PORTS OF CALL - Asia
Beijing, China
The capital as well as the second largest city in China is home to more than 14 million people and a whole lot of traffic - but many more reasons make this the one city not to be missed in China. The energy is palpable. Gone are the days of buttoned tunic uniforms and conformity – they've been replaced by a vivacious sense of individuality accentuated with pulsing colours and buzzing electronics. Sprinkled through it all are the notable treasures that hark back from as early as the 7th century.
Don't Miss
Between the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City), Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall of China, it's hard to choose just one thing not to be missed. The good news is, you can see two of these together. The northern side of Tiananmen Square is adjacent to the Forbidden City. Take in the world's largest public square, sprawling the size of 90 football fields, then enter the Forbidden City, so named because the home of the Chinese Emperor was closed to visitors until the 1920s. The palace's construction began in 1406 and holds many national treasures created over the centuries.
While on Your Cruisetour
You can experience both the ancient and the modern in Beijing. The newly colourful streets are full of vivacious individuality, and you won't want to miss the imposing Imperial City (Forbidden City), where the Emperor resided without visitors until the 1920s. Next to the Forbidden City, is world-famous Tiananmen Square; the world's largest public square, it could hold 90 football fields. Another record breaker to visit here is the Great Wall, the only man made object visible from the moon. On a more private scale, a bike tour can take you through the hutongs, or small alleyways, lined with residences built as early as the 13th century.
Sporting Adventures
Beijing is host to the 2008 Olympics and a great place to break a sweat and burn some calories. Tour the city on bike and experience the threatened hutongs, or small alleyways lined with residences built as early as the 13th century. While many have been torn down, many historic hutongs are now preserved, giving a glimpse at what China's capital was once like.
Shopping for Bargains
Shopping is an art in Beijing, as is plucking the real thing among the knockoff designer labels, pearls and jade. You can find anything your heart desires, including paper lanterns, calligraphy, teapots, Cultural Revolution and Mao memorabilia, silk, antiques - you name it, you have it. But be prepared to bargain. Some vendors quote prices ten times what they should cost.
Local Flavours
When in Beijing, eat the Beijing Duck. Also called Beijing Roast Duck, Peking Duck and Peking Roast Duck, the dish is somewhat of a labour of love. The process includes inflating the fowl's unbroken skin for perfect roasting. The result is poultry so soft and crisp, it melts in your mouth. So pick up a pancake, brush on savoury bean sauce with a scallion, add a few pieces of duck, roll and enjoy.
Currency
China's legal tender is the renminbi (RMB). The basic unit of RMB is the yuan. One yuan (or kuai) = 10 jiao (or mao). RMB are available in both paper notes and coins. The denominations of paper notes are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao. The denominations of coins are 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao.