Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
but the rest of the year generally feels very dry—unlike Shanghai, and completely incom-
parable to Hong Kong. A testament to this is the almost total absence of clothes dryers in
homes. Hang your clothes up at night and they're dry in the morning.
In winter, temperatures plunge to an average of -4°C (25°F) in January. It's not unusual
to have a week or two straight where days top out at -5°C (23°F) or less and get down to
-15°C (5°F) at night. Add a nice Siberian wind to that and things get really chilly.
Despite these unpleasant temperatures, however, homes in Beijing are typically ex-
tremely well insulated against the outside elements. In winter, most homes around the city
are centrally heated by the government. Around November 15, the city's thermal managers
turn on the coal, radiator, and other heating systems. This date can be moved forward if
temperatures fall below 5°C (41°F) for five consecutive days. On March 15, give or take
a few days, they turn them off—an exercise that not only has environmental consequences
but which is estimated to cost around RMB1.913 billion (US$300 million) every year. For-
tunately the government is taking serious steps to improve this situation, and is initiating
more environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods for heating the city.
Spring temperatures are perfect, and the city bursts to life with an explosion of blossoms.
The downside of this season is the wind. This is definitely the windy season. A lot is made
of the sand or dust storms that come in from the encroaching Gobi desert in the northwest.
Prior to the year 2000, they were a serious problem, frequently coating the city in thick yel-
low dust and exacerbating health problems. After a particularly serious sandstorm on April
1, 2000, the government rallied to launch a massive reforestation project, referred to as the
Beijing Tianjin Anti Dust Storm Project. The storms do still happen—perhaps two to four
times in a given spring—but they're far less severe than they once were. Far from being like
a scene from
The Mummy,
they're more like a yellowish version of a highly polluted day.
A more intrusive problem you'll face on a more frequent basis is the general dust and dirt
that gets swept up on any windy day. Extensive construction work, littering, and dryness
give gusts plenty to throw at you. Don't be afraid to don a face mask, which can be readily
found at any convenience store. Another downside to spring is that some years it can seem
to come and go in the blink of an eye. You'll feel like you're just starting to savor the out-
doors again when you need to retreat back in to escape the heat.
