Beijing

Beijing Travel Guide

• About Beijing

Layered with tales of emperors, uprisings, grandeur and hubris, Beijing is an extraordinarily irresistible place to visit. It remains a momentous city with some extraordinary historical sites, although the billions invested in the run-up to last decade’s Olympics have left it as a thoroughly modern metropolis too. Top-quality hotels and restaurants abound, the subway system is world-class and the architecture, in many cases, is eye-catchingly contemporary. Most visitors, however, come for the city’s more traditional attractions. Beijing’s vast centrepieces are the royal palaces of The Forbidden City and the open expanse of Tiananmen Square. Together, they straddle the dynastic era of ancient empire and the revolutionary rule of Chairman Mao Zedong. Further afield, The Temple of Heaven and the lakeside Summer Palace – both beautiful in their way – give further flavour of the city’s past. On a very different note, a network of traditional hutong alleyways still showcases a unique inner-city atmosphere of slow-paced living. And most famously of all, the snaking Great Wall of China, set in rumpled green hills, is an easy day-trip from Beijing itself. As capital of the most populous country on the planet, the city is also a wonderful place to sample the myriad different cooking styles for which China is known. Whether you’re braving the regional delicacies at Donghuamen Night Market (fried scorpion, anyone?), feasting on Peking Duck at a high-end restaurant or trying anything from Sichuanese to Uighur cuisine, the general rule is the same: in Beijing, food is taken seriously. On a cultural level, there’s also much to explore. From opera to acrobats, art museums to classical dance and rock music to antique markets, this is a city where change is constant, buildings stretch ever higher and day-to-day life dizzies and dazzles. Some 21.5 million people live in Beijing – it’s safe to say they have a unique home.

• Beijing History

China’s capital for the best part of 800 years, Beijing has been at the centre of empires and harsh political ideology, and is emerging as a fast-modernising metropolis. Beijing became China’s capital in 1421, a few decades after the Mongol dynasty had been ejected and the Ming Dynasty established. The city withstood incursions and fire, and held onto its capital billing throughout the subsequent Qing dynasty. But after the imperial regime collapsed in 1911, Beijing suffered, as did the rest of China, from destructive factionalism. The Japanese invasion in 1931 was followed by civil war. In 1949, Mao Zedong’s communists prevailed and the People’s Republic of China was founded with Beijing regaining capital city status. The first decade or so of Mao’s rule stabilised a fearful, humiliated nation, and strong advances were made in industry, agriculture, education and health care. Beijing’s Old Town suffered though, as most of its walls, gateways and decorative arches were levelled to make way for new roads. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s, it was the turn of the people to suffer as Beijing’s ill-fated political programmes, most infamously the Cultural Revolution, saw persecution, violence and famine spread like wildfire. Many Chinese art forms struggled to survive. Travelling theatre, music and dance groups were created to project the party’s message. Plays written before the 1950s, films with human interest and the Beijing Opera were suppressed, and their creators persecuted. Mao’s death in 1976 saw the first shoots of nascent political freedom, but they culminated in the tragic events at Tiananmen Square in June 1989. Any hint of political freedoms were swiftly curtailed, but new leader Deng Xiaoping continued in his quest to open China up to the world economy until his death in 1997. Today China’s economy (now the world’s second largest) continues to grow at an incredible rate. Beijing is home to an increasingly affluent middle class and a rapidly changing (if smog-ridden) skyline.

• Did you know?

At one point, around 9,000 eunuchs lived in the Forbidden City. Beijing has had numerous other names over the last few millennia and was known as Peking before Beijing. Its famous Peking University still uses the former name though. Beijing means ‘northern capital’.

• Weather in Beijing

Beijing has a humid continental climate with distinct four seasons. Spring (March to May) sees temperatures climb steadily to 20°C (68°F) in May. The city is at its best in April and May when the sun is out and the mercury isn’t overbearing. Summer (June to August) is hot and humid. The searing heat of summer can make sightseeing tortuous when the temperatures rise above 30°C (86°F) and busy pavements make it feel hotter still. July and August are also the wettest months. Pack an umbrella with you – it can shield you from the sun and also protect you when it rains. Autumn (September to November) is marked by crisp, sunny days accompanied by tree leaves turning red and gold. This is also a good time to visit Beijing. Winter (December to February) is cold. The biting winds can be extreme as temperatures drop below zero.

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Things to see in Beijing

Attractions

• Temple of Heaven Park

Beijing’s largest imperial park is a wonderful place to spend a sunny morning watching locals fly kites and practise tai chi. It’s a sublime setting for the Temple of Heaven complex, centred on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, an exquisite tiered temple used by the emperor to ask the gods for favourable harvests. Facing the hall is the Circular Mound Altar, where the emperor prayed for good weather. Address: Dongcheng, TianTan Road, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6702 8866 Opening times: Daily 08:00-17:30. Website: www.tiantanpark.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: Yes

• Summer Palace Beijing’s magnificent

Summer Palace was used by the royal court as an escape from the heat of the city. Resplendent after a makeover, the former imperial residences are located on the shores of Kunming Lake, which is dotted with small islands, ornamental bridges and a marble boat that was once a teahouse. Flanking the lake is Longevity Hill, crowned with landmark pagodas and pavilions. Address: Haidian, 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6288 1144 Opening times: Daily 08:00-17:00. Website: www.summerpalace-china.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: Yes

• Hutong alleyways

Exploring these centuries-old alleyways ranks among the most memorable of Beijing experiences. Contained within are historic siheyuan (courtyard homes), often hidden behind large, red wooden doorways. Many have been split into smaller, less uniformed dwellings, adding to the ramshackle charm. Though many hutongs were destroyed in Beijing’s push to modernise, some areas remain, particularly around the Drum and Bell Towers and Nanluoguxiang in Dongcheng, and close to Houhai lake. Address: Dongcheng, Xicheng, Beijing. Opening times: Daily 24 hours. Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: No UNESCO: No

• Tiananmen Square

There’s only one place to begin exploring Beijing: Tiananmen Square, where Mao Zedong declared the foundation of the People’s Republic. Though widely identified with the suppression of student-led pro-democracy protests in 1989, the world’s largest public square is an impressive sight, flanked by Communist edifices and the towering gatehouse to the Forbidden City. Adjacent is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where Mao Zedong’s preserved body is on display for perpetuity. Address: Beijing, Dongcheng. Opening times: Daily 24 hours. Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Forbidden City

Built in the 15th century, the former home of the Emperor of China is a magical complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens, scattered across a vast compound and protected by fortified walls. Home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties, this UNESCO Heritage site is amazingly preserved, despite the political upheaval in the 20th century. The palaces and chambers house a vast collection of priceless relics, including paintings and ancient pottery. Address: Dongcheng, 4 Jingshan Street, Beijing. Telephone: +86 400 950 1925 Opening times: Daily 08:30-16:30, Mon Closed. Website: www.dpm.org.cn Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: Yes

• National Center for the Performing Arts

Known as ‘the Giant Egg’ due to its shape – an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass – this massive venues has three state-of-the-art performing halls: the Opera House, the Concert Hall, and the Theatre. Nestled west of Tiananmen Square and near the Forbidden City, it is easy to get to and enjoy a great performance. Address: 2W Chang’an St, Xicheng District. Telephone: +86 10 6655 0000 Opening times: Tue-Sat 09:00-17:00. Website:www.chncpa.org Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Beihai Park

Beihai Lake covers almost half of the 69-hectare (171-acre) Beihai Park, providing locals with somewhere to escape the city crush. This is a popular spot for ice-skating in winter and boating in summer. Qiong Hua Island (Jade Flowering Island), to the southern end of the lake, is reached by an arched marble bridge and is home to a Tibetan Buddhist shrine (the White Pagoda) and the Yong’an Temple (Temple of Everlasting Peace). Address: Xicheng, 1 Wenjin Street, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6403 3225 Opening times: Daily 06:30-21:00. Website: www.beihaipark.com.cn Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing

Drum Tower was originally raised in the 13th century and reconstructed around 1420, when the adjacent Bell Tower also appeared. The buildings served as the city’s official time markers and alerted citizens to curfews when the city was under siege. Still containing the original drums and bells, the strikingly different towers offer wonderful views across Beijing. Address: Dongcheng, Di’anmen Wei Main Street, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 8402 7869 Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Chaoyang Theater

Over the past 20 years, more than three million people have seen “The Flying Acrobatic Show” performed by the acclaimed Beijing Acrobatic Troupe. Each show lasts about an hour and discounts are available if tickets are booked online. Address: China, Beijing, Chaoyang. Telephone: +86 135 5252 7373 Opening times: Daily 15:00-20:00 Website: www.chaoyangtheatre.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Beijing Zoo

The oldest zoo in the Asia Pacific region is home to world-famous giant pandas and more than 7,000 other animals, including golden monkeys from Sichuan, tigers from Hunan, and snow leopards from Tibet. A private garden during the Qing dynasty, it later became an experimental farm and small menagerie. It first opened to the public in 1908, but was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Beijing (1937-1945), reopening in 1950. Address: Xicheng, 137 Xizhimen Outer St, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6839 0274 Opening times: Daily 07:30-18:00. Website: www.bjzoo.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: UNESCO: No

• Jingshan (Prospect Park)

North of the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park contains Coal Hill, a mound created from the soil excavated from the palace moat. It’s a peaceful spot with views over the golden rooftops of the imperial buildings and is the highest point in Beijing’s inner city. Address: Xicheng, 44 Jingshanxi Street, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6403 8098 Opening times: Daily 06:00-21:00. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Lama Temple

The Lama Temple (also known as Yonghe Temple) was built in the 17th century as a centre of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Closed after the Cultural Revolution, it reopened in the 1970s and now hosts a community of around 70 monks. Inside are a series of grand halls covered in exquisite woodcarving and ornamental tiles. The furthermost hall has a stunning 18m-high (59ft) statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, carved from a single sandalwood tree. Address: Dongcheng, 12 Yonghedong Street, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 8419 1919 Opening times: Daily 09:00-16:00. Website: www.yonghegong.cn Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

• Beijing Municipal and City Appearance Management Committee

Address: 80 Xidan N St, Xicheng District, Beijing Telephone: +86 10 6601 1988 Opening times: Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00. Website: www.csglw.beijing.gov.cn The Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development maintains a network of Beijing Tourist Information Centers around the city where you can book city tours and excursions and get tourist information. As well as the handy office near the Forbidden City, close to Beihai Park, there are branches near;

• Beijing Railway Station

Telephone: +86 10 6528 8448  And on the shopping thoroughfare of

• Wangfujing Quanjade

Telephone: +86 10 6522 3310 

Tourist passes

On Wednesdays, the first 200 visitors to many of the city’s museums are admitted free of charge, or you can buy a Beijing Museum Pass, which offers discounts to most of the big museums and cultural sights, available from China Post offices. If you plan to travel by bus, buying a rechargeable “Superpass” travel card will get you discounts on bus journeys all over the city.

Things to do in Beijing

• Check out Beijing’s flourishing contemporary art scene

This former industrial complex in the Dashanzi district is the hive around which all Beijing’s contemporary artists swarms. 798 Art District has a wealth of galleries that hold revolving exhibitions from local and international artists, and there are cafes, bars and art shops to ensure you won’t have to go more than 30 minutes without cashing some of those holiday tokens. Website: www.798district.com

• Get on your (ice) bike

In summer, Shichahai Lake’s glass-like surface is dotted with lotus flowers, whilst weeping willows huddle round the edges. In winter, it turns into a giant skating rink where you can hire ice bikes, thus hopefully avoiding the indignity of sore knees and elbows. You can hire everything down at the lake, which is open during daylight hours.

• Get yourself a good Cupping

One of China’s most offbeat medicinal treatments is cupping: the act of applying heated cups to skin to effect suction. It can help all manner of bodily ailments, from skin and blood disorders to rheumatic problems. There’s not many places left that still do it so if you want to give this most ancient of treatments a whirl, book a session

• Lose yourself in the worlds weirdest food market

Even if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool meat and potatoes hound, a trip to Beijing will be incomplete with visiting Donghuamen Night Market. Culinary weirdness abounds – get those chops round spiders on sticks, deep fried scorpions, sheep’s penis and maybe even a seahorse.

• Stoke your fire at Dragon Gorge

Set 80km (50 miles) from downtown Beijing is Longqing Xia, otherwise known as Dragon Gorge. Take the dragon escalator up to the gorge – an escalator claimed to be the longest in the world. Climb up the mountains or take a cable car, before taking a river cruise between the lush great pillars that jut from the water. Adrenalin enthusiasts will get their fill here too, with bungee jumping, rock-climbing and abseiling on offer. Beijing Trip will get you there  ( Website: www.beijingtrip.com )

Beijing tours and excursions

Beijing tours

• Cycling and walking tours

The Tourist Information Centre and Cycle China office, opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park, Dongcheng District, arranges cycling tours with English-speaking guides as well as hutong walking tours at night and entertaining trips around the city by motorcycle sidecar. Telephone: +86 10 6402 5653 Website: www.cyclechina.com

• Rickshaw tours

The Beijing Tourist Information Center office on Qianmen Dajie, near Beihai Park, offers one-hour rickshaw tours with an English-speaking guide around Beijing’s historic hutong alleys. Private agencies offer similar trips. Telephone: +86 10 8882 8000 Website: www.china.org.cn

Beijing excursions

• Ming Tombs

The final resting place for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Ming Tombs are located 50km (31 miles) from Beijing and are reached by the Spirit Way, an ancient highway guarded by huge statues of animals and men. 13 Ming emperors are buried around the valley but only three of the underground burial chambers – the Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling tombs – are open to the public. Arrange a trip through your hotel, or one of the Beijing Tourist Information Centers  ( Website: www.mingtombs.com )

• Great Wall of China

China’s premier attraction stretches some 6,700km (4,163 miles) through northern China and remains the most iconic symbol of the country. Founded in the 3rd century BC, the Great Wall of China is in fact a number of connected and unlinked walls, built at various points in history to create a defence against invading marauders. Much of the wall that exists near Beijing was built between the 14th and 18th centuries as a defence against the Mongols.The nearest section of the wall to Beijing is at Badaling, but this has been heavily restored and is very touristy. The sections at Mutianyu and Jinshanling are also restored but less busy than Badaling. For a more authentic visit, the sections of the wall at Huanghuacheng, Zhuangdaokou, Gubeikou and Jiankou have been left as atmospheric ruins, but they are harder to reach and difficulty to walk along. Arrange trips through your hotel, or one of the Beijing Tourist Information Centers.

Shopping in Beijing

As you would expect from a metropolitan city, Beijing has no shortage of mega shopping malls, but the city is also home to time-honored shops such as the silk retailer Rui Fu Xiang.

• Key areas

The main tourist shopping area is pedestrianised Wangfujing Street, crammed with brand outlets and department stores. Sanlitun Bar Street, Taikoo Li Sanlitun and Qianmen Street are all popular shopping areas in Beijing.

• Markets

Housed in a giant warehouse-style mall, the Beijing Silk Market (8 Xiushui East Street) is a tourist trap, but its fine tailormade clothes are worth the hard bargaining. Collectors of antiques should head to Liulichang Street, a few minutes’ walk south of Hepingmen subway station. This Beijing market is crammed with ancient-style shops, reconstructed in a traditional way and stocking antiques – some are genuine, though many are reproduced – and curios. The open-air Panjiayuan Flea Market has great bargains on items such as jade, wood panelling, pottery and memorabilia.

• Shopping centres

The vast malls within the Oriental Plaza, on Wangfujing Street, have over 300 brand stores and restaurants, as does the China World Shopping Mall, Shin Kong Place (SKP Beijing), and The Place which all cater to those with upscale-brand obsessions and large wallets.

• Opening hours

Most shops in Beijing are open daily 10:00-22:00.

• Tax information

The VAT rate is 17% (13% for certain goods). Foreign visitors can enjoy tax refund on the same day in designated stores if the velue is over RMB500.

Restaurants in Beijing

Eating has a special place in the Chinese psyche, and visitors won’t have to walk far to find a restaurant serving Beijing’s famous Peking duck, or more eclectic delicacies such as fried pigs’ trotters and duck’s tongue. The international dining scene is maturing too, with French restaurants proving particularly popular with locals, but with such fantastic Chinese food of offer, many visitors prefer to use mealtimes to sample the nation’s fascinating and varied regional cuisines. The Beijing restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories: Expensive (over ¥300) Moderate (¥100 to ¥300) Cheap (up to ¥100) Prices are for a three-course meal for one, including a bottle of house wine or equivalent. You won’t be able to get wine in cheap restaurants, where beer or local spirits are the order of the day. Tipping is only expected at the plushest of restaurants in Beijing.

Expensive

• Beijing Da Dong

Cuisine: Chinese There are no prizes for guessing the house speciality at this Chinese restaurant in the industrialmodernist 1949 The Hidden City compound. The upscale menu of duck delicacies is accompanied by a stellar wine list, and many say it serves the best Peking duck in town. Address: Beijing, Dongcheng, Jinbao St, 88. Telephone: +86 10 8522 1234 Website: www.dadongdadong.com

• Opera Bombana

Cuisine: Italian Restaurant & Fresh Bakery Created by celebrity chef Umberto Bombana (who also co-owns the three Michelin star retaurant 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong), this upmarket Italian restaurant offers creatively presented contemporary Italian fare. The setlunch is particularly popular – guests enjoy quality Australian Wagyu beef or artisanal spelt spaghetti for a few hundred yens. Address: No.9, Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 5690 7177 Website: www.operabombana.com

• TRB Hutong

Cuisine: French Nestled in a 600 year-old temple, this restaurant wins with big, bold flavours and artfully presented small plates. Appealing to the Francophile tastes of the Beijing elite, the menu is French-flavoured, but with subtle nods to Asia. Address: Dongcheng,23 Shatan Beijie, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 8400 2232 Website: www.trbhutong.com

Moderate

• Dali Courtyard

Cuisine: Yunnanese Down a backstreet hutong off Gulou Dongdajie, this delightful courtyard restaurant serves excellent set menus of authentic Yunnanese cuisine. The menu runs from Yunnanese dumplings and sausages to fish with chilli and fresh vegetables and herbs from the Yunnanese hills. Come summer, the tree-filled garden terrace is one of Beijing’s most appealing dining spots. Address: Dongcheng, 67 Xiaojingcheng Hutong, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 8404 1430 Website: www.thebeijinger.com

• Din Tai Fung

Cuisine: Taiwanese The dim sum steamers keep coming at this Taiwanese restaurant in Chaoyang, and despite the moderate prices, the dumplings are some of Beijing’s best. Xiaolong bao (southwestern-style steamed dumplings) are the house speciality but there are loads of other delicate bites to try, including tasty red-bean paste stuffed dou sha bao. Address: Chaoyang, 24 Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie, Liangmaqiao, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6462 4502

• Hatsune

Cuisine: Japanese At the top of the mid-range bracket, this chic Japanese restaurant draws a mixed crowd of businessmen and hip 20- somethings who don’t mind paying extra for something a little special. The chefs prepare sushi and handmade California rolls with real artistic flair, all enjoyed in a snappily dressed dining room. Address: Chaoyang, 19 Sanlitun, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6581 3939

Cheap

• Donghuamen Night Market

Cuisine: Chinese A sizzling treat for street-food addicts, the Donghuamen Night Market is clean, cheap and phenomenally popular. Red lanterns lead the way to this bustling collection of stalls serving everything from meaty kebabs to obscure Chinese delicacies such as silkworms and scorpions. Pancakes, dumplings, stews and dipping sauces also accompany these skewered treats. Address: China, Bei Jing Shi, Dongcheng. Website: www.dpm.org.cn

• Haidilao

Cuisine: Fondue Beijing’s spice lovers make a beeline for this low-key Fondue restaurant for its epic hot pots, with incendiary broth for dipping and a host of tasty, fresh ingredients to dip into it. As well as fiery flavours, you get fun and friendly service and the live theatre of noodle-pulling, all ingredients for a fun night out. Address: Beijing, Chaoyang. Telephone: +86 10 8779 8911 Website: www.haidilao.com

• Mr Shi’s Dumplings

Cuisine: Chinese This small hole-in-the-wall establishment serves a wide range of reasonably priced dumplings. No-frills, just good homemade dumplings. Address: Beijing, Dongcheng. Telephone: +86 10 8405 0399 Website: www.thebeijinger.com

• Najia Xiaoguan

Cuisine: Manchurian Tucked into a historic courtyard, this Manchurian restaurant was reputedly founded by the personal doctor of a Qing dynasty emperor, using recipes borrowed from the imperial kitchens. Regular diners rave about the tender pork belly with dates, and the intriguing game meat stews. Address: Chaoyang, 10 Yonganli, Jianguomenwai Dajie. Telephone: +86 10 8236 2692

Beijing Nightlife

Beijing’s nightlife and entertainment scene is undergoing a revolution, as modern Beijingers enjoy the benefits of an income that their parents could only have dreamed of. The most popular nightlife area (heavily frequented by expats) is Sanlitun, where bars offer Western beer at Western prices, and are generally much livelier than elsewhere. Much more laid back and with a more underground vibe to it, thanks to its live-music scene, is the area around the Drum and Bell Towers (known as Gulou), including the bars on and around historic Nanluoguxiang alley. Nearby, Houhai (Back Lakes) is lined with bars and cafés, which are great places for a drink by day but which transform into noisy, neon-lit karaoke bars at night. Beijing is the cultural capital of China and many pre-Cultural Revolution art forms are being revived to sit alongside Beijing’s strong contemporary music, arts and literary scenes. Western influences have also been embraced to transform traditional Chinese art forms into contemporary theatre, with Chinese translations of Western plays also available. The best city listings magazines are City Weekend, Time Out Beijing, and The Beijinger.

Bars in Beijing

• 4corners

Part bar, part restaurant, part courtyard-style beer garden, 4corners is a hip hutong hangout with live music, beers and cocktails and plenty of youthful enthusiasm. There’s also an interesting menu of healthy Asian and global food to munch while you socialise, including some great gluten free pizzas. Address: Xicheng, 27 Dashibei Hutong (off Gulouxidajie), Beijing Telephone: +86 10 6401 779

• Jianghu

Jianghu is reserved for you, the courtyard is still there, the music is still there, and everyone sitting around is a friend. The candlelight flickers, the old wooden chairs, and the fresh faces come from all over the world. They use their own language and music to vent and express their hearts. This Jianghu is everywhere, it belongs to every turbulent soul, every lonely heart. Tears set off the courtyard, joy is attached to the rain of stars, I wake up or get drunk in my Jianghu. Address: Beijing, Dongcheng. Website: www.site.douban.com

• Red

Colorfully designed, this hip bar has a great atmosphere and it also serves up superb cocktails. Address: 29 Houhainanyan, Shichahai, Xicheng District, Beijing. Telephone: +86 156 0023 3938 Website:  www.red.com

• The Tiki Bungalow

Expect the voodoo iconography, bright Aloha vibe, and excellent cocktails in this award-winning bar. Its Lost Classics cocktails are glorious – from “Blood & Sand” to “Hanky Panky”, we like them all. Address: Bei Jing Shi, Dongcheng. Telephone: +86 158 1051 1562

Clubs in Beijing

• Club Mix

Like Vics Club, which sits directly opposite it, Mix has an emphasis on mainstream dance tunes and is a popular club in Beijing. It’s a little cheesy and the dancefloor gets cramped, but this place still packs in the punters and attracts some wellknown local and international DJs. Address: Chaoyang, Workers Stadium north gate, Gongrentiyuchang Beilu, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6506 988

• Dada Bar

This resolutely weird and undeniably cool cocoon of a club puts together a line-up of taste-making local DJs and a handful of international stars. Musically, it runs the gamut from skweee to cold wave and everything electronic in-between, so expect to stay late. Address: Dongcheng, Beijing. Telephone: +86 183 1108 0818

• Vics Club

Arguably the king of Beijing clubs, the cavernous Vics Club is located inside the north gate of the Workers Stadium and mixes up a nightly thrash of soul, R & B, pop and reggae. Popular with visiting celebrities and music stars, the dancefloor is packed to the rafters on Ladies Night on Wednesdays. Address: WCMX+25R, Gongrentiyuchang N Rd, Chaoyang, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 5293 0333

Live music in Beijing

• Dusk Dawn Club

This cool, hutong hold-in-the-wall hosts an eclectic schedule of live music – from indie rock to folk and jazz. The drinks menu runs to craft beers and single malts, and if you want a break from the live sets, you can pull back to the main bar or pop out onto the veranda. Address: 14 Shanlao Hu Tong, Dongcheng, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6407 8969

• Yugong Yishan

Housed in part of the former government headquarters of the short-lived Chinese warlord Duan Qirui, Yugong Yishan is one of Beijing’s coolest live music spots. It boasts a high stage, a stellar sound system, elegant interior design, an upstairs lounge and an excellent list of mostly local acts, mixed with some not particularly well-known foreign names. Address: Dongcheng, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Beijing. Telephone: +86 10 6404 2711 Website: www.yugongyishan.com

Beijing Food And Drink

Food In Beijing

• Peking duck

Roasted and eaten in a thin pancake with cucumber and a sweet plum sauce.

• Mongolian hot pot

A Chinese version of fondue, usually eaten communally. It consists of simmering soup in a large round pot, into which is dipped a variety of uncooked meats and vegetables.

• Jiaozi

Steamed dumplings, typically filled with pork or other meat, and chopped vegetables.

• Kung po chicken

A classic Sichuan dish, marinated with chillies.

• Dim sum

Small portions of food served in steamer baskets, usually involving dumplings and rice noodle rolls.

• Stinky tofu

Fermented tofu, often sold as a snack.

• Shanghai hairy crab

Considered a delicacy in eastern China.

• Oyster omelette

A speciality of the Fujian region.

• Hainanese chicken rice

A Hainan dish also popular in Southeast Asia.

Drink In Beijing

• Baijiu

A strong alcoholic spirit, also known as sorghum wine.

• Tsingtao

The most common of China’s beers, similar to German lage.