Bicycle

Many Beijing hotels offer bicycle rentals, the daily cost of which is 20 yuan to 30 yuan. There are many bicycle rental companies in Beijing now. They provide varied services according to customers' demands.

The Jiayimu Bike Rental Company, established in 2007, has opened nearly 200 outlets in Beijing close to subway stations, commercial districts, Olympic venues and office buildings, as well as in big communities.

The company has over 5,000 common bicycles available. The deposit for every bike is around 180 and the rental fee is only one yuan half an hour. At every outlet, the company has a detailed rental service information bulletin board in English.

You can rent a bike at one outlet of the company and return it to any outlet of the company near your destination. For more information, you can log on www.join-bike.com or dial 400-896-5901 or 65853651.

The other company, Bicycle Kingdom Rental and Tours Co., Ltd has only one outlet but it provides more individualized services. The company open a 24 hours' hotline 13381400738 in English and can sent and pick up the bike to a place at the customers' request.

The company, located at the Wangfujing, has over 40 bicycles especially for outdoors activities. More information is available at company website www.bikekingdom.com.

If you are a vigorous traveler, riding a bicycle through the hutongs in Beijing is a wise choice for exploring the city thoroughly.

Rickshaw

Rickshaw travel is an excellent way to experience old Beijing culture and the hutong (alleyways). To save time, locals sometimes hire pedal-powered rickshaws to navigate the narrow lanes. Travelers can get a fresh perspective on local life.

Rickshaws, which can sit two people maximum, are found around some transfer centers and tourists resorts. The rates are often higher than taxis especially during holidays.

There are five rickshaw companies for sightseeing in Beijing and they cooperate with travel agencies for alley tours. On average, the fees for alley tour in Beijing including tourist resorts such as drum tower, Gongwangfu, are around 180 yuan per capita. The fare cover fees of the historical resorts' tickets and English tour guides.

Foreign visitors can dial 65880066-8705 or log on www.bilyw.com for more information.

Only licensed rickshaws are allowed operation in Beijing for tourists' sight-seeing. If you prefer to hire rickshaws by yourselves and remember to bargain for an exact price prior to climbing aboard.

Xinhua will update its transport services information in the coming month as more details are unveiled.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)