Beijing
Travellers can visit innumerable sights in Beijing and they definitely need many
days in China’s capital to discover what the city has to offer. Beijing is considered
to be one of the most ancient cities with a history of centuries and countless remnants
from the past to testify this history. However, today it is a modern city, with modern
architecture and developed technology. Beyond the famous Prohibited City and Tiananmen
Square that are the city’s landmarks points along with the Great Wall (of China),
there are also other sights in the city such as the temple of Paradise, the Summer
Palace, the Ming graves, the Beijing Planetarium, the Wangfujing church, innumerable
museums and parks which really deserve a visit. If again you are interested in shopping
you must visit Qianmen Street which is full shops. The night life in the city is
intense and has a great variety. The city has many restaurants, theaters and of course
the Beijing opera house for more relaxed nights whereas if you prefer something more
extreme you will find many bars and discos in the city. Beijing is a city that never
sleeps, so do not hesitate, book now a cheap flight to Beijing and travel to the
city that hosted the 2008 Olympic Games.
How to get there
From Greece and Cyprus there are not direct flights to Beijing, the best choice is a connecting flight through a European or Asian capital. The airlines that carry out connecting flights from Greece and Cyprus to Beijing are: China Airlines, China Southern, Etihad, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS and Emirates more specifically:
Athens – Beijing:
Etihad (via Abu Dhabi)
China Airlines (via Istanbul)
China Southern (via Rome)
Malev (via Budapest)
Lufthansa (via Munich)
Θεσσαλονίκη – Beijing:
Malev (via Budapest)
Lufthansa (via Munich)
Κυπρος (Λάρνακα) – Beijing:
Etihad ( via Abu Dhabi)
Emirates (via Dubai)
Malev (via Budapest)
Lufthansa (via Munich)
All the above airlines are landed at the International Airport of Beijing (more information below). When making plans for a holiday trip to Beijing it is better to make a reservation as soon as possible in order to find cheaper air tickets. Many airlines promote cheap flights and announce special air ticket offers for reservations made 1 or 2 months prior the departure.
Search for cheap flights and special offers to Beijing through Aeroporika.gr
Beijing International Airport
The international airport of Beijing is located 32 kilometres outside central Beijing and it has 3 terminals which are connected via airport buses. It is of course the largest airport in China and serves thousands of visitors on a daily basis. The airport has been operating since 1958 but nowadays it has contemporary architecture and modern equipment. In the airport’s premises visitors can find innumerable shops, duty free items, cafeterias, restaurants, a bank, ATM machines, exchange offices, information desks, an entertainment centre for massage, travel agencies and of course ticket desks for flight reservations. The transfer from the airport to central Beijing is easy and comfortable via the various means of transport but also by taxi.
Trains
The Airport Express metro line has a stop in terminal 2 and terminal 3. It has a service towards the center of the city from 06:35 until 23:10 every 15 minutes. The ticket costs 25 RMB (Chinese currency). The stops in the center of city are in Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen stations. The journey by train from the airport to Beijing lasts 20 minutes.
Buses
The buses that connect the airport’s terminals are free of charge and have a service every 10 minutes from 06:00 until 23:00 and every 30 minutes from 23:00 until 06:00.
The Airport – City buses have services for the center of Beijing (Xidan), as well as other regions in the city, (the Beijing Railway station, Gongzhufen, Fangzhuang, Zhongguancun, Wangjing Western Railway station of Beijing and Shangdi). They start operating early in the morning and stop late in the evening. The bus stops are outside the airport’s terminals. The journey lasts 45 minutes but the buses usually depart when they are full. The ticket costs 16 RMB and it can be purchased from the ticket kiosks in the terminals, where there are also signs for the bus stops.
Taxi
Outside the airport’s terminals there are always available taxis in order to transport travellers to their destination. The journey from the airport to central Beijing can last 1 hour, especially if there is traffic. Make sure that the driver understands your destination before you board the vehicle because they do not usually speak good English. The taxis have taximetres and on their windows you can see the prices. However keep in mind that a taxi can cost enough.
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