above sea level and 183 kilometers from the sea. Beijing covers an area of 16,800 square kilometers, 38% of it is flat land and 62% mountains.

Beijing History

Some 600,000 years ago, Peking Man, man's forefathers lived at Zhoukoudian, 48 kilometers southwest of Beijing. The history of Beijing as a city may be traced back to about 3000 years ago when a small town appeared on the present site of southwestern Beijing. It was named Ji and then changed to Yan. At the beginning of the 10th century, it was the second capital of the Liao Dynasty. From then on, the city had been the capital of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties until 1911. A long history has left numerous famous historical sites which possess great aesthetic and cultural valleys. The Great Wall, a huge project began more than 2000 years ago, meanders through mountains and valleys for hundreds of kilometers in the region of Beijing. On the Shijing Mountains, there are more than 340 volumes of 15000 stone tablets carved with Buddhist scriptures. The Big Yongle Bell cast at one go with over 23000 characters on it weighs 46.5 tons and shows exquisite casting technology of ancient China. The Forbidden City, the largest ancient architectural complex extant today, is splendid crystallization of ancient Chinese architectural art. Walking in the city, one may find many places where many historical events took place, every day, hundreds of thousands of people, domestic and foreign, come to Beijing to visit its grand palaces and graceful gardens and to enjoy its marvelous art.

Beijing Population & Administration

Beijing has a population of 13.82 million in the year of 2000, about 5 million live in the city proper and the rest on the outskirts. It is divided into 16 districts and 2 counties.
Below are the 8 districts in or close to the Beijing city proper:
Dongcheng District
Xicheng District
Chongwen District
Xuanwu District
Chaoyang District
Haidian District
Fengtai District
Shijingshan District
Below are the 8 districts on the outskirts of Beijing:
Tongzhou District
Shunyi District
Changping District
Daxing District
Pinggu District
Huairou District
Mentougou District
Fangshan District
Below are the two counties:
Miyun County
Yanqing County
The two counties are located in the suburb of Beijing.

Beijing Rail Stations

There are 4 rail stations in Beijing, namely, Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing North Railway Station and Beijing South Railway station. Beijing Railway Station is located in the center of Beijing, just south of Beijing International Hotel. Most of the trains from southern China come to this old station - Beijing Railway Station (北京站). Just remind you that the trains to Chengde and Tianjin also start in this station. Beijing West Railway Station(北京西站) is the largest railway station in Beijing and China as well. Most of the trains in north China arrive or start from this station. The train from Beijing to Xian starts from this West Station. Beijing South Railway Station & Beijing north Railway Station are both for some special trains or short trains.

Beijing Shopping

1)Silk Street:
It lies on No.8 East Xiushui Street Jianguo Men Wai Dajie. No more street shopping! It was reopened in March 2005 as a 5-story shopping mall mainly for foreign visitors and expats in Beijing.
2)Sanlitun Yashou Market:
Situated at 58 Gongti Beilu, this is just like Silk Street.
3)Zhong Guan Cun:
Zhongguancun,a place not far from Tsinghua University and other universities is called "Silicon Valley in China." It sells everything from a whole computers to computer parts at good low price.
4)Xizhi Men shopping area:
The large clothing market where local people like to go lies at Xizhi Men, close to the Zoo.
5)The Malls at Oriental Plaza:
Located east of Tian'anmen Square, just beside Wangfujing Street. Expensive Shopping area with good quality products.
6)Wangfujing Street:
Many shops and stores.
7)Xidan Shopping area:
Located on the west of Tiananmen square. Some large malls.
8)China World Trade Center:
You can find a lot of expensive stores and some international convenience stores.

Music Clubs and Theatres in Beijing

Beijing Concert Hall

· Chang An Grand Theatre Beijing

· Li Yuan Theatre Beijing

· Zhengyici Opera House Beijing

· Beijing Exhibition Center Theatre

· Chaoyang Theatre Beijing

· Poly Plaza International Theatre Beijing

Beijing Parks-

· Beijing Amusement Park

· Beijing Aquarium

· Beijing Aquatic Park

Emergency Contacts-

So keep the list of Beijing emergency numbers handy, thus being prepared for any unseen emergency.

· Beijing Emergency Numbers

· Beijing Hospitals

· Foreign Embassies in Beijing

· Beijing Health Information

· Etiquette & Behavior

· When to Go to Beijing

Beijing Emergency Numbers-

Before visiting a foreign land, one must always equip himself / herself with a list of emergency phone numbers valid in that country. So as you travel to Beijing in China, do make it a point to obtain a list of Beijing emergency numbers that are sure to be of great help. So if you are lost or require any assistance, your list of emergency numbers in Beijing will come to your aid. AsiaRooms offers you a list of Beijing Emergency Numbers along with detailed information on city. There are telephone booths available everywhere in Beijing. So keep the list of Beijing emergency numbers handy, thus being prepared for any unseen emergency.

Listed below are the emergency phone numbers in Beijing that you may find helpful.

China country code number: 0086

Beijing city code number: 010

Police 110

Fire 119

Ambulance 120

Traffic 122

Foreigners Section of the Beijing Public Security Bureau 6525 5486

Tourist Hotline 6513 0828

International SOS Assistance Top 6590 3419

Other helpful numbers to keep a list of in Beijing are:

Local Directory Information 114

Time Enquiry 117

Weather Forecast 121

Post Code Check 6303 7131

Airport Enquiry 64563604

Train Enquiry 65129525

Beijing Union Hospital 6513 5002

Beijing United Family Hospital 6433 3960

International Medical Center 6465 1561

Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital 6422 1122

International Medical Hospital 65295284

Beijing Restaurant

Japanese Restaurants in Beijing

· Fu Zhu Rotary Sushi Restaurant Beijing

· Kiku House Beijing

· Xin Wu Japanese Restaurant Beijing

· Hatsune Beijing

· Matsuko Japanese Restaurant Beijing

French Restaurants in Beijing

· Bleu Marine Beijing

· Justines Beijing

· The Loft Beijing

· Flo (Fu Lou) Beijing

· Morel's (Molaolongxi Xicanting) Beijing

Italian Restaurants in Beijing

· Adria II Ristorante Beijing

· Peter Pan Restaurant Beijing

· Ristorante Pizzeria Adria Beijing

· Ristorante Italiano Gisa Beijing

Chinese Restaurants in Beijing

· Afunti Restaurant Beijing

· Dao Jia Chang Beijing

· Gong De Lin Vegetarian Restaurant Beijing

· Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant Beijing

· Beijing Fangshan Restaurant

· Drum and Gong Fusion Restaurant Beijing

· Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant Beijing

· Xi He Ya Ju Restaurant Beijing

Beijing tips - ATMs / Cash Machines

Beijing is a very ATM friendly city.  There are many banks with many ATMs.  Unfortunately only about 50% of these accept foreign cards.  Still, this is still far better than supposedly modern cities like Tokyo, Japan.

The main foreign friendly ATMs are controlled by the Bank of China.  Bank of China ATMs work in both Chinese and English (depending on your card), use the latest equipment, and are pretty easy to find.  They do have a habit of being over-used though, so sometimes they are out of cash, receipts or whatever.  Also, the connection to the overseas banking network tends to have a high down time.

If you are told by a Bank of China machine that your transaction has been declined and to contact your bank, do not panic.  This often just means that the International network is unavailable.  You should try the other two banks mentioned or return the next day.

If the Bank of China ATMs is not working for you, the next best bet is a Merchants Bank outlet (pictured above).  Their network seems to be a bit more stable, and seem to run out of cash less.  The problem is that Merchants Bank branches are few and far between.  Finding one is often difficult.

Just recently another bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has opened up most of its ATMs to the international network, allowing VISA transactions.

ICBC is a very common bank in Beijing and seems to have branches almost everywhere.  These banks are very popular however, and you may end up waiting in line to use one of these ATMs.

When you put your foreign bank card into a Beijing ATM it should give you the option to display English, or display both Chinese and English.  There are various different methods the banks employ to let you select language.  The Bank of China ATMs give the password screen in both languages, then on the select account screen, the options are given in two languages, English to the left, and Chinese to the right (pictured below right).

On the select account screen (pictured right) it is essential that you use the left buttons to select your account as this is what determines the language you will be using from that point on.  If you mistakenly press the buttons on the right, you will be in Chinese from that point onwards.

Other banks, like ICBC, have a separate screen near the beginning of the process which lets you select your desired language (pictured below left).  At the end of some ATM transactions you will be given the option to continue or take your card (pictured below right).  This is because the transaction limits on most bank accounts is set pretty low.  The maximum you will be able to withdraw in one request is about 2500 RMB, sometimes as little as 1500 RMB.  You can press the continue button and try to get more cash out up to the ATMs daily limit. Most USA banks allow you about 5500 RMB per day, but this is controlled by your own bank.

As a result of the limits set on Chinese bank accounts and ATMs, you will often experience the hell of Beijing / China ATM usage.  You will join a queue of people at the ATM with maybe one or two people ahead of you.  However, each person will probably do multiple transactions, and often use many cards from many different banks before they have withdrawn their ideal sum of money.  This can be very frustrating, or amusing, depending on how much sleep you've had.

There are a couple of other banks which may accept foreign cards around Beijing, namely HSBC and Citibank.  These ATMs are extremely rare however.  Other internal Chinese banks almost certainly will not process your overseas transaction.

The ATMs mentioned here dispense Chinese RMB currency.  The money will be taken from your foreign bank account.  It will be converted to your home currency at a quite reasonable rate usually.  The commission and transaction charges will be dependent upon your own bank's policies.  If you are using an ATM / Debit card, usually the charges are comparable to drawing money in your own country (e.g.  Bank of America charges $3 per transaction, which is the same as if you used a non-Bank of America ATM in the US)   If you are using a Credit Card, you are usually talking about a "cash advance" which can be extremely expensive depending on your bank and how long you take to pay back the money.

Beijing Safety

Security is difficult to judge as the reporting of crime is not as extensive as you would find in many other countries.  The general impression you get though, is that the streets are very safe.

Without a doubt the biggest danger you face when visiting Beijing is being involved in some kind of traffic accident.  Crossing the road is an often frightening experience, and so is riding in a taxi for most foreign tourists. There are many unwritten rules and customs about traffic but the average tourist is completely unaware of these and just knows fear and confusion.  We would advise riding in the back of the taxi as in the majority of taxis there are no front seat belts, or they don't work.  Of course, if you are traveling in the more expensive 1.60 or 2.00 taxis, you could check the seatbelt availability before you get in.

The next danger is pickpockets.  Although none of us here has experienced this, and its nowhere near as big as a problem as in mainland Europe, Beijing people consider this one of their biggest crime problems.  Pickpockets usually operate on crowded buses but do not tend to be as organized as in other countries.

As anywhere, leaving your bag or coat unattended or out of your direct line of sight is not recommended.  We hear that places like Starbucks and KFC are famous for people having their bag taken from beside their seats.

Paying too much for things could be considered a danger.  Beijing market sales people will often start the price bargaining at a ridiculously high level.  If you just accept this you will have paid way over.  Be cautious of believing fake goods are actually real goods as this could cause you to make a massive error in price judgment.

Never accept solicitations from people wanting to take you to a "girly bar", "massage", or any other similar sounding place, and certainly do not believe any price which they are quoting you.  These people will surely take you to a place where you will be completely ripped-off.  If you want to indulge in any of these services, only consider going to places recommended by a trustworthy Chinese friend,  ex-pat, or hotel staff.  You could also refer to a trustworthy web site such as the one you are currently viewing.  (although this section is not ready yet)

As usual do not accept free drinks or food from strangers in an unfamiliar place.  There are many stories in the press about drugged food or drinks and people waking up to find all their jewelry missing.  These are real stories suffered by Beijing residents, although we're not sure if anyone would dare to do this to a foreigner, but best to err on the safe side.

Beijing Tips - Currency

The main thing to remember when dealing with Chinese currency is the 5 Jiao note is not 5 RMB.  We've seen foreign tourists at the subway station confused as to why the 3 RMB ticket is not covered by their 5 Jiao (0.5 RMB) note.  The next thing is to watch out for fake currency.  There are many fake yellow-style 50's and less new-style (red) 100's.  We will cover how to spot a fake note in a future tip.

The other interesting thing is that the 100 RMB note is currently the largest denomination note available.  This means when you go to buy some high-ticket item like an airfare, mobile phone or your next six months rent in cash, you have to bring a small suitcase of 100 RMB notes.

The currency in circulation is as follows:

100 RMB two types although only one in common circulation. The maximum denomination note.  Equivalent to about $13 US.  The older style is blue (picture coming soon) and is pretty much gone but is still valid currency.

50 RMB two types, both in common usage, newer type to the left.  The older, yellow type is larger and proved a big target with currency forgers but this style is dying out slowly.

20 RMB one type circulating

10 RMB two types circulating.

5 RMB two types circulating.

Beijing Tips - Groceries

Although you can now buy almost anything you can dream of in Beijing as far as groceries are concerned, there still exist a few difficulties such as an extensive selection of good quality vitamins, and regular spray on type deodorant.   As for the rest, we suggest you head to one of the following 3 places.  Jing Ke Long is a Chinese "Safeway / Tesco" equivalent.  This is where the regular Chinese people go (unless they are on a very tight budget, in which case they go to the "scary-hygiene but cheap"  morning market).

Jing Ke Long has good quality packaged goods at reasonable prices.  You will find very few western brands of products, but all the essentials, bread, milk, eggs, coke, vegetables, meat, shampoo, soft drinks can be found.  Unfortunately most foreign credit cards do not seem to work with their credit card machines.  Jing Ke Long supermarkets are all over Beijing but some are extremely small and have a very limited selection.  Best to find one of the larger 2/3/4 storey varieties.

Assuming you cannot find the thing you want at Jing Ke Long and you're looking for your favorite cereal, canned food, or some of the luxuries from back home, you'd best next head to the nearest CRC Shop.  There are nowhere near as many of these as there are Jing Ke Long, but they can be found in the main shopping areas.  There is one in Oriental Plaza, one at the China World Shopping Mall under the World Trade Center at Guomao, and one at Xidan if you look carefully.  The CRC Shop has many more foreign goods, but you will be paying a bit more for everything here.  You can find various brands of cereal, some foreign soft drinks and mineral water, and foreign canned goods.  The CRC Shop accepts most western credit cards.

If you are still not happy, you have to head to a place called Jenny Lou's.  There are at least 2.  One is near the west entrance of Chaoyang Park.  Another is near the SOHO complex at DaWangLu subway station.  Here you can find almost every little thing from back home such as your favorite breads, extensive canned goods, extensive cookies, drinks and sweets.  Also foreign cleaning goods and other household items.  Prices are much more expensive than a regular supermarket.

If you can't find your particular grocery requirement at the above 3 places, chances are it is not for sale in Beijing.

Manage your Money

Dealing with money while living in China:

· –The easiest and safest way to handle your money in China is to open up a savings account at one of China’s many banks. Most banks will allow you to link your China bank account with a bank account back home allowing for the easy transfer of money between the two institutions.

· –When you sign up for an account in China, you should be issued a bank card which can be used at ATM machines across the country (usually a 5 RMB surcharge if you are withdrawing money on another network). Most likely, your China bank issued ATM card will have the ‘UNIONPAY’ log on it allowing you to use the card at stores across China. I have found that the banking system in China is relatively safe and reliable. Be a little wary of the ATM machines, in China, however. I have heard stories of foreigners who lost hundreds of RMB when their ATM machines malfunctioned and wouldn’t return their cards. When I can, I always prefer to withdraw money the old-fashioned way; at the counter.

· –Credit cards in China are still not very useful. Unlike in the West, where you can use a credit card everywhere (fast good restaurants, shopping markets, etc), there are still a relatively few amount of places that accept international cards. When I do use my international credit card, I usually find that it is more inconvenient than anything else; I used one at a Wal-Mart a few months ago and I had to show my passport and talk with the manager. Paying with cash is much easier.

· –Carrying excessive amounts of cash with you in China is never wise but it is always a good idea to have some cash with you in case of emergency. For example, during my early days in China, I would always make sure I was carrying at least enough money for a taxi ride home in case I got lost. Having some change on hand is also important in case you need to make an emergency phonecall.

· –Services such as Western Union and Moneygram are available in the big cities in China but actually accessing your money can be an enormous hassle. Just because a bank supposedly participates in one of these wire transfer services does not mean that all or even most of the branches can help you. I recently attempted to retrieve 600 Dollars from a Moneygram wire transfer and after traveling to three major cities in China and being asked to go from bank branch to bank branch, I finally gave up. If someone is going to send you money, the best way is probably for them to deposit the money  in your account back home.

If you do a little planning ahead and use some common sense, using money in China is actually quite easy compared to other countries in the world. Wherever you are, you should always doublecheck your receipts and pay attention to where your salary is going and exactly how much you were paid. The financial institutions in China make mistakes just like any other countries. Pay attention and you should have little trouble dealing with the financial system in China.

Beijing English Book Stores

1. The Foreign Languages Bookstore (Waiwen Shudian)
This store in Wangfujing has been a mainstay for foreigners in Beijing for many years. It contains a large collection of books on Chinese art, history, literature, language, medicine, economics and art books, post cards, all in English, the majority of which have been published by Chinese publishing houses. It also carries some classic Western novels and a selection of imported books on Chinese history, religion, philosophy, and a couple of dozen Western travel guidebooks (Lonely Planet and Fodor's).
The Foreign Languages Bookstore (Waiwen Shudian)
Hours: 9am-8:30pm
Tel: 6512-6903

2. The Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore (Wangfujing Xinhua Shudian)
The second floor of this bookstore contains a very large collection of classic English and American novels, short story compilations, books on Chinese culture and language, imported novels, and some discounted imported fiction and nonfiction hardbacks. On the first floor is a large array of reference books, English dictionaries, English teacher resource books, and various Oxford guide books (to sailing, geography, history, linguistics, philosophy, etc). The third floor has an erratic selection of magazines.
The Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore (Wangfujing Xinhua Shudian)
Across from McDonald's and next to the Oriental Plaza
Hours: 9am-9:30pm
Tel: 6525-2592

3. Haidian Foreign Languages Bookstore (Waiwen Shudian)
This foreign languages bookstore has a wide and interesting selection of books on Chinese culture, economics, literature, standard classic American and British novels and a small selection of older imported books. In addition, the street this bookstore is on has several used bookstores, some of which have small selections of English books.
Haidian Foreign Languages Bookstore
At the Zhongguo Haidian Tushucheng, just south of Beijing University
Hours: 9am-6:30pm
Tel: 6252-9345

4. The Export Books Bookstore (Waiwen Jinkou Shudian)
Owned by and located next to the Wangfujing Foreign Languages Bookstore, this store has a large collection of imported classic and new Western novels, biographies, best sellers, language teaching resource and computer books, imported books on Chinese history and culture, Western dictionaries, and a surprisingly large selection of children's books.
The Export Books Bookstore (Waiwen Jinkou Shudian)
Next door to the Wangfujing Foreign Languages Bookstore
Hours: 9am-8:30pm
Tel: 6512-6903

5. Beijing Books Center
The Beijing Books Center at the Xinhua Bookstore is new and simply massive, with a large collection of English books on the second floor dealing with all aspects of Chinese culture and some Western classics.
Beijing Books Center at the Xinhua Bookstore
17 West Changan Ave.
Hours: 9am-8:30pm
Tel: 6607-8477

6. The Friendship Store English Bookstore
Inside the first floor of the Friendship Store is a small bookstore featuring Western magazines, lots of imported books on Chinese history and culture, current Western novels, and travel books. (A hint about buying books at this store: if you find something here that is published in China, it is better to instead pick it up at the nearby Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore or the Wangfujing Foreign Languages Bookstore, since the markup at The Friendship Store is at times quite steep).
The Friendship Store English Bookstore
17 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Hours: 9am-9pm
Tel: 6500-3311 ext. 312, 311

7. The Beijing Language and Culture University Press Bookstore
This is the best place in Beijing to buy Chinese language learning books of all levels, tapes, dictionaries, phrase and grammar books, slang books, and even famous Western books on linguistics.
The Beijing Language and Culture University Press Bookstore
Next to the south gate of the Beijing Language and Culture University
Chengfu Lu, Haidian
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm
Tel: 8230-3653

8. The China Bookstore
This store has a small collection of English books but it is THE place in Beijing to buy Chinese art books, books on calligraphy, post cards, and photography books. The selection is impressive. Alongside both East and West Liulichang Street, which runs in front of the main entrance to this bookstore are several other good art bookstores. This famous area has sold books and art supplies in Beijing for more than 300 years. And while it is now touristy, it is still the place to get some excellent and cheap art books.
The China Bookstore
115 Dongxi Liulichang Jiedao
Hours: 9am-6:30pm
Tel: 6317-5607

9. Yansha Tushu Tiandi
On the 6th floor of the Lufthansa Shopping Center is the Yanshatushutiandi Bookstore. It has a large collection of imported books on China, bestseller Western novels, and even Western art and photography books.
Yansha Tushu Tiandi
6th Floor, Lufthansa Shopping Center
Hours: 9am-9pm
Tel: 6465-1188 ext. 675

10. China Economic Bookstore
The China Economic Bookstore has a limited number of general interest English books, but a good selection of material dealing with economic and business related matters in China, including reference books and dictionaries.
China Economic Bookstore (Zhongguo Jingji Shudian)
301 COFCO Plaza
Jianguomennei Dajie
Hours: 9am-9pm
Tel: 6617-5893

Old Christian Churches of Beijing

Beijing has seen the presence of many diverse traditions over the centuries, Taoism, various sects of Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism and often overlooked by visitors, is the very old presence of Christianity in this ancient capital.

For many foreigners a visit to one of Beijing's churches will be like seeing a piece of home transplanted into an unfamiliar city. These places can also give a sense of how long the west has been influencing China and its people.

Today there are estimated to be around ten million Christians in China and since the constitution was amended in 1982 to allow freedom of religion, the number has been steadily growing. These beautiful and serene buildings function as places of worship for thousands of Beijing Christians and for many visitors they allow a fascinating glimpse into the long history of Christianity in China and its accompanying influence.

Christianity first came to China in the seventh century when the Nestorians presented themselves to the imperial court at Xi'an and were allowed to establish a monastery there. With later missionaries such as Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) Christianity was brought to the Chinese people and was embraced by the imperial court.

However some emperors such as Kang Xi, who banned Catholicism in 1721, did not welcome this foreign religion and tried to rid their empire of its influence. Others welcomed the missionaries and began a cultural exchange with Europe, especially during the Ming dynasty. Missionaries were granted land in Beijing and were allowed to build churches here. These places suffered tumultuous histories, often being destroyed or rebuilt as the western powers and the imperial court of China vied for power.

It was the Boxer Rebellion around the turn of the 19th century that brought about the most comprehensive destruction of Christian churches in Beijing. After this period in the very beginning of the 20th century most of the churches standing today were built, testament to the success of the foreign powers' armies in finally destroying the Boxers and forcing the Imperial court into the final stage of its existence. This safety would not last, during the Cultural Revolution almost all of the city's churches were gutted, stripped of their valuables and the buildings used as storehouses or left derelict. Christianity, along with other religions during this period, was prohibited in China only re-emerging in the last twenty years.

Visitors are not charged entry into any of Beijing’s churches however they are not open as tourist destinations. The buildings are only accessible at mass times and if you visit during mass please exercise the utmost respect.

Christmas Mass/Churches in Beijing

All Beijing churches will offer Christmas services for Christians in Beijing. So far, there are eight churches within Beijing. They include the Eastern Church (Wangfujing Catholic Church), Western Church (Xizhimen Church), Southern Church (Xuanwumen Catholic Church), Northern Church (Xishiku Catholic Church), St. Michael's Church, Nangangzi Church, Pingfang Church and Dongguantou Church. Nine other churches are located in Beijing's suburbs.

Here are some details about the four main churches located in downtown Beijing to help you select the right sanctuary for your Christmas mass.

All Beijing churches will offer Christmas services for Christians in Beijing. So far, there are eight churches within Beijing. They include the Eastern Church (Wangfujing Catholic Church), Western Church (Xizhimen Church), Southern Church (Xuanwumen Catholic Church), Northern Church (Xishiku Catholic Church), St. Michael's Church, Nangangzi Church, Pingfang Church and Dongguantou Church. Nine other churches are located in Beijing's suburbs.

Here are some details about the four main churches located in downtown Beijing to help you select the right sanctuary for your Christmas mass.


Eastern Church

Located east of central Wangfujing Street, the Catholic East Church, or Wangfujing Catholic Church, is one of the best-preserved religious sites in the heart of Beijing.

The present building was rebuilt in 1904 on the ruins of the burned church.

The East Church was originally called Saint Joseph's Church, and was built in the 12th year (1655) of Emperor Shunzhi during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

It was the second Catholic church built in Beijing after Italian preacher Matteo Ricci built the “South Church” in southern Beijing at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

In the 1980s, large-scale repairs and maintenance were carried out by the government for East Church.

Occupying an area of 2,387 square metres, the church underwent its latest renovation in May of this year. Beside the church is a front square of 1.2 hectares. Trees and grass were planted and various lighting facilities were installed to show off the gorgeous building at night.

To get there: Take the line one subway to Wangfujing Station. The church is about 500 metres north of the northwest station exit.


Northern Church

Xishiku Catholic Church, also called Xishiku Church (or Salvador Church, meaning Christ Church), Northern Church is located west of Zhongnanhai, at Canchikou and west of Ziguang Pavilion, so it is also called Canchikou Church. The sanctuary was later moved to Xishiku Street as Catholic North Church.

Xishiku Church is now the largest Catholic Church in Beijing. The style of the building is in typical Gothic style and it is famous for its grand architecture.

Two pavilions with green glazed tile roofs were built on each side in front of the church with stone columns and stone lions surrounding and guarding the place of worship, adding the architectural style of Chinese gardens.

Built in 1890 by a French mission, the church was formerly the centre of a great complex of schools, orphanages and hospitals. The building has a tall, wide nave with side aisles, octagonal transepts and a huge sanctuary. There are many chandeliers, plus large, painted stations of the cross, antique stained glass and the remains of old wall decorations.

To get there: Take bus routes 103 or 109 to Fuyoujie Station.


Southern Church

Xuanwumen Church: The oldest Catholic Church in Beijing, the Southern Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is located at 181 Qianmen West Street in the Xuanwumen area.

The church was first erected in the middle of the 16th century on the former site of the Donglin party, a political clique active in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

When the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci came to China during the reign of Emperor Wanli in Ming Dynasty, the emperor provided him with a residence which stood slightly west of the cathedral.

The cathedral was rebuilt in 1657 during the reign of Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty.

The cathedral was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1775 and 1900, and was rebuilt in 1904 to its present form.

The main components of the 100-year-old building remain unchanged with one exception-its wooden support columns have been replaced by brick-and-mortar columns decorated with stone mosaics.

Today the cathedral remains in excellent condition. Masses conducted by more than 10 Chinese Fathers attract an increasing number of Chinese and foreign worshipers every Sunday, and the church is always crowded during Easter and Christmas.

An English service mass is only available at 10 am, December 25.

To get there: Take the loop subway to Xuanwumen Station. The church is a few metres from the northeast exit of the station.

Western Church

The Western Church, located on the southern side of Xizhimen Neidajie, is the youngest church among the four churches.

The Western Church was first established in 1723 and restored in 1912. Because of a pharmacy factory beside the place of worship, it nearly cannot be seen from the street. But delicate Collins pillars and Gothic peaked arches inside the church make it grand, elegant and solemn.

To get there: Take bus route 7, 808, 27, or 105 to the Xitang.

Christmas services at the four churches are:

6 pm, December 24: Mass.

7 pm to 10 pm December 24: Open for all visitors.

11 pm to 1:30 am (next morning): Mass time for Catholics who have entrance ticket. The ticket was offered free of charge before December 23 at the church.

Hospital for Foreigners (English Speaking)

Beijing
Beijing United Family Hospital
Tel: +86-10-6433 3960/1/2/4/5
Fax: +86-10-6433 3963
Emergency Hotline: +86-10-6433 2345
Website: http://www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com/
Add: No2 Jiang Tai Lu, Chao Yang District
Beijing 100016
P. R. China

Beijing United Family Clinic – Shunyi
Tel: +86-10-8046 5432
Fax: +86-10-8046 4383
Add: Pinnacle Plaza, Unit # 818, Tian Zhu Real Estate Development Zone,
Shunyi District,
Beijing 101312
P. R. China

SOS International (Medical Emergency and Evacuation Service)
Tel: +86-10-6462 9100 (24-hour Alarm Center), +86-10-6462 9112
Fax: +86-10-6462-9111
Add: Building C, BITIC Leasing Center,
No. 1 North Road, Xing Fu San Cun
Chao Yang District
Beijing 100027
P. R. China

Vista Clinic
Tel: +86-10-8529 6618
Fax: +86-10-8529 6615
Website: http://www.vista-china.net
Add: Kerry Center Shopping Mall B29/B30
No.1 Guanghua RoadChao Yang District
Beijing 100020
P. R. China

Bayley & Jackson Medical Center
Tel: +86-10-8562 9998
Fax: +86-10-8561 4866
Website: www.bjhealthcare.com
Add: 7 Ritan Dong Lu, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100020
P. R. China

MEDEX Assistance Corporation (Medical Evacuation Service)
Tel: +86-10-6595 8510
Fax: +86-10-6595 8509
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Add: No. 871 Poly Plaza, 14 South Dongzhimen
Beijing 100027
P. R. China

Friendship Hospital - GlobalDoctor Clinic
Tel: +86-10-84569191, +86-10-8315 1915
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Add: 95 Yong An Lu, Xuan Wu District,
Beijing 100050
P. R. China

International Medical Center (IMC) – Beijing
Tel: +86-10-6465 1561/2/3 (24-hour)
Fax: +86-10-6465 1984
Add: Lufthansa Center, Office Building, Suite 106,
50 Liang Ma Qiao Rd., Chao Yang District
Beijing 100016
P. R. China

Beijing First Aid Center
Tel: +86-10-120 (24-hour Alarm number), +86-10-65255678, 66014336
Add: 103 Qian Men Xi Da Jie
Xuan Wu District, Beijing
P. R. China

Hong Kong International Medical Clinic – Beijing
Tel: +86-10-65012 288 Ext. 2346
Add: Swissotel 9 Fl., Beijing Hong Kong Macau Center,
Dong Si Shi Tiao Li Jiao Qiao
Beijing 100027
P. R. China

Arrail Dental
Tel: +86-10-6500 6472/3, +86-10-8526 3235/6
Add: 19 Jian Guo Men Wai Da Jie
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004
P. R. China

Intech Eye Hospital (Dr. Hu)
Tel: +86-10-6773 2909
Add: 12 Pan Jia Yuan Nan Li
Chao Yang District, Beijing
P. R. China

China Academy of Medical Science-Beijing Hospital (Peking Union Hospital)
Tel: +86-10-6529 5120, +86-10-6529 5284
Fax: +86-10-6512 4875
Add: 1 Shui Fu Yuan, Dong Cheng District
Beijing 100730
P. R. China

Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital
Tel: +86-10-6422 2965, +86-10-6422 1122
Fax: +86-10-6421 7749
Add: Ying Hua Dong Lu, He Ping Li
Beijing 100029
P. R. China

Ministry of Public Health-Beijing Hospital
Tel: +86-10-6513 2266
Add: 1 Da Hua Lu, Dong Dan
Beijing 100730
P. R. China

No. 3 Hospital of Beijing Medical University
Tel: +86-10-6201 6925, +86-10-6201 7691
Add: 49 Hua Yuan Bei Lu, Hai Dian District,
Beijing 100083
P. R. China

Beijing Red Cross Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
Tel: +86-10-6500 7755 Ext. 2380, +86-10-6502 4704
Add: 8 Bai Jia Zhuang Lu, Chao Yang District
Beijing 100020
P. R. China