Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Dongzhimen subway station (Lines 2 and 13), exit A
While you can use the bikes at any time, registration times are somewhat limited.
You can register 9am-1pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm Monday-Friday, or 10am-11:30am
and 1:30pm-4pm on weekends. Call 400/1577-157 for more information (Chinese
only).
Alternatively, if you'd like more options for time and bicycle style, including
bikes for kids, there are private companies, such as
www.bikebeijing.com
(English
available). You can also pick up cheap secondhand bikes from around the city for
about RMB100-300.
If you are going to be staying with friends or relatives while in Beijing, you will need to go
to the police station to register for a temporary residence permit within 24 hours of setting
foot in the city. You won't need to do this if you'll be staying in a hotel or other similar
legal accommodation as they'll do it on your behalf. You should go to the designated police
station (
pàich
ū
su
ǒ
) for the complex in which you are staying, taking your passport and a
photocopy of its ID page and visa page (the police will not do the photocopying for you
and will be much cheerier if you come with copies already prepared); a copy of the lease;
a photocopy of the landlord's ID card; and a copy of the deed to the property. It's possible
that they won't ask for the latter two, but they may, so it will save time to have them handy.
While this registering process seems extreme and possibly even pointless, police do oc-
casionally come knocking on doors to check registrations, particularly in some areas of the
city, and especially at times of political tension. If you do not have your temporary resid-
ence permit, you can be fined anything between RMB50 and RMB500 per day. Registering
is nothing to feel stressed about, however. It's a quick, simple, and fee-free exercise, and
will introduce you to a standard process that you'll need to be very familiar with when you
become a Beijing resident.
