In recent years, COVID-19 has altered the tourism industry drastically. More and more tourists are seeking short-distance and high-quality trips with a new motto – Stay near, go outdoors, be healthy. With this in mind, we give you some recommendations for how to spend your October holiday, safely and sustainably. 

MUJI HOTEL BEIJING 

If you simply wish to stay within the city for some R&R, the Muji Hotel Beijing, which just opened in 2018 is a wonderful, more sustainable staycation option. As of 2020, the hotel stopped providing single-use toiletries in their rooms, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, bathing caps, cotton pads. Instead, they strongly encourage customers to bring their own.

The hotel is nestled in the cultural heart of Beijing and has a wonderful view of Tiananmen Square. In addition to the World Heritage sites, this corner of central Beijing has parks where you can enjoy mixing with the locals who make the park a part of their ordinary everyday lives. Neighboring shops include shoe and tea shops that date back to the Qing dynasty, and there are traditional food vendors offering steamed buns and other local goodies. Today, they stand side-by-side with intimate, modern-day cafes specializing in pour-over coffee.

Great Wall Hiking – Stay at The Brickyard or Camp

Originally an old brick factory, the cosy Brickyard is close to the Mutianyu secant of the Great Wall and retains a rustic look outwardly while offering modern comfort within its 25 rooms and suites, all with lovely views of the Great Wall through a story and a half window walls. Sharing those views is also a spa with an outdoor jacuzzi open year round. The Brickyard provides a farm-to-table dining experience by selecting high-quality local produce from the neighboring villages. They also compost their organic waste, and has switched to LED lighting – which is more energy-efficient.

Alternatively, if you’re a camping aficionado and completely capable, you could take up with a camping tour and pitch a tent out in the wilderness around the Great Wall. This would probably be your last chance before the cold really sets in this year!

E-Bike Tours

Electric bicycles are everywhere in Beijing, for good reason. The batteries that power them are a comparatively cleaner source of energy than combustion engines in the traditional scooters. There are a few different companies that operate E-Bike tours, often of the local hutongs that give you a glimpse into the very different lives of the locals. Our Beijing is one such company, operated by expat Dominic De Couto.

Bamboo Bicycles Beijing

Speaking of bicycles, those of you that came to the bustling Burger Fest 2021 might have noticed a vendor that certainly stood out at the festival with their usual bicycles. Yes we’re talking about those super cool bamboo bicycles by Bamboo Bicycles Beijing, which aims to promote sustainable urban transport. You can join one of their DIY bamboo bicycle workshops on the weekend and create your very own bamboo bike using locally sourced bamboo! Find out more on www.bamboobicyclesbj.com or scan the QR code below.

KEEP READING: Sustainability Sunday: Talking About Sustainability Without Coming Off Preachy

Images: Courtesy of the hotels, Pexels, Dominic De Couto, Bamboo Bicycles Beijing

It’s often said that scooters are the most convenient means of transport in the capital, especially if you live a little further afield. China also happens to be the world’s largest electric bike manufacturer (and exporter), with an estimated 200 million e-bikes on the country’s roads, according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. That means you’ll be in good company should you decide to saddle up, but it also means that there’s a hell of a lot of choice when it comes to deciding which ride is best for you.

Below we’ve listed a few things you should consider below before you drop RMB 2,000-4,000 and join the ranks of China’s e-bike riders.

Battery range

Depending on the model of the e-bike, the range – the distance the battery allows for you to drive it – can vary by quite a margin. For example, a typical smaller e-bike with a basket will have a shorter battery life than a larger model. Usually, unless you’re a waimai driver, covering the entire city on your e-bike, you will typically need to charge it every 2-3 days. The good thing is that batteries are much lighter than they used to be, even compared to just a few years ago. Inevitably, brands also matter when it comes to battery quality, and the top five trustworthy brands are often considered to be Yadi, Lvyuan, Xinri, Aima, and Xiaoniu.

Remember to always take your battery out of your bike – if you don’t, you may soon find that your battery has plenty of range but this time in the hands of a thief.

Size 

The size of your e-bike matters. Before purchasing a bike, you should take into consideration whether you’ll largely be riding solo or if you will often have a second person riding pillion, which can slow down less powerful bikes significantly. There are also foldable e-bikes, which are much easier to secure in your apartment or office.

Price

Below is a rough approximation of prices for the top five e-bike brands mentioned above:

Yadi (雅迪 yǎ dí): RMB 2,700-9,000
Aima (爱玛 ài mǎ): RMB 2,400-7,000
Xiaoniu (小牛电动 xiǎo niú diàndòng): RMB 3,100-20,000
Lvyuan (绿源 lǜyuán): RMB 2,000-7,000
Xinri (新日 xīn rì): RMB 2,000-6,700

Sites like JD.com often run sales on bikes like these with significant savings, so keep an eye out.

Maintenance/repair 

An e-bike will usually last you around 3-5 years with a few minor repairs. After that amount of time, replacement parts may be harder and more expensive to get hold of. However, using an e-bike is definitely still cheaper than relying upon taxis and Didis, and if you use your bike for an extended period of time, it may even come out cheaper than riding the subway – huzzah!

License 

Sadly, the days of buying a scooter on the black market and riding off into the sunset are long gone. Sensibly, the government has since decided to limit the number of vehicles on the street, which means you will need to register your bike upon purchase. If you have no idea how, fear not, just follow our instructions right here.

Safety

Now you’re full-throttle on what to consider when buying an e-bike, don’t forget the most important factor of all: safety. Always wear a helmet, be extra cautious while riding in the dark, slow down at intersections, and never ride an e-bike under the influence!

Wanna drop the ‘e’ from e-bike? Here are four reasons why cycling in Beijing is way nicer than you think.

Photo: Wikicommons

According to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, one million e-bike owners have applied for temporary licenses for “electric bicycles that don’t meet standards” since they have announced new regulations last year. Now less than two months remain until the application deadline for temporary licenses. From May 1 this year, unlicensed e-bikes that don’t meet standards in Beijing will be impounded and the owners will be fined RMB 1,000.

What kind of e-bikes need temporary licenses?

E-bikes with a top speed of more than 20kph, a vehicle weight of more than 40kg, and/ or a motor with power of more than 240 watts do not meet the Electric Bicycles – General Technical Requirements issued by the National Standardization Administration of China in 1999.

How do I apply for a temporary license?

As we blogged before, Beijing Traffic Management Bureau has released an online application channel for temporary licenses for e-bikes, as well as detailed instructions.

Option 1: Completing an application form online
Option 2: Making an appointment online to apply in person

When is the deadline for applications?

All applications must be made by April 30 2019.

How long do temporary licenses last?

Licenses cover a three-year transition period (November 1, 2018 – October 31, 2021). After that, bikes that do not meet the standards will not be allowed on the road.

Why should I bother?

From May 1 this year, unlicensed e-bikes that don’t meet the standards in Beijing will be impounded and the owners will get fined RMB 1,000.

Beijing’s trusty bike-share systems are still going strong; here is everything you need to know about using them.

Photos: courtesy of Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, dfic.cn

Beijing authorities have announced strict regulations which require driving permits and license plates for riding electric bicycles, Xinhua News reported on Wednesday.

The regulations, which were officially approved on September 29, 2018, will be in force from November 1. After that date, e-bikes on the road without license plates will be impounded and their riders fined RMB 20. For anyone caught riding with forged license plates, the vehicle will be taken away permanently with a fine of RMB 1,000. Anyone purchasing an e-bike after the implementation of the regulations will be compelled to get a driving permit within 15 days of purchase.

Also, segways, as well as customized tricycles or quadricycles, will be prohibited from driving on either main carriageways or bikeways. The penalty will be a fine of RMB 200 and the confiscation of the vehicle.

The traffic management authority will also keep a catalog of all electric vehicles, recording information including manufacturer, brand, model number, and technical parameters, to ensure that all vehicles on the market meet national quality standards, which is a prerequisite to get a license plate.

Anyone whose vehicle fails to meet the quality standards but bought it before the implementation of the regulations can apply for a temporary permit, but this will only be valid for three years and cannot be renewed. Further details on how to get a temporary license will be forthcoming, according to the report.

There are currently over 4 million electric vehicles in Beijing, not including the electric ride on cars that kids love to dride around parks, including many which fail to meet national standards, posing a huge safety threat to the public. Statistics reveal that more than 300,000 accidents involved electric vehicles from 2013 to August 2018, of which 60 percent were caused by electric bicycles.

What do you need for a driving permit and license plate for your electric bicycle?

The application form; your ID card or passport; the invoice and certificate for the bicycle.

You can download the application form here and you might need help from a Chinese friend if you’re struggling with your Chinese. 

And how do you get them?

Take the aforementioned documents and go to your local Transportation Bureau office. There are currently 20 specific offices scattered across the city which provide the registration service, and it will only take the police one day to release your permit if all requirements are met, says the Xinhua report.

Below are the 20 offices where you can apply for a license, and others will be added soon to cover more areas.

Chaoyang District
Chaoyang Transportation Bureau Yayuncun Subdistrict (No.9 A Fulin Lu) 朝阳交通支队亚运村非机动车登记站 (朝阳区拂林路甲9号)

Chaoyang Transportation Bureau Hujialou Subdistrict (North side of Jingguang Bridge) 朝阳交通支队呼家楼非机动车登记站 (东三环京广桥下北侧呼家楼交通大队执法站内)

Changping District
Changping Transportation Bureau (Machikou village, Machikou) 昌平交通支队非机动车登记站 (马池口镇马池口村交通队)

Daxing District
Daxing Transportation Bureau (Haizijiao, Huangcun village) 大兴交通支队非机动车登记站 (黄村镇海子角北口路南)

Dongcheng District
Dongcheng Transportation Bureau South subdistrict (No.26 Mingzhu Beijie, Yongding Menwai) 东城交通支队南区非机动车登记站 (永定门外民主北街26号)

Dongcheng Transportation Bureau North Subdistrict (No.1-4, Douban Hutong, Chaonei Beixiaojie) 东城交通支队北区非机动车登记站 (朝内北小街豆瓣胡同1-4号)

Fangshan District
Fangshan Transportation Bureau (No. 32 Huabei Dajie, Gongchen Street) 房山交通支队非机动车登记站 (拱辰街道月华北大街32号)

Fengtai District
Fengtai Transportation Bureau Lugouqiao Subdistrict (Lugouqiao Administration Building, Xiaotun Xilu) 丰台交通支队卢沟桥非机动车登记站 (小屯西路南口加油站北侧卢沟桥乡综合办公大楼)

Fengtai Transportation Bureau Dahongmen Subdistrict (No. 137 Dahongmen Xiqianjie) 丰台交通支队大红门非机动车登记站 (大红门西前街137号)

Haidian District
Haidian Transportation Bureau (No. 99 Houchangcun Lu, Xibeiwang) 海淀交通支队非机动车登记站 (西北旺后厂村路99号)

Huairou District
Huairou Transportation Bureau (No. 88 Qingchun Lu) 怀柔交通支队非机动车登记站 (青春路88号)

Mengtougou District
Mentougou Transportation Bureau (No. 72 Binhe Lu) 门头沟交通支队非机动车登记站 (滨河路72号)

Miyun District
Miyun Transporation Bureau (Baishiling village, Miyun town) 密云交通大队非机动车登记站 (密云镇白石岭村密云机动车检测场北)

Pingu District
Pinggu Transportation Bureau (No. 29 Pinggu Beijie, Xinggu Development subdistrict) 平谷交通支队非机动车登记站 (兴谷开发区平谷北街29号)

Shijingshan District
Shijingshan Transportation Bureau (No. 8 Yangzhuang Lu) 石景山交通支队非机动车登记站 (杨庄路8号)

Shunyi District
Shunyi Transportation Bureau (No.10 Shunping Xilu) 顺义交通支队非机动车登记站 (顺平西路10号)

Tongzhou District
Tongzhou Transportation Bureau (No. 240 Yunhe Xidajie) 通州交通支队非机动车登记站 (运河西大街240号)

Xicheng District
Xicheng Transportation Bureau North Subdistrict (No. 303 Zhaodengyu Lu) 西城交通支队北区非机动车登记站 (赵登禹路303号)

Xicheng Transportation South Subdistrict (No.33 Honglian Nanlu) 西城交通支队南区非机动车登记站 (红莲南路33号)

Yanqing District
Yanqing Transportation Bureau (Guishui Nanjie, Yanqing village) 延庆交通支队非机动车登记站 (延庆镇妫水南街)

The tight timescale that must be met by the huge number of e-bike owners in the city has meant that the Beijing transportation bureau offices are being overwhelmed by a deluge of people trying to get permits and license plates for their bikes. CCTV News has reported that the authorities are extending the time to apply for permits until April 30, 2019.

We called the Shunyi Transportation Bureau Office to verify the extension, but an official told us that “The extension has not been settled just yet as we haven’t received any official notice.” The official then suggested us to call again after Nov 1 to check the status of the extension. Also, it’s worth pointing out that the official said they’re currently only distributing license plates to two-wheel electric bikes with pedals, but that he wasn’t sure if that is the same case across Beijing’s other 19 transport offices.

We’ll keep you updated sooner.

Beijing’s trusty bike-share systems are still going strong, here is everything you need to know about using them.

Photos: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, Pexels