Answer to One China Travel Question
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Q: Where is the best shopping area in Beijing (not fake goods)? Is it Wang Fu Jing? Is it far way from the Radisson SAS hotel? I was thinking about taking a taxi. Is it dangerous for the tourist to take a taxi to get there? Would a taxi driver understand English? How is the weather going to be in November?
| | A: There are numerous places where a traveler can shop in Beijing. Wangfujing is one of the leading shopping areas. Wangfujing is located in central Beijing, just east of the Forbidden City. Radisson SAS Hotel is located in the northwestern part of the city. It's quite safe to take a taxi. It does not hurt take pay attention to the license number of the taxi while in the car just in case for some reasons you need it later (scenario: you've left your purse in the taxi). Some taxi drivers speak some English (they've been pushed to learn as the Olympics are coming soon). Some hotels have "hotel cards" for their guests, cards with the name and address of the hotel on it; so if you're lost somewhere, just show the card to a taxi driver and he can take you there.
Wangfujing is a pedestrian shopping street, so there are tons of people and the place is quite safe. Just take good care of your purse, etc.
Xidan is another concentrated shopping area. It is located equal distance from the Forbidden City as Wangjing St., but is on the WEST side of the Forbidden City. A third noted shopping area is Jianguomen Wai Dajie, which is a couple of subway stops east of Wangfujing. Yes, all of these three shopping areas - Xidan, Wangfujing and Jianguomen Wai - are on a subway line, just a couple of stops from one another. The avenue under which the subway runs is Chang'an Ave. It is the main east-west avenue in Beijing and goes in front of the Forbidden City. The Friendship Store is one of the oldest stores that used to serve foreign visitors exclusively and there tradition can still be seen. Because of this, goods tend to be more expensive. The infamous Xiushui Street (fake goods) has been now consolidated into a sheltered market, but aggressive sales technique is still part of the scene there. This is close to Friendship store, a little farther east of it.
Average high temperature in November in Beijing is 50 F and average low is 30 F.
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