The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2004-05

by Adam Pillsbury

Penned by the writers and editors of Beijing's top English magazine "that's Beijing," this 640-page tome covers everything from sightseeing and weekend escapes to finding a job, a home and Beijing's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 7810368788
• ISBN13: 9787810368780
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Shantou University Press
• Length: 640 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Must Buy!!

Wonderful guide book especially made for the expatriate in mind. I lived in Beijing and found this guide book very helpful. Actually calling it a 'guide book' kind of cheapens it -- this is the type of book needed in more cities around the world for those that live in a particular place and for those that wish to experience life 'like a local' I would have liked more maps, yet thinking about the quick growth and change of the city, maps change just as much as the city does, so it is better to pick one up elsewhere. This is a good book at a "no joke" price, although (of course) it is cheaper in Beijing. Yet don't take a chance and wait for Beijing - this is a must buy and a big regret if you don't get it.

best Beijing guide!

I have lived in Beijing on and off for four years now, and this is by far the best, most updated, most useful guide for people who want to get beyond the big tourist attractions. These people KNOW Beijing -- from art/music/dance/theater, to what(and who)'s hot what's not, to family life and stuff for the kiddies.... This is the most up to date guide you can find on the shelves, and in a city that changes by the minute, you can't depend on Lonely Planet or other guides that come out once every couple of years! Whether you are a hipster or a stay-at-home mom, THIS guide has soemthing for you!

Must read for anyone living in Beijing

My wife grew up in Beijing, but even she did not know many of the places and services listed in this guide. It is surprising how much of Beijing life this book covers and the reviews are truly from insiders. The book is really accessible because of it's excellent indexing and layout. It is the best Beijing book or city guide that I have seen, bar none.

An Insider's Guide written by REAL insiders

If you're just hitting Beijing for three-four days, stick with Frommer's, Lonely Planet et al. But if you're planning a longer trip, and most especially if you're a truly curious traveler interested in not only the what but also the WHY of a historical but living and fast-transforming city, the Insider's Guide to Beijing will be your trusted companion. It's a great guidebook while you're in the city but also makes fascinating pre- and post-trip reading, with great nuggets of info on how the taxi cab license plate system works, interviews with local people like chefs at famous restaurants, and humourous but also useful info on topics like "breathing in Beijing" and how to get from place to place using the fastest mode of transportation. The fact that the Insider's Guide is really written by insiders - long-time expat residents who clearly know and love the city but also understand all its quirks, means you also get the benefit of informed reviews of everything from bars to shopping areas that go far beyond a thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating to really give you a sense of whether YOU as an individual would enjoy it. Since the writers are long-timers, you get a sense throughout the book of the fast changes Beijing is going through as well. Other than the fact that it could use a few more maps (easily available at your hotel or a shop, however) it's a terrific, jam-packed, informative and easy to use guide to one of the world's great cities.

You either need this book or you don't, know what I mean?

If you are traveling around China, get yourself a Lonely Planet China guide. If you are coming to Beijing for more than two weeks you need this book. But don't move to Beijing without it. It's like Beijing's Yellow Pages, but with reviews + it includes tons of separate survival and cultural advice on every possible topic, written by people who have learned their lessons of living in Beijing the hard way -- so you don't have to. Written in casual and humorous style, mostly by and for foreigners, I bet most local Chinese could also learn a thing or two about how Beijing works from this book.