- Beijingers aren't as friendly as Shanghai-ers, nor do they speak English as well. Let that be a warning to you.
- There's an extra RMB10 added to your cab fare when traveling to and from the airport -- just in case you ask the driver about it and he yells at you when you don't understand his response (as if yelling in Chinese will magically make you understand the words that are coming out of his mouth).
- The Forbidden City is boring. There, I said it. Instead, climb to the top of Jingshan Park (located directly behind it) where you can get a cool view of the whole thing.
- And when you're at the top, drink a beer or two. In public. Because you can. (But buy them at the bottom where they're RMB2 cheaper.)
- You know what's not boring? Walking through the hutongs (old houses) and coming across the Drum and Bell Towers. Be sure to reach the top of the Drum Tower before 4:45 p.m. when they perform the last drum ceremony of the day.
- Those Beijingers know how to roast a duck. Any of these are great: Dadong (perhaps the most famous, with the most number of locations), Made in China (great name, right?) and Duck de Chine.
- Go to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall where it's less crowded and les smelly, and (perhaps most importantly) where you can ride a chairlift up to the Wall and take a toboggan down (really!).
- Wear comfy shoes, bring snacks and let the Wall take your breath away.
- Yes, Beijing is dirty and heavily polluted, but you gotta see the sites so mask and bear it.
NG HAN GUAN / AP - And if you absolutely don't want to step outside, there's a way to travel from the airport to the center of the city, eat at Fat Burger (yes!) and get right back on a plane outta there.
(You might also like: Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Shanghai,
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