China isn't a country - it's a whole different world. From shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia, with deserts, sacred peaks, astounding caves, and imperial ruins in between. Management recently stopped destroying temples - now they rip down mountains and poison rivers instead, but with over a billion people to take care of, something's got to give.

Along with the stark contrasts comes stark beauty; there's plenty to see once you've mastered the art of bulldozing your way through crowds and dodging spit. And don't let the old Communist Party rhetoric fool you - money-making is the number one hobby these days. Unless you have a couple of years and unlimited patience, it's best to follow a loose itinerary here, such as Beijing to Tibet via Xi'an's terra cotta warriors, following the Silk Road route, sailing down the Yangzi River, or exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.

The Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are the mausoleum of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors after the Ming capital was shifted to Beijing. Located at the southern foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping County, Beijing, the Ming tombs cover an area of about 120 km.

Tian`Anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace)
Tiananmen was the front entrance of the Imperial City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Tian'anmen Square
Located in the center of Beijing with an area of some 400,000 sq M Tian'anmen Square is the largest square in the world today.

Is China & Beijing Safe?
The people in Beijing and in fact throughout China are very friendly and are always willing to help. Do however be cautious and well aware of your personal space at all times. Pickpockets are a menace, and snatching of bags are common. Never let someone you do not know watch your luggage and never accept rides from anyone other than official taxi drivers.

Remember: you are in another country with a different set of social rules and regulations. What might be acceptable at home is not necessarily acceptable abroad. Ask questions and find out more about your city. Learn to adapt to different cultures and customs, part of your study abroad experience is to learn more about the world around you, be open and friendly.

What is the local currency?
The Chinese Renminbi (RMB), otherwise known as yuan, is divided into 10 jiao. Paper notes are issued in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 50 and 100 yuan; one, two and five jiao; and one, two and five fen. Coins are issued in denominations of one yuan; five jiao; and one, two and five fen.

Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary?
All visitors to China must have a visa. We will assist you in your application and to apply, you need two passport-sized photos and your application must be written in English. A single-entry visa is valid for one to three months. Multiple-entry visas are also available for those planning complicated routes involving other countries. Allow at least two weeks for processing of the visa application.

The following inoculations are recommended (not required): Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, Cholera, Meningitis, Rabies, Hepatitis A & B, Tuberculosis, Polio, TABT (typhoid, paratyphoid A & B,and tetanus). Get your inoculations in plenty of time to make them effective.

How do you get there from here?
With 63 international air routes, Beijing is linked to 54 cities in 39 countries and regions. There are also more than 550 domestic air routes linking the capital to all major cities and travel destinations in China. The Capital Airport, for both international and domestic flights, is located 27 kilometers from the city center.

How do I get around Beijing?
Beijing Subway: There are two subway rails in Beijing, the First and Ring Line of underground railway, which cross at Fuxingmen. The Ring Line runs through Xizhimen, Fuxingmen, Hepingmen, Qianmen, Beijing Railway Station, Chaoyangmen, Dongzhingmen and Yonghegong etc. The First Line goes from ping Guo Yuan (Apple Orchard) through Gongzhufen to the famous Shopping area-Xidan. It is being extended to the east, if your destination happens to be along the subway, the underground is definitely the best choice.

The Subway Service Hour: 5:30--23:00, Ticket fare: 2.00 RM. Juan.

Bus & Trolley: Public bus & trolley bus can take you to every corner in Beijing and the bus ticket is inexpensive. The buses usually starts at 5:00--5:30 in the morning and the last bus runs at 22:00--23:00 at night. Buses run every 5 to 10 minutes.

Rick Shaw: The Rickshaw came into being at the beginning of this century. It is pretty cheap and makes you feel, that you have returned to Beijing in the old days.

Taxi: It is generally not difficult to get a cab in the city, except during dinnertime (6pm to 8pm) and the afternoon nap time (1pm to 2pm). Most taxis are metered but if you get into one without a meter, make sure you negotiate the price before taking the cab. It is generally cheaper if you say beforehand that you do not need an official receipt. Most taxi-drivers do not speak English, so get the school staff to write down the destination in Chinese.

What is the weather like?
Spring: (April - May) Spring is short, dry and dusty. The temperature hovers around 20 ¡C and 25 ¡C and the humidity averages 35%.
Summer: (June - August) The average temperature is around 26C and may rise to 33C. Humidity is a high 60%.
Autumn: (September - October) There is very little rain and the temperature averages 15C with low humidity at 47%.
Winter: The average winter temperature is -2C, occasionally plunging to a low -20C. The air is dry and cool. Humidity is at a low 30%.

Will my electrical gadgets work?
Electric current in China is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. Check with a large electronics store in your area. Electric clocks, record players and tape recorders will not work properly even on converters because they use the 60 Cycle American/Canadian standard.

What is the best way to phone home?
It is smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, AT&T or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US/Canada from China at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call.

What major holidays are there in China?
New Year's Day January 1, Chinese Lunar New Year's Day Between January and February (The exact date varies, depends on the Lunar Calendar), Labor Day May 1, Youth Day May 4, July 1, National Day October 1.