Paris is of course well known as the "City of Love". Travel reports enthuse about attractions such as the Champs-Élysées, the Palace of Versailles and Notre Dame Cathedral. In the travel reports we are told that the French cuisine is particularly tasty and exquisite. In the restaurants you will find dishes that appeal, whatever your culinary fancy, from haute cuisine to inexpensive bistro fare. Amongst fashion fans, Paris is an insider tip, for according to the travel reports the city on the Seine offers not just places of interest but also numerous fashion boutiques, which also sell ready-to-wear garments from well-known fashion houses. Explore the fabulous world of Amélie by following her steps!

Embassy/Consulate：

• Embassy of the Republic of France

Add.：No. 60, Tian Ze lu, Chaoyang District 100600

Tel：(00.86.10) 85.31.20.00

Fax：(00 86 10) 85.31.20.20

• Consulate General of the Republic of France in Guangzhou

Add.：Room 810, Main Building, Guangdong International HoTel, 339 Huanshi Dong Road, Guangzhou

Postal/Zip Code：510098

Tel： (86 20) 28 29 20 00

Fax：(86 20) 28 29 20 01

• Consulate General of the Republic of France in Wuhan

Add.：430022 Wuhan New world International Trade Center 568,Jianshe dadao, Hankou, Wuhan

Tel：(027) 65 79 79 00

Fax：(27) 85 77 84 26

• Consulate General of the Republic of France in Chengdu

Add.：30F, Times Plaza, ZongFu Road, Chengdu

Postal/Zip Code：610016

Tel：(028) 66 66 60 60

Fax：(028) 66 66 61 00

• Consulate General of the Republic of France in Shenyang

Add.：N34，Nan Shisanwei Road, Heping District, Shenyang

Postal/Zip Code：100600

Tel：(00.86.10) 85.31.20.00

Fax：(00 86 10) 85.31.20.20

• Consulate General of the Republic of France in Shanghai

Add.： 200001 Room 201, Haitong Securities Building, 689 Guangdong Rd., Shanghai

Fax：(021) 6103 2218

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A melody of colours and atmospheres, a symphony of contrasting skies and light. Every season pays tribute to Paris and highlights its charms, be it the sun caressing its pale façades, or the rain reflecting the night's gleam. To the sweet music of romance or a festive beat, compose your own score for your trip to the city, depending on the time of year and the whims of the weather.

Spring (21 March-21 June)

This is the season where Paris seems to reawaken, with its avenues fringed with new green shoots and its trees in flower. The days are getting longer, as are the opening times of museums, and the high season is just around the corner. There's a holiday feeling in the air and the sweet smell of candy floss pervades the pathways of the Foire du Trône funfair. People venture out and about in the parks and gardens and along the river banks, strolling, cycling or skating.

Summer (21 June-21 September)

When the summer season is at its height, rest and relaxation and "joie de vivre" bask in the sun, on the café terraces, in the parks and on the "beaches" by the Seine. Picnics abound and gourmets melt for the best ice cream in Paris. On the Champs-Elysées, the 14 July parades and the cyclists triumph. Cinema and music celebrate: free films and concerts thrill the la capital, which takes on its summer scenes.

Autumn (21 September-21 December)

When you see the avenues and parks take on their autumn reflections, and the soft light of the street lamps sets aglow the carpet of fallen leaves, it's an inspiring sight. The days may be getting shorter, but the colours are blooming. This is not only the time to return to school, but also a renewal of culture. Autumn has its own festival and the major trade fairs draw the crowds. Towards the end of November, Paris already sparkles with Christmas decorations.

Winter (21 December-21 March)

Snow occasionally covers the rooftops of Paris with its mantle, reminiscent of the Impressionist paintings by Caillebotte. Christmas dresses up the main avenues with its sparkle, markets and appealing window displays spring up around the city. It is a pleasure to dive into the cosy warmth of its restaurants and cafés. Take a tasty break for hot chocolate between two museums or after a few pirouettes on the open-air ice rinks. From January to March, this is the charm of off-season Paris.

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A perfect weekend in Paris

Forget all the film scenes, all the preconceived notions and expectations. Set out without a tour guide and discover Paris on your own: its streets, its boulevards, its old winding lanes, its serene interior courtyards. There's much to find in this city that people think they already know so well. But don't leave it all to chance: first read our tips for a few perfect days!

1.Sightseeing in a 2CV

Information:22, Rue Bernard Dimey, Tel. +33-6/67 32 26 68Introduction:The Citroën 2CV or "Deux Chevaux" (made from 1949 to 1990, originally with a 2 HP engine) is still remembered fondly in Europe as the poor person's car of days gone by, and in Germany as the vehicle of choice of the young. For many, it was as much a part of growing up as lake shore campfires, singing "Stairway to Heaven" to guitar accompaniment, or watching Saturday Night Fever on a small-town movie screen. Today, the "2CV" is as rare in France as in Germany. But a company calling itself "4 roues sous 1 parapluie" ("4 wheels under 1 umbrella," a 1960s advertising slogan for the 2CV) has refurbished a small fleet of these vehicles and uses them for sightseeing tours along the Seine. The drivers are college students, who can tell their passengers a lot about Paris.

2. Salle Pleyel

Information:252, Rue du Faubourg- Saint-Honoré, Tel. +33-1/42 56 13 13, Introduction:This is the Carnegie Hall of Paris, the top venue for classical music. Four years and many millions of euros have transformed the Salle Pleyel into the best concert hall in the city. The leading orchestras of Paris take turns playing here. During the main season, there's a concert practically every day.

3.Brasserie Printemps

Information:64, Boulevard Haussmann, Tel. +33-1/42 82 58 84Introduction:When in Paris, you're bound to pay at least a short visit to this famous department store, and while you're there, you should by all means have a bite to eat in the brasserie of Printemps Mode. You'll find yourself in a gigantic restaurant under a romantic cupola where you'll get a tasty meal at a digestible price. There's also the self-service restaurant Déli-Cieux on the roof of Printemps Beauté/Maison with an unforgettable panoramic view. We recommend it more for quick refreshments, however.

4. Musée du Quai Branly

Information:37, Quai Branly, Tel. +33-1/56 61 70 00, Introduction:Here, it's easy to forget you're in Paris. The new leading museum in the French capital opened in 2006 and displays around 3,500 objects of non-European art in a building on the banks of the Seine with curved and arching rooms and hallways. It seems like a world in itself and gives visitors the sense of strolling through a subterranean metropolis of clay and earth. The gardens are also impressive.

5. Hôtel Jays Paris

Information:6, Rue Copernic, Tel. +33-1/47 04 16 16. Introduction:Small and distinguished – and it's been around a while. Every corner of this 1850 building testifies to the splendor of the era. The hotel was completely refurbished a few years ago and offers a good example of the appealing interiors that Parisians so often create by combining tasteful modernity with timeless elegance. In this hotel, you'll feel at home the minute you set foot in your suite. Conference rooms are also available for business functions.

6. Hôtel du Petit Moulin

Information:29–31, Rue du Poitou, Tel. +33-1/42 74 10 10, Introduction:What does it look like? It's what you'd expect to get by asking the designer Christian Lacroix to recreate a childhood dream in which price is no object. This gaudy hotel is one of the trendiest in the city, a delirium of colors and styles somewhere between the Starship Enterprise and the cave of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves, with 17 rooms containing 1,007 "Did you see that?" surprises that flood your senses. In a word: magnifique!

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1.Public transport

By metro - By bus - RER (suburban express railway) - Suburban trains (Transilien)- Fares, travel passes and reductions

2. Taxis

Taxis : guidelines - Main taxi firms - Taxi fares

3. Bicycles and rollerblades: travelling light

Cycling routes and rules - Rollerblading safely

4. Boating

Port Autonome de Paris - The Port of Paris Authority - The Batobus - Boat hire

5. Traffic and parking

Parking in the city - Traffic

6. Vehicle hire with driver

Shuttles, minibus, minivans - Voitures avec chauffeur - Luxury chauffeur-driven cars - Autocars - Coaches -Deux roues - Two-wheeled vehicles - Original cars - Navettes, minibus, minivans

7. Vehicle hire without driver

Cars and campers - Motorbikes and scooters - Bicycles and rollerblades

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France is known for its fine cuisine and sophisticated preparation techniques; well-known dishes such as escargots and foie gras, accompanied by a mellow, full-bodied wine, are sure to intoxicate any diner; naturally, the experience is often an expensive one. Paris's top restaurants are known worldwide. But ordinary Parisians prefer to relax in old-fashioned, simple outdoor cafés, or an authentic, affordable street-corner bistro.

French escargot

Snails are normally eaten with garlic and butter. As the snails are still in their shell, a special fork is required to winkle them out. Escargot flesh is slightly chewier than chicken, with more of an earthy, mushroom flavor.

Recommended restaurant: Spring

Address: 6 rue Bailleul, 75001 Paris

Foie gras

This the most expensive of the dishes, the 'King of health foods,' can lower cholesterol, blood lipids, open up your blood vessels, and delay the aging process.

Recommended restaurant: LeDoyen

Address: 1 Avenue Dutuit, 75008 Paris

Ris de veau

This dish is made from a particularly succulent part of a calf's thymus gland. The meat is first allowed to stew in a stock, after which it is cut into pieces, coated in flour and blanched. During the blanching process, lemon juice, and marinated capers are added. The prepared meat tastes like crab meat, but with a definite beef flavor. Although its preparation requires numerous steps, the dish is very popular due to its tenderness and flavor.

Recommended restaurant: Hippopotamus

Address: 29 Rue Berger, 75001 Paris

French cheese

France produces almost 400 different kinds of cheese, of many different varieties and tastes; the country produces more kinds of cheese than anywhere else on the planet. French cheeses can be made with cow, sheep or goat's milk, or a mixture of any of them.

Recommended restaurant: Le Saut du Loup

Address: 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

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