City Life

City Life

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CHINADAILY

C ITY L IFE

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City Life

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City Life

Beijing’s hottest bars In the chilled out but still pleasant weather of Beijing’s autumn, heading into town for a couple of drinks is a great way to spend your Friday or Saturday evenings. > p28

Autumn Getaways in Beijing Summer is long gone and autumn is already halfway through, but there is still some time to make amends. For those who don’t have the luxury of long holidays and have no intention of joining the long lines to get on planes and trains around China, short trips around Beijing might be a better idea. > p3

Cycling in Old Beijing Stay healthy in autumn the Chinese way In traditional Chinese thought, everything follows the Yin and the Yang. These twins are two opposing forces. The Yin represents the cold, feminine and passive side, while the Yang represents the hot, masculine and active one. > p26

With a bright and clear intensity under the azure sky, both the modern and ancient nuances of the city can rise to the surface. When the first leaf begins to turn yellow, you will know that the best time to explore Beijing has arrived. > p6

Produced by China Daily | Contact: Andy leung | Hotline: +86 10 6480-8680 | Email: lwen@chinadaily.com.cn Design: Zhang Ye September 2013

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City Life

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City Life

AutumnGetaways in Beijing

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ummer is long gone and autumn is already halfway through, but there is still some time to make amends. For those who don’t have the luxury of long holidays and have no intention of joining the long lines to get on planes and trains around China, short trips around Beijing might be a better idea.

The Commune by the Great Wall

When it comes to deciding where to go, however, it’s easy to get confused and frustrated by the recommendations of Beijing travel guides and websites. Everything sounds pretty fun, but at the same time, it all seems a bit similar. Most of the suggestions involve visiting clichéd hot spots without offering anything new or exciting.

To help you elude the overcrowded tourist destinations, we have hand-picked some lesser-known escapes for you. Many are geographically close to the classic tourist places but they offer refreshingly different features and promise slightly more of an adventure. Your entertainment is guaranteed.

When it comes to a place like China, which covers 9.6 million km², it would be quite hard to get the true gist of it even if you traveled around the whole country. But some hotels go to such extremes to represent Chinese culture in their architecture and hospitality that you’re likely to fall in love with them at first sight. The Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski in Beijing is one such resort.

This boutique hotel smartly chose the Great Wall of China as its backdrop and beautifully dotted the green ridges around that area with its inspired layout of 32 villas and 10 contemporary chalets for a total of 236 rooms and suites. The hotel’s private collection of contemporary architecture was designed by 12 of the greatest Asian architects:

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City Life

Gary Chang (Hong Kong): Suitcase House, Shigeru Ban (Japan): Furniture House, Cui Kai (China): "See" and "Seen" House, Rocco Yim (Hong Kong): Distorted Courtyard House, Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan): Airport, Antonio Ochoa (China): Cantilever House, Kengo Kuma (Japan): Bamboo Wall, Kanika R-kul (Thailand): The Shared House, Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore): The Twins, Nobuaki Furuya (Japan): Forest House, Yung Ho Chang (China): Split House, and Seung H-Sang (South Korea): The Clubhouse.

As the names imply, these private houses have many artistic flourishes, giving them a kind of whimsical charm.

The whole collection was exhibited at the 2002 la Biennale di Venezia, a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years (in odd years) in Venice, Italy and bestowed a special prize. In 2005, The Commune by the Great Wall was praised by Business Week as a "New Architectural Wonder of China".

The Commune by the Great Wall is now comprised of forty villas with 175 suites and eleven Presidential Suites, plus three restaurants, a Kid’s Club as well as an outdoor pool and tennis court.

But the highlights of the hotel do not end there. It also enjoys a private path to a non-restored section of the Great Wall. Hiking on the undeveloped wall is a totally different experience to a normal Great Wall trip. With no noisy crowds around you and no tourist guides bothering you with their monotonous explanations, you are left alone to enjoy the raw beauty of Chinese history.

The silhoutted wall zizags its way up and down, leading you from the present to the distant past.

Horse riding clubs in the Beijing suburbs

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How to get there The Commune by the Great Wall is conveniently accessible from The Great Wall Exit at Shuiguan, off of Beijing’s Badaling Expressway. Nestled in the Shuiguan Mountains amidst 8 square kilometers of private land, the property is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Beijing International Capital Airport, 20 kilometers away from a main train station (Qing Long Qiao Station) and a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Beijing’s city center. The property is only a 15 minute drive from the Badaling private airport (a 20 minute transfer from Beijing Capital Airport), which accommodates helicopters and small airplanes with its 800 meter long runway.

Address: Shuiguan Great Wall Exit, Badaling Highway, Beijing Tel: +86 10 5878 8205 (within China: 010 5878 8205) Fax: +86 10 6567 8383 Email: reservations.thegreatwall@kempinski.com or reservation@commune.com.cn Website: www.communebythegreatwall.com

Horse riding, a hobby constantly portrayed as one of the fashionable pastimes of noble families in the West, is now gaining popularity in China as well. It is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Although many start riding at a really young age, most people don’t get the chance until adulthood.

When it comes to horse riding in China, Inner Mongolia is usually the best place to go because of its large grassland and its people’s nomadic lifestyle. But if you look closely, Beijing in fact has more to offer than you might expect.

There are at least five horse riding clubs in Beijing. Most of Beijing’s horse riding clubs are situated in the suburbs. After only a one or two hour drive, you’ll be out of the hustle and bustle of the central city and into a secluded place where you can have fun.

City Life

Holiday on horseback in Beijing offers a unique experience. The riding clubs provide basic training lessons for beginners and specially designed routes to travel around the tourist destinations in suburban Beijing. The Kangxi Grassland is one of the best clubs.

Located to the east of Guanting reservoir, the Kangxi Grassland is the land of inundation for the reservoir. It’s an area of more than 20 km². That’s covered in masses of flowers and trees, which is almost ideal for horse riding activities such as training and racing.

Besides facilities for experts, Kangxi also has a standard horse riding field with horses that tourists can ride.

There are several routes that experienced riders can take along the Great Wall. But if you are not interested in these riding routes, you can always call the staff when you make your reservation and tell them what you want. They will customize the ideal horse riding tour for you.

Go organic

Have you ever wondered where 1.3 billion Chinese people get their food? Although many of them live inside citites, almost half of China’s population still lives in rural areas where they can grow their own food. If you want to learn about the challenges of growing good food, you can pay a visit to Green Cow Farm in suburban Beijing. Here you can get the first-hand experience of planting your own organic food and enjoy fresh salad ingredients, seasonally grown fruits and vegetables and other foods that are naturally, organically grown.

How to get there Address: Dongkezhuang Village North, Houshayuzhen, Shunyi, Beijing From the city: Take Jingcheng Highway to Airport North Expressway. Then take the first exit called “2 Tianbeilu”. Make a left on Tainbeilu and drive north for approximately one kilometer. Keep going straight. You’ll pPass under the Airport Expressway, and then you’ll pass a driving school on your left. Continue about 800 meters (about 2 long streets), then lLook for an orange decorative windmill on your left. Make a left there and you will see a fishing pond, then Green Cow Farm will appear on your left. Proceed straight to the parking area.

By subway: Take subway line 15 to Houshayu (后沙峪 ). Get out and transfer to the Shun 38 bus. Get off at the Donggezhuang stop.

How to get there Kangxi Grassland is 10 km to the north of Badaling Great Wall, about a 90-minute drive from downtown Beijing along the Badaling Highway.

Tel: 6913 1601-1638 Bus: Catch bus 919 from Deshengmen past the Wall to Xibozi (西拨子 ). The 919 passes but does not always stop at Xibozi, so it is important to tell the bus attendant your destination. Local cabbies will be waiting at the Xibozi underpass to haggle with you over the fare to Kangxi (you shouldn't pay more than RMB 30 for one way).Taxi: Big spenders can take a cab straight out to the grasslands. The roundtrip fare from Xizhimen to Kangxi was quoted as being anywhere from RMB 350 to 500 one-way, not including the RMB 30 Badaling Expressway toll booth fee.Car: Take Badaling Expressway until it ends (where it turns into Jingzhuang Expressway), then turn west and follow the signs for Kangxi.

Approximate distance: 85 km

Other horse riding clubs Beijing Green Equestrian Club The official training grounds for the Beijing Equestrian team, this club offers 20 hectares of space, including a racetrack. It also has guest rooms and a restaurant.

Address: Loutai village, Tianzhu town, Jichang Fu Lu Website: www.bjglmh.com Opening Hours: 7:30am-11:30am, 2pm-6pm

Tel: 6457-7166 Email: jackxie414@hotmail.com

Beijing Equuleus International Riding Club Next to the Airport Expressway, the club has 11 qualified, bilingual instructors and more than 90 horses. It welcomes people of all skill levels. Facilities include three stables, two outdoor arenas (one of which can be used in the evening), an indoor arena, a training area, a club house and a saddlery store. Founded in 1999, the Club has been inspected and accredited.

Address: Sunhe Zhen, 91 Shunbai Lu Website: www.equriding.com

Tel: 6432-4947 (English) Opening Hours: 8am-12pm, 2pm-6pm, daily

Han Ci Horse Club A riding club geared toward Chinese with amenities including an apple orchard, overnight facilities and a hunting ground.

Address: West Changping, Guanhuan Island Website: www.hanci.cn

Tel: 136-7139-7716 Email: biansl@126.com

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Cycling in Old Beijing

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eople who have lived in Beijing for a while are likely to tell you that the city has a distinct character. Dark and dreary as it may be in the winter, it can be extremely agreeable in autumn thanks to its overall sunny days that aren’t overbearingly hot. With a bright and clear intensity under the azure sky, both the modern and ancient nuances of the city can rise to the surface. When the first leaf begins to turn yellow, you will know that the best time to explore Beijing has arrived.

As Jane Jacob once said, “the ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and any one place is always replete with improvisation.”

Therefore, in New York, people say that if you want to know the city, you walk.

But when it comes to Beijing, a city also mapped out like a chessboard, but much bigger, the best way to roam around and observe is arguably to cycle.

If you do not have a bike, don’t worry. Renting bikes is easy in Beijing -just look for the white and red bikes on the sidewalks.

Just this year, Beijing has nearly doubled its number of bicycles for rent to an estimated 25,000.

In Beijing, bikes are free to rent for the first hour, with the cost being 1 yuan (16 cents) for each additional hour. The maximum expense for a full day should be no more than 10 yuan but people can only

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rent a bike for a maximum of three days each time.

People with an ID card or passport can register at designated places and deposit 200 yuan to allow them to use their regular transport card to access the service.

Once you are fully equipped, you can start your journey, but where should you start? Should you check out the overcrowded tourist destinations or try to forge your own path?

There are some sightseeing spots in Bejiing that, while crowded, are still must-sees for all tourists.

The trick is to visit them at a particular time of day when they are less crowded and explore the neighborhoods around them during the same trips. People are often too focused on the famous attractions to notice the hidden gems nearby.

Here we provide you with three cycling routes, including dining tips, t h ro u g h Ol d Be i j i n g , which denotes the city center within the Second Ring Road. In Beijing’s oldest neighborhoods, you’ll see colorful hutongs, narrow lanes and alleyways teeming with locals. These twisting streets were originally formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences.

Along these routes, you will get to hear fascinating stories about ancient architecture and design, experience the ways of life in the hutongs and enjoy delicious local snacks and street food.

City Life

Route one Drum and Bell Towers – Shichahai Cultural and Historical Zone - Lotus Market – Dianmennei Dajie - Jingshan Best time to go: early morning When you are in a totally new place experiencing an unfamiliar culture, sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to do first. But don’t worry. A smart shortcut is to do what the locals do: start your day with a hearty, traditional breakfast.

Yaoji Chaogan is a small restaurant right next to the Drum Tower. The shop became famous when US vice president Joe Biden stopped by there for a meal in 2011. But the people living in the neighborhood’s hutongs have been coming here for breakfast for more than 30 years.

For the rest of the day the restaurant is mostly packed with tourists. If you want to go, go in the early morning and you will hear everyone ordering in the local dialect. It is interesting to watch how the regular customers interact with the staff. The charm and warmth of the human relationships in the hutongs are somehow well preserved at this family restaurant around the corner.

If you want to see whether you have a strong enough constitution to be a true local, try the fermented douzhi. The signature dish chaogan, a

thick livery stew with pig intestines and crushed raw garlic, is also something you shouldn’t miss.

When you finish your local breakfast, a trip to the Drum Tower is worthwhile. You’ll first see a set of long, almost vertical stairs waiting for you.

Climbing these in the dim morning light, you may feel as though you are travelling in a time warp back to the distant past.

Suddenly, you may hear the rumble of a drum coming from the top of the stairs. That’s the drum show, which is carried out every hour from 9:30 to 11:30 in the morning and 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon.

As early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) period, there was “a morning bell and a dusk drum”. Telling the time by these played an important role in helping people live and work regularly when there was no other means to keep track of the time.

The Drum and Bell Towers are positioned on the central axis of Beijing. The 7.8km central axis stretches from Yongdingmen Gate in the south to the Drum and Bell Towers in the north. It is sometimes called "the spine of Beijing”.

From here southward, Jingshan, the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven are all placed on this spine. Interwoven with the spine are the east-towest narrow alleys, or hutongs, decorated by old residences with grey tilted roofs and ornate iron gates, here and there dotted with green trees.

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After a little climbing and panting, it is time to get back to the ground and your two-wheeler.

The Shichahai Historical and Cultural Protection Zone is just around the corner. In the past, there were many temples and mansions in this area.

Most of them, however, are now hotels, office buildings or local residents’ homes.

Shichahai actually includes Xihai, Houhai and Qianhai. Houhai is perhaps the most famous of these three bodies of water because of the bar streets that line its banks.

Compared with the hustle and bustle at night, morning moments at Houhai are much more refreshing. When you’re riding along the river banks, you’re likely to catch a glimpse of locals’ daily lives.

If you feel hungry, there are a lot of restaurants along the banks and around the Gulou (Drum Tower) area, such as Courtyard of Lijiang Soft Time, 4Corners and Little Saigon in Paris.

Coming out the Lotus Market at one end of Shichahai and cycling down the Dianmennei Dajie, you will come to Jingshan Park.

Jingshan Mountain overlooks the northern part of the Forbidden City. Nearby streets like Jingshan East Street, Jingshan West Street, Jingshan Front Street, Jingshan Back Street, Zhishan Men Street, Wusi Street, Di’anmen Street and Wenjin Street have all been protected as examples of some of Beijing’s earliest, most traditional areas.

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This area was not only home to many temples and institutes that served the imperial family, but it was also the cradle of the famous May Fourth Movement (which marked the spread of Marxism in China). Because of its important location to the Imperial City, the hutongs here differ greatly from those in other areas. Take your time to explore the neighborhood or you can also choose to simply climb Jingshan Hill.

Jingshan is a manmade hill, built out of rocks and soil dug up from the former canal Shichahai.

The hill is 42.6 meters tall and used to be the highest point of the skyline of old Beijing. On top of the hill, you will have a beautiful bird’s eye view of the Forbidden City.

City Life

Route Two Ditan Park - Lama Temple - Beijing Imperial College or Guozijian - Wudaoying Hutong - Guozijian Street - Dongsibei Street - Zhangzizhong Street- Beihai Park Dianmennei Street - Doufuchi hutong Best time to go: evening, just before sunset In Beijing, riding a bike in the subtle and crisp wind on an autumn evening can be delightful, with the brilliant shafts of sunlight bursting through the waving branches. At this time, all of the yellow leaves take on a tint of gold.

Ditan Park is a good starting point for such an evening ride. Even during rush hour the traffic is not so bad on Hepingli Xijie, the main street running alongside the park. Here, people play tennis and dance on the sidewalk as part of their evening exercise.

Not far from the park is the oldest hutong block in Beijing. Lama Temple, Bailin Temple, Horse God Temple and various other Buddhist temples are in this area.

Besides all of the temples, this area was also a place where the most intelligent Chinese students took classes. Beijing Imperial College is on Guozijian Street, which is on the opposite side from Lama Temple. Beijing Imperial College,

or Guozijian, was built in the Yuan dynasty and was the highest ranked national school and educational administration center for several dynastic periods.

Its former social importance shows in the street’s width. It was built wider than most other hutongs and it has four gilded archways.

Ride down to the south along Yonghegong Street and you will reach the Dongsi area. Nine hutongs running south to north in this area were named after the numbers from one to nine; for instance, Dongsi Toutiao Hutong (Tou means first) and Dongsi Jiutiao Hutong (Jiu means nine).

The hutongs in this area were mainly built during the Ming dynasty. They are some of the few hutongs that have been almost completely well-preserved through the present day.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Dongsi used to a financial hub because it was near the imperial grain warehouse. That’s why a lot of princes and high ranking officials chose to live in this area.

In the 1920s, Dongsi became home to famous authors, scholars and government officials and celebrities. It became the epitome of Beijing’s public hutong life. A dozen of courtyards located around here are on the historical heritage preservation list.

The Xintai Grain Warehouse, or Xintaicang in Chinese, was located near Beixinqiao in

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Doufuchi hutong

Dongcheng district. This area includes Dongzhimen Nan Street, Dongsi Shitiao, Dongsi Bei Street and Dongzhimennei Street. The hutongs which include the word for “warehouse” (cang in Chinese) were used to store the imperial grain.

If time permits, a quick tour around Beihai Park may bring you some nice surprises. If you’re lucky, the sunset will fade and blends from pink to peach to mango, like a smoothie in the sky. The blue lake will becomes pinkish with the golden light dancing on the waves.

Surrounded by the yellow and green leaves on the hill, the park’s classic pagoda stands serenely, watching its own reflection in the lake of colors.

Wrap your trip up by riding on Doufuchi hutong near the Bell Tower. The vibrant bar and restaurant scene on this alley will provide you a variety of choices for good food and drinks.

Drum and Bell Towers Shichahai Cultural and Historical Zone Lotus Market

Dianmennei Street

Beihai Park Jingshan

Tian'anmen

qianmen Liulichang

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Route three Qianmen-Liulichang Best time to go: afternoon

Wudaoying Hutong

Ditan Park Lama Temple Beijing Imperial College or Guozijian and Dongsibei Street Dongsibei Street

Zhangzizhong Street

Rental card staiton (Chaoyangmenwai street)

Southern Beijing is, for some reason, not as well-known as its counterparts, Xicheng and Dongcheng districts, but it was in this part of the city where Beijing’s folk culture truly flourished. In ancient times, wealthy and royal families dwelled in the Dongcheng and Xicheng districts. But the southern Old City belonged to the common people.

Markets and factories were formed here over centuries. One of the most famous markets was Dashilan in Qianmen.

Dashilan was regarded as the most important cultural hub in southern Beijing, and it is still a crowded and prosperous market center today.

It extends from the west of Qianmen and the west of outer Zhengyangmen to South Xinhua Street. It is an old street with the character of the early twentieth century period of modern China.

The eastern part of the street today has mainly business buildings, including two Chinese -style bank buildings originally containing Yien Yieh Commercial Bank and the Bank of Communications.

It also has a department store and the Securities Exchange building from the 1930s.

To the west are clubs and performance centers.

Zhengyi temple and the former residence of the famous Peking Opera master, Qiu Shengrong, are located here. The well-know Hepingmen Quanjude roast duck restaurant is at the western entrance of this street.

Since you are already at Qianmen, to the west of Dashilan is also a place worth stopping by – Liulichang.

Liulichang Street is almost 800 meters long in total from west to south, or from Beiliu alley to the east end of Yanshou Street. The street takes its name, Liulichang, from its official glazed tiles which were added from the Yuan Dynasty onward. “Liuli” means the glazed tiles and “chang” means factory. This name has been kept through the present day.

Liulichang gradually turned into a cultural street full of life and character during the Qing Dynasty period. At that time, shops like Rongbaozhai, Yideege and China Book Store were opened here.

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Saveurs de Coree Homemade authentic Korean classics are delicately presented in this welldesigned restaurant. The kimchee hobak, made with homemade kimchee, pork and pumpkin is a must-try. Other menu items like the sweet and spicy squid with purple rice gimbab, Korea’ s version of a rice and seaweed maki roll, are good for sharing. Traditional Korean cinnamon tea is also served here and pairs well with the dishes.

Address: 20, Ju’er Hutong, Dongcheng district, Beijing Tel: 010-64016083

Naifen Dessert Cafe Occupying an unassuming white storefront in Dongcheng, this very cute, cozy little cafe offers a variety of teas, coffees and sweets. The desserts and pastries are especially tasty, as are the milk teas. The cafe features freshly made cheesecakes in different flavors such as durian, blueberry and green tea. There's also a rooftop deck upon which you can sip coffee outdoors.

Yaoji Chaogan Neighborhood cafe serving fresh local food and all-day authentic Beijing-style breakfast. Famously, Vice President Joe Biden visited this restaurant in 2011. Offers a variety of soups and dumplings ranging from Western-friendly to a totally alien pallette. Rewards both the nervous and the adventurous, with simple staples like baozi as well as soups and stews made entirely of animal guts.

Address : 311 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing Tel: 8401 0570 First building opens 6am-1.30pm, second building 11am-10pm Mon-Fri. Both open 6am10.30pm Sat and Sun

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Address: 141 Jiu Gulou Dajie Tel: 64026031

City Life

Le Little Saigon

Cheese Youth This cozy cafe has become one of Beijing’s classically reliable options for afternoon tea. This is the kind of place where you can order a cup of coffee with a piece of cheesecake and then indulge in your music and books for the rest of the day. Located on the second floor, the cafe also offers a perfect bird’s view of the busiest street in the Drum Tower area, making it one of the best people-watching spots in the city.

Address: 141 Guloudong Dajie

Tel: 64017164

Just as the name indicates , Le Little Saigon is a small and cozy Vietnamese restaurant situated on the buoyant Jiugulou Dajie near the Drum Tower. The restaurant features a fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisines.

Bobun, a type of rice noodle with bean sprouts, lettuce and thinly sliced beef, perfectly blends sweet and pungent flavors with a hint of mint, and is well worth coming back for. The escargot starter, which is baked in a garlic butter sauce, is another treat of which you shouldn’t deprive yourself. It is served with a basket of light and crispy baguette pieces. If you go on a clear and sunny day, a meal on the rooftop offers unique enjoyment.

Address 141 Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xicheng district, Beijing Tel: 64018465 11am-11.30pm daily

4Corners A recent addition to the Gulou/Houhai corridor is this hip bar and restaurant, hidden away on the mostly residential Dashibei Hutong. Known primarily as a weekend party spot for hutong hipster Chinese and ex-pats, 4corners’ mix of Vietnamese, Thai and Canadian dishes and sandwiches has won it plaudits from customers and critics alike. Their pho, the traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup, is undoubtedly the best available in Beijing.

Meanwhile, they offer lots of different types of fried and fresh spring rolls, which are great for sharing, and on special nights, they do the best poutine – french fries served with fresh cheese curds and gravy, a delicacy of Quebec, Canada – in the northern capital.

Address 27 Dashibei Hutong, (off Gulouxidajie), Xicheng district 12pm-late Tuesday-Sunday

Tel: 64017797

Dali Renjia Located on Baochao Hutong, north of Gulou Dongdajie, this restaurant is known for its pleasant rooftop seating and its wide array of Yunnan dishes.

The fried goat cheese served with crushed huajiao pepper is toe-curlingly tasty. Meanwhile, the Old Town Fried Pork served with mint and chili offers a flavor pallette that will draw in and amaze any Westerner – especially those with preconceived notions about Chinese food. Outside of a trip to Dali itself, a visit to Dali Renjia is one of the best and most affordable ways to get a taste of Yunnan cuisine. Most people will pay between 50 and 100 RMB and eat more than their fill of numerous, varied dishes from the province.

Address 80 Baochao Hutong (off Gulou Dongdajie), Dongcheng District Daily 10.30am-11pm

Tel 8402 2479

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n the chilled out but still pleasant weather of Beijing’s autumn, heading into town for a couple of drinks is a great way to spend your Friday or Saturday evenings (or both). Whether you’re looking for somewhere to take friends or make them, the pubs and cocktail bars listed below are without a doubt the best that Beijing has to offer. Each brings something slightly different to its tables in terms of atmosphere and product, but all have devoted customers, friendly service and extensive menus. They’re local favorites for a reason. None is likely to go out of business – or out of fashion -- any time soon.

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Great Leap Brewery 6 Doujiao Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District; Phone: 010-5717-1399 12 Xinzhong Street, Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang District; Phone: 010-6416-6687

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or quite a few years now, Great Leap Brewery has been offering the best local craft beers in Bejiing. Given the ubiquity in China of bland, thin beers like Yanjing and Tsingtao, Great Leap’s wide array of brews, all of which have actual flavor and body, are a huge hit with smart ex-pats.

The brewery’s Doujiao Hutong location, five minutes west of Gulou’s famous Nanluoguxiang, is a classic hutong hipster hotspot. For only 20RMB, you can enjoy a Great Leap Pale Ale that puts to shame nearby bars’ 25RMB Yanjing drafts. Most people like to sit outside at this location, which always has a rotating list of about 10 different ales, porters, lagers, wheats and stouts, all of them brewed onsite and ranging from about 2540 RMB per pint.

But the menu is most extensive at Great Leap’s recently opened Xinzhong Street location, about a fifteen minute walk from the Sanlitun Village shopping center in Chaoyang.

Marketed as a “brewpub”, this bigger, more modernized Great Leap has a longer list of beers, and you can also enjoy one of Beijing’s best burgers here if you’re feeling peckish. They have several other sandwiches, appetizers and snacks that have drawn widespread acclaim in local magazines since the pub’s arrival. The expansion of the GLB empire is a huge positive for Beijing, and neither location should be missed.

Mao Mao Chong 12 Banchang Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng; Phone: 138-1035-1522

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here’s a reason that the smartest ex-pats you meet in Beijing love to drink in Dongcheng District. In addition to the aforementioned Great Leap, Dongcheng features classic spots like Mao Mao Chong, which has been serving

the most creative drinks in this area for about ten years. This little hole-in-the-wall bar also has cool ambience and an attentive staff, and there’s usually pretty decent music playing on the speakers.

More importantly, though, MMC offers topnotch libations, with a great beer selection featuring brews from local breweries Great Leap and Slow Boat. Most people come here for the mixed drinks. The ones that feature MMC’s homemade, Sichuan pepper and chili-infused vodka are essential drinking – in particular, the Mala Mule is a mind-blowing (and lip-numbing) experience. But the whiskey sour and gin blossom are also worth your attention. And if you’re hungry, MMC has the best Roman-style pizza in this district.

MMC’s Saturday and Sunday brunches, with these pizzas and other dishes combined with a selection of Bloody Mary variations and coffee-based cocktails, is an awesome way to start a weekend afternoon spent wandering the hutongs of Gulou.

Cuju 28 Xiguan Hutong, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng; Phone: 010-6407-9782

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f you want a typical sports bar experience with boring food, bland beers and massive TV screens, Cuju is not the place for you. If, on the other hand, you want the kind of sports bar that you’ve always dreamed of but never quite found in your hometown, give Cuju a shot for your next game.

This hutong hangout’s owner, head chef and drink designer Badr (pronounced bay-der) is Moroccan, but he has a deep and personal love for Western sports, especially American and European football. He’s an eminently amicable person who is easy to talk to, and he applies this attitude to his drinks and food. He’s eager to discuss his rotating, seasonal menu with customers and modify it to their tastes, if necessary. He is also extremely accommodating about showing the sports that customers want to watch on his two high definition TV screens with international sports satellite packages. As a

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result, even if your game starts at 7am, you can give Cuju a call and chances are, they will be open and showing it with some sort of food and drink pairing. The best way to drink at Cuju is to tell Badr what you’re in the mood for and let him do the rest. Meanwhile, the Morroccan food he serves on most nights is unique in Beijing and worth checking out all on its own.

Cuju earned awards for Best Sports Bar from both The Beijinger and City Weekend magazines last year, and once you give it a visit you’ll no doubt understand why. This is what a sports bar would be if it was inside one of your coolest neighbors’ houses, and if that neighbor could somehow cook delicious food and make the best drinks in town.

Q Bar 6/F, Eastern Hotel, Sanlitun Nanlu at Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang; Phone: 010-6595-9239

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o experience the model of a great cocktail bar, walk fifteen minutes directly south of Sanlitun Village. When you reach the Eastern Hotel, enter and take the elevator as high as it will go. Then follow the sign leading you up one more flight of stairs to Q Bar. The first thing you’ll observe when you get inside is the room’s exquisite design and lighting. The neon red color pallette and the well-dressed, attractive staff might make you feel as though you’re in a Wong Kar-Wai film. In reality, you’ve simply found your way to a reasonably priced, down-toearth drinking spot. Make a right upon entering to enjoy Q Bar’s outstanding outdoor seating which, while it doesn’t offer the best views in Beijing, is simply a great venue to relax and enjoy the bar’s strong, well-mixed drinks. The raspberry mojito comes highly recommended, but beware: it’s so delicious that most customers have to fight not to gulp it down in under two minutes. If you keep on like that, your night may become more interesting than you’d expected. But no worries – with its comfortable seating and accommodating bartenders, Q Bar is as great a place to dry out as it is to drink up.

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Barsips 1202A, 12/F, Bldg 7, Huaqing Jiayuan, Wudaokou, Haidian District (no phone)

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ast but not least, we’ve included another excellent hole-in-the-wall bar in one of Beijing’s most maligned areas: Wudaokou, Haidian. Professional ex-pats tend to look askance at this student-and-teacher village near the Northwest corner of the Fourth Ring Road, but it’s not all bad. While it is packed with lowrent student haunts like La Bamba, Helen’s and Propaganda (listed for your convenience so that you can conveniently avoid them), it also has classy eating establishments like The Bridge Café. And another place worth paying the cab fare for is Barsips, a Japanese bar in an obscure residential building.

Barsips probably offers the coolest vibe and ambience of any of the places on this list. That’s somewhat down to its mysterious location.

When you enter, a fabulous little pub unfolds before you, centered around a vintage bar and, usually, two sharply dressed and groomed Japanese bartenders. If you’re a lady, all week long you can pay 100 RMB to get unlimited cocktails from these chaps – and you’d better believe they know how to mix ‘em. Men pay 120 RMB from Sunday-Thursday and 150 on weekend nights. These are easily the best drinks in Haidian District, and among some of the best in the entire city. Sit back and groove to the bar’s vintage jukebox while enjoying one of any of the classics – the Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Daiquiris and Martinis are all delicious here. If you want to impress a date, I’m not sure you could do much better than taking her or him to Barsips.

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Cultural Events in October Oct 1–5 7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Oct 2–8 9:00am – 4:00pm

The Red Guards on Honghu Lake

Yu Huiwen Photography Exhibition

Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts, 2 West Changan Avenue, West of the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District Description: Beijing NCPA’s opera adaptation of The Red Guards on Honghu Lake. To reserve tickets, call +86 10 6655 0000.

Location: National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District Description: World famous Chinese photographer exhibits a new collection of shots.

Oct 1 7:30pm – 10:00pm

National Holiday Concert Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: Beijing NCPA concert for the Chinese National Day, Ode to Red Flag.

Oct 1–31 (except Mondays) 9:30am – 5:00pm

Andy Warhol Art Exhibition Location: Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, 8 Hua Jia Di Nan St., Chao Yang District Description: An exhibit featuring some of the greatest works of the 20th century’s most hailed pop artist.

Oct 3 7:30pm – 10:00pm

Austrian Choir Performance Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: The top national boys choir from Vienna, Austria comes to the Beijing NCPA for a performance.

Oct 4 9:00pm – 11:59pm

Piano Recital: Yundi Location: Poly Theatre, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongzhimen, Chaoyang District Description: This superstar classical pianist took home the first place prize at the prestigious Chopin International Piano Competition at the age of 18, making him the youngest pianist to win the competition.

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Oct 5 7:30pm – 10:00pm

Oct 12 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Oct 16 7:00pm – 9:30pm

Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra Performance

The Questioning 查房 Screening + Q&A with the director

Documentary Photography Workshop

Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: The top orchestra for chamber music based in Lithuania, led by conductor David Geringas, stops by the Beijing NCPA. Oct 7 7:30pm – 10:00pm

Cecil Bartoli Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: Famous vocalist Cecil Bartoli stops by the Beijing NCPA for a recital.

Location: Culture Yard, 10 Shique Hutong, Yonghegong, Dongcheng District Description: This short documentary captures a visit to support a human rights activist in Xinyu, a small town in Jiangxi province, by director Zhu Rikun, who discreetly switches on his camera when the police comes for a midnight ‘inspection’ of his hotel room. The director Zhu Rikun is also the co-founder and program director of Beijing Independent Film Festival. The screening will be followed by Q&A session with the director Zhu Rikun. Tickets are 40 RMB. Call 01084044166 to make a reservation.

Location: Luma Lu, Yangmeizhu Street No. 10-14, Qianmen District, Description: Professional photographers exhibit their works and offer hands-on instruction to aspiring amateurs.

Oct 12 7:30pm – 10:00pm

Daniel Hope Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: Famous violinist Cecil Bartoli stops by the Beijing NCPA for a recital.

Oct 17–20 7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Turandot Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: Beijing NCPA’s opera adaptation of Puccini’s Turandot.

Oct 18–22 7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Assassin Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: Watch a brand new production of Lin Zhaohua’s drama Assassin at the theatre space of Beijing’s NCPA. Oct 25–27 7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Oculus 2013 Dance Festival Location: National Centre for the Performing Arts Description: NCPA’s theatre space serves as the venue for the Cloud Gate 2 Oculus Dance Festival. See classical and avantgarde choreography performed by the world’s best dance troupes.

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What’s On in October Oct 5 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Suede Live In Beijing 2013 Location: Beijing Worker’s Stadium, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District Description: The Britpop legends stop in Beijing as part of their world tour.

Oct 6 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Skip & Die China Tour Location: Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Rd, Dongcheng District Description: This group’s eclectic sound combining South African vocals and electronic instrumentation makes its way to Yugong Yishan.

MUSIC Oct 1 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Killers Live In Beijing 2013 Location: MasterCard Center, 69 Fuxing Road, Haidian District Description: Worldwide rock sensation The Killers play Beijing for the first time in years.

Oct 8 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm

The Great Divide China Tour Location: School Bar, 53 Wudaoying Hutong, Yonghegong, Dongcheng District Description: The Great Divide stops in Beijing.

Oct 1 9:00 pm - 12:00 pm

P.K.14 New Album 1984 Release Show Location: Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Rd, Dongcheng District Description: P.K.14, the greatest postpunk band in China, plays supporting their new album.

Oct 11 9:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Oct 2 9:00 pm - 12:00 pm

Etta James Music Night Location: Cafe CD Blues, 39 Shenlu Street, opposite north gate of Ritan Park, Chaoyang District Description: Every Wednesday, CD Blues hosts an Etta James tribute night.

Bianyuan Live Location: School Bar, 53 Wudaoying Hutong, Yonghegong, Dongcheng District Description: Former frontman of punk band Joyside returns with a new solo set.

This Chinese eccentric is known for his guitar wizardry and bohemian lifestyle.

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must-see local act. “Lanzhou folk group has been blending lo-fi indie grunge, traditional Chinese music and Western folk structure for years,” writes City Weekend magazine. The folk art gallery Mako Live House hosts, and the show costs 100RMB at the door.

Oct 17 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Red Hot Chilli Pipers China Tour in Beijing

Oct 12 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Low Wormwood new album launch party Location: Mako Live House, Hongdian Art Factory, 36 Guangqu Lu, Shuangjing, Chaoyang District Description: One of the stalwarts of Beijing’s hip Maybe Mars label, Low Wormwood is a

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Location: Poly Theatre, Dongsishitiao, Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng District Description: Beijing tour stop for the most famous bagpipe band in the world, straight out of Scotland.

Oct 21 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Behemoth 2013 Live in Beijing Location: Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Rd, Dongcheng District Description: World famous Polish black metal band.

Oct 25 10:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.

The Drop Vol. 24: Special EP Release Party Location: Dada, Rm 101, Bldg B, 206 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District Description: Shanghai electronic music label The Drop holds another release party at the Dada branch in Beijing. Incredible DJs from all over China.

Oct 30 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Always Andy Lau China Tour 2013 Location: MasterCard Center, 69 Fuxing Road, Haidian District Description: Long-awaited Beijing performance from Andy Lau, a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, director and actor.

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COMEDY

Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 9:30pm - 12:00am

Comedy Club China English Standup Comedy Open Mic Night Location: Hot Cat Club, 46 Fangjia Hutong, Yonghegong, Dongcheng District Description: Every week, Beijing’s best English standup comedians take turns making laughter happen. Anyone is welcome to sign up to attempt five minutes of comedy.

Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 9:30pm - 12:00am

Beijing Improv Weekly Workshop Location: Hot Cat Club, 46 Fangjia Hutong, Yonghegong, Dongcheng District Description: Improv comedians gather to play games and practice improvised theater. Attend as a spectator and have a few drinks or give the art of off-thecuff hilarity a try yourself.

Oct 3, 17 8:00pm - 10:30pm

Giggle Bar Bilingual Standup Comedy Open Mic Night Location: Giggle Bar, 2/F, Beixinqiao Fuda Plaza (across from exit A, Beixinqiao station), Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District Description: Every first and third Thursday, talented performers from around Beijing tell jokes in Chinese and/ or English. It’s a great event for practicing your listening skills in either language -or both.

Oct 12 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Bilingual Improv Comedy Group Monthly Show Location: Zajia, No. 23 Doufu Chi Hutong, Jiugulou Street, Dongcheng District Description: Come see Beijing Improv’s bilingual group, BIG, perform at its new venue, Zajia! The quality of performance and frequency of laughs is always very high at BIG’s shows, and audience members can brush up on their Chinese or English. Recommended donation is 40RMB at the door.

Oct 26 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Beijing Improv Comedy English Players Monthly Show Location: Penghao Theatre, 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District Description: At these freewheeling improvised comedy shows, the Beijing Improv English Players are “ready to take your suggestions and create scenes that will make you giggle, guffaw, and laugh till your ribs are tickled pink”, according to the group’s website.

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Shopping Paradise

If you think historical and cultural heritage is all that Beijing has to offer, you’re way off. With its blend of modern shopping malls packed with designer fashions for men, women and kids and busy markets lined with stalls, Beijing’s shopping scene caters to every consumer’s whim.

Beijing continues to attract major world fashion brands, making the downtown an unsurpassed shopping experience. You will certainly have fun stocking up on the latest bags, boots or customized jewelry in stylish 22 boutiques and shopping centers around the city.

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Taikoo Li Sanlitun

Hongqiao Pearl Market

Fashionistas from all over flock to this sanctuary of brand name shopping in the well-known Sanlitun area. Most of the world’s best high-end fashion imprints and Japanese and European midpriced brands are on offer here across a complex of streets and shops. It’s best to set aside a few leisurely hours to stroll aimlessly, filling up your shopping bags with chic couture and your stomach with gourmet food. The former is courtesy of Paul Smith, Miu Miu and Calvin Klein while the latter can be taken care of inside a selection of alfresco cafes and restaurants like Greyhound Café and Isola. Creative products for daily use – for instance, Moleskine brand notebooks, sketchbooks and albums – can also be found at Taikoo Li. Since “Li” in Chinese means both breakthrough and hutong, the concept behind this modern complex is to create an open space for people to shop, rest and communicate. Its design was inspired by that of the traditional Chinese courtyard. The buildings circle like the walls of courtyards but are connected by the lanes crossing inside, making the whole complex a kind of modern abstract interpretation of traditional Beijing.

With numerous bargain alleys, Beijing’s outdoor stall markets are just as plentiful and varied as their modern-style cousins. But their vibe is a little different.

They’re funky and idiosyncratic, cluttered and eclectic. These shopping havens are Beijing’s modern answer to its marketplace heritage. And if you’re looking to buy pearls – as many people who come to China wish to do -- Hongqiao Market stands out as your best option.

Located just across from the Temple of Heaven, Hongqiao Pearl Market offers the best deals in town on fine pearls. It’s an ideal spot if you want to buy pearls for your friends or yourself but are intimidated by the skyrocketing prices in malls.

Besides its three floors of pearls and jewelry, Hongqiao Pearl Market has more to offer. Its first floor is home to electronic gadgets such as MP3 players, digital cameras, webcams, USB sticks and memory cards, DVD and Blu-ray players and various other electronics. There is also a large selection of watches, silk products, underwear, socks, kitschy Mao paraphernelia, alcohol flasks, smoking pipes, and so on.

On the second floor you will find traditional clothes, shoes, suitcases and handbags. Many of the shops here offer exactly the same products, which means you have good chances of driving the prices down if you are good at haggling.

The third floor is divided into two sections. The first section contains traditional Chinese art, ornaments, porcelain and chopsticks. It is in the second section that the proper Pearl Market begins. It stretches to floors four and five, where the shops are somewhat more exclusive than those on the third floor.

If you have children, make sure not to miss Hongqiao’s toy market, which lies behind the right side of the main building. This building also contains office equipment, Chinese tea sets, red lanterns and sporting goods.

How to get there Address: 10/F, Zhong Yu Plaza, No. 6A Gongtibei Road, Chaoyang District Website: www.taikoolisanlitun.com/eng/Pages/index.aspx

How to get there Address: Just across from Temple of Heaven, 46 Hongqiao street, Chongwen District (Daily 9.30am-7pm) Website: www.hongqiao-pearl-market.com

Joy City Xidan Joy City Xidan is home to one of the busiest shopping strips in Beijing. As the biggest mall in Xidan, this 13-story complex comes equipped with the world’s longest escalator, the largest digital cinema in China and the largest cosmetics shop in Beijing. The mall is home to around 20 fashion outlets, including Zara, FAB, Uniqlo, Next, Motivi and Honeys, all of which offer price reductions by as much as 70 per cent. Other retailers span numerous categories including beauty and personal care product, audio-visual and other electrical products, plus jewelry, watches and gifts.

How to get there Address: 131 Xidan Beidajie

Website: www.xidanjoycity.com

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Oriental Plaza Oriental Plaza is uniquely built as a “city-within-a-city”. Located on Chang’an Avenue in the heart of Beijing, Oriental Plaza boasts an area of approximately 800,000 m2, making it one of the largest and most iconic commercial complexes in all of Asia.

With its superior location, Oriental Plaza is unrivalled in the Northern capital in terms of sheer size and quality of services and facilities. The Tower Offices at Oriental Plaza consist of eight office buildings and are home to some of the leading multinational corporations in Beijing.

The Tower Apartments at Oriental Plaza feature two luxurious apartment buildings, promising flats with convenience, comfort, style and service. The fivestar Grand Hyatt Beijing features world-class accommodations and amenities, including one of the most spectacularly landscaped tropical-themed indoor pools in the world.

The Malls at Oriental Plaza consist of individually distinct themed shopping zones, covering a vast area of over 130,000 m2 as well as an indoor car park with 1,900 parking spaces.

How to get there Address: 1 Dong Changanjie, Dongcheng, Beijing Website: www.orientalplaza.com/eng/shopping China daily Ads.pdf 1 2013-9-22 12:54:08

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City Life

Surprise Outlets Everybody knows what an outlet mall is. It’s a place where you can buy brand products at comparatively low prices. It’s virtually a huge shopping theme park. But few people know that Beijing has several outlets in its suburbs. Located just adjacent to the Airport Expressway, Surprise Outlets is one that you can easily check out Surprise Outlets opened in 2011, covering an area of 35,000 m2. It strives to be a shopping hub that can provide the same quality as its counterparts in Europe. With its philosophy of “owning luxury products is not so difficult”, Surprise Outlets provides high quality products at affordable prices. Customers are thus mainly young people and families. Surprise showcases some local labels, including the sports brand started by a famous Chinese gymnast, Li Ning, as well as Beijing’s own answer to American Apparel, wo2. But it's the bigger names that people flock to Surprise Outlets to buy up: Adidas, Roxy, Nike, 7 For All Mankind, BCBG, Y-3, IT, Bread & Butter, Quiksilver, Lane Crawford, Ed Hardy, Juicy Couture and Club Monaco, to name a few.

Overall, Surprise Outlets is a good place to go on a shopping binge without breaking the bank.

How to get there Address: East 1, Forest Park, Jinzhan, Chaoyang district Surprise Outlets runs its own shuttle bus service to and from Dawanglu; the schedule is pasted below. The trip takes about 40 minutes each way.

Dawanglu to Surprise Outlets: Departs from Dawanglu at 8:30, 8:45, 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:50, 19:30, 20:35, 21:50 Surprise Outlets to Dawang Lu: Departs from Surprise Outlets at 9:20, 10:20, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 15:50, 17:00, 18:40, 20:00, 21:20 Website: www.surpriseoutlets.com

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City Life

Stay healthy in autumn the Chinese way

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utumn is a season of change. The heat has not yet entirely faded away but you can definitely feel the crispness in the cool breeze. While it can be quite hot during the day, it’s a little bit chilly at night. There’s lots of give and take during this season. Just like spring, it’s a time full of turbulence. But instead of starting anew, autumn is the time to harvest and prepare for hibernation.

In traditional Chinese thought, everything follows the Yin and the Yang. These twins are two opposing forces. The Yin represents the cold, feminine and passive side, while the Yang represents the hot, masculine and active one.

The way that the seasons go -- in a cycle -- is a good example of how nature keeps things balanced. The summer is like the yearly peak of Yang and the winter is the time of maximum Yin. Spring and autumn are the seasons which bridge these two extremes.

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The same theory can be applied to our bodies. People who practice traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that these two forces also exist within each of our bodies. When a season of change is upon us – a spring or an autumn -- we have to be especially careful not to disrupt the smooth flow of Wei Qi, which is a concept in TCM that is similar to Western medicine’s notion of the immune system.

The change, the push and pull, can be harmful. The body has to continually adapt to change, from opening the pores to allow itself to sweat to closing them to protect itself from cold.

We are more vulnerable to get colds or coughs in autumn. Some may blame these sicknesses on the dust in the air, which is one possible reason. But another equally important reason is that the air is becoming drier and drier and this affects our Wei Qi. The Wei Qi or protective qi controls the opening and closing of the pores and protects the nose and the mouth from viruses and germs. To keep the Wei Qi strong, the lungs must be in a healthy state to exhale and inhale. Therefore, protecting the lungs from external dryness is the first line of defense against colds and coughs.

Our lungs are like two pieces of giant tissue paper in which the tissue is the fine mucosa of the alveoli. The lungs need to stay slightly moist and cool instead of damp and cold. When an illness occurs, the lungs usually become hot and that dries them out. That’s why people recovering from bronchitis often have a lingering dry cough.

In autumn, people tend to be unaware of the fact that they are losing water quickly, since they don't actually sweat as much as during summer. But, in fact, the drier air causes water to evaporate from the body 24 hours a day through the pores, unnoticed.

Thus, drinking enough water is an essential habit if you want to stay healthy in autumn. At the same time, adapting your diet to the season is vital.

Foods that aid the lungs in their dispersing function include bay leaves, garlic, horseradish, leek, ginger and capers. The best foods for autumn are those that moisten and clear our lungs, rid our bodies of wind and support our digestive systems.

Soups and porridge are beneficial for the digestive system and keep the body hydrated to boot. Hot and delicious broths also warm up the body, preventing people from catching colds.

Try to drink lots of water and unsweetened and decaffeinated teas. Seasonal vegetables and fruits can help prevent your lungs from getting too dry. That means that you should go for sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, squash, pears, pumpkins, red dates and apples, all of which fortify your body in autumn.

If you cook at home, you should cook meals that simmer for longer, which means the end of summer’s quick stir-fries. Salt helps protect your body against dryness in addition to cooking foods down, so start adding a few pinches to your meals. Steaming your meals helps support the Yin by preserving their moisture content, so make that part of your cooking procedure.

Eight-treasure porridge

Papaya, carrot and corn soup

Serves 2 • 150g glutinous rice, 75g small red beans, 5g soybeans, 50g red dates, 50g lotus seeds, 50g peaches, 50g peanuts, 50g chestnuts • Wash the small red beans and soybeans and put them into two small aluminum pots. Cover the beans in about 4cm of filtered water, then cook for about 1 hour until the water has all evaporated.

• Wash and peel the lotus seeds, take out their nuts and wash again. Peel the peaches, break each in half and take the pit out of each. Soak the peanuts in boiling water for 10 minutes and then peel them. Wash and pit the red dates and chestnuts, and wash the rice.

• Put all the ingredients into the electric cook and everything will be done in approximately 20 mins.

This delicious soup is easy to make. Its fresh and sweet flavor moisturizes the body.

Drinking it can help fight autumn dryness, which is ideal for preserving health by maintaining your body’s balance of Yin and Yang.

Serves 2 • 0.5 kg sliced green papaya, One washed and peeled carrot, 0.5 kg pork with skin, 3 pairs of chicken feet, 1,500 ml water, 10 g corn • Cook pork and chicken feet in boiling water in a crock pot for half an hour.

• Add papaya, carrot and corn into the stew and simmer for half an hour.

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Treating your body right —the Thai way

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ormer French president Jacques Chirac sought its services. Chinese celebrities want to spend an exclusive day inside it. And local customers wait in long lines to reserve a 90-minute rendezvous. Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat obviously offers something special.

But this isn’t one of those overpriced spa clubs that brand themselves as the epitome of extravagance. On the contrary, Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat stresses the elegance of simplicity. It applies this notion to its daily services by always trying to bring the most authentic and high-quality product to customers no matter who they are, and always at an affordable price.

Located conveniently adjacent to the Sanlitun shopping hub in Chaoyang District, the four-floor spa retreat is tucked into a corner of Gongtibeilu,

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sheltered from the district’s hustle and bustle by a garden of shady trees. Yellow light shining through the transparent glass out front illuminates the zigzagging stairs that lead to the secluded retreat.

Bodhi provides a variety of choices of massages including aromaheat herbal, hot stone, ayurvedic, foot reflexology, milky leg care and imperial ginger steam. The spa’s most popular option is its traditional Thai massage.

A Traditional Thai style massage incorporates rhythmic compression, gentle rocking, deep stretching and mindfulness to create a healing experience.

The history of massages in Thailand can be traced back to the Vajrayana people more than 2,500 years ago. Thai massage is deeply influenced both by

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• RMB 10,000 membership card,38 complimentary Indian Ayurved and traditional Chinese medicine.

RMB 188 voucher will be offered.

For the receiver, a Thai massage takes you into Except for the afternoon promotion, foot the asana (yoga posture) through a deep and gentle reflexology and Chinese body massages will now be assistance, opening your joints without the resistance charged at the rack rate. For the other massages and created when you using them yourself. treatments, the original discounts will still apply: 10% Since assistance is needed, an experienced on facials and spa packages and 5% on the Thai style masseuse is a must, and while people often have an massages. To benifit from the discount, a membership unexplainable fascination for authenticity, in this card needs to be provided upon check-out. case an expert from the original country really is preferable. Here, Bodhi stands out once again. Seven As a special Thank you for all the guests over the licensed and experienced masseuses from Thailand years, Bohdi is now offering the following benefits for are here to provide you with the most authentic their 9th anniversary. With the purchase of: experience.

• Rmb 3000 card, you will receive a free Thai When it opened nine years ago, Bodhi Therapeutic neck pillow.

Retreat was truly one of a kind.. Spas in Beijing back • Rmb 5000, you will receive an extra 2 Chinese then were either too expensive or too shabby and body massage vouchers cheap. Bodhi was the and a Thai neck pillow. first to fill the vacancy • RMB 10,000, you in between. That’s will receive an extra 2 when it began to draw Whether you seek Chinese body massage its particular client vouchers and a Thai group, people who seek a quick pummeling triangular cushion. an excellent product or a languorous and great service in an environment of antique kneading, don’t just Vouchers beauty -- without Foot reflexology/ Chinese head to the bakery. overpaying for it. body massages: Buy 10 get 1 Michelle Hemsin, Treat yourself to free the Thai owner of Aromatherapy/ Ayurvedic/ Bohdi Therapeutic the spa, said that her Traditional Thai massages/ customers used to be Retreat -- you won’t Thai Herbal Treatment: Buy mostly expats. But now 10 get 1 free regret it. more and more Chinese Biodroga Facial Treatment: have caught on to how Buy 5 get 2 free high quality this place is, and in case you aren’t aware, Chinese know a lot about the arts of massage themselves. Hemsin said that her regular customers are now about 65 % Chinese and 35% foreigners.

Bodhi opened its new branch Bodhi Sense in 2007. It is located on the increasingly upscale Liangmaqiao Road. Both shops offer a membership system. If you become a member, you will receive a 10% discount.

Effective as of 1st October 2013, with the purchase of a new • RMB 1,000 membership card, 2 complimentary RMB 188 vouchers will be offered.

• RMB 3,000 membership card, 8 complimentary RMB 188 vouchers will be offered.

• RMB 5,000 membership card,16 complimentary RMB 188 voucher will be offered.

How to get there Address: Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat: No. 17 Gongtibeilu (opposite Worker’s Stadium), Chaoyang District Beijing Tel: (8610) 6417 9595 / 6413 0226 Operating hours: 11:00am - 00:30am Email: reservation@bodhi.com.cn Bohdi Sense: 2nd Floor, Somerset Grand Fortune Garden, No. 46 Liang Ma Qiao Road Tel: (8610) 8440 1495 / 8440 1496 For more information: http://www.bodhi.com.cn/Therapeutic-Retreat/index.html

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Fast, simple CT scan delivers peace of mind

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ying flat on his back on a comfortable exam table, Allen, a middle-aged, overweight man with a desk job, moved toward a CT scanner’s “doughnut” with a rotating imaging tube. He was about to have a heart test.

The comfortable surroundings and the skill of the CT technician eased his anxiety. Allen was at the center, a new cardiac outpatient diagnostic clinic in Beijing, where putting patients at ease is a priority. US-Sino HeartCare, in partnership with iKang Guobin Healthcare, is a leader in the detection and prevention of heart disease.

The was undergoing a scan to detect coronary calcification, in which plaque builds up and obstructs arteries.

Calcified plaque is a major marker for coronary artery disease. He had no symptoms, but the scan could provide an early warning of potential trouble, with a calcium score to indicate risk level. A high score might indicate the need for further tests, medication and/ or lifestyle changes. The scan can reveal the thickness of the inner walls of the arteries – the thicker they are, the higher the likelihood of an eventual heart attack. In addition, the patient is evaluated for the possibility of an impending stroke.

The scan was simple and quick. No preparation is needed. Just street clothes will do. The tech asked Allen to lie down on the “couch” and taped three electrodes to his chest. The electrodes synchronize the scanner with the patient's heartbeat to produce crisp images of a beating heart. The tech went to her station and started the process.

Smoothly, the couch elevated and began gliding toward the gantry (doughnut),

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spiral-sliced ham. Each slice represents a different cross-section.

Just like that, the scan was over, quick and painless. Back and down glided the couch. Off came the electrodes. Up rose the patient. It takes five minutes from start to finish. The actual scan took less than 60 seconds.

the body of the scanner, about as big as a side-by-side refrigerator but with a 2-foot-diameter hole in the middle. The hole was Allen's destination.

Accuracy unmatched in the region The hole is only a few inches thick — no sense of being enclosed. A computer voice asked him to hold his breath for a few seconds. The X-ray emitter rotated around him as the tech took a “scout view,” an overall image of the chest area.

On a computer monitor, she marked off a grid to tell the scanner where to focus.

Allen was on the center's 128-detector cardiac CT scanner made by Seimens, one of the most sensitive and accurate ways to detect coronary artery calcium.

The CT does not detect soft or noncalcified plaque, which is also an indicator of heart disease.

“Hold your breath again,” Allen was told. The couch inched forward as the scanner took “slices” of his heart. Think of slicing an apple across the core, or a

Moment of truth Then came the moment of truth.

The CT tech led Allen to a computer monitor, where she displayed the slices the digital images of his heart. Calcium, he was told, appears on the screen as a pink color.

“Uh-oh, there they are — pink blobs!”

“No, no,” she said. “That's your spine, sternum and ribs. Naturally, they're pink with calcium.

“Whew!”

She guided Allen through the images of his heart and surrounding vessels, slice by slice, a chamber here, an artery there, explaining as she went on.

Then she sliced to the heart of the matter: “I found no evidence of coronary calcium.”

“Really? You're kidding.”

“No calcium. Your score is zero.

Congratulations!”

There it was on the computer screen under the last image: Calcium score is zero.

No sign of atherosclerosis do not mean that Allen will never have heart trouble. Neither does it mean Allen can eat what he wants, avoid exercise, or never have check-ups. But thanks to the advanced CT scan available only at US-Sino HeartCare, Allen gained an

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important gift — peace of mind. Even a patient with a higher calcium score would have a valuable early warning.

In that case, there was still time to take action, perhaps avoiding a future heart attack or surgery.

At over 40%, compared to 10% in 1957, the mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease is among the highest in the world and is the leading cause of death in China.

Early diagnosis is a powerful weapon against heart disease, as it means fewer surgeries, lower costs, improved health, and longer lives, said Dwight Clark, CEO and medical director of US-Sino HeartCare, which is now in partnership with Ikang Guobin, a leading healthcare management company in China.

“Early diagnosis and prevention are central to the future of effective, cost efficient, accessible health care, while most of current medical efforts in China are directed toward treatment,” Clark said.

“Governmental agencies, insurers, physicians, and the public should focus on detecting disease in its earliest stages and preventing its progression.”

Dedicated doctors and informed patients can become the driving force of a health care revolution in China, he added.

“Sensitive scanners can detect disease while a range of therapeutic options are still available. Today's surgeons are amazingly skilled at bypass surgeries.

“But they come when heart disease is advanced and they come with a cost, especially to patients and their families. That's why early diagnosis is so important,” he continued.

The yearly cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke in China is estimated at 209 billion yuan (US$26.1 billion), according to Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research.

“Early diagnosis and prevention can bring enormous savings – in money, but more importantly, in pain and suffering,” Clark said.

The CEO cited former US President Bill Clinton as an example to illustrate

that apparently healthy people also need to have a CT scan for prevention and early warning.

Clinton didn't have any symptoms and had regular, routine check-ups by his physician, at the time of his heart attack in 2004. He understands now that heart disease can strike without warning.

That's why he wishes he had gotten a calcium scan of the heart's arteries before he ever developed symptoms.

Clark suggested that men over age 35 and women over 40 should have a regular heart scan to determine their risk of having a heart attack.

With any one of the following risk factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, history of tobacco use, family history of heart attacks, overweight and significant emotional or

job-related stress — chances of having a heart attack or stroke are significantly increased: Major US media outlets believe it's well worth the cost. The Wall Street Journal called calcium-scoring scans “worth paying for.” NBC, a US television network, reported on patients who made a “wise investment to save their lives.”

The ABC national television network called the ultrafast heart scan “the most precise way to diagnose heart disease early.” And Men's Health magazine found the scan to be “a highly accurate measure of the amount of plaque.”

“No one should be lulled into a false sense of security by a low calcium score and neglect regular check-ups, sensible diet and exercise,” Clark said.

“But given that atherosclerosis is a silent, progressive killer and that calcified plaque is a leading indicator of atherosclerosis, it only makes sense to use the most sensitive, non-invasive diagnostic tool available for early detection.”

US-Sino HeartCare, in partnership with iKang Guobin Healthcare, is located at LG building in the heart of CBD Beijing. The new heart diagnostic center will be open to the public in mid-October.

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Contemporary spa with Chinese characteristics City Life

I

n Beijing, there’s no better example of state-of-the-art spa services – grounded in ancient Chinese massage and medicine disciplines but delivered at contemporary care and quality standards – than Juncheng Puti Men’s Spa in Jianwai Soho, Chaoyang district.

With a talented Chinese staff, Juncheng delivers massage and spa treatments, developed from the ancient wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, that you won’t find anywhere outside of China. At the same time, the clean and modern environment at Juncheng is miles ahead of what you’d get from most local massage parlours and spas in Beijing.

This is a very high quality establishment.

Juncheng offers everything you’d expect from a modern spa in Beijing: facial treatments, including cosmedica; body, foot, hand and head massages.

Special VIP packages are also available to customers who pay the extra fee.

Regular visits to Juncheng Puti Men’s Spa will no doubt help such men to raise their games. Juncheng’s various massage and body treatments will contribute to spinal and overall body health, improving posture.

Meanwhile, their milk and wine baths, not to mention their facial treatments, do wonders for men’s skin.

郡城菩提 Juncheng Puti Men’s Spa

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How to get there Address: 602 of Building 4, Jianwai SOHO, Chaoyang district Tel: 010-58690972 / 13011846476 20% off if you bring this issue to the spa For more information: http://www.jcpt.net/

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