Asian City Guide: Beijing

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Beijing

HIGHLIGHTS

What's on

Shopping

Eateries

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

What’s on

¬ Weekday Cooking Classes at The Hutong Kitchen

¬ Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon The Great Wall International Marathon is held on the third Saturday of May every year since 1999. This year's marathon kicks off on May 17.

The scenic Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon route runs approximately 42.195 kilometres and has been endorsed by the International Marathon Associaton. There are different routes participants can

choose from including a male/ female marathon, a half-marathon (21km), a 10km marathon and a 5km marathon.

Where: Huangyaguan Great Wall, Jixian County, Tianjin (about one hour drive from Beijing) When: May 17 Info: great-wall-marathon.com/

Learn to cook a variety of dishes from within and beyond China's borders. Lessons range from learning to pull noodles the traditional Chinese way, to which knives and other kitchen utensils to use, to dishes unique to the ethnic Chinese minorities. Classes cost 280 yuan (US$46.21) per class.

Where: The Hutong, Beixinqiao. Beijing Info: thehutong.com/

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

What’s on

¬ Beijing International Peach Blossom Music Festival Beijing's Pinggu District has the world's largest peace blossom garden which spans over 14,000 hectares. The music festival is held throughout April till early May, and includes folk dances, walks accompanied by romantic music and various fun activites for the whole family. Admission is free.

Where: Pinggu district, Beijing

¬ The Bird's Nest Ice and Snow Festival A snow wonderland filled with fun for the entire family located in China's US$ 423- million Beijing Olympic venue—the Bird's Nest. Seven Disney princesses will accompany you in various activities: the Mermaid, Submarine Dream Concert, Midnight Party of Cinderella, Floating Projection of Beauty and the Beast, Snow White interactive Area, Tangled Castle, Lamp of Aladdin Interactive Area and Sleeping Beauty photo booth. Other attractions

include a snow castle, dancing on ice, ice skating, ice bumper cars, snowball fight competition, snow games and a snow mine obstacle challenge. Tickets are 120 yuan ($19.80) on Mondays to Fridays and 160 yuan ($26.40) on weekends. Children under 1.2 metres of height enter for free.

Where: China's National Stadium (also known as The Bird's Nest)

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

What’s on

Beijing International Music Festival The Beijing International Music Festival is an important annual event for classical music in China. Sponsored by the Beijing International Music Festival and Academy, the festival is participated by musicians and music lovers alike from all over the world. It also sees the works of students from the academy performing in collaboration with renown local and international classical artistes.

Where: The Beijing International Music Academy , 43 Baojia Road, Xicheng District When: August 11-23 Info: www.bimfa.org

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Sanlitun Village 三里屯 Village

¬ Joy City (大悦城) The biggest mall in Xidan, this 13-storey complex comes equipped with the world’s longest escalator, the largest digital cinema in China and the largest cosmetic shop in Beijing. Find Zara here as well as FAB, Uniqlo, Next, Motivi and Honeys.

Address: 131 Xidan Beidajie,

¬ Nali Patio (那里花园) This impressive example of innovative architecture includes two parts. The Village South has popular high-street fashion brands like Uniqlo, Steve Madden, Esprit, Mango, the Apple Store and Adidas’ flagship store, as well as 30 restaurants and a multiplex cinema. The more upscale Village North is home to a number of high-end labels and local designer boutiques, including Emporio Armani, Comme des Garcons, Balenciaga and Shanghai Trio.

Address: 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District,

This cluster of former school buildings has been turned into one of Sanlitun's best spots for outdoor dining and shopping. You can find kitchenware shop Pantry Magic, American Apparel and other boutiques from international and local designers.

Address: 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Panjiayuan Antique Market (潘家园旧货市场)

¬ Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park (蓝色港湾国际商区) This shopping centre is like a breath of California in Beijing. Styled much like the outdoor malls you find all over California, Solana houses more than 1,000 international brands, with dozens of retail shops, restaurants as well as a lively bar and club strip.

Address: 6 Chaoyang Park Road

Come to this massive, open air market to bargain for everything from life-sized terracotta warriors, vintage photographs, Chinese style porcelain to calligraphy scrolls.

Sure, you might not be buying

authentic antiques but if you can't tell who else can?

Address: West of Panjiayuan

Bridge

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Silk Street Market (Xiushui) (秀水服装市场) Yes, it’s packed, yes it’s terrifically annoying, but it is an essential shopping stop. Bargain mercilessly for anything from North Face jackets to Swatch watches to jade statuettes.

The kids will go wild for the huge toy market on the third floor.

Address: 8 Xiushui Dongjie

¬ Zoo Market (动物园服装批发市场) This massive wholesale market actually comprises seven markets, all located around Beijing Zoo. The most popular ones are Julong, Tianlegong and Shiji Tianle.

Here, you can get stuff for half-price if you bargain hard or buy in bulk. Beijing's savviest fashionistas scour the racks here to find cheap gems.

Address: Around Beijing Zoo

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Jingcheng Baixing (京城百姓) This little store stocks a range of tiger sculptures, as well as a number of other traditional Chinese handicrafts and toys. With a great emphasis on play, a great spot to learn about Chinese culture. Tigers cost between 10-150 yuan, and other toys are only 5-15 yuan. Take on owner Lin at one of the many Chinese puzzles and brain teasers in the store—if you win, you get a special discount.

Address: 44 Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District

¬ Lisa Tailor Shop This expat favourite offers detailed service and high quality at reasonable prices. Lisa also offers express service, tailor-making suits within 24 hours. Get anything from a qipao or a Mao suit done to your specifications.

¬ Hongqiao Market (红桥市场) Also known as the pearl market, this is where you go for fake pearls that look like the real thing. You can also find better quality jade accessories on the top floor and the usual hodge podge of knock-off name brands on the first floor.

Address: 36 Tiantan Donglu Address: No.3006,3/F.3.3 Fashion Plaza, Sanlitun Bar Street,

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Hotpot A favourite, and with good reason: heaven and hell divided moats, which are great; plus a secret chilli spice pouch and a milky broth that balance like yin and yang. Order the hand-pulled noodles—complete with a private hip-hop table dance.

¬ Beijing Roast Duck Da Dong is the undisputed king of kaoya, Beijing’s roast duck. Smoky flavours and deep mahogany crisp skin come from roasting over sweet date wood. A special farm to raise the ducks doesn’t hurt either.

It’s a splurge at 198 yuan per duck and an additional 5 yuan for the fixings.

Recommended Restaurant: Da Dong Address: 1-2 Nanxincang Shangye Daxia, 22A Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng district Telephone: +86-5169 0329

Recommended Restaurant: Haidilao (海底捞) Address: 2A Baijiazhuang Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区白家庄路甲2号 Telephone: +86-6595-2982 Web: haidilaohuoguo.com

¬ Roasted chestnuts There’s always a long queue for these hot nuts at Fragrant Autumn Chestnut. Here, noisy machines roast petite chestnuts (15 yuan per 500g), from nearby Huairou County, that are golden sweet and peel nice and easy. No English menu.

Recommended Restaurant: Fragrant Autumn Chestnut (秋栗香) Address: 2 Di'anmen Xi Dajie, (north-east corner at the intersection of Di'anmenwai Dajie), Xicheng district 西城区地安门西大街2号 Telephone: +86-6401 6838

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Shopping

¬ Mala xiangguo Some say mala xiangguo is a Beijing interpretation of Sichuan food, while others say it’s actually called gan guo, a dry hotpot from Hunan where you can choose from a kitchen sink of ingredients by portion. Choose your heat level from wimpy to nuclear and, soon enough, a big black bowl (from 50 yuan) will show up with an alarming pile of two types of red chillies, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise and other spices, and everything you ordered. Use the wooden paddle to toss the ingredients occasionally to mix up the flavours and dip in.

Recommended Restaurant: Lao Che Ji Mala Xiang Guo

(老车记麻辣香锅)

Address: F5-03, Fifth Floor, U-Center, Chengfu Lu, (across from Grandma’s Kitchen), Haidian district

海淀区成府路28号优盛大厦五层F5-03 Telephone: +86-6266 6180

BEIJING

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Eateries

¬ Zhajiang mian

¬ Dumplings Everyone has their favourite dumpling place, but one thing that shoots any dumpling onto a higher pedestal is the option of frying. Here’s where Mr Shi, an earnest English speaker, is happy to oblige. His three-sided fried potstickers will rock your world.

Choose your filling and get 15 per order (12 yuan-23 yuan).

Recommended Restaurant: Mr Shi's Dumplings (老石饺子) Address: 74 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng district

东城区宝钞胡同74号 Telephone: +86-8405 0399

When you enter, servers announce the number in your party by shouting like an army brigade.

Have a bowl of zhajiang mian (12 yuan), the Beijing must-have noodle dish made with handpulled wheat noodles served slightly warm (or room temperature) with a tangle of shredded cucumber bean sprouts, bright radish, and soybeans. Stir in the little dish of oily brown bean sauce and toss to coat for a taste of Beijing.

Recommended Restaurant: Old Beijing Zhajiang Noodle King

(老北京炸酱面大王) Address: 56 Dong Xinglongjie, Chongwen district 崇

文区东兴隆街56号 Telephone: +86- 6701 1116

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Eateries

¬ Chuan'r If a flight to Xinjiang isn’t in your plans, make your way over to the spanking new Muslim canteen at the Beijing Language and Culture University where you can order a choice of cuts, including roast mutton chops, shashlik, and halabi kebab (like a long meatball). The cheapest standard chuan’r will set you back 3 yuan, and the roasted balls aren’t testicles, but really just a meatball of ground lamb (5 yuan). For those who prefer a more meaty bite, roast mutton is just 10 yuan.

Recommended Restaurant: BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University) Muslim Restaurant (穆斯林餐厅) Address: 15 Xueyuan Lu, (inside BLCU south gate and to the left), Haidian district 海

淀区学院路15号(北京语言大学内) Telephone: +86-8230 3278

¬ Milk custard

There’s an obsession with yoghurt and milk custard in Beijing. While we love the yoghurt at Kashgar, this place vies for our attention too and also does nailao, a milk custard made from rice wine that translates as cheese (8 yuan). Wen Yu is the third generation in his family carrying on the tradition and has made folks line up for seven years in the trendy hutong heartland of Nanluoguxiang. Imitators encroach on all sides so beware and make sure to go early —it sells out in the afternoon, and you have to see the queues to believe them.

Recommended Restaurant: Wen Yu’s Milk Custard Shop (文宇奶酪店) Address: 49 Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng district 东城区南锣鼓巷49号 Mobile: +86-136 9330 9819

BEIJING

ASIAN CITY GUIDE

Eateries

Roasted sweet potato

¬ Roasted fish Rumour has it this dish was created near the university campuses of Haidian. Grass carp (36.8 yuan per 500g) is the fish that’s usually used here. It’s buttered, roasted, set on a shallow chafing dish and simmered with your choice of sauces: mala; spicy hot pickled; or black bean. There’s also a choice of additional vegetables, including asparagus, lettuce, lotus, celery, smoked tofu and more (10 yuan each).

It’s best to reserve, if you can.

Recommended Restaurant: Zhu Yu Fang (竹鱼坊) Address: 53 Beijige Santiao,Wangfujing, Dongcheng district 东城 东单北极阁三条53号 Telephone: +86-6522 2335

The metal drum roasters are plentiful on the streets, but there are also shops dedicated to all things sweet potato like this aptly named shop. Best bets are bags of crunchy chips (10 yuan), and if you get there from 8:30am to any time before about 6pm, you’ll get a roasted sweet potato at 5.8 yuan per 500g. Call to reserve. If you’re having a party, give notice three hours in advance and the shop will deliver to you locally.

Recommended Restaurant: Digua Fang (Sweet Potato House, 地瓜坊) Address: 256 Yonghegong Beixinqiao, Dongcheng district

东城区雍和宫大街56号 Telephone: +86-8403 0258