This is the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic China. Beijing's Tourism Administration predicts 150 million visitors will pass through Beijing. Transportation, destinations, parks, and restaurants are gearing for overload. If you plan to travel in, around, or outside Beijing, prepare early.

The Beijing Railway Bureau is expecting more than 250,000 people using the subway between September 30 and October 1. Another peak is expected between October 5 - 7, when most travellers will return for work.

Generally, the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall, and Tian'anmen Square will be the most crowded destinations during the holiday. Daily visits to the Palace Museum and the Summer Palace have reached 100,000 per day, far exceeding their visiting capacity (50,000 to 70,000). If you are tired of crowds and queues, avoid visiting these attractions during the holiday.

All the parks in Beijing will be decorated with flower beds and green plants to greet the National Day.

Tian'anmen Square

Tian'anmen Square is the grandest site to view the festive mood. More than 500,000 flower pots with 100 different species of flower are placed throughout the square. A 17.5-metre-high satellite tower, modelled after Shenzhou 5 and weighing 40 tons, also stands at the east part of the square. Fountains, surrounded by flowers, is centred around the square.

The west side features models of Taihang Mountains and Yan'an Tower, the building that symbolizes the holy site of CPC's modern revolution.

Yuyuantan Park

The park is renowned as the place to watch cherries in late April and early May every year. Now the park is filled with 150,000 flower pots and plants until October 1.

There are many other things to do than a two-hour jaunt flower watching. With 61 hectares of water inside a 137-hectare park, boating is a popular pastime, offering a new view of the lush park.

Nearby attractions include the China Millennium Monument, 200 metres south of the park, and the 405-metre-high CCTV Tower, at the east gate of the park.

To get there, take subway to the Chinese Military Museum (Jun Shi Bo Wu Guan). The park is about 500 metres northwest of the station.

Bus routes available are 320, 114, 717, 727, 13, 21, 37, or 65 to Yuyuantan.

The park lacks parking. It's best to go by subway, taxi or bus.

Entrance: 2 yuan (24 cents).

Beijing Amusement Park

After the heat hosting the Beijing World Carnival, the park will combine a cartoon festival, lantern festival, and parade show from September 29 to October 7.

More than 200 groups of lanterns from Zigong, the hometown of lantern-making in Southeast China's Sichuan Province, will be on display in the park. Each group of these lanterns will tell the story of an ancient Chinese legend, or the Olympic Games.

Cartoon shows, a traditional event prepared by the park for different festival and celebration days, will be the main attraction to visitors.

The whole park will be transformed into a cartoon world by more than 1,000 art works.

Many stories are based on Chinese and Western children's stories and novels, such as 'Journey to the West' and 'Snow White'.

A cartoon parade will be held daily from October 1 to 7. Many famous performers from China and the world, decked out in appropriate costumes, will attend the parade.

A grand opening ceremony will be held in the morning of September 29.

Dance, song performances, and other art events will be staged in the park every day from 7pm to 9pm. The performances are free for any visitors with an entrance ticket.

Entrance fee: 90 yuan (US$10.5) for person over 1.4 metres, 60 yuan (US$7) for children between 1.4 metres and 1.1 metres. Children lower than 1.1 metres are free to enter the park with a parent. The fee includes entry to more than 40 entertainment facilities in the park.

Tel: 010-67111155 ext 319 (Chinese only).

Chinese Ethnic Culture Park 

Except on October 1, the park is open for visitors during the National Day holiday.

It will host folk festivals to showcase the different customs of China's 56 ethnic groups.

The park includes 55 village gardens, each characterized by the unique cultural styles of minorities.

From September 28 to October 7, Tibetan, Naxi, Hani, and Mongolian people will hold their traditional festivals in the park.

Tibetans from Qinghai Province, Zhuang people from the Guangxi, and members of the Jingpo people from Yunnan Province, perform folk dances and activities in the park daily for visitors.

Location: 1 Minzulu, Chaoyang District. South side of the North Fourth Ring Road.

Shijingshan Amusement Park

The park will hold a garden party during the week-long National Day holiday, with various performances held daily in the park. A flower exhibition and a multitude of competitions will add a festive air to proceedings.

On September 29, an 888-metre-long roller coaster will start operation in the park. It is the largest in Asia. It runs at 80 km per hour and cost 30 yuan (US$3.5) per person.

The park has the largest water area among Beijing's theme parks, with water skiing and diving facilities.

To get there: Take the subway. The park is located at Bajiao Youleyuan Subway Station on Line 1.

Tel: 010-68874060 68862547

(China Daily September 30, 2004)