Weather
Elevated at 143 feet above sea level, Beijing has a continental climate. The best times to visit Beijing are May, September and October. December and January are the coldest months, with an average temperature of –4° C (–25° F); while June and July are its warmest with an average temperature of 26°C (79° F).
Language
Mandarin
English is used at major corporations and key places of interest.
Time Difference
GMT +8 hours
Visa
Here are three types of visas for foreigners who are residing in China for a period of time.
- ‘Z’ (Vocational) Visa
This visa is for foreigners employed by independent investment joint ventures or foreign investment enterprises in Beijing. The same will apply to their spouses and dependents. This visa is also for foreign expatriates working in Beijing, and their dependents.
Within 30 days of arrival, all family members must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau to have their resident applications processed.
- ‘X’ (Study) Visa
This visa is for foreign students entering Beijing for studies. Within 30 days of arrival, students must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau to have their resident applications processed.
- ‘J-1’ (Journalist) Visa
This visa is for resident correspondents and journalists based in Beijing. Within 30 days of arrival, they must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau to have their resident applications processed.
For more details, please visit the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau website at www.bjgaj.gov.cn.
Currency
The unit currency is Renminbi (RMB), which comes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Credit cards are widely accepted at larger establishments.
VAT
All prices are tax-inclusive when charged and there is no other tax that needs to be levied.
Gratuity
Tipping is not commonly practised in China. Most hotels automatically add a 15% service charge to the total bill.
Business Hours
Banks and government offices:
Mondays to Fridays, 08:30 to 17:30 hours
Offices:
Mondays to Fridays, 09:00 to 18:00 hours
Saturday, 09:00 to 13:00 hours
Shops and department stores, may vary but mostly:
Mondays to Sundays: 09:00 to 21:00 hours, including public holidays.
Cellular Network
The three biggest mobile telephone service providers are China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
Health
Medical facilities in Beijing are generally of high standard.
Electricity
Voltage is 220V AC.
Public holidays
New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (three days), Labour Day (three days) and National Day (three days).