Beijing Car Hire isn't the most popular search, so theres not many links to direct Beijing Car Hire websites. Information about Beijing for people new to Beijing, Climate information & Beijing Transport, Beijing Car Hire.

Beijing Introduction - Beijing Car Hire

The famous portrait of Mao Zedong still looks over this city's shoulder, as though he's guarding communist austerity and discipline. But the Beijing he stares out upon is hardly the city he left behind.

Change is everywhere: in clothes (you could wear them to the office in London or Los Angeles); traffic (more and more European-brand automobiles jam the streets); electronics (cell phones, cell phones, cell phones) and construction (high-rises, high-rises, high-rises).

If you scrub off the Gobi Desert dust, which is glued to everything with diesel exhaust, you'll find the city's true patina.

You can still catch the glimmer of an ancient, lacquered temple or a traditional jadeite bracelet, but it's the machine-made gleam of chrome and glass that may surprise you.

No doubt it's a calculated gleam. The Chinese government wants Beijing to be recognized as a modern world capital -- modern enough for foreign investment, modern enough to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

It's a huge, burgeoning metropolis, with bulldozers carving the way to its future.

Beijing Climate - Beijing Car Hire

Beijing is renowned for its pleasant springs (65-75 F/18-24 C) and brisk falls (50s F/10-15 C). Summers are hot, with temperatures ranging 85-95 F/30-35 C.

Winters can be extremely cold, especially when Siberian winds blow in from the north. Expect frequent snows and temperatures below freezing.

Beijing's rainy season is in April, with additional heavy rains in July and August. Be prepared for dust -- and dust storms -- at almost any time, but especially in spring.

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Beijing Transport - Beijing Car Hire

Although taxis are the simplest way to get around the city, getting into a taxi in Beijing requires preparation. Because drivers don't speak English, be sure you get the address or exact location of your destination written in Chinese and carry a map in English and Chinese that you can point to for your driver's reference.

Simply show the directions to your driver, and there shouldn't be a problem. (Be aware that some drivers act as if they aren't familiar with an area so that they can run up the meter or avoid taking you to a nearby location.)

If you must be on the road during rush hours (7-9 am and 4-7 pm), allow plenty of time to get through traffic. Gridlock is increasingly common, and traveling across town can take as long as an hour.

Getting around by bicycle is an option. While the traffic in Beijing is chaotic, many streets have bicycle lanes, and many of the major sights are within bicycling distance of each other.

The city is incredibly flat, so a cheap, single-speed bicycle is all you need. (Mountain bikes are a favorite of thieves.) Most hotels rent bicycles for about 30 yuan a day.

If yours does not, ask the concierge or front-desk staff to direct you to a company that does -- there are many in the city.

You may be asked to leave a deposit (about 300 yuan) or your passport. Be aware that because bike paths border roads, it's impossible to avoid exhaust fumes.

If you're prone to asthma or upper-respiratory infections, bicycling is probably a bad idea.

Because the city is so large and spread out, walking around Beijing requires time and stamina. Within some areas, walking is a viable option, but be aware that city blocks are quite long.

The bus system is extensive but extremely crowded, and the maps are available only in Chinese. The subway is speedy, but the range of the system is limited.