Climate | Currency | Customs | Health | Mobile Phones | Public Phones | Shopping and Business Hours | Time Zone | Visa
Climate
Beijing is located in northern China, and residents experience all four seasons. Spring lasts from early March through early May, summer from May through September, autumn from September through mid-November, and winter from mid-November through the end of February. Temperatures range from a low of -10°C (14°F) in winter to a high of more than 32°C (89.6°F) in summer.
Currency
Chinese Yuan (CNY), commonly referred to as Renminbi (RMB), is the currency used in Beijing. At present, many businesses and banks accept American Express, Dynasty, JCB, Visa, MasterCard, and Diners Club credit cards. ATM machines which accept overseas cards are limited, however.
Customs
Foreign tourists are not allowed to take objects out of China for other people. There is also a limit to the import of certain items according to the quantity and duration of stay. Chinese herbs, medicine and cultural relics, ammunition and drugs are not to be brought into Beijing.
Health
Fully-stocked and modern clinics and hospitals are available for the use of our community members. We recommend the purchase of prescription medications from the many local international clinics to assure quality, as there are still questions pending regarding regulations governing the production and sale of pharmaceuticals in China. Regular business hours apply to most clinics, and the recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis series and Japanese Encephalitis.
Mobile Phones
GSM and CDMA networks are available in Beijing and the rest of China.
Public Phones
International and domestic calls can be made using your home line, or from most telephone booths with either coins or a purchased phone card. VOIP and broadband internet connections are widely available.
Shopping and Business Hours
Shopping in Beijing becomes more convenient all the time, with new shopping centers and plazas opening all over the capital. The working days are Mondays to Fridays, with most people choosing not to work on the weekends. Office hours are typically from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., while shops are generally open from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m., or from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily. There are also night markets, which stay open later for the determined bargain hunter.
