Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHINESE SCRIPT
Chinese characters
are simplified images of what they represent, and their origins as pic-
tograms can often still be seen, even though they have become highly abstract today. The
earliest known examples of Chinese writing are predictions, which were cut into “oracle
bones”; these were used for divination during the Shang dynasty, more than three thousand
years ago, though the characters must have been in use long before, for these inscriptions
already amount to a highly complex writing system. As the characters represent concepts,
not sounds, written Chinese cuts through the problem of communication in a country with
many different dialects. However, learning the writing system is ponderous, taking children
an estimated two years longer than with an alphabet. Foreigners learning Mandarin use the
modern
pinyin
transliteration system of accented Roman letters - used in this guide - to
help memorize the sounds.
DONG'ANMEN NIGHT MARKET
When to go
Beijing's year starts off mean. The long
winter
(November to March) sees temperatures
plummet below freezing - sometimes as low as -20°C (-4°F) - and the mean winds that whip
off the Mongolian plains feel like they're freezing your ears off. However, pack the right
clothing and this can actually be an enjoyable time to visit, not least since crowds are thin
even at the most popular sights. The run-up to
Chinese New Year
(falling in late January or
early to mid-February) is a great time to be in the country: everyone is in festive mood and the
city is bedecked with decorations. This isn't a good time to travel around, however, as much
