As I discuss in another post choosing the right time to visit Beijing is important.
Arriving at the sparkling clean Beijing airport was easy, finding a taxi was also easy.
As I mention in Documents I carry a picture on my smartphone and tablet of the name and address of the hotel and a screen grab of maps.
This certainly helped us in China, we were staying in the Hutong area (between Bell tower and drum tower.in the north of the Inner City. A hutong is a narrow street that has small single-storey houses coming off it. The houses are normally made up of four buildings facing into a central courtyard. The community is tight – not just physically but also socially – because the residents also run the local shops and restaurants in the street) The roads around there are small and confusing and some dont allow cars. Our taxi driver had to ring the hotel to find our hotel.
Sitting in the taxi we manage to orientate our selves, we find the closest subway/metro station, we see a western style supermarket and generally get our bearings. As we approach the Hutong a man darts out in front of the car in front of us and is very obviously killed. Our driver doesnt stop, we point at the accident and he just shrugs. Ok then.. Welcome to Beijing, watch where you step.
The traffic in Beijing is just as bad as expected, as is the pollution.
TIP - if your Elderly Traveler suffers any sort of respiratory problem--AVOID Beijing.
Our hutong is charming, the front desk carry or suitcases to our room as there is no elevator. As we arrived late in the day we just wander around the neighbourhood to get a feel for the place.
The first day of sightseeing we decided to catch the subway to Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Station.
Subways.
The Beijing subway system is fast, clean, efficient and has signs both on platforms and on the trains in English. The lines are colour coded.
The stations rarely have lifts/elevators, only the major stations, most other stations did have an escalator but normally only going one way, so you walk down to the station and ride up or vica versa but never two escalators. This made it hard for mum to walk up or down a lot of steps, but as we were never in any hurry we simply took our time.Our subway station entrance was actually a lot further from the train than we expected.
The same subway stop may have multiple entrances, but sometimes these go underground below the 10 lane ring roads, so you may be walking a kilometre to the train.
Wow - First major tip in Beijing, time your travels.
Do NOT ever try to travel in Beijing in the rush hour.
We saw the thousands of people heading into the station and decided to wait. Even half an hour later it was still very full.
15 minutes later 
Do not expect men to give up their seats for anyone.
Even though there are signposted designated seats for the elderly, infirm or pregnant, the men in Beijing don't seem to care. When we got on there was not a spare seat but we saw the sign.
Mum stood in front of one of the men sitting in the designated seat reading his paper, tapped his knee and pointed to the sign. He looked at it, looked at her and looked away. So she tapped again and pointed. He mumbled something at the man next to him laughed. So mum stood right in front of him, in his personal space (is there such a thing in China) and started tapping his knee saying excuse me over and over very loudly . She was getting annoyed.
After a few minutes of this the man got up. Finally ! we thought, some respect, nope it was his station. The ladies on the train were laughing, one spoke reasonable English and said basically the men will not give up their seats even for their own mothers.
Other than fighting for your right to a seat the trains are very good.
Exit
Be aware of what exit you need at a station, if by mistake you take the wrong exit they will not let you back through the station to take the right exit without purchasing another train ticket.
On our return journey we got off at our station then left the train station by the wrong exit Exit B, we wanted A, Exit B took us the opposite direction about 800 metres under a 10 lane road , we walked out, realised our mistake and that there was no way to cross the road. So we walked back to the station.
They wouldnt let us back into the station without a train ticket. We tried writing that we wanted Exit A but noone understood us. Finally I said I will buy us train tickets just to walk through the station.
I lined up with two security persons at the ticket window, I ask for cheapest ticket, the ticket lady , who spoke a little English kept saying where to ? I kept saying 'just walk through station,Exit A, no train, so cheapest ticket' ( I didnt know all tickets were same price CNY2 )
Finally something must have clicked. She started yelling at the security persons. Next thing were were escorted through the train station to Exit A. It took 1 hour from getting off train and saved me CNY2 which is about 40 cents each. But life is an adventure !
Clean efficient and well signposted
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