All About Beijing

Olympic Beijing 2008 Opening Fest

2008-08-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Chinese Olympic 2008 Mascots

2008-08-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Chinese Sturgeon; Traditional Chinerse New Year decorative picture of lotus and fish; fish design from neolithic artifacts.

Giant Panda; Song Dynasty lotus; Shaped porcelain.

Olympic flame; Fire design from the Mogao Grottoes.

Tibetan antelope; Tibetan and Xinjiang ethnic costumes.

The swallow; Beijing's shayan kites.

A Glimpse of the US Trials on the Way to Beijing 2008

2008-07-18T17:51:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Summer Olympics that will be held in Beijing, China, are just a few weeks away and in the United States many sports disciplines are in the trials process to determine the athletes that will be part of this year's US delegation, which will be its largest delegation to date and it will be competing in 27 sports.

Track and field is one of the sports disciplines facing the Olympic trials. On the women's side one of the biggest names in the American track this year is Allyson Felix, who won in 22.68 seconds the 200-meter preliminary heat on the night of Friday July 4 and secured her spot in Beijing when she easily run through the final 200-meter sprint and finished first last Sunday 6.

Felix was born in southern California and at her 23 years she has had a very successful career; she has won four gold medals in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, three of them in a single one last year in Osaka, Japan, when she finished first on 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. She also won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens, Greece. Her personal best record on the 200-meters is of 21.81 seconds, 47 hundredths of a second away from the World Record.

Joining her in the Olympic team will be Muna Lee, who finished second in Sunday's sprint. Lee will be representing the U.S. in the 100-meters sprint as well since she won the first spot earlier this week coming from behind and passing the favorite Torri Edwards and making her best time ever of 10.85.

Marshevet Hooker struggled her way to the final spot to qualify for the Olympic delegation in the 200-meters; she finished third on the sprint even though she crashed across the winning line. Hooker ran the fifth-fastest time ever in the 100-meters first meet last week; however she didn't earn a spot in this category, therefore, winning the spot for the 200m was really important for her.

On the men's side, the top three runners that were able to qualify for the U.S. Olympics in the 1500-meters are three immigrants naturalized in the United States. At the final 1500-meters race of the Olympic trials last Sunday, the Kenyan American Bernard Lagat managed to finish first despite of having to start in Lane 1. Lagat, who had previously won silver and bronze medals at Athens and Sydney respectively for his native Kenya, also won the trials in the 5000-meters and will be representing the United States at Beijing in both events.

In the second place and only 53 hundredths of a second away from Lagat, the second qualifier was the Mexican-American Leonel Manzano, who is a two-time NCAA champion for the University of Texas and has been nationally recognized as a top young middle distance talent.

The third qualifier for the 1500-meters is the 23 year-old Sudan-born American athlete Lopez Lomong. Before the semifinals he had wrenched his left ankle and wasn't able to enter the Olympic Team in the 800-meters since he finished fifth. Lomong's history is very heart-touching; he was kidnapped when he was just 6 years old and jerked into the civil war of his nation and became one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan". He lived in a Kenyan refugee camp for 10 years until it was resettled to the United States in 2001. "I'm dreaming my whole life, Olympics, Olympics, running for the United States," said Lomong last Sunday, after winning the pass to his first Olympic Games.

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking writer on the Olympic Games 2008 for the sports betting industry. You can also find more of her work at Instant Action Sports UK. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Asia Travel Tips, Secrets of Seeing Beijing on the Cheap!

2008-07-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Beijing is a rather large city with 13 million inhabitants spread out over a vast area, but if you are up for it you see and do a lot of it on the cheap. From the excellent small restaurants, to the many curious shops, to the railway and bus stations, Beijing is an absolutely fascinating place to walk around and people watch.

The Chinese have the prices set for everybody for the major attractions so you do not get special tourist prices, and a lot of the prices are written down for you to see in places that you might not expect like hotels. The temples and the tourist spots have many Chinese there visiting them, and they are as interested in you as they are the cultural attraction.

Any of the markets will offered many things to sniff taste and play with. I bought some magnets that were providing hours of fun for a couple of dollars, only to have them taken away when I went to get on the plane to come home, a major bummer for me. I also bought a coffee cup that changes scenes when you put hot liquids into it.

Everything emanates from the center of town which in Beijing is The Forbidden City. Surprisingly taxis were expensive, and the buses a little hard to understand, but the metro is a breeze to use and cheap at only 3 Yuan a trip. Using only the metro does limit you a bit when you go out to the outer rings, but in the city center it will get you everywhere.

The first thing that we tried to do was go to the Great Wall at Badaling using the Beijing city buses only to find out after a day of looking that the buses were incorporated into a tourist service, and the buses we were looking for were no longer named what was on the tourist map. We spent the better part of the day looking for them, but we still had a great time as it took us places that we probably would have missed, in particular a side street that paralleled the Forbidden City that was a neighborhood of hutongs.

Inside the 2nd ring is a treasure trove of interesting things between the Forbidden City and the railway station on the south end was an old part of Beijing's city wall, a shopping maze with small stalls and little fast food noodle shops. The area around the train station had old luxury 5 star Chinese hotels, Beijing cheap guesthouses, massage centers and restaurants that for the curious offered allot of amusement in their design and function. You could spend a couple of days in this one small area and still want to go back to find more.

If there is a secret to seeing the real Beijing on the cheap it would be get lost for a few hours heading in random directions.

Fred's new project http://www.CheapCharliesHotels.com/ where he reviews cheap hotels, budget guesthouses, discount accommodations and cheap international flights, but is really an excuse to go scuba diving on vacation more, Fred is in Phnom Penh Cambodia planning his next adventure travel tour. Keep up to date with Fred and to view some great pictures go to or for Chinese Pictures http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/htm/Beijing%20Cheap%20Hotels.htm

Fred Tittle has lived and worked in holiday vacation resorts his entire life, from Lake Geneva's Playboy Club, as a rock jock for KSPN FM in Aspen Colorado, he became a PADI Pro Scuba Diver in Hawaii, diving on Maui, Kauai, Kona on the big island, and Waikiki on Oahu. He founded Eco Adventures South East Asia in Sihanoukville Cambodia. he still teaches SSI and PADI scuba diving courses and runs liveaboards in the gulf of Thailand and Asia adventure tours, http://www.ecosea.com/

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Chinese Cuisine - Beijing Roast Duck

2008-07-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Beijing Roast Duck is the most famous of all of Beijing's culinary dishes. With its tempting color, crispy skin, tender meat and the gorgeous appearance, Beijing Roast Duck is known as one of the best dish in the world. A visit to Beijing is not complete without trying this delicious dish.

History

Road Duck has a history of over 1500 years in China. This dish was one of the famous dishes of the Southern Song Dynasty (420-478). After the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), this dish was introduced to Beijing and was listed on the menu of the royal family. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was named Beijing Roast Duck and it became extremely famous once commoners got a chance to try this amazing dish.

How to make Beijing Roast Duck:

Beijing's two most famous Roast Duck Restaurants, Quanjude and Bianyifang, each have their own method for making Beijing Roast Duck. Quanjude roasts its ducks in an open oven. The duck is marinated in their special marinade, and hung in the oven over a wood fire, so the smoke from the fire can help flavor the meat. Date, or Pear wood is used, and it takes approximately 40 minutes for the duck to be fully roasted. Bianyifang roasts its ducks in a closed oven which uses a straw fire. Before being put into the oven, the duck is filled with soup, so that the duck is roasted on the outside, and boiled on the inside, which adds a unique flavor to the duck.

How to eat the roast duck?

Usually, the roast duck is cut into one hundred and twenty slices before being served to customers. First, a special sauce is brushed onto some small thin pancakes. Then thin slices of green onion, garlic sauce and duck slices are placed on the pancake. Finally it is wrapped and eaten. If one feels this method is not to their liking, they can simply dip the duck slices into white sugar and then eat it. Another popular way to eat Beijing Roast duck is to put thinly sliced garlic, cucumber, and duck slices into a hollowed sesame bun. Not just the duck's meat is eaten, but other parts are also made into wonderful and adventurous dishes. Another of Beijing's favorite dishes is the famous duck bone soup.

Where to eat

To enjoy the Beijing Roast Duck, you can visit the famous Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant or the Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant.

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant:

Quanjude (Group) Co.LTD is located at No.14, Qianmen West Street, in Beijing. This famous restaurant was established in 1864. It has more than 200 branches located in Beijing, some of China's larger cities, and abroad, making it the largest roast duck restaurant in China.

Since its establishment, Quanjude has created over 400 different dishes, each with a unique flavor to serve the customers. Many government leaders, officials and VIPs from nearly 200 countries and regions have visited Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant and had the well-known all-duck banquet. With its high quality, services, and the unique roasting technique, Quanjude enjoys a very high reputation among domestic and overseas consumers. In 1999, it was awarded the title of 'China Renowned Trademark'.

China Odyssey Tours specialize in providing package China tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.

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10 Reasons to Watch The 2008 Beijing Olympics Online

2008-07-04T08:08:00.002-07:00

The 2008 Beijing Olympics Online is expected to be a crowd-drawer as has been the case ever since the event was founded back in Ancient Greece. Nowadays, you have 10 good reasons to want to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics games on the internet.

First, you get to avoid being scammed by some unscrupulous online ticketing organizations that claim to offer "authentic" tickets to Beijing Olympics venues but which are actually fly-by-night operations that are only out to get your money.

Second, if you are only going to get tickets for Olympiad venues for the Beijing Olympics now, then you are already too late for them. Most of the venues have been sold out already for months now.

Third, you avoid getting literally scalped by scalpers who will sell you authentic tickets for the venues but at outrageous prices.

A major television network along with MSN have join forces to broadcast the event live from Beijing over the internet. This means that you will get to enjoy all the live action in the comfort of your home - or the home of a friend who has this service.

Fifth, this broadcast service will be pretty comprehensive because you get to see all the action live from every Olympiad venue.

Sixth, you can control which venue, event and players you wish to view at the time.

Seventh, the television network has a good reputation for being able to annotate the past live coverage of the Olympiad events with input from their own sports analysts. This tie-up with MSN and Microsoft will take live coverage just one technological step further.

Eight, you can be one of the more than 100 million users who will get the chance to use this internet service while the games gets underway.

Ninth, you get live video alerts if your preferred athletes and events are being broadcast.

Lastly, Beijing may not be able to host another Olympiad for another couple of years. This means this year's Olympiad promises to be truly a historical event worth watching out for.

Learn more about Watching Beijing Olympics Online by visiting Satellite TV Online now.

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Olympics 2008 - Beijing Gaining Glamour

2008-07-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

Beijing the capital of China has always been a busy center for trade and commerce, educational endeavors and tourism. Recently there has been extra attention given to this city and to China on the whole. China will be hosting Olympics 2008 in Beijing.

Beijing is gaining glamour with its newly found glory after being chosen to host Olympics 2008. We can see added pride in the guileless smiles of the people. They say that it has added extra flavor to their lives and they are eagerly looking forward for the world to turn its attention to their busy city.

Preparations at all levels are already underway in full swing. Entertainment committees are in place to take care of the programs in the opening and closing ceremonies. Preparation of the Olympics grounds and other renovation work are in full swing too. Many brands are already competing for their place in the center stage to advertise.

Olympics and Sports fans are already making their travel plans to witness the grand opening and to stay to witness their favorite sport. If you intend to visit China you can plan your trip during these days, you will see China and Beijing in particular in their full glory. You certainly do not want to visit just Beijing when you are in China, you would also like to visit other places of interest in China. You need to plan for a trip not less than 15 days to enjoy your trip to China.

Wish you a happy planning and a glorious trip to Beijing.

Analytical Thinker!

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Traveling in Beijing: What to Do and Where to Go on Your Beijing Vacation

2008-07-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Overview

Beijing is most well known for its role in China’s imperialism, so, when most people imagine a trip to Beijing, they picture a city full of temples and palaces fit for emperors. And, while these ancient buildings still stand, they are now situated among the skyscrapers and freeways that make Beijing one of China’s most modern cities. Northern Beijing is the home of the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, the most visited and scenic section of the old barrier between dynasties. Mid-Beijing is home to the Forbidden City -- the Chinese imperial palace during the mid-Ming and the Qing Dynasties -- now a World Heritage site. North of the Forbidden City lies Tiananmen Square, home of the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. In western Beijing lies the Summer Palace, another World Heritage site, and one of the top destinations in China known for its combination of breathtaking natural and manmade scenery.

Historical and Architectural Attractions

A trip to Beijing would be incomplete without taking the time to revel in the sheer beauty and immensity of the city’s historical landmarks. Beijing is home to many World Heritage sites, including the Summer Palace, the Great Wall of China, the Ming Dynasty Tombs, the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, and the Temple of Heaven. It’s the enrapturing combination of brilliant architecture combined with striking landscape that makes these destinations an absolute must-see (and photograph) for tourists.

Nightlife

If you can’t leave Beijing without a souvenir, you’ll want to experience Wangfujing Street. The road is closed to automobile traffic because of the high-congestion of shoppers, and, instead, shoppers travel on foot from one amazing shop to another. Wangfujing is home to around 280 brands of Beijing, such as Shengxifu hat store, Tongshenghe shoe shop, Wuyutai tea house. Most of Beijing’s nightclubs and bars are located in Sanlitun, Houhai, and Yuandadu. In these places, bars generally stay open until 4am. For those looking for the hottest dance club in Beijing, check out NASA nightclub, a disco that is packed to the max every night of the week.

Special Events

In 2008, Beijing will host the Summer Olympics. Travelers interested in the Olympic Games may choose to visit Beijing during this time; however, travelers looking to visit when the city will be less congested (keep in mind that it’s already the 2nd most populated city in China) may not want to consider planning a trip to the city during the months prior to and just after those summer months.

Jessica Elliott is a freelance writer for Directory of Hotels.com – Hip Cool Hotels. For travel to this region, she recommends staying at any one of these fine boutique hotels in Beijing.

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Fun, Games and Holidays in Beijing 2008

2008-06-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

Beijing is the place to be in 2008 if you're a sports fan. A very auspicious year for the Chinese people, this is the year in which Beijing will host the 29th Olympic games. The games will start with the lighting of the Olympic Flame at eight minutes to 8 on August 8th.

Beijing has thrown itself with great gusto into the preparations for the Olympics. 30 new sports venues have sprung up like a phoenix from the ashes, while over 2000 apartments have been constructed to house the athletes. There's no doubt that the arrival of the Olympic Games will give a huge boost to the economy of the city.

But if sports aren't to your liking, there's still plenty for everyone in this up and coming city. China has a fascinating history and culture, and examples of these are prevalent in Beijing. The Summer Palace, a fine example of garden architecture, nestles in the northwest. Spanning 290 hectares, the Palace is a riot of gazebos, brodges, temples, pagodas and much more. If cultural holidays are your thing, this location is a must-see.

If you're worried about seeing everything Beijing has to offer, try taking one of the several tours offered. These can cover a variety of attractions such as the Summer Palace mentioned above, the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and a number of other classic Chinese landmarks.

Accommodation in Beijing is ample, and there are a variety of hotels and apartments to suit any budget. Booking early is advised, as the Games will ensure Beijing holidays to be at an all-time high this year. Alternatively, if you prefer cheap holidays, getting a last-minute deal could save you quite a bit of money. Shop around on the internet before you book, and you should be able to get an unforgettable holiday for a forgettable price.

Time for your holidays?Find cheap holidays online. Enjoy your holidays without spending too much money.

J Tillotson is a UK-based travel writer

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Olympics 2008 - Beijing Gaining Glamour

2008-06-30T00:31:00.000-07:00

Best Beijing Duck Houses in Beijing

2008-06-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Beijing duck is such a yummy food that no visitor to Beijing should miss it. But which is the best duck house?

There are five Beijing duck houses almost equally popular and loved by tourists. Actually, in a recent magazine poll, these five names also dominate the top positions. They all carry a different theme.

Historical and Unique Recipe: Bian Yi Fang Roast Duck Restaurant

Beijing duck price: ¥80

Bian Yi Fang was founded in 1855, a pioneer in Beijing duck. However their Beijing duck recipe is different from most of the duck houses in Beijing. They use oven heat instead of actual fire. This method is meant for environmental as well as making the duck meat more tender and juicy.

Typical Old Beijing Feel: Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant

Beijing duck price: ¥80

Li Qun is hidden inside a hutong, making it difficult to be found. However many tourists do make an effort to find it. Best is to take a taxi and then hire a rickshaw.

Li Qun has nothing five-star, but a typical old Beijing feel - red lanterns, open garden and courtyard. It is always full plus a long waiting line. Over 90% of their guests are foreigners.

New Generation: King of Duck Roast Duck Restaurant

Beijing duck price: ¥48

“New Generation Ruler of the Century-old Duck Empire” – this is the slogan of King of Duck. They are running six shops since the first one opened in 1997.

They claim to do an old dish in a new style. You’ll find this to be a new-generation Beijing duck house. The Beijing duck they produce is almost out of fat.

Traditional and Well-known: Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Beijing duck price: ¥168 / ¥70 per one-person dish

Quanjude nowadays operates under franchise. The shop at Qianmen is the original one. Foreign rulers visiting Beijing usually come here.

Founded in 1864, Quanjude is the most famous Beijing duck house for sure. Somehow there is an equal mark between Quanjude and Beijing duck.

Academic: Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant

Beijing duck price: ¥98

Da Dong is nearby the embassy district in Beijing and is loved by ambassadors. You would always find British and Japanese ambassador entertaining their guests here.

Da Dong’s owner has an MBA degree, the only person with such qualification in the catering industry of Beijing. They have a booklet on each of their dining table to tell their guests different ways to eat Beijing duck.

Conclusion

In Beijing, many duck houses are selling at ¥38 per duck. They might not be very well-known, but are doing well. It won’t be difficult to get a good deal.

Beijing ducks are roasted to order, so they are sold as a whole duck. If a restaurant refuses to sell you half or just a dish, they are not mean. If they pre-do a lot of ducks and wait for orders, the Beijing duck won’t be crispy any more.

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Beijing China: Discovery of Unparalleled Wealth

2008-06-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

A journey through Beijing China delights and provides intriguing insights into Beijing’s ancient past while allowing a traveler to enjoy the fruits of modern development as well. Autumn is considered to be the best season when to visit Beijing as there is bright sunshine and blue skies. The city boasts of many phenomenal places. The vitality of the modern day is visible in its modernity and fashion statement. However, if you are of the nostalgic type and would like to experience authentic Beijing life, a tour of the old Beijing is a must. An exploration of its teahouses, temple fairs and the Peking Opera will instill in you a sense of special appreciation for its matchless elegance, charisma and vigor.

Visitors to Beijing are amazed at its inimitable cultural relics such as the Forbidden City, the largest preserved imperial palace complex and the marvelously conserved section of the Great Wall. The Temple of Heaven, the largest sacrificial complex in the world, is another chief attraction. However, Beijing is not an ancient city but has the most modern of hotels offering the highest standards of service and convenience. The nightlife too holds a lot of surprises. You can watch the traditional Beijing Opera, acrobatics and martial arts as well as modern concerts, ballroom dancing, pubs and clubs. And the smiling faces that greet you warmly throughout ensure that you treasure a wealth of cultural experiences of a lifetime.

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Beijing

2008-06-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

Though Beijing is an ancient city, used as the capital by many warlords, yet its modern history as a capital begins in the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) under Kublai Khan, the great grandson of Chengis Khan. Beijing was built for inspiration- to awe the populace with the emperor's strength. Beijing meant for the occasions and ceremonies, which were performed to balance the Mandate of heaven as well as a safeguard of defense.

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, located in the Huabei
(North China) Plain. With a population of more than 13.8 million, Beijing covers an area of 16,800 square kilometers.

BEIJING RESOURCES

Beijing comprises of plains, mountains, as well as hills. Inadequate water supply, poor quality of the soil and huge areas of rocky mountains does not favor farming and agriculture at all. Minerals such as iron and limestone are mined. The forest areas of Beijing are also reducing day by day- but the Beijing tourism is very prosperous.

BEIJING ECONOMY

Beijing, being the main centre of the political and cultural activity, Beijing is economically quite well developed. The per capital G.D.P. sums up to around 22,000 Yuan.

BEIJING LIFESTYLE

According to statistics, there are 6.14 million employees compared to 4.54 million workers. The education level is also quite high with 95% of the students, graduating from junior high school, entering senior high school.

BEIJING POPULATION-

Beijing is one of the biggest cities in China, and has a total population of more than 13.83 million, most of who reside in the plain areas. The Beijing population in the hilly areas is quite less, compared to the plain area. Even the population density in Beijing is the highest.

To sum up, Beijing is a magnificent place. The local residents of Beijing are hard working and they drop their sweat to earn their livelihood.

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