Beijing Shi Hotels China

Beijing is located in the North of China; it is the country's capital and its most modern and developed city. Its population is over ten million people and is China's cultural and political centre and houses a wealth of historical sights and attractions as well as government and religious institutions. Beijing is made up of 16 districts and 2 counties – there are four central districts which make up the old walled city and where most of the sightseeing, hotels and entertainments are located. There are another four districts constituting the “inner suburbs” which include universities, business parks and arts and entertainment districts. The remaining districts and suburbs make up “Rural Beijing” and are some miles from the main city.

In recent years, Beijing's international profile raised further following its hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics and numerous tourist facilities such as hotels are a legacy of the Games. One of the first ports of call for visitors to Beijing is Tiananmen Square which is the largest public square in the world and is also surrounded by landmark sights such as the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Museum of Chinese History and the Forbidden City. The new National Stadium (or Birds Nest Stadium) was constructed for the Olympic Games and is one of the cities newer landmarks.

The Medieval City is another must-visit area which includes amazing remains such as the Ming Dynasty Wall Site Park, Qianmen and the Towers in Dongcheng. Beijing is also home to many palaces, temples and parks which attract locals as well as tourists, with the most important site being that of the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven and the Lama Temple are must-visits too whilst some of the most beautiful parks include Beihai, Chaoyang, Ritan and Zhongshan as well as the park at Beijing Zoo.

There are also numerous galleries and museums, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palace Museum, the National Museum and the Capital Museum are all worth a visit and for art, head to Dashanzi Art District and Caochangdi in Chaoyang District. There are a number of parts of the Great Wall of China accessible from Beijing including Badaling – which is the most crowded, Jiankou and Mutianyu. There are numerous hiking tours which may be worth considering too.

Eating out is relatively inexpensive in Beijing and there are many cheap, local restaurants to choose from as well as excellent street food. There are also some very high-end restaurants (many located within Western hotels) such as Vasco's, Senses, Maison Boulud and Hatsune with prices from £20 - £50 per person. Tea Houses are dotted throughout the city and there are a number of bar hubs throughout the city, particularly in various parts os Chaoyang District whilst the student bars are in Haidian District.

Accommodation is available for all budgets in Beijing with 2 star hotels cost from as little as £20 per night through to a choice of around 40 5-star hotels with prices averaging £100-£250 per night.