Exchange Rate:

Restaurants We Like:
- Breakfast buffet in the hotel is nice - discount for crew members.
- "Red Door" - walking
- "Glass Windows"- also known as "Home Away From Home" - walking
-" Wooden Floors"- also known as "The Red Lantern" - walking
- Subway - walking
- Eudora - pizza - walking
- Paulaner Brauhäus in the Kempinski Hotel (Beijing Lufthansa Center) - taxi
- La Gondola - Italian (Beijing Lufthansa Center) - taxi
- La Dolce Vita - Italian (Beijing Lufthansa Center) - taxi
- Lemon Grass Thai and Indian - Jiangoumenwai St., Chanoyang District - taxi
- "Brown door" near Pearl Market (ask the crew regulars for exact location)
- Annie's - Italian - diagonally across the street from Sunny Gold Market
- Susan's new restaurant - walking - ask a crew member
- Sculpting in Time - American Style breakfast - walking
- Starbucks
- There is a deli in the hotel - sandwiches, quiches, coffee

- Tipping: Do not tip.

Shopping Finds:
- shops across from the hotel have many items
- Sunny Gold Market - near hotel
- Dirt Market - cab ride
- Silk Market - cab ride or shuttle bus
- Russian Market - cab ride
- Pearl Market - cab ride or shuttle bus
- Flower Market
- Tian Yi Market
- The Shard Box - small jewelry and antique store, down the street to the right from the Sunny Gold Market
-" Costco-like" store called "Makro". Clothing, food, electronics. - walking - next block past United Hospital, cross the street at the light, left turn.

To shop in Beijing one needs a high tolerance for being endlessly pestered. Stopping and browsing will invite continuous questions such as, "Do you like this one? How many do you want? Special deal for you". You have to suffer through this until you get an idea of what sort of items you are looking for, which vendor appeals to you, and what you might be willing to pay. Find out from experienced crew members what popular items go for. Until you establish a relationship with someone, no one will let you alone. Get used to it.

At some higher end vendors the price is set, although they may come down a little if you indicate that you like the item and they think you can be persuaded by a bit lower price. Vendors expect to bargain at most of the less expensive places. It is part of the game and can be part of the fun (?), depending on how you look at it. Once you start bargaining they expect you to buy. They will start high and show you the figure on their calculator. You will respond with your obviously low offer on their calculator (or piece of paper at less sophisticated sellers). This will continue until you reach a mutually agreeable price. They will often ask how many of an item you intend to buy, indicating that they will make a better discount for multiple items. Bargain hard. Beware of electronics. Make sure you know that the actual item that they are selling you works (not just the demo item that they show you), and that all the parts and pieces (ie., headphones, USB cables), are there and that they fit the jack. Generally speaking, we think buying electronics is a bad idea. On more expensive items, buy with credit card which has buyer protection plan, where possible. But beware, buyer protection may not be enough, if you buy something that is defective. Our experience with electronics was disappointing. We were told that in a "face-to-face" transaction in a foreign country,with regard to buyer protection plans, we had to "work it out with the vendor". (The Olympics should be interesting!) On lower end vendors, expect to use cash only. Many will accept RMB (Yuan) or US dollars.

Watch out for pickpockets, especially in the shopping areas.

Tailoring can be done inexpensively.

The US government is getting tougher on pirated movies and music, as well as knock-off trade marked fashion, especially purses. Be familiar with the US Customs Publication "Know Before You Go", available in customs at the airport or on-line.

What to See: