Travel tips related to Beijing climate and weather

• Beijing has a continental climate with four distinctive seasons, long, hot summers and long dry, cold winters. Spring and autumn which are extremely short have beautiful weather, warm and dry, except that there is the possibility of sandstorm in March and April. The summer rain falls during July and August making everything fresh, and July is usually the hottest month with temperatures in the low 30's. Autumn is definitely the golden season, cool and comfortable. Winter is cold and very dry with little snow (remember your moisturizer). Winter is usually from November through to February, with January being the coldest month.
• Generally speaking, the best time to visit Beijing is May, September and October as the temperatures are mild with light breezes and the sky is blue. But, at the same time, winter puts a special charm on this city.

Travel tips related to Beijing shopping

• Beijing is en ideal place to by quality handicrafts. As the capital city of the Five Dynasties of China, there are many skillful craftsmen settled the area long ago, and passed down their skills generation by generation. The most well-know traditional handcrafts in Beijing - Cloisonné, Ivory Carving, Jade, and Lacquer - have long-standing reputation of their excellent quality and aesthetic value. In addition, Curios, Silk, Pearls, Snuff Bottles with Pictures Inside, and Artificial Flowers are also worth buying and well liked by tourists.
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• Beijing Curio City is the largest curio distribution center in Asia. Its address is No.21, South 3rd East Ring Road, Chaoyang Distric (Bus Route: 300, 28, 368, 607, 907, get off at Panjiayuan Stop or Shilihe Stop). The curio city covers an area about 23,400 square meters (5.8 acres). There are about 500 stores dealing with ancient porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, jade, carving, bronze ware, antique furniture, carpet, clocks and jewelry. The curio city is like a big museum, and you can just wander around to get more knowledge about Chinese culture. Your eyes will be dazzled by these ancient art treasures.
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• Liulichang Street of Chinese Culture is located south of the Peace Gate of Xuanwu District in Beijing. During the time of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a colored glaze factory (Liuli Chang in Chinese) was in production there, where made glazed tiles for the palaces, temples and residences of the officials, hence the name. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), many businessmen and venders began to sell curios and old books there. Over years the factory was gradually replaced by the bazaar of calligraphy, painting, copybook, artifacts and the four treasures of the study. i.e. writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper. Later the street fell into absence of lively atmosphere for a time until the rebuild in the year 1982 that revived it. Now shops and houses of gray tiles and bricks together with sculptures and colored image are lined orderly by the street, making it taste more classical.
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• Wangfujing Street, Qianmen Street, Xidan Commercial Street and Dongsi Street are four busiest commercial streets, where visitors will find many shopping complexes and boutique stores.