That' Beijing - April 2018 by That's - Pulse of The City

SCAN HERE

How soon will China go fully cashless?

ILLEGAL TENDER

What Happened to China’ s Bitcoin Boom

CRACKING THE QR CODE

We Try Beijing’ s Staffless Stores

Is China Ready for a Cashless Future? Follow us on WeChat Now

Advertising Hotline

4 0 0 8 2 0 8428 城市漫步北京英文版 4 月份国内统一刊号: CN 11-5232/GO China Intercontinental Press

ISSN 1672-8025

APRIL 2018

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 1

主管单位 : 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 Supervised by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China 主办单位 : 五洲传播出版社地址 : 北京西城月坛北街 26 号恒华国际商务中心南楼 11 层文化交流中心邮编 100045 Published by China Intercontinental Press Address: 11th Floor South Building, HengHua linternational Business Center, 26 Yuetan North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100045, PRC http://www.cicc.org.cn 社长 President of China Intercontinental Press 陈陆军 Chen Lujun 期刊部负责人 Supervisor of Magazine Department 邓锦辉 Deng Jinhui 编辑 Editor 朱莉莉 Zhu Lili 发行 Circulation 李若琳 Li Ruolin

Editor-in-Chief Noelle Mateer Deputy Editor Dominique Wong National Arts Editor Erica Martin Digital Content Editor Justine Lopez Designer Iris Wang Contributors Dominic Ngai, Mia Li, Gabriel Clermont, Kris Provoost, Edoardo Donati Fogliazza, Jonty Dixon, Alex Long, Sid Gulinck, Matt Bosson, Zheng Zhong, Holly Baer

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Editor’s Note

APRIL 2018

My landlord likes to collect things – which is convenient for me, because I don't. So when he asked if I had any leftover change from my recent trip to South Korea, I was happy to give him my useless won. Then I looked into my wallet and noticed I had coins from Japan and Hong Kong – both trips I took several months ago – to give him too. Wouldn’t it be easier if all of this were digital? China just may be the first country to find out. In this month’s cover story (p. 40), Dominic Ngai asks the experts when the think China will become fully cashless (and uncovers some thorny privacy issues along the way); I catch up with those in China’s Bitcoin industry to see how increased legislation has impacted them; and Jonty Dixon and Edoardo Donati Fogliazza give you their run-down of Beijing’s new-fangled staffless (and, of course, cashless) stores. Keep your phone charged, readers. Elsewhere in the magazine, Dominique Wong speaks with Belgian architect Kris Provoost about the future of China’s buildings (p. 10), Erica Martin dives into the controversy surrounding Roseann Lake’s new book, Leftover in China (p. 30), and Jonty Dixon introduces us to Beijing’s latest brewery (p. 60). Until next month,

Noelle Mateer Editor-in-Chief

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6 CITY 7 ELEVEN’S A CROWD Foreigner limits strike Wudaokou bars

9 REAL TALK Young and old people on whether overseas travel is safe

15 THE WORD ON THE STREET …this month, a slang term about self-deprecation

16 LIFE & STYLE 19 SCENE & HEARD

New openings include a design store and a co-working space

20 GREAT WALLS A boutique hotel with a focus on well-placed dividers

22 UP IN THE AIR Smart bags for the smart traveler

26 ARTS 27 YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL James Blunt gets deep and meaningful with us

30 HEATING UP LEFTOVERS The literary controversy surrounding a new book about shengnü

38 LISTEN UP Three new albums to check out this month

54 EAT & DRINK 57 MIFAN OR MAFAN? Hot takes on hot Beijing restaurants

58 SALAD SCANDAL Slick design replaces marketing stunts gone awry

57 4 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

60 HEAVENLY LITTLE CREATURES A new (Aussie) craft beer joint

40 CASH ME OUTSIDE What are the consequences of China’s increasingly cashless society?

10 A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE An architect documents China’s weird buildings

32 BACK TO THE ART Our guide to Art Beijing 2018 WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 5

CITY

TOUCH THE SKY

The end of an era for Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic buildings, p10

Generation Gap p8

Driverless Cars p9

Chinese Urban Dictionary p15

TALES OF THE CITY

WUDAOKOU BARS’ ‘FOREIGNER LIMIT’ SPARKS CONTROVERSY – AND MEMES by Dominique Wong and Jonty Dixon

Two popular hangouts in Beijing’s student area Wudaokou restricted the number of foreigners allowed on their premises during China’s Two Sessions last month. Photos taken on March 10 showed notices posted on the front doors of Lush and Pyro Pizza stating that the two businesses, which are owned by the same people, would only allow a maximum of 10 foreigners inside at any given time. The notices said the policy would be in effect through March 22 – roughly the same time as the Two Sessions, a series of political meetings. Writing scrawled across Lush’s notice also stated that the number of people allowed inside the restaurant was 70 total. Managers from the two establishment declined to speak on the record to That’s, however, according to news blog SupChina.com, who spoke with one of the owners, the measure was intended to protect international students from being the target of attacks. Both restaurants are popular among foreigners, particularly international students living in the neighborhood, and the news spread quickly online among expats, who greeted the stipulations with a mixture of bemusement and worry. The memes soon followed. One depicted

a SWAT team bundling out the back of a van, accompanied by the text: ‘When there are 11 foreigners in Pyro Pizza.’ Another featured a crudely photoshopped Ocean’s Eleven poster dubbed: ‘Pyro’s Eleven: City ordinance prohibited more than ten foreigners from visiting a restaurant. They wanted to sneak in one more.’ On March 20, the final day of the Two Sessions, the area outside Wudaokou subway is bustling with students, though a beefed-up security presence is noticeable. There is no flyer on Pyro Pizza’s front door. It’s a Tuesday evening and the restaurant is barely half-full. The waitperson is confused. It’s her first night working at Pyro and she hasn’t heard anything about a ban. “Besides,” she says, pointing to a party of at least a dozen people – ostensibly foreigners – taking up three tables across one side of the room. “Look at them all.” A fair-haired man sitting by himself tells us he is in Beijing on business and was unaware of the ban. “I only heard about it just now when my friend called me on the phone to warn me about it,” the Welsh native says. The warning may have been unwarranted, yet outside Pyro we overhear people chatting about the supposed foreigner limit.

Meanwhile, up the road at perennial student hangout Lush, a noisy din permeates the booze-infused air. A staff member tells me that the infamous sign was taken down over a week ago. Another employee says that, rather than impose a strict limit on numbers, the local police simply warned the bar not to become “too crowded” during the Two Sessions for “safety reasons.” Though the Wudaokou measures were the first-ever reported occurrence of a limit on foreigners in recent memory, increased security measures during large political gatherings in the capital are nothing new, with nightlife being a common target. Chao, an employee of a Beijing nightclub currently undergoing renovation, tells us that during the Two Sessions, several clubs’ “front doors are closed, but the back doors are open. It’s common for these kinds of places of entertainment [during political events].” And last fall, a number of bars were shut down during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party. But for now, looking around Lush, it seems like business as usual.

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THE BUZZ GENERATION GAP

Do you think it’s safe for Chinese nationals to study abroad, considering recent news about students going missing in the UK? ZHANG, 24

SNOW PROBLEM “I believe we cannot reason in terms of whether foreign countries are safe or not because danger is everywhere, and will always be present. We have to be conscious of the fact that danger simply exists, and that our responsibility is to protect ourselves. When I travel abroad I take specific precautions: for instance, while in Africa, in an unfamiliar environment, I was more prudent and alert. I believe that to state that a country is not safe is simply a truism that also applies to China, India and to any other place. Furthermore, saying this does not mean they are completely unsafe. If we really want to put forward the issue of safety, then no country is ever ‘safe’ in its own right.”

A woman takes a selfie during the first – and only – snowfall of the season.

photo by Zheng Zhong

LEI, 43

THE VOICE OF CHINA

“I think China is a comparatively safer environment for students [because] it’s able to impose a high degree of control both on its internal population and on its borders. This allows citizens to feel safer, but also heightens their sensitivity towards the issue of security when they go abroad. On whether to study abroad or not, I think it’s all a matter of priority and whether a person values their career or safety more. But I would still encourage Chinese students to visit other countries. Personally I would choose safer destinations, such as the US, which I think is safer than Europe, but also Japan and Singapore, which can offer high-quality education as well.” As told to Edoardo Donati Fogliazza 8 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

VOICE OF CHINA

What is it? A Chinese reality TV singing competition.

What is it? A new broadcaster super entity.

Who is The Voice of China? Bruce Liang was the winner of season 1; Li Qi, season 2; Diamond Zhang, season 3; and Zhang Lei, season 4.

Who is the Voice of China? A merger between three of the country’s largest state-run national networks: China Central Television, China Radio International and China National Radio.

Years active: July 2012-October 2015.

Aim: To find China’s next superstar.

Logo: A hand holding a microphone and making the peace sign.

Number of finalists: 16 per season.

Years active: It was announced last month in a Communist Party document.

Aim: “To improve journalism and publicity,” according to Xinhua. Logo: Yet to be unveiled.

Number of employees: More than 14,000.

E DI T E D B Y D OMINIQ UE W ONG / bj e di t o r @ ur b a n a t o m y.c o m

LICENSE TO DRIVE Last month, Beijing city authorities granted Baidu the first lot of licenses to conduct open road tests for driverless vehicles in the capital. The tech company, which has been working on developing AI technology, will be testing its Apollo autonomous driving technology in accordance with regulations released last December, which state that vehicles must complete over 5,000km of training in designated areas outside Beijing’s Fifth Ring Road.

145

…is the number of consecutive days that Beijing went without “effective precipitation” before 2mm of snow and sleet dusted the capital on St. Patrick’s Day last month. The snowfall marked the end of the longest dry spell recorded in Beijing in 47 years. According to the weather bureau, the last time Beijing saw a significant amount of precipitation was on October 23. A similar dry spell was recorded from October 1970 to February 1971, when the capital experienced 114 days without precipitation. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 9

CIT Y | F E AT URE

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F E AT URE | CIT Y

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CIT Y | F E AT URE

Previous page: Linked Hybrid, Beijing (Steven Holl Architects) These pages, L-R: China Pavillion at Expo 2010, Shanghai (He Jingtang); Bund SOHO, Shanghai (GMP Architekten); Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou (Rocco Design Architects)

work as an architect and my photography are very complementary in that sense. Both passions influence each other. Why did you choose to focus on just a slice of each building?

From Chaoyangmen’s Galaxy SOHO to Guangzhou’s Opera House, China’s iconic buildings are indelible marks on the country’s cityscapes. The last decade, especially, has seen a proliferation of otherworldly structures, and in 2016, China’s State Council said that new urban planning guidelines would forbid the construction of “bizarre” and “odd-shaped” buildings that lacked character or cultural heritage. But for Kris Provoost, the buildings are more than a fascination. Having lived in China for over seven years, and worked at firms like Zaha Hadid Architects and Buro Ole Scheeren, the Shanghai-based architect is a firsthand witness to the country’s construction boom. The Belgium native brings his keen designer’s eye to his ongoing architecture photography project ‘Beautified China,’ photos of which can be seen on these pages. We chat with Provoost about the superficiality of iconic buildings and why the CCTV Headquarters is so extraordinary. 12 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

That’s: What was the inspiration behind your ‘Beautified China’ photo series?

KP: ‘Beautified China’ is a photo collection I’ve created over the past eight years. It documents my footsteps through the country, and sort of encapsulates my career as both an architect and a photographer. After years of working and living here, I could see certain trends developing. I was photographing the iconic structures built by “starchitects” throughout China after the country’s massive building boom. Some of the buildings overtook cities, redefined them, or established them. It was clear that there was a shift from iconic Chinese architecture toward subtler regeneration interventions, and I was documenting it. So, ‘Beautified China’ has become an overview of a period that will long be remembered in China’s architectural scene. Besides being a status update of the iconic architecture boom in China, the series is also very much a research project. My

Taking the buildings out of context, all that’s left is the different shapes, textures, patterns and colors, so it’s easier to focus and see what makes the building stand out. However, architecture is all about context and how it sits in the city. [As] these elements are rather difficult to truly capture in photography, I’d rather use video to document the [full] architecture. So, in this photoseries I focus [more] on the aesthetics. I went for a rather strong blue tone in the pictures to camouflage the real conditions and give a much ‘fresher’ look. As we all know, China has a serious smog problem. Indeed. Do you have a favorite building in Beijing and in China?

My all-time favorite in Beijing – and China in general – is undoubtedly the CCTV Headquarters by OMA/Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren. I lived and worked close by for many years, [and] it amazes me every time I look at it. What makes it so special?

It’s a unique project, from an engineering point of view, but also from a [visual] point of view. There are two defining moments, for me, which showed the impact and uniqueness of this colossal building.

F E AT URE | CIT Y

I will never forget riding on the [Third Ring Road] at golden hour, and seeing the sunrays peek through the large opening. No building plays better with sunrays than the CCTV Headquarters. Another defining moment for me was seeing the backlit profile rise up when the first light of day appeared after an intense all-nighter at the office. In the text accompanying your photo essay you write: “Nowadays architects or visitors in general know better where that new Steven Holl or Zaha Hadid is in a city, [instead of where an] ancient temple is located. Can this be called success or just superficiality?” Does it have to be one or the other?

It’s interesting that iconic architecture sort of elevates itself from architecture’s main purpose of serving its users. Much like the Guggenheim made Bilbao famous, and became an expression on its own [Editor’s note: the ‘Bilbao effect,’ which denotes how the Guggenheim museum revitalized the Spanish city, and is now used in general to describe the cultural impact of buildings on their respective cities], architecture in China draws people to certain areas or even can establish new districts. For example the Wangjing SOHO project, designed by Zaha Hadid, sort of gave life to the Wangjing area. While there were already many things happening in Wangjing, [the SOHO building] sort of gave a reason to hop on a quick trip there – at least for architects or architecture enthu-

siasts. Higher quality residential and office buildings were erected adjacent to it. But, as a consequence, it also made the housing prices skyrocket, as the area became a well sought after place to live. In a way, this type of architecture is a gift for the area, but also a poison for affordability. So, in many ways, iconic architecture is seen as a success by group A, while it is despised by group B. On the other hand, it is also a superficial way of making a place become liked. How do you envision the future of architecture in Beijing?

My observations show it will be less iconic, or at least I hope. Beijing has many qualities that should be cherished WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 13

CIT Y | F E AT URE

Clockwise from top left: Wangjing SOHO, Beijing (Zaha Hadid Architects); CCTV Headquarters, Beijing (OMA/Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren); Harbin Grand Theatre, Harbin (MAD Architects)

instead of being wiped away for another iconic building that could have been built anywhere else. The ‘iconic decade’ was a way of maturing the city, to get it ready for the next decade. The buildings are used for marketing purposes, [like] profiling the city in international media. Perhaps Beijing can try to uplift its own living quality for its millions of residents, instead of trying to appeal to visitors.

In addition to ‘Beautified China,’ you also have a video project called #donotsettle. What’s it about?

#donotsettle is a project I run together with fellow architect Wahyu Pratomo. What we basically do is make short, fast14 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

paced video about recently completed architecture. We visit the project and describe how the space feels, what the general atmosphere is like and how people interact with the project. We ask people what they think of the building and if it lives up to their expectations. When we started out, we tried to break the current architecture media ‘rules.’ While many architects talk and design with ‘the people’ in mind, it is very seldom questioned once the building is completed. Our aim is to give a more honest portrayal of the architecture. What you see in the video is how the building is on a normal day – rather than before it’s officially opened to the public, when conditions would be ideal. We hope that with our videos archi-

tecture enthusiasts can learn something new that makes them think and form opinions when they visit a building by themselves. What are you working on right now?

Professionally I’m working on various projects across China. Regarding photo and video, I’m seeing growing interest in what we are doing with #donotsettle. Of course, I’m also always expanding my ‘Beautified China’ archive. There are still many buildings I would like to add to the set! To see more of Provoost’s work, visit www.instagram.com/krisprovoost

CHINESE URBAN DICTIONARY | CITY

zihei /zì hēi / 自黑 v. to self-deprecate, to put oneself down You have so many friends. Must be nice to be popular.

I'm sure my parents pay them to hang out with me. Haha.

So do my parents, but no one wants to take the payment. Haha.

Is this a zihei competition?

We’re not sure if it's life that’s become harder or kids that have gotten weaker, but sarcasm alone is no longer a sufficient coping mechanism. Now we need zihei as well. Literally meaning “to selfblacken,” zihei is the practice of making fun of your own weaknesses before they can be used against you. It is saying “no girl will ever like me” before someone can ask you if you have a girlfriend. It is saying “your car is worth more than my kidney” before someone can ask you how much money you make. Whenever there is a possibility that a conversation will involve one of your vulnerabilities, you must immediately bring it up and expose it in front of everyone, so that no one else can use it against you. Failing this, you risk being teased mercilessly by your group for not declaring it in advance. Zihei has become an unspoken social rule as it is a fool-proof guard against humiliation. When a user on Zhihu.com (China's

Quora) asked why people zihei, the answer with the most votes was: “because it turns weaknesses into weapons.” Zihei is also an effective way to take criticism. Even Jack Ma, the last person in the world to be called a failure, had to zihei to get out of a few pickles. In 2013, Alibaba said it sold 2 million pairs of underwear on Singles’ Day, which could cover an area of 3,000km. When the Internet found out that it meant each pair would have to be 1.5 meters long, Alibaba apologized, saying: “This is why Jack Ma failed math in school.” Zihei is so prevalent nowadays that it’s a faux pas if you forget to do it. Next time you post a hot selfie on WeChat Moments, don’t forget to add the tagline “took 800 selfies to get one that doesn’t suck.” Next time you tell your friends about your big job promotion, don't forget to say “can't believe my dumb luck!” If Jack Ma had to do it, you should learn how to do it too. Mia Li

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LIFE &

STYLE

BRICK BY BRICK

The design behind a boutique hotel, p20

Fashion News p18

New Openings p19

Carry-On Bags p22

SPOTLIGHT

FIONA LAU AND KAIN PICKEN Designers and Founders of FIXXEDD Studios interview by Dominic Ngai

Fiona Lau and Kain Picken are the founders of FIXXEDD Studios, a fashion label that aims to change the world’s perception of ‘made in China.’ What does ‘FFIXXED’ mean?

KP: Our collaboration began as an art-fashion project, and it wasn’t until a bit later that we decided to turn it into a label. We wanted a word that we could build our own meaning into. FIXXEDD references the idea of having no fixed location or meaning, while the play on the spelling means we could change or adapt the brand to make it our own. How has the brand grown over the last eight years?

KP: Japan was our major market for a long time, but over the last two or three years, our sales and brand presence have become much bigger in China. During the last two seasons, we have been focusing more on Europe. So what’s a typical FIXXEDD fan like?

FL: It varies. In Japan, we have a big following of guys in their early 20s, while our Chinese customer base is less youth-oriented. In Europe, they tend to be a little more mature and are often involved in creative industries.

Your design concept is about adapting to the changing conditions of contemporary life. How is this reflected in your most recent collection? FL: For the Autumn/Winter 2018 collection, we used parcels that come through our office every day as our inspiration. We created this adhesive transfer tape that resembles packing tape, and made it look like they’re holding pieces of fabric in place. It’s about taking a new look at the materials we use every day – materials that you don’t necessarily associate with fashion.

What are your plans for the rest of 2018? KP: After Shanghai Fashion Week, we’ll be working on a really fun and interesting project for a new museum in Australia.

See more of Lau and Picken’s designs at fixxedd.com

As a couple, what are the advantages and disadvantages of working with your partner? Do you find it hard to unplug?

FL: FIXXEDD is really an extension of our lives, and it’s nice to see how we have grown together. The advantage is that you can develop a kind of shorthand working so closely together. The disadvantage is that it can be difficult to separate work from life, which is great when things are going really smoothly, but it can be difficult when the pressure is on. KP: Yes, for a long time this seemed almost impossible, but we really made an effort to make it happen – taking small vacations during the year where we totally disconnect from work. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 17

STYLE RADAR MADE IN CHINA

COVET

SPRING AWAKENING

SNEAKER ATTACK

Following on the success of their last collaboration in January, Hong Kongbased streetwear label Madness and Converse released their second pair of sneakers on March 24. Using the classic low-cut Chuck ’70 as base, the military wear-inspired upper features two distinct materials – navy green suede and black canvas – for a contrast in textures.

Available on Madness’ official website or at their Taikoo Li Sanlitun outlet for RMB839. mdnsonline. com

OVERHEARD Since opening in 2017, SiDo’s scented products have been some of the most popular among its collection of Shanghai-designed knick-knacks. ‘Refreshing’ is the newest scent added to SiDo’s growing aromatherapy line, and features a blend of rosemary, cedarwood and lemon notes that signify the transition between winter and spring. All handmade by owner Oway Lau, ‘Refreshing’ is available as candles (RMB105) and room sprays (RMB95).

“Twenty-four years in the business is no small feat”

Available on WeChat and Weidian, ID: Si6Do1

…writes a fan of Su Mang on Weibo after news broke of her resignation as the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar China. Citing personal reasons for her departure, the news is widely seen as another major blow to the fragile state of print media in China and around the world. In addition to her duties at Harper’s Bazaar, the 46-yearold Shandong native also oversees the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and more than a dozen fashion and lifestyle publications. 18 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

E DI T E D B Y D OMINIC NG A I / bj e di t o r @ ur b a n a t o m y.c o m

Hotel From Hell? Standing out like a Bond villain’s lair, China’s latest crazy, yet awe-inspiring piece of architecture is reportedly nearing completion. The RMB1 billion Shimao Quarry Hotel, which is under construction inside an abandoned quarry near Shanghai, is set for a May opening. Containing 336 rooms, two of the hotel’s 18 rooms are underwater. The chief engineer described building the hotel in the 80 meter chasm as a “fight against gravity.” Guests will be able to partake in rock climbing, and enjoy plotting their world takeovers at the underwater restaurant.

SCENE&HEARD

BLANKO MINI MARKET First there was Cinker Cinemas and now there’s Blanko Mini Market – is Raffles City cool now? Located on the lower-level floor of the Dongzhimen mall, Blanko (meaning ‘blank’ in German) is an attractive – and indeed mini – market that sells products like Hay furniture, The Laundress cleaning products and Smash A Cup tea. It’s a handy spot to pick up a gift for a design-conscious friend, or to enjoy a coffee, as the space doubles as a cafe.

B1-11B Raffles City, 1 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门南大街1号来福士B1-11B (8557 4651)

NAKED HUB@SANLITUN naked Hub@Sanlitun’s grand opening party this winter was choreographed to show attendees that Work is indeed Fun. There were hot models wearing dessert trays around their waists and gymnasts ‘aquazorbing,’ aka twirling inside inflatable plastic spheres on the pool water’s surface. What does this have to do with productivity at your potential coworking space? We have no idea. But we do know that if you’re looking for a hot desk somewhere with amenities, or maybe even just #millennials, the new naked Hub@Sanlitun is a pretty good bet. 5/F Building C, Pacific Century Place, Jia 2, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路甲2号盈科中心C栋5号门5层 (8457 3172, nakedhub.com)

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LIFE & STYLE | DESIGN

CONNECT THE DOTS The Cohesive Design Behind a Boutique Retreat Project name: The Walled – Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat Location: Yangzhou, Zhejiang Area: 4,200sqm Design company: Neri&Hu The brief: Originally a collection of old buildings and small lakes scattered throughout a 32,000sqm area, Shanghai-based architects Neri&Hu were tasked with transforming this property into a design-forward boutique hotel. The connective tissue of these scattered structures comes in the form of a series of walls that create pathways and courtyards for guestrooms and public spaces, while strategically placed architectural openings in these partitions facilitate seamless transitions between the property’s interior and exterior. 20 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

words by Dominic Ngai, photos by Pedro Pegenaute

A bird’s eye view of Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat offers a complete view of its layout, filled with passageways and walls installed by Neri&Hu.

DESIGN | LIFE & STYLE

Greenery and water soften the strong contours and hard surfaces used throughout the site.

Built with reclaimed gray bricks, newly-built walls match the height of the original structures.

Architectural openings ease the flow between inside and outside spaces.

Custom furniture and light fixtures by Neri&Hu add a contemporary touch to the space. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 21

LIFE & STYLE | FASHION

KEEP CALM The Perfect Travel Companions for Frequent Flyers compiled by Dominic Ngai

CARRY Comme des Garcons farfetch.cn RMB6,734

Vans farfetch.cn RMB685

DSquared2 farfetch.cn RMB7,450

Zara zara.cn RMB599

For Him 22 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

FASHION | LIFE & STYLE

Karl Lagerfeld farfetch.cn RMB3,683

Nike

nike.com RMB499

Nike

nike.com RMB699

lululemon lululemon.cn

RMB1,180

Zara zara.cn RMB399

Yeezy

farfetch.cn RMB5,135

For Her WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 23

LIFE & STYLE | ADVERTORIAL

STRIVING FOR GREATNESS

General Manager Jack Lim Ming Boon on Opening a Resort at the Great Wall Jinshanling Singapore Native Jack Lim Ming Boon is General Manager of the soon-to-open Dhawa Jinshanling, a property by the Banyan Tree group. We sat down with him to talk about hospitality, running a resort by the Great Wall Jinshanling and how to draw millennial consumers. What is Dhawa?

Dhawa is a Hindi word. It’s a native tree mostly found in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Cambodia. We have four brands in Banyan Tree, and Dhawa is going to be our casual, friendly brand, attracting millennials. What drew you to this property?

At Dhawa, I have the privilege of opening the first of this new brand, which means that

eventually everything I set up here will impact the next 15 hotels that are in the pipeline. I’ve been in hospitality for over 20 years already, and opening a new brand is so rare. I want to make sure I’m a part of it. How close is Dhawa to the Wall?

We are just at the base of the wall – only 20 minutes walking. And it’s not very steep – we’re just by the ticket-buying entrance. Some of the courtyards we’ve designated as courtyards with Great Wall Jinshanling views. Our gym is facing the Wall, so you can enjoy the scenery while you’re running on a treadmill.

something different. We will allow guests to book, pay and check in by mobile apps. When you come in you will receive your personal toiletry pouch, containing different amenities. In the room, you’ll find the minibar is empty – why? Because we have a common area called “The Nest” where we have all the vending machines – free coffee, tea, daily snacks! Dhawa has lots to offer in this unique destination. A lot of people ask, “What can I do, besides climb up the Wall?” It’s about more than that. It’s about lifestyle, it’s about the culture, and it’s about connecting with people. It’s for everyone. www.dhawa.com

What will the design be like?

At Dhawa, we bring in local elements. Our courtyards are built with a Ming dynasty concept, but we bring in a modern touch – we don’t want to be totally traditional. What are the challenges of working next to the Great Wall?

Like any resort, we have our peak and our down season. The winter will be our challenge – bringing people to the Wall when it’s minus 20 degrees! What’s will the Dhawa experience be like? Right from when you check in, we’ll be doing

Elegant serviced apartments in Beijing with natural hot spring water

Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing has 171 serviced residences range from studios to three-bedroom apartments and offer an elegant range of amenities and facilities to ensure each resident’s stay is comfortable and well taken care of. It is 20 minutes from Beijing International Airport and within walking distance to subway line 6.

For details and reservations, please visit Oakwood.com/OakwoodAsia.com/DameiCenter Tel：10 8585 2211

BANGALORE BANGKOK BEIJING CHENGDU GUANGZHOU HANGZHOU HONG KONG INCHEON JAKARTA MANILA MUMBAI PUNE SEOUL SHANGHAI TOKYO 24 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

ADVERTORIAL | LIFE & STYLE

WHY ORTHOKERATOLOGY ?

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requirements. Patients not willing or unable to accept myopia operations, with low to moderate myopia, but who need to pass ophthalmic examination can enjoy the treatment as well. The treatment is available to those with myopia under 600 degrees, astigmatism under 150 degrees, corneal curvature greater than 39D and less than 46D, IOP between 11 and 21mmhg, with healthy eye condition and good hygienic habits. Why choose AIER hospital? There are several reasons to choose AIER. This highly respected hospital has a dedicated national MCT lens safety monitoring unit. As

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Address: 5th floor, Panjiayuan Plaza No. 12 Panjiayuan Nanli Chaoyang District, Beijing, China Service center: 400-6007-911 E-mail address: ims@aierchina.com WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 25

ARTS

TRUE TO YOUR ART

Our pick of this month's must-see exhibitions, p39

Literary Controversy p30

The Hormones p36

New Albums p37

DRUMROLL

JAMES BLUNT ...In His Own Words by Emma Chi

In the years since we interviewed James Blunt in 2013, the ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer has become besties with Ed Sheeran, taken to driving a Thai-style tuk tuk, and made headlines for operating a bar out his Ibiza home named “Blunty’s Nightclub: Where Everyone Is Beautiful.” In honor of James Blunt’s forthcoming Beijing show, we’re reprinting our original interview. We may not have asked about Blunty’s then, but the singer volunteered some eyebrow-raising fun facts regardless. In his own words:

“I stayed at Carrie Fisher’s house while I recorded my first two albums. She put

a cardboard cut-out of herself outside my room to protect me at night.

I recorded ‘Goodbye My Lover’ in Carrie Fisher’s bathroom. She had a good

piano in there, so why not?

My dissertation at Bristol University was about pop idols. Ninety percent of

the music business is hair and makeup. I forgot my hairbrush, so I have to focus on the remaining 10 percent – music.

When I was 14 years old, I started playing the electric guitar and writing songs. That’s when I knew I’d become a musician.

It’s amazing that I can write a personal song like ‘You’re Beautiful’ and other

people can relate to it.

It came about when I saw my ex-girlfriend on the subway with her new boyfriend, who I didn’t know existed. We caught each other’s gaze and in that moment lived a lifetime together, but didn’t do anything about it and haven’t seen each other since.

How a listener interprets a song is up to them.

You need to live shallow moments in order to write deep songs. It sounds contradictory, but life’s full of contradictions, isn’t it?

Ninety percent of what you read about me in the newspapers is an exaggeration. It’s a shame that the people we pay to

I was locked away in a studio for 14 months making my third album, Some Kind of Trouble.

When I was in Shanghai in 2009 the welcome was warm, the audience was enthusiastic and the city was exciting to visit. I’m looking forward to coming again.

I can’t go to sleep if there’s music playing, because I find I have to listen to it. Music will always be one of the most important things in my life.”

Fri Apr 6, 7.30pm; RMB280-1,280; Cadillac Center, 69 Fuxing Lu, Haidian 海淀区复兴路69号

tell us the truth are the biggest liars.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 27

COLLAGE CANVASSED

COMING SOON

The Case of the Not- So-Barenaked Ladies

MARCH 30

Ready Player One A Spielberg-directed adaptation of Ernest Cline’s popular sci-fi novel of the same name, Ready Player One is set in a dystopian future, following Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), a young man who spends his free time jacked into a virtual reality system called OASIS. When the system’s creator reveals that he’s hidden an Easter egg in the world that will give whomever finds it complete control of OASIS, a hunt to discover its whereabouts ensues. Critics have praised the film’s visuals, especially its rich host of references to the 1980s.

Rampage

APRIL 10

Rampage is based on a 1986 video game in which gamers play as giant, city-destroying animals. In the film adaptation, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye, who has a strong bond with an albino gorilla in his care named George. Okoye must save the day after George is infected with a genetic mutation that transforms him into a violent giant. The film has gained a lot of buzz thanks to its cheeky and irreverent promo material, including a trailer in which The Rock speaks directly to the audience via his iPhone. 28 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

When Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water debuted in domestic theaters last month, audiences who’d seen the original version noticed a few discrepancies. In an important scene between the protagonist Elisa and her aquatic love interest, Elisa’s nude body is obscured by shadows, which conveniently cover her in the shape of a one-piece swimsuit. Other scenes were entirely cut from the film, while still more were zoomed in on characters’ faces to edit out the nudity below. After film critic Feng Xiaoqiang brought attention to the shadow swimsuit scene online, web users tickled by its lack of subtlety skewered it on Weibo by posting screenshots of other movies – from a shirtless fight scene in Black Panther to Titanic’s iconic topless moment – with the characters covered up via Photoshop by similar black shadow swimsuits. A reminder that we are all naked, underneath our clothes.

Hao In a moment of intersectional female empowerment, recent Oscar winner Frances McDormand announced at the Independent Spirit Awards she will be collaborating on a film with Chinese director Chloe Zhao. The Beijing-born, US-based auteur’s second feature film, The Rider, won the Art Cinema Award at Cannes Film Festival last year.

Bu Hao Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water was riding high into Chinese theaters last month after its Oscar win for Best Picture, but made a major gaffe with its Chinaspecific promo material. In a China debut countdown poster, Sally Hawkins is seen holding up three fingers. It’s a fairly innocuous picture, but anyone who’s either seen the movie or understands American Sign Language would know that in this moment of the film, Hawkins’ character is saying “f**k you” to her boss.

E DI T E D B Y E R IC A M A R T IN / bj e di t o r @ ur b a n a t o m y.c o m

‘My Name is Trouble’ (2010)

‘I Try’ (1999)

‘Shell Suite’ (2013)

Lively synth and a funk-infused bassline complement Ann’s typically effortless vocals in this – dare we say – perfect dance pop track.

Featuring Gray’s signature scratchy voice gasping against measured piano, this timeless track is the American singer-songwriter’s biggest hit for a reason.

An uplifting slice of chillwave that sounds like the sun setting or a getaway scene, much like the one it accompanied in rom-zom-com Warm Bodies.

‘Entertainment’ (2013)

‘Frontin’’ (2003)

Careening between frenetic guitars, stabbing synths and a low-tempo verse, the first single off the French rockers’ fifth album, Bankrupt!, is a rollercoaster.

The Neptunes producer’s debut single is a snack, thanks to lo-fi production, earnest vocals, and a guest rap by Beyoncé’s other half.

Keren Ann

Phoenix

Macy Gray

Pharrell ft. Jay-Z

Chad Valley

‘Pre-Columbian Artifact’ (2016) Alpine Decline

The LA-via-Beijing-via-LA rock duo combine crashing drums and sinister synths, along with steady bass by producer Yang Haisong of P.K.14, for an eerie AF sound-trip.

Our favorite tracks from artists playing in Beijing this month. For full nightlife and gig listings, visit www.thatsmags.com

GIG POSTER OF THE MONTH Folk acts Li Eryang, Yan Baizhou and Fofox grace the stage at Moguspace this month. Sat Apr 7, 9pm; RMB60 (door), RMB50 (advance); Moguspace, 66 Jiaoda Donglu, Haidian 海淀区交大东路 66号 (6224 9830)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 29

ARTS | BOOKS

THE LEFTOVERS Do Claims of “Erasure” Taint a New Book’s Reputation Beyond Repair? by Erica Martin

30 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

In early February, I interviewed journalist Roseann Lake in the hopes of profiling her before the debut of her new book, Leftover in China. Less than three weeks later, Lake was accused of journalistic misconduct. Leftover in China explores the concept of shengnü, or leftover women, a term used in China to describe professional, educated women in their late 20s and early 30s who are not married. Lake, a journalist who lived in Beijing for five years and worked as a television reporter, became interested in the topic after speaking about it with her colleagues. “I decided to write this book because these women really impressed me,” Lake told me. “The fact that they exist is a very good thing.” On February 19, respected scholar and author of 2014’s groundbreaking book Leftover Women, Leta Hong-Fincher, published a 21-tweet thread on Twitter accusing Lake and her new book of “erasure.” Despite Lake having reached out to HongFincher, generally considered the Englishlanguage expert on shengnü, about her work in the past, Lake did not mention or even cite her in the bibliography of Leftover in China. “This is not fun for me,” Hong-Fincher tweeted. “I can’t sleep. I am in agony. Someone else is profiting from the groundwork I laid and doesn’t even bother to put me in an obscure footnote.” Shortly afterwards, Lake released a response via her publisher. She lists her own credentials for being well-versed in the topic of leftover women, including a play she produced called The Leftover Monologues in the vein of The Vagina Monologues. The crux of the statement, however, is Lake’s assertion that she chose

not to read Hong-Fincher’s book when it came out in 2014, because she was already working on her own manuscript and “chose to stay focused on the stories of the women whose lives [she] features in it.” In response, many ‘China experts’ and academics expressed support for HongFincher and accused Lake of shoddy journalistic standards. ChinaFile tweeted that they took down an interview with Lake because they weren’t confident that her book “respects basic scholarly and journalistic principles” (though they later decided it did, and re-published it). “I am not saying that Lake's overall argument is the same as mine at all,” HongFincher tells me. “But she drew extensively on my groundbreaking research without acknowledging me anywhere, even though she was the one who reached out to me in 2011 and wanted to exchange thoughts.” Hong-Fincher has not accused Lake of plagiarism, but rather “erasure.” As she explained in a tweet: “So many people getting started out in their careers have their great ideas stolen by more powerful people – very often, it is white men or women stealing ideas by underfunded people of color – but that is not always the case, of course. Relates to systemic racism and sexism.” After all, there is no evidence of plagiarism – at least, not yet. “It takes a huge amount of work to compile a comparison chart of similar sentences from both books and I have not yet begun to do so systematically,” Hong-Fincher said on Twitter in February. “But reviewers of the book MUST.” (Full disclosure: I have not done that, but I did read both books at the same time, annotating them as I went.) Leftover in China's key points are different enough that Lake could have written

BOOKS | ARTS

it without drawing upon Hong-Fincher’s work. The book, which chronicles in pert and effervescent prose the tribulations of four unmarried women in Beijing, is aimed at readers in the Western world who may know little about China but are interested in learning more about global feminism. At one point, she translates meishi (没事) as “Hakuna Makata,” and she occasionally plays up her role as a “confused foreigner” stand-in for the reader. The book opens with Lake returning to work after Spring Festival wondering why the women in her office are out of sorts. It’s because they’ve been chided by their families for still being unmarried. Lake compares China’s current attitudes toward leftover women with American sex and dating in the 50s and 60s, theorizing that tradition will eventually modernize the way it did in the US, as men become more comfortable with the idea of a dual-earning household. “There’s a quote in the book that I think really summarizes a lot of what’s going on with these growing pains,” Lake told me. “It’s from a demographer who specializes in studying female education rates and marriage trends around the world. He said: ‘Men [in China] are looking for women who no longer exist, and women are looking for men who have yet to exist.’ I think that nails it. It will work itself out.” Hong-Fincher’s book is bleaker, in part because her impressive research reveals how deep-seated these issues lie within China’s tradition. Some critics of Lake’s book have claimed that she is more optimistic because she doesn’t have the big picture knowledge that Hong-Fincher’s book provides.

Hong-Fincher is meticulous and academic in her approach, backing up key points with hard data. She provides a sobering, pioneering look at gender inequality in China, with a specific focus on how the patriarchy has caused highly-paid, successful women to lose out on China’s real estate market, and another focus on intimate partner violence. These are two topics that Lake barely touches on. The books, therefore, are very different – but the claims of “erasure” are still valid. Though Lake could have theoretically written Leftover in China without using Hong-Fincher’s research at all, why would she want to? In a follow-up interview with That's, Lake elaborated on her reasoning behind this decision. Essentially, Hong-Fincher was not the first person to coin the phrase “leftover women” in English (this is true, though she’s done more original research about the demographic than anyone else), so Lake didn’t need to cite Hong-Fincher just for using the term. Because Lake hadn’t officially interviewed Hong-Fincher (who actually turned down an interview with Lake back in 2011) and did not quote one of her texts for the book, she did not need to include her in the bibliography. This is all valid, strictly speaking, to the way citation works. But, as Grace Jackson pointed out in her March review of Leftover in China for the LA Review of Books, it taints Lake’s purported commitment to feminism that she wouldn’t go out of her way to reference the most groundbreaking expert on leftover women. “Roseann Lake said she never read my book because she wanted to focus on writing on 'leftover' women in ‘her own voice,’” Hong-Fincher tells me. “You might want to

ask her what she was afraid would happen if she read my book while writing hers.” Lake’s own research is unique enough that she could have read Hong-Fincher’s book for reference, cited her where appropriate, and then gone on to follow her own research where it took her without any fear of publishing a book that’s too similar to Leftover Women. But she didn’t. To truly promote feminism, Lake would have to lift up the women who came before her. Otherwise, she might not be plagiarizing, but neither is she working to advance gender parity, the cause that’s at the heart of both of these books.

Leftover In China: The Women Shaping the World’s Next Superpower by Roseann Lake and Leftover Women: The Resurgence of Gender Inequality in China by Leta Hong-Fincher are available on Amazon.com

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 31

A R T S | F E S T I VA L

Zhang Kai，Fantasy

Yu Yang，No “East” or “West,” No. 2

Li Xiaohe，Images From Last Spring Zhao Wenhua/The Garden of Century, No. 2

32 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

F E S T I VA L | A R T S

Paere Dansk, Model 1958 Multicolour

Wang Jianuo, Untitled

The annual festival is back from April 29 to May 2. Here, our pick of artworks on display.

X+Q Art, I Have Seen Happiness-The Starry Night

Jiang Ji’an，Tea Gathering Scan the QR code or turn to p.65 for more info

www.artbeijing.net

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 33

ARTS | MUSIC

SHANNON LINTNER

DESOLATION AND HOMECOMING Indie Rockers Alpine Decline Find a New, Post-Beijing Sound by Erica Martin

Self-described ‘guitar and drums duo’ Pauline and Jonathan Zeitlin formed Alpine Decline in LA in the early 2000s – but they became essential contributors to Beijing’s rock scene after they moved to the city’s outer Tongzhou district in 2010. “When we moved to Beijing, we needed to go out and put our perspective in the blender, or I’m not sure we’d have been able to write compelling music anymore,” says Jonathan, who plays guitar and provides the band’s distinctive vocals. The greatest result of this period was their 19-track noise rock opus and “love/ hate letter to their adopted home” of Beijing, 2016’s Life’s A Gasp, one of the best indie rock albums to come out of Beijing in the past decade. After a 2016 tour, Alpine Decline moved

34 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

back to LA, “abruptly,” says Pauline – much like they had six years prior when they moved to Beijing. “We’d already felt like some changes had come over us, musically speaking […], a new era of something had already dawned on our band,” she says. It didn’t take long for Alpine Decline’s postBeijing sound to take shape, though it isn’t as specific to LA as Life’s A Gasp is to Beijing. “It feels kind of like one door closed behind us, and it took a long time before a new door opened up in front of us,” Jonathan says. “This album is that empty space in between two doors.” The duo wrote the album in LA, but recorded it in Beijing, where P.K. 14 frontman Yang Haisong played bass and produced it. The resulting record, Return to Desolation Lake, sounds like it comes from a different

MUSIC | ARTS

PHOTO BY SHANNON LITNER LINTNPHOTOER

band – at least upon first listen. The screeching noise rock and synths that served as the sonic manifestation of Beijing’s ‘urban chaos’ on Life’s A Gasp are largely absent. Return to Desolation Lake is spare and elegant, with a focus on Jonathan’s vocals. The opener, ‘Blameless,’ is a crystal-clear guitar-led track with haunting lyrics. Tracks like ‘Dispatch from the Guesthouse’ have poppy, upbeat melodies, while slower songs like ‘Lies to Protect You’ are stark and lovely. “Songwriting and melodies have always been at the center of our music, but a lot of people just aren’t going to dig through all the snow and dense soundscapes we’ve had on our previous albums,” says Pauline. “We hope that the clarity on Return to Desolation Lake gives listeners a wider door to get to the songs,” Jonathan chimes in. “Come on in, y’all!” Pauline adds with a laugh. The album’s cover, designed by Shanghai screen-printing duo IdleBeats, depicts a haggard troupe of boatmen traveling toward a distant island that appears to be on fire. Listening to the album feels very much like traveling toward that island – its hooks and melodies push you along like a current, but

its dark themes lie just under the surface. “We’ve worked with IdleBeats a few times now, and they have a way of grabbing a certain frequency out of the music and spinning it into something kind of beautiful and threatening at the same time,” says Jonathan. “I think that’s very appropriate for our music.” Despite the album’s new sonic direction, its lyrical themes remain the same: finding beauty in bleakness, a preoccupation with ‘urban chaos.’ Return to Desolation Lake is a repackaging of these same elements, in a different, but equally intriguing, aesthetic. “I don’t know if it’s something particular about the current moment or not, but the experience of flickering between beauty and anxiety, and hope and fear, and chaos and quiet moments of blankness, seems very real and relevant to me,” says Jonathan. “I think this kind of emotional being-in-two-placesat-once thing is something everyone can connect to right now.”

Fri Apr 13, 9.30pm; RMB100 (door), RMB80 (presale); Yue Space, 7 Banqiao Nanxiang, Dongcheng 东城区板桥南巷7号 (tickets via WeChat ID yue_space)

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 35

ARTS | MUSIC

SELF-TITLED Chengdu Legends The Hormones Return From Hiatus by Erica Martin

When The Hormones toured China in 2014, audiences hadn’t seen anything quite like them. The dark, cerebral pop-punk group are known for ‘Elephant,’ their single based on the true story of an elephant that trampled a Yunnan farmer’s wife after he’d killed the animal’s offspring. “When I read this story, I was very sad,” explains bass player and songwriter Wang Minghui (or Mingming), who’s been with the band since its founding in 2011. “Sad about the occurrence of this tragedy, and about the lack of understanding between different forms of life. So I imagined myself as an elephant ready to go to the village for revenge.” Bolstered by the 2014 tour and the positive response to their unique EP, The Hormones landed a spot on the TV show Bands of China that same year, which became both a blessing and a curse. “When we participated in the television program, it was followed by more temptations and choices,” says vocalist Zhu Mengdie. “We were very confused – we wanted to stay true to our music, but we also wanted more attention. So there were different opinions among our band members, and some left. We were all sad.” A long hiatus ensued, followed by a change in lineup. The band channeled this period of turmoil into their sophomore effort, which is self-titled – an affirmation of their new cohesiveness and identity as a band. “The Hormones album is actually a record of our two years of emotional experience,” says Zhu. “The lead single is the meant to decribe 36 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

the feelings of the time.” The band have moved away from their dance-oriented roots, but retain their uncompromising perspective, which Mingming describes as “punk’s female voice,” influenced by Le Tigre. “We started to remove any complicated samples, and kept the actual sound of the instruments, making interesting changes from there,” she explains. “For example, in the song ‘Lhasa River,’ a sound effect was made by the producer holding an electric razor near the guitar while we are playing.” As an all-girl band, The Hormones have faced their share of stereotyping – a video from 2014 introduces their performance with a lame joke about Chengdu’s “hot food and hotter women.” Their promo material for the new album explains that they’ve always “hated the idea of being reduced to just eye candy.”

“Others would think that being seen as a good female band is enough, but our goal is to make really good music, and not let anyone put us to a fixed standard,” says Zhu. Overcoming both this oversimplification as a ‘girl band’ and the personal turmoil of the post-Elephant period, The Hormones are embarking on a new China tour this month with an even clearer identity and more personal approach to their songs. “This album is a change in our state and our consciousness,” says drummer Zhou Lijuan. “I think the best part is that the tour of these 20 cities will enable more people to meet us and understand our music.” Sat Apr 14, 9pm; RMB100 (door), RMB80 (presale); Yugong Yishan, see Listings for details

MUSIC | ARTS

FOR THE RECORD Three New Homegrown Albums on Our Radar This Month by Erica Martin

OVERSEAS by Bohan Phoenix

Bohan Phoenix is gaining traction in both China and the US, perhaps hinting at a future in which musicians’ fame can span cultures. On our favorite EP of his thus far, Phoenix switches effortlessly between English and Mandarin, rapping about his background and identity. Slow burn ‘Fuck Trap’ features the introspective line: “too foreign for here, too foreign for home, too torn to choose.” The song’s name derives from a sound bite from frequent collaborator Howie Lee, saying: “Forget about trap. Just stop doing those trash singles.” The album shines thanks to beats that are both simple and unusual, which allows Phoenix’s insightful verses to stand out. Listen at bohanphoenix.bandcamp.com

DRAGONTOWN by YoungQueenz

The grill-sporting rapper YoungQueenz draws inspiration from both 90s gangsta rap and Japanese anime, channeling Hong Kong’s futuristic city vibes in both Cantonese and English. YoungQueenz makes a point of working with up-andcoming producers and featuring other rappers, and, indeed, almost every song on DragonTown features another member of YoungQueenz’s crew, allowing for a varied range of voices throughout. The album starts with a bang on the highlight opening track, “Draaagtown.” Listen at soundcloud.com/youngqueenz/

SELF SALVATION by Genome 6.66Mbp

Shanghai collective Genome’s second compilation album features 11 tracks by members of their own ranks as well as guests. Nanjing producer Dirty K’s battle cry ‘Torment,’ followed by Kelvin T’s aggressively catchy industrial track ‘Save Him From the Glass,’ keeps things high energy, while things get weird at the end with a spare and skittering bassline in xin’s finale track ‘who am i to say you look like spam ?!’ Ultimately, Self Salvation stays true to Genome’s self-described goal of making “forward-thinking weirdo club music.” The album’s name can be interpreted as a reference to Western DJs who swoop into China’s nightclub spaces believing they know how to better produce music. Self Salvation makes it clear that Genome needs no help. Listen at genome666mbp.bandcamp.com

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 37

ARTS | PICK OF SIX

Zhu Jinshi, ‘Rejecting River Currents’

Shao Fan, ‘Recent Works’

Through May 6; Galerie Urs Meile

Through Apr 30; Tang Contemporary Art

Group exhibition, ‘Jingting Mountain’

Through Apr 21; Tong Gallery+projects

Group exhibition, ‘5 X Berlin’ Through Apr 29; Boers-Li Gallery

For gallery information visit www.thatsmags.com/beijing

Carsten Höller, ‘Method’

Through Jun 2; Galleria Continua

Group exhibition, ‘Stèles II - Vivre Sans Temps Mort’ Through Apr 20; Ying Space

38 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

CITY SCENES

Conference or Netflix binge-watching? Attendees of the Vietnam National Airlinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; product promotion meeting find themselves wondering.

Fun game: Locate our Deputy Editor Dominique Wong in this photo of a Lululemon event at Peninsula Beijing.

Chefs share food knowledge with eager listeners before sharing food dishes with hungry eaters, at JW Marriott Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Malaysian Food Festival.

Don't mix beer and snow unless you want this to happen, at Wanlong Ski Resort in Chongli, Hebei.

Beer drinker demonstrates the superfluity of boots and gloves when one is wearing a giraffe onesie, at the Jing-A Ski Break.

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 39

APRIL 2018

COV ER S T OR Y

NEW MONEY Is China Ready for a Cashless Future? by Dominic Ngai

APRIL 2018

he manager of the corner store near my apartment is not in a good mood. A young security guard is paying for an RMB10 pack of Zhongnanhai cigarettes with a 100-kuai bill. As the manager, surnamed Ji, counts the change, she mutters some words in her local dialect, and then says loudly in Mandarin: “People don’t use these anymore,” pointing to the crumbled notes on the counter. “Why are you still paying with these?” As the guard walks out, she gives him the death stare. “Maybe about seven out of 10 people scan QR codes to pay. Others use their cards,” Ji tells me later, as I scan the code on the counter to pay for some fruit. “I receive cash maybe just a handful of times a week.” Moments later, a robotic female voice from her Xiaomi smartphone declares: “Payment is successful, 13 yuan.” The US might be the world’s largest economy, but when it comes to mobile payments, China is way ahead. China’s mobile transaction revenue in 2016 was 50 times that of America's, according to China Tech Insights. And Chinese mobile payments are only growing – revenue reached RMB81 trillion over the first 10 months of 2017, an increase of almost 30 percent compared to the total amount recorded in 2016, according to official data.

China was the first country in the world to use paper money. But will it be the first to abandon it? As Alipay and WeChat Pay make unprecedented headway, many are beginning to wonder – and fear – what a cashless China would look like. “At the end of the day, your money is being handled by companies whose main objective is to sell you all sorts of services,” says Ben Cavender, principal at China Market Research (CMR). “There’s definitely a conflict of interest [that works against consumers].” Tech companies are not held to the same fiduciary standards that traditional financial institutions follow, he adds. By signing up for WeChat Pay or Alipay, users are giving Tencent or Alibaba instant information about their spending habits – and soon, the government will be privy, too.

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Mar 2014

Jan 2014

Aug 2013

WeChat launches its payment application for official accounts

WeChat launches Red Envelope application

WeChat launches mobile payment service

Aug 2014 WeChat launches its City Services feature, enabling users to pay their utility bills within the app

May 2015

Jan 2018

WeChat pay reaches 300 million users

Tencent launches trial version of Zhima Credit-like product, Tencent Credit

Feb 2015

Jan 2016

WeChat collaborates with CCTV Spring Festival Gala to promote WeChat Red Envelope, resulting in 1 billion transactions

WeChat Pay is available in over 300,000 offline retailers

TEAM BLUE

800 million

mobile monthly active users WeChat Pay (as of 2017)

TEAM GREEN

How China’s Mobile Payments Have Grown Oct 2004

Mar 2008

Oct 2008

Jun 2013

An early verion of Alipay, resembling PayPal, is launched on Taobao

Alipay launches a mobile payment service

Alipay enables users to pay utility bills

Alipay launches Yu’e Bao, an online money market fund for investments

Dec 2013

March 2014

Alipay surpasses PayPal to become the world’s largest payment company, with 300 million verified users and 2.8 billion transactions in a year

Alipay reaches 25 million daily transactions on mobile

Dec 2014

Feb 2014

Mobile payments account for 49.3 percent of Alipay transactions

Yu’e Bao reaches 81 million verified users

Jan 2015 Zhima Credit is introduced

Dec 2015

Sep 2016

Dec 2016

Sep 2017

Mobile payments account for 65 percent of Alipay transactions

Alipay starts charging a 0.1-percent fee for withdrawals

Alipay launches AR hongbao functions

Alipay debuts facial recognition payment services

520 million mobile monthly active users (as of 2017)

APRIL 2018

Up until recently, Alipay and WeChat Pay dealt directly with individual banks. By June 30 of this year, however, third-party online payment companies and commercial banks will have to migrate this whole process to a People’s Bank of China-backed platform called Wanglian (or Non-Bank Internet Payment Union). This will allow Chinese authorities to monitor all mobile transactions in real time. The migration process had already begun in October 2017, as ordered by the national bank. Yes, Big Brother is watching. This has many onlookers worried, of course. One of the loudest arguments against a digital-only economy is summed up by the headline of Peter Guy's South China Morning Post op-ed from October: “A Cashless Society Would Destroy Our Privacy and Freedom.” The American venture capitalist writes that the way in which mainlanders have “blindly surrendered their privacy” for the convenience of mobile payment is “gullible and naïve.” “Think of it this way: Cash is the original cryptocurrency,” he tells That's. “I don’t want the government to have records of everything that I buy, or every place that I go. Cash is private, and I always want to have the option of having banknotes under my pillow.”

A firm supporter of US gun rights, Guy equates cash to guns as the last line of defense for one’s freedom and privacy. While the analogy is extreme, economists agree that a 100-percent cashless economy could have some serious underlying consequences. Guy points to government-led economic recovery measures as example of cashlessness’s potential harm. In 2014 and 2016, central banks of several countries worldwide imposed negative interest rates. In a cashless world, he says, having all of your savings locked in a computerized system would mean there’s no way to avoid getting penalized for simply leaving your savings in the bank. (Some also say natural disasters and blackouts would cause mass panic if people weren’t able to access their money.) But the privacy concerns go beyond mobile payments. And they have to do with the spam messages we get on our phones. COV ER S T OR Y

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“Cash is the original cryptocurrency. I don’t want the government to have records of everything that I buy. Cash is private“ In January, a text message from an unknown number tells me I’m eligible for a RMB50,000 loan (“low interest! quick approval process!”). Another message a few days later from an associate of “Daimler Investments” (unrelated to the German automobile manufacturer) reads: “We help our clients make more money with money, 10,000 becomes 30,000, earning 100,000 a month isn’t a dream anymore!” These sketchy investment pitches are increasingly common. Chinese consumers have been receiving more and more loan offers via WeChat and SMS in recent years, causing the country’s short-term credit rate to jump by 160 percent in the first eight months of 2017, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In June 2014, the Chinese government announced a social credit system that will assign a rating to each citizen based on one’s financial records and social behaviors. While the government version won’t be fully rolled out until 2020, Zhima Credit (or Sesame Credit) is widely seen as the first prototype of the official system. The program appeared on the Alipay app home screen months after the government’s 2014 announcement. Once registered, users are given a score from 350 to 950 based on information in five categories: occupation, education level, assets, payment history and network, i.e. the number and quality of Alipay contacts.

Others

At the beginning of this year, thousands of Alipay users were furious after their Zhima Credit scores appeared on an animated Alipay annual usage report without their prior consent, prompting Zhima to issue an official apology on its Weibo account.

WeChat Pay

40%

Until recently, China lacked a functioning credit rating system. But soon, the government will debut a nationwide line of credit – only it’s more than just financial.

Alipay

54%

Zhou Min, a freshly-graduated 20something who works in advertising, was one of the victims of Zhima Credit’s privacy invasion snafu. “I’m pretty sure they probably already have my spending data because I’ve been using Alipay regularly for a few years,” she says. “That wouldn’t surprise me at all.”

China’s Mobile Payments Market Source: iResearch & WalkTheChat, 2017

APRIL 2018

350

Transactions, in Trillion RMB

Source: iResearch and WalkTheChat

707.0%

300

250

Percent change from year to year

391.3% 36.3%

103.5%

89.2%

381.9% 68.0% 68.0%

38.0%

229.0

200 165.9

150 98.7

100 58.8

50 0

0.1

0.2

1.2

6.0

2011

2012

2013

2014

12.2 2015

2016

2017e

2018e

2019e

The Growth of Chinese Mobile Payments

Average Amount of Cash Carried Daily (RMB) in China Post-60s

Generation

600 500

557

Post-70s

Generation

479

Post-80s

Generation

400

328

300

Post-90s

Generation

172

200 COV ER S T OR Y

100

Source: 2017 Mobile Payment Usage in China Report

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47 At this point, scores on Zhima Credit only offer a snapshot of users’ spending behaviors within Alibaba’s own mobile payment ecosystems. But once the government-sponsored system is up and running, experts say it could be the most powerful mass surveillance system in the world – and our smartphones could very well become surveillance devices. When I ask Zhou whether she’s concerned about this, she says: “I’m not worried. It’s not like we can opt out or anything.” Elsewhere in the world, one country is paving the way for a different kind of cashlessness: Sweden. Swedish economics professor Nikklas Arvidsson has been studying this trend for some time, though when asked whether his countrymen are concerned with the security of their personal information, he says: “Swedish people believe in the legal system and the government’s data protection directives. A majority of people here aren’t overly concerned.”

“They probably already have my spending data because I’ve been using Alipay for years. It’s not like we can opt out or anything” Arvidsson has to think for a moment before he can recall the last time he used cash when we speak via Skype (a Swedish invention, he points out). In Sweden, “no cash” signs are becoming common decor at the entrances of shops, and it’s completely legal for merchants to refuse coins and bills. Arvidsson believes his country could go cashless in as soon as five years. CMR’s Cavender, however, thinks China’s willingness to embrace technological innovations could allow the country to beat Sweden in the race to become fully cashless. “QR codes are a much more powerful tool that allows people like a small baozi vendor to operate with very low overhead costs.” At Ji’s small store, it’s business as usual. Ji is on her smartphone, watching the loud characters from her favorite soap opera. Not wanting to interrupt her show, I silently pay for some water with WeChat. Voices of the actors dim for a moment, in exchange for the robotic WeChat Pay lady: “Payment is successful, 20 yuan.”

APRIL 2018

COIN TOSS n 2016, Beijing was leading the global bitcoin industry. That same year, I opened a virtual bitcoin wallet. I was not planning on investing. But I was writing about cryptocurrencies for this magazine, and so I opened a CoinBase account. Later, a friend asked if he could pay me back in bitcoin for some beers and snacks I’d bought him. I shrugged, and he sent me a tiny fraction of one bitcoin – the value of one case of beer and three donkey burgers. It’s now worth over USD500. While I haven’t touched my bitcoin since then – I’ve checked in on it monthly, watching it swing from USD50 to over USD700 and back down to USD500. For me, the drama is contained within an app on my phone. But for those working in Bitcoin, the highs and lows play out in real time. And that time moves quickly. “Bitcoin time distorts things,” says Neil Woodfine, director of enterprise solutions for a bitcoin-based payment startup, when I catch up with him this year. I’m asking him to give me a timeline of all the changes that have occurred for bitcoin in China, since we last spoke in 2016. “First there were the exchange investigations, and then the exchanges got closed down…” Bitcoin is a fully decentralized digital currency, which means that no one government controls it (instead, the underlying technology of bitcoin, known as the blockchain, runs on an algorithm). China can, however, regulate the businesses that work with it – and changes began in September 2017, when the People’s Bank of China banned exchanges converting bitcoin to renminbi. COV ER S T OR Y

What Happened to China’s Bitcoin Boom? by Noelle Mateer, additional reporting by Dominique Wong

Then, in early 2018, it asked ‘exchangelike’ services to close, and in February, the government placed even foreign cryptocurrency exchanges behind the Great Firewall. These changes have resulted in a dramatic transformation for China’s once-booming bitcoin industry. China was once home to the largest, most powerful bitcoin exchanges in the world. In 2016, 93 percent of all Bitcoin trades were with renminbi, and the Beijingbased OKCoin facilitated 76 percent of these transactions. The excitement among early bitcoin adopters was palpable. “Before, I had a terrible desk job, and it was boring, but this is exciting,” Eric Mu, of China-based HaoBTC, had told me. “The future is infinite.” Meanwhile, Nishant Sharma, of Beijing-based mining hardware manufacturer Bitmain, referred to Beijing as “the Silicon Valley of the world when it comes to bitcoin.”

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“Previously, it looked like China was being fairly friendly,” says Woodfine. “I never imagined the exchanges would get closed down.” When they were asked to close, he says, “It was a sudden realization that I don’t have a clue what’s going on.” These days, Woodfine finds it harder to run the Beijing Bitcoin Meetup he co-founded: “It’s very difficult to find speakers, because there’s not as many people passing through the country. [Before,] everyone was coming to visit OKCoin, Huobi… there was a lot of activity. Whereas now, there’s still a lot of activity going on in China, but it’s more under the radar.”

While changes have negatively impacted China’s bitcoin industry, cryptocurrencies continue to grow worldwide. The value of one bitcoin reached over USD17,000 at one point in December 2017, though it has dipped significantly since then. (At the time of print, the value was USD8,766.) The increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies has resulted in another global phenomenon: ICOs, or Initial Coin Offerings, which raise funds for a new, unregulated cryptocurrency ventures (think IPO, but for digital currencies). In September, the People’s Bank of China released a statement saying that all ICOs should be stopped immediately, and this February, the Chinese government said it would block access to all domestic and foreign ICO websites, according to the South China Morning Post. And yet, these projects still continue within China, according to Daisy Wu, who works in business development and as a CEO assistant at Xender, a China-based file transfer company that’s currently working on an ICO project.

Above and left; Beijing Bitcoin Meetup holds a popular event in March

“A lot of big companies in China, even though they can’t publicize what they’re going to do with blockchain or ICO, they’re still doing it behind the scenes because they’re afraid of being left behind,” she says. “What if this whole thing pulls off and it becomes the next Internet era, and they hadn’t started to do this? It would be too late, right?”

APRIL 2018

After all, China’s regulations may have stopped certain activities, but they haven’t shut down enthusiasm. Woodfine sees this firsthand at the bitcoin meetups he runs.

If there’s one Beijing-based bitcoin company that’s done well since 2016, it’s Bitmain, the world’s largest bitcoin mining hardware producer.

“We just organized an event, and we were oversubscribed three or four times,” he tells me. “We ran out of seats and had a bunch of people standing at the back of the room. And then there was a massive waiting list on Meetup[.com]. I was getting messages all week on WeChat from people who couldn’t get tickets.”

“Bitmain hasn’t been affected much [by China’s regulations] because Bitmain isn’t one of the exchanges. We make bitcoin mining machines, and we’re still doing that,” says Nishant Sharma, international marketing manager for the company. “Our business is only booming compared to 2016, because the price [of bitcoin] skyrocketed after that, and our sales volumes followed that price.”

Woodfine isn’t the only one in China who remains enthusiastic about the future of cryptocurrency. Even Wu sees regulations against ICOs like her company’s in a positive light: “It’s actually good news for us because, once the government starts to regulate [cryptocurrency], we see this as a sign of it going legal.”

While the company he works for is doing well, Sharma does acknowledge that the environment for bitcoin-related companies in China has changed. When it comes to mines – warehouses full of computers speciallymade to retrieve bitcoin from the global blockchain – fewer people are choosing to set up in China, “because of regulatory uncertainties.” Ultimately, he believes the epicenter of bitcoin innovation is moving elsewhere in the world – but that that’s okay, as it will spread the adoption of cryptocurrency globally.

Above: The interior of a bitcoin mine features thousands of specially-designed computers

“I think my faith has solidified even further, because it’s picked up so much mainstream adoption,” he says, smiling. “As we believers always thought it would.”

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QR CODE OF SILENCE by Jonty Dixon, Edoardo Donati Fogliazza and Dominique Wong

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Thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones, the convenience of mobile payment systems and the increase in urban dwellers, the past year has seen a rise in staffless stores around China. These pint-sized spaces offer a physical shopping experience but without the human contact. Equipped with innovative technology like facial recognition, the stores are convenient and timesaving – you’ll never have to line up again! – or are they? Armed with our smartphones, we head to a few of Beijing’s unmanned stores to find out.

XIAOMAI

Location Beijing International Book City in Tongzhou. Looks like A glass box. What it actually is A 30sqm unmanned bookshop filled with biographies of famous businessmen and politicians, Chinese literature and Chinese-language copies of western classics like The Catcher in the Rye. Plus, succulent plants. Enter and exit By uploading a picture of your face onto WeChat and passing through a face scanner (the system will remember your face for next time), or by scanning a QR code and passing a facial recognition test at the entrance and exit. How it works Once you select a book or other item, go to the robot checkout station and scan your product’s barcode to pay. Number of staff At least two security guards. Payment method WeChat Pay, Alipay. Security level 4.5/5 Summary This initial spot is more like a ‘beta-test,’ and its location confirms this – the International Book City is remote AF. We’re talking a 25-minute taxi ride from the nearest subway station. Unless you’re really desperate to experience facial recognition technology, give this one a miss. Note: A citywide rollout of Xinhua automated bookstores is expected later this year.

Location Beside the Liangma River in Liangmaqiao. Looks like A bright yellow shipping container. What it actually is A ‘staffless’ convenience store without the cash register and counter. Enter and exit By opening the door, no scanning necessary. How it works Scan one of the many QR codes throughout the store using WeChat. That’ll get you onto the Xiaomai platform. From there, scan the barcode of the item you want and pay for each item in your basket of scanned goods via WeChat Pay. Grab each item you’ve purchased and leave. Easy. Number of staff One – but only to restock the shelves. Payment method WeChat Pay, although we spot one elderly customer handing the stock guy cash. Security level 2/5 Summary A tiny box with only two aisles of goods to choose from, Xiaomai is an in-and-out kind of joint. Open 24 hours, the convenience store is great for both bored office workers looking for a snack or inebriated folk stumbling past at 3am. 150 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路150号

XINHUA 24/7 BOOKSTORE

13 Taihu Zhengfu Dajie, Hechuanye Park, Tongzhou 通州区农贸市场路太湖镇政府大街 13号台湖产业园区 APRIL 2018

APRIL 2018

Location Damei Central Plaza on Qingnian Lu. Looks like A pocket-sized April Gourmet. What it actually is A DIY April Gourmet. Enter and exit Through a standard automatic-opening door. How it works Scan the QR code of the product you want to buy on WeChat and you’ll be taken to the April Gourmet mini app. From here scan the rest of the items you want to purchase and select the number of bags you want. Pack your items in the bagging area. Number of staff Zero. Payment method WeChat Pay. Security level 1/5 Summary A high-tech version of every expat’s favorite grocery store. Of all the staffless convenience stores we visit, this one feels the most familiar – and it’s also the biggest at a whopping six aisles. If you’re a creature of comfort that prefers limited human interaction, this one’s for you.

APRIL GOURMET (QINGNIAN LU)

Daimei Central Plaza, 7 Qingnian Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区青年路7号

QINGQU

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Location Nestled between xiaolongxia restaurants and convenience stores on primetime Gui Jie (Ghost Street). Looks like A hole-in-the wall sex shop. What it actually is A hole-in-the-wall sex shop. Enter and exit Unlock the front door by scanning the QR code on the door. Once ‘inside,’ press a button beside a second door to enter the actual sex shop. Upon exiting through the doors, a camera scans you to check you’re not stealing anything. How it works Scan the QR code of the item that you want to purchase; pay via phone for vending machine items; for larger items, pay via a touchscreen located between the front and inside doors. Number of staff Zero, but lots of cameras. Payment method WeChat Pay, Alipay. Security level 5/5 Summary While ‘Qingqu’ means ‘fun,’ the sheer awkwardness of stepping out of the sex-box onto a crowded Gui Jie is anything but. However, this is a fully automated store housing a large selection of condoms and sex aides, meaning that whatever you’re into, nobody has to know. Scan, pay, and leave quickly and subtly – if you can. 174 Dongzhimen Nei Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门内大街 174号

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53 Location Inside 5L Meet in Guomao. Looks like A single aisle of goods that’s been plucked from a supermarket and dropped inside a hotel lobby. What it actually is A mini-store without a door. Enter and exit By walking up to the shelves of goods, as the aisle is located inside a lobby. How it works Pick an item from the aisle, walk a couple of meters to the checkout area and scan the item’s barcode at the touchscreen device. Pay and leave. Number of staff None. Payment method Alipay, WeChat Pay, Apple Pay. Security level 0.5/5 – there are literally no barriers here (but the cameras are always watching). Summary The name is reaching a bit – it’ll take you a couple of minutes at most – but 15 minutes is easy-to-use and staffless. The only problem is that if there’s a computer malfunction, you’re out of luck. Luckily there’s FBI across the way.

15 MINUTES

1/F 5L Meet Guomao, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸共享际1/F

Location Opposite 15 Minutes. Looks like A top-secret space-age facility. What it actually is A glorified walk-in vending machine whose initials stand for ‘Facility By Intelligence.’ Enter and exit Through a glass door emblazoned with the text: ‘FBI 24 HOURS.’ How it works Select an item – coffee, drinks, snacks or hot meals – from one of the vending machines via a touch screen and pay using the QR reader. Number of staff Zilch. Payment method WeChat Pay or Alipay. Security level 5/5 – you have to pay before you can get your hands on the goods. Summary Is FBI a staffless store or simply a congregation of vending machines? Either way, it gets extra points for its unique design, but then just as quickly loses them, as passersby may mistake the slick facilities for an actual Federal Bureau of Investigations.

FBI

1/F 5L Meet Guomao, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸共享际1/F

APRIL 2018

EAT &

DRINK

FRENCH TOUCH La Rosée brings elegance to Xicheng, p59

Chili Chocolate p56

Soup Dumplings p59

Sanlitun’s Newest Club p61

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

GETTING MODERATELY DEEP WITH... A Stinky Tofu Seller

interview by Edoardo Donati Fogliazza, photo by Jonty Dixon

This month, we meet smelly tofu vendor Zhang Ying at her shop in Gulou.

What’s the first thing you thought when you woke up this morning? I want to sleep some more! There’s nothing I wanted to do more today. Actually, sleeping is what I want to do the most, every day. How are you feeling today?

I feel fine. My morale is just below average. In the past few days the weather in Beijing hasn’t been that good, and customers look at the weather before going out to enjoy themselves. What is your idea of the perfect day?

My perfect day is one when I sell enough without having to work too hard for it. Who is your best customer?

The best customers are the loyal ones, the ones that come back. Who are your worst costumers?

There are no bad customers. If I don’t like someone, I simply don’t sell them anything!

Which living person do you most admire? The person I admire most is myself! There’s no one else I like, no stars or celebrities, just myself.

When and where were you happiest?

What always makes you laugh?

Just after I rented this shop, and everyone was saying that the tofu was really good. I felt really happy. I don’t have any great goals or big dreams to fulfill.

I laugh when I’m happy, what else? And I’m always happy.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

[I’m proud] when people eat what I prepare, like it and compliment me. Just the fact that people know about my shop is a little achievement in its own right. All my friends know about the shop, and I don’t feel the need to expand either. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

I would like to be a man. You can work more as a man.

What’s the most surprising thing that has happened to you? Being able to rent this place. It is extremely hard to get a place here in the city center.

Which era of Beijing’s history would you most like to have lived in? Now. I don’t know much about history. Who is you hero?

Myself! Is that too narcissistic?

Zhang Ying’s tofu is at her shop, Beier Haochi, 244 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街244号

What is your most treasured possession? My character.

What trait do you most value in a person? Kind-heartedness and honesty.

What is that you most dislike? People who don’t take me seriously. What is your motto?

Take one step at a time. WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 55

GRAPE VINE SNACKS AND THE CITY

Here, a roundup of things we ate and gossiped about this month – for journalism, for research, for you, readers. It is with great pleasure that we announce that Spring has sprung. In the restaurant world, this means one thing: new menus. OK, fine – restaurants are churning out new menus all the time. But when the days start getting longer, that’s when they really kick things into high gear. Take TRIBE, for example. Beijing’s favorite organic restaurant has launched their bangin’ new Spring menu with greenery galore. We love the Spring in My (Chicken) Step salad featuring juicy grilled chicken leg and crunchy, fiber-rich andographis (it’s a type of leaf). TRIBE Nutrition has also launched a new class in their Fit Life series – a boot camp using kettlebells led by ALFA Gym trainer Rachel Gray, plus a healthy meal plan. (Get #swol.) For more wholesome options, Obentos has a new range of smoothie bowls, too. For those feeling naughtier, Xian has launched one hell of an oyster bar. Pick from their range of oysters from the world over – or don’t, and get a set with all the varieties. The bar’s range of wines (and Champagnes!) to go with is equally as varied – but if you’re daring, we recommend you pair your oysters with a craft beer from Xian’s newly reopened Craft Container. But it’s not all good news – The Georg announced its sudden closure last month, and we’re heartbroken. The Georg was a veritable palace in the hutongs, but more importantly, it was one of the few places in Beijing that offered genuinely world-class Western fine dining. When it opened, we were like: ‘Oh sh*t! Maybe Beijing is becoming Shanghai now.’ But that’s not true. It couldn’t be true. And so, The Georg, we bid you adieu. NM

NEWS BITE

“Slowly, gradually, with great mental resistance but still inexorably, it dawned on me that I had paid $98 for a duck with almost no flavor” …New York Times food critic Pete Wells reviews the NYC location of Da Dong, Beijing’s world famous Peking Duck restaurant chain. The holder of a Michelin star in Shanghai, Da Dong suffered a devastating zero-star review in the New York Times. Criticizing them for dry duck, “ketchup-like” kung pao shrimp, and vegetables that tasted like they were “stewed in Dr. Pepper,” Wells was not impressed by the chain’s overpriced, “dead on arrival dishes.” JD

OFF THE BEATEN PLATE

Snickers has unveiled a – wait for it – spicy chili chocolate bar. Available in convenience stores across the country, here’s what That’s editors have to say about it: “Satisfies our mid-afternoon sweet tooth and late-night cravings for malatang fire, all in a single bite” (Daniel Plafker, Guangzhou editor). “It’s a strange combo but it works. Think of it as the corner store candy equivalent of McDonald’s French fries dipped in soft-serve ice cream” (Matthew Bossons, That’s PRD editor-in-chief). “Over the course of my life thus far, this is the second worst thing I have ever eaten, after the five kernel meat mooncake” (Katrina Shi, digital editor). There you have it, readers – try at your own peril. RMB5.5

56 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

E D I T E D B Y NOE L L E M AT E E R / bj e di t o r @ ur b a n a t o m y.c o m

MIFAN/MAFAN

We Tell You if the Rice is Worth the Hassle

East Canteen A new pop-up turns The Taco Bar into a Chinese-inspired lunch joint on weekdays. Pick from your choice of pork, fish, beef or tofu for a quick, tasty lunch set. We love our braised pork leg, juicy and wrapped in lotus leaf, and love the price even more – RMB65 including sides and a drink. Portion sizes are notably healthy (read: a tad on the small side for some of you), but come with panna cotta. Tue-Fri, 11.30-2.30pm; The Taco Bar (see Listings for details)

Chuanqi Grassland Shield Barbecue If you can get beyond the garish poured concrete, nuclear-waste green floors and slightly off-blue ceilings, Chuanqi Grassland Shield Barbecue is not a bad spot. While we are unsure as to the level of authenticity at this Mongolianstyle BBQ joint (kimchi bewilderingly appears with the sides), the food is definitely tasty. The menu mainly features beef, although other meats are available – including sheep’s genitals, if you are so inclined. The aptly named Taste Delicious Beef (RMB39) is tender and should be everyone’s first choice off the menu. Wash it down with a big pot of salty Mongolian tea (RMB29) and enjoy this little slice of fake Mongolia and/or Korea. Daily, 10am-10pm; 1/F, Tunsanli Mall, Yongli International Plaza, 21 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路21号屯三里购物中心永利国际大厦1/F

Tasting Moments Tasting Moments is the little sister of popular Taiwan joint Taoyuan Village, but, unfortunately, doesn’t live up to expectations. Their stylish modern decor looks great, but even its minimalist, pale adornments seem to have more flavor than the food on offer. Our Sichuan chicken shaobing (RMB34) is adequate, the chicken thigh juicy and tender, but the Sichuan spice never fully arrives. Tasting Moments’ dainty youtiao are disappointing in size and flavor as well. On the positive side, the strawberry and banana smoothie (RMB26) is delicious, but again, small. One quick moment of tasting is all that’s necessary here.

Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm; L1-AB1, 1/F, 101 Parkview Green, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东大桥路9号侨福芳草地一层101内L1-AB1室 (138 1060 3503)

Side Street Side Street, on the premises of the former Ron Mexico, looks a lot like, well, the former Ron Mexico. Decor-wise, it’s largely the same (though there’s no longer a portrait of Barack Obama smoking weed). Side Street does, however, offer a change in terms of food – simple, satisfying burgers are on offer alongside sides such as chips and chutney. Though this is the former Ron Mexico, so you’re here for the drinks, right? Choose from a decent selection of craft beers or reasonably priced mixed drinks. Daily, 5pm-late; 113-02 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng 东城区交道口东大街113-02

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E AT & DR INK | R E S TAUR A N T S

SWEETIE SALAD This is No Longer Sparta by Jonty Dixon and Noelle Mateer

If we were to utter the words, right now, “that incident with the Spartan Warriors in Sanlitun,” what would come to your mind? Your answer would likely depend on where you were in the summer of 2015. Summer 2015 was a wild time in Sanlitun. You could hardly reach Taikoo Li Starbucks without passing throngs of selfie-takers outside Uniqlo, where a viral dressing-room sex tape was filmed. People were still wondering what that tall building with the honeycomb patterning was going to be. Mojito Man was still around. And then, there were the Spartan Warriors. On July 22, 2015, nearly 100 half-naked laowai paraded through Sanlitun. The (predominately white) foreigners sported Spartan warrior costumes, were fully shirtless, and held to-go boxes of leafy greens from Beijing-based salad-delivery company, Sweetie Salad. It was a bizarre publicity stunt the likes of which the Chinese saladmaking industry never seen. Naturally, the police stepped in. Photos surfaced on Weibo of an officer arresting his sexy victims, one of whom had fallen on the floor of a Gongti Beilu pedes58 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

trian bridge. Did the guerrilla marketing pay off, though? To answer that, ask yourself: Have you yourself ordered Sweetie Salad? Have you heard of anyone else ordering Sweetie Salad? And, finally, did you know that Sweetie Salad has just opened its first proper restaurant, in Liangmaqiao? No, you likely did not. But the brand-new store in The Grand Summit is attracting attention regardless, for a reason entirely less scandalous: its design. As you enter from the outside entrance, you are immediately faced with a mural of giant, colorful insects on the far wall behind the counter. Twisted wooden light fixtures curl around long wooden tables. A grassy green wall separates the salad bar from the private seating areas. Sweetie Salad’s first sit-down, brick-and-mortar location has since been featured on design and architecture blogs, including designboom. Food, accessible via the bar, falls into three categories: cold salads, grilled items and hot entrees. We pick a feta, spinach and grilled pumpkin salad (RMB20, a steal), which is fresh and tasty. It disappears quickly from our plate. We top our spinach cannelloni (RMB20) with honey pumpkin (RMB8) – and while

not Italian-restaurant-level pasta, it is a perfectly nice foil to the spinach and feta salad. The honey pumpkin is the surprising star of the show – things that sweet shouldn’t be healthy. To wash down all this healthiness there is a decent selection of juices, coffees and teas (RMB20-40). Staff here are remarkably helpful, and, equally remarkably, fully clothed. All in all, Sweetie Salad is a calm and quiet affair. Which maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by, given their last statement in 2015: “Our ‘Spartans’ event yesterday generated far more interest than we had expected. […] After the incident yesterday, we sincerely acknowledge our lack of experience in organizing large scale, offline events as a startup company. We abided by the instructions from the police. In the future, we will advertise our brand and core values and serve our customers without affecting public order.” We detect no public disturbance from their new location.

Daily, 8am-9pm; 41, Bldg 1, The Grand Summit, 19 Dongfang Donglu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东方东路19号1号楼会所41号 (8532 6178)

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LA ROSÉE

FLO Goes Into the Wild (of Xicheng) by Holly Baer

Picture this: it’s Wednesday night, and you need a break from the chaos of the city – the chaos of Joy City, that is. You’re in Xidan, at Beijing’s most overwhelming mall, and it’s making you worn out. And hungry. So you take that colossal seven-story escalator all the way up, wander through the steampunkfairytale-themed high-end food court, and then you see it: two metal trees, shining like a beacon. This is where you’re eating. This is La Rosée. A solid step above your usual fair, but not demanding the time and table etiquette of fine dining, La Rosée is the latest restaurant by the group behind Maison FLO and F. Bistronome. The new concept isn’t fusion, exactly – it’s more like French techniques, given freedom. Offerings range from light to hearty. We start with the rouleux de printemps (a delightful salad roll with mango and parmesan, RMB39), and the rice roll made with ham and cheese (RMB55), before moving on to the filler-uppers. We recommend the bonbon de Wellington (RMB298), an updated take on beef Wellington, wrapped in tofu skin and topped with foie gras. If that doesn’t suit you, try the quenelle de porc, a truffle-braised pork meatball with herb butter, escargot, water chestnut and bacon (RMB88). End your meal with La Rosée’s panna cotta, a glorious concoction of black sesame, praline, hawthorn jelly and red bean (RMB39). It’s as gray as hutong street water, but it

tastes like everything you miss about your granny. Or go with something with major aesthetic value, like the rose cake mousse (RMB55) and ananas flambé (RMB78). No need to go thirsty: La Rosée has, of course, wine. And at surprisingly reasonable prices – Chardonnay starts at RMB218 a bottle. With French wine and good food in your belly, you’ll be ready for the trek home from Xicheng in no time. Daily, 10am-10pm; 6/F Joy City Xidan, 131 Xidan Beidajie, Xicheng 西城区西单北大街131号西单大悦城 6/F (6641 0050)

YIPIN XIAOLONG Souped Up in Sanlitun by Noelle Mateer

Yipin Xiaolong is a metaphor for Sanlitun Bar Street. Back in the heyday of 2016, Sanlitun’s ‘Dirty Bar Street’ was home to such unsavory establishments as Youth Club and Pure Girl Bar. (By ‘unsavory,’ we also mean ‘cheap and lovable.’ RIP.) Then came the bulldozers. Gone were the 10-kuai shots, throngs of study abroad students and the Mojito Man. In their stead, bricks. There also used to be a xiaolongbao joint – a hole-in-the-wall between Moka Bros and some place called “Miss Hai Cake” (these were messier times). The decor there was garish – fluorescent lights and plastic tabletops – but the bao were good. And after a night partying on the nearby strip, they were more than good – they were lifesavers.

The quick and dirty XLB are gone now. Fittingly, however, the former Bar Street welcomed a new Shanghai-style joint more suited to its new look: Yipin Xiaolong. Yipin Xiaolong is a citywide chain (though this Sanlitun one marks their first in central Beijing), and their vibes are more corporate, accordingly. Everything is clean. A cutesy mural on how to slurp a soup dumpling adorns one wall. As they lunch, customers watch the chefs pinch dumplings wrappers from behind plexiglass. Fortunately, this xiaolongbao joint’s upgrade in style does not come at the sacrifice of price. Bundles of three XLB come as cheap as RMB20 – though the ones with crab are, of course, pricier, at RMB48. Some lack the flavor of your trusted local dumplery. But the best variety, to

our surprise, is the kimchi-pork kind – while not exactly authentic, they are tangy and flavorful. Also on offer are a series of tried-and-true Shanghai side dishes. In true Shanghainese fashion, they are sweet and soggy (this is a good thing). They’re largely dependable, if at times bland – which, ultimately, is a metaphor for this entire street. Bar Street is now safer. You’re less likely to leave having made regrettable decisions. Yipin Xiaolong is a safe choice. It’s just that some of you, maybe, don’t want to make safe choices. Daily, 11am-10pm; 1/F, Tongli Studios, 43 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北街43号同里大厦1层 (6463 8199)

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E AT & DR INK | B A R S

LITTLE CREATURES Little Plates, Big Beers by Jonty Dixon

Just steps from both Great Leap and Jing-A, Australian brewery Little Creatures has opened its first Beijing location. For us, this makes a lovely craft beer trifecta. For them, this makes a challenge – can Little Creatures ensnare Beijing’s discerning beer drinkers? The brand has already done so in Hong Kong and Shanghai, thanks to a winning formula. Little Creatures serves beer by, well, Little Creatures. From their full-on IPA to their mellow Rogers’ Amber Ale, you really can’t go wrong with your choice (beers are RMB50 for a pint, RMB35 for a half). While all the beers are pleasant, the pale ale is a standout, with a floral nose and wellbalanced hops that make for smooth, all-day drinkability. We also sample one of the few non-Little Creatures brews available, the White Rabbit Dark Ale (RMB50), also hailing from Australia – big, malty flavors combine with a complex fruitiness and a slight hoppy finish. However, this can be a heavy one, so following it with their fresh, bright IPA is only the sensible thing to do. All beers are imported from Australia, where they are brewed. Little Creatures’ Beijing location is situated within The Crib, Sanlitun’s incubator-cumfood hall. And so the look is minimal, yet pleasant – bare concrete, a mural featuring the Little Creatures mascot (a cherub) and the slogan (“It’s good to be a little different”). Beer varieties are painted on the wall as well. It’s all a damn delight, but the food, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. The curried arancini balls (RMB48) lack kick, and the pork and fennel sausage rolls (RMB38) are excellent, but that’s the problem: 60 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

On the plate we’re given four meager mouthfuls. As we come to the realization that we’ve just paid RMB10 per mouthful, we see the place a bit differently. We read a little more into the cherub looking down upon us from above the words “It’s good to be a little.” Thankfully, the Pale Ale lifts our spirits considerably. After all, that’s what Little Creatures is about: The beer. It’s excellent. And if you want more than a snack to go with your pint, then

you’re in The Crib anyway, whose meal offerings include everything from vegan quinoa bowls to donkey burgers. Little Creatures’ location, beers and atmosphere make it a welcome pit stop along the (short) route between Jing-A and Great Leap. Just don’t waste your beer money on the cherub-sized sides. Daily, 5pm-midnight; The Crib, 1/F, Chunxiu Lu, 1 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路1号院1楼

AURORA

Back Street’s Back by Alex Long

“God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.’” In Beijing, our flood myth tracks along the same lines – except it was government officials regretting that they’d allowed a bunch of bars to spring up over the city, and then they flooded the streets with bricks. While most of us responded to the brickings by whining and taking Tinder dates to malls, Pancake Lee built an ark. He filled that ark with a pair of turntables and a bunch of your favorite local DJs. He landed that ark in Sanlitun Back Street, on Kokomo Mountain (Tongli Studios, technically). There’s an RMB80 cover on weekends, but it’s free on weekdays and drinks are reasonable (RMB25-50). Is it, like Noah’s Ark, three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high? Probably? Maybe not? We have no idea. But this smoker-friendly sweatbox is big enough to provide the kind of low-ceiling basement dance club vibe that’s been missing from Sanlitun proper for at least a year now.

With a rotating cast of DJs playing different styles of music every night (special props to Funk night on Thursdays) along with guest DJs, Aurora is gunning to be the spot you show up to after a drunk dinner and leave from with someone to be fruitful and multiply. The club plans on mostly playing various styles of house music and nudisco, along with regular helpings of funk. As far as vibe goes, think more Lantern and Dada than Sirteen or Kokomo. And, oh, Aurora also has a kitchen with burgers, steaks, and Mexican food provided by Chen Wen Cai, formerly of Luga’s. We can confirm that our chips and salsa had ‘good bar salsa.’ But hey – you’re not going for the food. In this post-flood Beijing, it’s genuinely exciting to see new places open up and provide some hope that the city hasn’t been irrevocably drowned. In these uncertain times, it’s hard to maintain hope that anything can last, but we won’t be surprised if future expat generations are heard saying: “Oh, you weren’t here when Aurora was still around? You missed the good old days.” Daily 10pm-4am. 3/F, Tongli Building (South Entrance), Sanlitun South, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯南同里总店三层302室

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EVENTS

Grammy Festival / Music

Adesse Versions DJ

HEAR

Suanpan is always bringing something fresh – this time, Adesse Versions, AKA Kevin Gorman. The British DJ and producer stole the show with his Boiler Room session in 2012 and always surprises. Expect old-school house edits of funk, disco and Afro tracks. Sat Apr 28, tickets TBD; Dada (see Listings for details)

Chad Valley Gig If Valley’s sultry and melancholic downtempos don’t summon thoughts of empty beaches in your trapped-inconcrete Beijinger mind, then nothing will. The UK sensation’s introspective and R&B-inspired style is a treat. Valley will perform tracks from his 2018 album Imaginary Music. Sun Apr 29; tickets TBD; Dada (see Listings for details)

Yung Bae Gig

LA-based Yung Bae brings his lauded funk beats (you know you’ve made it when hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar chooses you as his official remixer) to China off the back of his soldout US tour. Together with supporting DJs Joy Ginger, Tsunami, DJ Liia, the BAE kicks off his first-ever China tour at – where else? – Dada. Thu Apr 12; tickets TBD; Dada (see Listings for details)

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Keren Ann Gig

Beijing’s first-ever – and much anticipated – Grammy Festival is finally here. The lineup is top-notch, starring the dongling (‘frozen-age,’ as his Chinese fans call him) Pharrell Williams. Other formidable acts include Carly Rae Jepsen (of ‘Call Me Maybe,’ or should we say, ‘Da Gei Wo Ba,’ the hilarious Mandarin cover), Phoenix, OneRepublic, Macy Gray and Daya. The epic eight-hour live show is organized by the Recording Academy, with the aim of ‘improving the cultural impact of music’ on global audiences. So, if you dig music but always miss out on Coachella and Glastonbury, this one’s for you. Mon Apr 30; RMB580 (advance), RMB880 (door); Beijing Changyang Music Theme Park west side of Changyang Sports Park, Fangshan 房山区长阳体育公园西侧长阳体育公园西侧北京长阳音乐主题公园 (for more information or for tickets, visit www.damai.cn)

The polytrope and multitalented folkrock artist constantly moves between Paris, New York and Tel Aviv, but you can catch her at this one-time performance at the Beijing Theatre. Witness Ann’s consummate skills as a musician and composer as she performs a range of hits, including ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘Lay Your Head Down’, which were featured in hit TV series’ Grey’s Anatomy and Six Feet Under, respectively. Thu Apr 04, 7.30pm; RMB 445–638; Beijing Theater, Area 3, 10 Anhuili, Chaoyang 北京朝阳区安慧里三区10 号 (tickets via www.douban.com)

EVENTS

Beijing Sightrunning / Tour

Digital Revolution Exhibition

Business Chinese Language Course Class Mǎi or mài? Not sure? Perhaps you should try this four-week business Chinese class, which covers all the basics of corporate conversation. With some effort, you’ll be ready to face even the most dreadful Chinese business delegation, or at least be able to tell ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ apart at a business meeting. Mon Apr 2–Thu Apr 26, 7-9pm (2 classes per week); RMB1,408; Huiyang coworking space, 11/F, Bldg A, Sanlitun SOHO, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯SOHO A座11层 (for more info and booking email events@culturalkeys.cn)

Beijing’s (short) spring is finally here: It’s the perfect time to resume your fitness resolutions before summer arrives, or to visit the city’s best attractions without the hordes of tourists. What if you can do both at the same time? Beijing Sightrunning offers jogging tours with fitness-and-tour guides suitable for both people of reasonable fitness, as well as occasional racers that want to visit some of Beijing’s best sightseeing spots. You can choose between the Houhai Lake hutong areas, the Forbidden City or – for the more experienced – Temple of Heaven. The tours include tickets to the attractions and are made to suit individual needs. The experience is guaranteed to be… breathtaking. Heh. Tours available throughout the week, 7am/10am/1pm/4pm; EUR35 per person (book via www.beijingsightrunning.com)

Great Wall Camping Trip / Hiking

WF Central’s ambitious exhibition aims to trace the digital transformation of art, design, film, music, and video games, through art installations and post-modern exhibits, including old game consoles and synthesizers. An impressive display that will satisfy 8-bit games lovers and unshakable technopessimists alike. Tue-Sun 10am-10pm, open until May 20; RMB100 (free for children under 1.2m); WF Central, 269 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng东城区王府井大街269 号 (tickets also available via WeChat ID: WFCENTRAL)

City-Quest: “This Stop: Beijing” Art

Journey Through The Chakras Yoga

A yoga masterclass may be the best way to re-equilibrate your inner energies or ‘Chakras.’ Or, if you’re not really into esoteric tantric philosophy, just to blow off some steam. Enjoy a Vinyasa class at Yoga Yard by practitioner Zhao Rongkun, as Zhao will try to prepare you – and your Chakras – for yet another Monday morning. Sun Apr 15, 1-4pm; RMB450, RMB400 (before Apr 4); Yoga Yard, 6/F, 17 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路17号 6层 (book via WeChat ID: YogaYard)

The Great Wall is perhaps China’s most iconic attraction. You can visit it like every other tourist at one of the restored areas around Beijing, or you can spice it up a little and check out the rougher original sections that climb up to the mountaintops. For ultimate bragging rights, you can even camp there. It’s not as hard as it sounds, especially if you follow Beijing Hikers. The hiking experts are offering a one-night excursion where they will deliver tents and sleeping bags directly to the camping site. With transportation, food and drinks included, this is probably the easiest – and coolest – hiking trip ever, but spots are limited, so you’d better hurry up. Sat Apr 28-Sun Apr 29; RMB1,600, RMB1,440 (members) including transportation, food and drinks; 10am dep. from Lido Hotel Starbucks (book via www. beijinghikers.com)

Unsure what to do during Qingming? If you like riddles and art (yes, riddles and art), you can embark on this unique city-quest tour held in 798 Art District. Answer geography, history and math questions prepared by “Next Stop: Everywhere” and maybe learn some more about China in the process. The riddles are provided both in English and Russian and the competition is open both to individuals and teams. Thu Apr 5, 12am-1pm pick-up time; RMB25 (per team); 798 Art District, Chaoyang 朝阳区798艺术区 (for more info and booking email Julia_ Baranova@inbox.ru)

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EVENTS

New Beers at Great Leap Drinking

Bottega Late Night Pizza Disco / Party

TA S T E

Lunch Set at Migas Mercado Dining Migas Mercado has launched a brand spanking-new set lunch menu. From RMB118, you can enjoy a snack, start and a main. Chow down on Spanish classics, and add a drink or a dessert for just RMB38. Daily, from RMB118; Migas Mercado, China World Mall North, 7/F, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸c商城北区7 层 (6500 7579)

Great Leap Brewery recently launched two killer new brews. The hoppy, chocolatey Negrito Generalissimo is one for connoisseurs of dark ales, while Honey Ma IPA is the latest addition to the renowned beautifully bittersweet Honey Ma series. Springtime is beertime, after all.. Great Leap Brewing (see Listings for details of their locations)

Argentine Night Party

Lunch Deals at Arrow Factory Dining

Anyone down for a working lunch at Arrow Factory? With new weekly lunch deals at Arrow Factory Liangmahe, you won’t need an excuse to get out of work; you’ll need one to stay. All the classic bites are on the new lunch deal menu, including the bacon cheeseburger, Stuff’d sausage meals, Reuben and falafel pitta. And for the true professionals, you can add any Arrow Factory beer for just RMB25. Tue-Fri, 11:30am-2:30pm; Arrow Factory Liangmahe (see Listings for details)

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Get on your dancing shoes and loosen your belts at Argentine Night at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang. Here you can enjoy an authentic Argentine barbeque buffet, plus tango lessons taught by Eddy Hernandez, a global performer with over 29 years’ experience. Serving Argentina’s famous dishes, accompanied of course by a few glasses of Malbec, this is one night you won’t want to miss. Mondays, through Apr 9, RMB150 (dance class only), RMB358 (buffet dinner only), RMB120 (free-flow Malbec), RMB 560 (per couple, includes dance class, buffet and one glass of Malbec); The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, 7 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路7号 (for tickets, call 5922 8888)

Picture the scene. You are standing in a piazza in Palermo on a Friday evening. The days are growing longer and the nights are getting warmer. You are surrounded by all your favorite Italian street food, cocktails and friends. Music is playing, people are dancing and the night is full of good times and memories. OK, fine. You’re actually at Nali Patio. But hey – now you have a slice of authentic Italy at Bottega’s fun new event: Late Night Pizza Disco. In what is sure to become a legendary night, Bottega are giving you live DJ sessions until 2am, and the chance to gorge on authentic Italian street food and drink some of the finest cocktails this side of Venetia. Weekly, Fri-Sat, 11pm-2am; Bottega Sanliitun, 2/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园2楼 (6416 1752)

EVENTS

Art Beijing 2018 / Art fair

Burlesque Cabaret

SEE

Tang Yin Ballet This month Suzhou Ballet Theatre brings their production of the Chinese ballet, Tang Yin, to NCPA’s Opera House. One of the four most prestigious ballet troupes in China, Suzhou Ballet Theatre includes some of China’s finest dancers, and is led by art directors Ying Li and Jiabin Pan. Sat Apr 21-Sun Apr 22, 7.30pm; RMB80-500; The Opera House of NCPA, 2 Chang’an Jie, Xicheng 西城区长安街2号 (tickets via sales@theatrebeijing.com)

No matter what type of art you’re into – contemporary, design, classic or public – Art Beijing 2018 has it all. The fair showcases pieces running the gamut from the bold and the beautiful to the bizarre. Plus, this year sees the debut of a new subbrand: Photo Beijing, a special exhibition that will examine how technology affects photography. This year marks the 13th annual art fair in the capital, and considering the theme, ‘Locally based, and Asia-oriented,’ plenty of thoughtful discussion is likely to be had. Check out a few of our top picks on page 32. Sun Apr 29- Wed May 2; National Agriculture Exhibition Center, Chaoyang 朝阳区全国农业展览馆 (www.artbeijing.net)

Translocation / Exhibition

Moonglow Follies are bringing ‘Hollywood Revue,’ a five-set cabaret extravaganza, to Modernista. Expect a night of wonderment, glamour and even an international cabaret star from Paris. A representation of classic Hollywood films from the 1930s to the present day will be exhibited across each of the five sets. Wed Apr 4; RMB190; Modernista, 44 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区宝钞胡同44号

Cuba Photography

Open Mic Comedy

Comedy night is now at The Local every Wednesday night. Beijing’s seasoned band of jokers from Comedy Club China will provide the laughs, while you enjoy cheap chicken wings courtesy of The Local’s Wing Wednesday. Everybody is welcome, from stand-up veterans to people starting out for the first time. Wednesdays, 7.30pm; The Local Bar & Grill (see Listings for details)

The human condition has been the subject of choice for artists throughout history, and so it is for Xiao Yu. The Chinese artist’s work has been featured around the world. Using bamboo as his medium, Yu showcases his most recent works at Pace Gallery this month. Ambitious and liberating, ‘Translocation’ represents the culmination of the changes to Yu’s creative process over a career of thirty years, from intellectual thinking to a freer, more intuitional style. Through Sat Apr 28, 10am-6pm; 798 Art District, 2 Juixiangqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路2号798艺术区

American photographer Brian Liu’s new photography exhibition, ‘Cuba,’ examines the idea that, despite differences on the surface, people from around the world share many similarities with each other. In his works, Liu challenges the narrative portrayed by certain parts of the US media about the Cuban people. The resulting images pop with warmth and color. Through May 2; Sun-Thu, 10am11pm, Fri-Sat, 10am-1am; Cafe Zarah (see Listings for details)

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LISTINGS OPEN DOOR

Expensive...................................¥ Expense Account ....................¥¥ Highly Recommended ..............* Top Ten ....................................**

RESTAURANTS The Hot One Hundred

About This guide represents our editors’ top 100 picks, and includes some That’s Beijing advertisers. Restaurants rated(*) have been personally reviewed by our experts, and scored according to the cuisine, experience and affordability.

CHINESE Contemporary & Mixed Cuisine 8 Qi Nian 祈年8号 (Cantonese/Sichuan) The New World Hotel’s flagship restaurant has classic Chinese cuisine in abundance, as well as some vitality-restoring medicinal soups. (Their decent wine list is just as effective.) > Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:15pm, 5:30-9:30pm, Sat/Sun 12-2:45pm, 5:30-9:30pm; 2/F, New World Hotel, 8 Qinian Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区祈年大街8号新世界酒店2层 (5960 8822)

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰丰 ¥ (Taiwanese) This Taipei-based franchise impressed Ken Hom enough to call it one of the best 10 eateries in the world, back in 1993. Famous for its dependably delicious xiaolongbao or little steam buns. Book ahead, there’s always a long wait. > Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5-10pm, weekends 11.30am-10pm; 24 Middle Street, Xinyuanxili, Chaoyang 朝阳区新源西里中街24号 (近渔阳饭店) (6462 4502) > Additional branches in Shin Kong Place; Parkview Green; Grand Pacific Mall Xidan; Modern Plaza Zhongguancun; see www.dintaifung. com.cn for details

Jing Yaa Tang 京雅堂 (Chinese, Peking Duck) Resembling something between a nightclub and a theater, the Opposite House’s basement restaurant proves to be more than just style over substance with their range of expertly prepared classic dishes.

> Daily 12-10:30pm, B1/F, The Opposite House, Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路11号院1号楼瑜舍酒B1楼 (6410 5230)

Peking Duck The Horizon 海天阁 (Cantonese Beijing Duck) ** Kerry Hotel’s Chinese restaurant has widened its predominantly Cantonese and Sichuan horizons to include dim sum, double-boiled soups and Peking duck – and the roast bird here really is fabulous. > Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5:30pm-10pm 1/F, Beijing Kerry Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路 1号嘉里中心1层 (8565 2188)

Honglu 红炉

Da Dong 大董 Among the city’s most famous haunts, Da Dong guarantees slick cuts of Beijing-style roast duck and delectable wrap fillings. The venue’s a class act and the plum sauce is hard to follow.

> Daily 11am-10pm; 22 Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng 东城区东四十条甲22号 (5169 0328); see www.dadongdadong.com for more locations

Duck de Chine 全鸭季 ¥ * Good duck is meant to show your guests how wonderful you are, as much as the food. Duck De Chine does that in spades, with fantastic presentation of its crispy, succulent duck (RMB188).

> Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm; Courtyard 4, 1949 The Hidden City, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路4号院 (6501 8881) ; 98 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng 东城区金宝街98号 (6521 2221)

Xihe Village Restaurant and Bar

> Mon-Fri Lunch: 11am-2.30pm; Dinner: 5-9pm; Sun: 11am-9pm, S9-33, 3/F, South Area of Sanlitun Taikooli, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路19 号三里屯太古里南区三层S9-33(6417 6082)

Shanghai Shanghai Min 小南国 Many swear this chain has the best Shanghai-style hongshaorou north of the Yangtze. The jury’s out, but its popularity remains. > 0505, 5/F Raffles City Mall, 1 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门南大街1号来福士购物中心5楼0505号铺 (400 820 9777)> Additional branches in Financial Street; Jinbao Jie; Oriental Plaza; Sanlitun Soho; Xinyuan Nan Lu (see www. online.thatsmags.com for details)

Wang Jia Sha 王家沙 Modern Shanghai cuisine – popular with Hong Kong celebrities – famed for its crabmeat dumplings. Try the spiced-salt ribs (RMB62) for a bit of Adam action. > Daily, S1-30a Taikoo Li Sanlitun (on the third floor of i.t shop) 朝阳区三里屯路19号院太古里1号楼3层 S1-30a号商铺 (6416 3469)

Sichuan/Hunan Chuan Ban 川办 * This bright, modestly decorated dining hall is frequently cited as Beijing’s best Sichuan restaurant.

> Mon-Fri 7-9am, 10.50am-2pm, 4.50-9.30pm; SatSun 7am-10pm; 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区建国门内贡院头条5号 (6512 2277, ext. 6101)

> Daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm; 3/F, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯太古里19号院南区三层S9-30 (6415 3535)

An Italian Job

66 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

> Daily 11.30am-2.30pm and 5.30-10:30pm; 3F Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang 朝阳区呼家楼一号京广中心北京瑰丽酒店 3层 (6597 8888)

Karaiya Spice House 辣屋 * Bold and fiery Hunan cuisine in the most serene of restaurant interiors. Don’t miss the dry roasted duck with a dozen spices and stir fried bullfrog with shiso leaves and ginger. Peanut milk is there to soothe the palate: you’ll need it.

ANNIE’S Beijing’s legendary Italian restaurant chain Annie’s is back with a new menu at their Antipasteria. The selection is full of exciting, innovative dishes that are bound to please patrons both new and loyal. The crab risotto is one of the many stars of the menu. Packed full of flavor, the natural sweetness of the crab and the earthy mushrooms mixed perfectly with the al dente risotto. For pasta lovers, the squid–ink spaghetti is a must. The squid is succulent, the tomatoes fresh and the pasta is excellently prepared. Carnivores need not worry – the Antipasteria has got you more than covered. The Ossobuco with polenta is astonishing, with soft veal that melts in the mouth, atop a delightful polenta. In addition to the succulent veal, Annie’s also has an opulent Saltimbocca alla romana – thin, tender fillet steak filled with Parma ham and sage. If Annie’s wasn’t already your favorite Italian in town, the new, authentic Antipasteria menu is sure to make it top of your list. Annie’s, see Listings for details

Beijing’s resplendent Northern Chinese restaurant serves elegant Hebei fare unlike you’ve ever had. Excellent peking duck is on offer as well.

Quality Peking duck on the cheap?Cuisine Oh yes, Beijing HongLu it’s possible – thanks to Honglu. The popular restaurant serves traditional Beijing food with a stylish twist (which is exactly why it’s so crowded at lunchtime). >Daily 11am-9.30pm, Sanlitun: Daily 11:00am10:00pm, 60 Meters Of No. 6 Building Sanlitun South Road Chaoyang 三里屯店: 朝阳区三里屯南路6号楼南侧60米 (6595 9872; 6593 8970) Raffles: Daily 11:00am-10:00pm, 5 Floor Of Raffles shopping center Dongzhimen Dongcheng 来福士店: 东城区东直门来福士购物中心5层 (8409 8199; 8409 8234)

Country Kitchen The name ‘Country Kitchen’ may sound like a diner, but a diner this is not. Rosewood

South Memory 望湘园 This restaurant chain is the Hunan staple in the capital. The trademark shilixiang niurou (fragrant beef), duojiao shuangse yutou (dual-colour spiced fish head) and meltingly tender frog dishes are among the favorites with locals. > Daily 11am-10pm; 2/F, 230-232, Fenglian Plaza, 18 Chaoyangmen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区朝外大街 18号丰联广场2楼230-232号 (6588 1797); see www. southmemory.com for more locations

Yu Xin 渝信川菜 Open since 1993, Yu Xin’s authentic Sichuan dishes have earned a loyal fanbase. Their liangfen – a jelly-like substance cut into chunky strips and dressed in an addictive spicy sauce – hits the spot. The rustic, intimate setting of bamboo cubicles and swift, friendly service complete the experience. > Daily 11am-10pm; 5A Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang 朝阳区幸福一村西里甲5号 see www.yuxin1997.com

LISTINGS for other locations.

Yunnan Dali Courtyard 大里院子 * If you like authentic Yunnanese food, you’ll have to trust the staff: there’s no menu, it all just arrives in an intimate courtyard setting. The price (RMB120/person) matches the rustic ingredients. > Daily 12-2pm, 6-10.30pm; Gulou Dong Dajie, 67 Xiaojingchang Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街小经厂胡同67号 (8404 1430)

Lost Heaven 花马天堂 (Yunnan, SE Asian) An emphasis on Yunnan characterizes this menu’s fresh journey through the SE Asia passage, with a grandiose yet dark teak interior. > Daily noon-2pm, 5pm-10.30 (bar open till 1am). Ch’ien Men 23, 23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng 东城区前门东大街23号(8516 2698)

Middle 8 Restaurant 中8楼 *

specialties in their purest form with chefs hailing from Hong Kong. Using the freshest ingredients from NUO’s very own green farms, NUO Hotel Beijing provides an alternative green gourmet option in town.

OPEN DOOR

>Mon-Fri: 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm; Sat-Sun: 11am2.30pm, 5.30-10pm; 1/F, NUO Hotel Beijing, 2A Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区将台路甲2号北京诺金酒店一层（5926 8281）

Da Gui (Guizhou) Guizhou’s famed hot-and-sour cuisine nestled into a charming traditional alleyway. Munch happily into pickled greens and don’t miss the salty-sweet deep-fried black sesame balls. They’re sensational. > Daily 10am-2pm, 5-10pm; 69 Daxing Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng 东城区交道口大兴胡同69 号 (6407 1800)

Makye Ame (Tibetan) Determined to prove that Tibetan cuisine consists of more than just yak-butter tea, the Beijing branch of this nationwide chain serves up nomadic classics such as curried potatoes and roast lamb.

> Daily 10-midnight; 11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外秀水南街甲11号 (6506 9616)

Xinjiang Red Rose (Xinjiang) * One of Beijing’s most famous Xinjiang restaurant, Red Rose serves some of the tenderest lamb skewers around, matched by enormous servings of classics like dapanji (a chicken, potato and pepper stew), latiaozi (noodles with a spicy tomato sauce) and nang (baked flatbrea). > Daily 10.30am-11pm; Inside 7 Xingfuyicun, opposite Workers’ Stadium North Gate, Chaoyang 朝阳区工人体育场北门对面幸福一村7巷内 (6415 5741)

An oasis at the top of Taikoo Li, Middle 8 is the go-to destination for fresh authentic Yunnan cuisine. The restaurant, stylish yet understated, has plenty of flavorsome wellpriced dishes and a killer view to boot. > Sanlitun: Daily 11am-10pm, Taikoo Li Sanlitun South South Area F4, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯太古里南区4层(6415 8858); Indigo: Daily 11am-10pm, Jiuxianqiao Road No.20 Indigo F2 , Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路20号颐堤港2层(8420 0883); Zhongguancun: Daily 11am-10pm, Zhongguancun Plaza Pedestrian Street, No.R17, Haidian海淀区中关村广场步行街R17 号(5172 1728); Fenglan: Daily 11am-10pm, Xizhimen North Street No.32 Maples International Center Blok B, 1 Floor, Haidian海淀区西直门大街32号枫蓝国际中心B座1层(6223 5583)

Youyun > Daily, 10am-11pm, 63 Babaokeng Hutong, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng 东城区北新桥八宝坑胡同63 号 6407 2050 / 185 1092 0709

Yun’er Small Town 云洱小镇 Folksy and affordable Yunnanese fare on Beiluoguxiang. Fragrant dishes including the jasmine bulbs with scrambled eggs, lemongrass shrimp and banana leaf wrapped bolete mushrooms will keep us crawling back. > Daily 10am-11pm, 84 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng 东城区北锣鼓巷84号 (8404 2407)

Dumplings Baoyuan Jiaoziwu 宝源饺子屋 Famous for their rainbow of dyed dumplings, Baoyuan have their jiaozi (six, under RMB10) wrapped in a larger yuanbao silver-ingot shape, with creative vegetarian options and authentic Sichuan food. > Daily 11am-10pm; north of 6 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang 朝阳区麦子店街6号楼北侧 (6586 4967)

Mr Shi’s Dumplings 老石饺子馆 Since recieving a Lonely Planet recommendation the prices have risen and the walls are covered in backpackers’ scribbles, but the fantastic dumplings – boiled and fried – are still fantastic. > 74 Baochao Hutong, Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街宝钞胡同74号 (8405 0399, 131 6100 3826)

Regional Crescent Moon (Xinjiang) * Roast mutton enthusiasts go over the moon at this reputable Xinjiang Muslim restaurant. Eastern European and Central Asian influences are evident throughout, with peppery and cumin-spiced dishes livening up traditional Chinese favorites. > Daily 10am-11:30pm; 16 Dongsi Liutiao, Dongcheng 东四六条16号 (6400 5281)

Jia by NUO Hotel Featuring modern Ming elements with inspired paintings from Xu Wei, a painter, calligrapher and food and wine connoisseur, the quintessentially authentic house of agriculture produces, Jia Chinese restaurant serves exquisite traditional Cantonese

WESTERN Fine Dining Barolo ¥¥ (Italian) * Average Italian abounds in Beijing: not here, though. Quite the opposite, in fact, meaning Barolo is as well-regarded as the Piedmont wine it is named after.

> Mon-Sun 11.30am-2pm, 6pm-10pm. Ritz Carlton Hotel, China Central Place, 83A Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国路甲83号华贸中心丽思卡尔顿酒店内 (5908 8151)

Maison Flo ¥¥ (French) * Marble slabs, mosaic floors and brass fittings establish the Parisian bona fides; dishes like snails (RMB78), oysters (RMB48 each) and steak tartare (RMB158) confirm. The grandeur is matched only by the service, and the prices reflect the authenticity of the experience.

> Daily 11am-midnight; 18 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区霄云路18号 (6595 5135)

The Georg ** This hutong mansion has an elegant restaurant, leather-couched lounge area, sleek bar and sick location near Houhai. But most importantly, it has some of the most thoughtful, innovative cuisine in town. Go for a dinner you won’t forget. >10.30am-midnight (dinner 6-10.30pm), closed Mondays; 45 Dongbuyaqiao Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区东不压桥胡同45号 (8408 5300)

Héritage ¥¥ A French country-style chateau in the heart of Beijing. A chef de cuisine with Michelin star restaurant experience and an extensive wine cellar make this Sofitel Hotel restaurant one of the best French dining experiences in town. > 6F Sofitel Wanda Beijing, Tower C, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场 C座索菲特酒店6层 (8599 6666)

TRB (Temple Restaurant Beijing) ¥¥ ** Setting is everything here, especially if it’s fashioned inside a restored Buddhist temple. The bold contemporary European cuisine is fitting in majesty and the service alone is worthy of worship.

> Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10pm; 23 Songzhusi Temple, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng 东城区沙滩北街嵩祝寺23号 (8400 2232)

Mio ¥¥ Glitzy Italian fare at the Four Seasons, with a mobile Bellini cart, wheeled straight to your table.The Chef crafts a superb squash tortellini by hand, and pampers diners with desserts like the deconstructed tiramisu. >Daily lunch 11.30am - 2.30pm, dinner 5.30pm -10.30pm, Four Seasons Hotel, 48 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang, 朝阳区亮马桥路48号北京四季酒店 (5695 8888)

Grange Grill ** Located in the Westin Beijing Chaoyang, Grange Grill serves up some of the city’s best steak, seafood and grill offerings. The restaurant’s welcoming decor provides a

CAPITAL SPIRITS BAR AND DISTILLERY Contemporary Classic Capital Spirits is, you know, just your classic gin-and-baijiu combination bar. For real, though: this improbable combination is now a staple of Beijing. Capital Spirits, originally two separate bars, continues to enliven hutong nights with both classic drinks and new concoctions. Having survived the hutong brickings of last summer, Capital Spirits has moved both its locations into one courtyard, which now has more room, and plans on continuing to expand. Leveraging their deep knowledge of baijiu, alongside an extensive array of gins including a few of their own making, Capital Spirits is a haven for the discerning cocktail drinker. Crowd favorites include the Paper Crane, a baijiu take on the Paper Plane. Pinky out drinkers have also been known to enjoy their negronis, which the bartenders are happy to customize to your tastes. We even hear rumors the bar is getting its own bathroom – now that’s hutong luxury. Sun-Thu, 7pm-midnight, Fri-Sat, 7pm-2am; 16 Xinsi Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区辛寺胡同16号 (6409 3319) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 67

LISTINGS

OPEN DOOR

relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of fine vintage from the extensive wine collection. Be sure to try the ‘luxurious oyster feast,’ where you can enjoy the delicacy raw, grilled or with cheese. > Lunch: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, Sat and Sun 11.30am-3.pm; Dinner: Daily 5.30-10.30pm; The Westin Beijing Chaoyang 7 North East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang 东三环北路7号 (5922 8888)

Contemporary Western Chi (Organic, Fusion) Hutong set-menu dining par-excellence, with organic ingredients all locally sourced. From the owners of neighboring Saffron. > Daily, opens 10:30am, last order 9:30pm, 67 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区五道营胡同 67号 (6445 7076)

COMBAL盉by Tiago

>127-129, 1/F, Tower C, Cofco Plaza, 8 Jianguomen Neidajie, Dongcheng District 东城区建国门内大街8号中粮广场C座一层127-129单元 (6528 2280)

Lin’s Dining Lounge

> Daily 11am-10pm, 2/F, New Grand Dynasty Hotel, 58 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang 朝阳区麦子店街58号新大宗饭店二层(6500 6766)

Feast (Food by East) Bustling café with a philosophy of ‘Simple things, done well’. International favorites, using freshest ingredients , cooked on the spot.

>Daily 6am-10.30pm, 2/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu,Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅酒店2层 8414 9820

C Pearl (Oysters, Seafood) ¥ * This slick oyster restaurant imports fresh shells from Canada, South Africa, France, USA and more – and they are well worth the price. The fries are the best we’ve had in Beijing, beer and wine selection also excellent. > Tue-Sun 5.30pm-2am; 14-2, Bldg 14, Shunyuanli, Xinyuan Jie, Yansha Qiao, Chaoyang 朝阳区燕莎桥新源街顺源里14号楼14-2号 (5724 5886)

George’s Bar & Restaurant George’s Bar offers specially handcrafted cocktails featuring admirable art masterpieces blending with copperish elements. Afternoon tea set for two at CNY288 is available from 3-5pm daily. Gentlemen’s Night every Saturday that men enjoy Buy 1 Get 1 on drinks. George’s Restaurant presents creative world classic cuisine that revolves around local ingredients with exquisite touch that introduces an authentic yet distinctive palette. Daily special menu awaits you.

>Daily 11am-2.30pm; 5.30-10pm, Hotel éclat Beijing, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东大桥路9号北京怡亨酒店L1 (8561 7758)

Bistrot B Rosewood Beijing’s exquisite French restaurant is the sort of place chefs like to eat. Expect lavish luxury. > Daily, 11.30am-2.30pm and 5.30-10:30pm; 1F Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang 朝阳区呼家楼一号京广中心北京瑰丽酒店 3层 (6536 0066)

THE CRAFT CONTAINER Cheers to Beers Based at EAST Beijing’s ultra-cool Xian, The Craft Container has made its highly anticipated return. The shipping container-cum-craft beer temple has reopened after its winter hibernation. As it did last year, The Craft Container showcases of Beijing’s finest brews. Jing-A, Slow Boat and NBeer have teamed up to bring you a great selection of beers that represent China’s vibrant craft brewing scene. It’s your guide to Beijing beer – curated. First opened last year, this re-purposed shipping container is situated on Xian’s gorgeous patio. (Canapés outside in the warmer months? Don’t mind if we do.) Beer varieties currently on offer include Jing-A’s classic Flying Fist, Slow Boat’s smooth and subtle Helmsman’s Honey Ale and NBeer’s delightfully bittersweet GOSE Modern. As if a beer dedicated to gorgeous brews isn’t enough, Xian has also just unveiled a brand-new oyster bar. Sample fine oysters from around the world, and make sure you pair them with the great specials on the Champagne and wine list (or even a beer from The Craft Container – don’t knock it till you try it). Tasting platters start at RMB35 per oyster, an incredible steak featuring five different oyster varieties. Is it warm enough to sit outside yet? We might not be able to wait until it is. The Craft Container is at Xian, EAST Beijing (see Listings for details) 68 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Caribeño (Latin) Heavy Cuban influence, but there are dishes from all over the Latin continent here. The Ropa Vieja (shredded beef on potato) is excellent – as are the Mojitos. > Daily 11:30am-9:30pm, 1/F, China Overseas Plaza, 8 Guanghua Dongli, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华东里8号中海广场北楼1层 (5977 2789)

Grill 79 (Steak) With views this good, Grill 79 would probably make it onto the list even if the food was terrible. It’s something of a bonus then that the kitchen is superb, and supported by one of the most extensive wine lists in town.

> Daily 6.30-10.30am, noon-2pm, 6-10pm. 79/F, China World Trade Center Phase 3, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸大酒店 79楼 (6505 2299 ext 6424)

for modernising South American-style dishes like ceviche and risotto in his open kitchen. > Sun-Thu noon-2.30pm, 6-10pm; Fri-Sat noon2.30pm, 6-10.30pm. 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园3层 (5208 6030)

The English Tearoom英国茶房

>Daily 10am-9.30pm; 101, Bldg 10, North area of Xiangyun Town, 9 Antai Dajie, Shunyi 顺义区安泰大街9号院中粮祥云小镇北区10号楼101(8047 9661 / 8047 9661); Daliy 10am-7pm Creativity Garden,1 Shunhuang Lu，Sunhe xiang,Chaoyang 朝阳区孙河乡顺黄路甲1号创意园内(8459 4407)

Sizzler Sizzler invented ‘casual dining’ in Australia when it introduced the first soup, salad, pasta and fresh fruit concept. Since those pioneering days, it has expanded its ‘classic grill’ to include, not only steak and seafood, but also delicious chicken dishes, BBQ ribs, combination meals and burgers. ‘Variety’ and ‘freedom to choose’ set Sizzler apart from other dining experiences. At Sizzler customers are free to control the volume, nutritional balance and variety of each meal by ordering from the grill and helping themselves to our famous soup, salad, pasta and fruits. >All stores open daily, 10am-10pm ;Wangfujing Oriental Plaza Store 王府井东方广场店 (8518 6315); Chongwenmen Glory Mall Store 崇文门国瑞购物中心店 (6714 0399); Wangjing Capital Mall 望京凯德购物中心店 (6471 3876); Wanliu BHG 万柳华联商场店 (8258 9405) Wan Shoulu Crystal Capital Mall 万寿路凯德晶品店 (6826 086); Xizhimen Capital Mall 西直门凯德购物中心店Mall (5830 2199); Sanlitun Shimao Gongsan 三里屯世茂工三店 (8400 4014); Changying Paradise Walk 常营龙湖天街店 (8539 0438); Tianjin Joy City 天津大悦城店 (8728 1620)

Tomacado Tomacado is indeed a mash-up of ‘tomato’ and ‘avocado’ – and while you’ll certainly find these ingredients on the menu, you can also expect pleasant drinks, light soups and heartier main courses from this charming cafe. Fowers are also available for sale.

> Daily 10am-10pm (Lunch start from 11am, Only afternoon tea served on Mon-Fri 2.30-5pm), No. 19/20, B1/F, Jia Ming Center, 27 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路27号嘉铭中心地下一层 19/20号(6500 3354)

VIC Not to be confused with the notorious nightclub of the same name, this VIC is the Sofitel Beijing’s casual dining restaurant. All the major world cuisines are in attendance here – make sure you pay special attentions to the French-inspired breads and pastries – as is the customary Sunday champagne brunch. > Sofitel Wanda Beijing, Tower C, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场C 座索菲特酒店6层 (8599 6666)

Yi House (Contemporary Western) Nestled in the confines of 798, Yi’s great tasting brunch is bettered only by their wide range of cocktails. Sundays offer jazz brunches with lobster and champagne.

> Daily 11am-3pm, 6pm-12am; 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, 798 Yishu Qu, No.1 706 Houjie, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路2号院798艺术区706后街1号 (6436 1818)

Wood

>Daily 10.30am-11pm, Lakeside Gourmet Street, Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾南边湖畔美食街近南边地面停车场 5726 8255

Stuﬀ’d (Contemporary Western) The concept of Stuff’d is to simply stuff one kind of food in another. From sausage calzone pizzas (RMB68) to scotch eggs – it all works. On-site micro brewery a bonus.

> Wed-Mon, 11:30am-2:45pm, 6-10pm, 9 Jianchang Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区箭厂胡同9号 (6407 6308)

Café/Deli/Sandwich Café Flatwhite

Miss K Cafe (Xing Fu Cafe) Whether it’s a rainy morning or a sunny afternoon, relax with your favorite novel and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Experience a quiet moment of serenity amid the hustle and bustle of Beijing. >Daily, 8am-8.30pm; 1/F, Tower A, East Gate Plaza, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng 东城区东直门东环广场A座一层幸福咖啡馆 (6418 1096)

JF Royal Teahouse

>Daily 10am-9:30pm;B215 China World Trade Center Tower 3, Jintong East Road,Chaoyang Beijing 北京市朝阳区国贸商城区域3 地下二层B215(8535 1625)

Mosto (European, South American) ¥ * A perpetually busy lunch and evening spot, thanks to chef Daniel Urdaneta’s skill

Hailing from New Zealand, Café Flatwhite

LISTINGS uses fresh and healthy ingredients in its tasty selection of sandwiches, pizzas, salads and brunch options, all served alongside some of the best coffee in Beijing. > Open Daily, Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm; 798 Dashanzi Art District Store: D09-1, No.4, 798 Dashanzi Art District, Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号 798艺术区D09-1 (5978 9067 / 13051771436); Jianguomenwai Media Center Store: No.13 Bldg, Jianguomenwai DRC, 1 Xiushui Street, Chaoyang 朝阳区秀水街1号建国门外外交公寓13 号楼1层东北角 8532 2633 ；Jianguomenwai DRC Store: Building 7-1-11, 1 Silk Street, Chaoyang 朝阳区秀水街1号建国门外外交公寓7-1-11 (8532 2633 / 18701092189); FFCStore:-107,B1/F,Fortune Financial Center,5 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu,Chaoyang District 朝阳区东三环中路5号楼财富金融中心1层107 (6596 9108); China Central Mall Store:L315,China Central Mall,Chaoyang District朝阳区华贸中心写字楼三层 L315单元 (8588 7978)www.cafeflatwhite.com, cafeflatwhite@hotmail.com, WeChat username: CafeFlatwhite

Café Zarah (Café) * A smart new interior and menu for this longstanding cafe has propelled it from hipster hangout to Gulou institution. Large, airy and with a terrace for summer, the only downside is it’s always packed. > Daily 9.30am-midnight，42 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街42号 (8403 9807)

Domain 域 A blend of café, business center and lounge, it has a gentle buzz all of its own. For privacy, Domain also provides workstations equipped with computers and ipads. >Daily 7am-8pm, 2/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu,Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅酒店2层 (8414 9830)

Ricci Named after a 17th century Italian Jesuit (duh), this creative café has a funky, kookymeets-organic vibe and serves up some of the best casual western food in town, and a great brunch at the Wudaokou location (Chaoyang branch closed weekends).

> 1/F, Building D, Tsinghua Science Park, 1 Zhongguancun Donglu, Haidian 海淀区中关村东路1 号院清华科技园D座1楼 (8215 8826 )

The Rug (Contemporary Western, Organic) * With ingredients supplied by local organic farms like Dahe and De Run Wu, and an emphasis on sustainability, this café’s wide ranging menu has something for everyone, especially green types, bored foreign moms and freelance Macbook types. > Mon-Fri 7.30am-10:30pm, Sat/Sun 9:30am10:30pm; Bldg 4, Lishui Jiayuan, Chaoyang Gongyuan Nanlu (opposite Chaoyang Park South Gate), Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳公园南路丽水嘉园4 号楼(朝阳公园南门对面) (8550 2722) > Additional location in Sanlitun Nan Jie (see online.thatsmags. com for details)

TRIBE * Salads, wraps and sandwiches, and noodle and grain bowls are as tasty as they are holistic, and there are more superfoods in one single dish than we even knew existed. Come hungry, leave basking in the warm glow that comes from knowing that you are eating well. Kombucha is the icing on the (organic, locally-sourced) cake. > Daily 8am-10.30pm, 1/F, Building 3, China View Plaza, 2A Gongti Dong Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体东路甲2号中国红街大厦3号楼1层大厅入口南侧 (8587 1899)

Wagas (Contemporary Western) Quality eats with minimal pretension. This stylish, no-fuss Shanghai rival to Element Fresh offers some of the best and most affordable Western lunch options in town. The zesty carrot-and-zucchini cake is a crowd pleaser.

> Daily 8am-10pm; S8-33, 3/F, Bldg 8, Taikoo Li South, 19 South Sanlitun Street, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯太古里南区三层 (6416 5829) > Additional locations in The Kerry Centre, Raffles Mall Dongzhimen (see www.thatsmags.com for details)

popularity of this entry-level brick-smoker barbecue joint, that blossoms in the sunny months. Pulled-pork sandwiches are the favorites, followed by baby-back rib racks. Beer and bourbons are taken care of, too. > Daily 11am-10pm. 35 Xiaoyun Lu courtyard (20m north of Xiaoyun Lu intersection, first right), Chaoyang District 朝阳区霄云路35号院过霄云路路口, 往北走20米,到第一个路口右转(5128 5584) > Additional location in Sanlitun Nan Jie (see www. thatsmags.com for details)

NOLA N’Orleans finds a dark-wood home in the leafy embassy area, with a jazz soundtrack, shrimp and grits, gumbo, fried chicken, jambalaya and decent-enough po’boys – yes’m. Excellent Cajun snacks, craft beers and cocktails also make NOLA a popular watering hole. > Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-11pm. 11A Xiushui Nanjie, Chaoyang 朝阳区秀水南街11号 (8563 6215)

The Big Smoke * Taking the Home Plate BBQ concept and upscaling was a gourmet masterstroke. Full menu evenings only (also delivers rotisserie chicken via Uncle Otis).

> Daily Mon-Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 11am-10pm. First Floor, Lee World Building (opposite Frost Nails), 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区幸福村中路 57号楼利世楼 (6416 5195, 6416 268, www. uncle-otis.com)

The Woods * New York native-owned, Manhattan-style restaurant, tucked in amongst the skyscrapers of CBD: you can’t get more Big Apple than that. > Daily 12pm-10pm, Central Park Tower 1, Suite 101, No. 6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区朝外大街6号新城国际1号搂101 (6533 6380)

Burgers Blue Frog Blue Frog is pleased to introduce a creative new Drinks Menu. As the new year begins, this new menu will wake up everyone’s taste buds with a bevy of specialty and original cocktails, mocktails, shots, beer, wine and healthy drinks inspired by popular ingredients.

> All open Daily 10am-late; S2-30, Level 3, S2 Tower, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区三楼S2-30 (6417 4030) ; No.167, 1/F, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路 18号1层167号 (8426 0017) ; No.125, 1/F, Bldg 1, Sanfeng(North), Chaoyang 朝阳区三丰北里1号楼1层 125号 (8561 2665) ; Unit 15-16, 1/F, Bldg AB, Ocean International Center, 10 Jintong Xilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区金桐西路10号远洋光华国际中心AB座一层15 16单元 (8590 3168)

Q Mex Bar & Grill

> Sanlitun Courtyard (across from Salsa Caribe, nearby Bookworm), Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路4号院机电研究院餐饮街内 6585 3828

Steak Char Dining Room & Lounge Char is a Premium Steak house; a lifestyle concept, modern with live entertainment to fascinate customers with a hint of class and flair. Exceptional quality to truly reward guests and makes Char Dining Room & Lounge the place to be seen. >Daily, Lunch: 11.30am-2.30pm; Dinner: 5.30-10pm; Bar: 10pm-1am. 3/F, InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun, 1 South Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区南三里屯路1号北京三里屯通盈中心洲际酒店三层 (8516 0065)

Morton’s of Chicago (American) ¥¥ * Meat so tender the knife falls through it: ritzy Morton’s deserves the worldwide praise. Expensive, but where else are you going to get steak this good? (Try the RMB550 set menu if you want to save cash) > Mon-Sat 5:30-11pm, Sun 5-10:30pm; 2/F, Regent Hotel, 99 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng 东城区金宝街99号丽晶酒店二层 (6523 7777)

O’Steak A well-cooked steak in Beijng isn’t all that rare anymore, and here we have affordable but quality cuts. Don’t be fooled by the Irish sounding name, it’s an authentic French bistro – not a Guinness in sight.

> Daily midday-midnight, Xingfu: No.55-7 Xingfucun Zhonglu, opposite of April courmet, Chaoyang 朝阳区幸福村中路55-7杰作大厦底商绿叶子超市斜对面 (8448 8250) ; Central Park: No.o103 building 20, Central Park, No.6 Chaowai Avenue, Chaoyang 朝阳区朝外大街6号新城国际20号楼103 (6533 6599); shunyi: No.11-102 Shine Hills, No.9 Antai Avenue, Shunyi 顺义区后沙峪安泰大街9号祥云小镇南门 11号楼102 (8048 5080)

29 Grill (Contemporary Western) * Top-notch steak, along with just about every other cut of meat found in the barnyard in this well-priced meat-eaters’ mecca. > Mon-Fri lunch: 11.30am-2.30pm; Mon-Sat dinner: 6-10.30pm (closed Sundays); Conrad Beijing, 2/F, 29 North Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路9 号2层 (6584 6270)

Mexican/Tex Mex

Italian Assaggi ¥ * This fine Italian spot in the leafy embassy district has one of Beijing’s best terraces for summer dining. The tagliata steak is worth a return visit.

> Tue-Thu 5.30pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-2.30am, Sun 11am-1am; 1/F, Unit 10, Electrical Research Institute, Sanlitun Nan Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯南路机电研究院内10号1层 (6501 6026)

Palms L.A. Kitchen and Bar * (KoreanMexican fusion) Tucked away near Gulou, this hip little hutong concept is truly one of a kind in Beijing. Quesadillas with kimchi and bibimbaps with melted cheese and hot sauce. Guess what? It works. Killer range of classic Cali’ cocktails, too. > Daily 11:30am-midnight (closed Mondays); 14 Zhangwang Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区旧鼓楼大街张旺胡同14号 (6405 4352)

The Mission

> Daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-11:30pm. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北小街1号 (8454 4508)

Bocca Della Verita ¥ Good-value homestyle Italian is the order of the day at this little-known spot in Beixinqiao.

> Dinner: 5-10pm; Lunch: 10am-3pm; 3/F, 277 Dongzhimen Nei Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门内大街277号三楼雍和宫大街和北新桥头条交叉处的四层商业楼三楼 (6455 3832, 1391 0969 240)

Bene ¥ * Chef Ricci will have you singing like a soprano with his pork ravioli and prize-winning tiramisu. Excellent set menus (RMB588) and extensive wine selection. > Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm. Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng, 36 Northeast Third Ring Road, Dongcheng District 东城区北三环东路36号(5798 8995)

BK’s Tavern BK’s Tavern shares your tiredness and serves you leisure with surprises. Good drink for an old friend of since.

>Daily, Mon-Sun 11am-10.30pm, 39 Maizidian Street by the side of Liang Ma River, Chaoyang District 朝阳区麦子店街39号亮马河南畔(8595 9609)

> Sanlitun: Sun-Thu 11am-10:30pm, Fri/Sat 11am11:30pm, B101b Nali Patio South, 81 Sanlitun Beilu Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路81号B101B南楼 (5208 6079) ; Solana: Solana Lakeside Dining Street, 6 Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang 朝阳区湖畔美食街朝阳公园路6号院蓝色港湾 (5905 6259)

Cepe ¥ In a city inundated with Italian offerings, Cepe manages to stand out thanks to its attention to the smallest detail – everything from the vinaigrette to the Parma ham is import quality, and the wine is superb.

American/BBQ/Grill Eudora Station 亿多瑞站

Home Plate BBQ * Scruffy looks and laid-back staff belie the

>Daily 10am-10pm, China World Mall store: NL4020, L4 North Zone, China World Mall 朝阳区国贸商城北区4层NL4020 (8535 1191); Central Park Plaza store: 7-9, 1/F, Building 7, Central Park Plaza, 10 Chaoyang Park South 朝阳公园南路中央公园广场A7-109 (6586 1180); Wangjing store opening soon: 206, 2/F, RADIANCE, 6 Wangjing Dongyuan, Chaoyang District 朝阳区望京东园6号楼金辉大厦2层206单元 (6478 8660)

Taco Bar Rising from the ashes of its deceased hutong location, the new Taco Bar is hip, popular and able to produce some of the most authentic Mexican fare in town. Only RMB45 for three and great cocktails to complement.

MOKA Bros (Contemporary Western) * Power bowls, salads and wraps are the kind of fare on offer at this trendy Nali Patio space, which also has a great selection of cakes and pastries if you’re feeling more indulgent.

> (Near Lidu place))No 6,Fangyuanli Chaoyang 朝阳区芳园西里6号(丽都广场对面)(6437 8331, 6437 8334)

your order at their burrito bar.

The Mission Mexican Grill is on, well, a mission – to bring quality grab-and-go burritos and tacos to the good people of Chaoyang. Stop by for tasty, fresh Mexican dishes using high-quality ingredients, and customize

> Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm. The RitzCarlton Financial Street, 1 Jinchengfang Dongjie, Jinrong Jie, Xicheng 西城区金城坊东街1号北京金融街丽思卡顿酒店大堂 (6601 6666)

Florentina 翡冷翠意大利餐厅 Florentina serves authentic Italian fare in low-key, yet elegant surrounds. Cuisine is

high-end, the environment is relaxed. A beautiful outdoor terrace makes this place a godsend for Lido residents.

> Daily 11-late (Kitchen serves until 10pm), 1/F, Bldg 2, No. 6 Yard, Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区芳园西路6号院2号楼1层(8431 0027)

Mercante ¥ * Old World family charm in an intimate hutong setting. Time (and, occasionally, service) slows with a rustic menu from Bologna offering an assortment of homemade pastas and seasonal mains. > Tue-Sun 6-10.30pm. 4 Fangzhuanchang Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区方砖厂胡同4号 (8402 5098)

Tiago Home Kitchen Even the most exacting palettes are delighted by TIAGO, whose team prepares globally sourced ingredients and sustainably grown produce. TIAGO’s dining experience is distinctly Italian, but its menu also offers such classics as Australian steaks and Boston lobster - plus a wide selection of salads, pizza, pasta and desserts. >Indigo: Daily 11.30am-10pm, Shop L173, Indigo Mall, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路 18号颐堤港购物中心L173商铺(6438 8772); Chaoyang Joy City: Daily 11am-10pm, 5F50/6F, Chaoyang Joy City, 101 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳北路 101号朝阳大悦城5F50/6F(8558 3892)

Opera Bombana ¥ Head chef Umberto Bombana boasts three Michelin stars to his name, earned at his wildly successful Hong Kong restaurant Otto e Mezzo. He’s the only Italian chef to do so outside of his native land, and certainly the only to have opened a restaurant in Beijing. > Daily, 12pm-10:30pm; LG2-21 Parkview Green Fangcaodi, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东大桥路9号侨福芳草地地下2层21号 (5690 7177)

Annie’s ¥ * Now a certified Beijing institution, Annie’s serves up the city’s most reliable Italian fare. Delivery is free anywhere between Line 5 and the the Fifth Ring Road (call for delivery prices outside this area), and can be ordered in English between 10.30am and 10.30pm from www.annies.com.cn. Alternatively, drop in to your local branch.

> All open Daily,10.30am-11pm; Beijing Riviera: opposite west gate of Lane Bridge Villa, Shunyi 朝阳区来广营东路5号长岛澜桥别墅西门对面尚古城一楼 (8470 4768); Lido: Jiangtai Lu, opposite United Family Hospital 朝阳区将台商业街4号楼2楼和睦家医院对面 (6436 3735); Wangjing: 2F, beside the Daimler Tower, LSH Plaza, 8 Wangjing Jie 朝阳区利星行广场A座戴勒姆大厦裙楼2层近望京商业中心 (8476 0398); Chaoyang Park: West Gate of Chaoyang Park 朝阳区朝阳公园老西门南侧 (6591 1931); Sanlitun: China View Building, opposite East Gate of Workers’Stadium 朝阳区工体东门对面中国红街一楼 (8587 1469); Ritan Park: Ritan High Life, 3F, north of Ritan Park 朝阳区神路街39号日坛上街3-108号 (8569 3031); The Place: East of the Place, south of Central Park 朝阳区金桐西路10号远洋光华国际中心AB座1 层 (8590 6428); Guomao: Ruisai Business Building (southest of Guomao subway) 朝阳区东三环南路2 号瑞赛大厦商务楼1层 (6568 5890); Sunshine 100: Guanghua Lu, opposite Sunshine 100 Building 朝阳区光华路阳光100公寓对面首经贸南门 (858 98366)

Pizza La Pizza Among the upper echelons of Beijing pizzerias is this Sanlitun goldfish bowl with a wood-fired oven and Neapolitan manners. Further branches in Solana and pasta/salad/mains-buffet restaurant in Sanlitun 3.3

> Sanlitun Branch: daily 10.30am-3pm, 6-11pm. 1/F, 3.3 Mall, 33 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路33号3.3服装大厦西北角底商(5136 5582); Solana Branch: SA-48, 1/F, Bldg 3, Solana, 6 Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang 朝阳公园西路6号蓝色港湾3号1层 SA-48 ( 5905 6106) > SOHU Shangdu Branch: SH1112, SOHO Shangdu, 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区东大桥路8号SOHO尚都 SH1112号(5900 3112); La Pizza Buffet: 4F, Sanlitun 3.3 Mall, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯3.3服装大厦4层 (5136 5990)

Tube Station Nowhere does gigantic toppen-laden pizza quite like Beijing, and these guys claim to be the biggest in town. > Sanlitun 3.3 Branch: Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat/Sun 10am-11pm, delivery Mon-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am-11pm 3/F, 3.3 Building, No. 33 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang 三里屯北街33号3.3服装大厦3层3008号 ( 5136 5571, delivery 8989 177) > Additional branches in Gongti, Beida, Beitai, Yayancun, Solana and Weigongcun, see www.online.thatsmags.com for details)

German Drei Kronen 1308 * Authentic (truly – when they say 1308 they mean it) displays of armour and brewing kits draw regular evening crowds for the superb pork knuckle and heavy-duty helles

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LISTINGS (pale lager), wheat and dark beer (brewed on-site). > Daily 11am-2am. 1/F, Bldg 5, China View, Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体东路中国红街5号楼1 层(6503 5555)

Bodensee Kitchen Bodensee Kitchen is a new German Restaurant in Beijing, located at the 2nd Floor at South German Bakery (Lucky Street). At Bodensee Kitchen, two Germans, and one Austrian, aim to bring back authentic, traditional, home made German-AustrianSwiss cuisine from around the beautiful Lake of Constance region. You will find top quality German-Austrian-Swiss cuisine and a large variety of German beer and wines. And all this in a traditional and comfortable German restaurant setting with friendly and warm service. Bodensee Kitchen also offers great Catering Packages and Offers – no matter whether you need a small or big Catering, Bodensee Kitchen can help you out!

Ganges Conveniently located above popular Irish sports bar Paddy O’Sheas, this solid Indian curry house provides the perfect post-match culinary accompaniment. Or put another way: it’s what you’ll be craving after eight pints of beer. > Daily 11am to 10.30pm; Dongzhimen Branch: 2/F, 28 Dongzhimen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区东直门外大街28号2层 (6417-0900) > Additional branch in Sanlitun, see online.thatsmags.com for details.

Indian Kitchen

> Daily 11am-late; F109, Grand Summit, bldg 5, 19 Dongfang Donglu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东方东路19号楼(DRC外交办公大楼)一层F109 (8531 5166, www. brotzeit.co)

Hacker-Pschorr Brauhaus If you’re looking for authentic German fare and, most importantly, German-style beer, then you can’t go wrong with HackerPschorr Brauhaus. Made from centuries-old recipes – and in accordance with the 1516 German Beer Purity Law – the brews here are some of the finest in Beijing. Prost! > Room 3, Building 3, No 12 ,Xindonglu Chaoyang 朝阳区新东路12号院3号楼3门(5323 3399)

Paulaner Brauhaus The grand old man of Beijing brauhauses, Paulaner delivers the Teutonic goods in the hands of lederhosen-clad staff from the provinces. It can be pricey but is usually worthwhile, especially during Oktoberfest.

> Daily 11am-1am. Kempinski Hotel, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路50号凯宾斯基饭店 (6465 3388 ext. 5732)

Spanish Agua ¥ * Occupying the high end of Nali’s Spanish invasion, Agua excels with reasonably priced classics like suckling pig, chorizo and jamon. Winner of the 2014 Golden Fork Editors’ Pick for best restaurant. > Daily Midday-2pm, 6pm-10pm. 4/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园 (5208 6188)

Casa Talia by Tiago

>Daily 11.30am-9pm, 01B, 4/F, Raffles City, 1 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门南大街1 号来福士购物中心4层01B 8409 4009

Niajo ¥ * With homely Mediterranean influences and a charming management, Niajo is prime Sanlitun smart-casual dining. Order the paella (their star dish) together with some tapas and be automatically transported to Spain (minus the constant sunshine). > Daily noon-10.30pm. 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园3层 (5208 6052)

Migas Mercado ¥ * A place to dance and rowl, perhaps, rather than a drinks destination, TBAM, as on one calls it, focuses on upscale local DJs to get the party started. Good-enough cocktails are offered but mostly it’s about the music, man >Daily 11.30-3am, 7th Floor, North Zone, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城三期北区7 层 (6500 7579)

Asian Indian Raj Tucked away in musty old building just underneath the drum tower, this curryhouse may look Chinese but everything on the menu is authentic Indian, espcially the rather fine naan. > Daily 11am-2pm, 5pm-11pm, 31 Gulou Xidajie Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼西大街31号 (6401 1675)

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Sui Ka Is this what after-work hangouts are like in Japan? We’re not sure, but we hope so: This charming izakaya nails it when it comes to sake selection and fried delights to munch alongside it.

>Daily 5pm-1am, Ichibangai First Avenue Food Court, Zaoying Nanli, Maizidian, East 3rd Ring Road, Chaoyang朝阳区东三环农展馆北路宾都苑东侧一层底商一番街内 (137 1692 7543)

South-East Asian Cafe Sambal (Malaysian) When it comes to Malay-style food in a hutong, nowhere does it better. Admittedly, it’s something of a niche category, but then so is the food on offer. The spicy Kapitanstyle chicken is pricey, but worth it. > Daily 11am-midnight. 43 Doufuchi Hutong (just east of Jiugulou Dajie), Xicheng 西城区豆腐池胡同43 号旧鼓楼大街往东走(6400 4875)

>2/F, South German Bakery, 27 Lucky Street, Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang District 朝阳区朝阳公园路好运街27号德南面包房二楼 (1314 685 2613)

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant 博璨德国啤酒餐厅 Brotzeit offers its customers a unique experience with authentic German cuisine and world famous German beers in a casual environment. Coupled with its contemporary setting and unique brand appeal, Brotzeit is distinct from the traditional-style German restaurants still seen in Germany and other parts of the world.

三里屯北小街2号 (6464 2365); Lido branch: 2F, No.9-3, Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区将台西路 9-3号2层 (8420 0998)

The go to curry house among Beijing’s homesick Indian community, this ever popular no-nonsense restaurant has built up a solid reputation thanks to its wide range of quality dishes and particularly friendly service. Looking good after a recent rennovation and very available on JinShiSong online delivery. > Daily 11am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm, 2/F 2 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北小街2号2楼 (6462 7255)

Korean Ai Jiang Shan This upscale seafood restaurant proves that chargrill and composure can go together. Their RMB58 bibimbap lunch is an absolute bargain. > Daily 11am-10pm, Sat and Sun until 9.30pm; 5/F, LG Twin Towers (East Tower), 12 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街乙12号双子座大厦东塔5层 (5109 6036/6037) see www.thatsmags.com for other locations)

Japanese HAGAKI 叶书 * Serves up a selection of signature maki rolls, as well as classics like tonkatsu, tempura and udon, Hagaki specializes in Californian-inspired Japanese cuisine and has a lively sushi bar.

>Daily 11am-2.30pm, 1/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu,Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅酒店1层 8414 9815

Hatsune ¥ * (California Japanese) As much a California roll joint as true Japanese, Hatsune is now an old favorite among the sake-swilling, sushi-swallowing set, though less so among sashimi purists. > Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm; 2/F, Heqiao Bldg C, 8A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层 (6581 3939) >Additional locations in Sanlitun Tai Koo Li South; Kerry Centre Mall (see www.online.thatsmags.com for details)

Inagiku * This Beijing branch of one of Tokyo’s oldest and most celebrated restaurants is as near to perfection as you’re likely to find. Deceptively simple yet finely crafted, the handmade Inaniwa udon (RMB80) is not to be missed.

> Daily 11am-3pm, 6-10.30pm; Rm 315, 3/F, Park Life, Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街2号银泰中心悦生活3层315室 (8517 2838)

Sake Manzo * The barmen here are serious about their sake. Boasting one of the best stocked drinks cabinets in town with over 60 different sakes on offer, this super-cool little eatery is the perfect place to unwind after a hard day’s toil. The sashimi is fresh to the cut, and the beer-marinated chicken is out of this world. One of the very best and least appreciated restaurants in town.

> Daily 6pm-midnight. 7A Tuanjiehu Beisantiao, Chaoyang 朝阳区团结湖北三条甲7号(6436 1608

Yotsuba ** It doesn’t come cheap (tasting menu RMB1,000), but what would you expect from some of the best sushi in town? Buttery and meaty fatty tuna sashimi is a cut above.

> Dongcheng: Tue- Sun 11.30am-11pm. Sanlitun branch: 2 Sanlitun Bei Xiaojie, Chaoyang 朝阳区

4Corners (Vietnamese, Fusion) The definitive hutong bar/restaurant? Chef Jun Trinh took a break from his celebrity TV work to host this part-Vietnamese venue, serving up steaming bowls of pho with zesty, fresh rolls, as well as a great bar, with frequent live indie performances. > Tue-Sun 11am-2am, 27 Dashibei Hutong (near west end of Yandai Xiejie), Xicheng 西城区大石碑胡同27号烟袋斜街西口附近) (6401 7797)

Purple Haze (Thai) Given Beijing’s lack of white sand beaches and backpacker bars, Purple Haze has to make do for the best Thai experience in town. Has all the classics like veggie spring rolls (RMB40), papaya salad (RMB46) and curries (RMB44-180) – but our pick’s the seafood pad Thai (RMB45). > Daily 11am-11pm, 55 Xingfu Yicun, Chaoyang 朝阳区幸福一村55号 (6413 0899)

Nyonya Kitchen (Malaysian, Nyonya) This chain specializes in Nyonya style cooking – ostensibly Malaysian but with a mix of Chinese, South-East Asian and European influences resulting in lots of bold flavors and bright colors. The interiors are just as loud as the flavors – this place is colorful – and we love it. Nyonya goes beyond the requisite laksa and satay. >NL5008, 5/F, North Phase, Bldg 17, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区建国门外大街1号院17号楼国贸商城北区五层 NL5008 (8415 0863)

Malacca Legend Malaysian food with a view, this spacious and airy restaurant sits on the banks of Shunyi’s Roma Lake and at a new unit in the heart of the city at The Place, making a great spot for their beef rendang or green curry prawns.

> Daily 11am-10pm; 6 Roma Lake: 6 Luodong Lu, Luogezhuang Village, Hoshayu Town, Shunyi 顺义区后沙峪镇罗各庄村罗马湖东北三路6号C院 (8049 8902); Signature: Shop L203, 2/F, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路9号世贸天阶2 层L203 (6587 1393)

Makan Kitchen A unique restaurant offering varied Southeast Asian flavors and Chinese cuisines. Tuck into a buffet featuring regional Asian stations, a dedicated fresh juice bar and live stations to whet your appetite. With a beautiful private dining room for functions or meetings in comfort and style, Makan Kitchen is the perfect venue for a relaxing get-together or a delightful weekend brunch.

>Mon-Fri, Breakfast: 6-10am, Lunch: 11.30am2.30pm, Dinner: 6-10pm; Sat-Sun, Breakfast: 6-11am, Lunch: 12-2.30pm, Dinner: 6-10pm, 2/F, Main Tower, Hilton Hotel, 1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路东方路1号北京希尔顿酒店2层 (5865 5020)

Singapore Seafood

> China World Shopping Mall Branch: Daily 11am10pm, NL4010, North Area of China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区NL4010 (8595 0251/8595 0361); Parview Green Branch: Daily 11am-10.30pm, 1/F, Tower C, Parkview Green, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东大桥路9号侨福芳草地购物中心C 座1层(东大桥地铁站) ( 8518 8811)

Susu (Vietnamese) The first step is finding it. Follow that up with a dreamlike renovated courtyard, extensive wine list and a listing of top-notch Vietnamese curries, banh mi sandwiches, stews, soups and la Vong fish. > Tue- Sun 11.30am-11pm; 10 Qianliang Hutong Xixiang, Dongcheng 东城区钱粮胡同西巷10号 (8400 2699)

Vegetarian Lotus 莲花空间

> China World Shopping Mall Branch: NL4006, North Area of China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区NL4006 (8527 4868); Financial Street Branch: Daily 11am-9pm, L220, 2/F, Seasons Place Mall, 2 Jinchengfang Jie, Xicheng 西城区金城坊街2号金融街购物中心2层东侧L220 (6622 0515)

Tianchu Maoxiang (Asian) Like many arrivals to Beijing, this place started out in Wudaokou and it’s since made a successful migration to Chaoyang. Great range of veggie fare, reasonably priced and they offer cooking classes as well. > Daily 10am-10pm; 19 Rm 0260, 2/F, Bldg D, Chaowai SOHO, 6B Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳门外大街乙6朝外SOHOD座2层 0260 (5900 1288)(see www.online.thatsmags. com for details)

Veggie Table (Western, Asian) * Proving that Beijing-style vegetarian cuisine is by no means the exclusive preserve of Buddhist monks and soppy Jack Johnson fans, this superbly honed eatery offers some of the very best sandwiches – vegetarian or otherwise – found anywhere in the city. > Daily 10.30am-11.30pm (last order 10.30pm); 19 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区五道营胡同 19号 (6446 2073)

BARS TOP 40 BARS AND CLUBS

About This guide represents our editors’ top 40 picks, and includes some That’s Beijing advertisers. Bars rated(*) have been personally reviewed by our experts, and scored according to the cuisine, experience and affordability. Arrow Factory The newest craft beer taproom on the block, Arrow Factory is a rustic hideaway brimming with good Anglo-Scandinavian vibes (courtesy of the brew-masters) and the brand’s distinctive Chinese brewed ales. A winning combination > 38 Jianchang Hutong, Dongcheng District 东城区箭厂胡同38号(6407 6308)

8-Bit Drinking alongside multiplayer retro gaming – why didn’t anyone do this sooner? Megadrive, Super Nintendo, N64... some real gems make up an ever-growing collection. Draft Kirin goes for a reasonable RMB25 a glass.

> Daily 1pm-2am; 13 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng 东城区北锣鼓巷13号 (159 1025 6538)

China Bar ¥¥ Top views from the 65th floor and flash drinks are the attractions on offer at this hip hotel bar.

> Sun-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am. 65/F, Park Hyatt, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街2号柏悦酒店65层 (8567 1838/40)

El Nido * The first hutong hang-out to patent the fridge-full-of-cheap-imports formula, El Nido inspires a loyal following, particularly in summer. The roast leg of mutton place next door is one of the best locally. > Daily 6pm-late, 59 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区方家胡同50号(158 1038 2089)

First Floor First Floor is like that friend who’s too popular to properly enjoy their company. At weekends, it gets aggressively full, with regulars and the passing tourist trade all baying at the bar. A good place to meet new friends, perhaps.

> Daily, 4pm-late, Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北小街 (6413 0587, first.floorbeijing.com)

Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒 ¥ * The bar that began the whole Beijing microbrewing frenzy (yes, frenzy) specializes in idiosyncratic, local-style brews (RMB2540) with intriguing flavors – their Sichuan peppercorn ale was memorably good. Reservations used to be recommended for their original hutong brewhouse, but the opening of a wildly popular new pub on Xinzhong Lu has shifted most drinkers there instead.

> Gulou: 5pm-late, Tue-Fri, 2pm-late Sat-Sun 2-10pm, 6 DouJiao Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区豆角胡同6号 (5717 1399) ; Sanlitun: Daily 11:30am-2pm; Sun-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri /Sat 5pm-1am, B12 Xinzhong Street 新中街乙12号 (6416 6887, www.greatleapbrewing.com)

Heaven Supermarket A purgatory of bottles, bongs and bedraggled English teachers, Heaven sells the

LISTINGS cheapest alcoholic takeaways in town. You can also hang around and appreciate the afterlife (clientele) if you want. Caveat: the food is straight from Hell’s own kitchen. > Daily 11-4am. 14 Xindong Lu (next to The James Joyce), Chaoyang 朝阳区新东路14号 (6415 6513)

Hidden Lounge * Although frustrating to find, Hidden Lounge rewards the intrepid with good artwork and comfortable seating, suggesting a Kasbah, plus well-made drinks at great prices (wine from RMB100 a bottle, mix drinks from RMB25). You’ll probably have to call them to find it, though.

> Daily 6pm-1am. Room 101, Bldg 8, CBD Apartments, Shuanghuayuan Nanli Erqu, Chaoyang 朝阳区双花园南里二区CBD公寓8号楼101屋 (8772 1613)

Jane’s & Hooch ¥ * Acclaimed by some foreign press as one of the best bars in the world (cough), this not-so-plain Jane has been at the vanguard of the South Sanlitun gentrification. It serves RMB60-80 measures of your favorite Prohibiotion-era hooches in a fanstastic speakeasy atmosphere, with attentive staff and unimpeachable cocktails.

> Daily 8pm-2am, Courtyard 4 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路4号院 ( 6503 2757)

Jing-A Taproom ** In just a few years, these guys developed from shady guerrilla brewers to upstanding publicans with their own range of souvenir T-shirts. Their bar is a peach: a bricks-andmortar taproom, which is large, warm and sociable, and has up to 16 different beers on tap. > Building B, 1949 The Hidden City, Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路4号院

Mao Mao Chong ** The cocktails at Mao’s – such as their sublime ‘Mala’ Mule, a Sichuan peppercorninfused vodka drink that’s a long way from Moscow – are unique infusions using local ingredients and know-how. Grungey without being grimey, Mao’s eschews flash while still keeping it real. And those pizzas. > 12 Banchang Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng 东城区交道口南大街板厂胡同12号 (6405 5718, www. maomaochongbeijing.com)

Mesh ¥ Whether it’s an early evening cocktail or a late-night infusion, Mesh’s moody interior and underground soundtrack draws the bright young things (and on LGBT Thursdays, quite a few old things, too). > Daily 5pm-1am. Building 1, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路11号院1号楼 (6417 6688)

Maggie’s ¥ A notorious sausage fest (we refer, of course, to the hot-dog stand outside), Maggie’s has been providing its special comforts for so long, it’s practically a timehonored Beijing brand – although it’s also a bastion of Mongolian culture. > Sun-Thur 8pm-4am, Fri-Sat 8pm-5am, Ritan Park South Gate, Chaoyang District 朝阳区日坛公园南门 (8562 8142)

Parlor Learn a few quotes from Gatsby before heading to this 20s Shanghai-style speakeasy and you’ll fit right in.

> Daily 6pm-2am, 39-8 Xingfuercun, Chaoyang 朝阳区新东路幸福二村39-8 (8444 4135)

Mai Bar * Understated hutong hideaway with a long list of some of the best cocktails in town.

> Daily 5pm-late, 40 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng 东城区北锣鼓巷40号 (6406 1871)

Revolution * Sanlitun doesnt really do hipster bars but if it did, this cramped ode to Maomorabilia would be it. The East may be red but their cocktails (RMB45) are fit for a Chairman.

> Daily, 12pm-late, west of Yashow, Gongti Bei Lu, 朝阳区工体北路雅秀市场西侧 (6415 8776)

The Brick A Cheers-style atmosphere ensures you’ll find this neighbourhood drinking hole-inthe brick-wall faux dive bar either cliquey or inclusive. The heavy-duty cocktails (including the devastatingly boozy RMB80 Terminator) are probably needed for the bizarre Wednesday pub quiz.

> Daily 4pm-late. Unit 2-11, Bldg 2, Tianzhi Jiaozi, 31 Guangqu Lu (northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao), Chaoyang 朝阳区双井桥东北角广渠路31号院天之骄子 2号楼底商2-11 (134 2616 6677)

The Irish Volunteer Everything – from the red-faced owner to the grub – is authentically Irish: tinged with alcoholism, doggerel and drunken regret. A good place to down a pint and a pizza before heading into town, then.

> Daily 9pm-2am. 311 Jiangtai Lu (opposite Lido Hotel East Gate), Chaoyang 朝阳区将台路311 号 (6438 5581)

Slow Boat Sanlitun Brewpub ** This popular microbrewery is a Beijing classic (if you haven’t tried the Zombie Pirate Pale Ale yet, then what are you doing?). Other things to love: quality ales that change each season, a massive threestory space, and some of the best burgers in town.

> Daily, 11am-late; 6 Nan Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区南三里屯路6号 (6592 5388)

Glen ¥ Experiences can vary at Glen (we’ve endured poor service and drinks that are scandalous at the price), which is located in a decidedly downbeat compound. But whisky lovers have been known to swear by its selections and dark, intimate atmosphere. See for yourself. >Daily 6.30pm-2am. 203, 2/F, Taiyue Suites Hotel Beijing, 16 Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区南三里屯路16号泰悦豪庭2楼203室 (6591 1191)

Glen Classic ¥ Tucked away in the grounds of Face hotel, Glen Classic is a Japanese-owned whisky bar where discerning drinkers can sink into an arm-chair, glass in hand, and while away the hours. Huge range of whiskies and rums are personally selected by expert owner Daiki Kanetaka – let him recommend you something special. > Mon-Sat, 7pm-2am, reservation required, minimum spend RMB200, Face Hotel Courtyard, 26 Dongcaoyuan, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体南路东草园26 号 (6551 6788)

Trouble Bar Beijing’s leading venue for imported craft beers. Stocks a large draft selection and an even larger selection of bottles. Also does a nice line in creative cocktails, if brews aren’t your thing. Conveniently located next to Gung-Ho, hosts a full-sized foos-ball table, darts, and plenty of TV’s to accommodate any event, meetings, and gatherings. > 2-101, China View Building, 2B Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang (Next To Gung-Ho) 朝阳区工人体育场东路乙2号中国红街2-101叫板比萨隔壁 (8590 0390, troublebar@gmail.com, www.trouble.bar)

10 Best Livehouses Dusk Dawn Club (DDC) 黄昏黎明俱乐部 Great little livehouse near Meishuguan with a focus on jazz, folk and indie rock. Craft beer and whisky means you won’t get bored of the drinks list quickly. > Tue-Sun 1pm-2am; 14 Shanlao Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区美术馆后街山老胡同14号 (6407 8969)

School Bar 学校酒吧 * Crap drinks and regular, unscheduled fights: no wonder the cool kids adore this alternative livehouse/ DJ bar, founded by Beijing and Shanghai rock n’ rollers.

> Daily 8pm-late. 53 Wudaoying Hutong, Chaoyang 朝阳区五道营胡同53号 (6402 8881, 6406 9947)

Jianghu 江湖酒吧 This former Qing Dynasty courtyard home is exactly where you’d take that friend from out of town to prove you’re cool. Its cozy atmosphere is also its downfall – any show with under 40 people and you’re stuck looking through the windows. Hip and casually familiar, the jazz and folk bookings keep things low-key enough for the gethome-for-the-babysitter crowd.

> 7 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiaodaokou Nan Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区交道口南大街东棉花胡同7号 (6401 5269, site.douban.com/jianghujiubar, jincanzh@ gmail.com)

Hot Cat Club 热力猫 A true stalwart of the Beijing scene, Hot Cat is the type of hard-working venue that helps cement a city’s music scene. > Daily 10am-late, 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng 东城区方家胡同46号 (6400 7868)

The Post Mountain 后山 Built into a man-made hill in the center of the MOMA Complex, this new addition to Beijing’s growing livehouse empire is The Hobbit meets Manhattan. With as much vibe as a sterile modernart gallery. Its imported sound system and ramped floor makes for decent sound and sightlines.

> Bldg T8, MOMA, 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongzhimenwai, Dongcheng (next to MOMA Cinemateque) 东城区东直门外香河园路1号当代 MOMA园区T8楼北百老汇电影中心北侧 (8400 4774)

Temple 坛 * Probably the manliest venue in town, this

dimly lit and unventilated space is owned by rockers (Gao Xu, Gao Jian and Clement Burger) and known for late sets of hard rock, punk and ska, with weekend gigs and DJ sets every fortnight. It offers a long drinks menu, with plenty of cheap pastis and shooters, but you’ll probably stick to the RMB15 draught. > Daily, 7pm-late. Bldg B, 206 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街206号B楼202 (131 6107 0713)

Yugong Yishan 愚公移山 * We’ve lost more body weight than we’d care to remember in YY’s mosh pit. Fortunately, almost all the acts – usually hip-hop DJs, emo rocks and obscure indie outfits from across the globe – were worth it. The upstairs bar area is a refuge from the sweat glands below. > Daily 7pm-late. 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu (100m west of Zhangzizhong Lu subway station), Dongcheng 东城区张自忠路3-2号(6404 2711）

Nightclubs Chocolate It’s impossible to discuss Chocolate without mentioning gold leaf, dwarves, cabaret dancers and oddly-friendly Russian women. Timed right, a visit can be raucous fun, with bottles of spirits from around RMB200, cocktails under RMB50 (including the absinthe-based Flaming Armageddon) and regular floor shows. > Daily 7pm-6am. 19 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区日坛北路19号 (8561 3988)

Dada * It hasn’t been on the Beijing scene for too long, but already Dada is the hippest hangout in town. Their cosy Gulou confines under rock house Temple offer an intimate place to nod along to an eclectic range of all things electro from the best names on the underground scene. > Daily 9pm-late, Rm 101, Bldg B, 206 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街206号B栋101室 (183 1108 0818)

Lantern * Founded by now-defunct Acupuncture Records, Lantern is a beacon of light in the strip of truly ghastly nightclubs and bars known as ‘Gongti.’ Serious about its music, it also makes good drinks and attracts international electronica DJs. > Thurs-Sat 9pm-6.30am. 100m north of Worker’s Stadium West Gate, Chaoyang 朝阳区工人体育场西门向北100米 (139 119 77989)

MIX A bit like a trip to the Forbidden City, Mix is one of those places in Beijing you have to experience before you leave. Not much is forbidden in this underground hip-hop disco palace and if you don’t leave with hook-up in tow then you’re doing something very wrong.

> Daily 8pm-6am, Inside Worker’s Stadium North Gate, Chaoyang 朝阳区工人体育场北门内 (6506 9888, 6530 2889, 150 1138 2219, mixclub@sohu.com)

Vics Separated at birth from its identical twin brother, Mix, this is the definition of Gongti sweatbox meat-market chic at its very finest. The Chinese love it – as do moody Russians and jailbait students – helping Vics to become one of the most infamous clubs in the capital.

> Daily 8.30pm late, Inside Worker’s Stadium North Gate, Chaoyang 朝阳区工人体育场北门内 (5293 0333)

Hotel Bars Atmosphere ¥¥ Beijing’s highest bar, on the 80th floor of the 1,082-ft China World Tower, offers 300+ swanky cocktails from RMB65 with 360-degree views of the 700AQI PM2.5. > Mon-Fri noon-2am, Sat and Sun noon-4am. 80/F, China World Summit Wing, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号北京国贸大酒店80 (6505 2299 ext. 6433)

Centro ¥ Although it’s no longer quite the go-to place for beautiful people it once was, Centro still draws a cute crowd with its nightly jazz performaces, spacious and recently renovated lounge areas and classic drinks like the blue-cheese martini. > Open 24 hours. 1/F, Kerry Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路1号北京嘉里大饭店1层 (6561 8833)

MEI One of the livelier hotel bars in town, MEI has a nightly band, serves creatively delicious cocktails and overlooks the CCTV ‘trousers.’ Don’t leave without trying the frightfully delicious Panjiayuan Bramble. Mon-Wed 6pm-2am, Thu-Sat 6pm-3am, Sun 5pm-

midnight; 5F Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang District朝阳区呼家楼一号京广中心北京瑰丽酒店3层 (6536 0083)

O’Bar With both a fantastic cocktail menu and one of the finest terraces in the city, NUO Hotel’s O’Bar is a sure bet for classy evening drinks in the city. >Sun-Thr:6pm-1am;Fri-Sat:6pm-2am;2 Jiangtai Lu,Chaoyang朝阳区将台路甲2号(5926 8888)

Xian 仙 Bold multi – element bar Xian on the ground floor mixes a pub, whiskey bar, live music venue and games room into one vibrant entertainment hotspot. >Daily 5pm-2am, 1/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu,Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅酒店1层 (8414 9810)

Sports Bars The Local * Formerly Brussels, this beery bar has come into its own, with large (yet strangely unobtrusive) screenings of sports and political events, a pub quiz, quality fare and a nice selection of draughts and cocktails. Try the Bourbon Street Ice Tea – you won’t need another. > Daily 11-2am. 4 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路4号院 (6591 9525)

Paddy O’Shea’s * An entire Irish-themed pub, which could easily been trasnsported, untouched, from a back alley in Limerick and gently deposited in central Beijing. With plenty going on, including pub quiz and sports.

> Dongzhimen: Daily 10am-late, 28 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区东直门外大街28号 (6592 6290); Sanlitun: 2/F, Tongli Studio, Sanlitun Back Street 三里屯北路43号同里二层 (6415 0299)

V Sports Spacious, comfortable, huge screens and no rowdy drunken cretins, V Sports makes a claim for the champion of Beijing sports bars. > Daily 5.30pm-6am, Gongti North Gate East side, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北门内东侧 (5293 0333)

BEAUTY & FITNESS Black Golden Tanning Studio 古铜日晒中心 Beijing is hardly the best place to pick up a natural tan. When it finally reaches the warm summer, the sun’s rays struggle to penetrate the smog. Thankfully, Black Golden Tanning Studio is on hand to give you that golden glow with its quick, safe and effective technology. With a membership card, enjoy a 50-minute session for RMB400 and come away with natural, healthy-looking color.

> Sanlitun: 11am-9pm, 2/f, Bldg 3, Sanlitun SOHO, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路三里屯 Soho3号楼2层217 (5785 3711, jusonghao@hotmail. com); Wangjing: 11am-9pm, Rm T5, 3/F, BOTAI International Building, 36 Guangshun Bei Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区望京广顺北大街36号博泰国际商业广场3层T—5 (8472 2855)

Alona Pilates Studio Pairing up traditional Pilates with an innovative, full-body workout, Alona Pilates offers classes designed to tone and whip you into shape fast. It also provides a personalized experience for all its students, regardless of fitness, strength and flexibility levels. > Daily, 7.30, late. 5/F at Heavenly Spa by Westin, 1 Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang 朝阳区新源南路1号威斯汀酒店五层 ( 139 1029 0260, www.alonapilates.com)

Narcisse Beauty Brands Encompassed One of a kind! A 600 m2 brand-new concept of beauty salon——Narcisse, encompassed with professional brands on skincare, manicure and hair removal. Not only can we guarantee to give you the highest quality of products and treatments, but also an impressive one-stop beauty experience. Brands inside Narcisse： Youngfo: Facial Cleansing Center Clean Out What’s Deeply Buried In Your Skin 10+10: Minimal-Design Nail Chic Workaholic’s Luv! Edelweiss: Laser Hair Removal Latest Technology, Safe&Permanent Deep Facial Cleaning- 880rmb/once

> 10.30am-10.30pm, Bldg. 1,No.6 West Fangyuan rd, Chaoyang (inside Narcisse Beauty Brands Encompassed)朝阳区芳园西路6号院1号楼水仙美容品牌集合店内(5365 9418)

Daisy’s Beauty Salon Since 2001, Daisy’s beauty salon has

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LISTINGS catered to thousands of Beijing expats and locals and is renowned for its premium waxing services and imported wax that smells like hot chocolate. If waxing isn’t your thing, the salon also specializes in an array of other treatments including IPL Facial Rejuvenation and lifting, a 90-minute treatment that uses a laser to stimulate collagen production and soften lines. Laser and IPL permanent hair removal treatment is also proving popular and effective. > Daily, 10am-8.30pm, Rm301, Building B,Sunshine100 International Apartment, Guanghua Donglu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华东路2号阳光100国际公寓B座301室 (5100 0556 / 0557, www.daisysbeautysalon.com)

Beijing Hikers Want to experience the wild, unrestored Great Wall, away from the tourist masses? Or do you just want to get out of the city for some exercise? Beijing Hikers offers hikes in the countryside of Beijing every week all year round. Hikes for all fitness levels! Regular hikes are priced from RMB380, with discounts for members. Cost includes hiking guide, transportation, tickets, food and water. We’ve also got adventures all over China. > For more information, visit www.beijinghikers.com

Shang Xia

>L118 & 119, L1 China World Mall, China World Trade Center 1, Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号中国国际贸易中心国贸商城1楼 L118 & 119 (6505 3446)

Lily Nails A long-time favorite among locals and expats alike, Lily Nails is much more than a nail spa; they eyelash services, of pampering treatments and waxing too.

>U Town store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop 19B, 4/F, U town Plaza, Chaoyang朝阳区悠唐购物中心一期4层19B号 8561 5875 ; Fulllink store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop 29/B1, Fulllink Plaza, Chaoyang朝阳区丰联广场B1-29 6588 3633 ; Yansha store: Daily 10am-22pm, 09/B1, Ping An International Finance Centre, Chaoyang朝阳区平安国际金融中心商业B1层9号 5601 9664 ;WDK store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop16/F4, WDK Shopping store, Haidian海淀区五道口购物中心4层1415号 6266 6070 ; Heshenghui store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop B1-19, Heshenghui Mall, Chaoyang朝阳区合生汇B1层19号 5601 9664 ; Pingan store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop 09/B1, Ping An International Finance Centre, Chaoyang朝阳区平安国际金融中心商业B1层9号 8444 2483 ; Taiyanggong store: Daily 10am22pm, Shop B1-09, CapitaMall Taiyanggong, Chaoyang朝阳区太阳宫凯德购物中心B1-15A号 8443 0619 ; WeLife store: Daily 10am-22pm, WeLife store, Shop B1/F, WeLife Shopping store, Chaoyang朝阳区远洋未来汇购物中心 B1-116号 8588 6896 ; Wanliu store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop 19/F4, Wanliu BHG, Haidian 海淀区华联万柳购物中心4层 8258 9517 ; Hongmei store: Daily 10am-22pm, Shop 38241, Shanghai上海市长宁区老外街虹梅路3824-1号 021-6215 5192

DENTAL Arrail Dental Affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, Arrail Dental has access to top-class equipment. Its well-trained staff, multiple locations across town and excellent facilities make it one of the best dental providers in Beijing. English-speaking staff. Dental services including examinations, whitening, root-canal treatment, orthodontics and implants.

>Rm 201, the Exchange-Beijing, 118B Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国路乙118号国贸桥东南角京汇大厦201室 (6567 5670); Rm 208, Tower A, CITIC Building, 19 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街19号国际大厦A座208室 (6500 6473); Rm 308, Tower A, Raycom Info Tech Park 2 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Haidian 海淀区中关村科学院南路2号融科资讯中心A座308室 (8286 1956); Rm 101, Bldg 16, China Central Place, 89 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国路89号华贸中心公寓16号楼101室 (8588 8550/60/70); 1/F, Somerset Fortune Garden, 46 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路46号燕莎东侧盛捷福景苑 1层 (8440 1926)

PrettySmile Dental If you are looking for professional and comfortable dental care, PrettySmile Dental ishighly recommended by many patients. The clinic is standing out because of the professional team, all doctors are from the dental hospital of Peking University and most of them got professional training in USA. The strictest sterilization processes and high-end imported equipment and materials all help guarantee the highest quality of all dental services. >Mon-Fri, 9.30am-6pm (closed Thu); 5-105-1, Building 5, Sanlitun SOHO Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯SOHO 5号商场1层5-105 (5785 3689/5785 3898, www.prettysmiledental.cn, psd3898@163.com)

Beijing New Century Harmony Pediatric Clinic

> Shunyi, K-01, Building No.19, Harmony Business

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Centre, Liyuan Street, Tianzhu Town 天竺镇丽苑街荣和商业中心19号楼K-01 (6456 2599; harmonypeds@ ncich.com.cn, www.ncich.com.cn)

Chaoyang 朝阳区新东路10号逸盛阁首层(8442 5120, 135 2147 3492, eastavenue@catherinedefrance.com, Wechat: CDFSalon, www.catherinedefrance.com)

Beijing Passion International Medical Center This full-service international clinic provides 24-hr general medical care and a patient-centered attitude. Beijing Passion International Medical Center is equipped with the latest in medical technology and is designed to support the comfort, safety and privacy of patients.

Laurent Falcon

> www.heyrobics.com, info@heyrobics.com

> 24hours, B1/F, Borui Building, 26 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路26号博瑞大厦B1层 (6517 7667, www.passion-medical.com)

HEALTH SERVICES Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics 北京和睦家医院

Joinway Dental A reputable and trusted dental practice, Joinway Dental provides the perfect combination of cutting edge technology and comfortable treatment, while maintaining the strictest sanitary and sterilization processes. The clinic uses high-quality imported materials, and its professional, US-trained staff offers a personalized and private service. > Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm; 11D, Building D, Oriental Kenzo Plaza (Ginza Mall), 48 Dongzhimen Wai Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区东直门外大街48号东方银座D座 11D (8447 6092/93, mobile:1326 181 6708, joinway@ dentalcn.com, www.dentalcn.com)

SDM Dental 固瑞齿科 The full spectrum of dentistry. Services include teeth cleaning, root-canal treatment, porcelain crowns, dental implants, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, fillings, pediatric dentistry, extraction, teeth-whitening and veneers. Credit cards accepted. >Mon-Fri 9am-8pm. NB210, 2/F, CBD, Guomao, China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie建外大街1号国贸商城地下2层 (6505 9439/31/93, www. sdmdental.com); Mon-Fri 9am-8pm.Olympic Area,F0186B, Sunshine Plaza, 68 Anli Lu(east of Sunshine Plaza)亚运村安立路68号阳光广场东侧 (6497 2173,6498 2173) ; Mon-Sun 10am-19pm.LB07-08, Euro Plaza, No.99 YuXiang Road,Shunyi 北京顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场LB07-08号 (8046 6084); Mon-Fri 9am-8pm. FC222, 21st Century Hotel, 40 Liang Maqiao Lu,Sanyuanqiao 亮马桥40号21世纪饭店2层 (6466 4814, 6461 2745); Mon-Fri 9am-8pm. 4076B, 4/F, New Yansha Mall, Yuanda Lu,Haidian 远大路金源燕莎购物中心Mall4层4076B (8859 6912/13); Mon-Sun, 10am-7pm, Rm 5, 3/F, North Tower, China Overseas Plaza, 8 Guanghua Dongli 北京朝阳区光华东里8号中海广场北楼3层05号(5977 2488)

United Family Shunyi Dental Clinic The Beijing United Family Dental Clinic in Shunyi is a satellite of the main hospital in Lido (which has its own dental clinic onsite). A comprehensive range of services are at hand, including restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. Call ahead for all appointments.

> 818 Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi 北京和睦家医院牙科诊所, 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场818 (8046 1102)

Vista Medical Center 维世达诊所

> 24hours. Wi-Fi internet. 3/F Kerry Center. 1 Guanghua Lu 光华路1号嘉里中心商场3层 (8529 6618, vista@vista-china.net, www.vista-china.net)

Parkway Health Clinic

> Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm; CBD, 1-2/F, Vantone Center, 6 Chaowai Street 朝阳门外大街甲六号万通中心AB座一二层 (4000 662 -882, 24hrs; enquiry@parkwayhealth. cn; www.parkwayhealth.cn); No.101-201, Beijing link, block2, No.6 Yuan, Jing Shun Dong Street, Chaoyang 朝阳区京顺东街6号院2号楼北京Link101-201室

IDC Dental

>Daily: 9am-6pm, Room 209, Bldg 7, Richmond Park Clubhouse, Fangyuan Nanli, Chaoyang 朝阳区芳园南里丽都水岸会所209 (6538 8111, info@idcdentalbj. com)

HAIR SALONS Blow+Bar This salon is equipped with more than shampoo – the team here provides haircuts, dye, updos, hair treatments and more. With prices for almost everything listed under RMB1,000, Blow+ is a haven of reasonably priced good taste in Sanlitun’s 3.3 Mall. They have champagne and a wellstocked bar, so bring your friends and make a night of it. >3/F 3.3 Mall, 33 Sanlitun Lu, Sanlitun, Chaoyang朝阳区三里屯路33号3.3服3/F (for appointments, call 5136 5432)

Catherine de France Awarded best expat salon in 2014/ 2015, with a trained team of international and local stylists, colorists and beauticians, this salon welcomes all ages and budgets in a modern and relaxed atmosphere for a wide range of hair and beauty treatments, include manicure, pedicure and waxing. Wella, SP, INOA, TIGI Language: French, English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian.

> East Avenue BLD Ground Floor, No.10 Xindong Lu,

街12号 (6402 5653 ,139 1188 6524)

Heyrobics “Sweat like a Swede!” they say with annoyingly smug grin and toned abs. The only fitness craze worth following in Beijing, Heyrobics is all about a punishing full-body workout set to pumping beats – not forgetting the fluorescent spandex. Differing classes for all abilities, check online for the full schedule.

As China’s first REAL French hair salon we promise each and every one of our customers that we’ll treat your hair like it’s our own. We use only the finest imported products to guarantee that your experience with us is as relaxing and professional as possible. Come in and meet our specialist stylist and visit our facilities. Your hair deserves a true touch of French sophistication. Man cut 115RMB up; Women cut 165RMB up; Color 500RMB up; Highlight 610RMB up. > SanLiTun salon: No.43 Building, SanLiTun Beijie South, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北街南43号楼 (6409 4243, 1350 137 2971); GuoMao Salon: 209, 2/F, Phase 3 China World Shopping Mall, Chaoyang 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区3L209(8535 1002, 1314 667 9913)Catherine de France

Sport Broadwell International Tennis Academy Located inside Chaoyang Park’s Tennis Center, this indoor club boasts a complete state-of-the-art air-supported structure for all-weather year-round indoor tennis, with an advanced lighting system and controlled climate. Ideal for peeps looking to perfect their service and batting a few balls. > Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang 朝阳区农南路1号朝阳公园网球中心(400 6406 800/ 6595 8885, www. broadwell.cn1)

Yihe 42° Hot Yoga 2 locations in Beijing: the best Yoga for Beginners! No previous experience necessary - and if your body is a bit stiff – that’s okay! Yihe knows it can be a little intimidating to begin your journey into Yoga, so they are available to answer any questions you may have. It’s a great workout for the body and calming for the mind. Call them today on (5905 6067, 8599 7395)

> Daily 10am-8pm. 3/F, No. 2 South Building, Blue Castle, Dawang Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区大望路蓝堡国际中心南写字楼2座3层 (8599 7395/96, www. yh42.com); 3/F, Bldg. 14, Solana, No. 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳公园西路6号,蓝色港湾14号,三层 (5905 6065/67, www.yh42.com)

California Fitness Beijing Club California Fitness Beijing’s Group X program is among the best in the region, and with membership you have access to over 150 weekly Group X classes and a team of professional personal trainers in Asia. Your membership also includes free towel usage and a fitness assessment. >South Tower, L4, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang (4008 100-988,www,californiafitness.com)

Cycle China Inc. 北京非常之旅 Cycle China provides organized cycling and hiking tours in and aroundBeijing as well as longer tours throughout China. Some of their more popular tours take cyclists through the Olympic Green, Tian’anmen Square, and Beijing’s traditional hutongs.

>12 Jingshan East Street, Dongcheng 东城区景山东

> Wi-fi internet. Lido, Emergency Room is open 24/7/365, Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm; 2 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区将台路2号. (5927 7000 / 5927 7120 Emergency Hotline);United Family CBD Clinic和睦家朝外诊所 Mon-Sat, 9.30am-6.30pm, Suite 3017, Building AB, Vantone Center, 6 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街6号万通中心AB座2层3017室(5907 1266); Jianguomen Health and Wellness Center和睦家建国门保健中心, Wi-fi internet, Mon-Sun 8:30am-5pm, 21 Jianguomen Dajie, B1, The St. Regis Residence, St. Regis Hotel 朝阳区建国门外大街21号北京国际俱乐部饭店 ( 8532 1221 / 8532 1678 Immigration Clinic ); Shunyi Clinic 和睦家顺义诊所, Wi-fi internet, Mon-Fri, 9.30am5.30pm, Sat and Sun, 9.30am-4.30pm.Pinnacle Plaza, Unit 806, Tian Zhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District, 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场806 号(8046 5432); Shunyi Dental Clinic顺义牙科诊所, Wi-fi internet, Mon-Sat, 9.30am-7.30pm, Pinnacle Plaza, Unit 818, Tian Zhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场818号 (8046 1102) ; Liangma Clinic亮马诊所 , Wi-fi internet, Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm, 2nd Floor Grand Summit, 19 Dongfang East Road朝阳区东方东路19号1号楼会所 27号外交人员公寓B区官舍16号 (5927 7005 www. ufh.com.cn, patientservices@ufh.com.cn)

American-Sino OB/GYN/Pediatrics Services 北京美华妇儿医院

> 18 anyuan road,chaoyang district,Beijing 北京市朝阳区安苑路18号 (8443 9666, bj.americanobgyn. com)

Amcare Women’s & Children’s Hospital With a zero waiting-time policy, top-quality inpatient facilities, home visits, night services and transportation assistance, Amcare provides a trustworthy experience. English-speaking services include pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics.

> 9 Fangyuan XiLu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区芳园西路9号 (6434 2399, 24hr hotline 800 610 6200, www. amcare.com.cn)

Beijing International Medical Center (IMC) Established in 1993, the International Medical Center-Beijing counts on an expert team of foreign doctors, offering a wide range of medical services, including family medicine, psychological services, dental, ob/gyn, pediatrics and TCM. Drop-in services for travelers; x-rays and ultrasounds are also available. English, Farsi, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian spoken. > 24hours. Room S106/111 Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmahe Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路50号燕莎中心写字楼1层S106 (6465 1561/2/3, 6465 1384/28, www.imclinics.com)

Raﬄes Medical International SOS and Raffles Medical Group have formed a joint venture to enhance and expand the services of its China Clinics. From March 30 the International SOS clinics in China will be branded and operated by Raffles Medical with expanded services to all patients and privileged access for International SOS members. Patients of the clinic will continue to have access to the same doctors, the same facilities and same level of high quality care. Raffles Medical Group is a leading medical provider in Singapore and has been operating for 40 years with over 100 clinics and hospitals in Asia. The joint venture is committed to maintain the high standard of quality with a focus on innovative and expanded clinical services and excellent patient care. > Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building, No.16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang 朝阳区新源里16号琨莎中心1 座105室(6462 9112/ 6462 9100, www.internationalsos.com)

OASIS International Hospital OASIS International Hospital specializes in serving the expatriate community with the latest world-class technology and a broad range of services, all in a pristine facility designed to provide patients with the utmost comfort, care and privacy.

> Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5.30pm; Sat-Sun, 8.30am12.30pm; 24 Hour Emergency Bldg C1, 9 Jiuxianqiao Beilu Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥北路9号C1 栋 (400 876 2747, 5985 0333, www.oasishealth.cn)

LISTINGS Beijing HarMoniCare Women and Children’s Hospital 北京和美妇儿医院

> Wi-Fi available. Chaoyang: 2 Xiaoguan Beili, Beiyuan Lu 北苑路小关北里甲2号 (6499 0000. contact@hmcare.org, en.hmcare.net)

Hongkong International Medical Clinic, Beijing 北京港澳国际医务诊所

> Dongsishitiao: 9/F, Office Tower, Hongkong Macau Center-Swiss Hotel, 2 Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie 朝阳门北大街2号港澳中心瑞士酒店办公楼9层 (6553 9752, 6553 2288/2345/6/7; service@hkclinic. com; www.hkclinic.com)

EDUCATION Mandarin Schools Gloria Chinese School Focusing on teaching Chinese, making sure your improvements, organizing taskbased. practical activities and providing 180-day student visa.

>R202 East Building, No.78 Maizidian Street, Chaoyang 朝阳区麦子店街78号一幢二层202室(6500 8201. WeChat:1381 186 4656,www.gloriachinese.com)

Hutong School Learn Mandarin with Beijing’s best Mandarin school, Hutong School. Our experienced teachers will customize your classes and help you learn in a fun environment. >Room 1501, 15/F, Zhongyu Plaza, A6 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路甲6号中宇大厦1501室

Beijing Mandarin School Established in 1998, Beijing Mandarin school is the city’s top institute for teaching spoken and written Mandarin as a second language, more than 5,000 students from over 66 countries and more than 80 companies and embassies have successfully learned with us each year. Also recognized and recommended by BBC News as one of the most professional Chinese language school. Also awarded as the ‘the best Mandarin school in Beijing’ by That’s Beijing magazine. >E-Tower School(Guomao Area): Room 904-905, 9/F E-tower building 数码01大厦904-905 (6508 1026/1126); Guangming Hotel School (embassy area): Room 0709, 7/F, Guangming Hotel (near US embassy) 光明饭店7层0709室美国大使馆附近 (8441 8391, info@beijingmandarinschool.com, www. beijingmandarinschool.com, Skype ID: beijingMandarinschool1998, Wechat: BJMS-Etower)

The Bridge School 北京桥汉语言学校

>The Bridge School Head office, Room 503, 5/F, Guangming Hotel, 42 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路42号光明饭店5层503室(186 1244 1282 Grettchin)

The Frontiers School

Canadian & IB PYP, IB MYP and IBDP education. The Canadian International School of Beijing develops the whole child in an environmentally sensitive school within a kind, caring community to become a citizen of the world.

> 38 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路38 号 (6465 7788,www.cisb.com.cn)

Springboard International Bilingual School 君诚国际双语学校 Springboard International Bilingual School is a place where children, staff and parents work in partnership to enable all their students to realize their full potential. They are offering a stimulating and full international curriculum as well as an exciting after school program, which will include Kung Fu, calligraphy, health and fitness and football. > 15 Gucheng Duan, Huosha Lu, Houshayu Town, Shunyi 顺义区后沙峪镇火沙路古城段15号 (8049 2450; www.sibs.com.cn, office@sibs.com.cn)

The British School of Beijing 北京英国学校 The British School of Beijing, established in 2003, has campuses in Shunyi (primary & secondary) and Sanlitun (primary). BSB offers an enhanced English National Curriculum to 1,500 expatriate students, aged 1 to 18, beginning with Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, IGCSE exams in Year 10 and 11 and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Year 12 and 13. Admission & Fees: RMB102,993246,057. Contact our Admissions team to arrange a school tour.

> Mon-Fri, 8am-4.30pm, South Side, 9 An Hua Street, Shunyi 顺义区安华街9号南侧 (8047 3558, www.britishschool.org.cn, admissions@britishschool.org.cn)

Western Academy of Beijing 京西国际学校 The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) is a creative and innovative IB World School built upon a solid foundation of core values and our mission to Connect, Inspire, Challenge; Make a Difference. Our students exemplify these values through their awareness of the world around them, service to others, can-do spirit and commitment to excellence. WAB graduates are accepted into world-class colleges and universities across the globe. > 10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu, Chao Yang 朝阳区来广营东路10号(5986 5588)

Beijing City International School 北京乐成国际学校 Located in Beijing’s Central Business District, Beijing City International School (BCIS) lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring through Challenge and Compassion.” This non-profit, independent co-educational day school offers an international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system and is authorized to teach all three IB programs (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programme). > 77 Baiziwan Nan’er Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区百子湾南二路77号 (8771 7171, www.bcis.cn)

Beijing BISS International School 北京BISS国际学校

> Building 17, Area 4, Anzhen Xili Chaoyang 朝阳区安贞西里4区17楼 (6443 3151 www.biss.com.cn)

3e International 北京3e国际学校 Join the friendly and professional team at Frontiers, who’ve been teaching Mandarin for 11 years. > 3/F, Bldg 30, Dongzhongjie, Dongzhimenwai, Dongcheng 东城区东直门外东中街30号三层 (6413 1547, www.frontiers.com.cn, frontiers@frontiers. com.cn)

Beijing Juncheng Language School 北京君诚语言学校 > 1) Room 208, 1 Panjiapo Hutong, Chaoyangmenwai, Dongcheng District 东城区朝阳门外潘家坡胡同1号东城区职工大学208办室 (6525 9932/6526 7539) 2) Gucheng Village, 15 Huosha Lu, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District 顺义区后沙峪镇火沙路古城段15号 (8049 0307)

The Bridge School 北京桥汉语言学校 > (The Bridge School Head office)Room 503, 5/F, Guangming Hotel, 42 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区亮马桥路42号光明饭店5层503室 (15321793321 Grettchin)

International Schools Canadian International School of Beijing 北京加拿大国际学校 Located in the Third Embassy Quarter of downtown Beijing, the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) opened its doors in September 2006. This world-class facility offers an internationally recognized

>9-1 Jiangtai Xilu Chaoyang 朝阳区将台西路9-1号(四德公园旁) (6437 3344 , www.3eik.com)

The International Montessori School of Beijing 北京蒙台梭利国际学校 Founded in 1990, MSB is Beijing’s first fully registered international Montessori school. The school also boasts an unsurpassed dual Mandarin/English program geared towards helping students achieve fluency in either language from an early age. Curriculum aside, MSB boasts spacious classrooms, a high teacher-student ratio and impressive staff longevity. Tuition: RMB98,000 - RMB177,000/year. > Bldg 8, 2A, Xiangjiang Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区香江北路甲2号院8号楼 (6432 8228 ext. 800, www.msb. edu.cn, admissions@msb.edu.cn)

Beijing World Youth Academy 北京世青国际学校 Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) is an international school for students of all nationalities ages 6 to 18, offering programs on its campuses conveniently located in Wangjing and Lido. An IB World School since 2001, BWYA values holistic education and seeks to give students ample opportunity to develop as globally-aware critical thinkers. A wide varity of co-curricular activities are offered to further enrich student life. Graduates of BWYA have been accepted at prestigious universities around the world. Age range: 6-18. Tuition: RMB

100,000- 140,000/year.

> Mon-Fri, 8am-4.30pm. 18 Huajiadi Beili, Wangjing, Chaoyang Inside 94 Middle school 北京市朝阳区望京花家地北里18号(6461 7787 ext.32, 8454 3478/0649, admissions@ibwya.net, www.ibwya.net)

La Maison Montessori de Pekin 北京中法双语蒙氏儿童之家 The first bilingual French-Chinese Montessori kindergarten in Beijing, it welcomes children between ages 2 to 6 years old. The kindergarten is located in a beautiful courtyard in the hutongs. Schedule: Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 3:30pm. After class activities also offered. > 50 Dongsi Shisitiao, Dongcheng 东城区东四十四条 50号 (131 2025 0341/ 8401 3974; lamaisonmontessoripk@gmail.com; www.lamaisonmontessoridepk. com)

Beijing Mandarin School Established in 1998, Beijing Mandarin School is the city’s top institute for teaching spoken and written Mandarin as a second language, more than 5,000 students from over 66 countries and more than 80 companies and embassies have successfully learned with us each year. Also recognized and recommended by BBC News as one of the most professional Chinese language school. > E-tower School(Guomao Area): Room 904-905, 9/F E-tower Building E数码世界9层904-905(6508 1026/1126); Guangming Hotel School (Embassy Area): Room 0709, 7/F Guangming Hotel(near U.S Embassy) 光明饭店7层0709室美国大使馆附近 (84418391, info@beijingmandarinschool.com, www. beijingmandarinschool.com, Skype ID: beijingmandarinschool1998)

Harrow International School Beijing 北京哈罗英国学校 www.harrowbeijing.cn Harrow International School Beijing prides itself on its high academic standards, a close-knit school community, a rich extracurricular activity program and the quality of its pastoral care provision. Leadership skills are promoted school-wide, with a range of enrichment activities to help students develop teamwork and creative thinking skills, as well as independence and responsibility. Students graduating from Harrow Beijing have won places at a range of universities across the world including Princeton, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge. > Address: 287, Hegezhuang, Cuigezhuang County, Chaoyang 朝阳区崔各庄乡何各庄村 287 号 (8610 6444 8900 Ext. 6900 Fax: 10 6445 3870 ,enquiries@ harrowbeijing.cn)

Yew Chung International School 耀中国际学校 Located in downtown Honglingjin Park since 1995, Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) offers a truly international curriculum for children of foreign nationals in China. The school follows the National Curriculum for England but also integrates an extensive Chinese language and culture program, allowing foreign nationals to get the best out of their time in China. YCIS Beijing is one of only five schools in China accredited by three separate accreditation organizations and has a 100 percent pass rate within the IGCSE and IB programs. In addition, YCIS Beijing is the only international school in China to receive the Cambridge Award for Excellence in Education from the University of Cambridge International Examinations. > Honglingjin Park, 5 Houbalizhuang, Chaoyang 朝阳区后八里庄5号红领巾公园 (8583 3731,www. ycis-bj.com)

Kindergartens House of Knowledge International Kinde garten (HOK) House of Knowledge International kindergarten (HOK) has locations in both Shunyi and Chaoyang. Both locations offer a Kindergarten program for children aged 10 months to 6 years (Pre-school). Students are treated as competent learners and the school emphasizes critical thinking and collaboration skills, in an environment where children “Lean to Learn”. In additional, the Shunyi location also has a elementary school starting from grade 1 in September 2014. > Quanfa Gardens Campus: North gate of Quanfa compound, 15 Maquanying, Chaoyang District 朝阳区马泉营15号泉发花园北门 (6431 8452, www.hokschools.com);Victoria Gardens Campus: 15 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区朝阳公园西路15号维多利亚花园公寓(6538 2624, www.hokschools. com)

EtonKids International Kindergarten 伊顿国际幼儿园 > LidoRoom C103 Lido Country Club, Lido Place Jichang Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区蒋台路机场路丽都广场 (6436 7368 www.etonkids.com) ;3/F, Block D Global Trade Mansion Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路世贸国际公寓D座3层 ( 6506 4805) ; Southwest corner of Beichen Xilu and Kehui Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区北辰西路与科荟路交汇处西南角(8437 1006);

Kehui Lu, Chaoyang, Beijing 朝阳区科荟路大屯里社区(8480 5538) ;Bldg 19, Central Park, 6 Chaowai Dajie Chaoyang 朝阳区朝外大街6 号新城国际19号楼 (6533 6995); Palm Springs International Apartments 8 Chaoyang Park Nanlu Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳公园南路8号棕榈泉国际公寓 (6539 8967); Bldg 21, Guangqu Jiayuan, Guangqumen- wai, Dongcheng东城区广渠门外广渠家园21号楼 (6749 5008); Baoxing International Phase 2, Wangjing Chaoyang朝阳区望京宝星园国际社区2期 (8478 0578); Block 1, Arcadia Villas, Houshayu Shunyi 顺义区后沙峪罗马环岛北侧天北路阿凯笛亚庄园1座(8047 2983); 20A Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区西大望路甲20号首府社区内 (5870 6779)

Beanstalk International Bilingual School 青苗国际双语学校 > Kindergarten: 1/F, Tower B, 40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区亮马桥路40号B座一层 (6466 9255); Primary School: Block 2, Upper East Side, 6 Dongsihuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东四环北路6号阳光上东二区 (5130 7951);Middle & High School : 38 Nan Shiliju, Chaoyang朝阳区南十里居38号 (8456 6019)

Ivy Schools 艾毅幼儿园

> www.ivyschools.com ; East Lake Campus C-101, East Lake Villas, 35 Dongzhimenwai Main Street, Dongcheng 东城区东直门外大街35号东湖别墅C座101室(8451 1380/1) ; Ivy Bilingual School 艾毅双语幼儿园 Ocean Express Campus: Building E, Ocean Express, 2 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路2号远洋新干线E座 (8446 7286/7) ;Orchid Garden Campus: Orchid Garden, 18 Xinjin Lu, Cuige Xiang, Chaoyang 朝阳区崔各乡新锦路18号卓锦万代 (8439 7080); Wangjing Campus: Kylin Zone, Bldg 11, Fuan Xilu, Wangjing, Chaoyang 朝阳区望京阜安西路11号楼合生麒麟社内 (5738 9166/1332 110 6167) ; Rm106, warehouse4, 653 Waima Lu, by Wangjia Matou Lu 外马路653 号4库106室, 近王家码头路 (3376 8308)

MBA & EMBA Schools Rutgers International Executive MBA

> 5/F China Life Tower, 16 Chaowai Dajie Chaoyang 朝阳区朝阳门外大街16号中国人寿大厦 (5877 1706, www.rutgersinasia.com)

BBA at BFSU-SolBridge 北京外国语大学国际商学院

> 19 Xisanhuan Beilu, Haidian, 海淀区西三环北路19号 (solbridge.bfsu.edu.cn, 8881 6563/8881 6763/8881 8537)

LEMBA The Leadership EMBA from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business is a unique learning experience in Beijing. The program offers world class executive and leadership education from some of the best professors the world has to offer. Every month one of the professors from the University of Maryland comes to Beijing to instruct the class for 4 consecutive > days (Thurs – Sun). The program lasts 18 months; the impact lasts a lifetime. (8526 2528/29, beijing@ rhsmith.umd.edu)

Bookstores Page One The go-to shop for new releases and special requests. With sister venues in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, and two locations in Beijing, its network allows for fresh authors whilst upholding an extensive collection of titles.

> Daily 10am-9pm. Shop 3B 201, Zone 3 China World Mall, No.1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue, Chaoyang District 朝阳区国贸商城三期地下二层 3B201 (8535 1055, www.pageonegroup.com); Page One Indigo. Shop LG50, INDIGO, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区酒仙桥路18号颐堤港商业中心B1楼50号(8426 0408, www.pageonegroup.com)

The Bookworm * This glass cube looks over Sanlitun Village, providing a cozy atmosphere for browsing bibliophiles. The Western bookstore, library, film house, bar, bistro-cafe and event space always has a cultured evening on its shelves for both adults and kids.

> Daily 9am-2am. Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 三里屯南街4号楼 (6586 9507, www.beijingbookworm.com)

GALLERY 798 Art District Picks Galleria Continua * In the often-insular 798, Galleria Continua is the international gallery. Their warehouse space is a forum for high-caliber artists from nearly every continent, including several of China’s artistic nobility. > Free. Tues-Sun 11am-6pm. 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区酒仙桥路 2号798大山子艺术区 (5978 9505, www.galleriacontinua.com)

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CLASSIFIEDS ACCOMMODATION

Ascott Beijing >No.108B Jianguo Road,Chaoyang District,Beijing 北京市朝阳区建国路乙108号 (6587 0888) Ascott Raffles City Beijing Located in Dongzhimen, one of the most vibrant areas, Ascott Raffles City is near the second embassy district, which is rich in cultural heritage and is only a 15 minute drive to The Forbidden City. Other nearby leisure attractions include Food Street (Gui Jie) and Sanlitun nightlife district. > No.1-2 Dongzhimen South Street Dongcheng District Tel: 8405 3888

commercial,shopping and recreation areas. Fully equipped apartments with impeccable quality offer you a cozy living system and will meet all of your requirements for room decoration, furniture, electric appliances etc.. Unique sky garden with golf practice field and barbecue area is another symbol of GTC Residence. > sales@gtcresidence.com, website: www. gtcresidence.com Tel:56756666 Beijing Lianbao

Ascott Raffles City Chengdu > No. 3, Section 4, South Renmin Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, China Post code: 610041,Telephone:(86-28) 6268 2888 ,Facsimile:(86-28) 6268 2889 ,GDS Code: AZ, Reservations Telephone:400 820 1028 (China toll-free) ;(86-512) 6763 1021 Email:enquiry.china@the-ascott.com

Oakwood Residence Beijing Oakwood Residence Beijing offers 406 fully equipped luxury apartments ranging from studios to four bedroom penthouse and terrace apartments, all exquisitely furnished in elegant and stylish decor. Each apartment is fitted with a state-of-the-art air purification and air conditioning system which ensures 99.9% pure, triple filtered air, so you can trust in Oakwood and breathe easy. > No. 8 Dongzhimenwai Xiejie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027, China reschaoyang@oakwoodasia.com Website: www.oakwoodasia.com/resbeijing Tel: 5995 2888 Fax: 5995 2999

Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing With a stunning east-meets-west architecture, the residence provides spacious studios, stylish one-bedroom apartments as well as unique two-bedroom penthouses and luxurious three-bedroom premiers. The lifestyle amenities and unparalleled recreational facilities offer the residents various options for relaxation and entertainment > No.33A Zhou Zhuang Jiayuan Dongli, Chaoyang District, Beijing Telephone Number: (86-10) 8783 1666 Website: www.ascottchina.com Email:enquiry.beijing@the-ascott.com Beijing Kerry Residence Whether you’re a single business executive or a busy family, Beijing Kerry’s fullyfurnished 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments will feel just like home. As well as enjoying all the comforts of modern living – including a well-equipped kitchen, entertainment systems, high-speed broadband and much more – residents are just moments away from the Kerry Centre’s shopping mall and sports facilities. The rest of the CBD is on your doorstep too. >1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华路1 号 (8535 6888, www.beijingkerryresidence. com) Lee Garden Service Apartments A newly renovated high-end premier living residence in a central location next to the shopping and cultural sites of Beijing’s Wangfujing, suites range from studios to 4-bedroom apartments (60-610sqm in size) and are tastefully furnished with specially selected materials. > 18 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng (100m East of Sun Dong An Plaza) 东城区王府井金鱼胡同18号 (新东安东侧100米); 24hr front desk: 6525 8855, Fax: 6525 8080, general.manager@lgapartment.com, www. lgapartment.com) FraserSuite CBD Beijing The ultimate luxury in apartment living, Fraser Suites CBD Beijing epitomizes style and comfort, that surpasses the service level of many Beijing hotels. The 357 Gold-Standard Beijing apartment features contemporary concepts designed for luxury living. > 12 Jintong Xilu Chaoyang District Beijing Tel: 5908 6000 GTC RESIDENCE BEIJING One of the top residences in Beijing, GTC Residence is located beside the third ring road with 5 minutes’ walk to subway line 5 , 10 minutes’ drive to Hou Hai . It is also within easily reach of CBD, embassy area, Financial Street and other urban

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contemporary fully serviced apartments from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four bedroom suites available, measuring 64 to 260 square meters. There is a 24-hours guest reception, and housekeeping is offered twice a week. Nestled within the landscaped gardens of the Ocean Express commercial and residential complex, Oak Chateau Beijing is very close to the third Embassy Area and shopping and dinning services at the Beijing Lufthansa Center. There are only 19 kilometers to the Beijing Capital Airport. >北京市朝阳区东三环霞光里66号远洋新干线 D座邮编 100027 Block D, Ocean Express, 66 Xiaguang Li, Third East Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027, P.R.C Tel: (86-10) 84465888 Fax: (86-10) 84465999 Email oak.chateau@oakchateau.com Website: www.oakchateau.com

> Unite 1C, Building 7, Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang District 朝阳区幸福一村西里 7号楼1C (6415 8001, 138 1093 6118, hanxingyue1127@126.com) Lusongyuan Hotel A traditional compound of quadrangle composing of 5 courtyards which lies in the "hutong" area of Beijing. The hotel building is famous for its imperial living taste of the Qing Dynasty with a history of nearly 170 years. The original owner of this large private house was the Grand General SenggeRinchen, who lived here while he carried out top official duties, such as defense minister. > Tel: (86 10) 6404 0436, Fax: (86 10) 6403 0418 , Address:No.22 Banchang Lane , Kuanjie, Dongcheng District 东城区宽街板厂胡同22号 www.the-silk-road.com, E-mail: webmaster@the-silk-road.com Marriott Executive Apartments Ideally located in the center of Wangfujing area where the prestigious business, commercial, entertainment, and shopping center of Beijing. The Imperial Mansion, Beijing – Marriott Executive Apartments reflects an exceptional level of luxury. > Gate, No. 1 Xiagongfu Street, Dongcheng District Tel: 6564 9999 The Millennium Residences of the Beijing Fortune Plaza The Millennium Residences of the Beijing Fortune Plaza is located in the heart of the Beijing CBD which bears the most momentously potential of development and value elevation. While 25 minutes away from the Beijing International Airport, the Millennium Residences is walking distance from nearly all Embassies. > 7 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu Chaoyang District. Tel: 8588 2888 Oak Chateau Beijing Oak Chateau Beijing has 236 stylish and

Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing The only serviced apartment in the city that has its own in-house supply of natural hot spring water supply. Expansive city views are available from floor to ceiling windows with the apartments situated from level 23 to 35 in the building complex. The 171 stylish contemporary serviced residences range from studios to threebedroom apartments and offer an elegant range of amenities and facilities to ensure each resident’s stay is comfortable and well taken care of. Building No.1 Damei Center, 7 Qingnian Road, Chaoyang District Beijing北京市朝阳区青年路7号达美中心1号楼 Tel: 86-10 8585 2211 (8:30am-5:30pm) 86-10 8585 2888 (5:30pm-8:30am) Fax: (86-10) 8585 2666 website OakwoodAsia.com THE WESTIN EXECUTIVE RESIDENCES The Westin Executive Residences at The Beijing Financial Street offer an array of world-class cuisine options and Westin’s signature amenities designed to elicit personal renewal. Just 40 minutes from the airport, the Westin Executive Residences provides direct access to Beijing’s business, entertainment and shopping district and close proximity to cultural landmarks such as The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Each apartment is also fitted with contemporary furnishings, fully equipped kitchens, state-of-the-art appliances, home entertainment system and LCD flat screen televisions. > Email: reservation.beijing@westin.com Website: www.westin.com/beijingfinancial Tel: 6606 8866

BUSINESS CENTER Regus Serviced Office 雷格斯服务式办公室 •Flexible office leases from 1 day to 1 year •Quick and easy to set up for 1-200 people •Prices from RMB180 per month •Find more on Regus.cn •Tel: 400 120 1207 >> BEIJING (20 LOCATIONS) << Lei Shing Hong Plaza [New] 北京利星行广场 5/F, Tower C, Lei Shing Hong Plaza, No.8 Wangjing Street, Chaoyang District

北京市朝阳区望京街8号利星行广场C座5层 Sun Dong An Plaza [New] 北京新东安广场 7/F, Office Tower 2, Sun Dong An Plaza, No.138 Wangfujing, Avenue, Dongcheng District 北京市东城区王府井大街138号新东安广场写字楼2座7层 Zhongyu Mansion [New] 北京中宇大厦 6/F, Zhongyu Mansion, No.6 North Workers Stadium Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区工体北路甲6号中宇大厦6层 Diplomatic [New] 北京亮马桥外交办公大楼 17/F, Tower E, Liangmaqiao, Diplomatic Office Building, 3rd Embassy District, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区第三使馆区亮马桥外交办公大楼E座17层 Kerry Centre - South Tower [New] 北京嘉里中心-南楼 10/F, South Tower, Kerry Centre, No.1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心南楼10层 Landgent Building [Coming Soon] 北京乐成中心 5/F, Block A, Landgent Center, No.20 East Middle 3rd Ring Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区东三环中路20号乐成中心A座5层 China World Tower 3 北京国贸三期 15/F, China World Tower 3, No.1 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸中心3座 15层 China Central Place 北京华贸中心 9/F, Tower 2, China Central Place, No.79 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区建国路79号华贸中心2号楼9层 Lufthansa Centre 北京燕莎中心 C203, Lufthansa Centre, No.50 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区亮马桥路50号燕莎中心C203 Kerry Centre 北京嘉里中心 11/F, North Tower, Kerry Centre, No.1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心北楼11层 Pacific Century Place 北京盈科中心 14/F, IBM Tower, No.2A North Workers Stadium Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区工体北路甲2号IBM大厦14层 Parkview Green 北京侨福芳草地中心 15/F, Office Building A Parkview, Green, No.9 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区东大桥路8号芳草地办公楼A座 15层 China Life Tower 北京中国人寿大厦中心 5/F, China Life Tower, No.16 Chaoyangmenwai Street, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区朝阳门外大街16号中国人寿大厦5层 China Life – West 北京中国人寿大厦-西 West, 5/F, China Life Tower, No.16 Chaoyangmenwai Street, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区朝阳门外大街16号中国人寿大厦5层西区 IFC 北京财源国际中心 10/F, IFC East Tower, No.8 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街甲8号财源国际中心东座10层 Prosper Center 北京世纪财富中心 6/F, Tower 2, Prosper Center, No.5 Guang Hua Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区光华路5号世纪财富中心2号楼6层

CLASSIFIEDS Financial St. Excel Centre 北京金融街卓著中心 12/F, Financial Street Excel, Centre, No.6 Wudinghou Street, Xicheng District 北京市西城区武定侯街6号卓著国际金融中心12层 NCI Centre 北京新华保险大厦中心 15/F, NCI Tower, No.12A Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街甲12号新华保险大厦15层 Taikang Financial Tower 北京泰康金融大厦 23/F, Taikang Financial Tower, No.38 East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区东三环北路38号泰康金融大厦23层 Zhongguancun Metropolis Tower 北京中关村欧美汇大厦 7/F, Metropolis Tower, No.2 Dongsan Street, Zhongguancun Xi Zone, Haidian District 北京市海淀区中关村西区东三街2号欧美汇大厦7 层 Servcorp Smart businesses understand that flexibility is the future of the workplace. They choose the world's finest Serviced Offices to grow their businesses, run critical projects and give their people flexibility. Level 26 Fortune Financial Center, 5 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环中路5号财富金融中心26层 (Servcorp. com.cn; tel: 5775 0310; fax: 5775 0350) Need flexible and affordable ready workspace to enhance your business or register a representative office for your temporary projects in Beijing? We have the perfect solution. Located within a Grade-A building in the popular Lufthansa Business Area, our work-spaces provide you, or your company, with the ideal business identity, and most importantly, come with the most competitive rates to minimize your cost and risks. > Gateway Plaza, Tower A, Suite 16D , NE 3rd Ring Road, Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路霞光里18号佳程广场A座16D T:01084400606 M:15910782518 Cynthia LU CSO (Singapore) Beijing Business Center We have 10 years experience in managing serviced offices in the Asia and Pacific region, and our headquarters is in Singapore. CSO Beijing is our first business center in China . We are mainly providing fully renovated and equipped offices to clients for immediate use, and all the serviced offices can be used as incorporation purpose, and we offer maximum flexibility and complete smart office system to help our clients save cost. We also provide virtual offices, meeting room and conference room, video conferencing, incorporation services and many other services. Level 6, Sun Palace Building, Taiyanggong, Beijing Ms. Stephanie Yan, Mobile: 18210080591, Email: sales.beijing@ corporateso.com, Website: www.csochina. cn, Tel: 86 10 64697000

BEAUTY SERVICES Black Golden Tanning Salon Sanlitun Branch Grand Opening Black Golden Tanning Salon is the only fivestar China flagship store by Ergoline. As the 2011 model of Ergoline Esprit 770’s, to bring a continuous tanning effect 25% above standard machines with unique aquacool and aroma functions, we provide customers with the safest and most comfortable tanning space. > Open time:11:00-21:00 Sanlitun SOHO Branch 2rd Floor Building 3, Sanlitun SOHO,Chaoyang District Tel: 57853711; Wangjing Branch Add: Room T5 3rd Floor, BOTAI International Building, No. 36 North Guangshun Street, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Website: www.bjtanning.com Tel: 84722855 LA BELLEZA La Belleza means Beauty and Aesthetics in Spanish. Professional hair-designers from Hong Kong ,Korea and China gather here. LA BELLEZA is the hairdressing salon for you with its pleasant atmosphere, excellent service, and finest products. New haircut! Good mood! Excellent life! Add: F4 No.408, Jinbao Place .Jinbao Street No88,Dongcheng District, Beijing, china. Website: www.labelleza.com.cn Tel: 010 8522 1626

MegaSun Tanning Salon As the only flagship store for this popular German tanning salon, megaSun Tanning will provide for each client the finest sun tanning experience. Our center has prepared the newest functional 7900 alpha and pureEnergy chamber systems, combined with easyCare optical testers. At megaSun, enjoy our professional UV and tanning services. > 8 Dongdaqiao Road, sShangdu SOHO North Tower, Rm. 2302 Chaoyang District, Beijing Website: www.imegasun.com e-mail: 1019771453@qq.com Sina Weibo: @麦肤堂 Tel: 5900-2236/2238

STORAGE China Self Storage Co. Ltd As a member of SSA and SSAUK, China Self Storage Co. Ltd. introduces an international industry standard to professionally developed Self Storage for private, family and business. Safe, clean, air-conditioned, 24h access, flexible size. To learn more, visit www.selfstorageinchina.com. To make a reservation, contact 400-600-6378 info@ selfstorageinchina.com. Jin’an Building, Tianzhu Garden West Rd., Shunyi District, Beijing. Koala Ministorage Koala Ministorage is the first professional self-storage provider in Beijing. To learn more, visit our website www.koalaministorage.com. To make a reservation, call us toll free at 400-017-8889, email us at questions@koalaministorage.com, or visit one of our stores.

FURNITURE Crossover Crossover Center Flagship Store, is mainly marketing international super home furnishing brand products. Our agent brands include Poltrona Frau, Cassina, Fritz Hansen, Moroso, Cappellini, Timothy Oulton, Tom Dixon etc, over 20 international super home furnishing brands. Our products are covered with all of fields in daily-life home furnishing, including furniture, furnishing, lighting, dinning, and office supplies etc. Website: www.crossovercenter.com NO.81 North Road San-Li-Tun Bar St. ChaoYang District.Beijing.100027,P.R.C. Tel: 5208 6112/6113 Fax: 8610-5208 6123

HOUSEKEEPING JNY Home Service JNY Home Service was established in 2007, supplying foreign families with English speaking/non-English Speaking nannies(maids), either daily or live-in. As a part of our service,we make sure all references and ID cards are thoroughly checked to guarantee the safety and health of your family. Email : jieniyou@hotmail.com Mobile: 13426362833(24h) Beijing EX-PATS Service Healty, reliable, experienced, Englishspeaking housemaid/ nanny. Free agency and 24- hour English service. Medical and Accident insurrance covered. EXPATS Life Group also serves with Mandarin, car leasing, English-speaking driver, Chinese driving license, vehicle registration. service@expatslife.com Website: www.expatslife.com Tel: 64381634 Mobile: 13501237292

MOVING AND SHIPPING Rex Service Moving and Relocation Is a dedicated and professional removals company based in China, Established in 1995, which operates worldwide. •Free of Charge Pre-Move Survey •Professional Packing Material •Professional Packing & Loading •Special Crating •Efficient Customs Clearance •Shipment Forwarding •Destination Delivery •Unpacking and Set-up •Transit Insurance for "All-Risks"

•Global Network in more than 200 Countries As a respected member of global organisations such as the International Association of Movers (IAM), Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (FIDI) and Japan International Movers Association (JIMA), we have sought and established relationships with over 2000 companies from around the world which gives us successfully logistics network worldwide. Contact us: Hotline: 400 8821 060 Tel: (86) 18222169211/ 15010058549 E-mail: sales1@rexmovers.com; ew@ rexmovers.com Website: www.rexrelo.com

REAL ESTATE AGENTS JOANNA REAL ESTATE RELOCATION SERVICE We are one of China’s leading real estate agencies boasting an extensive database of high-end properties for rent. We have helped thousands of expatriates find their homes as well as hundreds of companies re-locate their employees. Once we have found you your ideal home we will be on hand to deal with any post move issues and our dedicated after sales team will be contactable 7 days a week to help you with any queries you have throughout your stay in our country. > For more information please contact us:Email: paulquin@joannarealestate. com.cnWebsite: http:>beijing. joannarealestate.com.cn/ (Tel: 84585667 ; 13501358971) Replus-Benchmark “Replus-Benchmark” is one of the leading real estate agencies and relocation service provider for expatriates in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen. • Residential Home Search Service • Visa Application • Commercial Office Space Search Service • Buying and Selling Property Service E-mail: marketing@replus-benchmark.com Website: www.replus-benchmark.com > A-1509,Xiaoyun Center, No.15 of Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District Beijing Tel: 84467119 Fax: 84467577 Silk Road Travel Management Ltd. Silk Road Travel is a pioneer in organizing Silk Road tours and other classic routes in China. Founded in 1997, we are specialized in tailor making travel packages that allow travellers to truly experience the local cultures and explore the amazing heritages. Whether you are a small group of 2-9 persons or a corporate group, our professional staff will tailor make the tour programme based on your needs. Email: travel@the-silk-road.com www.the-silk-road.com TUI China An affiliate of World of TUI, the world’s leading tourism group, TUI China was established in late 2003 as the first joint venture with foreign majority share in the Chinese tourism industry. Its headquarters are in Beijing whilst its operations reach deep into the far corners of China. World of TUI generated approx.50,000 predominantly western tourists to China yearly and provides M.I.C.E services for renowned companies worldwide. > Add: Bright China Chang An Building, Tower 2, Unit 921-926, 7 Jianguomen Nei Avenue (Fax: +86 (0)10 6517 1371; Email: sales@tui.cn; Website: www.tui.cn; Tel: 8519 8800

Serving all your business needs for investing in China. Call us for a free consultation. Tel: (86)10-6591 8087 Mobile: 186-019-43718 Email: info.bj@harrissec.com.cn Beijing: Room 2302, E-Tower, No.12 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PRC.北京市朝阳区光华路12号数码01大厦 2302室 Shanghai: Suite 904, OOCL Plaza, 841 Yan An Zhong Road, Jing-An District, Shanghai, PRC.上海市静安区延安中路841号东方海外大厦904室 Guangzhou: Room D-E, 11/F., Yueyun Building, 3 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, PRC.广州市中山二路3号(东山口)粤运大厦11楼D-E室 Hong Kong: 7/F., Hong Kong Trade Centre, 161-167 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong.香港德辅道中161-167号香港贸易中心7楼 MHI China LTD 凯特威（北京）咨询有限公司 Room 971, 9/F，Poly Plaza，No.14， Dogzhimen Nan Dajie，Dongcheng 东城区东直门南大街14号保利大厦写字楼9层971室 (6551 0663) Beijing Office-TMF Group In order to enable clients benefit from the increasing globalization of the worlds economy, TMF Group offers a comprehensive range of corporate administrative outsourcing services in 67 counties across the globe. With a genuine global network and qualified staff, TMF group provides an array of accounting, corporate secretarial and HR administrative outsourcing services. > Colin.Zhang@TMF-group.com Website: www.tmf-group.com CCTV Tower and Kerry Centre Suite 3107, Tower A Beijing Fortune Plaza,7 Dongsanhuan Zhong Road, Chaoyang District Tel: 65330533-860

CAR RENTAL SERVICE Beijing First Choice Car Rental Service Co., Ltd We offer short and long term vehicle leasing services for both business and sightseeing. Our commpany could provide the latest elite, high-end vehicles such as Mercedes Benz S300, BMW S5 and more! Contact our friendly representatives for more information. Tel: 138 1015 6525/6434 0778 www.fccars.cn fccars@live.cn Beijing TOP-A Vehicle Service Co., Ltd Beijing Top-A Vehicle Service provides: *English -speaking driver *Long-short term leasing *Airport-Pick up/Drop off *Sedan, Van and Bus We, ES-PATS Life Group, also serves with Mandarin, housemaid, Visa, driver, driving license, vehicle registration service. Tel: 6438 1634, 1350 123 7292, service@ expatslife.com www.expatslife.com Beijing Top Rate Car Rental Service Co., Ltd *Long/Short term leasing *Daily car service *Sifht-seeing car service, Tailor-made car service *Airport-Pick up/Drop off *Sedan (Audi A6, Audi A6L, VWPassat, Accord, Lacross 2.4, Benz MB100, Benz Vito, Hyundai) and Buses *Native drivers with good English *More information please contact Tel:6504 7266/6504 7256 FAx:6504 7256 www.sxsdcar.com Email:car-rental@live.com

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WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 75

tj Tianjin reviews, events and information

Hyatt Regency Wedding Package Celebrations

Spring is here, and the wedding planners at Hyatt Regency Tianjin East are offering new wedding packages. Check out the hotel’s ‘purity and elegance of paper art’ concept designs - guaranteed to make your special day even more memorable. Wedding Packages start from CNY4888/ table; Hyatt Regency Tianjin East, 126 Weiguo Lu, Hedong 河东区卫国路 126 号 (022 2466 7240)

Pink Lady Dining

This spring, The Westin TIanjin is offering a special ‘Pink Lady’ afternoon tea. Grab your best friends together and feast upon extravagant cakes by The Westin Tianjin Exchange Lounge chefs. A pink drink is also included. Through May; Daily 2-6pm; RMB266/2 people, RMB178/2 people (advance, via WeChat ID: westintj); The Westin Tianjin, 101 Nanjing Lu, Heping 和平区南京路101号威斯汀酒店一层

Two Dogs’ Ideas About Life Theater

Guest Chef Marco Tola / Dining

Inventive, modern Italian cuisine is coming to Tianjin straight from Italy this April, as celebrity chef Marco Tola showcases his unique creations at The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin. Invited by executive chef, Ornato Antunes, Tola brings his natural flair and creativity to this four-day event. Chef Tola was introduced to cooking through non-traditional means. Despite never learning his craft in a Michelin kitchen, Tola spent days studying and training himself, to eventually become one of the most famous celebrity chefs on social media. Different types of Italian cuisine will be on show, as the theme changes daily: Mediterraneo, Aqua, Mistero and Creativo. Do not miss the chance to sample a slice of innovative Italian cuisine, as well as hear from Chef Marco Tola himself. Wed Apr 11- Sat Apr 14, 6.30-9.30pm; RMB688; The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, 167 Dagubei Lu, Heping 和平区大沽北路167号 (022 5857 8888)

Boarding on the Pirate Ship Theater

Two impostors embark on a treasure hunt by disguising themselves as affluent youngsters on an arranged meeting. Featuring secret identities and humorous characters, the Mahua FunAge production is guaranteed to deliver seas of fun. Thu Apr 12 – Sun Apr 15, 7.30pm; RMB80-1080; Binhu Theater, 6 Huanghu Zhonglu, Hexi 河西区环湖中路6号

What happens when two opinionated dogs decide to leave their hometown to start a new life in the city? A lot of fun stuff, apparently. Meng Jinghui’s play has been charming China since 2008 with its ironic take on China’s all-too-familiar urbanization trend. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, so you may as well laugh it off. Mon Apr 30–Tue May 1, 7.30pm; RMB100-580; Jinwan Grand Theater, 48 Jiefang Beilu, Heping 和平区解放北路48 号 (tickets via piao.damai.cn) WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 77

PIZZA SCUGNIZZO

Get a Slice of the Action by S i d G u l i n c k

78 | APRIL 2018 | WWW.THATSMAGS.COM

Could the recent cropping up of pizza joints in Tianjin be correlated to the local popularity of that other circular staple, the jianbing? Who knows. One thing’s for sure: with two downtown branches and a third slated to open later this year, maverick pizza joint Scugnizzo (loosely translated as ‘hoodlum’) seems to be going for a slice of the action. We visit the new Hebei Lu location, where we’re greeted by a portrait of none other than Mona Lisa. Scugnizzo’s main pull is its price: with the exception of the Margherita and vegetable pizzas (both at RMB29), the 13-inch pies are all RMB68, and come with sides like roast potatoes (RMB18), plus a solid selection of salads and pastas. But the price doesn’t sacrifice quality: Owners Liu Xiaolong and David Lee, former colleagues in Tianjin’s hotel industry, spent four months creating the perfect dough. The result is a tasty, pillowy crust, redolent of Neapolitan-style pies you’d find in culinary hotbeds anywhere else in the world. The pizzas are made in an imported wood oven, but due to fire regulations, gas is used instead of actual wood. The Genova Pesto Turkey Pizza is a bestseller, and more experimental menu items include the surprisingly scrumptious brusselssprouts-and-Pancetta pizza and the Malais pizza with curry sauce and chicken leg. Luckily, culinary mongrels such as cheesy crust and durian toppings are absent from the menu, but there are Chinese crowd pleasers as well (the Osaka Octopus Pizza would likely make a Neapolitan wag their rolling pins in a rage).

Drinks are also dangerously priced, with the usual suspects like Negroni, Godfather and Moscow Mule all for RMB28. Staple Italian palate cleansers like Liquirizia (RMB10), Crema al Melone (RMB12) and Limoncello (RMB15) are welcome meal-enders, and go well with the luscious but light tiramisu made with Kahlua (RMB28 yuan). Granted, there’s room for improvement here. The unimpressive cold cuts platter (RMB58) consists mainly of prepackaged meats and generic mozzarella, and the slapdash interior is culturally… confused. But all in all, Scugnizzo proves that it’s possible to get a decent pie in this city without the vetting of a native Italian chef, or having to fork out too much dough for, well, dough. Daily, 11am-9pm; 100 Hebei Lu, at the intersection with Shenyang Dao (behind Friendship Xintiandi Plaza), Heping 和平区河北路105号与沈阳道交口(滨江道友谊新天地后身) (139 2068 9604)

ADVERTORIAL

ENJOY LUXURIOUS LOUNGES AROUND THE WORLD WITH TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish Airlines provides world-class service the world over. The award-winning airline’s business class lounge at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport offers unparalleled luxury and comfort. But did you know Turkish Airlines has lounges in 18 different locations across the globe? While most are in Turkey, Turkish Airlines lounges can also be found in capitals such as Moscow, Nairobi and Washington, D.C. – and more will open in the coming months. Skytrax awarded Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul its “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” award two years in a row, and it shows. Offerings include a wide variety of international and Turkish cuisines, including specialties such as Turkish kebaps, pide (otherwise known as ‘Turkish pizza’) and köfte (meatballs). Also available are crowd pleasers such as pasta, Chinese noodles, pastries, fresh juices and alcoholic beverages. The recently-refurbished lounge in Istanbul is geographically positioned as a unique meeting place between Europe and Asia – perfect for China-based

travelers heading west. Feel connected with this unique place with interior design reflecting Turkey’s rich cultural heritage. And feel entertained and at ease with the lounge amenities, which include a cinema, library, kids’ corner, locker rooms, billiards, golf simulators, massage beds and more. You can even enjoy live piano performances while you sip on your drink in its own olive tree garden. The lounge has a capacity of 1,240 passengers, but at 6,000sqm – and with private suites available – you’ll feel like you have the place to yourself. Time spent in a Turkish Airlines lounge just might result in your most pleasant layover yet. For more information, visit www.turkishairlines.com

WWW.THATSMAGS.COM | APRIL 2018 | 79

APRIL

ing ’s Beij

That

Horoscopes

Finally, a horoscope that understands your life in Beijing. by D o m i n i q u e Wo n g

Aries

Taurus 4.21~5.21

5.22~6.21

Unfortunately, illness, public embarrassments and, inexplicably, flooding will all make an appearance this month. Buy an auspicious “Ming dynasty” vase from Panjiayuan Antique Market just in case.

With the planet of love, Venus, in your charts until April 24, now’s the perfect time to pick up some new toys from Qingqu on Gui Jie (see page 52), or buy a new outfit. Think pink.

Don’t feign surprise at your negative Alipay balance – you know your weekly brunch dates in Sanlitun ain’t cheap. Pick up a side gig tutoring English and you’ll be back stuffing your face in no time.

3.21~4.20

Leo

7.23~8.23

Virgo

Gemini

Libra

Cancer

6.22~7.22 It’s a month of missed connections. You’ll accidentally swipe left on Tinder. You’ll get off the bus as your crush gets on. And, most cutting, you’ll miss the Line 10 to 1 Guomao transfer during rush hour.

Scorpio

8.24~9.23

9.24~10.23

10.24~11.22

Last month was weird. You know what we’re talking about. Shake it off at your favorite club night or No Lights No Lycra. (But if you’re feeling yourself in lycra, that’s OK, too.) Avoid 'X' districts like Xicheng and Daxing.

It’s your half-birthday. Don’t tell people this, though, you weirdo. Instead, quietly celebrate the occasion by treating yourself to a night of symphony at NCPA. You’re getting fancy in your old age, Libra.

You may have a friend (enemy) or family member (annoying cousin) in town this month. Take them out. To the Great Wall, that is. Or, send them down to Tianjin (“It’s just like Europe, I swear!”).

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Remember that meltdown you had this time last year after you got stuck in traffic and missed your flight to Phuket? Yeah, maybe it’s best to stay in Beijing for Qingming Festival.

Feeling sluggish? Try going meat-free this month. People say it’s hard being a vegetarian in Beijing, but they probably don’t have a woman selling corn outside their office building, like you do.

Did spring even happen if you don’t post blossom photos to your Instagram? Beware, though: Your VPN is going to be all over the place this month. Servers in Kenya, Macedonia and Bhutan are most auspicious.

After an indulgent start to the year, it’s time to get serious about work. That may mean your career, fitness workout, or, lets be real, neither. You’re reading this from Great Leap right now, aren’t you?

11.23~12.21

12.22~1.20

1.21~2.19

Pisces

2.20~3.20 It’s time to change your ‘arty’ WeChat display pic. Try and include your face, even if it is a blurry shot of your profile. Do this and you’ll be blessed for the rest of the year.