In Beijing

While Forum participants will have a very full schedule of events, we expect many participants will take advantage of the Forum to see sites in the evening or extend their trip by a few days to be able to visit some of the cities many cultural centers. The information below is intended as a basic introduction to getting around Beijing, and your hotel concierge can provide additional tourism information.

Getting Around

Getting around in Beijing can be a little daunting. However, with a good map and a little patience, Beijing's extensive public transportation system and plentiful inexpensive taxis make getting anywhere in the city relatively easy.

Subway

The Beijing subway system, with 10 lines at last count and more planned for 2009, is by far the easiest, fastest, and most economical way to navigate the city. The Beijing Continental Grand Hotel is located within a 10-15 minute walk of the Olympic Green metro station on the city's new green line. From there, it's a simple matter to transfer to any of the city's additional metro lines throughout the city. Download a subway may and a map of the Olympic Games Village to help you navigate the area.

On entering any subway station in the city, you'll first encounter an airport-style baggage x-ray machine, on which you should place any handbags and shopping bags. You may be required to undergo a hand-held metal detector as well, although this seems to be rare. After the security check, proceed to the bank of automatic kiosks that line the walls of the station. The kiosks, which have an English-language option, work by selecting your end destination on the touch screen and then selecting the number of tickets you would like to purchase. You will then be asked in insert your fare (2 RMB as of this writing), after which your ticket will be dispensed. To enter the station itself, swipe your ticket on the sensing portion of the turnstile, and you should be all set. All stations are clearly marked in English as well as Mandarin, and subway system maps are located on the platforms and on the trains themselves. Be prepared when boarding a train-you may need to be a bit pushier than you are accustomed to, particularly at busier stations.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available throughout the city and are easily identifiable by their rooftop lights. As in other major cities, if the roof light is lit, the vehicle is available for hire. Most taxi drivers will speak little, if any English, so we recommend having your hotel card (which will list your hotel's name and address in both English and Chinese) on hand to assist with communicating with the driver. For travel from your hotel, the doorman will assist in explaining your destination to the driver. All taxis are required to use their meters, so you should not need to negotiate fares with the driver. Some taxi drivers, particularly at the airport, will try to offer you a flat rate for your trip-usually at four to five times the metered rate. Do not fall for this scam and insist on using the meter-most drivers will quickly give in if you insist.

Dining Out

Modern Beijing culture centers on eating, so it is no surprise that all forms of dining options abound in every quarter of the city-from upscale restaurants with Chinese delicacies starting at 300 RMB for an entree to inexpensive fast noodle places, where a plate of tasty noodles with beef and a side order of dumplings might run 20 RMB. Western fare has made its inroads into the city as well, including Italian, Continental European, and American-style eateries found throughout the city.

During a planning trip, the Micronutrient Forum Secretariat team found over 35 restaurants, coffee shops and teahouses, and three shopping centers with teaming food courts within a 5-15 minute walk of the Beijing Continental Grand Hotel. While it is impossible to summarize all of the various restaurants available, a downloadable restaurant map will be added to this website in the near future and will also be included on-site in each participant's meeting bag.

A few restaurant tips: many venues will have menus in Chinese and English. In some restaurants where you do not see an English menu, please ask-particularly in the Olympic Games area of the city, many fast food-style places have picture boards with English tucked behind the counter. A service charge may be added to the bill-15% is the norm for those venues that charge a fee. For those that do not, tipping is not the norm.

Be prepared that most restaurants will not offer you a fork and knife (if you are not comfortable with chopsticks) unless requested.

Shopping & Sightseeing

Shopping and sightseeing destinations throughout Beijing are well marked in English and Chinese. For a simple pictorial depiction of the city's highlights for international travelers, pick up a copy of the "Beijing Tourist Map," which has an excellent list of the city's top attractions. Highlights we suggest for Forum participants include:

Sites

1. The Forbidden City
2. Tiananmen Square
3. Chairman Mao's Mausoleum
4. Temple of Heaven Park
5. Summer Palace

Shopping

1. Wangujing Daje: An upscale pedestrian shopping street, Beijing's Times Square
2. Liulichang: An antiques (and faux antiques) shopping area
3. Silk Street Market: Located in the Central Business District, this market offers everything under the sun
4. Pearl Market: An all-purpose market with an extensive pearl section as well, located adjacent to the Temple of Heaven Park.

Tour Packages

The Micronutrient Forum's local logistics partner, the China Comfort Travel Agency, has arranged for a number of cultural tours, which Forum participants may opt to sign up for by downloading and returning the Optional Activities/Tour Request Form. Details on these tours may be found on our Optional Tours webpage. Please note that tours are at the participant's own expense.