Best season for foreign travelers in Beijing: Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, since there are many student groups and kids traveling with parents. The Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. The autumn months between September and October have the best weather and fewer tourists, and it's the best season for foreign travelers in Beijing. Spring is less pleasant - not many tourists but lots of wind and dust, even sand storm sometimes. In winter, you'll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts - just remember it's an ice box outside. Everything is chock-a-block during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February).

Clothes for travelers: In autumn, jeans and a sweater are usually enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants or shorts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. If you want to go local, you can buy a thick cotton army coat (jun da yi) for less than 100 yuan (12 bucks). Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.

Avoid Peak Holidays: It is not a good idea to travel in China during Chinese holidays when it is the time Chinese people are traveling around the country. The three most-popular national holidays in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usu. in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labor Day or May Day Holiday (May 1 to 7) and National Day's Holiday (Oct 1 - 7). Spring Festival is an especially crowded time to travel, while it's the best time to experience the authentic Chinese festival and culture.

Other Odds and Ends
Phone Dialing Code: 010
Postcode: 100000
Emergency Call
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Weather Forecast: 121
Consumers' Complaint: 12315
Post Office: According to the different region and weight every international airmail letter costs more than 5.4 Yuan. Letters posted to Hong Kong or Taiwan needs about 2.5 Yuan. The International Post Office located on the east side of Bei Da Jie, Jianguomen, operates a receiving and posting international and domestic letters, parcels and express mails, making out invoice, cash draft and telegram drafts, domestic and international telegram etc.

CAAC Ticket Center: Xidan CAAC Building, No.15, Chang'an West Street

Money Exchange:
Great Britain Pound, Euro, U.S. Dollar, Swiss Franc, Singapore Dollar, Swedish Crown, Danish Crown, Norwegian Crown, Japanese Yen, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Philippine Peso, Thai Baht are all exchangeable. Foreign currency and checks with the face value of Eurodollar and Spanish Peseta are also exchangeable at the Bank of China, other authorized banks offer foreign exchange service, some hotels, restaurants and shops will also accept foreign exchange business in order to provide convenience for foreign tourists.

Bank:
Bank of China, Beijing Branch
Add: 8 Yabao Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 86-10-6519 9114, 6519 9432
Open: 9am-noon, 1-5pm

The Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC)
Add: Ground Floor, block A COFCO Plaza, 8 Jianguomennei Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6526 0668
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Master Card
Add: 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Bright China Chang An Building
Tel: 86-10-6510 1090
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Citibank
Add: China Bright Changan Building Jianguomennei Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6510 2458

Swiss Bank Corp.
Add: Room 3623-3624, China World Tower , CWTC 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6505 2213 ext 5
Bank of East Asia Ltd (BEA)
Add: Fuhua Plaza Jianguomen wai Dajie
Tel: 86-10-6554 3110

Credit card: It is very convenient for tourists to use credit cards in star-rate hotels and the large emporiums of Beijing. At present main international credit cards accepted in China are Master card, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diners.

Internet: surfing the internet is not an adventure any more, for internet cafes' can be easily found on the streets of Beijing. If you come to Beijing by yourself and want to do business via the internet, chat with family or friends, there are plenty of venues to choose from.
Toilet facilities: it is easy for tourists to find public toilets in subway station, railway station, airport, bus stations or sightseeing spots and most toilets in Beijing downtown area are free except for some mobile ones.

Hospital:
International SOS
Tel: 86-10-64629112
Address: Bloc. C, Beixin Jingyi Dasha, 5, Xi Wu Jie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District

International Medical Center
Tel: 86-10-64651561
Address: S106-S111, Ground Level, Lufthansa Center Office Building, No. 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

Beijing United Family Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64332345
Address: 2, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District

Hong Kong International Medical Clinic
Tel: 86-10-65012288
Address: 3/F, Hong Kong Macau Center, Swissotel, 2, Chaoyangmen Bei Jie

Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Tel: 86-10-65296114
Address: 1, ShuaifuYuan, Wangfujing

China-Japanese Friendship Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64221122
Address: Huixindongjie, YinghuaYuan, Chaoyang District

General Hospital of Navy
Tel: 86-10-66958024
Address: 6, Fucheng Lu, Haidian District

Beijing Ditan Hospital
Tel: 86-10-64211031
Address: 13, Ditan Park, Andingmenwai

Universities
Peking University
Address: Haidian District, Beijing

Tsinghua University
Address: Haidian District, Beijing

Beijing Foreign Studies University
Address: 2, Xi Sanhua Bei Lu, Beijing