If you have time before leaving for Beijing, you can check out the online edition Beijing Scene for the week's listing of events in movies, theatre, music, new bars, and restaurants. If not, you can still find print copies of these expatriate publications in major hotels, restaurants, and businesses establishments frequented by foreigners. The publications can also be found in most Starbucks branches. You can also access xianzai.com before coming to Beijing.
Museums
NationalMuseum of Chinese History
East of Tiananmen Square
(opposite the Great Hall of The People)
Tel: +86-10 6512-8901
Ticketing hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (daily; closed on Mondays)
Admission: RMB5 for regular exhibits; RMB20 for special exhibits
Chairman Mao Mausoleum
11 East Qianmen
(south end of Tiananmen Square)
Tel: +86-10 6513-2277
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; closed on Thursdays
Free admission
Former Residence of Song Qing Ling
46 Houhaibeiyan
Deshengmen, Xicheng District
Tel: +86-10 6404-4205
Ticketing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed on Mondays
Admission: RMB8 for adults
Chinese Revolutionary Museum
East side of Tiananmen Square
Tel: +86-10 6526-3355
Ticketing hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; closed on Mondays
Admission: RMB10
China National Art Museum
1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng
Tel: +86-10 6401-2252; 6401-7076
Ticketing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed on Mondays
Admission: RMB4
China Aviation Museum
Xiaotangshan, ChangpingCounty
Tel: +86-10 6178-1054
Ticketing hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (daily)
Admission: RMB35
Opened by the Chinese Air Force in 1989, the AviationMuseum has over 140 planes on display, some dating back to the early years of Chinese aviation history. A huge bunker beneath a mountain houses 50 of the more valuable planes.
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Theatres
Liyuan Theater (Beijing Opera)
Qianmen Hotel
175, Yong'an Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: +86-10 6301-6688; 6301-8860
Showtime: Beijing opera performed by the Beijing Opera Troupe from 7:30 to 8:40 p.m. (daily)
Admission: RMB30 to RMB150; includes snacks
Chang'an Grand Theater (Beijing Opera)
Dongchanganjie, Dongcheng
Tel: +86-10 6510-1309; 6510-1310
Showtime: starts 7:30 p.m. (daily)
Admission: RMB60, 80, 100, 180
Chaoyang Theater (Acrobatics)
36 Dongsanhuan Beilu
Chaoyang District
Tel: +86-10 6507-2421
Showtime: 7:15 to 8:40 p.m. Daily performances by the Beijing Acrobatic Troupe or Sichuan Acrobatic Troupe
Admission: RMB80, 100, 110, 120
Poly Plaza (Acrobatics)
14 Dongzhimen Nandajie
Chaoyang District
Tel: +86-10 6500-1188 ext. 5127
Showtime: starts 7:15 p.m. (daily)
Admission: RMB100, 150, 200, 300, 500
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Bookstores
Xinhua Bookstore
235 Wangfujing Dajie
Dongcheng District
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This primarily Chinese-language bookshop has a small selection of English books on Chinese culture, history, economics, and politics. Also a good place to buy Chinese-language learning materials and tapes
Bookshop, Friendship Store
Jianguomenwai Dajie
Tel: +86-10 6500-3311
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; closes at 9:00 p.m. in the summer
The Friendship Bookshop has a large collection of books on Chinese culture, language, history, and politics as well as guidebooks, maps, and phrasebooks. A small selection of popular novels and leading international newspapers and magazines are also available here. Just beside the book section is a large selection of cassette tapes, CDs, and VCDs.
