Beijing

The city of Beijing is a site that has seen numerous changes in the last couple of decades. Beijing has become the perfect destination for conducting business ventures and the city has a number of welcoming and comforting resources for the business traveler. Not only is Beijing the city where the 2008 Summer Olympic Games were held, but the city also is filled with cultural and recreational opportunities.

Beijing is also referred to as Peking and it is actually the capital of China. Beijing is not the largest city in China; it actually comes second in terms of size to Shanghai that has a population of 14.5 million people. The capital city of Beijing is comprised of 16,800 square kilometers of land. An estimated 3 million inhabitants of Beijing are what are considered temporary residents, and the group is comprised of business travelers, educators and students that are studying abroad. The primary language of the city is Mandarin Chinese, and the dialect of Chinese spoken within the capital city is considered the standardized variant of the Chinese language.

There are seasonal changes present in the city of Beijing so the traveling businessperson would be wise to prepare accordingly. The winter and summer are long seasons; the spring and fall are quite brief. The most ideal time to visit the city of Beijing is the fall because the climate is moderate and accommodating. Although the climate is cool in the fall the temperature is within reason. Winters can be fierce in Beijing and temperatures can drop to temperatures lower than minus 15 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the summer season is both hot and rainy; the spring is quite arid in Beijing, and the season is quite windy. In the summer the city of Beijing can see temperatures that exceed 38 degrees Celsius.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Many business travelers will enter the city of Beijing via the Beijing International Airport. The airport code for the Beijing international Airport is PEK. The airport has a new terminal that was opened within the last decade, as recently as 1999, and it cost more than one billion dollars to build. The original terminal was established in the 1950s and grew far too small to accommodate all of the travelers that currently enter Beijing. The current terminal offers a number of different airline services including Air China, Air France, Alitalia, ANA, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, China Northern, China Southern, Dragon Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysian Air, Northwest, Pakistan Airlines, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Thai International, and United Airlines.

To enter Beijing if the businessperson is not a citizen of China, the traveler will require a visa; some visas last 30 to 60 days, depending on the visa. Other visas can last as long as six months. Most business travelers use F -Visa: the visa permits the business traveler to conduct business in Beijing for a period of six months; however, the traveler must exit Beijing once every month and return at a later date. If a business traveler wishes to enter Beijing they must have authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a special invitation from an approved government agency. When it comes to F Visas it is important to note that travelers can only serve as a representative of his or her own business or employer and that they cannot draw a salary from a business in China. Also after 182 days in Beijing a traveler will be required to pay taxes on foreign earned income.

If traveling from the airport into Beijing's center city, business travelers will find that they can reach their destination in a little under an hour's time. In addition to rental car options, travelers can rely on public transportation to get around the city of Beijing. Taxis and public buses are available from the airport.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

The primary modes of transport within the city of Beijing include car rentals, taxis and buses. The term car rental is used loosely because Beijing does not offer car rental agencies per se, but one can hire a driver for a specific period of time, either for several hours or by the month. The hired drivers are primarily taxicab drivers and the rates will vary depending upon the type of vehicle the driver has, how long the vehicle is being rented for and where the business traveler wants to go. As a secondary option, a business traveler can rely on a bicycle to get around the city and many hotels will provide bike rentals to travelers. The use of a bicycle is limited however and should be used to travel around in the city for leisure purposes only.

The taxi is by far the most popular mode of transportation in Beijing, falling second only to the personally owned car and the bicycle. Bicycles are not necessarily conducive to business because business travelers will want to ensure that the business associate can travel in maximum comfort. The standard rates for a taxi vary, depending upon the hour of the day and how far the destination is. Rates for taxis are typically offered to travelers on the rear window on the back of the cab. During the day, a cab can cost anywhere from 11 RMB to 14.00 RMB.

Within Beijing a traveler can also rely on what is known as the underground to travel. The underground can be reached by following the specified signs, however, travelers will find that the underground only covers a very small portion of the city. To get to destinations out of the underground's reach, a traveler can rely on the city buses.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

In Beijing the currency used to make purchases is called Renminbi. The Renminbi is abbreviated as RMB and is a unit of Yuan or kuai that is then divided into ten jiao and, once again, is broken down into ten fens. The Yuan notes used in Beijing have face values of one, two, five, ten, fifty and one hundred. On average, one United States dollar is equivalent to just over seven Yuan Renminbis.

Business travelers will have little difficulty using credit cards while in Beijing. Many of the locations and businesses in Beijing accept several or all of the major credit cards available. Restaurants and storeowners throughout Beijing, and many places offering accommodations also accept credit cards as acceptable forms of payment.

Beijing's industries include the production of steel, machine assembly and creation, clothing, shoes, toys, appliances, pharmaceutical products, and coal. Many businesses within the city of Beijing have a central business focus on one of the above-mentioned industries. Most establishments are open daily on Monday through Friday and the establishments may be closed for lunch breaks.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

If a business traveler desires to set up a convention in the city of Beijing there are a number of resources available for doing so. Many hotels have convention resources and therefore make the ideal location for a convention. Business associates can get accommodations in the hotel that is chosen and attend the convention at one convenient location. If seeking convention resources a business traveler merely needs to contact one of any of the major accommodation providers in the city of Beijing.

If a business traveler needs to utilize a courier service to complete business transaction or communication while in Beijing there are a number of services available. The first place to check for courier services is at the front desk of the selected hotel one is staying in. If the hotel does not offer courier services, some couriers will pick up packages from a traveler wherever he or she is located. The courier services in Beijing include DHL, Federal Express, and UPS. Travelers can also contact Nine Nine Star Express or Qilin Courier Company for the delivery of packages and communications in the local region of Beijing.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

While in Beijing it is completely possible that a businessperson or group of business people will require translation services. That being the case, quality translation services are available in the city of Beijing. First, some hotels offer translation services to the travelers that stay at the hotel. Secondly, a business can rely on a professional translation service to translate business documentation for them.

Business travelers may also require some technology to conduct business in Beijing. Photocopying services are offered, as well as computer rentals. Computer rentals can be accessed for a set fee per month, and delivered and set up wherever the traveler is staying. Meanwhile, travelers can get photocopies at stores like Kinkos or Alphagraphics.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

Before traveling to Beijing business travelers may want to spend some time familiarizing themselves with commonly used phrases in Beijing. Learning some of the language will show a respect for the culture and its people while in Beijing. What's important to remember however is that poorly pronounced common phrases can have the reverse effect - if a traveler is going to use commonly used phrases it's important that they get the pronunciation correct or they should avoid using the phrases entirely.

When conducting business with people that are native to Beijing certain customs are maintained. First, business people in Beijing often exchange business cards with one another and there is a specific method for doing so. When a business traveler offers a business card to a native businessperson in Beijing, both hands are to be used during the process and the business traveler must then bow his or her head to the person receiving the card. Further, most business cards offer bilingual information.

While in Beijing, many of the business customs accepted in America are also expected in Beijing. Formal language should be used when conducting business, slang should be avoided and proper titles should be used when speaking to the people in Beijing. By remaining courteous one can ensure that everyone remains comfortable at a business meeting and that everyone's traditions are respected in the proper manner.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

When in Beijing and conducting business the business traveler will want to conform to the traditions of the region. To do so is to indicate a respect for the culture and its people. With that said, it is perfectly fine to wear suits and ties to conduct business ventures in Beijing. If the business venture is less formal, casual attire is also appropriate. The key to choosing proper attire can be found in the idea that one will want to make business associates as comfortable as possible. If business associates prefer casual dress then casual dress should be selected. Semi-formal attire is appropriate for business associates that maintain an executive position or higher.

Businesswomen will want to carefully select attire as well. Conservative selections are best for women not only while in Beijing, but also while conducting business anywhere in the world. A woman wants the focus to remain on business and should therefore dress in a manner conducive to business. The latter argument does not mean that a woman must wear a dress or skirt as professional pants and blouses are equally acceptable. However, a woman will want to refrain from clothing that is too tight or revealing.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303

If the selected hotel of the business traveler does not have a restaurant there are numerous establishments where the traveler can enjoy a good meal. The majority of restaurants in Beijing require casual dress only, and when conducting business it's a good idea to follow the examples set forth by any business associates one may have in Beijing. A business traveler may also want to call establishments in advance if they plan to bring a large party of business associates to an establishment, a reservation may or may not be required.

Lebanese cuisine, German cuisine, Cajun cuisine, French dishes, Italian food, Indian dishes, Thai cuisine, Korean dishes, Chinese food, Sichuan cuisine and Cantonese food are all offered within the city limits of Beijing. A business traveler would serve him or herself well to contact business associates in advance to find out the preferences of the associates they desire to entertain. In fact, asking the business associate to choose his or her preference can ensure that the associate remains satisfied throughout the meal and/or business meeting.

The hours of operation for many of the restaurants in Beijing vary as much as the menu's offered. Some restaurants are open fairly early and maintain late hours while other restaurants close shortly after dinner hours are over. It's a good idea to call in advance to find out the hours of operation, what is served, and whether or not the establishment is conducive to business.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303