SEKAI Explorer Guide Beijing (2011)

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Table of Content:

• Districts

Xicheng District

Dongcheng District

Xuanwu District

Chongwen District

Shijingshan District

Haidian District

Chaoyang District

Fengtai District

Tongzhou District

Northern suburbs

Western and southern suburbs

Rural Beijing

Central districts and inner suburbs

Rural Beijing and outer suburbs

• Understand

History

Orientation

People

Climate

Demographics and geography

• Get in

By plane

By train

By car

By bus

Bicycle

• Get around

By subway

By bicycle

By bus

Bus routes

Fares and operating hours

By minibus

By taxi

Fares and meters

Avoiding scams and fakes

By car

• See

Landmarks

Palaces, temples and parks

Museums and galleries

Itineraries

Talk

• Do

Walks and rides

Theaters and concert halls

Other

• Learn

Universities

Work

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

Places to drink

• Sleep

• Stay safe

• Cope

Laundry

Embassies

• Get out

Districts

Beijing has a total of 16 districts and 2 counties.

Central districts and inner suburbs

The four central districts are located within or just beyond Ring Road Two. This is the location of the old walled city of Beijing and is where you will find most of the sights and also a good deal of sleeping, eating and drinking and entertainment options. The districts are:

Xicheng District (西城区; Xīchéngqū)
covering the north western part of the central city area to just beyond ring two in the west and up to ring three to the north. Includes Beihai Park, the Houhai area, Beijing Zoo and National Concert Hall

Dongcheng District (东城区; Dōngchéngqū)
covering the north eastern part of the central city area approximately up to ring three to the north and ring two to the east. Includes the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Beijing Central Station

Xuanwu District (宣武区; Xuānwǔqū)
covering the south western part of the central city area to just beyond ring two to the west and up to ring two to the south

Chongwen District (崇文区; Chóngwénqū)
covering the south eastern part of the central city area to just beyond ring two to the south and up to ring two to the east. Includes the Temple of Heaven

The next four districts are also fairly close to the centre. They are often referred to as the inner suburbs. This is were you will find parts of the Western Hills, universities, Olympic venues, business and embassy areas, entertainment and bars as well as art districts. The districts are:

Shijingshan District (石景山区; Shíjǐngshānqū)
covering the area just west of the central city area. Includes parts of the Western Hills

Haidian District (海淀区; Hǎidiànqū)
covering the northwest of the main urban area. About half of Haidian district is made up of the Zhongguancun high technology industry and business cluster and Beijing's major concentration of universities. Includes the Summer Palace

Chaoyang District (朝阳区; Cháoyángqū)
covering a large area just east (and stretching both north and south) of the central city area stretching from ring two until beyond ring five to the east. Including CBD, the embassy area, Sanlitun, National Stadium (and other Olympic venues), Workers Stadium, Chaoyang Park and Ritan Park

Fengtai District (丰台区; Fēngtáiqū)
covering the area south end west of Beijing. Includes Beijing West Railway Station

Rural Beijing and outer suburbs

The remaining ten districts and counties are quite far from the centre.

Tongzhou District (通州区; Tōngzhōuqū)

Northern suburbs (Changping, Shunyi)

Western and southern suburbs (Mentougou, Fangshan, Daxing)

Rural Beijing (Yanqing, Huairou, Miyun, Pinggu)

Understand

History

Beijing literally means Northern Capital, a role it has played many times in China's long history. Beijing's history dates back several thousand years but it first became notable in Chinese history after it was made the capital of the State of Yan under the name Yanjing. Yan was one of the major kingdoms of the Warring States Period, some 2,000 years ago. After the fall of Yan, during the later Han and Tang dynasties, the Beijing-area was a major prefecture of northern China.

In 938, Beijing was conquered by the Khitans and declared the capital of the Liao Dynasty. The Mongols seized the city in 1215. From 1264 Beijing served as the capital of a united China under Kublai Khan. His victorious Mongol forces renamed the city, Great Capital (大都). From there, Kublai and his decedents ruled their empire from a northern location closer to the Mongol homelands. During this period, the walled city was enlarged and many palaces and temples were built.

After the fall of the Mongol-founded Yuan dynasty in 1368, the capital was initially moved to Nanjing. However, in 1403 the 3rd Ming emperor, Zhu Di, moved it back to Beijing and gave the city its present name. The Ming period was Beijing's golden era. The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and many other Beijing landmarks were built in this period. The capital developed into a huge city becoming the religious and cultural center of Asia.

In 1644, the Manchus overthrew the declining Ming dynasty and established China's last imperial line - the Qing. Despite the changing political climate, Beijing remained the capital. The Manchu imperial family moved into the Forbidden City and remained there until 1911. The Qing built both the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace. These served as summer retreats for the emperors and their entourages. During the 19th century, Western countries established foreign legations in the Qianmen area south of the Forbidden City. These came under siege during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

The Qing dynasty fell in 1911. In the chaotic first years of Republican China, Beijing was beset by fighting warlords. Following the Northern Expedition, the Kuomintang moved the capital to Nanjing in 1928, and renamed Beijing as Beiping ("Northern Peace") to emphasize that it was no longer a capital. Beijing remained a center for education and culture throughout the Republican Era. When the Kuomintang was defeated by the Communists in 1949, the new government proclaimed a People's Republic with its capital at Beijing.

Orientation

Beijing is characterised by its vastness and large distances between locations. Until recently, the city was almost entirely made up of hutongs with narrow lanes and single story buildings. Now, many of the hutongs have given way to broad boulevards and modern buildings, contributing to an airy, sprawling feel, in sharp contrast to cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Beijing is the political centre of the country with official buildings and embassy areas dominating the city. Beijing is also the historical and cultural centre of China with many historical buildings and sites - especially within Ring Road Two. The city has undergone rapid modernisation in recent years, with improvements of institutions, business environment and work conditions.

People

Given their city's historical, cultural and political heft, Beijingers are justifiably proud to be citizens of the capital. An attitude known as 大北京主义 or "Great Beijing-ism" is often used to describe their attitude toward people from other regions of China. They are often much more interested in politics and willing to talk about current events than people elsewhere in China. Beijingers also seem to focus on not losing face and often use humor in order to do so. However, many Chinese from other provinces find Beijingers very friendly and straightforward comparing with people from Shanghai especially.

Climate

Climate

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Daily highs (°C)

2

5

12

20

26

30

31

30

26

19

10

4

Nightly lows (°C)

−8

−6

0

8

14

19

22

21

15

8

0

−6

Precipitation (cm)

.3

.5

.8

2.1

3.4

7.8

18.5

16.0

4.6

2.2

.7

.3

Daylight (hrs/day)

6.5

6.8

7.8

8.2

9.3

9.1

7.2

7.4

8.1

7.3

6.4

6.0

Humidity is low except during the summer

Beijing has a monsoon-influenced continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The best time to visit is in September and October, during the "Golden Autumn" (金秋). Spring is the season for dust storms and is otherwise warm and dry. Summer can be oppressively hot and the tourist crowds tend to be the largest as well; prevailing winds from the south trap pollutants (mountains lie to the north and west), making summer the worst season for air quality. Winter is cold and dry with infrequent, but beautiful, snow. Temperatures can easily fall below −10 °C in winter and or just as readily rise above 35 °C in summer as well.

Demographics and geography

Beijing has a population of 17.55 million people (30% migrants) living on 16,800 km2 distributed in 18 districts. The city borders Hebei Province to the north, west and south and Tianjin Municipality to the east.

Get in

By plane

Scams at the airport

Arrival: Take your taxis from the stand outside, not the touts or desks inside, and insist on the meter. If you are in a group of three or more or have a lot of luggage, touts will claim you need a minibus, and then lead you towards a people carrier in a car park, but then it will turn out they are actually leading you to a shabby taxi parked behind it, which will charge far more than the regulated fare.

Be aware of another scam where impostors who pretend to work for the taxi company pose at the official-looking stands outside offering rides to the city (especially in the non-regular hours where there are not many people about). You will be led into a "taxi" with a fake meter (which could be hidden) which runs very quickly (¥200-300 to the city, and even up to ¥400 to the Birds' Nest Stadium). Read the section on taxis for details on how to distinguish between fake and legitimate taxis.

Departure: Ignore any people walking around offering to sell you an exit fee ticket/receipt. There used to be an airport construction (or exit) fee of ¥90, but now it is included in the plane ticket.

Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng, IATA: PEK) [1] is located to the northeast of the central districts, 26 km from the city centre. The airport, which was expanded at a furious pace to be ready in time for the 2008 Olympics, now has three terminals, broadly speaking divided as follows:

- Terminal 1: Hainan Airlines.

- Terminal 2: China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Skyteam.

- Terminal 3: Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Oneworld, Star Alliance, Finnair.

Travel between Terminals 1 and 2 is via a long corridor with travelators. A fit person can make the route in about 10 minutes. A free shuttle bus runs between Terminal 2 and the new Terminal 3. It departs every ten minutes or so and the journey time is about 10 minutes. Terminal 3 is huge: it alone is bigger than all five of Heathrow (London)'s terminals. Additional time should be allocated when flying from here. Terminal 3 check-in closes 45 minutes before flights depart.

Facilities on arrival include ATMs and money changers. Be aware that upon departure, porters may want ¥10 to wheel your bags 50 m to check-in and that most eating options are rather outrageously priced. Before you cross through security, if you want a bite to eat in the Terminal 1, there is a KFC which has lowered its prices a little, and in Terminal 2, there are 2 KFCs, and the restaurants in the basement have relatively low prices compared to what's above. A meal at any of these places should be around ¥20.

Many people use taxicabs to reach town from the airport. Try to get the Chinese name in characters of your hotel so that you can let your taxi driver read where you want to go. It is important to do this as most drivers cannot read English and many are recent arrivals from the countryside who might not know the city well. A taxi from the airport should cost ¥70-120. You will have to pay the fee shown on the meter (make sure the driver uses it) plus ¥10 toll for the airport expressway. Traffic jams are common.

The Airport Express train to the airport opened in July 2008. The train runs in a one-way loop from T3 to T2/T1 then Sanyuanqiao (transfer to subway line 10) and Dongzhimen (lines 2, 13). A one-way fare is ¥25, and the trip takes about 20 minutes from Dongzhimen to T3, 30 min to T2. Don't take the train just to get from T3 and T2, as this will cost you the full ¥25; use the free shuttle bus instead.

A slightly cheaper way to get to the city centre is to take the airport shuttle (机场巴士 Jīchǎng Bāshì), +86 10 64594375 / 64594376, [2]. Buses for each route leave every 10-30 minutes. There are several lines running to different locations throughout Beijing. The shuttle bus website also has a map available. ¥16 for a one-way trip.

- Line 1 (to Fangzhuang): 1. Liangma Bridge (亮马桥 Liàngmǎqiáo); 2. Baijiazhuang (白家庄 Báijiāzhuāng); 3. World Trade Centre (国贸 Guómào) & Dabeiyao (大北窑 Dàběiyáo); 4. Panjiayuan (潘家园 Pānjiāyuán); 5. KingWing Hot Spring International Hotel (京瑞大厦 Jīngruì Dàshà) & Shilihe (十里河 Shílǐhé); 6. Guiyou Shopping Mall (贵友大厦 Guìyǒu Dàshà) & Fangzhuang (方庄 Fāngzhuāng). Runs 7:30AM-10:30PM. Return stops are 6, 3, and the airport. Convenient for getting to the south east of the city.

- Line 2 (to Xidan): 1. Sanyuan Bridge (三元桥 Sānyuán Qiáo) 2. Dongzhimen (东直门 Dōngzhímén); 3. Dongsishitiao Bridge (东四十条桥 Dōngsìshítiáo Qiáo); 4. Civil Aviation Building (民航营业大厦 Mínháng Yíngyè Dàshà) & Xidan (西单 Xīdān). Return stops are 4, 2, and the airport. Runs 7AM till the last flight. Return runs ??-9:00PM. Heads south-west.

- Line 3 (to Beijing Railway Station): 1. Yuyang Hotel (渔阳饭店 Yúyáng fàndiàn); 2. Dongdaqiao (东大桥 Dōngdàqiáo, bypassed after 22:30); 3. Chaoyangmen (朝阳门 Cháoyángmén); 4. Yabaolu (雅宝路 Yǎbǎolù); 5. Beijing Railway Station (北京站 Běijīng zhàn). Runs 7:30AM till the last flight. The Beijing Railway Station stop is actually at the west gate of the International Hotel (国际饭店 Guójì Fàndiàn), across Chang'an Avenue. Return stops are 5, Dongzhimen, the Jingxin Building West Gate (京信大厦西门 Jīngxìn Dàshà Xīmén), and the airport. Convenient for the city center, the southeast of the city, and Chaoyang, Chongwen, and Dongcheng districts.

- Line 4 (to Gongzhufen): 1. China International Exhibition Centre (国际展览中心 Guójì Zhǎnlǎn Zhōngxīn); 2. Xibahe (西坝河 Xībàhé); 3. Anzhen Bridge (安贞桥 Ānzhēn Qiáo); 4. Madian Bridge (马甸桥 Mǎdiàn Qiáo); 5. Beitaipingzhuang (北太平庄 Běitàipíngzhuāng); 6. Jimen Bridge (蓟门桥 Jìmén Qiáo); 7. Friendship Hotel (友谊宾馆 Yǒuyì Bīnguǎn); 8. Beijing TV Station (北京电视台 Běijīng Diànshìtái); 9. Zizhu Bridge (紫竹桥 ǐzhú Qiáo); 10. Hangtian Bridge (航天桥 Hángtiān Qiáo); 11. Gongzhufen (公主坟 Gōngzhǔfén) & Xinxing Hotel (新兴宾馆 Xīnxīng Bīnguǎn). Return stops are 11, 7, 5, 3, and the airport. Runs from 7AM to 11PM. Convenient for the north and north-west of the city, and Haidian district.

- Line 5 (to Zhongguancun): 1. Wangjing (望京 Wàngjīng) & Huajiadi (花家地 Huājiādì); 2. Xiaoying (小营 Xiǎoyíng); 3. Asian Games Village (亚运村 Yàyùncūn) & Anhui Bridge (安慧桥 Ānhuì Qiáo); 4.Xueyuan Bridge (学院桥 Xuéyuàn qiáo); 5. Just west of Bǎofúsì Qiáo (保福寺桥). Return stops are 5, Beijing Aeronautics University North Gate (北航北门 Běiháng Běimén), Huixin West Street (惠新西街 Huìxīn XīJiē)/Anhui Building (安徽大厦 Ānhuī Dàshà), Huixin Dongjie (惠新东街 Huìxīn Dōngjiē) & SINOPEC (中国石化集团 Zhōngguó Shíhuà Jítuán), and the airport. From 8:30AM to 9:30PM. Convenient for the north of the city, particularly the university district within Haidian.

The cheapest way would be to take public bus #359, which runs from the airport to Dongzhimen, where you can catch subway 2 or 13, but this is not very fast or convenient.

A number of youth hostels and luxury hotels run their own complimentary shuttle buses services - ask the place where you are staying if they have one.

Nanyuan Airport (南苑机场 Nányuàn Jīchǎng, IATA: NAY) is a former military airfield 17 km to the south of Beijing, currently used only by army-linked low-cost operator China United (中国联合 Zhōngguó Liánhé) [3]. China United currently fields daily flights to Harbin, Dalian, Sanya, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Wuxi. A shuttle bus to the Nanyuan Airport leaves Xidan Aviation Building (西单民航大厦 Xīdān Mínháng Dàshà) at 6:10AM, 7:00AM, 9:00AM, 11:00AM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM. The first bus (6:10AM) might not be available every day. Be sure not to take a shuttle bus to Beijing Capital Airport. Check the shuttle bus direction written on it in chinese. The bus ticket price is ¥16.

By train

Beijing has many railway stations. Most trains arrive at the central, West, South or North stations.

- Beijing Railway Station (北京站 Běijīng Zhàn). In the heart of the city, served by Subway Line 2. Destinations include: Changchun, Chengde, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Jilin, Nanjing, Qiqihar, Shanghai, Shenyang, Suzhou, Tianjin, and Yangzhou. The trains for Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), Russia, and North Korea also leave from here.

- Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站 Běijīng Xīzhàn). Presently the largest. Train destinations from Beijing West include: Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Datong, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Hefei, Hohhot, Hong Kong, Kunming, Lanzhou, Lhasa, Ningbo, Qinhuangdao, Sanya, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Urumqi, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Xiamen. This station has no immediate connection to the metro system. See below for transport options leaving the station.

- Public Buses. There is an immense amount of packed public buses that reach most destinations around downtown Beijing - however this can be difficult to navigate. These leave from several locations including directly out the front of the train station, east of the train station (there is a largish bus station here) and on the opposite side of Lianhuachi Donglu. If you are desperate to get on the public bus, there is a large sign indicating the routes close to the bus stops on the Beijing West Station side of Lianhuachu Donglu.

- Taxi. There is an underground taxi rank, which usually has at least a ten minute queue. Taxis may however be the most expensive way to leave the station, especially if you have that tourist stench about you. Inevitably a tout will offer to take you out of the queue for an agreed price, but be aware that this will result in a significantly higher fare.

- Subway. The Military Museum (formally Junshibowuguan) subway station (Line 1) is around 15 minutes walk north from Beijing West Station. To reach it, cross to the north side of Lianhuachi Donglu (there is a large overpass just near the entrance of the station) after emerging from the main entrance to the station. Then walk west for about 5 minutes to Yangfandian Lu (the street is well signposted). Walk north along here for 15 minutes (flat, easy walk) and turn right at Fuxing Lu (well signposted). The Military Museum subway station is about 200m from the intersection, and it will cost ¥2 to get into central Beijing.

- Beijing South Railway Station (北京南站 Běijīng Nánzhàn). The current and future destination for high-speed trains. presently offers 70 high-speed services every day to Tianjin, Tanggu, Jinan, Qingdao, and Shanghai. Served by Line 4.

- Beijing North Railway Station (北京北站 Běijīng Běizhàn). Small compared to the previous three, but you might end up here if you are coming in from Inner Mongolia. Destinations include Chifeng (赤峰 Chìfēng), Fuxin, Haila'er (海拉尔 Hǎilāěr), Hohhot, Longhua (隆化 Lōnghuà), Luanping (滦平 Luánpíng), Nankou (南口 Nánkǒu), Shacheng (沙城 Shāchéng, via Badaling), Tongliao (通辽 Tōngliáo), and Zhangjiakou (张家口 Zhāngjiākǒu). It also offers tour train services to Yanqing and the Badaling Great Wall. Served by Lines 2, 4 and 13 via the adjacent Xizhimen station.

- Beijing East Railway Station (北京东站 Běijīng Dōngzhàn). One daily service to Chengde only.

By car

Driving in Beijing can be quite complicated, language difficulties included, coupled with seemingly perpetual traffic jams. Many hotels, however, rent cars that come with drivers, for those who can afford it, up to ¥1000 per day. Nevertheless, public transport will get you to most of the main tourist sites, and you should use them as your primary mode of transport.

You are not permitted to drive a car using the driver license issued by countries other than China. Even Hong Kong and Macau licenses are considered to be foreign and are not accepted. But for short visa holders (< 3 months), it is possible to get a provisional driver's license at the PEK airport or the transportation police stations in the city in minutes. You need to provide your passport as well as your foreign driver's license, and do a small examination(just to confirm you don't have physical or visual disability that effect the driving security), then you can get the provisional driver's license in minutes. With this license, you can legally drive cars in China. Ask any information desk at the airport for the direction of applying such a provisional driver's license.

At the arrival hall(maybe domestic only) of T2, PEK airport, you can find the counters of many car rental companies, but their English is usually not good. You had better contact them in advance by phone.

Here is an incomplete list of car rental companies serving at the PEK airport:

- China Auto Rental [6], Tel: (+86) 400 616 6666

- Top One CN [7], Tel:(+86) 4006 788 588

- Avis also operates a car-rental service in Beijing.

The daily rate of smaller economic cars is about ¥200 to ¥300. You need to deposit around ¥3000 (possible by using CUP/VISA/MasterCard credit card).

See also Driving in China.

By bus

Beijing's bus system is cheap, convenient and covers the entire city—perfect for locals but, alas, difficult to use if you do not understand Chinese or Mandarin. The bus staffs speak little English, and only a few bus lines in the city center broadcast stop names in English. Bus stop signs are also entirely in Chinese. But should you speak Mandarin, have a healthy sense of adventure, and a fair bit of patience, a bus can get you almost anywhere, and often somewhere that you never intended to go. It is a great way to see parts of the city that tourists normally do not visit.

Most bus fares are relatively cheap, around ¥1, and if you get a public transportation card from a metro station (a card that acts as a debit card for the metro and buses) you can get a 60% discount on all fares.

Many shiny new buses arrived on the streets in preparation for the Olympics. Many buses now feature air-conditioning (heating in winter), TVs, a scrolling screen that displays stops in Chinese, and a broadcast system that announces stops. If you are having problems navigating the bus system, call the English-speaking operators at the Beijing Public Transportation Customer Helpline (96166).

Warning: Beijing buses can get very crowded so be prepared and keep an eye on your valuables. Indeed, the overhead speakers on more modern buses will announce a warning to this effect on the more crowded lines. Many pickpockets frequent buses and subways, so carry backpacks in the front, and try to put your valuables somewhere hard to access. Be aware of a scam offering bus rides to the Great Wall masquerading as the real bus service. Instead of directly driving to the Great Wall, you will instead be led to a series of tours to dilapidated theme parks, shops, museums, and other tourist traps before finally reaching the Great Wall near the end of the day.

Bicycle

Long distance cyclist-tourists will find national road 109 is a pleasant way to enter or leave Beijing, though lots of work. It immediately enters steep hills on the edge of the city, but sees little traffic, is well maintained and passes though lovely landscape of farmland and forests. It's remarkable how close to Beijing you are, and how far it feels.

Get around

Though some residents of Beijing know conversational English, especially in the areas frequented by tourists or Haidian District's university cluster, one should not count on finding a taxi driver or passer-by who knows English well. Neither should a foreigner with minimal experience with the Chinese language put undue faith in his or her ability to pronounce Chinese place names so that a local can understand clearly. Before embarking on a trip around the city, it is best to print out the names of places you want to visit in Chinese characters, or get your hotel front desk staff to write them out for you. When going to specific addresses writing nearby intersections or basic directions can be helpful as well. Show the text to the taxi driver, or just ask for help on the street. In general, you will have a better chance of getting help in English if you address younger people, as many schools in China have expanded their English education in the last few years.

Crossing the road in China is an art and may be difficult for pedestrians unused to Beijing's particular driving styles. Before crossing, assume that none of the road users will give way to you, even if a policeman is present. Zebra crossings are redundant. Chinese drivers lean on the horn heavily and frequently play games of chicken with pedestrians and other vehicles. Should you hear a loud horn when crossing the road, always look around as there is probably a car right behind you or heading straight for you. Should you find several cars and bicycles veering towards you from different directions, do not try to run to safety; instead, stand still. For drivers and cyclists a stationary obstacle is easier to avoid. Also note that traffic light crossings have zebra stripes painted on the road, but you should only cross when the walk light is green. As with pedestrian crossings in many countries, there is strength in numbers. When a mass of people crosses together cars are more likely to stop or slow down.

By subway

The Beijing Subway [4] is a good way to quickly get around the city and is clearly marked in English for travelers. Long very limited, the network has expanded at a furious pace in recent years, with 9 lines now operational and another 9 to open by 2015. However, be warned that during rush hour trains can be extremely crowded. The subway system shuts down around midnight, and opens again around 5AM.

The most useful lines are Line 1, which runs east to west and passes under Tianenmen Square and goes to many tourist sights; Line 2, which is a loop line following the old city wall and serves the Central and North train stations; and line 5 which runs north-south and also serves numerous tourist sights. Transfers between all lines are free.

Subway station entrances are identified by a large blue stylized letter G wrapped around a smaller letter B. Single tickets cost ¥2 and are only valid on the same day from the station they were purchased. Single-journey ticket machines are very simple to use; just press the numbers along the left side of the screen to choose how many tickets you want to buy, insert cash into the machine and press the green button then collect the ticket and change. The machine does not accept ¥1 bills but if you pay with a ¥10 or ¥20 bill you will be given a handful of coins which you can use for future journeys. You must pass your ticket through the turnstiles upon entering AND exiting the station, so make sure you don't lose it.

If you plan on traveling a lot, pick up a Yīkātōng (一卡通 ) pre-paid card, which has a ¥20 refundable deposit. Swipe the card at the entrance turnstile and again upon exiting. The use of the pre-paid card does not reduce the subway fare although it does dramatically reduce bus fares, by 60%. The card's deposit can only be returned at a few stations, so passing it on to a friend may be easier than getting your deposit back. Stations that offer a refund clearly state "Yikatong refund" in the ticket booth; examples include Xizhimen and Haidianhuangzhuang (only near exits c/d).

If you are carrying luggage you must pass through the X-ray checks at the stations.

Try to avoid travelling in the rush hour as the stations and trains become very crowded - particularly try to avoid Line 1 & 2 as the old 1970s stations with their narrow passageways and open-edged platforms are not designed for the large numbers of passengers seen today.

By bicycle

Once known as a nation of bicycles, China today has an ever growing number of private car owners. It is estimated 1,200 more cars hit the streets in Beijing every day. As a result, nowadays you are guaranteed to see more bikes in the Netherlands than in Beijing. However, the infrastructure from its days as capital of the "Bicycle Kingdom" means exploring Beijing on a bike is excellent. The city is flat as a pancake and all major streets have bike lanes. Bicycling is often faster than traveling by car, taxi or bus because of the traffic congestion in the motorized traffic lanes.

Four-wheeled motorized traffic in Beijing usually observes traffic signals with the exception of making turns at red lights which is often done without slowing or deferring to pedestrians or bicyclists. Pedestrians, bicycles and all other vehicles (for example, motorized bicycles, mopeds and tricycles) generally do not observe traffic signals. Also, cars, trucks and buses do not defer to cyclists on the road so it is common for a vehicle to make a right turn from an inside lane across a bike lane with no concern for cyclists traveling in the bike lane. Sometimes a right-turning vehicle crossing a bike lane will sound its horn as a warning, but not always. Cyclists also need to be on the lookout for wrong-way traffic in the bike lanes, usually bicycles and tricycles but sometimes motor vehicles, too. Wrong-way traffic usually stays close to the curb so you move to the left to get by them, but not always. Bicycling Beijingers tend not to wear helmets, nor do they use lights at night. Few bikes even have rear reflectors. The moderate pace and sheer numbers of bicyclists in Beijing appears to make bike travel safer than it would be otherwise.

While you will see cyclists use many creative paths across wide, busy intersections in Beijing, the safest way for cyclists is to observe the traffic signals (there are often special signals for cyclists) and to make left turns in two steps as a pedestrian would. But if you spend any significant amount of time cycling in Beijing, you will probably start adopting more creative approaches. These can be learned by finding a local cyclist going your way and following him or her across the intersection.

Several professional bike rental companies, as well as major hotels and some hostels, rent bikes on an hourly basis. For those who need the security of a guide, a bike touring company like Bicycle Kingdom Rentals & Tours [5] would be a great way to go.

If you are staying more than a few days a reasonable bike can be bought for ¥200. Ensure that you have a good lock included in the price. The cheapest bikes are not worth the additional savings as you will get what you pay for. The cheapest bikes will start to deteriorate as soon as you begin to ride, so spend a little more and get a bike in the ¥300-400 range. Bike rentals may have good bikes, but you pay a high price and run the risk of the bike being stolen.

By bus

Beijing's bus system is cheap, convenient and covers the entire city—perfect for locals but, alas, difficult to use if you do not understand Chinese or Mandarin. The bus staffs speak little English, and only a few bus lines in the city center broadcast stop names in English. Bus stop signs are also entirely in Chinese. But should you speak Mandarin, have a healthy sense of adventure, and a fair bit of patience, a bus can get you almost anywhere, and often somewhere that you never intended to go. It is a great way to see parts of the city that tourists normally do not visit.

Most bus fares are relatively cheap, around ¥1, and if you get a public transportation card from a metro station (a card that acts as a debit card for the metro and buses) you can get a 60% discount on all fares.

Many shiny new buses arrived on the streets in preparation for the Olympics. Many buses now feature air-conditioning (heating in winter), TVs, a scrolling screen that displays stops in Chinese, and a broadcast system that announces stops. If you are having problems navigating the bus system, call the English-speaking operators at the Beijing Public Transportation Customer Helpline (96166).

Warning: Beijing buses can get very crowded so be prepared and keep an eye on your valuables. Indeed, the overhead speakers on more modern buses will announce a warning to this effect on the more crowded lines. Many pickpockets frequent buses and subways, so carry backpacks in the front, and try to put your valuables somewhere hard to access. Be aware of a scam offering bus rides to the Great Wall masquerading as the real bus service. Instead of directly driving to the Great Wall, you will instead be led to a series of tours to dilapidated theme parks, shops, museums, and other tourist traps before finally reaching the Great Wall near the end of the day.

Bus routes

Bus lines are numbered from 1-999. Buses under 300 serve the city center. Buses 300 and up run between the city center and more distant areas (such as beyond the Third Ring Road). Buses in the 900s connect Beijing with its "rural" districts (i.e., Changping, Yanqing, Shunyi, etc).

Full maps of the system are available only in Chinese. The Beijing Public Transport Co. website has information in English, but both the Chinese version and English Versions have a very helpful routing service with an interactive map. You can input your starting point and your ending point and see all the bus routes that will get you from A to B, look up a bus route by number, or input a place name and see all the routes that go stop there.

Fares and operating hours

Most buses with a line number under 200 run daily 5AM-11PM. Buses with a line number greater than 300 run 6AM-10PM. All buses with a line number in the 200s are night buses. Many routes get very crowded during rush hours (6:30AM-9AM and 5PM-9PM). On major holidays, there will be more frequent service on most city routes.

For passengers paying by cash: Lines 1-199 operate on a flat rate of ¥1 per journey. Lines 300-899 charge ¥1 for the first 12 km of each journey and ¥0.5 for each additional 5 km. Buses with air-conditioning (800-899) start at ¥2. The night buses (200-299) charge ¥2 per journey. Lines 900-999 charge according to the distance.

For passengers paying by the new pre-paid Smart Card: Lines 1-499 operate on a flat rate of ¥0.40 per journey. Lines 500-899 get 60% off the cash price. There are also 3-day, 7-day and 15-day passes available for travellers. There is no return ticket or day ticket.

By minibus

Minibuses are very common in the countryside outside the urban areas. Privately operated, most trips cost less than ¥10 per short journey and only a little more for longer journeys.

By taxi

Taxis are the preferred choice for getting around, as they are convenient and are fairly inexpensive for travellers from Western countries. The only downsides are that Beijing's congested traffic often results in long jams, and taxi drivers are often recent arrivals from the countryside who do not know the city well. Vehicles used as taxis include the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra, Volkswagen Santana and Jetta (the old model, designed in the 1980s), and Citroëns manufactured in China. These taxis are dark red, or yellow top with dark blue bottom, or painted with new colours (see picture). Luxurious black executive cars (usually Audis) can also be found, usually waiting outside hotels.

In the more remote places of Beijing, you might not be able to find any official taxis. However, in these places there will most likely be plenty of unofficial taxis. These might be difficult to recognise for travellers, but the drivers will address you if you look like you are searching for a taxi. Remember to negotiate the fare before you go. Local people usually pay a bit less for the unofficial taxis than for the official ones, but the asking price for travellers will often be much higher.

Fares and meters

Taxis charge a starting fee of ¥10, and an additional ¥2/km after the first 3 km. Taxi meters keep running when the speed is slower than 12 km/hr or when waiting for green lights; 5 min of waiting time equals 1 km running. Outside of rush hour, an average trip through the city costs around ¥20-25, and a cross-town journey about ¥50 (for example, from the city center to the northern side of the Fourth Ring Road). Since 25 November 2009, there is a ¥1 gas surcharge on all trips. Note that this surcharge is not displayed on the meter, so if the meter says ¥18 the price is ¥19.

If the taxi driver "forgets" to switch the taxi meter on, remind him by politely asking them to run the meter and gesturing at the meter box (请打表 qǐng dǎbiǎo). At the end, it is a good idea to ask for a receipt (发票 fā piào) also while gesturing to the meter and making a writing motion. Having a receipt is handy in case you want to make a complaint later or for business reimbursement purposes, and since the receipt has the cab number, you stand a greater chance of getting your possessions back if you forget anything in the taxi.

If you want a tour around Beijing and its vicinities, you can ask your hotel to hire a cab for one day or several days. It usually costs ¥400-600 per day, depending on where you go. You can also ask just about any driver to perform this service as most are more than willing to do so. If you have Chinese-speaking assistance, then bargain down the cost. No matter the cost, the taxi is yours for the day and will wait for you at various destinations.

Communicating with the drivers can be a problem, as most do not speak English. You can ask that your hotel write your destination on a card to give to the driver. Make sure to take the hotel's card (and a map) that lists the hotel's address in Chinese. This can be a 'get out of jail free' card if you get lost and need to get back via taxi. A regular city map with streets and sights in Chinese will also help.

As elsewhere in the world it is really hard to find a taxi when it rains. Most of them refuse to take passengers and, besides, many will try to rise their fares. Although it seems unreasonable (triple to five times the normal fare), sometimes it is better to take their offers than to wait for another cab.

Avoiding scams and fakes

All official taxis have license plates beginning with the letter "B", as in "京B". "Black cabs" may look like taxis but their license plates will start with letters other than B. It's nearly impossible to hail a black cab on the streets; they generally hang out around tourist sights like the Great Wall and the Summer Palace or around subway stops. Black cabs will charge you a higher fee for the journey, unless you are a good bargainer, know where you are going, and know what the right fare should be. Sometimes they drop foreign tourists in wrong places. In some extreme cases, the driver may even take them to the countryside and rob them. If you find you hired a fake taxi and are overcharged, don't argue if you are alone, pay the driver and remember the car's license plate number, then call police later.

To avoid being taken advantage of, it is a good idea to know the rough direction, cost, and distance of your destination. You can easily find this out from asking locals before calling a cab. Verify these values with the taxicab driver to show them that you are in the know, and are probably too much trouble to cheat. Keep track of the direction of travel with a compass and/or the sun. If the cab goes in the wrong direction for a long distance, verify the location with the taxi driver. For scamming drivers, that is usually enough for them to go back on the right track (without ever acknowledging that they were trying to cheat you). Honest drivers will explain why they are going that way. In addition, sometimes a cab driver might tell you an extravagant price to get somewhere and tell you the meter is broken.

There are several "makeshift taxis" running around Beijing including a seat fixed up to the back of an electric scooter. These guys will scam you big time if you don't negotiate a clear fare beforehand. Upon arriving your destination, for a 2 minute ride, the driver will demand 300 yuan and will be very belligerent if you don't pay it.

Keep in mind that central Beijing can be off limits at certain times, forcing cabs to reroute. And some roads forbid left turns (with big road signs) either at certain hours or all the time, so the driver might make a detour.

A note on maps

Beijing (and many other Chinese cities) is changing at such a phenomenal pace that it isn't at all unusual for maps to be out of date by the time they are printed. Most maps will have a few errors where old roads have been bulldozed or replaced by new roads on a different alignment. Whole areas may be gone - replaced by new districts or dual-carriageways. Subway stations and other facilities that were expected to come online by the time the map was to be printed may have been built elsewhere or scrapped and not exist at all!

If you find yourself utterly lost or unable to find your desired destination despite following a map perfectly, bear in mind that you may not have taken a wrong turn - it is entirely possible that your destination or chosen route doesn't exist any more. It's a good idea to take more than one map if possible, and if you are lost compare the two to see if one shows a different layout. Also, always pick up the latest version of a bilingual paper tourist map, for sale at most tourist shops and subways stations, to complement your more expensive map/guidebook.

By car

Driving in Beijing can be quite complicated, language difficulties included, coupled with seemingly perpetual traffic jams. Many hotels, however, rent cars that come with drivers, for those who can afford it, up to ¥1000 per day. Nevertheless, public transport will get you to most of the main tourist sites, and you should use them as your primary mode of transport.

You are not permitted to drive a car using the driver license issued by countries other than China. Even Hong Kong and Macau licenses are considered to be foreign and are not accepted. But for short visa holders (< 3 months), it is possible to get a provisional driver's license at the PEK airport or the transportation police stations in the city in minutes. You need to provide your passport as well as your foreign driver's license, and do a small examination(just to confirm you don't have physical or visual disability that effect the driving security), then you can get the provisional driver's license in minutes. With this license, you can legally drive cars in China. Ask any information desk at the airport for the direction of applying such a provisional driver's license.

At the arrival hall(maybe domestic only) of T2, PEK airport, you can find the counters of many car rental companies, but their English is usually not good. You had better contact them in advance by phone.

Here is an incomplete list of car rental companies serving at the PEK airport:

- China Auto Rental [6], Tel: (+86) 400 616 6666

- Top One CN [7], Tel:(+86) 4006 788 588

- Avis also operates a car-rental service in Beijing.

The daily rate of smaller economic cars is about ¥200 to ¥300. You need to deposit around ¥3000 (possible by using CUP/VISA/MasterCard credit card).

See also Driving in China.

See

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

Landmarks

The centre of the city and most important landmark is Tiananmen Square in Dongcheng District. This is the world's largest public square and a must see for all visitors from abroad and from elsewhere in China. The square is surrounded by grand buildings including the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of Chinese History, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Qianmen Gate and the Forbidden City. It is also home to the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Monument to the People's Martyrs.

The National Stadium or Bird's Nest in Chaoyang District is a new major landmark and the symbol of the 2008 Olympic Games. Two contemporary buildings in Chaoyang District are remarkable landmarks: the CCTV Building (sometimes called The Underpants or Bird Legs by locals) and the World Trade Center Tower III. Both are outstanding examples of contemporary architecture.

There are also a number of remarkable remains from the medieval city including the Ming Dynasty City Wall Site Park (the only remains of the city wall) in Chongwen District, the Drum and Bell Towers in Dongcheng District, and Qianmen in Chongwen District.

Palaces, temples and parks

The city's many green oases are a wonderful break from walking along the never ending boulevards and narrow hutongs. Locals similarly flock to Beijing's palaces, temples and parks whenever they have time. The green areas are not only used for relaxing but also for sports, dancing, singing and general recreation.

The most important palace, bar none, is the Forbidden city (故宫博物院) in Dongcheng District. The Forbidden City was home to the Imperial Court during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Unlike many other historical sights, the Forbidden City was relatively untouched during the cultural revolution due to the timely intervention of premier Zhou Enlai, who sent a battalion of his troops to guard the palace from the over-zealous Red Guards. The Temple of Heaven (天坛) in Chongwen District is the symbol of Beijing and is surrounded by a lively park typically packed with hordes of local people drinking tea, practicing calligraphy or tai-chi or just watching the world go by. The Yonghegong (Lama Temple) (雍和宫) in Dongcheng District is one of the most important and beautiful temples in the country.

Other parks are scattered around Beijing. Some of the best are Zhongshan Park (中山公园) in Xicheng District, Beihai Park (北海公园) in Xicheng District, Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园) in Chaoyang District and Ritan Park (日坛公园) in Chaoyang District. The Beijing Zoo (北京动物园) in Xicheng District is famous for its traditional landscaping and giant pandas, however like many zoos, the conditions for the animals have been questioned.

Haidian District is home to the Summer palace (颐和园), the ruins of the Old Summer Palace (圆明园), Fragrant Hills (香山), and the Beijing Botanical Garden (北京植物园). All are quite close together and worth a visit.

Museums and galleries

The museums in Beijing are generally not yet up to the standard seen in cities such as Paris, Rome and New York. However the city contains one of the largest and most well known museums in Asia, the Palace Museum also known as the Forbidden City. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. China's government is determined to change the backward perception of its museums and has invested heavily in their development. It has also made most of them (not the Forbidden City) free to visit. However, for some museums tickets must be reserved three days in advance.

One of the most well-known museums in Beijing is the National Museum (国家博物馆) in Dongcheng District, which was closed for renovation from 2007 to March 2011. The Military Museum (军事博物馆) in Haidian District has long been a favorite with domestic and foreign tourists. The Capital Museum (首都博物馆) in Xicheng District is a new high profile museum with historical and art exhibitions. Finally, a number of restored former residences of famous Beijingers, especially in Xicheng District, give a good insight into daily life in former times.

The contemporary art scene in Beijing is booming and a large number of artists exhibit and sell their art in galleries around the city. The galleries are concentrated in a number of art districts, including the oldest and easiest accessible, but also increasingly commercial and mainstream, Dashanzi Art District in Chaoyang District. Other newer and perhaps more cutting edge art districts include Caochangdi in Chaoyang District and Songzhuan Artist's Village in Tongzhou District.

Itineraries

- Three Days in Beijing — A fast-paced introduction to the history, culture, food and night-life of Beijing, designed for a first-time holiday.

Talk

The language of Beijing is Mandarin Chinese. Standard Mandarin itself was the administrative language of the Ming and Qing dynasties and was based mainly on the Beijing dialect. For language students this makes studying in Beijing an excellent chance to learn the language in a relatively pure form. That being said, Beijing dialect contains nasal "er" sounds at the end of many words. Hence the ubiquitous lamb kabobs (羊肉串 yáng ròu chuàn) become "yáng ròu chuànr". In addition, the Beijing dialect consists of many local slangs which have not been incorporated into standard Mandarin. Beijing taxi drivers are famously chatty and will gladly engage students of the language offering excellent chances to practice the language and get a feel for the changes in the city and country from an "Old Beijinger".

English is spoken by staff at the main tourist attractions, as well as at major hotels. Otherwise, English speakers are not common, so always get your hotel's business card to show the taxi driver in case you get lost. Likewise, have staff at your hotel write down the names of any tourist attraction you plan to visit in Chinese, so locals can point you out in the right direction.

Do

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

Walks and rides

- The Great Wall of China (长城 Chángchéng) about a 1 hour train trip or 1.5 hour bus ride from the city (be aware of bus scams). See Great Wall for general information on the Great Wall and see the suburb article for individual listings. The Badaling section is the most famous, but also over-restored and crowded. Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng and Simatai are more distant but offer a better view of the wall away from the crowds. (As of March 2011, Simatai is closed for restoration. It is expected to re-open in the 2012-2014 timeframe) Mutianyu has been restored, but is far less crowded than Badaling. Crowds are a definite issue with the Great Wall: at popular sections at popular times, it becomes not the Great Wall of China, but rather the Great Wall of Tourists. It is possible to rent a taxi for ¥400-800 for the round trip including waiting time. You may want to bring a jacket against the wind or cold in the chillier season - in the summer you will need lots of water, and it will be cheaper if you bring your own.

- Hutongs (胡同 Hútòng). Beijing's ancient alleyways, where you can find traditional Beijing architecture. They date back to when Beijing was the capitol of the Yuan dynasty (1266-1368). Most buildings in hutongs are made in the traditional courtyard (四合院 sìhéyuàn) style. Many of these courtyard homes were originally occupied by aristocrats, though after the Communist takeover in 1949 the aristocrats were pushed out and replaced with poor families. Hutongs can still be found throughout the area within the 2nd Ring Road, though many are being demolished to make way for new buildings and wider roads. Most popular among tourists are the hutongs near Qianmen and Houhai. The hutongs may at first feel intimidating to travellers used to the new wide streets of Beijing, but the locals are very friendly and will often try to help you if you look lost.

- Rent a bicycle. Traverse some of the remaining hutongs. There is no better way to see Beijing firsthand than on a bicycle but just be very aware of cars (Chinese driving styles may differ from those you are used to). See above for bike rental information.

Theaters and concert halls

National Centre for the Performing Arts in Xicheng District was finalised in 2007 and finally gave Beijing a modern theater complex covering opera, music and theater. This is worth a visit even if you do not go to a performance.

The Beijing Opera is considered the most famous of all the traditional opera performed around China. This kind of opera is nothing like western opera with costumes, singing style, music and spectator reactions being distinctly Chinese. The plot is usually quite simple, so you might be able to understand some of what happens even if you do not understand the language. Some of the best places to watch Beijing Opera are found in Xuanwu District including Huguang Huguang Theatre and Lao She Teahouse. There are also a number in Dongcheng District including Chang'an Grand Theatre.

Acrobatics shows are also worth a visit if you want to see some traditional Chinese entertainment. Some of the best shows are found in Tianqiao Acrobatics Theatre in Xuanwu District and in Chaoyang Theatre in Chaoyang District.

Drama plays has had a slow start in Beijing and is still not as widespread as you might expect for a city like Beijing, and you will most likely not be able to find many Western plays. However, some good places for contemporary Chinese plays do exist including Capital Theatre in Dongcheng District and Century Theater in Chaoyang District.

Classical music has got a much stronger foothold in Beijing than drama plays. Some of the best places to go are the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Century Theater both mentioned above as well as Beijing Concert Hall in Xicheng District.

Other

- Foot massage. Have a highly enjoyable and relaxing foot massage and/or pedicure etc (for a fraction of the price in the West) from any of the respectable and professional offerings in central Beijing (in the vicinity of the Beijing Hotel for example).

- Cook Chinese Food, 3 Black Sesame Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, PRC 100009, +86.1369.147.4408. Try to create one of many Chinese dishes - from cold starters to famous noodles and dumplings. Beijing is a very interesting place for gourmet tours and exploration the cultures and traditions through food. And this is a very delicious way to learn new things! The additional bonus of such learning is that you are acquiring new skills and bringing back home a piece of Chinese culture along with fantastic taste of Chinese cuisine. One of the options is "The Black Sesame Kitchen" [8]. Cooking class or a fancy dinner with explanation of major flavors and meaning of different ingredients will be given in English 250-350 RMB.

- Debate!, Runqiyuan Tea House, 65 Andingmen Dong Dajie. 润琦缘茶馆 安定门东大街65号. 20:00-22:00, every Wednesday. If you find yourself a very argumentative person, look for intellectual exercise or just meet people you should attend at least one of the meetings of "The Beijing Debate Society" (DBS) [9]. DBS is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-political organisation that seeks to improve argument-building skills. DBS is governed by the British Parliamentarian Debates rules. The debating language is English. free.

Learn

Universities

Beijing is the center of higher learning in China. In fact, Beijing University and Tsinghua University have been consistently ranked among the top universities in the world in recent times. As such it attracts the top talents from across China and is the destination for thousands of foreign scholars each year. Most of the universities are clustered in Haidian District in the northwestern part of the city. Nearly all of the universities in Beijing accept foreign students. Most foreign students are on Chinese language programs which can last from a few weeks to a couple of years. If you have a sufficient HSK level [10] you can enroll in programs to study other subjects.

- Tsinghua University (清华大学 Qīnghuá Dàxué), [11].

- Peking University (北京大学 Běijīng Dàxué), [12].

- Renmin University of China (中国人民大学 Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué), [13].

- China University of Political Science and Law (中国政法大学 Zhōngguó Zhèngfǎ Dàxué), [14].

- Beijing Language and Culture University (北京语言文化大学 Běijīng Yǔyán Wénhuà Dàxué), [15].

- University of International Business and Economics (对外经济贸易大学 Duìwài Jīngjì Màoyì Dàxué), [16].

- Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学 Běijīng Shīfàn Dàxué), [17].

- China Media University (中国传媒大学 Zhōngguó Chuánméi Dàxué), [18].

- Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (北京航空航天大学 Běijīng Hángkōng Hángtiān Dàxué), [19].

- Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (北京邮电大学 Běijīng Yóudiàn Dàxué), [20].

- Beijing Jiaotong University (北京交通大学 Běijīng Jiāotōng Dàxué), [21].

- China Agriculture University (中国农业大学 Zhōngguó nóngyè Dàxué), [22].

- Beijing Institute of Technology (北京理工大学 Běijīng Lǐgōng Dàxué), [23].

- Beijing University of Technology (北京工业大学 Běijīng Gōngyè Dàxué), [24].

- University of Science and Technology Beijing (北京科技大学 Běijīng Kējì Dàxué), [25].

- China Youth University for Political Sciences (中国青年政治学院 Zhōngguó Qīngnián Zhèngzhi Xuéyuàn), [26].

- Global Village (地球村学校 Dìqiú Cūn Xuéxiào). Branches in both Wangjing and Wudaokou. This is school mostly used by Korean students.

- Hutong School (胡同学校 Hútòng Xuéxiào), [27]. Branches in Gulou and Sanlitun. A very well know Chinese school, famous for its tradicional courtyard in Xicheng district. Also provides Internships and accommodation to international students.

- Beijing Gateway Academy (北京网关学校 Běijīng Wǎngguān Xuéxiào), [28]. Branches in Andingmen and Wangjing. A well know language school that emphasizes custom language programs and small class sizes.

Work

Most of the international business offices are in Guomao, Dawang, around the Eastern 3rd Ring Road, Chaoyangmen. The Central Business District (CBD) is centered around Guomao. Many technology companies have offices in Haidian.

Like all of China, finding a job teaching English in Beijing is relatively easy for native speakers. In fact, if you are of European descent some employers may assume that you are already qualified enough to teach English to Chinese students. However, more prestigious employers (especially universities and high-end language schools) will generally require an English teaching qualification and a Bachelor's degree (normally in any discipline, although sometimes specifically in English/linguistics).

Be aware: There has been explosive growth in the English teaching industry in recent years. This has brought the expected attendant problems with unregulated schools failing to deliver on their contracts with teaching staff. Before the Olympics it was common for teachers in Beijing to get by with business (F) visas and working as outside contractors for the schools. Similarly some teachers worked on tourist (L) visas. However, there was a government crackdown on this illegal practice in the run-up to the Olympics. To ensure your employer runs a licit operation, you are strongly advised to check with existing teachers before signing a teaching contract with an unknown school. All reputable schools will assist in securing a work (Z) visa and a Foreign Expert Permit for their teachers.

See also: Teaching English.

Buy

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

Throughout nearly all markets in Beijing, haggling is essential. Especially when browsing through large, "touristy" shopping areas for common items, do not put it beneath your dignity to start bargaining at 15% of the vendor's initial asking price. In fact, in the most "touristy" markets final prices can often be as low as 15%-20% of the initial asking price, and "removing a zero" isn't a bad entry point in the bargaining process. After spending some time haggling, never hesitate to threaten walking away, as this is often the quickest way to see a vendor lower his or her prices to a reasonable level. Buying in bulk or in groups may also lower the price. Beware that if you start your bargaining at too low of a price, such as 50% off the asking price, the vendor may just immediately give up on trying to sell the item to you. How high or low the vendor sets the asking price depends on the customer, the vendor, the product's popularity, and even the time of day. Vendors also tend to target visible minorities more, such as Caucasians or people of African descent.

The are a number of interesting markets around Beijing where you can find all kind of cheap (and often fake) stuff. Some of the most popular places are Xizhimen in Xicheng District, Silk Street or Panjiayuan in Chaoyang District and Hong Qiao Market in Chongwen District.

As an alternative to the markets you can go to some of the shopping areas lined with shops. This includes Nanluoguoxiang in Dongcheng District and Qianmen Dajie Pedestrian Street, Dashilan and Liulichang in Xuanwu District.

If you are looking for traditional Chinese food shops try Yinhehua Vegetarian in Dongcheng District, Daoxiangcun, Liubiju or The Tea Street in Xuanwu District and Chongwenmen Food Market in Chongwen District.

Visiting hotel shops and department stores is not the most characterful shopping in China, but worth a look. While generally significantly more expensive, they are less likely to sell truly low quality goods. The old style of Chinese retailing is gradually being transformed by shops with a better design sense and souvenir items are getting better each year. Silk clothing, table settings and so on and other spots around town, are worth a look, as are porcelain, specialty tea and other traditional items. Some of the most popular areas for this kind of shopping are Wangfujing and The Malls at Oriental Plaza both in Dongcheng District as well as Xidan in Xicheng District.

Antiques

The carpet business is strong in Beijing and you will find all manner of stores selling silk carpets and other varieties.

Eat

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

The best way to eat well and cheaply in Beijing is to enter one of the ubiquitous restaurants where the locals are eating and pick a few different dishes from the menu. Truth be told, anyone familiar with Western currency and prices will find Beijing a very inexpensive city for food, especially considering that tipping is not practiced in China.

Some of the cheapest and most delicious meals can be had on the streets. Savory pancakes (煎饼果子 Jiānbĭng guŏzi) are one of the most popular street snacks, eaten from morning till night with most carts operating during the morning commute and then opening again at night for the after-club crowds and night-owls. This delicious pancake is cooked with an egg on a griddle, a fried dough crisp is added, and the whole thing is drizzled in scallions and a savory sauce. Hot sauce is optional. Diehard fans often go on a quest for the best cart in the city. This treat should only cost ¥2.50, with an extra egg ¥3.

Lamb kebabs (羊肉串儿 yángròu chuànr) and other kebabs are grilled on makeshift stands all around Beijing, from the late afternoon to late at night. Wangfujing has a "snack street" selling such mundane fare like lamb, chicken, and beef as well as multiple styles of noodle dishes, such as Sichuan style rice noodles, but the brave can also sample silkworm, scorpion, and various organs all skewered on a stick and grilled to order.

A winter specialty, candied haw berries (冰糖葫芦 bīngtáng húlu) are dipped in molten sugar which is left to harden in the cold and sold on a stick. You can also find variations with oranges, grapes, strawberries, and bananas, or dipped in crumbled peanuts as well as sugar. This sweet snack can also sometimes be found in the spring and the summer, but the haw berries are often from last season's crop.

The most famous street for food in Beijing is probably Guijie (簋街/鬼街 Guǐjiē), see Dongcheng District for further detail.

Beijing Roast Duck is a famous Beijing specialty served at many restaurants, but there are quite a few restaurants dedicated to the art of roasting the perfect duck. Expect to pay around ¥40 per whole duck at budget-range establishments, and ¥160-200 at high-end restaurants. Beijing duck (北京烤鸭 Bĕijīng kăoyā) is served with thin pancakes, plum sauce (甜面酱 tiánmiàn jiàng)，and slivers of scallions and cucumbers. You dip the duck in the sauce and roll it up in the pancake with a few slivers of scallions and/or cucumbers. The end result is a mouthwatering combination of the cool crunchiness of the cucumber, the sharpness of the scallions, and the rich flavors of the duck.

- Guolin Home-style Restaurant (郭林家常菜 Guōlín Jiācháng Cài). This well-kept secret among Chinese people has some of the tastiest and most inexpensive ducks in all of Beijing. Half a duck is just ¥28. And all its other delicious, innovative dishes keep customers coming back: be prepared for a bustling, noisy atmosphere, though the interior is often quite nice. Locations all over Beijing—look for a sign with two little pigs—including at Fangzhuang, Zhongguancun, Wudaokou, Xuanwu, and more.

Beijing is also known for its mutton hotpot (涮羊肉 shuàn yáng ròu), which originally came from the Manchu people and emphasizes mutton over other meats. Like variations of hotpot (general name 火锅 huŏ guō) from elsewhere in China and Japan, hotpot is a cook-it-yourself affair in a steaming pot in the center of the table. Unlike Sichuan hotpot, mutton hotpot features a savory, non-spicy broth. If that's not exciting enough for you, you can also request a spicy broth (be aware that this is flaming red, filled with peppers, and not for the weak!). To play it safe and satisfy everyone, you can request a ying-yang (阴阳 yīnyáng) pot divided down the middle, with spicy broth on one side and regular broth on the other. Raw ingredients are purchased by the plate, including other types of meat and seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and tofu, so it's also perfectly possible to have vegetarian hotpot. A dipping sauce, usually sesame, is served as well; you can add chilis, garlic, cilantro, etc, to customize your own sauce. While "raw" sounds dangerous, boiling the meat yourself is the best way to ensure that more risky meats like pork are fully cooked and free of germs. In the city center, hotpot can run as much as ¥40-50 per person, but on the outskirts it can be found for as little as ¥10-25. Low-budget types may reuse the spices or cooking broth from previous guests, although it has been boiling for several hours.

Beijing provides an ideal opportunity to sample food from all over the country. Some of Beijing's best restaurants serve food from Sichuan, Hunan, Guangzhou, Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and more.

For vegetarians, Beijing's first pure vegetarian buffet restaurant is located a Confucius Temple, see Dongcheng District for further detail.

Origus has numerous locations throughout Beijing, and offers an all-you-can-eat pizza/pasta buffet for ¥39, including soft drinks and dessert bar. If you're in the mood for Texan fare, head for the Tim's Texas BBQ near the Jianguomen subway station. They'll happily provide you with your favourite American food and drink. Tony Roma's has a location in Wangfujing (in the Oriental Plaza). Korean restaurants are also very common in Beijing. A frequent meal is the grill-it-yourself barbeque, including beef, chicken, and seafood items as well as some vegetables including greens and potatoes.

All luxury hotels have at least one restaurant, which can be of any cuisine they believe their guests will enjoy. You will find French, Italian, American, and Chinese restaurants in most hotels. Restaurants that serve abalone and sharkfin are considered the most expensive restaurants in the city. Expect to pay upwards of ¥800 for a "cheap" meal at one of these restaurants, much more if splurging.

Drink

Tea, tea, and more tea! Some shops are in malls and others are stand-alone establishments. Whatever their location, always ask the price before ordering or else brace yourself for the most expensive egg-sized cup of tea in the world. You can experience different styles of tea ceremonies and tea tastings at tea houses especially in the Qianmen area south of Tiananmen Square. These can range widely in quality and price. Some tea houses are really tourist traps whose main goal is to milk you of your money (See warning box). You can get a free tea demonstration at most Tenrenfu tea houses which are located throughout the city and at some malls. A private room or a quiet back table in a tea house with mid-range tea for two should cost ¥100-200. After an afternoon in such shops the remaining tea is yours to take home. Once tea is ordered, the table is yours for as long as you like.

As a tea-loving country and grower of much of the world's tea, coffee is not as easy to find but a taste for it--along with more expats dotted throughout Beijing--has seen more emerging middle class and students drinking it. For example, the city alone has 50 Starbucks locations. Most are situated around shopping malls and in commercial districts of the city. Other international chains such as Lavazza also have locations around Beijing. Coffee of varying qualities is also available in the ubiquitous Taiwanese style coffee shops such as Shangdao Coffee. These are usually located on the second floor of buildings and often times offer Blue Mountain Coffee, making places like Starbucks seem a real bargain. Most coffee shops will offer wireless. Baristas in non-chain coffee shops may not be educated on how to make generally accepted espresso drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos. Espressos, alone, usually taste better and are more consistent.

Chinese beer can be quite good. The most preferred beer in China is Tsingtao (青岛 Qīngdǎo) which can cost ¥10-20 in a restaurant, or ¥2-4, depending on size, from a street vendor, but in Beijing, the city's homebrew is Yanjing beer (燕京 Yànjīng), and has a dominating presence in the city (Yanjing being the city's name from its time 2,000 years ago as capital of the state of Yan). Beer mostly comes in large bottles and has 3.1%-3.6 alcohol content. Both Yanjing and Qingdao come in standard (普通 pǔtōng) and pure (纯生 chúnshēng) varieties; the difference mainly seems to be price. Beijing Beer (北京啤酒 Běijīng Píjiǔ）is the probably the third most popular brand. Craft beers are also making an appearance in Beijing, with specialty beers found in various German-themed restaurants throughout the city, as well as Beijing's first dedicated microbrewery, Great Leap Brewing (大跃), located in East Beijing's charming hutongs.

Great Wall is the most popular local brand of grape wine. Wine made in China does not have a great reputation, though this is changing. Giving wine as a gift is not a common custom in most places in China and most people will not be accustomed to wine etiquette or appreciation (white wine is often mixed with Sprite). Imported red wines are usually of a better quality and can be found in big supermarkets, import good stores, and some restaurants.

The most common hard liquor is baijiu (白酒 báijiǔ), made from distilled grain (usually sorghum) spirits. It comes in a variety of brands and generally for very cheap prices (¥8 for a small bottle) and should be avoided if you want to have a clear mind for your travels on the next day. The most famous local brand is called Erguotou (二锅头 Èrguōtóu), which has 54% alcohol content. It should be noted that the local Erguotou is sold in gallon containers, often on the same shelf as water and with a similar price-range and indistinguishable colour. Care must be made not to confuse the two. Maotai (茅台 Máotái), the national liquor, is one of the more expensive brands, and costs about as much as an imported bottle of whiskey--but likely more. A large selection of imported liquor can be found at most bars.

Places to drink

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

Most of Beijing's bars are located in one of the bar clusters around the city. A few years back, the only one was Sanlitun, but almost every year the last few years have seen a new area emerge. The most important areas are:

- Houhai in Xicheng District located around the lake, Houhai

- Nanluogu Xiang in Dongcheng District located in the middle of the hutongs

- Sanlitun in Chaoyang District was once the centre of nightlife in Beijing and still popular with expats but increasingly uninteresting for travellers and locals.

- Workers Stadium in Chaoyang District has taken over part of the action in nearby Sanlitun.

- West Gate of Chaoyang Park in Chaoyang District is one of the newest bar areas in Beijing

- Ladies' Street in Chaoyang District. By day it has some fashion shops, as its name suggests, but it is also home to some interesting new bars, restaurants and clubs.

- Yuan Dynasty Wall Bar Street in Chaoyang District is a new ready-made bar area located nicely along a small river and a park but with quite uninteresting bars.

- Wudaokou in Haidian District, where most of the foreign and local university students hang out. There are a number of bars and restaurants which serve a great variety of wine, beer and liquor for cheap. This area is also well known for its huge Korean population and a good place to find Korean food.

- Dashanzi in Chaoyang District, Beijing's trendy art zone, this old warehouse and factory district has been taken over by art galleries, art shops and bars. Well worth the trip to experience the Beijing art scene. Also known as Factory 798 (798工厂 Qījiǔbā Gōngchǎng).

Sleep

See the Districts articles for individual listings.

Foreign visitors were once restricted to staying in high-priced official hotels. Tour groups tend to use these hotels but do so at rates far below those published. In general, restrictions on where foreigners can stay have become less and less frequently enforced. Hostels and western-style travel hotels are almost universally open to foreign guests. The lowest end Chinese accommodations - Zhaodaisuo (招待所) - are generally inaccessible to the foreign community. However, for those determined to get a bargain, you may be able to get a room if you speak Chinese. Many of the hostels are located in Dongcheng District and Xuanwu District. Discounted rates start around ¥30 for dorms and just below ¥200 for doubles in the cheapest hostels.

There are a large number of three and four star mid-range hotels throughout the city and in all districts. The listed rates for these kind of hotels are often in the range of ¥500-1,000 but you can often get a discount of around 50%.

Some 'expensive' hotels are in the city centre, especially in Dongcheng District, and on the eastern 3rd Ring Road in Chaoyang District, however by Western standards these hotels are still relatively cheap. In the outlying areas, especially out by the Great Wall, are some country club type resorts as well as some unique, one-of-a-kind, hotels. For the most expensive hotels, the listed rates start at around ¥4,000, but are often discounted to a level around ¥1,500.

Stay safe

Despite its size, Beijing is a very safe city, and violent crime is extremely rare. However, tourists are often preyed upon by cheats and touts, who attempt to pull a number of scams on tourists. Be especially cautious in the inner city, around Tiananmen Square, and on the tourist-crowded routes to the Great Wall.

- For tours to the Great Wall, be wary: the driver might just stop and set you off before your destination. Only pay afterwards if you are absolutely sure you are at the destination. Do not go for organized tours to the Great Wall in the ¥100-150 range that are advertised by people handing out flyers around the Forbidden City (or in the latest scam, masquerading as the real bus service to the Great Wall which only costs ¥20, but is guaranteed to waste your entire day). Conveniently you are picked up from your hotel (so they know where to get back at you, in case you will not pay), you end up on a shopping tour and afterwards you have to pay upfront to get back to the city. Of course, there are exceptions, and people showing letters of recommendation from their previous travels and pictures are usually ok, as are people offering trips to the wilder parts of the Great Wall (ie. not Badaling or Juyong). Shopping tours are also advertised from certain hotels, ask in advance for a tour without shopping to be sure.

- At the Bird's Nest, there will be people trying to sell you small items, such as Beijing 2008 Memorabilia, or toys that seems fun to play with. They will tell you that they are offering it to you for much less, then after you pay for your item, shortly after they will claim you never paid for it and will follow you around until you either give back them or pay again. Usually they offer items to you at very good deals, but don't fall for the trick, you'll end up paying double, if not more.

- Do not be tricked by students or young adults offering to go out for a beer or coffee to practice their English. Some scam artists will run up a elaborate bill by ordering food or alcohol and then expect you to pay for it or even half whether or not if you do or do not eat the food they order. Traditionally when someone asks you to come out with them, they would pay for the bill. If you are feeling this situation is about to happen shift credit cards out of your wallet by going to the bathroom or while sitting at the table. The scam artists can be working with the restaurant and the restaurant will ask you to pay with a credit card. Another sign if it is a scam is if they ask to follow you to a bank or back to your hotel to get additional money to pay them back. These people can come on very nice and come off as very nice people. If they want to follow you back to your hotel or hostel have them wait in the lobby and do not return. These people will likely avoid confrontation and eventually leave.

- Do not follow any "students" or Chinese "tourists" wanting to show you something. They are most likely scammers or semi-scammers. Examples include "art students" who bring you to their "school exhibition" and pressure you to buy art at insanely inflated prices. Tea sampling is another scam. It is free to sample tea for locals, but for tourists...you should ask. Always get prices in advance and keep the menu if you are concerned. In one incident, after sampling 5 types of tea with two "students", a group of tourists were confronted with a bill for ¥1260! They even produced an English menu with the extortionate prices for sampling. Young attractive female "students" also try to lure male tourists to shops, restaurants or night clubs. The prices at such places can be extremely high for basically nothing."

That all being said, fears of scams have led many foreigners to be overly dismissive of Chinese people who approach them. Many Chinese are tourists in their capital for the first time as well. They are genuinely curious about foreigners and may just want to practice their English and get a picture with you. Be friendly but don't feel pressured to go somewhere you hadn't planned on going in the first place.

- Take care when offered a ride in a rickshaw (pedicab). Make sure you know where you are going to be taken in advance, and agree a price in writing. If not, you may well end up dropped off in a deserted alleyway and extorted for a large amount - ¥600 or more. If you do know your way out, just firmly drop ¥5 or ¥10 on the seat and walk off.

Be wary of fake money. You may observe Chinese people inspecting their money carefully, and with a reason: there are a lot of counterfeit bills in circulation. The most common are 100's and 50's. A few tips for identifying counterfeit bills:

- Be very careful if someone wants to give back the largest currency bill (¥50 and ¥100) by the excuse of "no change". In an attempt to pass you a counterfeit bill they may tell you that they have lowered the price in your benefit. Or, they may ask you to contribute an additional sum in order to pass you the ¥100. If they give you back all the change money plus the coins on top (though coins are rare in Beijing) take your time to check each bill carefully.

- Another version of the above trick is when a vendor refuses to accept your ¥100 bill claiming that it's fake. The truth is most likely that he took your genuine bill and discretely changed it for a fake one which he now is trying to give back to you. Hard to prove unless you saw the swap.

- To check any ¥50 and ¥100 bill you get, do this: most importantly, check the paper. If its torn, thin or very slippery, ask for a different bill. Next, check the watermark, it should blur out softly. If there are hard visible corners in the watermark, reject the bill. Last, check the green "100" imprint on the lower left corner. It should be clearly painted on the bill so you can both feel and see a relief. If its missing or not feelable, reject the bill also. Rejecting bills is not considered impolite. It is perfectly acceptable to hand back a bill and ask for a different one. If the vendor gets upset, you should consider cancelling the purchase and moving on. If the colouring of a banknote is faded, it does not necessarily mean it is fake.

Driving is crazy in Beijing, and reckless driving is the norm. Be prepared for drivers to violate traffic laws even to the extent of going in reverse on highways to back up to a missed exit. Also expect occasional road debris (a piece of wood or torn out tire) to be laying in the roadway. Pedestrians should be very careful crossing the street — drivers, especially taxis, will not stop for you and will anticipate the traffic light before it turns green. Be very careful when crossing any street. Take an overpass or underpass if possible. Otherwise, keep an eye on the locals and cross with them — there is strength in numbers. Cars will also often drive on sidewalks.

Free emergency telephone numbers:

- Police: 110.

- Fire alarm: 119.

- Medical care: 120.

Remember these three telephone numbers, and they are valid in almost entire mainland China.

Cope

Air pollution has traditionally been a big problem in Beijing. Car exhaust, coal burning, and dust storms from the Gobi desert combined to make some of the worst city air on the planet. Winter is the worst time as the cold air creates an inversion layer and traps the pollution in the city. A white surgical face mask may help with the occasional dust storms. Since 2007, the air quality has improved considerably as a result of stringent measures put in place before the Olympics. While bouts of severe smog still occur, the overall situation is greatly improved.

For general health and food advice see the main China article.

Laundry

Laundry is very expensive to be done in Beijing, both at the hotels and at Laundry service shops since they both charge by piece. The best alternative found up to date is the Jing Quan laundry service located at the Beijing University where you can have a full machine of clothes washed for around 10RMB. It is located next to several dormitories in the southwest corner of Peking University. Simply enter the campus at the southwest gate and then walk east in a straight line. Friendly Peking University students you'll encounter while holding your sack of laundry will be glad to point you in the right direction to Jing Quan; it's about a 5 minute pleasant stroll away from the southwest gate. It's especially convenient if you're going to the Summer Palace as it's a nice stop along the way.

Embassies

- Afghanistan (阿富汗伊斯兰共和国大使馆), 8 Dongzhimenwai Dajie (东直门外大街8号), +86 10 6532 1582.

- Albania (阿尔巴尼亚共和国大使馆), 28 Guanghua Lu (光华路28号), +86 10 6532 1120.

- Algeria (阿尔及利亚民主人民共和国大使馆), 7 Sanlitun Lu (三里屯路7号), +86 10 6532 1231.

- Angola (安哥拉共和国大使馆), 1-8-1 Ta Yuan Diplomatic Office Building (塔园外交人员办公楼1-8-1), +86 10 6532 6968.

- Antigua & Barbuda (安提瓜和巴布达大使馆).

- Argentina (阿根廷共和国大使馆), 11 Dongwu Jie, Sanlitun (三里屯东5街11号), +86 10 6532 1406.

- Armenia (亚美尼亚共和国大使馆), 9 Ta Yuan Nanxiao Jie (塔园南小街9号), +86 10 6532 5677.

- Australia (澳大利亚大使馆), 21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Sanlitun (三里屯东直门外大街21号), +86 10 5140 4111 (pubaff.beijing@dfat.gov.au, fax: +86 10 5140 4204 / +86 10 5140 4230), [29]. M-F 8:30AM-5PM.

- Austria.

- Azerbaijan.

- Bahamas.

- Bahrain.

- Bangladesh.

- Barbados.

- Belarus.

- Belgium, 比利时驻华大使馆 6, San Li Tun Lu, 010-65321736, [30]. M-F 8:30 AM—12:30 PM and 2—5 PM.

- Belize.

- Benin.

- Bolivia.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- Botswana.

- Brazil, 27, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District, +86 10 6532 2881, [31].

- Brunei.

- Bulgaria.

- Burkina Faso.

- Burundi.

- Cambodia.

- Cameroon.

- Canada, (加拿大驻华大使馆) 19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (北京市朝阳区东直门外大街19号), +86 (10) 5139-4000.

- Cape Verde.

- Central African Republic.

- Chad.

- Chile, No. 1 Sanlitun Dongsi Jie, +86 10-65321591, [32].

- Colombia.

- Congo (Republic) Chancery.

- Congo (Democratic Rep).

- Costa Rica.

- Cote D'Ivoire.

- Croatia.
- Cyprus, China 2-13-2, Ta Yuan Diplomatic Office Bldg, 14 Liang Ma He Nan Rd, Chaoyang District.
- Czech Republic, Guangqumen Outer St S, 010-65326902, [33].

- Denmark.

- Djibouti.

- Dominica.

- Dominican Republic.

- East Timor.

- Ecuador.

- Egypt.

- El Salvador.

- Equatorial Guinea.

- Eritrea.

- Estonia, 50 Liangmaqiao Road, Chao Yang District, (86 10) 64 63 79 13, [34].

- Ethiopia.

- European Union.

- Fiji.

- Finland, Guanghua Lu 1 (Beijing Kerry Centre, Level 26, South Tower), +86 10-8519 8300, [35].

- France, 3 Sanlitun Dongsanjie, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区三里屯东三街3号, +86 10-85328080. Bus : lines 70, 807, 808, 517. Metro : Line 10, station Gongti Bei Lu

- Gabon.

- Gambia (The).

- Georgia, No. LA 03-02, Section A, Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Compound, No.22 Dongfang Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, +86 10-65327518/65327525.

- Germany.

- Ghana.

- Greece.

- Grenada.

- Guatemala.

- Guinea.

- Guinea-Bissau.

- Guyana.

- Haiti.

- Holy See (The).

- Honduras.

- Hungary.

- Iceland.

- India, 1 Ritan Donglu, +86 010-6532 1908, [36].

- Indonesia, Dongzhimenwai Dajie No. 4, Chaoyang District, +86 10-6532 5489, 010-6532 5486/88, [37].

- Iran, No. 13, Dong Liu Jie, San Li Tun, Beijing 100600, (+86)10 6532 2040 (fax: (+86)10 6532 1403).

- Iraq.

- Ireland, 3 Ritan Dong Lu, Beijing 100600, (+86 10) 6532 2691, [38]. Embassy of Ireland at Beijing. beijing@dfa.ie

- Israel, No. 17, Tianzelu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, +86-10-85320500, [39].

- Italy, 2, San Li Tun Dong Er Jie - 100600 Beijing, +86 10 8532.7600.

- Jamaica.

- Japan.

- Jordan.

- Kazakhstan, Dong Liu Road , San Li Tun, Beijing. (On 5 May 2010) Easy Visa (for EU-15), English spoken, same day next week pick-up (5 workdays), 9-13 AM application, Pick-up in the afternoon. Open on mo, we, (th?), fri. Bring a copy of your passport and your Chinese visa and a photo. You have to leave your passport there. 166 Yuan for 30 days, 1 entry, without LOI. They love to ask questions but apparently mainly out of curiosity.

- Kenya.

- Korea (North), No. 11, Ri Tan Bei Lu, Jian Guo Men Wai, Chaoyang District, +86 10 6532 1186, [40].

- Korea (South), No. 20, Dong Fang Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, +86 10 8531 0700, [41].

- Kosovo. .

- Kuwait, 23 Guanghua Lu, Jianguomenwai, +86 10-65322216, 6532-2182.

- Kyrgyzstan.

- Laos.

- Latvia.

- Lebanon, No. 10, Dong Liu Street, San Li Tun, Chaoyang District, Beijing (You can take a bus to get off at Huadu Hotel bus stop and then walk to the Lebanon Embassy. The hotel is close to Lebanon Embassy.), +86 - 10 6532 1560, 6532 2197, 6532 3281, [42].

- Lesotho.

- Liberia.

- Liechtenstein.

- Lithuania, #A-18 King's Garden Villa 18 Xiaoyun Rd, Chaoyang District, +861084518520, [43]. M-F 9AM-6PM.

- Luxembourg.

- Macedonia, Sun Li Tun Diplomatic Compound 3-2-21, +86 10 6532 7846, [44].

- Madagascar.

- Malawi.

- Malaysia, (马来西亚驻华大使馆) No. 2, Liang Ma Qiao Bei Jie, Chaoyang District (北京市朝阳区三里屯亮马桥北街2号), +86 10 6532 2531/32/33.

- Mali.

- Malta.

- Marshall Islands.

- Mauritania.

- Mauritius.

- Mexico, San Li Tun Dongwujie 5 (Chaoyang 100600 Beijing), (+86 10) 6532-2574, 6532-2070, 6532-1947 Conm., [45]. 08:30 to 17:30. embmxchn@public.bta.net.cn

- Micronesia.

- Moldova.

- Mongolia.

- Montenegro.

- Morocco.

- Mozambique.

- Myanmar.

- Namibia.

- Nepal, No 1, San Li Tun Xi Liu Jie, Beijing 100600, +86-10-6532 1795, 6532 2739, [46].

- Netherlands, 4 Liangmahe Nanlu, Nuren Jie, +86 10-85320200.

- New Zealand.

- Nicaragua.

- Niger.

- Nigeria, 2 Dongwujie, Sanlitun (opposite the Great Wall Hotel), 65323631, [47]. 9AM-4:30PM.

- Norway, Royal Norwegian Embassy 1, Dong Yi Jie, San Li Tun Beijing 100600, +86 10 8531 9600. 9AM-5PM.

- Oman.

- Pakistan.

- Palau.

- Panama.

- Papua New Guinea.

- Paraguay.

- Peru.

- Philippines, 23 Xiu Shui Bei Street, Jian Guo Men Wai, +86 10-65321872, 65322451, 65322518. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM. Services for Filipinos in China, Mongolia and North Korea.

- Poland, 1, Ritan Lu, Jianguomenwai, 100600 Beijing, (+86 10) 65321235, [48].

- Portugal, No. 8, Dong Wu Jie, San Li Tun, +86 10 653.234.97 (pequim@mne.pt), [49]. 9:30AM-noon.

- Qatar.

- Romania.

- Russian Federation, 100600北京市东直门北中街4号俄罗斯大使馆), (+86-10) 6532-1381, (+86-10) 6532-2051, [50].

- Rwanda.

- Saint Lucia.

- Saint Vincent/Grenadines.

- Saudi Arabia.

- Senegal.

- Serbia, San Li Tun, Dong 6 Jie 1 - 100060 Beijing, China, Tel: +8610 6532-3516, 6532-1693, 6532-5413, 6532-3016, 6532-1562 (Chinese), Fax: +8610 6532-1207, [51].

- Sierra Leone.

- Singapore, No. 1 Xiu Shui Bei Jie, Jian Guo Men Wai, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, +86-10-6532 1115.

- Slovakia, 北京市朝阳区日坛路, 010-65321531.

- Slovenia, King's Garden Villas, 18 Xiao Yun Rd No. 57, Block F, Ya Qu Yuan, Chaoyang District, +86 10 6468 1030.

- Somalia, (+86)10 6532 1651, 6532 0717 (somaliaemb.beij@yahoo.com, fax: (+86)10 6532 1752).

- South Africa.

- Spain, No. 9, San Li Tun Road, Chaoyang District (embesp@public.bta.net.cn, embespcn@mail.mae.es), (+86)10 6532 1986, 6532 3629, 6532 3728, 6532 1445, 6532 5616.

- Sri Lanka (lkembj@public3.bta.net.cn), No.3, Jlan Hua Lu, Beijing 100600 (The embassy is located at Jian Hua Road of Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue. To access by public bus, get off at Ritan Lu bus stop), (+86)10 6532 1861, 6532 1862, fax (+86)10 6532 5426, [52]. 9.00 - 17:30 Monday - Friday.

- St. Kitts and Nevis.

- Sudan.

- Suriname.

- Swaziland.

- Sweden, Embassy of Sweden 3, Dongzhimenwai Dajie Sanlitun Chaoyang District Beijing 100600 P.R. China (ambassaden.peking@ foreign.ministry.se), +86 (0)10 6532 9790, [53].

- Switzerland, 3 Sanlitun Dongwujie, +86 010-65322736. M-F 9AM-11AM.

- Syria.

- Tajikistan.

- Tanzania.

- Thailand, 40 Guang Hua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 P.R.C., 86-10-6532-1749.

- Togo.

- Trinidad and Tobago.

- Tunisia.

- Turkey.

- Turkmenistan.

- Uganda.

- Ukraine, 11 San Li Tun Dong Liu Jie, (+86 10) 6532 63 59.

- United Arab Emirates.

- United Kingdom, 11 Guanghua Lu, +86 010-5192 4000 (fax: +86 010-6532 1937).

- United States of America, 3 Xiushui Beijie, +86 010-65323831 (AmCitBeijing@state.gov, fax: +86 010-65323431), [54]. American Citizen Services M Tu Th F 8:30AM-noon 2PM-4PM, W 8:30AM-noon, closed American and Chinese holidays.

- Uruguay.

- Uzbekistan.

- Venezuela.

- Vietnam, 32 Guanghua Lu, +86 010-65321155 (fax: +86 010-65325720).

- Yemen.

- Zambia.

- Zimbabwe.

- European Union.

Get out

Just 4 hours by train or bus and 2 hour by car, visit the former imperial retreat of Chengde (256 km northeast of Beijing).

District Xicheng District Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

• See

Parks

Temples

Museums

Other

• Do

Theaters

Concert Halls

Other

• Buy

Xidan

Other places

• Eat

Budget

Houhai

Other

Mid-range

Houhai

Other

Splurge

Houhai

Other

• Drink

Houhai

Other

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Xicheng means West City. It is the political centre of Beijing. It houses several political institutions including ministries and residential areas for the top officers of the communist party.

Xicheng is covering the northwestern part of the central city area west of the Forbidden City until just beyond ring road two. You will most likely come here for the Houhai area to join the bar and restaurant cluster by the lake or to explore the remains of the wealthier part of historical Beijing nearby. Or you will come here for shopping in the large shopping area in Xidan. The district also includes Bejiing Zoo, Beihai Park and the impressive National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Xicheng covers an area of 32 square kilometers, bording Dongcheng to the east, Chaoyang to the north, Haidian to the north and west, and Xuanwu to the south. The area has a population of around 0.7 million.

Get in
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From the airport you can get into the district by the Airport Express Subway to Dongzhimen Station and then change to line 2 in either direction.

From Beijing Railway Station you can get into the district by a short subway ride on line 2. From Beijing West Station a few kilometers southwest of Xicheng you will have to take a bus a taxi into the district.

Xicheng is well served by subway lines.

- Line 2 borders the district to the north and south and runs north-south through the western part of the district. This is the line for Xizhimen and Houhai and also the connection from Beijing Railway Station and Qianmen in the south and the Drum and Bell Tower area in the north, both in Dongcheng.

- Line 4 runs north-south through the eastern part of the district and turns west in the northern part. This is the line for Xidan, Xizhimen and Beijing Zoo.

- Line 1 runs east-west through the southern part of the district. This is the line for Xidan and also the connection from the far eastern and far western parts of Beijing.

See
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Parks
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- Beihai Park (北海 Běihǎi), (Take bus 101 103 109 846 to the south gate, bus 13 118 810 to the north gate, opposite the Shi Sha Hai). Nov-Mar 9AM-4PM Apr-Oct 9AM-5PM. Beihai is a good place to take a glance at Zhongnanhai (中南海 Zhōngnánhǎi), heart of Communist China. There's a big island and white pagoda which was built in the 17th century. The giant buildings westward outside are PRC's Ministry of Defence and General Staff, which, to be honest, ruin the scene of the west bank. On the north bank, you can visit some small but beautiful gardens. ¥20.

- Beijing Zoo and Aquarium (北京动物园 Běijīng Dòngwù Yuán), (2km west of Xizhimen subway station. The Zoo is also an important traffic center, which means the terminal station for Bus No. 103, 105, 107 and 111. The new subway line 4 should be ready in 2009), [2]. Zoo 1 Apr-31 Oct 7:30AM-6PM; Zoo 1 Nov-31 Mar 7:30AM-5PM; Aquarium 1 Apr-31 Oct 9AM-5:30PM; Aquarium 1 Nov-31 Mar 9AM-5PM. (They do have pandas but displays aren't as good as other places in China, such as the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, Sichuan Province). The animals are kept in very small cages in which they pace to and fro in sheer restlessness and desperation. The lion and tiger building is particularly disappointing, housing a collection of large felines in concrete cages without any natural habitation. The pandas are relatively well looked after in comparison, but kept in pretty bleak conditions. Some are concerned with the way animals are treated in the zoo, but the aquarium is one of the biggest in the world, and very impressive. Prospect visitors should note that entrance to the aquarium is not included in the standard Zoo ticket, and will cost you another ¥100. The zoo was built on the sites of some ancient gardens, has lakes, pounds, pavilions and other beautiful old buildings. The Soviet revival Beijing Exhibition Hall is located nearby and has a Russian restaurant, "Moscow Restaurant". Zoo ¥10-15; Pandas ¥5; Aquarium ¥100.

Temples
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- White Cloud Temple (白云观; Báiyúnguàn), 6 Baiyunguan Street (白云观街6号; Báiyúnguànjiē), +86 10 6346 3531. 8:30AM-4PM. Taoist temple established in 793. Houses the Chinese Taoist Association and a Taoist Health Clinic. ¥10.

- Guanghua Temple (光化寺; Guānghuàsì), 31 Ya'er Hutong (后海鸦儿胡同31号; Hòuhǎiyāérhútòng), +86 10 6403 5032. 1st and 15th day of the lunar month 8AM-5PM. Buddhist temple used to pray for success in business life. Free.

- Guangji Temple (广济寺; Guǎngjìsì; also known as Temple of Great Charity), Fuchengmennei Street (阜成门内大街; Fùchéngménnèidàjiē, +86 10 6616 0907. 8AM-4:30PM but only partly open to the public. Buddhist temple built around 1460. Burned down in 1934 and was rebuilt in 1952 and further renovated in 1972. It is supposed to look as it did originally, but it does not really look old. The temple is functioning as a center for Buddhist thinking and learning and it is also the headquarter of the Chinese Buddhist Association. Free.

- Lidai Diwang Miao (历代帝王庙; Lìdàidìwángmiào; also known as Temple to Emperors of Past Ages), 131 Fuchengmennei Street (阜成门内大街131号; Fùchéngménnèidàjiē), +86 10 6616 1141, [3]. 9AM-4PM. Large temple built in 1530 used to sacrifice to past emperors. Opened to the public in 2004 after a decade of renovation. Here can be seen memorial tablets for a large number of past emperors. ¥20.

Museums
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- Capital Museum (首都博物馆; Shǒudū Bówùguǎn), 16 Fuxingmenwai St (复兴门外大街16号; Fùxīngménwài Dàjiē) (400), +86 10 6337 0491, [4]. Tu-Su 9AM-4PM. New high profile history and art museum located in an impressing building. Exhibits include the history of Beijing and artifacts from throughout China's history. Free, tickets must be reserved three days in advance on the official website.

- Prince Gong's Mansion and Garden (公王府花园; Gōngwángfǔ Huāyuán), 14A Liuyin St (柳荫街14号; Liǔyìnjiē, +86 10 6616 814. 9AM-4PM. The mansion displays the life of princes during the Qing dynasty. The garden is packed with Chinese tourists. The mansion stages Peking Opera and magic shows now and then. Entrance ¥20; Performances ¥60.

- Soong Ching Ling's Former Residence (宋庆龄故居; Sòngqìnglíng Gùjū), 46 Houhai North Riverside (后海北沿46号; Hòuhǎiběiyàn), +86 10 6404 4205, [5]. 9AM-5PM. Museum and garden showing the life of Soong Ching Ling (1893-1981). Soong was a politician in the early days of communist China, vice president 1959–1975. She was married to Sun Yat-sen and also related to Chiang Kai-shek. ¥20.

- Mei Lanfang's Residence (梅兰芳纪念馆; Méilánfāng Jìniànguǎn), 9 Huguosi Rd (护国寺路9号; Hùguósìlù), +86 10 6618 0351 (info@meilanfang.com.cn), [6]. Apr-Nov 9AM-4PM. Museum showing the life of Mei Lanfang (1894-1961). Mei was the greatest star of Peking Opera, acting for more than 50 years, primarily playing female roles. Furniture as well as costumes and other opera stuff are exhibited here. ¥10.

- Guo Moruo's Former Residence (郭沫若故居; Guōmò Ruògùjū), 18 Qianhai W St (前海西街18号; Qiánhǎixījiē), +86 10 6612 5392. Tu-Su 9AM-4:30PM. Museum showing the life of Guo Moruo (1892-1978). Guo was an author, poet, historian and government official. His works seems quite dated now, but his former residence is still worth a visit. ¥20.

- China Science and Technology Museum (中国科技馆; Zhōngguó Kējì Guǎn), 1 North Third Ring Road Middle Rd (三北环中路1号; Sānběihuánzhōnglù) (At Anhua Bridge (安华侨; ānhuáqiá)), +86 10 6237 1177 ext 3216, [7]. Tu-Su 9 AM - 5:30 PM. Educuational museum with the possibility of experimenting yourself. Hall A has short films, Hall B has exhibitions, whereas Hall C is an experimental area primarily for children. Hall A and B: ¥30 for each or ¥50 combined, children free; Hall C: ¥10, ¥20 children.

- Xu Beihong Museum (徐悲鸿纪念馆; Xúbēihóng Jìniànguǎn), 53 Xinjiekou Beidajie (新街口北大街53号; Xīnjiēkǒuběidàjiē) (500 m S of Jishuitan Metro Station (Line 2)), +86 10 6225 2042 (fax: +86 10 6225 2187), [8]. Tu-Su 9AM-noon, 1PM-5PM. Xu Beihong (1895-1953) was one of the first and most influential modern Chinese painters. He used both Chinese and Western techniques and is most famous for traditional painting of running horses. The museum exhibits a large number of his own works as well as his large collection of other artists' works. ¥5.

- Beijing Lu Xun Museum (北京鲁迅博物馆; Běijīng Lǔxùn Bówùguǎn), 19 Gongmenkou Ertiao, Fuchengmennei (阜成门内宫门口二条19号; Fùchèngménnèi Gōngménkǒuèrtiáo) (500 m NE of Fuchengmen Metro Station (Line 2)), +86 10 6616 5651 (bjluxunmuseum@163.com), [9]. 9AM-4PM. Lu Xun (1881-1936) was one of the first and most influential modern Chinese writers. He is most famous for "The True Story of Ah Q". The museum consist of Lu Xun's former residence as well as an exhibition hall with exhibits of Lu Xun's personal effects, originals and copies of his works and also exhibits not dirictly related to Lu Xun. ¥5.

Other
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- Deshengmen (德胜门箭楼; Déshèngménjiànlóu), North Ring Rd Two (北二环路; Běièrhuánlù), +86 10 6201 8073. Tu-Su 9AM-4PM. City gate built in 1437 as part of the city wall, which was torn down in 1969. Now only an archery tower and a barbican is left. The gate houses an ancient coin exhibition and a snack bar. ¥10.

Do
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Theaters
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- Beijing Exhibition Theater (北京展览馆剧场; Běijīng Zhǎnlǎnguǎn Jùchǎng), 135 Xizhimenwai St (西直门外大街135号; Xīzhíménwàidàjiē) (Buses 105, 111, 15, 334, 347), +86 10 6835 4455. Theater from 1954 with a theater hall with 1,000 seats. The theater is part of a multifunctional building with exhibition, hotel, restaurant and entertainment. Wide range of shows including Chinese plays, Western and Chinese operas and ballets, musicals and rock concerts. ¥80-1,280.

- Beijing Youth Palace (北京青年宫; Běijīng Qīngniángōng), 68 Xizhimen Nanxiao St (西直门南小街68号; Xīzhímén Nánxiǎo Jiē), +86 10 6615 2211, [10]. Cinemas with Chinese and foreign movies. Also music and dance classes available.

- Ethnic Cultural Palace Theatre (民族文化宫大剧院; Mínzúwénhuàgōng Dàjùyuàn), 49 Fuxingmennei St (复兴门内大街49号; Fùxīngménnèidàjiē), +86 10 6605 2404. Performances of classical music, ballet, musical, opera, drama plays and movies.

- People's Theater (人民剧场; Rénmínjùchǎng), 74 Huguosi St (护国寺大街74号; Hùguósìdàjiē), +86 10 6618 1634.

- PLA Song and Dance Theater (解放军歌舞剧院; Jiěfàng Jūngēwǔ Jùyuàn), 60 Deshengmennei St (德胜门内大街60号; Déshèngménnèi Dàjiē).

Concert Halls
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- Beijing Concert Hall (北京音乐厅; Běijīng Yīnyuètīng), 1 Beixinhua St (北新华街1号; Běixīnhuá Jiē), +86 10 6605 7006, [11]. Prices range between ¥30-380 and ¥100-698.

- Central Conservatory of Music (中央音乐学院; Zhōngyāng Yīnyuèxuéyuàn), 43 Baojia St (鲍家街43号; Bàojiā Jiē), +86 10 6642 5702, [12]. The main purpose of the conservatory is to educate musicians. Concerts now and then.

- Forbidden City Concert Hall, [13]. Prices range between ¥60-380 and ¥80-880.

- National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院; Guójiā Dàjùyuàn), 2 West Chang'an St (西长安街2号; Xīchángānjiē) (West of the northern end of Tian'anmen Square), +86 10 6606 4707, +86 10 6655 0987 (webmaster@chinanationalcentre.org, fax: +86 10 6655 0988), [14]. Theater complex with three halls (opera, music and theater) covering almost 12,000m2 and seating a total of 5,452 people. One of the most stunning buildings in Beijing and a must see even if not attending an opera or concert.

Other
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- Houhai (后海; Hòuhǎi). Take a walk in the Houhai area.

- Beijing Planetarium (北京天文馆新馆; Běijīngtiānwénguǎnxīnguǎn), 138 Xizhimenwai St (西直门外大街138号; Xīzhíménwàidàjiē), +86 10 6835 2453, [15]. W-F 10AM-4PM; Sa Su 9AM-4:30 PM; M closed. Here you can watch movement of stars and planets, creation of the solar system, evolution of life, space shuttle simulation and the history of the sun. ¥30-45.

- Philippe Active Space Station (菲利普宇宙空间站; Fēilìpǔyǔzhòukōngjiānzhàn), 43 Pinganli Xidajie (平安里西大街43号; Píngānlǐxīdàjiē) (Inside Guanyuan Park), +86 10 6611 9421. Tu-Su 9 AM-5:30PM. Play center for children including ball pool, maze and arts and crafts area. ¥20; children ¥30.

Buy
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Xidan
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This area has several large malls as well as streets lined with shops. Get off at Xidan subway. You can find all kind of goods here, but clothing shops are dominating. In many of the places you will have to bargaining, and will also be able to find some quite cheap stuff. It is more popular with locals than Wangfujing as it is cheaper and less focused on international brands. Very busy on weekends.

- 77th Street Plaza.

- Beijing Capital Times Square (首都时代广场; Shǒudū Shídài Guǎngchǎng), 88 Xi Chang'an St (西长安街88号; Xīcháng'ānjiē), +86 10 8391 3311. 9:30AM-9:30PM. Shopping center focusing on international brands.

- Grand Pacific (君太百货; Jūntàibǎihuò), 133 Xidan North St (西单北大街133号; Xīdānběidàjiē), +86 10 6612 6888 (service@mail.grandpacific-mall.com.cn), [16]. 10AM-10PM. Has a good selection of less expensive brands and attracts primarily younger shoppers. The shopping mall appears bright and clean and it is usually not to crowded. Here you can find makeup, clothes and sports. Restaurants include Bread Talk, DQ, Pizza Hut and Sizzler.

- Joy City (大悦城; Dàyuèchéng), 130 Xidan North St (西单北大街130号; Xīdānběidàjiē), +86 10 6651 7777, [17]. This mall opende in 2008 is the largest in Xidan and you can find almost everything here including an enormous cosmetic shop. The building has an impressive glass facade and inside the feel is spacious despite the hords of locals browsing here.

- Xidan Department Store (西单商场; Xīdān Shāngchǎng), 120 Xidan North St (西单北大街120号; Xīdānběidàjiē), +86 10 6605 6531. Government owned mall with a history of more than 70 years. It has been redecorated several times over the years but still appears a bit old fashioned. The prices are good though.

- Xidan Mingzhu Market.

- Xidan Shopping Center.

- Xin Hua Bookstore.

- Zhongyou Department Store (中友百货).

Other places
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- Xizhimen (西直门 Xīzhímén). One of the most popular markets for locals is located in Xizhimen, next to the zoo. To get there, in front of the zoo there is a new huge building, which is just another big market, but behind it, there is the wholesale market, with the best prices, and a lot of genuine goods (clothing). This market is much more local than others listed here, and is perhaps not ideal for the less adventurous traveler.

- Sihuan Mixed Goods Market (四环综合市场; Sìhuánzōnghéshìchǎng), Sihuan Hutong, Deshengmenne St (德胜门内大街四环胡同; Déshèngménnèi Dàjiē Sìhuán Hútòng). 7 AM - 7 PM. Raw food whole sale market.

- Wukesong Camera Market.

- Beijing Commodity Market, 259 Fuwai Rd (subway Fuchengmen), +86 10 6832 0761. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa-Su 7:30AM-5:30PM. 40,000 sqr meter large market offering a wide range of products including fashion, gifts, leather goods and toys.

- Tian Zhao Tian Market. Jewelery market.

Eat
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Budget
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Houhai
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- Jiumen Xiaochi (九门小吃; Jiǔménxiǎochī), 1 Xiaoyou Hutong (孝友胡同1号; Xiàoyǒuhútòng) (Just N of the northernn edge of Houhai and W of Soong Ching Ling's former residence, SE of Jishuitan Metro Station (积水潭, Line 2) or Déshèngmén Bus Station (德胜门, bus 55, 409, 635)), +86 10 6402 5858. 24 hours, some vendors only 10AM-10PM. This traditional place hidden in the hutongs close to Houhai houses ten or so vendors. Before choosing from the many different simple and traditional dishes here, you will have to go to the cashier and add value to the shared charge card. This is a very popular place with locals and can be packed, especially in weekends around lunch and dinner time. A great place to get a feel of old Beijing. Expect ¥10-30 each person.

- Ri Chang (日昌茶餐厅; Rìchāngchá Cāntīng), 14 Di'anmen W Ave (地安门西大街14号; Dìānménxī Dàjiē) (2km west of Zhangzizhonglu Metro Station (张自忠路, Line 5), buses 13, 42, 701, 823 will take you from the metro station and close to the restaurant, buses 5, 60, 107, 111, 118, 810, 850 will take you to the restaurant from elsewhere), +86 10 6405 8205, [18]. 10AM-3AM. Simple Cantonese restaurant with good food but unimpressive service and decoration.

Other
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- Fengyuan Baozipu (丰源包子铺; Fēngyuán Bāozipù), Xinjiekou Inner St (西城区新街口外大街; Xīnjiēkǒuwàidàjiē) (100m south of Beijing Normal University), +86 10 6223 1659. 8AM-8PM. Cantonese cuisine. Serves simple dishes like baozi, congee, doufu soup. Very busy at lunch. Expect to pay ¥10-30 each person.

- Shaguoju (砂锅居; Shāguōjū), Xisi South St (西四南大街60号; Xīsìnán St) (bus 22 or 47 to Gangwashi), +86 10 6602 1126. 11AM-10PM. Manchurian cuisine. This restaurant has been around for centuries, but suprisingly the service is still good and the prices low despite the increasing popularity. Specialties include Boiled Pork Casserole (砂锅白肉; shāguōbáiròu), which is said to have been served for Emperor Qing in the 18th century. Also the Nine Pig Guts (九转肥肠; jiǔzhuànféicháng) is worth a try. Expect ¥30-50 each person.

- Koufuju (口福居; Kǒufújū), 93 Taipingqiao St (太平桥大街93号; Tàipíngqiáo Dàjiē) (across the road from CPPCC), +86 10 6606 2251. 10AM-11PM. Restaurant specialising in hot pot with a large selection of meat to choose from. Hot pot from ¥39.

- Charme (港丽餐厅; Gǎnglì Cāntīng), 1 Dayue Building 6, 131 Xidan North St (西单北大街131号大悦城6楼01号; Xīdānběidàjiē, Dàyuèchénglóu), +86 10 5971 6022. 11AM-10PM. Cantonese restaurant popular with Hong Kong expats and tourists. Expect around ¥50 each person.

- Qingzhen Xiaochi (清真小吃; Qīngzhēn Xiǎochī), 68 Mianhua Hutong (棉花胡同68号; Miánhua Hútòng), +86 10 6617 6299. 6AM-9PM. Simple and cheap Beijing cuisine, eg fried noodles. Busy serving elderly locals who appears to come here almost every day. Expect ¥10-30 each person.

- Xi'an Restaurant (西安饭庄; Xī'ān Fànzhuāng), 20 Xinjiekou South St (新街口南大街20号; Xīnjiēkǒu Nándàjiē) (south of Xinjiekou and Xizhimennei intersection, east side of street), +86 10 6681 1476. 10:30AM-10PM. Xi'an cuisine. Serves halal dishes. This restaurant has a long history, and is said to have been a favorite of Chairman Mao. Specialties include mutton soup and steamed mutton. Expect around ¥30 each person.

- Xidan Chiku (西单翅酷; Xīdān Chìkù), 15 Zhongsheng Hutong (钟声胡同15号; Zhōngshēng Hútòng) (east of Xidan Book Mansion), +86 10 6603 2605. 11AM-10:30PM. Serves Beijing cuisine specialising in chicken wings. Expect ¥30-50 each person.

- Ma Bashi Restaurant (马八十餐厅; Mǎbāshí Cāntīng), 37 Xubjiekou East St (新街口东街37号; Xīnjiēkǒu Dōngjiē) (close to Jishuitan Hospital), +86 10 6617 8481. 10AM-10PM. Busy small restaurant specialising in beef noodles and Xinjiang noodles. Expect ¥20-30 each person.

- Jinfuyuan (金福源桂林米粉; Jīnfúyuán Guìlínmǐfěn), 72 Xinjiekou Dongjie (新街口东街72号; Xīnjiēkǒu dōngdàjiē), +86 10 8322 1893. 9AM-10PM. Small restaurant popular with locals. Serves Beijing cuisine, specialising in rice carrerole and rice noodles.

Mid-range
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Houhai
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- Kong Yi Ji (孔乙己; Kǒngyǐjǐ), South bank of Houhai (后海南岸; Hòuǎi Nánàn) (S of Deshengmen Bridge), +86 10 6618 4917. 10AM-10:30PM. Traditional Zhejiang cuisine in modern surroundings. Most dishes ¥20-45.

- Raj Indian Restaurant & Bar (拉兹印度餐厅; Lāzī Yìndù Cāntīng), 31 Gulou W Ave (鼓楼西大街31号; Gǔlóuxīdàjiē), +86 10 6401 1675, +86 10 8403 5920 (info@raj.com.cn), [19]. 10:30AM-2PM, 4:30PM-11:30PM. Great Indian restaurant in an old building with rooftop views over the area. Serves both traditional and modern Indian dishes, which tast pretty much like in India. Most dishes ¥30-45.

- Cafe Sambal (Kǒngyǐjǐ), 43 Doufuchi Hutong, Gulou Ave, +86 10 6400 4875. 11:30AM-midnight. Traditional authentic Malaysian cuisine and flavours. Most dishes ¥30-45.

- Sichuan Restaurant (四川饭店; Sìchuān Fàndiàn), B14 Liuyin St (柳荫街14号; Liǔyìnjiē), +86 10 6615 6924. 11AM-2PM, 5PM-9PM. Sichuan cuisine. Expect around ¥50 each person.

- Hutong Pizza (胡同比萨; Hútòng Bǐsà), 9 Yindingqiao Hutong (银锭桥胡同9号; Yíndìngqiáohútòng), +86 10 8322 8916. 11AM-11PM. Small courtyard restaurant serving both typical and more sophisticated pizzas. Quite limited selection of beers. Pizzas ¥60-120.

- Kao Rou Ji (烤肉季; Kǎoròujì), 14 Qianhai Dongyan (前海东沿14号; Qiánhǎidōngyàn), +86 10 6404 2554 (fax: +86 10 6404 5921). 11AM-2PM, 5PM-11PM. Xinjiang cuisine specialising in fried mutton. This restaurant hsa been around for many years and has great views of the lake from the second floor.

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- Yuxin Sichuan Restaurant (渝信川菜 Yúxìn Chuāncài), Xidan Saite Building, 7F (西单塞特7层; Xīdān Sàitè Qīcéng). M-F 10AM-10 PM, Sa Su 11AM-10PM. One of the contenders in the ongoing competition for Beijing's best Szechuan cooking, Yuxin delivers on authenticity, flavor, and service. It's always busy, and always good. ¥30-50.

- Kao Rou Wan, 58 Nanlishi Rd (南礼士路58号), +86 10 6802 8180. 10:30AM-9:30PM. Xinjiang cuisine specialising in roast meats.

- Xiang E Qing (湘鄂情), 3 Jiaoyu St (教育街3号), +86 10 6656 6468. 11AM-9PM. Hunan and Hubei cuisine.

- Beijing Ren Grand Restaurant (北京人大酒楼), 6 Erqi Juchang Rd (二七剧场路甲6号), +86 10 6802 2636 (fax: +86 10 6801 9682). 11AM-10:30PM. Cantonese cuisine.

- Hui Feng Hot Pot (蕙风涮肉), 115 Xinjiekou Beidajie (新街口北大街115号), +86 10 6221 8978. Beijing cuisine specialising in hot pot served in the traditional copper cone pots with coal.

- Hot & Tasty (知味麻辣), 西城区金城坊街9－7号 (opposite the Ritz Carlton Hotel, next to KFC), +86 10 6629 0268. 9:30AM-10:30PM. Sichuan cuisine as hot as you will find it in Sichuan.

- Royal Icehouse, Gongjian Hutong (Beihai Stop on bus lines 111 and 107), +86 10 6401 1358. Beijing cuisine. The restaurant is in the former royal ice house.

- Tong He Ju (同和居), B71 Yueyun South St (月云南街乙71号), +86 10 6852 2917. 10:30AM-1:30PM, 5PM-8PM. Shandong cuisine. This restaurant has been around for centuries. It is spacious with large tables.

- Yu Guo Tian Qing (雨过天晴), 35 Tonglingge Rd (佟麟阁路35号), +86 10 6608 9265. 10:30AM-10PM. Beijing cuisine specialising in dumplings.

Splurge
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Houhai
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- The Gourmet Room (古镇煌美食坊; Gǔzhènhuángměishífāng), 3 Qianhai West St (前海西街3号; Qiánhǎixījiē), +86 10 6613 9641 (kcwgastronomy@gmail.com). 11AM-2PM, 6PM-9:30PM. Hong Kong cuisine served in courtyard restaurant. Offers a classic 10 course menu.

- Lijia Cai Restaurant (厉家菜; Lìjiācài), 11 Yangfang Hutong, Deshengmennei St (德胜门内大街羊房胡同11号; Déshèngménnèidàjiē Yángfánghútòng), +86 10 6618 0107. 6AM-10:30PM. Imperial cuisine. This is a small family run restaurant in a hutong. The set menus consist of ten cold dishes and eight hot. The dishes are small and quite simple, but very tasteful. There are only three tables in the restaurant, so book in advance. Set menus from ¥200.

- Haiqing Heyan (海清河晏; Hǎiqīnghéyàn), 2 Banqiao Santiao, Xihai Xiyan (西海西沿板桥3条2号; Xīhǎixīyàn Bǎnqiáotiáo), +86 10 6613 8318. Small courtyard restaurant serving French Teppanyaki. There is great views of the lake from the four private rooms. Modern and stylish decor. Reservations are needed. 10AM-10PM.

- Ken de Rouge (红邸; Hóngdǐ), 22 Houhai West Bank (后海西沿22号; Hòuhǎixīyàn), +86 10 6402 6665 (zr00500@263.net). 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM. Modern Chinese cuisine. This is a romantic restaurant with views of the lake. Set menus from ¥488 per couple.

- The Noble Restaurant/Bar (芾林; Fúlín), Bajiao Pavilion, Houhai Park (后海公园内八角亭; Hòuhǎigōngyuánnèi Bājiǎotíng), +86 10 6616 0725, 6343. 11AM-midnight. Zhejiang-French fusion restaurant with views of the lake. Set menus from ¥260.

- Fu Lin (芾林; Fúlín), 23 Bajiaoting Hutong (八角亭胡同23号; Bājiǎotínghútòng), +86 10 8328 6313. Zhejiang cuisine served ub courtyard restaurant with trees, pond and views of the lake.

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- Whampoa Club (黄埔会; Huángpǔhuì), 23A Jinrong St (金融大街甲23号; Jīnróng Dàjiējiǎ), +86 10 8808 8828. 11:30AM-10PM. Serves modern Chinese food based on the old tradtions of Beijing cuisine.

- Temple Kitchen (今风古韵; Jīnfēnggǔyùn), 171 Fuchengmennei St (阜成门内大街171号; Fùchéngménnèidàjiē) (inside Baita Temple), -86 10 6618 1119 (templekitchen@sina.com), [20]. 9AM-11PM. Modern Chinese food.

Drink
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Houhai
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Houhai (后海; Hòuhǎi) is a man-made lake surrounded by restaurants and bars. Some years ago, this was one of the trendiest places in town, but it seems that it has now been surpassed by other bar clusters. Still a good place for a beer, and also to watch local Beijingers (of all ages) enjoying themselves.

- 15 Qianhai Beiyan (前海北沿15号; Qiánhǎiběiyànshíwǔhào), 15 Qianhai Beiyan (前海北沿15号; Qiánhǎiběiyàn), +86 10 6617 5558. 5PM-midnight. Both indoor and outdoor seatings and good with of the lake. Expensive.

- 9 To 5 (朝九晚五; Zhāojiǔwǎnwǔ), 3 Qianhai Beiyan (前海北沿3号; Qiánhǎiběiyàn), +86 10 6617 0091. Noon-2AM. Includes terrace with a veiw, grand flour bar and a club in the basement.

- Blue Lotus Club (蓝莲花俱乐部; Lánliánhuājùlèbù), 1 Shichahai, Xihaidongyan (什刹海西海东沿1号; Shíchàhǎixīhǎidōngyàn), +86 10 6406 4688. Noon-midnight. Kitch bar with Chinese live instrumental orchestra in the weekend. Cheap.

- Cam Rang, 37 Beiguanfang Hutong, Houhai Nanyan (后海南沿北官房胡同37号; Hòuhǎinányánběiguānfánghútòng) (West of Yindingqiao), +86 10 6613 5689. 2PM-2AM. Quiet Vietnam inspired lounge with large and soft sofas.

- East Shore Live Jazz Café (东岸咖啡; Dōngànkāfēi).

- Houhai Paradise (后海天堂; Hòuhǎitiāntáng), 31 Di'anmen Waidajie (地安门外大街31号; Dìānménwàidàjiē), +86 10 8401 5076. 6:30PM-2AM. Dance club with loud house music and a small dance flour.

- Huxley's (德比酒吧; Débǐjiǔbā), 16 Yandai Xiejie (烟袋斜街16号; Yāndàixiéjiē), +86 10 6402 7825 (info@shutupjustdrink.com). 5PM-3AM. Simple bar frequented by both tourists and locals. Cheap.

- Jiadingfang (甲丁坊; Jiǎdīngfāng), 9 Lotus Ln, 51 W Dia'nmen (地安门西大街51号什刹海天荷坊9号; Dìānménxīdàjiē51háo, Shíchàhǎitiānhéfāng9háo), +86 10 6612 9898. 11AM-2AM. Large place by the lake with a long list of drink and food. Live music every night, primarily unknown local bands. Expensive.

- Lotus Blue, Inside Lotus Lane, Ping'an Dajie (平安大街什刹海荷花市场内; Píngāndàjiēshíchàhǎihéhuāshìchǎngnèi (Opposite N gate of North sea), +86 10 6617 2599 (info@lotusbluebar.com), [21]. Mo-Fr: 1:30PM-2AM; Sa-Su: 11:30AM-2AM. Bar with live music and Thai food. DJ plays house on F and Sa, a Chinese band plays blues on Th and and African band plays pop on Su and M. Expensive.

- Luna Bar (露娜; Lòunà), 138 Jiugulou Dajie (旧鼓楼大街138号; Jiùgǔlóudàjiē), +86 10 8402 4417. 1PM-midnight. Relaxed place with local DJs.

- Rive Gauche (左岸酒吧; Zuǒànjiǔbā), 2 South Bank, Qianhai, Shichahai (什刹海前海南沿2号; Shíchàhǎiqiánhǎinányàn), +86 10 6401 2302. 2PM-2AM. Quiet cocktail bar.

- Shi Yue (什钥; Shíyuè), 13 Baimi Beixiang (白米北巷13号; Báimǐběixiàng), +86 10 8403 6253. 11:30AM-3AM. Unusual and small place in a quiet hutong. Chinese decoration and techno music.

- Story Bar, 9 Yindingqiao Hutong (银锭桥胡同9号; Yíndìngqiáohútòng), +86 10 6657 1513. 2PM-2AM. Small, intimate and quiet café with a decent drink list.

- Upsetter's Bar, 1-3 Houhai South Road (后海南路1-3号; Hòuhǎinánlù), +86 132 4184 8564 (upsetterbar@hotmail.com). 2PM-late. Reggae bar with outdoor seating by the water. One of the few places in Houhai where the theme actually works. Cheaper than most places in Houhai.

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- What Bar (什么酒吧; Shénmejiǔbā), 72 Beichang Jie (北长街72号; Běicháng Jiē), +86 133 4112 2757 (lamuduoji@yahoo.com.cn). 3PM-midnight. Small live rock venue staging some of the most interesting local bands.

- Dao Club (道; dào), 143 Xizhimenwai St, West Triumph Plaza, 1/F, Xizhimen (西外大街甲143号凯旋大厦A座首层; Xīwàidàjiējiǎ Kǎixuándàshà Shǒucéng) (west of Beijing Zoo, across from Xiyuan Hotel), +86 10 8801 6848, +86 132 6948 6938 (bbspiders@hotmail.com), [22]. 9PM-late. Club playing hip-hop and other retro stuff. Stylish but still relaxed place.

- Cigar Legends Bar, 3 Jincheng Fangjie (金城坊街3号; Jīnchéngfāngjiē), +86 10 6607 9899. 10:30AM-midnight. Lounges primarily frequented by cigar smokers. First class interior with deep upholstered armchairs. Cigars ¥98-2,000, cocktails from ¥78.

Sleep
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Budget
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- Baitayuan Guest House (白塔园青年旅馆; Báitǎyuán Qīngniánlǚguǎn), 20 Dachaye Hutong (大茶叶胡同20号; Dàcháyèhútòng) (500 m SE of Chegongzhuang Metro Station (Line 2)), +86 10 6616 0200. Traditional courtyard hotel located in a hutong. Internet, bicycle hire, safety boxes, fridge, laudry facilities and swimming pool available. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥40, doubles from ¥160, breakfast included.

- Beijing Houhai Courtyard Guest House, 14 Sanbulao Hutong, +86 10 6612-8458 (+86 13439801676, Guang_wang1980@hotmail.com). One of the most charming old-Beijing style courtyard inns, located in Sanbulao Hutong in Houhai, about 20 minutes walk from the subway. It is only 5 minutes by foot to the Houhai Lake. They provide free services such as tours of the hutongs, tea, wireless internet access, satellite TV & DVD access, usage of kitchen, baggage deposit. The staff speak enough English to get by, and there is parking as well. Internet on their computer is ¥5 per hour and a map of Beijing in English & Chinese is ¥8. Dorms from ¥45, single rooms from ¥128.

- Beijing Join Inn, 14 Qinmao Hutong, Zhaodengyu Rd (From Jishuitan subway station, take the C exit and turn left, walk about 500 m along Xinjiekou Bei St until you reach a McDonald's, intersecting with Xizhimen Nei St. Walk along Xizhimen St to the first set of traffic lights (about 120 m). Turn left here to walk along Zhaodengyu Lu. You should be able to see the hostel's sign in the third alleyway (Qinmao Hutong) on your left), (+86 13552794897, joininn@hotmail.com). This hostel is located within the popular Xinjiekou district close to the city center. In one of Beijing's hutongs, the hostel is close to key bus and subway services, making sightseeing relatively simple. This place has a great family/chilled out vibe. ¥30 dormitory bed, ¥160 double room, ¥180 triple room (seasonal pricing).

- Beijing Lotus Hostel (北京莲舍; Běijīngliánshè), 29 Xisi North Seventh Tiao (西四北七条29号; Xīsìběiqītiáo) (Metro line 4, buses 13, 22, 38, 42, 47, 409, 690, 826 to Pinganlilukou South (平安里路口南)), +86 10 6612 8341 (lotushostel@yahoo.com.cn, fax: +86 10 6612 9341), [23]. Hostel located in traditional courtyard with a nice ancient Beijing feel. Nice common area for meeting other people. Toilets and showers are not good. Internet, bike hire, pool table, safty boxes and laundry facilities available. Restaurant and bar. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥40, doubles from ¥160.

- Beijing Zhongyou Hotel (北京中油宾馆; Běijīngzhòngyóubīnguǎn), Courtyard 1 Lane 2 Liupukang (六铺炕二巷1号院; Liùpūkàng èrxiàng yihàoyuàn) (Approx 1 km NW of Gulou St Metro Station (Line 2)), +86 10 6204 5522 (fax: +86 10 6201 0326), [24]. Three star hotel. Rooms (some quite small) with internet against surchage. Business center, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke and table tennis available. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥220, discounted from ¥163 including breakfast.

- Garden Inn (岭南佳园连锁酒店 (北京西单店); Lǐngnánjiāyuánliánsuǒjiǔdiàn (Běijīngxīdāndiàn)), 95 Tonglinge Rd (佟麟阁路95号; Tónglíngélù) (500 m NE of Changchunjie Metro Station (Line 2)), +86 10 6652 8233 (fax: +86 10 6652 8231). Rooms with free internet. Ticket office available. Listed rates for doubles from ¥219, discounted from ¥164; no breakfast available..

- Red Lantern House, 5 Zhengjue Hutong, Xinjie Kou, +86 10 66115771/66169477 (lindyguo@hotmail.com), [25]. This hostel is spread over three buildings, but all have a good reputation. The "West Yard" is a beautiful courtyard house with indoor and outdoor areas for socialising. It has a great friendly atmosphere. The courtyard at this hostel's center is a great place to hang out, talk to new friends or just sit by yourself and read. Located in a hutong. They offer airport pickup for ¥160. Dorms from ¥50, singles from ¥130, doubles from ¥160.

Mid-range
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- Bamboo Garden Hotel (竹园宾馆 Zhú Yuán Bīnguǎn), +86 10 64032229, [26]. A stone's throw from Houhai, this is one of the most interesting hotels in Beijing. It located in a large complex of courtyards, was residence of Sheng Xuanhuai, a Qing Mandarin, and later was home to Kang Sheng, head of the secret police of Communist China.

- Beijing HWA (Apartment) Hotel, 130 N Xidan Ave, +86 10-66028888, [27]. This four-star hotel is near SOGO Department Store, Oriental Plaza, and Tiananmen Square. It offers air-conditioned rooms, each features a contemporary European design. It also has a Banquet hall that can accommodates 50 persons. You can also check out their rooftop garden, indoor swimming pool, and sauna. Rates start at ¥620.

- Grand Mercure Xidan Beijing (北京西单美爵酒店), +86 10 66036688, [28].

Splurge
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- ACFTU Hotel (北京中国职工之家饭店; Běijīngzhōng Guózhígōngzhījiā Fàndiàn), 1 Zhenwumiao Rd, Fuxingmenwai St (复兴门外大街真武庙路1号; Fùxīngménwàidàjiē Zhēnwǔmiàolù) (500 m SW of Nanlishilu Metro Station (Line 1)), +86 10 68576699 (fax: +86 10 6856 2251). Four star hotel with rooms with internet access against surcharge. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, disco, karaoke, pool, table tennis and fitness available. Chinese and Western restaurants, as well as coffee shop, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles ¥988-11,800, discounted rates ¥498-8,960, breakfast ¥55.

- The Apartments on Financial Street, 1 Jinchengfang St, +861066065588, [29]. This five star hotel is only 4 km from the city center and 8 km to the railway station. It is located near the Xidan Business District, Parkson Department Store, and Golden Tree Street. It has 245 air-conditioned suites, all of which have a living room, private toilet and bath, cable TV, a safe, and hair dryer. Some of their facilities includes an indoor swimming pool with artificial sand beach, outdoor tennis court, a health club, jacuzzi, and sauna.

- Jing Ding Hang, (thetings@hotmail.com). This is a real estate company that renovated several ancient houses in the legendary hutongs around Houhai Lake (just behind the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square), and rented them out during the Olympics.

- Presidential Plaza Hotel (北京国宾酒店), No.9, Fuchengmen Wai Road 阜成门外大街甲9号 (xicheng), 86 10 58585588, [30]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. The hotel was built in 2000 and offers the latest in state-of-the-art facilities. There are 486 rooms: Deluxe Room, Superior Room, Suite, etc. 500. (CNY,)

Contact
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District Dongcheng District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Tiananmen Square

Temples

Museums

Galleries

Parks

Other

• Do

Theater

Concert hall

Other

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

Non-Chinese food

• Drink

Nanluogu Xiang area

Drum Tower and Bell Tower area

Other

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Dongcheng District is one of the four central (inner-city) districts of Beijing. Dongcheng is roughly the area within the second ring road, to the north-east of Tiananmen Square. Subway line 2 (loop line) runs along the north and east edges of the district. Line 1 bisects the district from east to west, and Line 5 from north to south.

See
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Tiananmen Square
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Tiananmen Square (天安门广场; Tiānānménguǎngchǎng) is the largest square in the world. Built by Mao to impress; the square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings. Tiananmen Square remains an astounding place and a spot to linger and see visitors from all over China, many visiting their capital for the first time. There is a flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk at the north end of the square. There are 4 marble lions in front of the Tiananmen gate, the northwest one has a bullet hole on its stomach from the 1989 Tianamen Square massacre (the lions are enclosed by fences, making the NW one nearly impossible to see close up). The square is best reached by subway. Qianmen station on line 2 is at the southern end of the square, while Tiananmen East and Tiananmen West, both on line 1, are at the northern end. Due to traffic restrictions, taxis cannot stop on the square, so if you come by taxi, the driver will have to let you out on a nearby side street.

- Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, (At the south end, opposite the entrance to the Forbidden City). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8AM to noon (but note it is sometimes closed without notice). Mao's mausoleum. Expect huge, but moving, queues. No bags, cameras or water bottles are allowed inside and must be dropped off (for a fee) at the 'Bagcheck' building across the road to the east (mobile phones ok). Flowers can be purchased to lay at the feet of Mao's statue inside (although they are collected and resold at the end of the day) as well as leaflets for ¥1. There is disagreement among the locals as to whether the body is real or fake waxwork so make up your own mind. Mao souvenirs can be purchased at the exit. Free.

- Monument to the People's Heroes, (In the center of the square). The monument documents key events in modern Chinese history.

- The Great Hall of the People, (Borders on the west). Seat of China's parliament and important political meetings. ¥30.

- The Chinese National Museum, (Occupies the eastern side of the square). Consisting of the Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolutionary Museum. Closed for renovations until 2010.

- Tian'anmen Gate (天安门; Gate of Heavenly Peace). Tian'anmen Gate, and its large portrait of Chairman Mao, dominates the northern end of the square. Pass beneath the gate to head north toward the Forbidden City. It costs nothing to pass through, but on the far side there is a ticket booth where you can pay admission to visit the Gate. Although visiting the Gate allows a good view over Tian'anmen Square, do not be fooled into thinking you are buying tickets to the Forbidden City: they are separate attractions. ¥15.

- Forbidden City (故宫 Gù Gōng, also known as the Palace Museum). Open April 1st- October 31st: 8:30-17:00. November 1st- March 31st: 8:30-16:30. Forbiddne CityGet there when the gates open (around 8.30AM) if you want to walk through the vast and spectacular courtyards in relative peace (Close at 5PM). This is truly the spot to appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City remains mercifully relatively untouched. There are a handful of cafes and gift shops, which are surprisingly not very overpriced considering what a tourist area it is. Only two-fifths of the area of the palace is opened but more sections open all the time. Wandering to the right or left can yield some beautiful secluded courtyards and, of course, padlocked dead ends. You can rent an audio guided tour which explains certain temples along the central axis and their uses for ¥40 with a ¥100 deposit (more than a dozen languages available). The signs posted around and on buildings inside are fairly short and are written in both Chinese and English. You can reach the Forbidden City via subway line 1 to Tiananmen West or Tiananmen East,or by buses lines 1,4,52 and 728. Alternatively, the lines 101,109 and 810 stop at the north gate of Forbidden City. ¥60/¥20.

Temples
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- Yonghegong (雍和宮; Yōnghégōng; also known as Lama Temple or Palace of Peace), Yonghegong Dajie, at intersection of Second Ring road (Beside Yonghegong Lama Temple subway station, on lines 2 and 5). Closes at 4PM. The temple was built by Chinese emperors who harbored a deep fascination for the Tibetan (Tantric) version of Buddhism. Over the years, many Tibetan and Mongolian monks lived and taught here, and there are still monks in residence today. The temple is famous for its 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures of holy statues inside most of the temples. You can view most of buildings in an hour or less. ¥25.

- Zhihua Temple (智化寺; Zhìhuàsì; also known as Temple of Wisdom Attained), 5 Lumicang Hutong (禄米仓胡同5号; Lùmǐcānghútòng) (Bus 24 from Dongzhimen or Beijing Railway Station, get off at Lumicang), +86 10 6528 6691, [1]. 6AM-6PM. Buddhist temple built in 1443 One of the largest, oldest and best preserved wooden structures in Beijing. Houses the Ancient Music Center, which now and then gives concerts played by monks and true to the ancient traditions. Also houses the Beijing Cultural Exhange Museum. The temple has recently been renovated. ¥20.

- Tongjiao Temple (通教寺; Tōngjiāosì; also known as Temple of Authoritative Teaching), 19 Zhenxian Hutong, Dongzhimen Beixiaojie (东直门北小街针线胡同19号; Dōngzhíménběixiǎojiē Zhēnxiànhútòng) (800m northwest of Dongzhimen Metro Station (lines 2 and 13)), +86 10 6405 5918. 8AM-5PM on 1st and 15th of the month. Originally used by eunuchs but now actively used by nuns. Free.

- Confucius Temple (孔庙; Kǒngmiào), 13 Guozijian Street (国子监街13号; Guózǐjiànjiē) (500m southwest of Yonghegong Metro Station (lines 2 and 5)), +86 10 8402 7224. 9AM-5PM. The temple was built in 1302 and honors Confucius (孔子; Kǒngzi; 551-479 BC) who was one of China's greatest thinkers, still with significant influence on all aspects of daily life. The pavilions along either side have displays about Confucius and the history of Confucianism The courtyard is a pleasant place to relax or watch art students practice sketching. ¥20, includes admission to Imperial Academy.

- Imperial Academy (国子监; Guózǐjiàn), (Immediately to west of Confucius Temple). The academy was the highest level college and location of examinations for the civil service in Imperial China. Very much related to the neighbouring Confucius Temple in that the studies and exams were conducted in the Confucian tradition. Displays documenting the history of the imperial exams system and the lives of students. Pleasant courtyard, slightly quieter than that of the temple. ¥20, includes admission to Confucius Temple.

Museums
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- National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆 Zhōngguó Guójiā Bówùguǎn), 16, East Chang'an St, Dongcheng district (On the east side of Tiananmen Square), +86 10 8447-4914, [2]. It is undergoing renovation from 2007 until 2010 and will not be accessible until finished.

- China National Museum Waxworks (中国国家博物馆腊像展览; Zhōngguóguójiābówùguǎnlàxiàngzhǎnlǎn), East side of Tian'anmen Square (天安门广场东侧; Tiānānménguǎngchǎngdōngcè), +86 10 6513 8940. 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Large wax museum with primarily famous Chinese. Part of China National Museum, which is closed for renovation until 2010, so this one might also be. ¥20.

- The Poly Museum (保利博物馆; Bǎolì Bówùguǎn), 14 Dongzhimen South Street (东直门南大街14号; Dōngzhímén Nándàjiē) (Just northeast of Dongsishitiao Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 6500 8117 (fax: +86 10 6501 1277), [3]. Mo-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM. Small art museum specialising in bringing Chinese artifacts home to China from abroad. Main exhibitions cover ancient bronze art, ancient stone carvings and Buddha statues. ¥50.

- Mao Dun Former Residence (茅盾故居; Máodùn Gùjū), 13 Yuanensi Hutong (后圆恩寺胡同13号; Hòuyuánēnsì Hútòng) (1.5km southeast of Beixinqiao Metro Station (line 5), or buses 113, 755 to Jiaodaokou South Station (交道口南)), +86 10 6404 4089. 9AM-4PM. Mao Dun (1896-1981) was a famous revolutionary writer. His former residence including personal effects and writings can be seen here. ¥5.

- Beijing Police Museum (北京警察博物馆; Běijīng Jǐngchá Bówùguǎn), 36 Dongjiaomin Lane (东交民巷36号; Dōngjiāomín Xiàng) (1.5km east of the southern parts of Tian'anmen), +86 10 8522 5018. 9AM-4PM. Large museum on police history. ¥5.

- Imperial City Art Museum (皇城艺术馆; Huángchéngyìshùguǎn), 9 Changpuheyan (菖蒲河沿9号; Chāngpúhéyàn) (north side of Changpu River Park, near corner of Nanchizi Jie), +86 10 8511 5104, [4]. 10AM-5:30PM. The Imperial City was the Manchu city that surrounded the Forbidden City during the Qing dynasty. The museum's centrepiece is a scale model of the Forbidden & Imperial Cities. There are also displays on lifestyle, costumes, arts & crafts of the Qing imperial city. Occasionally hosts special exhibits that cost extra. ¥20.

Galleries
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- CourtYard Gallery (四合苑画廊; Sìhéyuànhuàláng), 53 Donganmen Dajie (东安门大街53号; Dōngānméndàjiē), +86 10 6526 8882 (courtyard@courtyard-gallery.com, fax: +86 10 6526 8880), [5]. Mo-Sa: 11 AM - 7 PM; Su: Noon - 7 PM. Founded in 1996. Exhibits emerging and mid-career artists working in a wide range of media. Free.

- onemoon (一月当代; yīyuèdāngdài), Inside Ditan Park, Andingmenwai (安定门外地坛公园; Āndìngménwàidìtángōngyuán), +86 10 6427 7748 (info@onemoonart.com, fax: +86 10 6427 7871), [6]. We-Su: 10 AM - 6 PM. Chinese artist working in a range of media. Free.

- Soka Art Centre (索卡艺术中心; Suǒkǎyìshùzhōngxīn), 107 Dongsi North Street (东四北大街107号; Dōngsìběidàjiē), +86 10 8401 2377 (info@soka-art.com, fax: +86 10 8401 3434), [7]. Tu-Su: 10 AM - 9 PM. Founded in 1992 in Taiwan and established in Beijing in 2001. The gallary exhibits modern famous artist from China and around Asia. Free.

- Wan Fung Art Gallery, 136 Nanchizi Jie. Worth a peek if you're in the area. Housed in a side building in the courtyard of the Imperial Archives, which you can't go in, but is quite impressive. The courtyard itself is a quiet corner in an otherwise crowded area of the city. Free.

Parks
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- Zhongshan Park (中山公园; Zhōngshāngōngyuán), West side of Tian'anmen (天安门西侧; Tiānānménxīcè), +86 10 6605 5431. Summer 6AM-9PM, winter 6:30AM-8PM. Beautifully landscaped park with lots of trees and bamboo. Paddle boats of rent on the moat of the Forbidden City. Also an indoor playground for children, and bumper cars. Adults ¥3, children free.

- Changpu River Park (菖蒲河公园; Chāngpúhé Gōngyuán), (East of Tian'anmen, parallel to Chang'an Jie). Narrow strip of landscaped park along a small stream. Begins in the east near the Beijing hotel and runs almost to Tian'anmen Gate. Free.

- Ditan Park (地坛公园; Dìtán Gōngyuán; also known as Temple of Earth), Andingmenwai Street (安定门外大街; Āndìngménwài Dàjiē) (300m north of Yonghegong Metro Station (lines 2 and 5)), +86 10 6421 4657 (dtpark@dtpark.com), [8]. 6AM-9PM. Park with a lot of cypresses and also a small amusement park area. ¥2.

- Liuyin Park (柳荫公园; Liǔyìngōngyuán), Jiangzhaikou, Andingmenwai (安定门外蒋宅口; ānìngménwàiJiǎngzháikǒu) (Andingmen Metro Station and walk ten minutes; or bus 108 or 104 to Jiangzhaikou Station), +86 10 8411 3699. 6 AM - 9:30 PM. Park showing what rural China looks like. Also contains childrens playground and a tea house. ¥1.

- Qingnianhu Park (青年湖公园; Qīngniánhúgōngyuán), Andingmenwai Street (安定门外大街; āndìngménwàidàjiē), +86 10 8411 6321. Park: summer 6 AM - 10 PM, winter 6 AM - 9 PM; Water world: summer 9 AM - 10 PM, winter closed. The park contains basketball, croquet, golf, electric boats, paddleboars and an amusement zone. Waterland contains a large pool with waterslides. Entrance ¥1; Water world adults ¥15, children ¥10.

Other
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- Drum and Bell Towers (钟鼓楼; Zhōnggǔlóu), Di'anmen Street (地安门大街; Dì'ānméndàjiē (Short walk south-east from Gulou Dajie station on subway line 2, or accessible by bus 107 or 635 (from Dongzhimen)), +86 10 6401 2674. 9AM-5:30PM. The drum tower was originally built in 1272 and reconstructed at a new location in 1800. The bell tower is build around 1700. Being situated straight north from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Qianmen Street, they are on the central north-south axis of Beijing. Originally, the towers were used to play music and later on to tell the Beijingers the time. Now they houses a 63-ton ancient copper bell and a number of ancient/replica drums. Free guides start tours at specific times, and the Drum Tower also has performances every hour or so (usually around half-past). There are great views from the top of the towers, but be prepared to hike up the 60+ (very steep!) steps. Ignore the touts at the bottom who try to push off "hutong tours" in rickety tri-shaws. Drum tower: ¥20; Bell tower ¥15; Ticket for both ¥30; half-price for students.

- Legation Quarter, (east of Tiananmen Square). Once famous in the Boxer Rebellion, the legation quarter is now occupied by government offices and army offices but can still be seen from outside. There's a wonderful bakery store called "Sapporo" near the legation quarter, famous for its breads and cheesecakes.

- Ancient Observatory (古欢象台; Gǔhuānxiàngtái), 2 Dongbiaobei Hutong (东裱褙胡同2号; Dōngbiǎobèihútòng) (Southwest corner of Jianguomen Bridge, close to Beijing Railway Station. Subway line 1 or 2 to Jianguomen station), +86 10 6524 2202. 9AM-4PM. The observatory covering 1,000 m2 was built in 1442and has been open to the public since 1983. Ancient star maps and instruments to watch stars can be seen here. Displays on the history of Chinese astronomy, and several large astronomical instruments set on top of an old watchtower of the city walls. ¥10.

Do
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Theater
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- Beijing North Theater (北兵马司剧场; Běibīngmǎsījùchǎng), 67 Jiaodaokou South Street (交道口大街67号; Jiāodàokǒudàjiē), +86 10 6406 0175.

- Beijing Seven-Color Light Children's Theater (北京七色光儿童剧院; Běijīngqīsèguāngértóngjùyuàn), 14 Ju'er Hutong, Jiaodaokou (交道口菊儿胡同14号; Jiāodàokǒujúérhútòng), +86 10 8402 2285.

- Capital Theater (首都剧场; Shǒudūjùchǎng), 22 Wangfujing Street (王府井大街22号; Wángfǔjǐngdàjiē), +86 10 6524 9847 (fax: +86 10 6523 3227), [9]. Tu-Sa: 6 PM. This theater is used by a number of different theater groups, including Beijing People's Art Theater. Performances include both contemporary and classical Chinese plays. Price range between ¥40-500 and ¥120-680.

- Central Academy of Drama Theater (中央戏剧学院实验小剧场; Zhōngyāngxìjùxuéyuànshíyànxiǎojùchǎng), 39 Dongmianhua Hutong (东棉花胡同39号; Dōngmiánhuahútòng), +86 10 8404 6174, [10]. Performanses include both plays and dance.

- Central Experimental Drama Theater (国家话剧院; Guójiāhuàjùyuàn), 45A Mao'er Hutong, Di'anmenwai Street (地安门外大街猫儿胡同45号; Dìānménwàidàjiēmāoérhútòng), +86 10 6403 1009, [11]. Both Chinese and foreign plays and both classical and experimental.

- Chang'an Grand Theater (长安大戏院; Chángāndàxìyuàn), 7 Jianguomennei Street (建国门内大街7号; Jiànguóménnèidàjiē), +86 10 6510 1309 (fax: +86 10 6510 1308), [12]. 9 AM - 7:30 PM. Traditional Chinese performances with focus on Beijing Opera. Also has a shop with paintings and folk handicrafts.

- China Children's Art Theater (中国儿童剧场; Zhōngguóértóngjùchǎng), 64 Donganmen Street (东安门大街64号; Dōngānméndàjiē), +86 10 6513 4115 (ccat@ccat.name, fax: +86 10 6513 4116), [13]. Established in 1956. Stages children's plays.

- Dongyuan Theater (东苑戏楼; Dōngyuànxìlóu), Inside the Garden of Changpu River (菖蒲河公园内; Chāngpúhégōngyuánnèi).

- Poly Theatre (保利剧院; Bǎolìjùyuàn), 14 Donzhimen South Street (东直门南大街4号; Dōngzhíménnándàjiē) (Subway line 2, Dongsishitiao station, northeast exit), +86 10 6500 1188 ext 5126 (fax: +86 10 6501 1854), [14]. Large theater holding 1,428 seats, eight balcony boxes and two VIP boxes. Chinese, classical music, opera and ballet performances are staged here by both Chinese and international artist groups. Beijing Music Festival [15] is also held here. Prices range between ¥90-380 and ¥180-1,280.

- Universal Theater (天地剧场; Tiāndìjùchǎng), 10 Dongzhimen South Street (东直门南大街10号; Dōngzhíménnándàjiē) (Subway line 2, Dongsishitiao station, northeast exit, along Second Ring road to the north of Poly plaza), +86 10 6416 9893 (zhoufy325@hotmail.com), [16]. 7:15 PM. Acrobatic show performed by China Acrobatic Troup. The theater itself is less impressive than the show. ¥180-480.

Concert hall
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- Goldsail Concert Hall (金帆音乐厅; Jīnfānyīnyuètīng), 24 Wangfujing Street (24 Wangfujing Street (王府井大街24号; Wángfǔjǐngdàjiē), +86 10 6528 9047. Small concert hall without speakers. Suitable for chamber music also.

- Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂; Rénmíndàhuìtáng), West side of Tian'anmen Square (天安门广场西侧; Tiānānménguǎngchǎngxīcè, +86 10 6309 6156. The great hall of the people is used for meetings for the National People's Congress. But there is also helt classical concerts now and then.

- Poly Theatre (see above under Theater).

Other
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- Hutongs. Hutongs are the old neighbourhoods and alleyways of Beijing. While all four inner districts still have hutong neighbourhoods (for now), Dongcheng's are among the most extensive and best preserved, and most enjoyable for wandering. Turn off any major thoroughfare in the northern half of the district, and you will find yourself in real, living neighbourhoods, filled with local residents, small shops and food stalls and markets. For a good introduction to the hutongs, the area between Bell Tower and Lama Temple is easy for exploration, as most of the lanes run east-west, making it quite easy to wander from Bell Tower to Lama Temple or vice-versa, which should take about half an hour. The restored touristy hutong of Nanluoguxiang is worth a visit for shopping, eating, and drinking, and here too you can easily branch off down the side alleys for a glimpse of the less restored and more authentic hutongs. If walking is not your thing, try a rickshaw tour. Rickshaws converge during the day in the square between Drum and Bell Towers. You can try your luck bargaining with the drivers, or there is a fixed-price ticket booth in northwest corner of the square, offering hutong rickshaw tours for ¥180.

- Cooking classes, [17]. 10:30AM, every day except Wednesday. A few places around Nanluoguxiang now offer Chinese cooking classes. One such place, Hutong Cuisine, is run by an English-speaking chef in a small hutong home. Classes are small. Reservations are necessary. ¥180 per person.

- New China Children's Store (新中国儿童用品商店; Xīnzhōngguóértóngyòngpǐnshāngdiàn), 168 Wangfujing Street (王府井大街168号; Wángfǔjǐngdàjiē), +86 10 6528 1774. 9 AM - 10 PM. Play center for children where the kids can catch goldfish, play in the gigantic sandpit or other. They also sell all kind of gear for children. ¥10-20 each ride.

Buy
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- Wangfujing (王府井大街 Wángfǔjǐng Dàjiē), (Subway line 1, Wangfujing station). Beijing's most famous shopping street, nowadays with mostly the same international brands and modern malls you will find anywhere else in the world. The street is pedestrianised for several blocks, making it more pleasant than many parts of Beijing to walk around. Several large malls in the area such as Oriental Plaza (see below) and Sun Dong An plaza. One useful shop is the Foreign Language Bookstore, at the northern end of the pedestrian area, which has a good selection of guidebooks and maps (although expensive). Wangfujing snack street (see also "Eat") in the alleys just to the east has vendors selling souvenirs and crafts. Bargain hard.

- The Malls at Oriental Plaza (东方新天地 Dōngfāng Xīn Tiāndì), East of Tian'anmen Square, on Wangfujing (Wangfujing station on line 1 has an exit that leads directly in to the mall at its west end. Dongdan station on lines 1 & 5 is at the east end). At one time this was the largest mall in Asia. Modern shopping mall is expensive but provides you with a lot of buying opportunities from diamonds, to real (affordable) DVD's, (international) music CD's and food. You can find lots of brands in Oriental Plaza, from top to the normal like Calvin Klein, G-star, Esprit, Only, etc. Besides shopping, you also can eat here, from Western cuisine to traditional Chinese food.

- Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷; Nánluógǔxiàng; some partly translated signs say 'South Luogu Alley'). This restored hutong, just east of Drum Tower and Houhai, is lined with boutiques and small shops. Not the place for bargains, but this is where to come for unique and distinct gifts including T-shirts, pottery, jewellery, etc.

Eat
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Budget
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- Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街; Wángfǔjǐngxiǎochījiē), (In the alley to the west of the pedestrian zone on Wangfujing Dajie). Many stalls selling Beijing-style snacks, both sweet and savoury.

- Donghuamen Night Market (东华门夜市; Dōnghuāmén Yèshì), (Along Dong'anmen Dajie, at the north end of the Wangfujing pedestrian area). Late afternoon and evening only. The place to come for exotic snacks such as scorpions, starfish, and silkworm grubs. You can also buy more typical snacks like fried noodles, dumplings, and kebabs. More expensive than a "real" neighbourhood market, but still reasonably priced. ¥5-20 per item.

- Oriental Dumpling King (东方饺子王; Dōngfāngjiǎoziwáng), 14 Chaoyangmen Nanxiaojie (朝阳门南小街14号楼; Cháoyángménnánxiǎojiē) (On east side of street near Lumicang. Bus 24 from Dongzhimen or Beijing Railway Station. No English sign.), +86 10 6527 2042. 10AM-10PM. Cheap and delicious Dongbei (northeast) style dumplings. This is a chain, one of several around town. Their location in Harbin is recommended in several guidebooks, but if you're not going there you can get the same dumplings in Beijing. A few dozen different kinds, and can be boiled or fried. As with many dumpling places, order by weight: An order is usually two liang (èr liǎng) which is 100g, about 10-12 dumplings.

Mid range
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Chinese food:

- Guijie (簋街/鬼街; Guǐjiē), (Beixinqiao subway station on Line 5 is at the west end of the strip). The most famous street for food in Beijing is probably Guijie (sometimes called Ghost Street), which runs east-west along Dongzhimen Nei Dajie from Jiaodaokou Dong Dajie to to Dongzhimen Lijiaomen Bridge on the Second Ring Road, Dongcheng District. Red lanterns, traditional courtyards, hundreds of restaurants along the street. Eating on Ghost Street is about more than food and drink, it's a way of life for many Beijingers. Take your pick of restaurants, there are all kinds here.

- Huajiayiyuan (花家怡园; Huājiāyíyuán), Dongzhimennei Street 235 (东直门内大街235号; Dōngzhíménnèi Dàjiē) (On the north side of the street, nearer western end), +86 10 6405 1908. One of the larger and better-known (but also more crowded and pricier) restaurants along the strip. Housed in a series of interconnected courtyards. Very good homestyle food, also does a good Peking duck, although it is not the specialty.

- Donglaishun (东来顺; Dōngláishùn). Daily 11AM-2PM and 5PM-9PM. This king of Beijing hotpot has been around since the 19th century. Founded by the Hui (ethnic Muslims), Donglaishun serves halal cuts of top-quality lamb and beef. Also serves cooked-by-chef dishes, including traditional Beijing sweets.

- Wangfujing branch, 198 Wangfujing Dajie (东城区王府井大街198号), +86 10 6513-9661. Subway: Line 1 to Wangfujing

- Yuxin Sichuan Restaurant (渝信川菜; Yúxìn Chuāncài). M-F 10AM-10PM, Sa-Su 11AM-10PM. One of the contenders in the ongoing competition for Beijing's best Sichuanese, Yuxin delivers on authenticity, flavor, and service. It's always busy, and always good. ¥30-50 per person.

- 7 Jiangguomen Nei Dajie. (长安大剧院，建国门内大街7号 Chángān Dàjùyuàn, Jiànguómén Nèidàjiē Qī hào). (Take the subway Lines 1 or 2 to Jianguomen, take Exit A, and walk west). Try their location in the Chang'an Grand Theatre for a calmer setting decorated in a traditional style, with alcoves divided by bamboo screens.

- Yuxiang Renjia (渝乡人家), Hepingli Dongjie (和平里东街) (One (long) block east of east entrance to Ditan Park (on the next major road). Bus 117 or 123 from Dongzhimen.), +86 10 84220807. Delicious Sichuan food. If you want to try Sichuan but are a little afraid of the spiciness, this place is a good choice: It's still spicy, but not as mouth-numbing as some other places. Reasonable prices, and a faux rural-village decor. There are 6 or 7 locations around town.

- For vegetarians, Beijing's first pure vegetarian buffet restaurant is in the Confucius Temple on Guo zi jian street, west of the famous Lama Temple. No English menu so far, but one can just ask for the buffet, which contains a large variety of delicious vegetarian dishes, as well as a vegetarian hotpot, and a large selection of dessert.

Non-Chinese Food:

- Ginkgo Restaurant & Bar, 199 Andingmennei Dajie (South from Andingmen bridge, about 700 metres on the right), +86 10 64027532, [18]. Run by a British expat this place offers great breakfast, afternoon coffee and a host of interesting live music events.

- Vineyard Cafe, 31 Wudaoying Hutong (五道营胡同31号) (Close to Lama Temple: First alley south of and parallel to Second Ring Road). Great place for Western-style breakfast and brunch in a restored hutong home. Also great European/fusion dishes, including some vegetarian options. A good dessert choice is the chocolate brownie with ice cream.

- Mirch Masala Indian Cuisine, 60-2 Nanluogu Xiang, +86 10 6591 5050. Located on the tourist street of Nanluoguxiang, Mirch Masala serves delicious North-Indian dishes.

- Fish Nation, 31 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷31号). English-style fish'n'chips, also serves good English breakfasts. Rooftop patio.

- Xiao Xin's Cafe (小新的店), 103 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷103号). One of the original cafes along this hutong, and now has many imitators. Great coffee and desserts, although the rest of the food is not particularly special.

Splurge
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Chinese food:

- Dadong Duck Restaurant (大董烤鸭店 Dàdŏng Kăoyā Diàn). Daily 11AM-10PM. Considered by some to be the best Beijing duck in the city, this upscale restaurant also delivers on a nice atmosphere. Reservations suggested.

- Dongsi Shitiao branch, Dongsi Shitiao 22A, Bldg. 1-2 of the Nanxin Cang International Tower (东四十条甲22号南新仓国际大厦1-2楼) (Just southwest of Dongsishitiao subway station on Line 2, entrance is at the back (south) of the building). This is the newer and more impressive of Dadong's branches.

Non-Chinese food
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- The Courtyard, 95 Donghuamen Dajie, +86 10 6526 8882. The Courtyard overlooks the moat surrounding the south-east corner of the wall of the Forbidden City. At night, the wall and tower are illuminated which gives a sense of being in old Peking. The cuisine is modern international fusion food. A recent (2011) traveller felt that, while the food was still excellent, the service and ambiance had greatly declined..

- Capital M, 3rd Floor, No. 2 Qianmen Pedestrian St, +86 10 6702 2727, [19]. Capital M is a modern Australian/European style restaurant. It provides cuisine and ambiance of a high standard. It overlooks part of Tiananmen Square and several colourful Chinese buildings which are illuminated at night. By Australian standards it provides excellent value.

- Saveurs de Coree, 29 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷29号). Korean food in a fancy setting. Can be expensive, but special set menus are a good deal.

Drink
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Nanluogu Xiang area
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Bar cluster established around 2006 in hutong area east of Houhai. The atmosphere in this area is still more authentic Beijing than the neighboring Houhai area, and the action here usually starts already during the afternoon.

- 12SQM (12平米; Shíèrpíngmǐ), 1 Fuxiang Hutong, Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷福祥胡同1号; Nánluógǔxiàngfúxiánghútòng), +86 10 6402 1554 (twelvesqm@yahoo.com), [20]. 5PM-midnight. Very small bar/café.

- Gonghe, 74 Nanluo Guxiang (南锣鼓巷74号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 135 8163 0000. 3PM-2AM. Jazz lounge. Cheap.

- Guitar Bar (吉他吧; Jítābā), 40 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷40号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 10 6405 7263. 6PM-12AM. Very small bar with standard drink and Italian food. Guitar jam most nights.

- Hutong Bar (胡同儿; Hútòngér), 39 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷39号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 10 6400 6808. 3PM-2AM. Small bar serving tea and beer.

- In Bar & Café, 17-1 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷17－1号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 N10 8402 2050, [21]. 2:30PM-2AM. Quiet café. Beer from ¥10.

- Jianghu Bar (江湖酒吧; Jiānghújiǔbā), 7 Dongmianhua Hutong (东棉花胡同7号; Dōngmiánhuahútòng), +86 10 6401 4611. Simple live music venue.

- Lugar, 70 Gulou Dongdajie (鼓楼东大街70号; Gǔlóudōngdàjiē), +86 10 6709 1383 (luweiley@gmail.com). 4PM-late. Vietnames tapas bar serving signature cocktails, mixed drinks, rums and whiskeys.

- Mao Live House, 111 Gulou East Street (鼓楼东大街111号; Gǔlóudōngdàjiē), +86 10 6402 5080 (live@maolive.com), [22]. Most shows start around 8-9PM. Live rock music venue. The stage is great, the sound system is okay and the concert room and furniture are very basic. ¥40-80.

- Ned's, 84 Nanluo Guxiang (南锣鼓巷84号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 134 0118 1374 (nedsbeijing@hotmail.com). 6PM-late. Small Australian bar with football on the television.

- The Pool Bar, 106 Gulou Dongdajie (鼓楼东大街106号; Gǔlóudōngdàjiē), +86 10 8404 7956. 6PM-2AM. Yes, they do have a pool table (and also foosball). Cheap.

- Reef Bar, 14 Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷14号; Nánluógǔxiàng), +86 10 8169 8494. 2:30PM-4:30AM. Basic bar. Not Cheap.

- Salud (老伍酒吧 Lǎowǔ Jiǔbā), 66 Nánluógǔxiàng 南锣鼓巷66号, +86 10 6402 5086. A Spanish-style tapas bar.

- Tree House, 81 Ju'er Hutong (菊儿胡同81号; Júérhútòng), +86 138 1044 6267 (hongbaosha@yahoo.com.cn), [23]. 8:30AM-1AM. Small and quiet pub/café, one of the few to be open also in the morning. Evening events now and then. Coffee from ¥15; beer from ¥10.

Drum Tower and Bell Tower area
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Another smaller and quieter cluster of bars, close to both Houhai and Nanluoguxiang.

- Ball House, 40 Zhonglouwan, Gulou Dajie (鼓楼大街钟楼湾40号; Gǔlóudàjiēzhōnglóuwān), +86 10 6407 4051. 2PM-3AM. Bar with pool and foosball. Frequented by local artists.

- Bed Bar (床; Chuáng), 17 Zhangwang Hutong, Jiu Gulou Dajie (旧鼓楼大街张旺胡同17号; Jiùgǔlóudàjiēzhāngwànghútòng), +86 10 8400 1554. 2PM-3AM. Relaxed bar with a lot of rugs and pillows.

- Drum and Bell, 41 Zhonglouwan Hutong (On the west side of the square between Bell and Drum towers.), +86 10 84033600. Best part of this bar is the comfortable rooftop patio (especially if you can score a table with couches) that overlooks the Bell Tower and the square (which at night is clear of tour buses and used by locals playing badminton).

- Jiangjin Bar (疆进酒; Jiāngjìnjiǔ), 2 Zhongku hutong (钟库胡同2号; Zhōngkùhútòng), +86 10 8405 0124, [24]. Noon-2AM. The cocktails are not good, but the live folk music jam is great.

- Zen Bar, 18 Zhonglouwan Hutong (钟楼湾18号; Zhōnglóuwān), +86 10 6400 6859. 10AM-11PM. Very small and quiet bar hidden away in a hutong. Nice simple surroundings including a lot of Buddhas. Beer from ¥15.

Other
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- Earl Bar (伯爵酒吧; Bójuéjiǔbā), 1 Dongdan North Street (东单北大街1号; Dōngdānběidàjiē), +86 10 8511 6646. 7PM-2AM. Very basic bar with local DJs. Cheap.

- Fez Bar, 23 Qianmen East Street (前门东大街23号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), +86 10 6559 6266 (maria.ma@ankh-concepts.com), [25]. 6PM-1AM. Openair rooftop cocktail bar situated next to The Legation Quarter and with great views. Serves all kind of cocktails as well as some food.

- Hex Bar, 23 Qianmen East Street (前门东大街23号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), 86 10 6559 6266 (maria.ma@ankh-concepts.com). 6PM-1AM. Serves signature cocktails and smoothies.

- Mao Mao Chong Bar, 55A Wu Dao Ying Hutong (市东城区交道口南大街板厂胡同12号 ; 12 Ban Chang Hutong Jiao Dao Kou Nan Jie (Near South end of Nan Luo Gu Xiang) DongCheng District), +86 139 2692 4563 (maomaochongstore@yahoo.com), [26]. 5.30PM-late. This relaxed hutong pub serves reasonably priced international beers, wines and stellar cocktails. The walls are decorated with art and t-shirts for sale by the bar's owners, a husband-wife team who also cook up some of the city's best pizzas. Just east of Nanluoguxiang, Mao Mao Chong is a the perfect escape from Beijing's flashy bar districts. Cheaper than most bars in Beijing.

- Minty, 26 Mao'er Hutong (帽儿胡同26号; Màoérhútòng), +86 138 1022 2787. 1PM-midnight. Neighborhood bar with live folk music now and then. Cheap.

- Star Live (星光现场; Xīngguāngxiànchǎng), 79 Hepingli Xijie (和平里西街79号; Hépínglǐxījiē), +86 10 6425 5677 (thestarlive@sina.com), [27]. 9AM-7PM. Medium sized live rock music venue specialising in death metal. Staging both Chinese and international bands.

- Tango (糖果; Tángguǒ), 79 Hepingli Xijie (和平里西街79号; Hépínglǐxījiē), +86 10 6428 2288. 24 hours. Big club with a vaste dance floor, a chillout lounge and KTV. Features big DJ names.

- Tantra, 79 Hepingli Xijie (和平里西街79号; Hépínglǐxījiē), +86 10 6421 0695 (d9beijin@163.com). 8PM-late. Buddha temple thened coctail lounge with English speaking crew and house music. Beer from ¥35.

- Yugong Yishan (愚公移山; Yúgōngyíshān), 3-2 Zhangzizhong Road(张自忠路3-2号; Zhāngzìzhōnglù) (2 min walk west along Zhangzizhong Road from Zhangzizhonglu subway station, after the entrance to the former site of the Ding Qurai government), +86 10 6404 2711, [28]. Shows usually start at 10PM. The cream of Beijing's nascent rock scene can be enjoyed at this modern and tastefully presented venue. ¥20 and up for drinks, shows are between ¥30 and ¥80.

Sleep
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Budget
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- P.LOFT Youth Hostel (北京炮局工厂青年旅舍; Běijīng Pàojúgōngchǎng Qīngniánlǚ shè), (500m southeast of Yonghegong Metro Station (lines 2 and 5)), +86 10 6402 7218 (ploft@yahoo.cn), [29]. Located close to Yonghegong Lama Temple and Guijie Food Street. Internet, ticket office, laudry, table tennis, billard, basketball and bike rental available. Restaurant and bar. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥30, doubles from ¥180.

- Dongzhimen Golden Pineapple Youth Hostel (北京金菠萝国际青年酒店; Běijīng Jīnbōluó Guójìqīngniánjiǔdiàn), 18 Xinzhong Street (新中街18号; Xīnzhōngjiē) (700m southeast of Dongzhimen Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 8447 2899‎. Cheapest doubles are very small and bath and toilet is separated from the rest of the room only by a glass wall. Internet, snack shop, safety box, laundry room, guest kitchen and car and bike rental available. Restaurant and bar. Listed/discounted rates for doubles from ¥230/¥180, disounted rates for dorms from ¥34.

- Flowering House Hostel (北京易静小栈国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Yìjìngxiǎozhàn Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 23 Huageng Hutong, Jiaodaokou (交道口花梗胡同23号; Jiāodàokǒu Huāgěnghútòng) (300m southwest of Beixinqiao Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 8404 3490 (booking@floweringhouse.com), [30]. Hostel in traditional courtyard. Free internet, safe, laundry facilities, massage and bicycle rent available. Chinese and Western restaurant. Listed rates for dorms/doubles without bathroom/doubles with bathroom from ¥60/¥179/¥289, discounted from ¥30/¥179/¥260.

- Beijing Saga International Youth Hostel (北京实佳国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Shíjiā Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 9 Shijia Hutong, Nanxiao Street (南小街史家胡同9号; Nánxiǎojiē Shǐjiāhútòng) (From the station, follow the road north past the Beijing International Hotel, after about a ten minute walk look for the hostel sign with an arrow pointing down one of the hutongs on the left side), +86 10 65272773, 65249098 (sagayangguang@yahoo.com), [31]. Very popular with backpackers. There's a restaurant on the top floor. The staff speak some English. Dorms ¥40-50, doubles ¥160, triples ¥180.

- Beijing City Central Youth Hostel, Located directly across from Beijing Zhan (central train station) (at the corner of Beijingzhanjie and Beijingzhan Xijie). The largest hostel in Beijing, with central air conditioning and individual controls in each of the 200 rooms. It offers a computer/internet room, billiards, bar, and karaoke. On the 1st and 2nd levels are a 24-hour supermarket, breakfast bar, coffee lounge, ATM, phones for international dialing, express film processing, a mobile phone shop, and post office. The rooms on the 3rd to 6th floors include ensuites, doubles, singles, and 4 and 8 bunk dormitories. Dorms ¥60 (4-8 beds), doubles with shared bathrooms ¥160.

- Eastern Morning Youth Hostel, Dongdan Santiao, behind the Oriental Plaza (in the basement of the Oriental Plaza complex next to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street), +86 10 65284347. A great budget option if price is your primary concern. The staff do not speak much English but are friendly. Internet access is available at ¥10 per hour. It is a 5 minute walk to the Dongdan or Wangfujing subway stations and about a 15 minute walk to the International Hotel airport shuttle stop. Private rooms cost about ¥90 per night - book in advance.

- Home Inn (Beijing Jiaodaokou) (如家酒店 (北京交道口店); Rújiājiǔdiàn), 113 Jiaodaokou East Street (交道口东大街113号; Jiāodàokǒudōngdàjiē) (600m west of Beixinqiao Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 8405 0909 (fax: +86 10 8405 0505), [32]. Small rooms with free internet. Business center and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥219, discounted from ¥182; breakfast ¥15.

- Wangfujing Dawan Hotel (北京王府井大万酒店; Běijīngwángfǔjǐngdàwànjiǔdiàn), 2 Ganyu Hutong, Dongdan Bei Street (东单北大街甘雨胡同甲2号; Dōngdānběidàjiēgānyǔhútòng) (50m west of Denshikou Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 8511 4543 (f73@tom.com, fax: +86 10 8511 4537), [33]. Rooms with free internet, television, aircon and fridge. Business center and bath center including sauna available. Chinese restaurant. The rooms are ok, the bathrooms not too bright or clean, and the service level of fluctuating standard, but this is compensated by the low price and great location. Listed rates for doubles from ¥238, discounted from ¥137; breakfast ¥15.

- Star of City Hotel (北京都市之星酒店; Běijīngdūshìzhīxīngjiǔdiàn), 216 Dongzhimennei Street (东直门内大街216号; Dōngzhíménnèidàjiē) (300m east of Beixinqiao Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 6402 1188 (fax: +86 10 6402 8557). Large rooms with free internet. Ticket office and laundry service available. No restaurant but a tea house. Can be loud, get an interior room. Clean bathroom, but very old beds. More suited to Chinese, though English speaking staff is available. One stop away from the Lama Temple. Listed rates for doubles without window from ¥268, discounted from ¥198; breakfast ¥15; rooms with window only slightly more expensive.

- Hepingli Hotel (北京和平里宾馆; Běijīnghépínglǐbīnguǎn), Xinghua Road, Hepingli (和平里兴化路; Hépínglǐ Xīnghuàlù) (500m northwest of Hepinglibeijie Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 6428 6868 (hplhotel@sina.com, fax: +86 10 6421 4087), [34]. Three star hotel. The cheapest rooms are quite small. Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office, fitness and sauna available. Chinese restaurant. This hotel should not be confused with the more up-scale Beijing Hepingli Hotel. Listed rates for doubles in old building ¥268, discounted from ¥172; breakfast ¥28; rooms in new building somewhat more expensive.

- Beijing Zaoyuanju Hotel (北京枣园居宾馆; Běijīngzǎoyuánjūbīnguǎn), 17 Zhangwang Hutong, Jiugulou Street (旧鼓楼大街张旺胡同17号; Jiùgǔlóudàjiē Zhāngwànghútòng) (500m south from Guoloudajie Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 6404 2653 (fax: +86 10 6403 1197), [35]. Rooms with free internet. Ticket office and laudry service available. Western restaurant, bar and room service. The rooms and especially the bathrooms are small. There is some noise from other guests and from the hutong life outside. Great location close to bar areas and sights. Listed rates for doubles from ¥288, discounted from ¥170; breakfast ¥10.

Mid-range
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A number of mid-range hotels are located east of the Dongzhimen subway station. From the subway stop, walk around 800m east to the next big intersection. On the southeast corner is another Home Inn location (see listing above). On the northern side of the street (not on the main road itself, but in the residential compound behind), half a dozen large hotels can be found. A double costs ¥150-250 a night depending on the season. It's worth haggling and comparing with the other hotels around before you book. Although the hotels are conveniently near a ring road, the subway also provides a convenient and quick access to the city center. Right next to the subway station there is a McDonalds, and - more interestingly - a large shopping center (Ginza Mall) with a food court hidden in the lowest floor.

- Hua Fu International Hotel, 53 Donganmen Street, +86 21 6122 6688 ext 7800, [36]. Rather basic rooms, but clean with nice bathroom and TV (Chinese channels). Some staff had trouble speaking English but all were friendly. Excellent location close to Wangfujing shopping area, 10 min walk to Forbidden City. ¥338 for a single room. Breakfast buffet avaible for ¥20.

- Beijing Fuhao Hotel (北京富豪酒店; Běijīngfùháojiǔdiàn), 45 Wangfujing Avenue (王府井大街45号; Wáng fǔ jǐngdà jiē), +86 10 6523 1188, [37]. The hotel offers 104 air-conditioned rooms with mini-bar, cable TV, free internet and fridge. Among its facilities are Lao Chongqing Hot-pot City Restaurant, Wangfujing Roast Duck Restaurant, a sauna club, and a night club/KTV. Rates for doubles on official website from ¥364.47.

- Beijing Harmony Hotel (华美伦酒店; Huáměilún Jiǔdiàn), 59 Suzhou Hutong, Youtong Street (Opposite the Beijing Railway Station), +86 10 65285566, [38]. International 3 star hotel with only 3-minutes walk to the Beijing Railway Station and Dongdan Shopping street. Convenient location for tourists. ¥488.

- Tangyue Hotel (北京唐悦酒店; Běijīngtángyuèjiǔdiàn), 54 Donghuamen Road (东华门大街54号; Dōnghuàméndàjiē) (Just east of the Forbidden City, 800m north of Tian'anmen East Station (line 1)), +86 10 6525 2502 (fax: +86 10 6525 2591). Spacious rooms with free internet, fridge, safe and coffee facilities. Specially designed hotel with business center, beauty salon, ticket office available. Coffee shop with first class coffee, bar and tea house but no restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥580, discounted from ¥207; western breakfast ¥25.

- Beijing Golden Palace Silver Street (北京金府银街大酒店; Běijīngjīnfǔyínjiēdàjiǔdiàn), 31 Ganyu Hutong, Wangfujing Street (王府井大街甘雨胡同31号; Wángfǔjǐngdàjiē Gānyǔhútòng (200m west of Dengshikou Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 8511 0388 (fax: +86 10 6528 1028), [39]. Rooms with internet access against surcharge as well as aircon, mini bar and safe. Cheapest rooms and bathrooms are quite small and not too clean. Business center, karaoke, beauty salon, gym and rooftop garden available. Chinese and Western restaurant as well as a coffee shop. Listed rates for doubles without window from ¥588, discounted from ¥172, rooms with window somewhat more expensive; western breakfast ¥20.

- Shatan Hotel (北京沙滩宾馆; Běijīngshātānbīnguǎn), 28 Shatanhou Street (沙滩后街28号; Shātānhòujiē) (Just east of Jingshan Park), +86 10 8402 6688 (tprsvns@hubs1.net, fax: 86 10 84023016), [40]. Rooms with free internet and aircon. Business center, ticket office, laundry service, hair dressing, bath center, billard and table tennis available. Chinese and Western restaurant and room service. Best rates on official website start at ¥408.

- Red Wall Hotel (北京红墙饭店; Běijīnghóngqiángfàndiàn), 31 Shatan North Street (沙滩北街31号; Shātānběijiē) (Just east of Jingshan Park), +86 10 5109 8888 (fax: +86 10 5109 8999), [41]. Rooms with free internet. Business center, gift shop and beauty salon available. Chinese and Wester restaurant as well as coffee shop. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,281, discounted from ¥303; breakfast ¥41. Listed rates seem unrealisticly high.

- Jingyuan Courtyard Hotel - Beijing, 35 Xitangzi Hutong, Wangfujing Street, +86 10 65259259, [42]. Rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a full bath, mini-bar, cable TV, and Internet access. Rates start at ¥619.

- Qianyuan International Business Hotel, 19 Dongzhimennei St, +86 10 84001999, [43]. At the middle of the most famous night food street, Dongzhimen Street. from ¥388.

- Dongjiao Minxiang Hotel, 23A Dongjiao Minxiang, 86-10-65243311, [44]. Offers guestrooms with private toilet and bath with tub, slippers, bathrobe, and hair dryer. Rates start at ¥458.

- Beijing Qianyuan International Business Hotel, 86-10-84001999 (tprsvns@hubs1.net), [45]. Offers 202 air-conditioned and well-decorated accommodations. Rates start at ¥454.

Splurge
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- Grand Hotel Beijing (北京贵宾楼饭店; Běijīng Guìbīnlóu Fàndiàn), 35 East Chang'an Street (东长安街35号; Dōngchángānjiē), +86 10 6513 7788 (fax: +86 10 6513 0049), [46]. 5 star hotel located in a traditional building in a small street overlooking the Forbidden City. Rooms with free internet except for the cheapest ones. The rooms are 32-66m2 except for the very most expensive, which is more than 100m2. Business center, gift shop, ticket office, fitness, pool and sauna available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as coffee shop, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles ¥3,450-14,950, discounted rates ¥765-10,500, breakfast ¥184.

- Legendale Hotel Beijing (北京励骏酒店; Běijīng Lìjùn Jiǔdiàn), 90-92 Jinbao Street (金宝街90-92号; Jīnbǎojiē), +86 10 8511 3388 (sm@legendalehotel.com.cn, fax: +86 10 8511 5566), [47]. 5 star hotel located close to Wangfujing. Rooms of 38-71m2 with free internet. Business center, beauty salon, karaoke, fitness, swimming pool, massage and sauna available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as coffee shop and bar. Listed rates for doubles ¥4,140-7,820, discounted rates ¥1,478-5,797.

- The Peninsula Beijing (北京王府半岛酒店; Běijīng Wángfǔbàndǎo Jiǔdiàn), 8 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing (王府井金鱼胡同8号; Wángfǔjǐng Jīnyúhútòng), +86 10 8516 2888 (pbj@peninsula.com, fax: +86 10 6510 6311), [48]. Five star hotel with rooms with free internet. The smallest rooms are 31m2. Swimming pool, spa, massage and lots of shops available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as a bar. Listed rates for doubles from ¥3,400, discounted from ¥1,500, breakfast ¥299.

- Grand Hyatt Beijing, 1 East Chang An Avenue, +86 10 8518 1234 (beijing.grand@hyatt.com), [49]. Privately-owned, exquisite, and expensive, 5 star hotel. Rooms can go for $150 per night. There is an enormous swimming pool in the basement that is decorated in very tropical manner, but the deepest part is only 1.5 meters. The jacuzzi and wet sauna are excellent. Great hotel and great location, if you can afford it. $150 / night.

- Beijing Hotel, [50]. State-owned (and thus presumably less expensive). Located near the Forbidden City, there is a spectacular view of Tiananmen Square from the hotel.

- Xinhai Jin Jiang Hotel, 61 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District, (tprsvns@hubs1.net), [51]. Conveniently located in the bustling commercial district of Wangfujing, this hotel has 231 elegantly furnished rooms which pamper guests with lavish comfort. It has excellent business and leisure facilities which include the sprawling International Conference Center.

Contact
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District Xuanwu District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Parks

Mosque

Temples

Museums

• Do

Theaters

Other

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Drink

Bars

Cafes and teahouses

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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The south western part of metro line 2 borders the district to the north and the new metro line 4 under construction will run through. From the central station the District is reached by taking metro line 2 clockwise. From the Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square it is just a short walk to south west.

See
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Despite the long history of the district, it is not home to any of the most important sights in Beijing. However, the district does have som interesting parks and temples, especially the Grand View Garden and the Niu Street Mosque, which are worth a visit if you have more time in Beijing after seeing the top sights of the city.

Parks
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- Grand View Garden (大观园; Dàguānyuán), South Caiyuan Street (南菜园街12号; Náncàiyuánjiē) (In the south west corner of Xuanwu District), +86 10 6354 4994, [1]. 7:30 AM - 5 PM. Garden established in the 1980s based on the novel 'The Dream of the Red Mansions'. 125,000 m2 with temples, pavilions and other buildings as well as miniature gardens. Traditional ceremonies performed now and then. The park also has a restaurant. ¥40.

- Taoranting Park (陶然亭公园 Táorántíng Gōngyuán), 19 Taiping Jie (太平街19号; Tàipíngjiē) (North of the Beijing Southern Railway Station, bus routes: 40, 59, 819, 102, 122, 106, 20), +86 10 6353 2385. 6 AM - 9:30 PM. A former hangout for literati, while most other Beijing parks were for imperial families only. The park has a total area of 240,000 m2 with water area accounting for 69,000 m2. The park is a mixture of ancient construction styles and modern park design. It was built in 1952. Taoran Pavilion (one of the four most important in Beijing) build in 1695 and some tombs are located in the park. The park has a lake with pavilions on the bank. The park also has a Mini Golf Center, a Water Wonder Land as well as Peacock, China Rose, and Deer Gardens. ¥2.

Mosque
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- Niu Street Mosque (牛街礼拜寺; Niújiēlǐbàisì), 88 Niu Street (牛街88号; Niújiē), +86 10 6353 2564. Famous Mosque build in 996 and the oldest and largest of the mosques in Beijing. Structured as a traditional Chinese palace, but also uses typical Arabic decoration with a lot of red colour. A must see if staying for more than a few days. The Muslim presence in the area is obvious with many Muslim shops and Arabic signs around. ¥10.

Temples
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- Fayuan Temple (法源寺; Fǎyuánsì), Fayuansihou Street (法源寺后街; Fǎyuánsìhòujiē) (Metro line 2, Changchunjie Station, south along Changchun Street and Niu Jie, just west of Niu Jie), +86 10 6353 3966. 8AM-4PM. This Buddhist temple was built in 645 and rebuilt in 1436-1449, which makes it the oldest existing in Beijing. Now, it is the site of the Chinese Buddhist Academy and the exhibition center for Buddhist cultural relics, and is also an important institution training young monks and Buddhism research. The temple covers 6,700 square meters. The main buildings are Gate of Temple, Heavenly King Hall, Main Hall, Hall of Great Compassion, Sutra Hall, and Bell and Drum Towers. ¥5.

- Baoguo Temple (报国寺; Bàoguósì), Baoguosi Qianjie, Guang'anmennei Dajie (广安门内大街报国寺前街; Guǎngānménnèidàjiēbàoguósìqiánjiē), +86 10 6317 3169. 7AM-4:30PM. Founded in 1103, various uses during the next centuries, almost forgotten after 1949, but now renovated and open to public. There is also an antique market specialised in picture books and calligraphies, including writing tools and paper. Free.

Museums
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- Museum of Ancient Architecture (古代建筑博物馆; Gǔdàijiànzhùbówùguǎn), 21 Dongjing Road (东经路21号; Dōngjīnglù), +86 10 6301 7620, [2]. 9 AM - 4 PM. Museum with a model of Beijing ancient city as well as exhibits of Beijing's ancient architecture. ¥15.

- Song Tang Zhai Museum of Traditional Chinese Folk Carving (松堂斋民间雕刻博物馆; Sōngtángzhāimínjiāndiāokèbówùguǎn), 14 Liulichang East Street (琉离厂东街14号; Liúlíchǎngdōngjiē) (In the eastern end of the Liulichang Shopping Street), +86 10 8316 4662. 9 AM - 6 PM. This is a small privately owned museum showing carvings in doors, furniture, other wood and stone. Free.

- Museum of Ancient Pottery Civilization (古陶文明博物馆; Gǔtáowénmíngbówùguǎn), 12 South Caiyuan West Street (南菜园西街12号; Náncàiyuánxījiē), +86 10 6353 8884. Tu-Su 10 AM - 5 PM. Shows the Chinese history of pottery from Neolithic Age to now. ¥20.

Do
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Theaters
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Xuanwu District is home to some of the best Beijing Opera theaters, especially the first three mentioned below.

- Huguang Huiguan Theatre (湖广会馆; Húguǎnghuìguǎn), 3 Hufang Street (虎坊路3号; Hǔfānglù) (Metro station Heping Men exit D1, ten minutes walk south; or take bus 102 or 105), +86 10 6351 8284, [3]. Daily 7:30-8:40 PM; museum 9 AM - 7:30 PM. Theatre primarily performing excerpts of traditional Chinese opera. The theatre has been working since the 1830s. The theatre building from 1830 is the oldest and best preserved indoor theatre in Beijing. It is located in area with other traditional buildings. Next to the theatre is an opera museum. ¥150-580; museum ¥10.

- Lao She Teahouse. See listing in Drink Section.

- Li Yuan Theatre (梨园剧场; Líyuánjùchǎng), 175 Yong'anlu (永安路175号; Yǒng'ānlù), +86 10 5166 4621, [4]. 7:30 - 8:45 PM. Plays from the Beijing Opera repertoire. Also exhibitions of opera costumes and other. Tea and snacks available. ¥280-580.

- Tianqiao Acrobatic Theater (天桥杂技剧场; Tiānqiáozájìjùchǎng), 95 Tianqiao Market Street, east end of Beiwei Road (北纬路东口天桥市场街95号; Běiwěilùdōngkǒutiānqiáoshìchǎngjiē), +86 10 6303 7449, [5]. 5:30-6:30 PM and 7:15-8:40 PM. ¥180-380.

- Tianqiao Theatre (天桥剧场; Tiānqiáojùchǎng), Beiwei Road (北纬路30号; Běiwěilù), +86 10 8315 6300; +86 10 5166 1145. From 7:30 PM. Theater with a seating capacity of 1,200 with performance of local folk music and dance, talk shows, and international ballet and musicals. ¥100-600.

- Tsinghua Chi (清华池 Qīnghuá Chí), (Bus 23, 343, 14, 66, 70, 603, 7, 15, 102, 105 to Hu Fang Lu Zhan), +86 10 63546663/2, [6]. A spa experience from the famous Qinghua Chi, established in 1905. Great service. Affordable TCM treatments. Try the Ba Guan (Cupping) or acupuncture or opt for simpler manicure and pedicure and Massage.

- Zhengyici Theatre.

Other
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- Walk the hutongs of Xuanwu District.

Buy
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The district has a number of interesting shopping areas, especially on and just west of Qianmen Dajie. If you are into historical shops and shopping areas it is worthwhile devoting half a day to shopping here.

- Qianmen Dajie Pedestrian Street (前门大街). Qianmen Dajie is one of Beijing's oldest commercial streets with a 500 year old history. Now, this street is under reconstruction to bring it back as it was in the 1920s. Furthermore, trolley cars will re-appear in the street, after being absent for 40 years. The status in March 2009 is that the street is open to the public, but only very few shops are established so far.

- Dashilan (大栅栏), (metro line 2, Qianmen Station, south along Qianmen Dajie, on your right). Dashilan (and surrounding streets) is a shopping area dating back to the Ming dynasty. The name means big fences, which in earlier times were in place in both ends of the street. Everything burned down during the boxer uprising in 1900, but the area has since been reestablished as a shopping area

- Daoxiangcun (稻香村; Dàoxiāngcūn), Zhubaoshi Street (珠宝市街; Zhūbǎoshìjiē) (South from Qianmen of Qianmen Dajie, turn right just after Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant of Dashilan, right of Zhubaoshi Street and it is on your left), Main office: +86 10 8404 3305, [7]. Famous shop established in 1895. Best known for its wide selection of southern style cakes. More than 20 branches around the city. ¥16-36 for a kilo of cakes.

- Liubiju ((六必居; Liùbìjū)), Zhubaoshi Street (珠宝市街; Zhūbǎoshìjiē) (South from Qianmen of Qianmen Dajie, turn right just after Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant of Dashilan, left of Zhubaoshi Street and it is on your right), [8]. Famous shop established in 1530. Sells pickled vegtables.

- Liulichang (琉璃厂; Liúlíchǎng; 'Colored Glaze Factory'). There is no production here any more, but rather antique stores, selling Chinese painting, handicrafts, and used books. The area was popular back to the Tang dynasty, but the small shops were amalgamated into state-operated units during the 1950s. It was redeveloped as a tourist area after 1979, but has failed to regain its former popularity. Nevertheless, it is picturesque and you can still find interesting things here. In the Chinese New Year, there's a 15-day folk fair here. Not far from the Hepingmen Subway Station.

- Beijing Qianxiangyi Silk Store (北京谦祥益丝绸商店; Běijīngqiānxiángyìsīchóushāngdiàn), 50 Dazhalan West Street (大栅栏西街50号; Dàzhàlánxījiē), +86 10 6301 6658, [9]. 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM. Very large silk store established in 1840. Claims to be the biggest silk professional store in China.

- Tea Street (茶街; Chájiē), Maliandao Chayecheng (马连道茶叶城; Mǎliándàocháyèchéng). 8:30 AM - 6 PM. The street has 8 wholesale tea markets and more than 600 tea shops. Tea sets also for sale here.

- Sogo (崇光百货; Chóngguāngbǎihuò), 8 Xuanwumenwai Street (宣武门外大街8号; Xuānwǔménwàidàjiē), +86 10 6310 3388, [10]. 9:30 AM - 10 PM. Shopping mall with Japanese and European shops.

- Carrefour (家乐福; Jiālèfú), 11 Malian Dao (马连道11号; Mǎliándào), +86 10 6332 2155. 8:30 AM - 10:30 PM. French supermarket.

Eat
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In the area west of Qianmen Dajie are numerous budget and mid range restaurants. Many of these are primarily catering for tourist implying lower quality than elsewhere but also that many have English menus.

Budget
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- Crab Apple House.

- Lanhuahua Restaurant (兰花花美食村（lán huā huā měi shí cūn), Tianqiao Hotel, No.11, Xijing Lu. Serves Shaanxi cuisine. Expect CNY25-50 each person.

- Mei Wei Zhai.

- Tulufan Restaurant.

Mid range
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- Dong Xing Lou.

- Little Sheep (小肥羊; Xiǎoféiyáng), 43 Guang'anmennei Dajie (光安门内大街43号; Guāng'ānménnèidàjiē) (Northwest corner of Caishikou (菜市口) intersection), +86 10 6316 6668, [11]. 10 AM - 11 PM. Mongolian hot pot restaurant with branches nationwide and abroad. Richer soup and, therefore, no dipping sauce.

- Huangcheng Laoma.

- Jinyang Restaurant.

- Tan Yu Tou (谭鱼头; Tányútóu), 25 Zhushikou West Street (珠市口西大街临25号; Zhūshìkǒu Xīdàjiēlín), +86 10 6301 8885 (fax: +86 10 6484 8885). 10:30AM-10PM. Primarily serves spicy sichuan hotpot with fish or meat.

- Tulu Fan Canting.

Splurge
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- Bhodi-Saki (菩提缘), 10-16 Heiyaochang Street ((North of Taoranting Park's North Gate)), 63542889; 63546155. Located just north of Taoranting Park in the south west corner of Beijing, this isolated vegetarian restaurant is situated inside a series of old courtyards that house the restaurant and a small temple.

- Jin Yang Restaurant, No.241, Zhushikou West Street, +86 10 63031669 63037636 (ext.100). Jin Yang Restaurant serves Shaanxi cuisine. Four Star Restaurant.

- Quanjude (全聚德 Quánjùdé), 32 Qianmen Dajie (前门大街32号) (Subway: Line 2 to Qianmen. Bus: 2, 120, 726, 826, 803 to Qianmen), +86 10 6510 9608, [12]. Daily 11:30 AM-2:30 PM and 4:30-8 PM. The oldest and most venerable of the roast duck restaurants. Quanjude is slipping these days, but its fame still brings many customers, mostly tourists eager for the classic experience. Quality varies by location. The most reputable of Quanjude's 14 branches is the listed Qianmen location, which has been rebuilt as part of the changes taking place in Qianmen Dajie. Other branches are at Hepingmen (south of the subway stop), the east side of Tian'anmen Square, and Qinghua Science Park near Wudaokou. Ducks cost ¥199 each and ¥99 for half a duck.

- Zen.

Drink
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Bars
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Considering the fact that Xuanwu District is a centre for backpacker hostels, there are suprisingly few drinking places. This could be expected to change in the near future.

Cafes and teahouses
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- Lao She Teahouse (老舍茶馆; Lǎoshěcháguǎn), 3 Qianmen West Street (前门西大街3号; Qiánménxīdàjiē) (Metro stration Qianmen or buses #5, #10, #110; #120), +86 10 6303 6830, [13]. 9 AM - 9 PM. Large tea house from 1988 named after the writer, Lao She. Serves tea and traditional snack. Live performance every night with acrobatics, opera and other traditional art.

Sleep
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Xuanwu District is home to quite a few backpacker hostels. And new ones are opening every month. But if you are looking for high end accomodation, you might have better luck elsewhere.

Budget
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- 365 Inn (北京君怡酒店; Běijīngjūnyíjiǔdiàn), 55 Dazhalan West Street (大栅栏西街55号; Dàzhàlánxījiē (800m southwest of Qianmen Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 6308 5956. Located in the middle of the tourist area west of Qianmen Pedestrian Street. Free internet available but not in the rooms. Dorm beds from ¥30, double rooms from ¥180.

- Changgong Hotel, +86 10 6301 5088, 6303 2665. One of the cheapest places in the Qianmen Hutong. It has traditional architecture and is just next door from Far East and Leo's. May be difficult to find on a map, and best located by asking. Dorm beds ¥35, a triple room is ¥210.

- Beijing Far East Youth Hostel (北京远东饭店; Běijīngyuǎndōngfàndiàn), 90 Tieshuxie Street (铁树斜街90号; Tiěshùxiéjiē) (about 10 minutes walk from Tiananmen Square), +86 10 5195 8811, [14]. Hotel in a traditional Chinese courtyard. During summertime you should book one week in advance. Dorm beds from ¥35, listed rates for doubles from ¥220, discounted from ¥174.

- Shanglin Hostel (上林宾馆; Shànglínbīnguǎn), 22 Shanxixiang (陕西巷22号; Shǎnxīxiàng) (1km southwest of Qianmen Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 6303 4609‎. Located just outside the tuoristy area west of Qianmen Pedestrian Street. Aircon, internet, laundry service and bike hire available. Restaurant and bar. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥35, doubles from ¥140, without breakfast.

- Leo's Hostel, +86 10 6303 1595, 6303 3318, [15]. . A good alternative to the Far East and is just around the corner. It has a Playstation 2, an internet bar, free wi-fi in the lobby and bar,and more. It is well-known for its friendly English-speaking staff and lively bar atmosphere. One down side is the noise level of the bar late at night. Dorm beds ¥45-70, private rooms ¥160-200.

- Qian Men Hostel (前门客栈), 33 Meishi Street Qianmen (Located about 500 meters south of Qianmen Metro stop on Meishi Street), +86 10 6313 2370, [16]. Qian Men Hostel is conveniently located within 5 minute walking distance of Tiananmen Square. It offers both private and dorm style rooms. It has a dvd room, a cafe, and bar. It also offers tours to numerous places around Beijing. Bikes can be rented for ¥20 a day. Dorm beds ¥60-70, private rooms ¥100-300.

- Jing Yi Shi Hotel, Located between Leo hostel and Far East Y/H, +86 10 6304 3822, [17]. The hotel is in traditional courtyard. The staff do not speak much English but are very friendly. There are two PCs available. Twin room ¥150, ¥180, ¥220; internet access ¥10 per hour.

- Home Inn (Beiwei Road) (如家酒店 (北京北纬路店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngběiwěilùdiàn)), 11 Xijing Road (西经路11号; Xījīnglù) (Bus 59 to Beiweilu Station (北纬路)), +86 10 8315 2266 (fax: +86 10 8316 2020), [18]. Small rooms with free internet. Business center and ticket office. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥239, discounted from ¥214; breakfast ¥15.

- Feilongge Hotel (飞龙阁饭店; Fēilónggéfàndiàn), 10 Baizhifang West Street (白纸坊西街10号; Báizhǐfāngxījiē), +86 10 6351 7766. Rooms with aircon, coffee facilities and satellite TV. Meeting facilities, karaoke and beauty salon available. Restaurant with Sichuan and Lu cuisine. Discounted rates from ¥200.

- Emperor Guest House, 11 Ying Tao Xie Jie, Qianmen, Beijing, +86 010 63176288 (emperorguesthouse@gmail.com), [19]. A beautiful 200 year old courtyard. Newly remodeled bathrooms, free wifi, tasty restaurant. Staff is wonderfully friendly and speaks pretty good English. Gets a bit cold later in the year, but beds are very comfy and thick quilts are provided. Lots of good bao shops within walking distance. ¥45 for dorm beds.

Mid range
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- Rich Hotel, No. 1 A Nanxinhua Road, Xuanwu District, +86 10 63022277 (tprsvns@hubs1.net), [20]. 2 km from Tiananmen Square. Has 131 guestrooms, each with cable TV, bathroom amenities, and broadband Internet. Hotel amneties include a conference center, restaurant, bar, business center, concierge, and 24-hour front desk. ¥290.

- Guang'an Hotel (广安宾馆; Guǎng'ānbīnguǎn), (广安门内大街321号; Guǎngānménnèidàjiē), +86 10 8315 3388. Rooms with internet available against a surcharge. Bar, business center, gift shop, beauty salon, karaoke and chess/poker room available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥880; discounted from ¥358, including breakfast.

Splurge
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- Golden Sun Commercial Hotel (金色夏日商务酒店; Jīnsèxiàrìshāngwùjiǔdiàn), 85 Xibianmennei Street (西便门内大街85号; Xībiànménnèidàjiē), +86 10 6301 2999. Four star hotel with rooms with free internet, aircon, mini bar, fridge, safety box and satellite TV. Conference room, billiards, table tennis, gym, night club, karaoke, chess and cards room and sauna available. Seafood restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from CNY888; discounted from CNY438, including breakfast.

- Shenzhen Hotel, 1 Guang An Men Wai Street, Xuanwu District, (tprsvns@hubs1.net), [21]. Enjoys a prime Xuanwu District location. Business and leisure facilities including banquet halls and function rooms.

Contact
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District Chongwen District Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

• See

Parks

Temples and shrines

Museums and exhibitions

Other

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Drink

Bars

Cafes

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Chongwen is the smallest district in Beijing with an area of 16.5 km2. The population is around 430,000.

Get in
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Arriving in Beijing Airport you will be far north east of Chongwen. From the airport, take the Airport Express Metro (¥25) and change to Metro Line 2 at Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) for connection to Chongwenmen Station; or take a taxi (around ¥75).

Arriving in Beijing Station you will be just north of Chongwen.

The south eastern part of metro line two borders the district with Chongwenmen Station (崇文门站) and Qianmen Station (前门站) being at the border of the district. The southern part of metro line five runs down the middle of the district from Chongwenmen Station and with two stations within the district, Ciqikou Station (磁器口‎站)and Tiantan East Gate Station (天坛东门站). From Tiananmen the district is just south east.

See
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Parks
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- Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiāntán). Far south east of Qianmen and the Tiananmen Square. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the West Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. Sadly there are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the West Gate (天坛西门 Tiāntán Xīmén); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 Tiāntán Běimén). Bear in mind that walking around this park will take some time. Park and historical sights (like the temple) ¥35 (¥30 in winter half year), park only ¥15 (¥10 in winter half year).

- Longtan Park (龙潭公园 Lóngtángōngyuán), Longtan Road 龙潭路 (East of Temple of Heaven just within the southeast corner of ring road 2; bus 958, 8, 116, 938, 60, 6 to Northwest gate, 352, 12, 684, 750 to West gate, 37, 122, 3, 434, 800 to East gate), +86 10 67144336; +86 10 67167319. 6 AM-8:30 PM. Park with lake, boats for hire, teahouses and a restaurant, childrens playground, pavilions, a bird market and a lot of dragons. There is also a climbing wall and a roller skating area in the park. ¥2.

- Ming Dynasty City Wall Site Park (明城墙遗址公园 Míng Chéngqiáng Yízhǐ Gōngyuán), (Chongwenmen Metro Station). Daily 24 hours. Beijing's city wall was build around 1435. It stretched for 23.5km with one part running where metro line two is now (inner city wall) and one part running where the southern part of ring road two is now. Since 1949 (and especially around 1965), most was torn down to make room for ring road two, metro line two and Tiananmen. Now only 1.5km remains behind Beijing Station. It has recently been restored and surrounded by a small park. The wall also houses a cafe and a gallery. Park is free; ¥10 for the tower.

- Beijing Amusement Park (北京游乐园; Běijīng Yóulèyuán), 1 Zuo'anmennei Street (左安门内大街1号; Zuǒānménnèidàjiē) (Between Tiantan and Longtan Park), +86 10 6714 3611, [1]. Summer: 8:30 AM-5:30 PM. Beijing's first amusement park. Quite large with many rides. Most rides are ok. The location in and around a lake is fine, but the landscaping is not very inspired and the atmosphere is a bit boring, especially on days with few visitors.

Temples and shrines
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- Shrine of Yuan Chonghuan (袁崇焕祠和墓; Yuánchónghuàn Cíhémù), 52 Donghuashixie Road (东花寺斜街52号; Dōnghuāsìxiéjiē) (Metro station Ciqikou (磁器口‎) and walk east, or take bus 23, 57 or 715 from east of the station and get off at the third stop at Guangqumennei Station (广渠门内; Guǎngqúménnèi‎)), +86 10 6718 7057. Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630) was a famous hero and prominent marshal of the Ming Dynasty. ¥5.

- Fire God Temple (火神庙; Huǒshénmiào), Xihuashi Dajie (西花市大街; Xīhuāshìdàjiē). Newly renovated temple.

Museums and exhibitions
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- Beijing Museum of Natural History (自然博物馆; Zìránbówùguǎn), 126 Tianqiao South Street (天桥南大街126号; Tiānqiáonándàjiē) (Near the west gate of Tiantan), +86 10 6702 1155, [2]. Tu-Su 9 AM - 5 PM. Large museum with a lot of information on nature, but some of the exhibitions are a bit old fashioned. Exhibitions cover paleontology, zoology, animal behavior, botany, the original of human beings, dinosaurs, aquarium, the human body, cells, skeletons and an interactive park. ¥30; students ¥15.

- Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall (北京规划展馆; Běijīngguīhuàguīhuàguǎn), 20 Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街20号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), +86 10 6702 4559. Tue-Sun 9 AM - 5 PM. Museum with a large model of the city, historical pictures from the city and also other exhibitions with relation to the layout and structure of Beijing.

- Red Gate Gallery (红门画廊; Hóngménhuàláng), Levels 1 & 4, Dongbianmen Watchtower (崇文门东大街东便门角楼), +86 10 6525 1005, [3]. 10 AM - 5 PM. Red Gate was founded in 1991 by Australian Brian Wallace. The gallery exhibits work by contemporary Chinese artists reflecting China's changing society in relation to daily life, gender, population, and the environment. The media are traditional Chinese painting, collage, lithographs and oil painting.

Other
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- Qianmen (前门; Qiánmén), (South end of Tian'anmen Square), +86 10 6522 9384. 9AM-4PM. Built in 1419 as the front gate of the inner city wall. Was originally only used by the emperor on his way to Tiantan. Now it houses exhibits with photos and models of the old city. ¥10.

Do
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- Chongwen's hutongs, (East of Qianmen Dajie). Take a walk in the rapidly disappearing small streets of the Chongwen hutongs. The present situation (March 2009) is that the area between Qianmen Dajie (前门大街) and the newly established Qianmen East Street (前门东路) is not accessible due to the ungoing renovation, which can be expected to transform the area to a touristy and commercial area like the area west of Qianmen Dajie in neighbouring Xuanwu District. Furthermore, the area further east is partly deserted due to ongoing renovation, which here seems to leave things more or less as they were, a quiet primarily residential neighbourhood with few shops and restaurants. For a less disturbed area, you might want to check out north and north east of Tiantan, which is mixed hutongs and lower apartment buildings, and with a nice laid back feel and many cheap shops and restaurants.

- Chongwen south of Ring Road Two, Taoyang Road (桃杨路; Táoyánglù) and the streets just south of this (Leave Tiantan through the South Gate, walk south past Ring Road Two and continue a few hundred meters, take the first right). Explore the part of Chongwen stretching down beneath Ring Road Two. Here is an area, which seems to have been forgotten by the city planners. Hutongs and small shops, restaurants and businesses are thriving here seemingly undisturbed by the rapid development elsewhere in Beijing. It is a nice place for a walk into the past of Beijing with almost no traffic noise but a lot of local life in the streets.

- Chongwen Workers' Palace (崇文工人文化宫; Chóngwéngōngrénwénhuàgōng), 44 Xingfu Dajie (幸福大街44号; Xìngfúdàjiē), +86 6711 6135. Theater specialised in kung fu plays. Also art and culture exhibitions as well as a cinema in the same building.

- Party Life, 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (In New World Shopping Center), +86 10 6708 6666. 24 hours. Karaoke.

Buy
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- Hong Qiao (Pearl) Market (红桥市场 Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng). Not far from the Temple of Heaven. Worth visiting for the state-run silk market but more especially for the pearl market in the building opposite. The top two floors of this market are filled with jewelry, and this may be the best place in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones. The top floor features high-end jewelry stores, but the floor below has small merchant stalls still selling good quality pearls and other beads. Lower floors have the usual purses, leather goods, clothing, handcrafts like chess sets or chopsticks, and electronics. The presence of a large number of stalls keeps the prices fairly keen, but shop around, keep a smile on your face and bargain hard. On weekdays, when customer traffic is low, be prepared to be yelled at, have a range of products shoved into your hands and face and be physically grabbed and pushed. Anything to get you to buy their merchandise

- New World Shopping Centre (新世界中心; Xīnshìjièzhōngxīn), 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē), [4]. Five storied shopping mall.

- Qianmen Carpet Co. (前门地毯公司; Qiánméndìtǎngōngsī), Xingfu Street (幸福街59号; 幸福街), +86 10 6715 1687, [5]. 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Claims to be the first established antique carpet dealer in China. Sells antique carpets as well as reproductions.

- Chongwenmen Food Market (崇文门菜市场; Chóngwénméncàishìchǎng), 1 Chongwenmen Street (崇文门外大街1号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (Just south of Chongwenmen Metro Station), +86 10 6702 0308. 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM. Traditional indoor food market with lots of small stalls with all kind of fresh food ingredients. This is the oldest remaining traditional food market in Beijing and worth a visit, also if you are not buying anything. Cheap.

- Soshow, Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (Just south of Chongwenmen Metro Station), +86 10 5167 1241, [6]. Su-Th 10 AM - 9 PM; Fr-Sa 10 AM - 9:30 PM. Entertainment Shopping Center for the young, rich and modern Beijingers.

- Ciqikou Dajie Shopping Street.

- Hongqiao Wet Food Wholesale Market (红桥水产批发市场; Hóngqiáoshuǐchǎnpīfāshìchǎng), Tiantan East Street (天坛东路; Tiāntándōnglù), +86 10 6713 3354. 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM. Raw food whole sale market specialising in sea food but also with other.

Eat
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Budget
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- The small streets north of Hong Qiao Market. In these streets there are a number of small and inexpensive restaurants. From ¥5.

- Old Beijing Noodle King, 29 Chongwenmen Wai Dajie (崇文门外大街29号‎; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (Between metro line 5 stations Chongwen Gate and Ciqikou), +86 10 6705 6705 (but reservations are not possible). Specialised in hand made noodles, but also other courses available. Bustling and authentic atmosphere. Cheap.

- Hengxingde Dining-hall (恒兴德餐厅; Héngxīngdécāntīng), 4-2 Qianmen East Street (前门东大街4-2; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), +86 10 5166 3328. 10 AM - 11 PM. Sichuan Cuisine. Expect ¥25-50 each person.

- Beijing Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant (北京功德林素菜饭庄; Běijīnggōngdélínsùcàifànzhuāng), 158 Qianmen Nan Dajie (前门南大街158号; Qiánménnándàjiē), +86 10 6207 4268. Established in 1922. Traditional Buddhist vegetarian restaurant specialised in courses imitating meet but based on toufu, mushrooms etc. Expect ¥40-60 each person.

Mid range
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- Yunteng Restaurant (云腾宾馆; Yúnténgbīnguǎn), 7 Dong Huashi Bei Li Dong Qu (东花市北里东区7号; dōnghuāshìběilǐdōngqū, +86 10 6711 3322. Yunnan cuisine, specialising in mushroom dishes. Located in the Yunnan provincial office building, and the food is as expected very Yunnan. The restaurant tries to look like a Yunnan rain forest, but does not really succeed, and the service level is not impressive, but the food is excellent. Expect ¥50-75 each person, more if you want some of the fancier mushrooms.

- Ye Shan Jun Wild Fungus House (野山菌蘑菇宴; Yěshānjùnmóguyàn), 2A Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街2A号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), +86 10 6512 2708. 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM. Hot pot specialising in mushrooms. Expect ¥50-100 each person.

- Mala Youhuo (;), 40 Chong Wen Men Wai Dajie (; ), +86 10 5167 1098. Sichuan cuisine. Very popular restaurant.

- Bianyifang (便宜坊 Biànyìfăng), [7]. The oldest roast duck restaurant in Beijing with a history dating back to 1416. Many branches throughout the city including three in Chongwen.

- Chongwenmen Wai Dajie branch, 2A Chongwenmen Wai Dajie, Chongwen District (崇文门外大街甲2号). The flagship branch of the chain.

- Xingfu Dajie branch, 36 Xingfu Dajie, Chongwen District (崇文区幸福大街36号), +86 10 6711 6545.

- Tiantan branch, 73 Tiantan Dong Lu, Chongwen District (崇文区天坛东路73号).

- Daijiacun Restaurant, Tiyuguan Road (体育馆路13号; Tǐyùguǎnlù), +86 10 6714 0145. 9:30 AM - 2 PM; 4:30 PM - 21 PM. Dai Minority cuisine. The restaurant is decorated in classical Dai style. Dai traditional dancing and singing now and then.

- Yushan Restaurant (御膳饭店; Yùshànfàndiàn)), 87 Tiantan Road (天坛路87号; Tiāntánlù), +86 10 6701 4263. 10 AM -8:30 PM. Imperial cuisine.

Splurge
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- Maxim's de Paris, 2 Chongwenmen Xidajie (崇文门西大街2号; Chóngwénménxīdàjiē), +86 10 6512 2211. 11 AM - 2 PM, 5 PM - 10 PM. Traditional French cuisine and one of the first foreign restaurants to open in Beijing. Expect at least ¥100 each person.

Drink
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Bars
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In Chongwen you can drink at the restaurants or on hotel bars. If you want something else, go to another district!

Cafes
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- Starbucks (星巴克咖啡; Xīngbākèkāfēi), 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (In New World Shopping Centre).

- Manabe (真锅; Zhēnguō), 3 Chongwenmenwai Street (崇文门外大街3号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (In New World Shopping Centre).

- Monet Cafe, (Just outside Tiantandong Metro Station (exit B), opposite Tiantan East Gate).

- Leymo Coffee, (In Hong Qiao Market).

Sleep
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Budget
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- Ziguang Hotel (紫光宾馆; Zǐguāngbīnguǎn), 111 Congdian West Street (葱店西街111号; Cōngdiànxījiē). Located in a small street in area with hutongs and narrow streets. Quite small rooms. Listed rates for doubles from ¥288, discounted from ¥100.

- Guoren Hotel (国人宾馆; Guórénbīnguǎn), 2A Qianmen Avenue (前门大街2A号; Qiánméndàjiē) (At the south east corner of Tiananmen), +86 10 5101 9200. Very conviniently located but often full. Rooms with cable TV, IDD telephone. aircon and fridge. There is also a coffee shop and business center. Listed rates for doubles from ¥218.

- Shengqi Hotel (升旗宾馆; Shēngqíbīnguǎn), 2A Qianmen Avenue (前门大街2A号; Qiánméndàjiē) (At the south east corner of Tiananmen), +86 10 6705 7663, [8]. Very conviniently located but often full. Listed rates for doubles from ¥260; disounted from ¥200.

- Jinjiang Inn (锦江之星; Jǐnjiāngzhīxīng), 224 Xidamochang Street (西打磨厂街224号; Xīdǎmóchǎngjiē) (Very close to Qianmen), +86 10 6705 2533, [9]. Large chain of budget hotels with two branches in Chongwen. Listed rates for doubles from ¥249.

- Jinjiang Inn (锦江之星; Jǐnjiāngzhīxīng), 1 Fahua South Street (法华南里1号; Fǎhuánánlǐ), [10]. Large chain of budget hotels with two branches in Chongwen. Listed rates for doubles from ¥249.

- GOTO Modern Hotel (贵通现代酒店; Guìtōngxiàndàijiǔdiàn), 1 Xibanbi Street (西半壁街1号; Xībànbìjiē) (Just south of Qianmen Pedestrian Street (across the large street)), +86 10 6707 2299, [11]. Listed rates for doubles from ¥260.

- Beijing Qianlong Hotel (北京乾隆宾馆; Běijīngqiánlóngbīnguǎn), Tiantan Lu (天坛路85号; Tiāntánlù) (Just north of Tiantan), 8610-67012223. Free internet available in more expensive rooms. Meeting facilities, gift shop, beauty salon, karaoke, massage, spa and laundry service available. Chinese cuisine and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥268, discounted rates from ¥228; breakfast ¥10.

- Beijing Sicily Hotel (Xīxīlǐ Jiǔdiàn; 西西里酒店), Zuoanmen Inner Street (Zuǒānmén Nei Dajie; 左安门内大街), +86 10 67107000. Hotel from 2005 close to amusement park and Tiantan. Free internet. Business center, airport shuttle and ticket office available. Listed rates for doubles from ¥278, discounted from ¥198 including breakfast.

Mid range
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- Tiantan Sports Hotel (天坛体育宾馆; Tiāntántǐyùbīnguǎn), 10 Tiyuguan Road (体育馆路10号; Tǐyùguǎnlù), +86 10 87183888, [12]. Three star hotel from 1991. Internet available against surcharge. Rooms with electronic safe, cable tv, mini bar and coffee facilities. Foreign exchange, ticketing services, beauty salon, chess/card rooms and massage rooms available. Chinese restaurant. Breakfast both Western and Chinese style. Friendly staff. Good locoation for Tiantan and restaurants and not too far away from the city center. Discounted rates for doubles from ¥252; breakfast ¥10.

- Tiantan Wancheng Hotel, 89 Tiantan Lu (天坛路89号; Tiāntánlù) (Just north of Tiantan), +86 10 52173888. Free internet in the rooms. Meeting facilities, business center, beauty salon, ticket office and chess/poker room available. Chinese cuisine and coffee shop. Listed rates for doubles from ¥518, discounted from ¥198; breakfast ¥25.

- Communications Hotel (交通饭店; Jiāotōngfàndiàn), 35 Dongsikuaiyu South Road (东四块玉南街35号; Dōngsìkuàiyùnánjiē), 8610-67196288, [13]. Three star hotel. Free internet in the rooms. Meeting facilities, business center, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke and chess/poker room available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥548, discounted from ¥268. Breakfast ¥15.

- Shindom Hotel (欣燕都连锁; Xīnyàndūliánsuǒ), Building 12 Jianhua Roads Of Jianguomenwai Dajie Avenue (崇内大街船板胡同24号‎), +86 10 65685577. Two star hotel close to Beijing Railway Station. Free internet in the room. Business and meeting facilities available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Double rooms at discounted rates of ¥270 including breakfast.

- Days Inn Joiest Beijing, 14 Zhushikou East Street (珠市口东大街14号; Zhūshìkǒudōngdàjiē), +86 10 67077799, [14]. American run hotel from 2006. Satellite TV and free internet in rooms. Meeting facilities, currency exchange, laundry service available. Chinese and Western restaurants. Small but clean rooms. Location convinient for Tiantan but quite far away from the nearest metro. Disounted rates for doubles of ¥299, breakfast ¥38.

- Sanyuan Jin'an Hotel, 6 Beijing Railway Station East Street (Located in Longtan Park), +86 10 65265588. Three star hotel from 1996 located close to Beijing Railway Station. Internet available against a surcharge. Business facilities, ticket reservation office, sauna, karaoke and beuty salon available. Chinese and western restaurants. Standard doubles at discounted rates of ¥338.

- Huanghe Jingdu Grand Hotel (北京黄河京都大酒店; Běijīnghuánghéjīngdūdàjiǔdiàn), 29 Xizhaosizhong Street (夕照寺中街29号; Xīzhàosìzhōngjiē), +86 10 51335588. Three star hotel from 1996. Internet available and partly free. Meeting facilities, business center, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, disco, karaoke, chess/poker room, pool/billiards room, massage and sauna available. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop, bar/lounge, tea house and room service. Disounted rates for doubles from ¥340 including breakfast.

- Hong Run Hotel, 28 Baiqiao Street (Báiqiáo Dàjiē; 白桥大街28号), +86 10 67196888. This three star business hotel from 2007 is located close to Beijing Railway Station, East Ring Road Two and Tian Tan. Free internet in the rooms. Standard business facilities available as well as Chinese restaurant, room service and beauty salon. Discounted rate for a standard double room of ¥388. Breakfast ¥25.

- Chongwenmen Hotel (崇文门饭店; Chóngwénménfàndiàn), 2 West Chongwenmen Street (崇文门西大街2号; Chóngwénménxīdàjiē) (Just south of Chongwenmen Metro Station), +86 10 6512 2211, [15]. Three star hotel. Internet available in rooms against a surcharge. Rooms with aircon and frigde. Conference rooms, business center, sauna, billiards hall, bowling alley, beauty salon, karaoke, shopping arcade, gymnasium and a massage center available. Cantonese, Korean and Western restaurants. Convinient location close to metro, shopping and city centre. Clean but small rooms. Friendly staff but not very efficient housekeeping. Breakfast seems to be overpriced. Listed rates for doubles from ¥780, discounted rates from ¥388; breakfast ¥58.

- Judge Home Hotel (北京法官之家酒店; Běijīngfǎguānzhījiājiǔdiàn), 9 Beihuashi Street (北花市大街9号; Běihuāshìdàjiē), +86 10 67551188. Meeting facilities, business center, currency exchange, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke, chess/poker room, fitness and foot massage available. Chinese restaurant, tea house and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥880, discounted rates from ¥388; breakfast ¥30.

- Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao (北京新侨诺富特饭店), 1 Chong Wen Men Xi Da Jie, +86 10 65133366, [16].

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- Beijing King-Talent Hotel ((北京金台夕照会馆; Běijīngjīntáixīzhàohuìguǎn), 15 Middle Xizhaosi Street (夕照寺中街15号), +86 10 67119999. Four star hotel from 2008 build around the five hundred years old Xizhao Temple. Free internet. Airport pick-up offered. Business center available. Chinese and vegetarian restaurants as well as teahouse and lobby bar. Listed rates for doubles from ¥980, discounted ¥398; breakfast ¥58.

- Beijing Tailong Plaza Hotel (北京泰龙大酒店; Běijīngtàilóngdàjiǔdiàn), 19 Zhushikou East Street (珠市口东大街19号; Zhūshìkǒudōngdàjiē) (Very close to Qianmen Pedestrian Street), +86 10-67075888, [17]. Four star hotel. Free internet in the rooms. Business center, currency exchange, gift shop, ticket office and laundry service available. Western restaurant, coffee shop and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,080, discounted from ¥398. Breakfast ¥30.

- Pei Xin Hotel Beijing (北京培新宾馆; Běijīngpéixīnbīnguǎn), 5 Peixin Sreet (培新街5号; Péixīnjiē), +86 10 67125588, [18]. Four star hotel. Free internet. Meeting facilities, currency exchange, beauty salon, ticket office, sauna and laundry service available. Chinese and western restaurant, bar/lounge. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,280, discounted from ¥478; breakfast ¥58.

- Tiantan Hotel (天坛饭店; Tiāntánfàndiàn), Tiyuguan West Road (体育馆西路; Tǐyùguǎnxīlù), +86 10 67190666, [19]. Four star hotel from 1991 and rebuild in 2005. Rooms with satellite TV, electronic safe, free internet, mini bar and coffe facilities. Meeting facilities, business center, karaoke, chess/poker room, pool/billiards room, table tennis room and fitness facilities available. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop and bar/lounge. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,343, discounted from ¥538; breakfast ¥78.

Contact
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District Shijingshan District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

Bars and clubs

Cafes

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Subway line 1 (red) extends west into Shijingshan. Bus and taxi journeys from central Beijing will be long.

See
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- Badachu (八大处; Bādàchǔ; lit. The Eight Great Sites), (Take Bus 311 north from the Pingguoyuan subway station to Badachu Middle School (八大处中学; Bādàchǔ Zhōngxué) and then walk north-west one kilometer). Badachu is comprised of eight Buddhist temples and monasteries at the foot of the Western Hills. Restored in the 1980s, the whole area is now a park and popular tourist destination for Beijingers wishing to escape city life.

- Hope Park (希望公园; Xīwàng Gōngyuán). A small but attractive park south-east of Badachu.

- Fahai Temple (法海寺; Fàhǎi Sì), (3.5km northwest from the Pingguoyuan subway stop. Buses 311, 336, 527, 621 all head from around Pingguoyuan to the temple). This fifteenth century temple has some of the best-preserved and extensive Ming frescoes to be found.

- Tianyi's Tomb (田义墓; Tiányì Mù), 80 Moshikou Dajie (模式口大街80号) (At the foot of Cuiwei Mountain and to the south of Fahai Temple). This is the most extensive and well-preserved Ming dynasty tomb of an eunuch. There is a Eunuch Culture Museum (¥8 entrance fee) at the same site.

- Cheng'en Temple (承恩寺; Chéng'ēn Sì), East Moshikou Dajie (模式口大街东部) (South of the Fahai Temple). This is another temple with a history of at least five hundred years.

- China Quaternary Glacier Museum (中国第四纪冰川陈列馆; Zhōngguó Dìsìjì Bīngchuān Chénlièguǎn), Moshikou Dajie (模式口大街) (Just south of Fahai). This museum was founded in 1992 and offers an introduction to geology, geography, and glaciers.

- Shijingshan Amusement Park (北京石景山游乐园; Běijīng Shíjǐngshān Yóulèyuán), (Take subway to Bajiao Amusement Park). One of the three amusement parks in Beijing, this park features the usual assortment of rollercoasters, ferris wheels, and a Disney-esque castle (Disney sued). ¥10 for entrance, each ride has a separate fee.

- Beijing International Sculpture Park (北京国际雕塑公园 Běijīng Guójì Diāosù Gōngyuán), (Take subway line one to Yuqianlu), +86 (0)10 68650422. Opened in 2002, this park places sculpture from around the world in an attractive, green setting. ¥5.

- Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery (八宝山革命公墓; Bābǎoshān Gémìng Gōngmù), (Head north from the Babaoshan subway stop). Originally a temple, this was made into the chief cemetery for Communist Party figures. Buried here are artist Xu Feihong, writer Lao She, and many of the most important CCP leaders.

- Cishan Temple (天台山慈善寺; Tiāntái Shān Císhàn Sì), (On Tiantai Mountain). This is also known as Tiantai Temple. You will be lucky to see this one: the temple only opens March 15-17 of every year.

Do
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- Beijing Shooting Range (北京射击场; Běijīng Shèjī Chǎng), Xiangshan Nanlu 香山南路 (South-east of Badachu, next to the Fifth Ring Road). Shoot stuff at this Olympic-class shooting range.

- Take a tour of Capital Steel (首钢工业旅游; Shǒugāng Gōngyè Lǚyóu), (One kilometer west from the Gucheng subway stop), +86 10 88296558. Since 2001, Capital Steel has been offering tours of its facilities and explanations of how steel is made. Get a Chinese-speaker to call find out when the tours are running.

Buy
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- Wanda Plaza. Shopping mall.

Eat
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- Huang Ji Huang Stewing Pot (Pingguoyuan Branch) (黄记煌三汁焖锅 (苹果园)), 2 Grain Shop, Pingguoyuan (苹果园第二粮店), +86 10 88756828. 10AM-10:30PM.

- Mei Zhou Dong Po Restaurant (Shijingshan Branch) (眉州东坡酒楼 (石景山店)), 22 Shijingshan Road (石景山路22号) (Bus 337, 389, 622, 663, 728, 742, 941), +86 10 88680808. 9:30AM-11PM. Sichuan cuisine.

- Fengbozhuang (风波庄), 43 Gucheng South Road (古城南路43号) (Metro Line 1 to Gucheng Station, exit B, or bus 337, 621, 318, 941, 728, 959 to Gucheng Stop), +86 10 68880812, [1]. 10:30AM-midnight.

- Xiaotudou (Gucheng Branch) (小土豆美食 (古城店)), 6 Gucheng Xiaojie (古城小街甲6号), +86 10 68885396. 11AM-10:30PM.

Drink
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Bars and clubs
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- Buyetian Bar (不夜天酒吧; Bùyètiān Jiǔbā), Shijingshan Road (石景山路; Shíjǐngshānlù).

- Cactus Bar (仙人掌酒吧; Xiānrénzhǎng Jiǔbā), North end of Bajiao Stadium/Gym (八角体育馆北侧; Bājiǎotǐyùguǎnběicè), +86 10 68829791. Cossy bar with wooden furniture and fake tropical plants. Frequented by young locals who all seem to know each other and the staff.

- DiZhen (地震), Shijingshan Rd (石景山路) (near the west gate of Bajiao Stadium (八角体育馆西门)). Chinese club.

- Huarniu Bar (华尔牛啤酒屋; Huàěrniú Píjiǔwū), 49 Gucheng North Road (古城北路49号; Gǔchéngběilù), +86 10 88107320.

- Xiaomu Bar (小木屋酒吧; Xiǎomùwū Jiǔbā), Qixing Garden, Lugu (鲁谷七星园内; Lǔgǔ Qīxīngyuánnèi), +86 10 68641908.

Cafes
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- Laiyin Café (莱茵咖啡; Láiyīnkāfēi), 1 Shixing Avenue (实兴大街1号; Shíxīngdàjiē).

- Zhenguo Café (Shijingshan Wanda Branch) (真锅咖啡馆 (石景山万达店); Zhēnguō Kāfēiguǎn (Shíjǐngshānwàndádiàn)), Wanda Square, B18 Shijingshan Road (石景山路乙18号万达广场; Shíjǐngshānlù Wàndáguǎngchǎng).

- SPR Coffe (Shijingshan Wanda Square Branch) (石景山万达广场店; Shíjǐngshānwàndáguǎngchǎngdiàn)), 2 Wanda Square, 18 Shijingshan Road (石景山路乙18号万达广场2楼; Shíjǐngshānlù Wàndáguǎngchǎng).

Sleep
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Budget
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- Beijing Xinshiyuan Hotel (北京鑫仕源度假村; Běijīngxīnshìyuándùjiàcūn), Xiwang Park, Badachu Lu, Shijingshan (石景山区八大处路希望公园内; Shíjǐngshānqū Bādàchǔlù Xīwànggōngyuánnèi) (Just outside West Ring Road Five, buses), +86 10 88703399. Small rooms without internet access. Business center, gift shop, karaoke, billiard, table tennis, tennis, massage and sauna available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥380, discounted from ¥148; breakfast ¥15.

- Beijing Jiujiuyuan Super8 Hotel (北京石景山玖玖源速8酒店; Běijīng Shíjǐngshān Jiǔyuánsùbā Jiǔdiàn), Yangzhuang East Road (杨庄东路; Yángzhuāngdōnglù), +86 10 68835888 (fax: +86 10 68835689). Small rooms with free internet and kettle. Listed rates for doubles from ¥218, breakfast ¥10.

Mid-range
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- Beijing Haite Hotel (北京海特饭店; Běijīng Hǎitè Fàndiàn), 1 Shixing Avenue (实兴大街1号; Shíxīngdàjiē), +86 10 68811188, [2]. Three star hotel with rooms with free internet, safe, electric kettle and mini bar. ATM, shopping malls, beauty salon, ticketing service, fitness, indoor swimming pool and tennis available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥900, discounted from ¥330, including breakfast.

- Mercure Wanshang Beijing (北京万商花园酒店; Běijīng Wànshānghuāyuán Jiǔdiàn), 1 Yinhe Avenue (银河大街1号; Yínhédàjiē), +86 10 68681199 (fax: +86 10 68686088), [3]. Rooms with free internet, safe deposit, minibar, free mineral water and coffee facilities. Business center, currency exchange, ATM, fitness, indoor swimming pool and tennis court available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as bar and café. Listed rates for doubles from ¥782, discounted from ¥403, including breakfast for more expensive rooms.

Splurge
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- Pullman Beijing West Wanda (北京万达铂尔曼大饭店; Běijīng Wàndábóěrmàndà Fàndiàn), Building 1, Jia 18 Shijinagshan Road (石景山路甲18号1号楼; shíjǐngshānlù Jiǎ18hào 1hàolóu) (Babaoshan subway station, exit D), turn to the left, walk 500m), +86 10 88681188 (hotel@pullmanbjwestwanda.com, fax: +86 10 88681199), [4]. Very large rooms with free internet, safe deposit box, free mineral water, coffee facilities and minibar. Business center, currency exchange, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, fitness and indoor swimming pool available. Chinese, Western and Japanese restaurants as well as café and bar. Listed rates for doubles ¥1,150-3,393, breakfast ¥92 (included for most rooms).

Contact
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District Haidian District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

Clothing

Electronics

Books

Everyday needs

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Haidian has been a major beneficiary of the recent subway expansions: the new lines 10 and 13 make it easier to reach by public transport. Taxis from the central Beijing districts may take 30-45 minutes; buses even longer.

See
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- The Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán). 6:30-18:00(April 1st-October 31st). Extensive gardens and the ruins of palaces constructed by the Qing emperors. In 1860, foreign soldiers damaged much of what was then known as the "Garden of Clear Ripples", but the area would be rebuilt and renamed by the Empress Dowager Cixi, using funds intended for modernizing the Qing navy. Most visitors stay in the front hill area, but if you prefer quiet places, the west bank and back hill areas are good choices. There are some quiet and secret ruins, caves, and other fun stuff in the back hill area. You could easily take bus No. 690 or 808 from Tian'anmen Square to the terminal station, the Summer Palace. The Bus 826 would bring you from Temple of Heaven to Summer Palace. ¥30/¥15, ¥10 one way on boat.

- The Old Summer Palace (圆明园 Yuánmíngyuán), 28 Qinghua West Road 清华西路28号, +86 10 62543673. Built in the 18th and early 19th centuries, these gardens were home to the emperors and Qing court. After their 1860 destruction by British and French troops the gardens was not restored, and the ruins that can be seen today still serve as a reminder of the costs of imperialism. Bus 690 from Tian'anmen will also get you here. ¥10 entrance.

- Fragrant Hills (香山 Xiāng Shān), (in the northwest of Beijing). A good place for weekend outings and picnics. Formerly a Qing imperial garden, today Fragrant Hills makes an easy short climb in the suburbs of Beijing. It's also home to the Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by noted architect I.M. Pei (Louvre Museum Pyramid). Take buses 331, 360 or 634 to the last stop. Admission Fee is ¥10, students ¥5.

- Beijing Botanical Gardens (北京植物园 Běijīng Zhíwù Yuán), (Take buses 331, 726). Steps away from the east gate of Fragrant Hill. Acres of greenery and flowers for those tired of urban smog and traffic noise. Sir Johnston, teacher of the last emperor Puyi, had a villa in Cherry Glen, a silent and beautiful retreat in the Gardens. In the spring, the gardens hosts special exhibits of tulips, peach and plum blossoms, peonies, and the like. ¥10, students ¥5.

- Tsinghua University (清华大学). Tsinghua university is essentially a tiny city. Walls separate the university from the city outside, and most of the students, staffs and faculties live in the campus. The campus was part of the Old Summer Palace and there are lots of greens and a lake. In addition to the facilities of most other universities, there are grocery markets, banks, two post offices, one hospital, and a full affiliated hierarchy of kindergarden, elementary and middle school. All within a single campus. There was even a shut-downed coal power plant. Restaurant and dining halls provide food service range from less than 10 to hundreds yuan every meal. Most students are fluent English speakers and there is a university history museum. It is an interesting place where you will see the future of China mixed with traces of history with a little soviet taste.

- Five Pagoda Temple (五塔寺 Wǔtǎ Sì), 24 Waitaisi Cun, Baishiqiao 白石桥五塔寺村24号. The "Five Pagoda Temple" is the popular name of the Diamond-Throne Tower that is at the heart of the Temple of the Great Righteous Awakening (大真觉寺 Dàzhēnjiào Sì). Most of the wooden temple was burnt down in 1860 and 1900, but the beautiful brick and marble Diamond-Throne Tower, which dates back to the late fifteenth century, survived. The temple area is now used to house the Beijing Art Museum of Stone Carvings. Right on the southern border of Haidian, north-west of the Zoo across the Changhe River. Take the subway to Xizhimen, and then take Bus 106 to Beijing Library and walk 500m east.

- Purple Bamboo Park (紫竹院公园; Zǐzhúyuàn Gōngyuán), 45 Baishiqiao Road (白石桥路45号; Báishíqiáolù) (metro line 4 the National Library stop (国家图书馆; Guojia Tushuguan) passes close by, alternatively, take buses 114, 334, 347, 360, 482, 534, 601, 714 to Zizhuyuan South Gate Station (紫竹院南门)), +86 10 6842 5851. Summer 6AM-9PM; winter 6AM-8PM. One of the larger parks in Beijing, this is centered around three lakes. As the name indicates, there is an outstanding variety of bamboo groves here. ¥5.

- Wanshou Temple (万寿寺 Wànshòu Sì), Xihuan Huanbeilu 西环环北路, +86 10 68413380. Built in 1577, this Ming-era temple now houses the Beijing Art Museum (北京艺术博物馆 Běijīng Yìshù Bówùguǎn), which has a sizable collection of ancient artwork. Just north-west of Purple Bamboo Park; from Xizhimen take Bus 362 to Purple Bamboo Bridge North (紫竹桥北 Zǐzhú Qiáo Běi).

- Great Bell Temple & Museum (大钟寺古钟博物馆 Dàzhōng Sì Gǔzhōng Bówùguǎn). Also known as the Temple of Awakening Life (觉生寺 Juéshēng Sì). Home to the fifteenth-century Yongle Great Bell which, at 6.94m tall 46.5 tons, is the largest bell in China. The 227,000 Chinese characters inscribed on it spell out Buddhist sutras. Subway Line 13 to Dazhongsi, and then walk 400m west.

- Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution (中国人民革命军事博物馆 Zhōngguó Rénmín Gémìng Jūnshì Bówùguǎn), +86 10 68529647. A great place to read the official Chinese version of what happened in Chinese military history, from ancient times up to 1949. There are also airplanes, boats, guns, missiles, rockets and vehicles on display (including U.S. military hardware evidently seized during the Korean conflict). The exhibit in "The Hall of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea" was unfortunately inaccessible as of April 2007. You can pay an extra ¥5 to take a picture in a 1980's era Chinese tank. Entrance fee is ¥20.

- Yuyuantan Park (玉渊潭公园; Yùyuāntán Gōngyuán; also known as Jade Lake Park), Sanlihe Road, West Ring Road Three (西三环路三里河路; Xīsānhuánlù Sānlǐhélù) (Just inside West Ring Road Three, across from the CCVT tower, northeast of Gongzhufen Metro Station (line 1)), +86 10 8865 3806 (yyt1@beijingyuyuantanpark.com), [1]. 6AM-10:30PM. Huge park with cherry blossoms, tulips, lake with boats for rent, water park and playgrounds. Popular for picnic or kite flying. ¥2.

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- Tour the University District. Peking and Tsinghua universities are the two most prestigious in China, and have attractive campuses next to one another at the center of Beijing's university district. Not many tourists visit, and so during the summer vacation months they can be relatively tranquil spots amidst Beijing busyness. Walk west from Wudaokou (五道口 Wǔdàokǒu) on subway line 13.

- Read about China at the National Library (国家图书馆 Guójiā Túshūguǎn), 33 Zhongguancun Nadajie 海淀区中关村南大街33号, +86 10 88544114 (webmaster@nlc.gov.cn), [2]. The National Library has a large collection of books in English about China. Day-passes can obtained for a small fee.

- Haidian Theater (海淀剧院 Hǎidiànjùyuàn), 28 Zhongguancun Dajie, 中关村大街28号 (Get off at Haidian Huangzhuang stop, lines 4 and 10, Exit B). 1:30PM- 8:50PM. Modern theater with quality equipment, holding a large 1000-seat hall as well as two smaller halls. Foreign movies are usually screened in the respective language with chinese subtitles. Besides movies there are various other performances, including concerts, opera, ballet, dance, plays and more.

Buy
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Clothing
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- Golden Resources Shopping Mall (金源时代购物中心 Jīnyuán Shídài Gòuwù Zhōngxīn), near Yuanda Bridge / Yuanda Road off the West Fourth Ring Road in Haidian District. The mall covers 680.000 square meters, and is the second largest in Asia. Multiple stories, snaking alleys, infinite shopping opportunities... you get the gist.

- New Wudaokou Clothing Market, 2 Qinghua Donglu, Golden Tower, 清华东路2号 金码大厦. 9AM- 7PM. 4-storey market packet with clothing, footwear and accessorizes, especially popular with students from nearby universities. A lot of Korean and Japanese style fashion. Staff is not pushing, drinks/snacks are available on the top floor.

- Wudaokou Clothing Market, 261 Beisihuan Zhonglu, 北四环中路261号 (Xueyuan Bridge, in the northwestern corner of the crossing). 9AM- 7PM.

Electronics
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- Zhongguancun (中关村 Zhōngguāncūn). For the more technologically-oriented tourist, is a must. Located a couple miles from Tsinghua University, this area is dubbed the "Silicon Valley of China." There are a number of large electronics malls that sell everything from phones to computer parts. Pirated software and DVDs are also not hard to find here. Many of the shady characters outside the malls shouting 'DVD!' also sell pornography (illegal in China).The largest and most well-known malls include:

- Hailong (海龙大厦 Hǎilóng Dàshà), 1 Zhongguancun Dajie, 中关村大街1号. 9AM- 6PM.

- Dinghao (鼎好大厦 Dìnghǎo Dàshà), 3 Haidian dajie, 海淀大街3号. 9AM- 9PM.

Books
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Haidian District is home to some of Beijing's largest bookstores that offer a wide selection of Chinese and foreign language books:

- Haidian Book City (海淀图书城 Hǎidiàntúshūchéng), 36 Haidian Xidajie, 海淀西大街36号. 9am- 6pm.

- Zhongguancun Book Building (中关村图书大厦 Zhōngguāncūn túshū dàshà), 68 Beisihuan Xilu, 北四环西路68号, [3]. 9am- 9pm.

- Disanji Bookstore (第三极书局 dìsān jí shūjú), 66 Beisihuan Xilu, 北四环西路66号 (5-8F inside Disanji Shopping Mall). 9am- 9pm.

- Beijing Language and Culture University Press Store (北京语言大学出版社 Běijīng yǔyán dàxué chūbǎnshè), (Just inside the University's south gate on the left side). Mo-Tu 9AM- 5PM, Sa 9AM- 4PM. One of the best stores to buy language learning books.

Everyday needs
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- Carrefour (家乐福 Jiālèfú), Zhongguancun Plaza, 中关村广场地. 8AM- 10:30PM. Cheap French supermarket chain, selling everything from food, homeware, clothing to dvds and electrical appliances. A bit pricer is their import section, offering food products from all over the world.

- Wal Mart (沃尔玛 Wò'ěrmǎ), 48 Zhichunlu, 知春路甲48号, +86 10 5873 3666.

Eat
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- Dong Lai Shun (东来顺 Dōng Lái Shùn). Daily 11 AM-2 PM and 5-9 PM. This king of Beijing hotpot has been around since the 19th century. Founded by the Hui (ethnic Muslims), Donglaishun serves halal cuts of top-quality lamb and beef. Also serves cooked-by-chef dishes, including traditional Beijing sweets.

- Haidian branch, 25 Yiheyuan Lu, 颐和园路25号, Haidian.

- Din Tai Fung Restaurant (鼎泰丰 Dǐng Tài Fēng), 40 Zhongguancun Dajie, 中关村大街40号 (On 7F of Modern Plaza Shopping Mall), 86 10 62696726, [4]. 11:30am-10:00pm. Famous Shanghai-style dumplings restaurant.

- Tairyo Teppanyaki (大渔铁板烧 Dà Yú Tiěbǎnshāo), 15 Wan Liu Zhong Lu, 万柳中路15号, +86 10 8256 6044, [5]. 11am- 11pm. Japanese Teppanyaki grill show. All you can eat offer for 168Yuan.

Wudaokou (五道口 Wǔdàokǒu), where most of the foreign and local university students hang out. There are a number of bars and restaurants which serve a great variety of wine, beer and liquor for cheap. This area is also well known for its huge Korean population and a good place to find Korean food.

- Isshin Japanese Restaurant (一心日本料理 Yīxīn Rìběn Liàolǐ), Courtyard of 35 Chengfu Lu 成府路35号院. An inexpensive and tasty Japanese restaurant that is packed most nights. 25m north-west of the Wudaokou subway station in a small courtyard.

- Jiaheyipin Congee Restaurant (嘉和一品 Jiāhéyīpǐn), 35 Chengfu Lu 成府路35号. Branches of this excellent congee restaurant can be found across Beijing. This one is just west of the Wudaokou subway station.

- Ganges Indian Restaurant, 160 Chengfu Lu, 成府路160号 (Opposite south gate of Tshinghua University), +86 10 6262 7944, [6]. 11am-3pm, 5pm-10:30pm.

Eat in the dining halls of Tsinghua University. Tsinghua is said to have the best dining halls among Chinese universities and there are nearly 20 dining halls in the campus, cost usually less than 10 yuan. A prepaid card is needed to purchase anything but you can easily ask a student to swipe the card for you and you pay him cash. The dining halls could be very very crowded.

Drink
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- Sculpting in Time (雕刻时光 Diāokè Shíguāng), [7]. Laid-back cafe with free wifi and a small menu of food. Popular with both locals and foreigners. They now have eight branches across Beijing.

- Wudaokou Branch, Fl. 2, Building 12, Huaqing Jiayuan 成府路华清嘉园12 号楼2 号3-4F, +86 10 82863094. South-west of the Wudaokou subway station.

- Fragrant Hills Branch, 50 Maimai Rd, Fragrant Hills 香山买卖街50号, +86 10 82590040. Just a little east from the main gate of the Fragrant Hills.

- Lush, Level 2, Bld. 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Wudaokou 五道口华清家园1号楼2层, +86 10 82863566, [8]. A very popular foreign student hangout, this bar has a pub quiz on Wednesdays and an open-mic night on Sundays.

- Propaganda, +86 10 82893991. Just south of Lush & Sculpting in Time, this bar/club is packed on weekends, with a mix of mainly Korean, Japanese, and Western students. Wednesday nights are all-you-can-drink for 80 yuan or so (the price constantly changes, and it's lower if you're female).

- D-22, 242 Chengfu Lu 成府路242号, +86 10 62653177, [9]. One of Beijing's most dynamic venues for live music (predominantly rock and punk). Walk 1.5km west from Wudaokou station, or east from Peking University East Gate.

- Helen's Cafe, (Southwest of the Wudaokou subway station, take Exit B, turn left, walk 200m down the road), +86 13501306172. Back packer style bar/restaurant serving western dishes. Live music on weekends. Free wifi until 7:30PM.

Sleep
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Budget
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- PekingUni International Youth Hostel (北京未名国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Wèimíng Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 150 Chengfu Road (成府路150号; Chéngfǔlù) (Close to Wudaokou Metro Station (line 13). Just head west for 800m and it's a large building with a sign on the 5th floor. Go around the right side where you'll see a Hostelling International logo.), +86 10 6254 9667 (fax: +86 10 6263 5073), [10]. Right smack in the university district, closest hostel to Olympic area. Free internet, guest kitchen and bike hire available. Restaurant and bar. Discounted rates for dorms (a bed in a shared room)/doubles without bathroom/doubles with bathroom from ¥60-¥410 without breakfast.

- Huayetianyuan Hotel (北京天缘惠达宾馆 (原华业天缘宾馆); Běijīngtiānyuánhuìdábīnguǎn (Yuánhuáyètiānyuánbīnguǎn)), 86 Westend of North Ring Road Three (西三环北路86号; Xīsānhuánběilù) (Gongzhufen Metro Station (line 1) and from there buses 374, 394, 437, 658, 704, 809, 944 or 968 to Hangtianqiao North Station (航天桥北)), +86 10 5979 8001 (fax: +86 10 6847 5395). Rooms with free internet, aircon and fridge. Business center, beauty salon and ticket office available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles including breakfast ¥228, discounted ¥163.

- Longwu Jingpin Hotel (北京隆屋精品酒店; Běijīnglóngwūjīngpǐnjiǔdiàn), 35 Enjili (恩济里35号; ēnjìlǐ) (Inside Northend of West Ring Road Four, bus 653 to Enjixijie Station (恩济西街)), +86 10 8815 5757 (fax: +86 10 8815 3068), [11]. Rooms with free internet. The cheapest rooms are quite small. Business center, beauty salon, ticket office and laundry service available. Listed price for doubles from ¥250, discounted from ¥198; breakfast ¥20.

- Beijing Longquanhu Hotel (北京龙泉湖酒店; Běijīngóngquánhújiǔdiàn), 2 Shangdi Second Street (上地二街2号; Shàngdìèrjiē) (800m west of Shangdi Metro Station (line 13), or bus 963 to Shanddihuandaonan Station(上地环岛南)), +86 10 8277 2626 (longquanhu8@163.com, fax: +86 10 8277 2788), [12]. Three star hotel. Rooms with free internet. Meeting facilities, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service and fitness available. Chinese restaurant, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥238, discounted from ¥181; breakfast ¥10.

Mid range
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- Beijing Zhong Yu Century Grand Hotel (北京中裕世纪大酒店 Běijīng Zhōng Yù Shìjì Dàjiǔdiàn), 31 Lianhuachi East Road, Haidian District 西客站北广场莲花池东路31号, +86 10 63989999, [13]. Located in Haidian District, the second-largest district in the capital’s urban area. It offers 208 air-conditioned rooms and appointed with a cable TV, mini-bar, refrigerator, room safe, IDD/ DDD telephone and broadband Internet. From ¥360.

- Beijing Xinyuan Hotel, 6 Shifangyuan St, +86 10 63901166, [14]. Offers 361 air-conditioned guestrooms, all of which have cable TV, a hair dryer, and safe. High speed Internet access is also available. Some of its amenities include indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna, tennis court, and night club. Best rates on official website start at ¥664.

- BJ Song Lu Sheng Fang Holiday Hotel, 86-10-88637878, [15]. This 3-star hotel lies along Haidian District's Tiancun Road. It is just 20 km from Beijing Capital Airport and only 15 minutes from the West Railway Station. BJ Song Lu Sheng Fang Holiday Hotel offers 100 guestrooms, it is aptly furnished with air-conditioning, cable TV, and a mini-bar for a truly restful stay. 8 Tiancun Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. Rates start at ¥331.14.

- Central Garden Hotel Beijing, No.18, Gaoliangqiao Xie Street, (010)51568888, [16].

- Friendship Hotel (友谊宾馆 Yǒuyì Bīnguǎn), 1 Zhongguancun Nandajie 中关村南大街1号, +86 10 68498888, [17]. Built back in 1954 for foreign visitors to Beijing, this has been extensively modernized and remains a busy hotel.

- Happy Inn International Hotel, B65 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China, 86-10-88278800, [18]. With our privileged location west of Changan Avenue, your Beijing hotel reservation at Happy Inn International will bring you close to various attractions. Our five-star accommodation in Beijing showers you with everything you may require for relaxation. Rates start at CNY 458.00.

- Royal King Hotel (融金国际酒店 Róngjīn Guójì Jiǔdiàn), +86 10 62589999, [19]. Located in Haidian District, and has convenient access to the country's so-called Silicon Valley, Zhongguancun, and many of the city's cultural and historic attractions. Their rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with free high-speed Internet access, LCD TV with satellite channels, a DDD/ IDD phone, and private toilet and bath with sprinkler shower. Among their facilities includes a health club that features steam bath, gymnasium, and jacuzzi, spa, beauty salon and barber shop, an indoor swimming pool, a dicso, and a bar.

- Sariz International Hotel, The Gate Building, 19 Zhongguancun Avenue, +86 10 82488866, [20]. This five-star hotel is just a 15-minute drive from the Bird's Nest stadium and Water Cube. It offers 224 air-conditioned guestrooms and is equipped with an LCD TV with cable, computer, broadband Internet, mini-bar, and refrigerator. It offers top class facilities and services such as Chinese and Western Restaurants, fitness center, health club, and three meeting rooms. Rates start at ¥620.05.

- Shanshui Trends Hotel (山水时尚酒店 (北京航天桥店); Shānshuǐshíshàngjiǔdiàn (Běijīnghángtiānqiáodiàn)), 10 Fucheng Road (阜成路10号; Fùchénglù) (Just east of West Ring Road Three, buses 37, 121, 603, 624, 631, 645, 846 to Hangtianqiaodong Station (航天桥东)), +86 10 8810 0100 (fax: +86 10 8810 0200). Rooms with free internet and aircon. Gift shop, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant and rooms service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥388, discounted ¥181; no breakfast available..

- Shen Zhou International Hotel, 31 Zhongguancun South Avenue, +86-10-68118888, [21]. Air-conditioned accommodations, all of which have cable TV, Internet access, telephone with voicemail, and electronic safe. Some of its amenities include grm, spa and Internet café. from ¥553.

- Somerset ZhongGuanCun Beijing (北京盛捷中关村服务公寓), No 15 Haidian Zhong St, +86 10 5873 0088 (enquiry.beijing@the-ascott.com, fax: +86 10 5873 0666), [22]. Kitchen and living areas and broadband internet access. From ¥568.

- Xinxing Hotel (北京新兴宾馆 Běijīng Xīnxīng Bīnguǎn), No.17 the 3rd Ring Rd Middle West 西三北中路17号, +86 10 68166688. Free internet access, but you need to ask for a room with it (you should also ask in advance too). The staff are friendly, but their English is minimal. It is mostly Chinese tourists and businessmen that stay here. Chinese breakfast is served on the second floor in the morning until 9AM. There is also a swimming pool in a separate building. About $50 per night.

Splurge
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- Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun (北京中关村皇冠假日酒店; Běijīng Zhōngguāncūnhuángguānjiàrì Jiǔdiàn), 106 Zhichun Road (知春路106号; Zhīchūnlù) (300m east of Haidianuangzhuang Metro Station (line 10)), +86 10 5993 8888 (info@cp-zhongguancun.com, fax: +86 10 5993 8999), [23]. Rooms with internet access (against surcharge in cheaper rooms). Business center, fitness, swimming pool and sauna available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as bar. The service is ok, but the level of English spoken here is a bit disappointing. The location is not very interesting, but the metro is not far away. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,826, discounted rates from ¥772, breakfast ¥170 (included for more expensive rooms).

Contact
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District Chaoyang District Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

• See

Olympic venues

Buildings

Temples

Parks

Museums

Galleries

Dashanzi Art District

Caochangdi

Liquor Factory

Other

Other

• Do

Theaters

Other

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Sanlitun

Worker's Stadium

Chaoyang Park West Gate

Other

Mid range

Sanlitun Area

Ritan/CBD Area

Splurge

• Drink

Sanlitun

Worker's Stadium

Chaoyang Park West Gate

Other places

• Sleep

Budget

Hostels

Hotels

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Chaoyang is a massive district, roughly covering the urban area to the north and east of central Beijing, beginning at the Second Ring Road, and stretching beyond the Fifth Ring Road. Chaoyang contains Beijing's Central Business District (CBD). While Chaoyang district does not have that many tourist sites, most visitors to Beijing will find themselves in Chaoyang at some point: especially for visiting the art districts, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

Get in
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Subway line 10, newly opened in 2008 in time for the Olympics, travels along or parallel to the Third Ring Road, through most of Chaoyang district. Line 1 runs east-west through the Central Business District. Line 5 runs north-south in the northern part of the district.

See
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Olympic venues
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Many of the Olympic venues are situated in or around the Olympic Green in Chaoyang. Note that the Olympic Green area is now like a public square that can be visited for free. Admission is charged if you want to visit inside the venues:

- National Stadium (北京国家体育场; Běijīng Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng), Olympic Park, Chaoyang District (Subway line 8 to Olympic Green station), +86 10 84986888. 9 AM - 7 PM, lights on until 9PM or later, check with you hotel. Also known as the "Bird's Nest" (鸟巢 Niǎocháo), this stadium, designed by Herzog & Meuron, is the world's largest steel structure. It hosted opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletic and football matches during the olympics. It was planned to host football matches after the Olympics, but due to expected few spectators the football club backed out of the agreement. Therefore, the stadium has found very little use after the olympics and is planned to be converted to a shopping and entertainment complex. ¥50.

- National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心; Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), (Subway line 8 to Olympic Green station). Lights on until 9PM or later, check with your hotel. Also known as the "Water Cube" (水立方 Shǔilìfāng) Swimming and diving venue. Tickets to visit the inside of the Water Cube are sold throughout the day. The ticket office is inconveniently located by the tour bus parking lot at the northwest corner of the building (which is a fair hike from the building entrance at the southeast corner, facing the stadium). The building also sometimes now hosts sound and light shows in the evenings. ¥30.

- National Indoor Stadium (国家体育馆; Guójiātǐyùguǎn), 18 Beichen East Road (北辰东路18号; Běichéndōnglù). Gymnastics venue.

- Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

- Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium.

- Ying Tung Natatorium (Yingdong Natatorium).

- Olympic Green Tennis Center.

Olympic venues are also found elsewhere in Chaoyang:

- Beijing Workers' Stadium (工人体育场; Gōngréntǐyùchǎng), Gongti North Road (工体北路; Gōngtǐběilù). An old stadium renovated to be a football (soccer) venue, still used for sports events and major concerts.

- Beijing Workers Gymnasium (工人体育馆; Gōngréntǐyùguǎn), Gongti North Road (工体北路; Gōngtǐběilù).

- Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium (北京工业大学体育馆; Běijīng Gōngyèdàxuétǐyùguǎn), 100 Ping Le Yuan (平乐园100号; Pínglèyuán).

Finally, Olympic venues can be found in other districts including China Agricultural University Gymnasium, Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium, Peking University Gymnasium, Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium, Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, Beijing Shooting Range CTF, Beijing Shooting Range Hall, Laoshan Velodrome, Laoshan Mountain Bike Course, and Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field.

Buildings
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- CCTV Building (中央电视台新楼 Zhōngyāng Diànshìtái Xīnlóu). Just north-east of Guomao station along the Third Ring Road is this beautiful and unique tower by Dutch architects Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren, housing China Central Television Station. A New Year's firework accident in 2009 burnt down the adjacent Mandarin Oriental Hotel building.

- World Trade Center Tower III. Just north-west of Guomao station, and north of China World Trade Center I. This is Beijing's tallest building and features multiple restaurants and bars at the top.

Temples
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- Dongyue Temple (东岳庙; Dōngyuèmiào), 141 Chaowai Street (朝外大街141号; Cháowàidàjiē), +86 10 6551 0151. 8:30AM-4:30PM. Taoist temple founded in 1319 with hundreds of life size plaster figures and the possibility of making offerings to different gods responsible for all kind of stuff. The temple also houses the Beijing Folk Arts Museum. Very quiet and peaceful spot. ¥10.

Parks
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- Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园; Cháoyáng Gōngyuán), 1 Nongzhan South Road (农展南路1号; Nóngzhǎn Nánlù) (Located between East Ring Road Four and East Ring Road Five. The South Gate is 1.5km east of Tuanjiehu Metro Station (line 10), two stops by buses 305 or 406 from there will take you the last bit), +86 10 6506 5409 (admin@sun-park.com, fax: +86 10 6507 5179), [1]. 6AM-10PM. The largest park in Beijing at 3km by 1.5km. The park features an artifical beach, two large swimming pools, a bungee jumping tower, boat rental, concert stages, sports areas, a number of amusement park rides, flower areas and much more. The individual entertainment options might not be impressive, but the size of the park and the number of local visitors makes a stroll here delightful anyway. ¥5.

- Ritan Park (日坛公园; Rìtán Gōngyuán), 6 Ritan North Road (日坛北路6号; Rìtán Běilù) (1km northeast of Jianguomen Metro Station (lines 1 and 2)), +86 10 8561 6301. 6AM-8PM. The park contains the Temple of the Sun with an alter built in 1530 and used for sacrifices to the sun. Great park with entertainment for the children, good cafés and restaurants, plenty of local life to watch and also historical stuff. The altar itself is a round open space popular for flying kites. If you couldn't get close to the "Echo Wall" at Temple of Heaven due to crowds, you can do the same trick here (although only on a quarter rather than the whole circle). Also climb to the pavilion at the top of the small hill in the park for a surround view of the CBD skyline. Free.

- Chinese Ethnic Culture Park (China Nationalities Museum) (中华民族园 (中华民族博物院简介); Zhōnghuámínzúyuán (Zhōnghuámínzúbówùyuànjiǎnjiè)), 1 Minzuyuan Road (民族园路1号; Mínzúyuánlù) (500m northwest of Beitucheng Metro Station (lines 10 and 8)), +86 10 6206 3640 (office@emuseum.org.cn), [2]. 8:30AM-6PM. Park and museum with buildings and exhibitions showing the characteristics of China's 56 nationalities. This does give a good overview and a better understanding of the diversity of China, but everything seems a bit dated and dusty. Also estaurants and shops in the park. ¥90.

- Happy Valley Amusement Park (北京欢乐谷; Běijīng Huānlègǔ), Xiaowuji North Road, Southend of East Ring Road Four (东四环南路小武基北路; Dōngsìhuánnánlù Xiǎowǔjīběilù) (Just southeast of Sifang Bridge (east of Ring Road Four and south of Jingshen Expressway). Bus 52 (eg from Tian'anmen) to Jingsong Bridge East Station (劲松桥东站) and change to bus 41; or the metro to Dawanglu Metro Station and change to bus 31), +86 10 6736 0303 (happyvalley@bjoct.com), [3]. 9:30AM-10PM (but many rides close down around 5PM). Amusement park established in 2006 and by far the largest in Beijing covering around 1km2 and comprising more than 40 rides divided in different themed areas. Adults ¥160, children 1.2m-1.4m ¥80.

- Honglingjin Park (红领巾公园; Hónglǐngjīn Gōngyuán), Houbalizhuang, East Ring Road Four (东四环路后八里庄5号; Dōngsìhuánlù Hòubālǐzhuāng) (Just northeast of Honglinjing Bridge (east of Ring Road Four and north of Chaoyang North Road. Buses 126, 306, 440, 682 to Honglingjin Park Station), +86 10 8581 9548 (das_slh@sina.com), [4]. Summer 6AM-10PM; winter 6:30AM-8PM. Here you can watch sculptures and gingko trees. The park also features indoor and outdoor playgrounds, boats for hire and a number of amusement park rides. Free.

- Side Park (四德公园; Sìdé Gōngyuán), 6 Fangyuan West Road (芳园西路6号; Fāngyuán Xīlù), +86 10 6432 1659. 6AM-9PM. Park featuring sport activities and play grounds. ¥10.

Museums
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- Art Museum of the Beijing Fine Art Academy.

- Blue Zoo Beijing (富国海底世界; Fùguóhǎidǐshìjiè; also known as Beijing Rich Country Seabed World), South Gate of Workers' Stadium (工人体育场南门; Gōngréntǐyùchǎng Nánmén) (1.5km southeast of Dongsishitiao Metro Station (line 2)), =+86 10 6591 3397, [5]. Summer 8AM-8PM; winter 8:30AM-6:30PM. Aquarium with a 120m walk through tunnel. ¥75.

- China National Film Museum.

- Guanfu Classic Art Museum.

- National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature (中国现代文学馆; Zhōngguó Xiàndàiwénxuéguǎn), 45 Wenxueguan Road, Shaoyaoji (芍药居文学馆路45号; Sháoyàojū Wénxuéguǎnlù) (1km northwest of Shaoyaoji Metro Station (lines 10 and 13)), +86 10 8461 9071 (master@wxg.org.cn, fax: +86 10 8464 5310), [6]. 9AM-4:30PM. Very large museum on modern Chinese literature and writers including reproductions of writers' homes, original and copy manuscripts as well as personal effects. ¥20.

- Red Sandalwood Museum.

- Sports Museum.

Galleries
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Dashanzi Art District
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Dashanzi Art District (大山子艺术区 Dàshānzǐ Yìshù Qū), originally known as 798 Factory, is a district full of galleries of contemporary Chinese art, located in an old industrial district. Also many Western style cafes here. The area has until recently been undisputed as the centre for Chinese contemporary art. But beginning commercialisation and mainstreaming of the area and the rise of other areas in Beijing makes this less obvious. The area is now firmly on the tour group circuit and can be crowded at weekends. Recently many of the original galleries have closed or moved due to high rents, although there are more and more cafes and shops, some quite high-end. Full of young artists selling their handiwork, which makes for great shopping if you can't afford the big art pieces. Visiting the area is still a must for both art lovers and common tourists. It's located outside Fourth Ring Road, so it's easiest and fastest to get there by taxi. It's in the direction of the airport, so it can be a convenient stop on your way there or a quick trip back into the city on your last night. Alternatively, bus routes 688 and 418 go from Dongzhimen via Liangmaqiao for connections to/from the subway system.

- 798 Photo Gallery (百年印象摄影画廊; Bǎinián Yìnxiàngshèyǐng Huàláng), +86 10 6438 1784 (798@798photogellery.cn, fax: +86 10 6437 5284), [7]. 10AM-6PM. Established in 2003 as the first gallery in China to focus on photography. Still one of the best places in China to see photographic work. New exhibitions every month.

- 798 Space (798 时态空间; 798 Shítàikōngjiān), +86 10 6437 6248 (info@798space.com, fax: 86 10 6437 6248), [8]. 10:30AM-7:30PM. The gallery giving the original name to the whole area. Now more interesting for its parties, events and high couture product launches than for its art exhibitions.

- Beijing Commune (北京公社; Běijīnggōngshè), +86 10 8456 2862 (info@beijingcommune.com), [9]. Exhibitions in all media focusing on discovering and promoting the newest trends. Also engaged in organising conferences and publishing books.

- Beijing Tokyo Art Projects, 86 10 8457 3245 (btap@tokyo-gallery.com, fax: +86 10 8457 3246), [10]. Tu-Su 10:30AM-6:30PM; Nov-Mar 10:30AM-5:30PM. One of the first galleries to open here and continues to have interesting exhibitions in all media with East Asian artists.

- Chinese Contemporary Beijing (中国当代画廊; Zhōngguódāngdàihuàláng), +86 10 8456 2421 (beijing@chinesecontemporary.com, fax: 8456-2473), [11]. 11AM-7PM. Large international gallery with branches in London and New York as well. Focusing on Chinese provocative avant-garde within all media.

- Iberia Center for Contemporary Art (伊比利亚当代艺术中心; Yībǐlì Yàdāngdàiyìshù Zhōngxīn), +86 10 5978 9530 (info@iberiart.org), [12]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Established by the International Art & Culture Foundation of Spain. Focuses on Chinese films and videos with a focus on independent documentary film.

- Marella Gallery, +86 10 5978 9587 (marella.media@gmail.com), [13]. 11AM-7PM. Milan based callery exhibiting both Chinese and international artists.

- Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery I, =+86 10 5978 9262 (pbphotogallery@gmail.com, fax: +86 10 5978 9262), [14]. 10AM-6PM. Exhibits photography from both China and abroad. See also Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery II in the same area.

- Star Gallery (星空间; Xīngkōngjiān), (stargallery@gmail.com, fax: +86 10 8459 9630), [15]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Focuses on exhibitions, publications and promotion of the newest generation of Chinese artists.

- Tang Contemporary Art (北京当代唐人艺术中心; Běijīngdāngdài Tángrényìshùzhōngxīn), +86 10 6436 3518 (info@tangcontemporary.com, fax: +86 10 6436 3018), [16]. 10:30AM-6PM. Large gallery exhibiting both Chinese and foreign contemporary artists.

- Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, +86 10 6438 6675, [17]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Large gallery with three exhibition halls and with ambitions of being the most comprehensive institute for contemporary Chinese art. Arranges also events within art, films and music as well as seminars on a wide range of art related topics.

- Yan Club Art Centre (仁俱乐部艺术中心; Rénjùlèbùyìshùzhōngxīn), +86 10 8457 3506 (events@yanclub.com, fax: +86 10 8457 3622), [18]. 10AM-6PM. This is one of the first and one of the largest galleries in the area. Exhibitions with emerting and established artists in a wide range of media. In the evenings, the place is used for trance and jungle parties.

- Yuanfen New Media Art Space, (info@yuanfenart.com), [19]. We-Sa 11AM-7PM. This gallery exhibits online, video and new media art by international and Chinese artists

Caochangdi
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Caochangdi is a satellite branch to Dashanzi established as Dashanzi became increasingly commercialised and as rents rose significantly there. Caochangdi was a village that has now been swallowed up by the city. It's located a few kilometres north-east of Dashanzi, just beyond the Fifth Ring Road (a short cab ride or a few stops on the same bus routes that go to Dashanzi). The galleries here are more spread out and can be hard to find, so this is a destination for more serious art aficionados.

- Art Channel (艺术通道; Yìshùtōngdào), No 249-3, Zone B, Art district East, Caochangdi Village (草场地村艺术东区B区249-3; Cǎochǎngdìcūn Ýìshùdōngqū), +86 10 6433 5080 (artchannelbj@sina.com, fax: +86 10 6433 5060), [20]. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM. Gallery founded in 2006. Represents established, emerging and young Chinese and international artists. The gallery focuses on exchange of ideas between Western and non-Western cultures and on dialogues with other traditions.

- Boers-Li Gallery, 8A Caochangdi (草场地甲8号; Cǎochǎngdìjiǎ), +86 10 6432 2620 (info@boersligallery.com, fax: +86 10 6432 2621), [21]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Large gallery focusing on sculptural and video installations.

- China Art Archives and Warehouse (艺术文件仓库; Yìshùwénjiàncāngkù), East of Tiedao Bridge, Caochangdi Village (草场地村铁道桥东侧; Cǎochǎngdìcūn Tiědàoqiáodōngcè), +86 10 8456 5152 (mail@caaw.com.cn, fax: +86 10 8456 5154), [22]. We-Su 2PM-6PM. CAAW was one of the first galleries in Beijing with a history at least dating back to 1993. The gallery was the first to move to Caochangdi. Focuses on experimental fine art from China, including painting, sculpture, photography, printing and installations.

- Chambers Fine Art (前波画廊; Qiánbōhuàláng), No 1-D Red, Caochangdi (草场地红1号D座; Cǎochǎngdì Hóng), +86 10 5127 3298 (info@chambersfineart.com.cn, fax: +86 10 5127 3298), [23]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Chambers Fine Art opened in New York in 2000 exhibiting cutting edge Chinese art. In 2007, the Beijing branch opened.

- DoArt Gallery, 261 Caochangdi (草场地261号; Cǎochǎngdì), +86 10 8457 4550 (mail@doartbeijing.com, fax: +86 10 8456 5096), [24]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. This Beijing branch of a Seoul gallery opened in 2007. Aims at introducing Chinese comtemporary artist to the international scene.

- F2 Gallery, 319 Caochangdi (草场地319号; Cǎochǎngdì), +86 10 6432 8831 (art@f2gallery.com, fax: +86 10 6432 8203), [25]. 10AM-6PM. Gallery representing and working closely together with a few Chinese contemporary artists.

- Galerie Urs Meile, 104 Caochangdi (草场地104号; Cǎochǎngdì), +86 10 6433 3393 (galerie@galerieursmeile.com), [26]. Tu-Su 11AM-6:30PM. Swiss gallery exhibiting both foreign and Chinese artists

- Pékin Fine Arts (北京艺门; Běijīng Yìmén), 241 Caochangdi, Cuigezhuang (催各庄草场地241号; Cuīgèzhuāng Cǎochǎngdì), +86 10 8610 5127 ext 3320 (info@pekinfinearts.com, fax: +86 10 5127 3223), [27]. We-Su 10AM-6PM. The gallery prepares exhibitions of contemporary Chinese artist with the purpose of sending them abroad.

- Platform China Art Institute (站台中国当代艺术机构; Zhàntáizhōngguódāngdàiyìshùjīgòu), No 319-1, East End Art Zone A, Caochangdi (草场地村319-1艺术东区A区内), +86 10 6432 0091 (info@platformchina.org, fax: +86 10 8145 9360), [28]. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM. Exhibits video and installation art. The gallery also aims at being at workplace and also has a residency program for international artists.

- The Tavelin Kreisman Studio, 300 Caochagdi (草场地300号; Cǎochǎngdì), +86 135 0109 2984 (gkreisman@gmail.com), [29]. Tu, Th, Sa, Su noon-6PM. Work space focusing on painting, print making, photography and video sculpture.

- Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (三影堂摄影艺术中心; Sānyǐngtángshèyǐngyìshù Zhōngxīn), 155 Caochagdi (草场地155号; Cǎochǎngdì), +86 10 6432 2663 (press@threeshadows.cn, fax: +86 10 6431 9693), [30]. One of the most important venues for photography including exhibitions, café, workstations and library.

Liquor Factory
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Liquor Factory is the third large art area in Chaoyang

- Arario Beijing (阿拉里奥北京; Ālālǐào Běijīng), Jiuchang Art Factory, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan (安外北苑北湖渠酿酒厂; Ānwàiběiyuàn Běihúqúniàng Jiǔchǎng), +86 10 5202 3800 (info@arariobeijing.com, fax: +86 10 5202 3808), [31]. Daily 10AM-6PM. This Korean owned gallery is by far the largest in the area with four galleries exhibiting local and foreign artists, both established and emerging, and within a full range of media.

Other
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Chaoyang also has a number of galleries elsewhere

- Creation Gallery (可创铭佳艺苑; Kěchuāngmíngjiāyìyuàn), North end of Ritan East Road(日坛东路北口; Rìtándōnglùběikǒu) (Northeast of Ritan Park), +86 10 8561 7570 (creationgallery@sohu.com, fax: +86 10 8563 2740), [32]. Tu-Su 10AM-7PM. Exhibits with significant influence from traditional Chinese art. Focusing on oil and acrylic paintings as well as traditional materials.

- Imagine Gallery (想象画廊; Xiǎngxiàng Huàláng), 8 Feijiacun East Road, Laiguangying East Road (来广营东路费家村东路8号; Láiguǎngyíngdōnglù Fèijiācūndōnglù), +86 10 6438 5747 (laetitia.gauden@imagine-gallery.com), [33]. Tu-Su 10:30AM-5:30PM. Exhibits Chinese and foreign artists and provides workingspace for artists.

- Beijing Tomorrow Art Gallery (创意数码科技艺术展览), (beijingtomorrow@gmail.com), [34]. Exhibits Western artists working with digital technologies. free.

Other
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Do
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Theaters
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- Century Theater (世纪剧院; Shìjìjùyuàn), 40 Liangmaqiao Road (亮马桥路40号; Liàngmǎqiáolù) (Behind the Lufthansa Center, 1km northeast of Liangmaqiao Metro Station (line 10)), +86 10 6468 3311 ext 3163 (centurytheater@yahoo.com.cn, fax: +86 10 6462 8470), [35]. Upscale theater frequented by expats. Performances include dramas, classical concerts, dance performances, opera and other musical events.

- Chaoyang Theater (朝阳剧场; Cháoyángjùchǎng), 36 Northend of East Ring Road Three (东三环北路36号; Dōngsānhuánběilù), +86 10 6507 2421 (fax: +86 10 6591 9346), [36]. Performances usually at 5:15PM and 7:15PM. Theater focusing on acrobatics, but also some Peking Opera. Acrobatics shows are impressive and slick, with a 'tropical bird' theme. The Peking Opera shows are in a small side theatre, and fairly amateur. ¥180-¥680.

- China Puppet Theater (中国木偶剧院; Zhōngguómùǒujùyuàn), 1 Anhua Xili, East Ring Road Three(东三环安华西里甲1号; Dōngsānhuán ānhuáxīlǐ), +86 10 6425 4798, [37]. Performances throughout the day. Both classical Western and classical Chinese plays for children performed by puppets. Also a playground available.

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- Crab Island (蟹岛绿色生态度假村; Xièdǎolǜsèshēngtàidùjiàcūn), 1 Xiedao Road (蟹岛路1号; Xièdǎolù) (Between Ring Road 4 and 5 to the northeast, south of Jichang Expressway), +86 10 8433 5566, [38]. Summer 8AM-1AM. Artificial beach with real sand, parasols and beach chairs. Features a large pool with wave machine and water slides. Free.

- Tuanjiehu Pool (团结湖游泳池; Tuánjiéhú Yóuyǒngchí), 16 Tuanjiehu South Road (团结湖南路16号; Tuánjiéhú Nánlù) (Just northeast of Hujialou Metro Station (line 10)), +86 10 8597 4677. Water park with beach, pool with wave machine and water slides. ¥30.

- Fundazzle (翻斗乐; Fāndòulè), Gongti South Road (工体南路; Gōngtǐ Nánlù), +86 10 6500 4193. Mo-Fr 9AM-5:30PM, Sa-Su 9AM-7PM. Large indoor playground. Adults ¥15 in weekends, work days free; Children ¥30.

- The Bigeast Ocean Gymnastic Club, 200m east of Huawei Bridge, +86 10 87323329/+86 10 87323328. Has a huge sauna, 3 different kinds of spas to soak in, a steam room, and showers. After a jaunt in the spa room, get dressed up in pajamas and head upstairs to witness a variety show with comedians, singers, and clowns. After the show, you can relax in the reclining sofa room or grab some snacks from the cafe. The truly unique experience for someone who's "seen it all" in China.

Buy
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- Silk Street or the Silk Market (秀水街 Xiùshuǐ Jiē), 8 East Xiushui St., Jianguomenwai Dajie (Yong'anli subway station on Line 1). The original foreign-oriented market, in the first embassy district (now the CBD). It was re-opened in March 2005 as a 5 storey air-conditioned building. You can find luggage, leather bags, electronics, sporting goods, jewellery, clothing and Chinese artwork. This market caters almost entirely to foreign customers. However, compared to other Asian markets in, say, Hong Kong and Bangkok, this market may be overpriced. Counterfeit Polo Ralph Lauren golf shirts in Hong Kong are roughly 30HKD (US$4) while at the Silk Market, the general starting price is roughly US$50 and you would be lucky after lengthy bargaining to get the shirt for US$20. As another example of prices: bargaining for fake Diesel-brand jeans might start at ¥1200 and end up at ¥85. Shoes may not be worth buying here, as their soles are often uncomfortably thin. Tourists may want to consider spending their money elsewhere.

- Sanlitun Yashow Clothing Market (雅秀服装市场 Yǎxiù Fúzhuāng Shìchǎng), 58 Gongti Beilu (In the Sanlitun area. Walk west 5-10 mins from Tuanjiehu station on subway Line 10, or walk east 20 mins from Dongsishitiao station on Line 2). This is very similar to Silk Street (see above) with slightly better prices. It's less touristy than Silk Street, and prices will start far closer to a reasonable sale price. The net result is the bargaining is far less agressive and you will probably feel more comfortable with your purchases here. The vendors are generally pleasant and fun to negotiate with. A great time to visit is in the mid afternoon, when sales are slower. There is a floor dedicated to children's clothing. There are also shops with consumer electronics, china, bedding, and so on. This market is within walking distance of several hotels, including the Great Wall Sheraton. There is a fairly safe food court on the top floor. There are several bespoke tailors for men here; they will custom-make suits in less than 24 hours at prices that will amaze. You pick the fabric and style, they measure you, you come back for a trial fitting, and then you pick up the suits the next day.

- Village at Sanlitun, Corner of Gongti Beilu and Sanlitun Lu. New mall just opened in 2008, beside Yashow market. Many international brand names, including Apple, Adidas, Uniqlo. Also numerous cafes and restaurants, and a cinema in the basement.

- China World Trade Center (国贸 Guómào). Here you will find a lot of expensive stores and some international convenience stores.

- Panjiayuan (潘家园 Pānjiāyuán). Also called the "dirt market" or the "weekend market," this is China's largest and possibly its most entertaining flea market. It operates from Sunday to Saturday, most people visit there on the weekend, and it is located near Pan Jia Yuan bridge, on the eastern third ring road. It begins early, around 7 AM in summer and 8 AM in winter (4 AM on the weekend). The flea market includes antiques (some genuine but mostly quality or amusing fakes) and large sections selling modern porcelain, jade, carved stone and wood, paintings, furniture, and other decorative items, used books, maps, Cultural Revolution kitsch (many are copies made in recent years). There are also sections selling Tibetan goods (mostly of low quality, especially the paintings). Ethnic textiles from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces are amongst the more interesting buys at the moment. Well worth a visit, unless you are allergic to crowds. Remember to haggle, try offer 1/10 to 1/3 of the original price and be sure to shop around as many stalls have similar or identical goods. Panjiayuan's established dealers also provide shipping service for large items to main ports around the world.

- Guwan Cheng (古玩城 Gǔwán Chéng). On the 3rd ring road, just beyond Panjiayuan. This four story white building houses the more upmarket variety of Chinese antiques, with prices to match. The management have been making determined efforts to stamp out fakes and low quality items in recent years and to some extent they have succeeded. However, the rule that applies to all antique shopping in China still remains in force: buyer beware.

- Sunny Gold Street (阳光金街; yángguāng jīn jīe), 2 Fangyuan Xi Lu (One block south and east of Lido hotel). A small two-storey market selling clothes, T-shirts, luggage, purses, wallets, some souvenirs etc. Nothing you can't also get at Yashow, but much smaller and calmer, so more relaxing. Convenient if you're staying at Lido hotel or in the area.

- Friendship Store (友谊商店; yǒuyì shāngdiàn), CITIC building, Jianguomenwai Dajie (Just east of Jianguomen station (lines 1 & 2)). A relic of communist China: where all foreigners used to have to shop. Prices are very high, and (not surprisingly) there's hardly anyone there. Come here to browse in peace and see what items and styles you like: then go to Silk market or Yashow to bargain for them.

- Liangma Flower Market (亮马花市场; liàngmǎ huā shìchǎng), (Behind the Kempinski hotel at Lufthansa Centre, across the footbridge over the river). First floor is cut flowers, all very inexpensive. Around the sides are potted plants, home decorations, lamps. Upstairs are dishes and othe kitchenware.

- Ladies' Street (女人街; nǚrén jīe), (From Lufthansa Centre (Liangmaqiao station) walk north-east on Liangmaqiao Lu, then turn left at the first traffic light.). A varied shopping area in the new embassy district. Nuren Jie itself has restaurants and shops/market selling womens' clothing (hence the name). There is also the Laitai Flower Market, which sells potted plants, planters, cut flowers, and above and below has art and home decorations. Similar small shops line the street opposite the flower market. Opposite Laitai is an area called "Super Bar Street" with bars and restaurants, and during the day also has a large indoor market with mostly electronics.

Eat
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Budget
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Sanlitun
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- Chun Gu Xiang Dumpling Restaurant (春谷香), 22 Dongzhimenwai Dajie (Beside the Jingkelong convenience store, opposite the Canadian embassy. No English sign.), +86 10 64170460. 10:30AM-10PM. This is a typical local restaurant. Neither the food nor the decor are fancy, just cheap and good. No English spoken, although there is an English menu. Menu features boiled dumplings, and many other "homestyle" Chinese dishes (sweet and sour pork, kung pao chicken, dry-fried green beans, etc.) ¥15-20 per dish.

- Fish Nation (鱼邦; Yúbāng), 43 North Sanlitun South Road (北三里屯南路43号; Běisānlǐtúnnánlù), +86 10 6415 0119, [39]. 10AM-2AM. Serves fish'n'chips. Gets crowded late at night.

- Kiosk (南斯拉夫烤肉店; Nánsīlāfū Kǎoròudiàn), Sanlitun Jiubajie (三里屯酒吧街), +86 10 6413 2461. 11AM-9PM. Serves Serbian burgers and sandwiches. Outdoor seating only.

- Kebab Republic (土耳其烧烤共和国; Tǔěrqí Shāokǎo Gònghéguó), 30 Sanlitun Beilu (三里屯北路30号; Sānlǐtúnběilù), +86 10 6413 1473. 10:30AM-11PM. Serves Turkey kebabs.

- Noodle Bar.

Worker's Stadium
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- Modern Nomads (现代牧民; Xiàndàimùmín), 4 Gongti Beilu (工体北路4号; Gōngtǐběilù) (East of Worker's Stadium, west of Tuanjiehu Metro Station (line 10)), +86 10 6586 7757. 11AM-2AM. Mongolian cuisine specialsing in mutton, also some western dishes. Live Mongolian music now and then.

- Fire, 1/F, China View Building, Gongti Donglu (工体东路中红街大厦1层), +86 8587 1027. Chinese.

- Anytime Cafe (狮子山下私房菜港式菜饭厅; Shīzishānxiàsīfángcài Gǎngshìcàifàntīng), 4 Gonti Beilu (工体北路4号; Gōngtǐběilù), +86 10 6586 3948. Basic dim sum restaurant.

- Club Sandwich, 18 Xinzhong Road (新中路18号; Xīnzhōnglù) (600m northeast of Dongsishitiao Metro Station), +86 10 8447 3949. 9AM-9PM. Simple place serving sandwich and pizza. Free internet available.

Chaoyang Park West Gate
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- Ri Chang (日昌茶餐厅), 1 Nongzhanguan Nanlu (农展馆南路1号), +86 10 6593 1078, [40]. 9AM-4AM. Cantonese cuisine. The food and service is not remarkable, but it is cheap and it is open when everything else is closed.

- Meizhou Dongpo (眉州东坡酒楼), Bldg 1, Tuanjiehu Dongli (团结湖东里1号楼), +86 10 8598 0158, [41]. 6AM-4AM. Sichuan cuisine.

- An Die An Niang (俺爹俺娘), West Gate of Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园西门), +86 10 6591 0231. 10AM-3AM. Shandong cuisine. Very basic and cheap place serving baozi and other home style dishes.

Other
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- Da Qing Hua (大青花), Panjiayuan Lu (West of the main (north) entrance to Panjiayuan market, on the south side of the street.). Simple dumpling restaurant, good for a quick bite after shopping at the market.

Mid range
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Sanlitun Area
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- Gesangmedo (格桑梅朵 Gésāngméiduǒ), Chaoyang District, Xindong Lu, Xingfu Ercun Shangye Building, 2nd fl. (朝阳区新东路幸福二村商业楼二层), +86 10 6417-9269. Daily 11 AM-11 PM. Tibetan food in a beautifully decorated interior, complete with a shrine in one corner. Attentive staff. Nightly live performance begins at 9pm. Subway: Line 2 to Dongzhimen and walk east on Dongzhimen Wai Dajie. Bus: 110, 117, 120, 813, 815, or 823 to Xingfu San Cun (幸福三村 Xìngfú Sān Cūn).

- Lau Pa Sak (老吧刹), Xindong Lu (新东路) (Southwest corner of intersection with Dongzhimenwai). Malaysian/Singaporean style food. Mee Goreng is good, as is Hainan chicken and freshly made curry puffs.

- Yuxin Sichuan Restaurant (渝信川菜 Yúxìn Chuāncài). M-F 10 AM,-10 PM, Sa-Su 11 AM-10 PM. One of the contenders in the ongoing competition for Beijing's best Sichuanese, Yuxin delivers on authenticity, flavor, and service. It's always busy, and always good. ¥30-50 per person.

- A5 Xingfu Yicun Xili, Chaoyang District, +86 01 6415 8108. (朝阳区幸福一村西里甲5号 Cháoyáng Qū Xìngfúyīcūn Xīlǐjiǎ wǔ hào).

- Panino Giusto, Xingfucun Zhongjie (幸福村中街) (Street is parallel to Gongti Beilu, but one block north, between Xindong Lu and Chunxiu Lu.). Great panini sandwiches, and salads. Tables outside in summer. Similar (but slightly better and cheaper) to Paninoteca, which has locations in north Sanlitun and in the Village mall. Sandwiches start at ¥28..

- The Middle 8th Restaurant. Located near the Sanlitun bar district. Awesome Yunnan cuisine. Extremely fresh food. Lots of dishes in the ¥20-30 range.

- Bocata, 33 Sanlitun Lu, opposite 3.3 mall (三里屯路33号3.3大厦对面). Delicious grilled panini-style sandwiches. Lovely shady patio in summertime. ¥25-40 per sandwich.

- Kro's Nest, Inside Worker's Stadium North Gate (工体北门内), +86 10 65535253. Great thick-crust pizza. ¥90 for a medium pizza.

- Saddle Cantina, 81 Sanlitun Lu (三里屯北路81号) (Inside the new Nali mall, just north of the Village and south of 3.3 mall). Good tex-mex food, especially the burritos. Also sometimes has drinks specials.

- Serve the People, 1 Sanlitun Xiwujie (三里屯西五街1号) (North end of Sanlitun Lu, cross Dongzhimenwai then take the first left.). Reliable Thai food.

Ritan/CBD Area
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- Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant (小王府; Xiǎo Wáng Fù), Inside Ritan Park North Gate (日坛公园北门内), +86 10 85617859. Very good "homestyle" Chinese food, in a beautiful setting in the park. Not as expensive as the setting would make you believe. Some tables on a rooftop patio. Open all day but they don't serve food for a few hours in the afternoon.

- Xi He Ya Ju (羲和雅居), Ritan Dong Lu (日坛东路) (Northeast corner of Ritan Park), +86 10 85617643. Fairly upscale "homestyle" Chinese restaurant, popular with foreigners.

- Makye Ame, 11A Xiushui Nanjie Jianguomenwai Beijing, +86 10 6506 9616. Tibetan restaurant, features live dancing and performances.

Splurge
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- Dadong Duck Restaurant (大董烤鸭店 Dàdŏng Kăoyā Diàn). Daily 11AM-10PM. Considered by some to be the best Beijing duck in the city, this upscale restaurant also delivers on a nice atmosphere. Reservations suggested.

- Tuanjiehu Beikou branch, Chaoyang District, Tuanjiehu Beikou Bldg. 3, East 3rd Rind Road (团结湖北口3号楼，东三环长虹桥西南角), +86 10 6582 2892.

- Din Tai Fung (鼎泰丰), 24 Xinyuang Xili Zhongjie; 新源西里中街24号 (Just west of the Yuyang Hotel.). 11:30 am to 10 pm. Expensive but delicious Shanghai-style dumplings. Second floor is non-smoking.

- Pure Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant, 12 Nongzhanguan Nanlu (农展馆南路12号(通广大厦内)) (Somewhat hard to find. East from the northeast corner of Gongti Beilu and Third Ring (Tuanjiehu subway station), you have to go under an archway in behind the office buildiing and around the corner.), +86 10 65923627. Upscale vegetarian restaurant. Setting and presentation is beautiful. In the tradition of Chinese vegetarianism, many of the dishes are typical dishes made with "mock" meat (tofu). Try the mock Beijing duck. There's a second location inside Holiday Inn Lido Hotel.

- Shintori, Chaoyang District, 18 Jianguomen Wai Dajie (玄吧朝阳区建国门外大街18号), +86 10 6515-8585. 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-11PM. Shintori is an exquisite Japanese restaurant which is almost impossible to find. Once you do find your way in, one can't help but be wowed when entering the main dining area. The food at Shintori is unquestionably good, but be prepared to pay a little more here. ¥300 per person.

- W Wine & Dine, 22 Dongzhimenwai Dajie (Southeast corner of intersection with Xindong Lu.), +86 10 64169838. Lovely, fancy and expensive French/European restaurant. A la carte may be expensive, but lunch set menu is excellent value for money at ¥98, which includes a glass of wine.

- Sureño Restaurant, Building 1, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District (basement of Green glass building just north of 3.3 mall). Sureño is the Mediterranean restaurant located on the lower ground level of The Opposite House.The warm interiors boast an open kitchen and a wood fired oven that evoke the casual style of the Mediterranean, where guests can also watch the live action while they dine. Wine list definitely worth checking out. Sureño was awarded Best Service and Best New Restaurant by Time Out (Beijing) at their annual awards. www.surenorestaurant.com from RMB300.

- Bei Restaurant, Building 1, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District (basement of Green glass building just north of 3.3 mall). Bei features contemporary Asian food, inspired by the cuisines of Northern China, Japan and Korea. Expect a delicate balance of flavor and texture during this culinary voyage where kimchi is served with roast pig, miso foie gras with eel and the likes. The restaurant was designed by the world renowned Neri + Hu Design and Research Office. New Orleans Chef de Cuisine Max Levy at the helm of the kitchen, has trained under some of Japan’s most famous sushi masters. Condé Nast welcomes his "pristine dishes" and "top-notch" sushi, putting the restaurant on The Hot Tables List 2009. Additionally, Bei also won an award for Most Innovative Cuisine, and was named runner-up for Best Design, in Time Out Beijing's (English edition) annual hospitality awards. www.beirestaurant.com from RMB300.

Drink
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Sanlitun
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Sanlitun (三里屯 Sānlǐtún). Long the center of nightlife in Beijing, Sanlitun is located beside the embassy area in Chaoyang district. It is comprised of a main "bar street" divided into north and south sections, a side street with more casual (and cheaper) bars, and several large clubs/discotheques at the near-by north gate of the Worker's Stadium (separate entry below). Sanlitun has near legendary status amongst travelers, but you are just as likely to be irritated by pushy bar-owners or DVD sellers as you are to be charmed by its bars. Sanlitun is considered the 'old' nightlife district since Beijing started opening Western style clubs about 2005 in other areas, which means it is worth going to but if you are looking for the younger, party crowd then there are better places to go.

The main strip of bars along the east side of Sanlitun Lu (usually called Sanlitun bei or north) are interchangeable and unremarkable bars, but the drinks can be cheap, and this is where the doormen will try to lure you in to their club with special offers. Two other clusters set back from the street itself:

The south section is located south of Gongti Beilu. Take your first left into what looks like a parking lot and walk past The Bookworm to find the bars:

- Salsa Caribe (沙沙卡利宾拉丁俱乐部 Shāshā Kǎlìbīn Lādīng Jùlèbù), +86 10 6507 7821. Very cool, crowded, club-bar for foreigners and locals. A good place to dance.

- Heat. Next to Salsa Caribe, this is a bar with all-white decor. Plays hip-hop music and is one of the latest closing bars (around 7 AM).

- Nanjie. Another popular bar in the area.

The "pedestrian" side street with more casual (and cheaper) bars is along a couple small back streets located immediately behind 3.3 Mall, north of the Village. Here you will find:

- The Tree, 43 Bei Sanlitun Nan, +86 10 6415 1954, [42]. Serving wood fired pizzas and over 40 Belgian beers.

- Shooters. Beer for ¥10, and good music (funky, house, pop). In an alley in Sanlitun.

- Mesh, Building 1, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District. 北京市朝阳区三里屯路11号院1号楼 (green glass building just north of 3.3 mall), +86 10 6410 6688, [43]. 5pm-1am. A cool, contemporary lounge where the city's well-heeled professionals come to wind down and chat over inspiring cocktails and a great selection of wines. Mesh features a large selection of champagnes by the glass and a wide range of highly original cocktails and signature cocktails.

Worker's Stadium
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The number of bars and clubs in the area around Worker's Stadium has increased as Sanlitun has been minimised by the city development. Now, the Worker's Stadium area shoud be considered a separate bar area. In fact, there are three distinct areas: the North Gate (Gōngtī Běi Mén) with the Kro's Nest, Vics and Mix; the huge entertainment complex on the West side (Gōngtī Xīlù); and Face Bar just opposite the south side of the Stadium.

- Cargo Club, 6 Gōngtī Xīlù 工体西路6号. One of the more upscale dance clubs at the west gate of the Worker's Stadium. House music.

- Face Bar, 26 Dongcaoyuan, Gongti Nanlu 工体南路东草园26号, +86 10 65516788, [44]. 12PM-2AM. This attracts a mature, well-heeled, beautiful-people crowd to the Gongti area. Tastefully decorated with antiques from around Southeast Asia, including opium beds for reclining in the bar area. Frequented by many expats.

Chaoyang Park West Gate
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A new bar area has in recent years emerged West of Chaoyang Park.

- Bling, 6 Chaoyang Park Road (朝阳公园路6号; Cháoyánggōngyuánlù), +86 10 5905 6999 (kristen@all-starclub.com), [45]. We-Sa. Hip-hop club.

- Black Sun (黑太阳; Hēitàiyáng), Chaoyang Park West Gate (朝阳公园西门; Cháoyánggōngyuánxīmén), +86 10 6593 6912. Su-Th 5:30PM-2AM, Fr-Sa 5PM-3AM. Pub with sports TV and pool table.

- Block 8 (黑太阳), 8 Chaoyang Park West Road (朝阳西路8号), +86 10 6508 8585 (info@block8.cn), [46]. 6PM-3AM. Entertainment complex with restaurants, clubs and bars. Expensive.

- CD Jazz Café (CD 爵士俱乐部; CD Juéshìjùlèbù), 16 Nongzhanguanlu, East Ring Road Three (东三环农展馆路16号; Dōngsānhuán Nóngzhǎnguǎnlù), +86 10 6506 8288. 4PM-late. Live jazz Fr and Sa, recorded other nights.

- Closer (近点), 10 Nongzhan Beilu (农展北路10号; Nóngzhǎnběilù), +86 10 6508 0217. 10AM-2AM. Innocent lingerie pub.

- Durty Nellie's (爱尔兰酒吧; Àiěrlánjiǔbā), 1/B Liangmaqiao Flower Market (亮马桥花卉市场B1层; liàngmǎqiáo Huāhuìshìchǎng), +86 10 6593 5050 (durtynellies@gmail.com, fax: +86 10 6593 3632). Su-Th 10AM-1:30AM, Fr-Sa 10AM-2:30AM. Irish pub frequented by expats.

- HLG.

- Lantung Thai Bar + Bistro, 16-1 Solana Park, 6 Chaoyang Park Road (朝阳公园路6号), +86 10 5905 6213 (linkrobert@yahoo.com). 10:30AM-2AM. Thai tapas bar specialising in infused vodkas. Great roof top terrace.

- Suzie Wong's (苏茜黄俱乐部 Súqiàn Huáng Jùlèbù), West Gate of Chaoyang Park 朝阳公园西门, +86 10 6500 3377 (clubsuziewong@163.com), [47]. One of the more expensive bars along the Chaoyang Park West Gate strip, but remains quite popular. Tuesdays have salsa sessions, and other days different music. Busy on weekends, with a large crowd of both foreigners and Chinese.

- Tang Micheng (迷城俱乐部).

- White Rabbit, C2 Haoyun Jie, 29 Zaoying Lu, Maizidian (麦子店枣营路29号好运街C2), +86 133 2112 3678 (whiterabbitbeijing@gmail.com), [48]. 10PM-late. House, minimal tech and drum'n'bass. Entrance ¥0-80.

Other places
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- EIFE, Next to the Friendship Store and Baskin-Robbins on Jianguomen Wai Dajie. The coffee and real bread are awesome here. The place is owned by an Italian man, Renzo, who's very friendly. They serve incredible pastries starting around ¥5. Fresh-squeezed juices are alsoserved at this cafe. There's a Starbucks next door which helps as the wireless Internet functionality slips through the walls.

- Banana GT (巴那那俱乐部 Bānànà Jùlèbù), 1st. floor, 22 Jiànwàidàjiē Sàitè fàndiàn 建外大街22号赛特饭店1层, +86 10 6528 3636. One of the longest-running and most popular dance clubs in Beijing. DJ luminaries such as Armin van Buuren and John Digweed have played here.

- What! Bar (什么酒吧 Shénme Jiǔbā). Local bands, tiny place. Bartenders and staff, especially Wudy, are friendly and helpful. Most speak some English.

Sleep
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Budget
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Hostels
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- Sanlitun (Huatong) Youth Hostel (北京三里屯华通国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Sānlǐtún Huàtōng Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 1 Gongti North Road (Just oppostite Worker's Stadium, 1km northeast of Dongsishitiao Metro Station (line 2)), +86 10 5190 9288. Located in the Worker's Stadium bar area and close to Sanlitun bar area. Free internet available as well as bicycle hire, landry service, safe and ticket office available. Chinese and western restaurant as well as bar. Friendly staff, but the knowledge of sights and how to get there are not impressive. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥30, doubles from ¥140.

- Beijing Lanting Youth Hostel (北京蓝亭国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Lántíng Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 17 Sanqu, Anhuaxili, Anhualu (安华路安华西里三区17号; Ānhuálù Ānhuáxīlǐ Sānqū) (1.5km southwest of Hepingxiqiao Metro Station (line 5), or take a bus one or two stops west along Ring Road Three and walk south for 300m), +86 10 6425 8738 (lantinginn@yahoo.cn, fax: +86 10 6425 6083). Traditional courtyard hostel. Internet, aircon, safety box, bike rental, ticket office, guest kitchen, bar and recreation area available. Discounted rates for dorms from ¥45, doubles from ¥246.

- Discovery Youth Hostel (北京有家国际青年旅舍; Běijīng Yǒujiā Guójìqīngniánlǚshè), 10 Building, Jin Tai Li, Jin Tai Road (金台路金台里10号楼‎; Jīntáilù Jīntáilǐ Shíhàolóu) (Just norht of Chaoyang Road, 750m east of Jintaixizhao Metro Station (line 10), or buses 671, 846, 855 to Hongmiaolukou West Station (红庙路口西), or 30, 31, 117, 419, 502, 635, 677, 852, 985, 988 to Hongmiaolukou North Station (红庙路口北)), +86 10 6597 6597‎. Located in CBD. Free internet, safety box, fridge, laundry facilities and aircon available. Discounted rates for dorms/doubles without bath ¥55/¥128.

Hotels
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- Home Inn (Ciyunsi Bridge) (如家酒店 (北京慈云寺桥店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngcíyúnsìqiáodiàn)), 57 Ganluyuan (甘露园57号; Gānlùyuán) (Between East Ring Roads Four and Five and 300m north of Chaoyanglu, buses 411, 605, 639 to Ganlouluyuan Neighborhood Station (甘露园小区)), +86 10 5202 9988 (fax: +86 10 5202 9619), [49]. Courtyard style hotel with small rooms and free internet. Business center, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥199, discounted from ¥181; breakfast ¥15.

- Beijing Tai Yue Suites, 16 South Sanlitun St, 86-10-85952277, [50]. A four star business hotel. It offers luxurious rooms, all of which have air-conditioner, cable TV, mini-bar, and broadband Internet access. Some of its amenities include Taiyuefang Chinese Restaurant, C'est La Vie Club Kerchi Restaurant, gym, spa and sauna.

- Beijing Yinma Hotel (北京银马酒店; Běijīngyínmǎjiǔdiàn), 2F Building 1, A4 Anwai Dayangfang (安外大羊坊甲4号1号楼2层; ānwàidàyángfāngjiǎ) (North of Ring Road Five, 300m south of Lishuqiao South Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 8492 3314 (fax: +86 10 8493 3014). Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥218, discounted from ¥172, including breakfast.

- Home Inn (Aoyuncun) (如家酒店 (北京奥运村店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīng Àoyùncūndiàn)), 78A Anwaibeiyuan Road (安外北苑路甲78号; ānwàiběiyuànlùjiǎ), +86 10 8493 9933 (fax: +86 10 8493 7332), [51]. Small rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥219, discounted from ¥181; breakfast ¥15.

- Home Inn (Chaoyang Park) (如家酒店 (北京朝阳公园店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngcháoyánggōngyuándiàn)), 105 Donglixiaoqu, Shifoying (石佛营东里小区105号; Shífóyíng Dōnglǐxiǎoqū) (700m east of the southwest corner of Chaoyang Park), +86 10 8583 3388 (fax: +86 10 8583 2299), [52]. Small rooms with free internet, cable TV and aircon. Business center and ticket office available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥219, discounted from ¥181; breakfast ¥15.

- Daizong Hotel Beijing (北京岱宗大酒店; Běijīngdàizōngdàjiǔdiàn), 19 Xiaoying North Road (小营北路19号; Xiǎoyíngběilù) (Outside eastend of North Ring Road Four, 1.5km southeat of Datunludong Metro Station (line 5),), +86 10 6489 8808 (fax: +86 10 6489 8802). Rooms with internet access against surcharge. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, laundry service, fitness facilities and sauna available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥280, discounted from ¥163; breakfast ¥10.

- Harat Austraders Hotel Beijing (北京禾融商旅酒店; Běijīnghéróngshānglǚjiǔdiàn), 1 Jiananshatan (南沙滩甲1号; Nánshātānjiǎ) (800m west of Olympic Green Metro Station (line 8)), +86 10 5136 7088 (harathotel@yahoo.com.cn, fax: +86 10 5136 7199), [53]. Rooms without internet access, except for deluxe rooms. Beauty salon and ticket office available. No restaurant. Listed rates for doubles without window from ¥280, discounted from ¥163; Western breakfast ¥20, Chinese ¥10; rooms with window somewhat more expensive.

- Anisun Hotel (北京艾尼森酒店; Běijīng'àinísēnjiǔdiàn), 1 Xiaohuangzhuang, West Heping Street (和平西街小黄庄1号; Hépíngxījiē Xiǎohuángzhuāng) (300m south of Hepingxiqiao Metro Station (line 5)), +86 10 5109 9168 (master@anisun.com, fax: +86 10 8427 6302), [54]. Rooms with free internet. Business center available. No restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥298, discounted from ¥172; no breakfast available.

- Beijing Aoya Hotel (北京奥亚酒店; Běijīngàoyàjiǔdiàn), 169 Beiyuan Road (北苑路169号; Běiyuànlù) (500m northeast of Anzhenmen Metro Station (line 10)), +86 10 6489 2299 (aoyahotel@163.com, fax: +86 10 6497 0878), [55]. Rooms with internet against surchage as well as aircon, fridge and cable TV. Business center, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke and massage available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥308, discounted from ¥181; Breakfast ¥15.

Mid range
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- Somerset Grand Fortune Garden Beijing (北京盛捷福景苑高级服务公寓), No 46 Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, (86-10) 8451 8888 (enquiry.beijing@the-ascott.com, fax: (86-10) 8451 8866), [56]. Serviced apartments close to Beijing’s city centre and the city’s business, shopping and retail district. Daily rates starts from ¥828.

- East Apartments: Serviced Apartment Hotel, No. 59, Fulicheng, East Third Ring Road, (东三环中路59号富力城; Dōngsānhuánzhonglù 59hao Fùlìchéng (In the Central Business District), +86-10-5862-3125 (info@eastapt.com, fax: +86-10-5876-1872), [57]. checkout: 12PM. Offers western style, high end, fully-serviced apartments and facilities. Due to the daily, weekly and monthly rates it is a good option for corporate accommodations, project assignment or interim stays. Residences are elegant and fully furnished in addition to being spacious and private. Western owned and managed. Services include 1, 2 & 3-bedroom serviced apartments with English speaking staff, housekeeping, DVD player, cable TV, fully-equipped kitchen, air conditioning, washing machine, fitness club with pool, 24 hour security and free wireless internet. No minimum stay Daily, weekly and monthly rates, one night from $108..

- Beijing Free Town Hotel Apartment, +86 10 58674255, [58]. Beijing Free Town Hotel Apartment is located in Chaoyang District, Beijing Dongyue Temple, Chaoyang Park, and Sanlitun Bar Street are nearby. They offer rooms with air-conditioning, cable TV, DVD player, high-speed Internet, an iron and ironing board. They also have a beauty salon, sauna, spa, and a swimming pool for all their guests. Best rates on official website start at ¥420.

- Beijing Tai Yue Suites, 16 South Sanlitun Street, 86-10-85952277, [59]. Decorating the city skyline with its handsome façade, this four-star hotel in Beijing stands along the Sanlitun embassy area and is close to plenty of attractions. Leisure guests will surely enjoy shopping at the Yansha Shopping Mall, while business executives can easily reach the World Trade Center and financial district. Inside Beijing Tai Yue Suites, you'll find comforts that are just as superb. The Taiyuefang Chinese Restaurant invites you to savor delicious delicacies, while the spacious suites give you enough room to relax and indulge. Rates start at ¥551.16.

- Cheng Yuan Hotel, 19 South Jianhua Road, Jianguomenwai Avenue, 86-10-51305800, [60]. Cheng Yuan Hotel is located in the central business area of Jianguomenwai. It is approximately 28 km from Beijing Capital Airport. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the diplomatic quarters are in the vicinity. The hotel has over 100 guestrooms. Rates start at ¥554.49.

- Novotel Beijing Sanyuan (北京诺富特三元酒店), Tower 18, A5 Shuguang Xili, +86 10 58296666, [61].

Splurge
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- Ascott Beijing (北京雅诗阁服务公寓), No 108B Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang District, (86-10) 6567 8100 (enquiry.beijing@the-ascott.com, fax: (86-10) 6567 812), [62]. Centrally located in Beijing's business and retail district. All apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms and three to four-bedroom penthouses have kitchen and a home entertainment system. Daily rates starts from ¥1288.

- The Opposite House Beijing (北京瑜舍酒店; Běijīng yǘ shé Jiǔdiàn), (北京市朝阳区三里屯路11号院1号楼;), +86 10 6417 6688 (reservations@theoppositehouse.com, fax: +86 10 6417 7799), [63]. The Opposite House is an achingly hip luxury boutique hotel located in The Village at Sanlitun—a vibrant new open-plan shopping, dining and entertainment destination developed by Swire Properties. The hotel’s 99 guest studios, including 9 spacious suites and a penthouse duplex with a 240sqm roof terrace, are amongst the largest in Beijing. More than half of all the studios are over 70 sqm and all are strikingly simple with natural wooden floors and subtle touches of Chinese décor. Service is friendly and your stay will be a unique and personal experience without the usual stuffiness of luxury hotels. It is just like staying at a friends home, with a warm welcome, convenience, absolutely no fuss and stunningly simple contemporary design. rates from USD270/RMB1,850..

- Park Hyatt Beijing (北京柏悦酒店; Běijīng Bóyuè Jiǔdiàn), (建国门外大街2号; Jiànguóménwàidàjiē), +86 10 8567 1234 (beijing.park@hyatt.com, fax: +86 10 8567 1000), [64]. Luxury hotel at the top floors of the Beijing Yintai Centre in CBD. Rooms from 45m2 equipped with internet access (surcharge in most rooms), bathrooms with both tub and shower, private bar, espresso machine, walk-in closet, dvd player and international power outlets. Business center, gift shop, ticket office, fitness, pool, sauna and spa available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as coffee shop and bar. One of the sleekest and most modern hotels in the city. Everything works as expected except that the staff is a bit unexperienced. Some might not like the open space style of the rooms. Listed rates for doubles ¥5,000-10,000, discounted rates ¥1,656-6,670, breakfast ¥276.

- Grand Millennium Beijing (北京千禧大酒店 Běijīng Qiānxǐ Dàjiǔdiàn), Fortune Plaza, 7 Dongsanhuan Middle Rd, Chaoyang District, +86 10 8587 6888 (sales@grandmillenniumbeijing.com, fax: +86 10 8587 6999), [65]. 521 rooms. Located in the heart of the business district.

- Fujian Hotel, Chaoyang District, [66]. Conveniently located near the major exhibition centers and the Olympic Park, Fujian Hotel offers a long list of luxurious business amenities, a ballroom, and plush guestrooms.

- Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, No.50 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, +86 10 6465 3388 (reservations.beijing@kempinski.com, fax: +86 10 6465 3366), [67]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 12PM. Located in the centre of Lufthansa District. A great choice for business and leisure travelers alike as the Kempinski hotel provides a mixture of luxury and convenience. It distinguishes itself by its location and its high level of service and comfort. The newly renovated lobby and the adjacent You Yi department store contain good shopping opportunities, but at high prices. In addition, a supermarket with a variety of local and imported food and beverages including a very good wine selection is located in the basement of the department store. The hotel boasts 7 international restaurants and especially the Paulaner Brauhaus is well frequented by guests as well as locals.

- Hotel Kunlun, [68]. The five-star hotel in Chaoyang District has as many as 12 restaurants, including a revolving lounge, cigar bar, and multicuisine dining options. Rooms and suites are just as impressive.

- Sino-Swiss Hotel, [69]. The Sino-Swiss Hotel is located very close to the airport, well away from downtown. It is presently the only major hotel in Beijing that allows pets. Features a very elaborate indoor and outdoor pool, as well as playground for the kids. Restaurants are fairly expensive, bottled water very expensive, and service is slightly lackluster. Choose this hotel for its location if you must be close to the airport or if you have pets. $120 / night.

Contact
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District Fengtai District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

• Contact

Get in
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If you're arriving in Beijing at Beijing West Railway Station, you'll find yourself in Fengtai. The district does not yet have its own subway line; Line 1, to the north, is currently closest.

See
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- The Lugou Bridge (卢沟桥 Lúgōu Qiáo). Dating back to the late 1100s and spanning the Yongding River, the Lugou Bridge is both architecturally and historically important. Noted by Marco Polo in the 13th century as a "very fine stone bridge" it came to be known in the West as simply the Marco Polo Bridge. An incident between Japanese and Chinese forces here in 1937 also marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Near the south-west Fifth Ring Road - 20km from the center of Beijing. Subway Line 1 to Wanshoulu, then change to Bus 624; it may be far quicker by taxi or tour bus.

- Wanping Fortress (宛平城 Wǎnpíng Chéng). At the east end of the Lugou Bridge is this Ming-era defensive fortress. Shell-holes made in the 1937 Japanese attack are still visible.

- World Park (世界公园 Shìjiè Gōngyuán), 158 Huāxiāng Dàbǎotái 丰台区花乡大葆台158号, +86 10 83613344. Opened in 1993, this park, as seen in Jia Zhangke's film The World, contains large-scale replicas of famous buildings around the world (including Manhattan's destroyed World Trade Center towers). There are also song-and-dance shows and acrobatic displays. Not much closer to central Beijing than the Marco Polo bridge; subway Line 1 to Wukesong, then Bus 967. Adults ¥65, children and concessions ¥35.

- Dabaotai Western Han Tombs Museum (大葆台西汉墓博物馆 Dàbǎotái Xī Hàn Mù Bówùguǎn), +86 10 63736427. 9 AM - 4 PM. If you've made it all the way out to the World Park, walk 500m south and you'll find a museum at the site of the Western Han tombs discovered in 1974. ¥10, concessions ¥5.

- Lianhuachi Park (莲花池公园 Liánhuā Chí Gōngyuán), 48 Guǎngwài Liánhuāchí Road 丰台区广外莲花池路48号, +86 10 63466607. The earliest mentions of the Lianhuachi (lit. Lotus Pool) area are from the Northern Wei period (386-534). The modern park was established around the lotus pool in 1998, and has impressive flower displays. Just south-west of the West Railway Station, or about 2 km south of the Military Museum or Gongzhufen subway stops on Line 1.

Do
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Buy
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Eat
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- Wangjin Ge (旺金阁; Wàngjīngé), 5 Dujiakan South Road (杜家坎南路5号; Dùjiākǎnnánlù (Bus 917 to Dujiakan Stop (杜家坎)), +86 10 51156916. 10:30AM-9:30PM.

Drink
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Sleep
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Budget
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- Qiao Yuan Fandian. Located not far west from Beijing South train station. About ¥20 from Beijing Zhan (Beijing Train station) by taxi, or take buses 744 or 20; best from Qianmen near Tiananmen Square. Level 6 has a laundry, kitchen, and travel agency. Internet access is located towards the train station (look for the fish net character (网) on the signs, or ask for 'wang ba') or a few blocks away to the west near KFC, McDonalds and a supermarket. Plenty of restaurants can be found nearby, and also don't miss the Art Deco interior of the hotel/restaurant when its lit up at night (head towards KFC). There's a whopping ¥200 deposit but 4 bed dorms with A/C are reasonably priced at ¥31 or ¥260/360 for standard suites, the more expensive option in the building in the back (newer).

- Home Inn (Beijing Tiantan Nanmen) (如家酒店 (北京天坛南门店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngtiāntánnánméndiàn)), Building 18 Ding'an Dongli, Ding'an Road (定安路定安东里18号楼; Dìngānlù Dìngāndōnglǐ) (Less than 1km northwest of Liujiayao Metro Station (line 5) and approx 1.5km straight south from the south gate of Tiantan), +86 10 6763 9191 (fax: +86 10 6763 3131), [1]. Small rooms with free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥179, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15.

- Home Inn (Liuliqiao) (如家酒店 (北京六里桥店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngliùlǐqiáodiàn)), 14 Southend of West Ring Road Four (西三环南路14号; Xīsānhuánnánlù) (Buses 324, 349, 483, 685, 944, 993 to Xiju Station (西局)), +86 10 6346 8788 (fax: +86 10 6346 8488), [2]. Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office and laundry service available. Chinese restaurant and western breakfast. Listed rates for doubles from ¥179, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15.

- Home Inn (Qingta) (如家酒店 (北京青塔店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngqīngtǎdiàn)), 2 Qingtaxili (青塔西里甲2号; Qīngtǎxīlǐjiǎ) (Just outside middle section of West Ring Road Four, bus 64), +86 10 6867 9935 (fax: +86 10 6867 9208), [3]. Rooms with free internet. Ticket office, laundry service available. Chinese restaurant, tea house and room service Listed rates for doubles from ¥199, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15.

- Home Inn (Yuquanlu) (如家酒店 (北京玉泉路店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (Běijīngyùquánlùdiàn)), Xiaotun Road (小屯路4号; Xiǎotúnlù) (Between West Ring Road Four and Five, buses 338, 354, 436, 481, 507 to Xiaowayao Station (小瓦窑)), +86 10 6869 5588 (fax: +86 10 6869 2147), [4]. Small rooms with free internet. Business center and gift shop available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥199, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15.

- Maple Business Hotel (枫林商务酒店; Fēnglínshāngwùjiǔdiàn), 30 Southend of West Fourth Ring Road (西四环南路30号; Xīsìhuánnánlù) (Inside ring four just south of Jingshi Expway, buses 310, 313, 335, 340, 351, 354, 654, 657, 694, 736, 740, 913), +86 10 8382 2288 (Maple@maplehotel.com.cn, fax: +86 10 8382 8619), [5]. Rooms with free internet and satellite television. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, laundry service and foot massage available. Chinese restaurant and tea house. Listed rates for doubles with no window from ¥238, discounted from ¥111; rooms with window somewhat more expensive; breakfast ¥10.

- Beijing Shanshui Trends (Liuli Bridge) (山水时尚酒店 (北京六里桥店); Shānshuǐshíshàngjiǔdiàn (Běijīngliùlǐqiáodiàn)), 44 Taipingqiao Road (太平桥路44号; Tàipíngqiáolù), +86 10 5225 3333 (fax: +86 10 5221 8500), [6]. Rooms with free internet. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service and karaoke avaiable. Chinese restaurant, coffee shop and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥268, discounted from ¥198; no breakfast available.

Mid range
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- Beijing Wendu Shortcut Business Affairs Hotel (北京温都快捷商务酒店; Běijīngwēndūkuàijiéshāngwùjiǔdiàn), 2 South Xiju Street (西局南街2号; Xījúnánjiē) (Just northwest of Lize Bridge, buses 323, 531, 604, 654, 958 to Lize Bridge West (丽泽桥西地址)), +86 10 5221 8988. Rooms with free internet. Business center, gift shop, ticket office, laundry service and karaoke available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥380, discounted from ¥172 including breakfast.

- Jianying Hotel (建银大厦 Jiànyín Dàshà), +86 10 63266633 (jianyin@jianyinhotel.cn), [7]. This three-star hotel is a 1km walk south from the West Station.

- Huaxiamingzhu Hotel (华夏明珠宾馆 Huáxiàmíngzhū Bīnguǎn), 120-1 Lianhuachi East Road 丰台区莲花池东路120-1号, +86 10 63955588, [8]. Another three-star hotel, this one just to the north of the West Station.

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District Tongzhou District Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Buildings

Museums

Galleries

Parks

Other

• Do

• Buy

Market places

Department stores

Supermarkets

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Tongzhou can be reached by metro line 1 with a change at Sihui Station. The stations from Beiyuan and until the terminal station are all in Tongzhou District. Alternatively, at Sihui Station you can change to bus 332, which goes to Beiyuan and continues along the main shopping street, Xinhua Street. Finally, it is possible to go by bus 938#4 from Beijing Railway Station to Beiyuan and further along Xinhua Street.

See
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Buildings
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- Randengfo Pagoda (燃灯佛舍利塔‎; Rándēngfó Shèlìtǎ), Yongshun Road, Tongzhou District (通州区永顺路; Tōngzhōuqū Yǒngshùnlù), +86 10 6966 1781. The oldest and tallest pagoda in Beijing and also the symbol and most famous landmark of Tongzhou. Presently (April 2009) it can not be climbed but only watched from the outside.

Museums
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- Tongzhou Museum, 9 Xinhua West Road, +86 10 6954 6442. Tu-Su 8AM-11:30AM and 2PM-5:30PM. Local history museum of the eastern gateway of Beijing. ¥3.

Galleries
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Songzhuang Artist's Village in Tongzhou District is the newest large art area to be found in Beijing, and could be argued to be the largest concentration of contemporary Chinese artists in the world. Already back in the 1980's, many artists lived in this village. During the 1990's artists from around the country moved here and in recent years, the number of artists have grown explosively to now more than 2,000. The area is concentrated in the village itself and especially the larger Street, Renli Road (任李路; Rènlǐlù), to the east of the village. Directions: Take bus 930qujian (930路区间) from Dawanglu Metro Station (lines 1 and 10) to Renzhuangcun Station (任庄村; Rènzhuāngcūn) and walk north of Renlilu; alternatively, take the metro to Tongzhoubeiyuan (extention of line 1) and take an unofficial taxi from there (negotiate the price before you get in, it should be around ¥30).

- Artist Village Gallery (宋庄画家村画廊; Sòngzhuānghuàjiācūnhuàláng), 1 north of Renzhuang Village, Songzhuang Village, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄镇任庄村北1号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāngzhèn Rènzhuāngcūn Běi), +86 10 6959 8343; +86 139 0124 4283 (sally-liu@263.net, fax: +86 10 6595 7655). Daily 9AM-6PM, though it is a good idea to make an appointment before you go. This is a very large gallery, which aims at making local Songzhuang artists famous and making it possible for them to stay in the village while they build their fame. ¥20.

- Eye Haunt Art Space, 19 Xiaopu South Street, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄小堡南街19号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāng Xiǎopùnánjiē), +86 10 8680 9908. Gallery focusing on innovative emerging young artists.

- Soemo Fine Arts (苏蒙画廊; Sūmēnghuàláng), 66 Xiaopu South Street, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄小堡南街66号; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāng Xiǎopùnánjiē), +86 10 8957 9113 (lucyhanchina@yahoo.com.cn), [1]. The first foreign (Dutch) gallery in the area. Houses some of the very most famous artists in China as well as artists just breaking through.

- TS1 (宋庄壹号当代艺术中心; Sòngzhuāng Yīhàodāngdài Yìshùzhōngxīn), 600m west of Liuheqiao, 102 Highway, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District (通州区宋庄102国道六合桥向东600米), +86 10 6959 4127 (ts1@ts1.com.cn, fax: +86 10 6959 4127), [2]. 9AM-5PM. Promotes contemporary art in all forms and media. Represents now eight artists.

Parks
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- Grand Canal Culture Park (运河文化广场‎; Yùnhéwénhuàguǎngchǎng), Tonghu Avenue, Tongzhou District (通州区通胡大路; Tōngzhōuqū Tōnghúdàlù) (Bus 322 from Sihui Metro Station or Bus 938#4 from Beijing Station to Dongguandaqiao Stop (东关大桥) just after crossing the river). Park situated at the historic place where the Grand Canal strecting from Hangzhou to Beijing ended. Great place for a walk along the river and for showing your kite flying skills. The park also comprises playing grounds, cafés and a small restaurant primarily serving barbeque. Under the bridge you can roller skate during the day and dance in the evening. Except for winter, you can usually rent you own boat or try the tourist boats' 1½ hour trip on the canal, but presently (April 2009) this is temporarily suspended as there is almost no water in the river due to bridge construction work. Free.

- West Lake Park (西海子公园; Xīhǎizi Gōngyuán), Xihaizi West Street, Tongzhou District (通州区西海子西街; Tōngzhōuqū Xīhǎizixījiē) (Bus 322 from Sihui Metro Station or Bus 938#4 from Beijing Station to Xinhua Street Stop (新华大街), 200m back, turn right and then right and left). Small park next to the old shopping street and market and with a view to Randengfo Pagoda. Small playground for the children. Free.

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- Daying Tourism Resort (大营旅游度假村; Dàyínglǚyóudùjiàcūn), (百里长街东端大营村; ), +86 10 8958 2543.

Do
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- Grand Canal Golf Club (大运河高尔夫俱乐部; Dàyùnhé Gāoěrfū Jùlèbù), Hugezhuangxiang, Tongzhou (通州区胡各庄乡; Tōngzhōuqū Húgèzhuāngxiāng), +86 10 8958 3058. 7AM-8PM. Weekdays ¥400, weekends ¥600.

- Raying Temple. An underground music venue.

- Strawberry Fest, Tongzhou Canal Park. Annual around 1 May. Music festival focusing on local bands. ¥60 per day.

- Tongzhou Pool (通州区游泳馆), (Next to Tongzhou Market and just across from West Lake Park). Summer 1-9PM. Outdoor swimmping pool. ¥25.

Buy
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The main shopping street is Xinhua East Street (新华东街) and its extention Xinhua West Street with a number of department stores as well as specialty shops. For smaller shops and a narrower street try West Meizi West Street (西梅子西街). The supermarkets are primarily found south of Xinhua Street.

Market places
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- Tongzhou Market, West Meizi West Street (西梅子西街) (Just south of the canal). Outdoor morning market in the old part of Tongzhou. Mostly food.

Department stores
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Supermarkets
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Eat
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In Tongzhou District, the main restaurant street is Chezhan Road with dusins of restaurants.

- Xinbashu Shuizhuyu Sichuan Restaurant (鑫巴蜀水煮鱼川菜馆; Xīnbāshǔ Shuǐzhǔyú Chuāncàiguǎn; lit. Xinbashu Sliced-fish-in-hot-oil Sichuan Restaurant), 29 Chezhan Road (车站路29号; Chēzhànlù) (Bus 647 to Chezhanlu Stop, or bus 667 to Xinhua Avenue Stop), +86 10 6952 2039, [3]. 11AM-10PM. Sichuan cuisine. The food is good but the service is not impressive.

- Big Pear (大鸭梨; Dà Yā Lí), Jiukeshu West Road (九棵树西路; Jiǔkēshùxīlù) (200 meters northwest of Jiukeshu Metro Station), +86 10 6052 7880. 10AM-9:30PM.

- Taishouxi (太熟悉; Tàishúxī), 21 Chezhan Road (车站路21号; Chēzhànlù), +86 10 6954 1996. Open 24 hours. This is one of the best restaurants on Chezhan Road. Popular with locals, especially late at night when all other places are closed. Expensive.

- Daqinghua Dumpling Restaurant (大清花饺子; Dàqīnghuājiǎozi), East side of Qitian Hotel, Beiguan Roundabout (北关环岛齐天宾馆东侧; Běiguānhuándǎo Qítiānbīnguǎndōngcè), +86 10 6951 6655. 10:30AM-9:30PM.

- Guo Lin Restaurant (郭林家常菜; Guōlín Jiāchángcài), 14 Chezhan Road (车站路14号; Chēzhànlù), +86 10 8088 1370. 10AM-9:30PM.

- 青年餐厅, 北京近郊通州区翠屏北里西区13号楼物业会所, +86 10 8151 7673. 10:30AM-2PM, 5PM-9:30PM.

Drink
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- Dio Café (迪欧咖啡园景点; Díōu Kāfēiyuán Jǐngdiǎn), Yunjing East Road (云景东路) (Liyuan Metro Station, exit B, walk a bit northwest along Jingtang Highway, turn and walk 500 meters along Yunjing East Road, it is on your right). Modern café with both Western and Chinese drinks and food. However, the staff is not familiar with the Western stuff, and you seem to get the same coffee regardless of what you order.

- Riverside Café (外滩风向西餐咖啡; Wàitānfēngxiàngxīcānkāfēi), Chezhan Road (车站路; Chēzhànlù). Modern café with both Western and Chinese drinks and food. The best coffee in the district is served here. A nice place to hang out for a couple of hours. Free internet is available. Expensive.

- Chaihuo Bar (柴火酒吧; Cháihuojiǔbā), Jiukeshu West Road (九棵树西路; Jiǔkēshùxīlù) (200 meters northwest of Jiukeshu Metro Station).

Sleep
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Budget
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- Home Inn (Beijing Bailiqiao) (如家快捷酒店 (北京通州八里桥店)), 304 Yongshun South St (通州区永顺南街304号; Yǒngshùnnánjiē). Listed rates for doubles from ¥199.

- Home Inn (Tongzhou Xinhua Street) (如家快捷酒店 (北京通州新华大街店)), 163 Xinhua East St (新华东大街163号; Xīnhuádōngdàjiē). Listed rates for doubles from ¥199.

- Jinjiang Inn, 23 Tonghu St. From around ¥200.

Mid range
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- Nongzhao Hotel (北京农招大酒店 (农业干部培训中心)), 124 North Street, Tongzhou (通州区北大街124号; Tōngzhōuqū Běidàjiē). Listed rates for doubles from ¥320, discounted from ¥220.

- Yunheyuan Hotel (北京运河苑渡假村; Běijīng Yùnhéyuàn Dùjiàcūn), Songzhuangzhen, White Temple, Tongzhou (通州区宋庄镇白庙; Tōngzhōuqū Sòngzhuāngzhèn Báimiào). Rooms with internet against surcharge. The smallest rooms are quite small but more expensive are huge. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, night club, billiard, table tennins, bowling, tennis, indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna available. Chinese restaurant, seafood restaurant, barbeque and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥380, discounted from ¥270; breakfast ¥20.

- Beijing Dongfang Hotel (北京东方宾馆; Běijīng Dōngfāng Bīnguǎn), Chezhan Road, Tongzhou (通州区车站路48号; Tōngzhōuqū Chēzhànlù) (On the main restaurant street in Tongzhou). Listed rates for doubles from ¥480, discounted from ¥258.

- Beijing Sun Flower Hotel (北京太阳花酒店; Běijīng Tàiyánghuā Jiǔdiàn), Cuibing North End, 201 Jiukeshuxi Road (通州区九棵树西路翠屏北里201号; Tōngzhōuqū Jiǔkēshùxīlù Cuìbǐngběilǐ). Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,100, discounted rates from ¥360.

- Asia Pacific Garden (北京亚太花园酒店;), 75 Yuqiaoxi Road, Tongzhou (通州区玉桥西路75号; ), +86 10 8152 8822 (fax: +86 10 8152 1999). Spacious rooms with internet, for the cheapest against surcharge. Business center, beauty salon, ticket office, billiard, table tennis, fitness, indoor swimming pool and massage available. Chinese and Western restaurants, coffee shop and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,242, discounted from ¥448; breakfast ¥35.

- Canalfamily Hotel (北京运河人家度假酒店; Běijīng Yùnhé Rénjiādùjiàjiǔdiàn), 6 Binhe Road, Rulin, Tongzhou District (通州区儒林滨河路6号; Tōngzhōuqū Rúlín Bīnhélù), +86 10 6155 6155 (fuhailei@163.com, fax: +86 10 6155 0899), [4]. Four star hotel located in rural surroundings close to the Grand Canal. Downtown Tongzhou with restaurants, shops and sights is easily accessed by taxi. The rooms are without internet access. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon and ticket office available. There a many recreational opportunities here including disco, karaoke, billiard, table tennis, bowling, tennis, golf, massage, sauna, indoor/outdoor swimming pools and water sports. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as tea house and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥1,280, discounted from ¥348, breakfast ¥30.

- Beijing Yunheyuan Hotel (北京运河源酒店; Běijīng Yùnhéyuàn Jiǔdiàn), (通州区运河西大街172号; Tōngzhōuqū Yùnhéxīdàjiē), +86 10 8158 6668 (fax: +86 10 8158 6668 8502). Rooms with free internet. Listed rates for doubles ¥2,640, discounted from ¥318 including breakfast.

Splurge
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- Holiday Inn Beijing Moonriver (北京月亮河假日酒店; Běijīng Yuèlianghé Jiàrìjiǔdiàn), 1 Yulianghe Hebin Road, Tongzhou District (通州区月亮河河滨路1号; Tōngzhōuqū Yuèlianghé Hébīnlù), +86 10 8952 3737. Located next to the ancient Grand Canal near the historic place where the canal from Huangzhou to Beijing ended. This place is located at the eastern edge of Beijing close to small villages but easily accessed via the Jingtong Expressway. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke, billiard, table tennis, bowling, tennis, golf, swimming pool, massage and sauna available. Chinese and Japanese restaurants as well as coffee shop, tea house, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles ¥1,817, discounted from ¥527, breakfast ¥113.

Contact
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District Northern suburbs Table of Contents

• Get in

• Get around

• See

Museums

Galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Get around
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See
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Museums
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- China Aviation Museum (中国民航博物馆; Zhōngguó Mínháng Bówùguǎn), Datangshan, Chanping District (昌平区小汤山) (About 50km outside Beijing, take Bus 912 or 643 from Andingmen Station). 8AM-5:30PM. A must see for all aviation fans. It is probably better known by the name Datangshan. The museum hosts over 200 exhibits, many of them very rare. Entrance fee is ¥50, and an extra ¥8 if you want to board Chairman Mao's plane.

- Dynasty Wax Works Palace (明皇蜡像馆), Xiguanhuandao, Changping District (昌平区西关环岛), +86 10 69747257. 7:30AM-6PM. Here you can see China's historical and cultural figures in wax. ¥40.

Galleries
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There are some interesting galleries in Shunyi District including:

- Beijing Central Art Gallery (硕华画社), G/F L106 Euro Plaza, 99 Yu Xiang Lu, Tian Zhu,Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区天竺后沙峪,裕翔路99号欧陆广场一层 L106号) (Across from the New National Exhibition Centre), +86 10 80461348 (contact@bjcagallery.com), [1]. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 1PM-8PM. Contemporary Chinese paintings and sculptures.

- Open Gallery (贞的画廊), 5 Kaifa Jie, Xibaixinzhuang Cun, Shunyi District (顺义区西白新庄村开发街5号), +86 10 80464302. 8MA-8PM. Contemporary Chinese art.

Do
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- Happy Land Arts and Crafts Center (乐土工艺访; Lètǔgōngyìfǎng), Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄; Shùnyìqū Hòushāyù Xībáixīnzhuāng), +86 10 8046 4055. Summer 9AM-6PM; winter 9AM-5PM. The center offers pottery, painting, paper folding, jewelry making and other.

Buy
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Eat
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Budget
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- Ban Ruo (般若素食), 33 Gulou Dongjie, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街33号), +86 10 69700208. Buddhist vegetarian restaurant. Try the fake Beijing Duck and other fake meat dishes.

- Kyros Kebab (烤肉霸), 807 Pinnacle Plaza, Shunyi District (顺义区荣祥广场807), -86 10 80464412. 9:30AM-9:30PM. Kebabs and sandwiches.

Mid-range
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- T6 Hot Pot (T6香辣火锅), 10 Tianshuiyuan Donglu, Changping District (昌平区甜水园东路10号), +86 10 65914800. 11AM-10PM.

- Chilli Peppers (蜀香阁), 1/F，Longchengligong Hotel, Huilongguan, 317 Changping Road, Changping District (), +86 10 80799988 ext. 70218 (reservation@loongpalace.com). 5:30PM-10PM. Hot pot buffet for ¥98.

- Bravo (博纳意大利餐厅), Loong Palace, Huilongguan, Changping District (回龙观龙城丽宫国际酒店), +86 10 80799988 ext. 73019. 5:30PM-10PM. Italian restaurant.

Splurge
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- Obelisco (阿根廷烤肉), 1 Laiguangying Donglu, Shunyi District (顺义区来广营东路1号), +86 10 84701666. M-Th 11AM-2:30PM, 5:30PM-10PM; F-Su 11AM-10PM. Argentinian restaurants serving great steaks and red wine.

- Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar (尚水长廊铁板烧餐厅), 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District (顺义区京顺路荣祥广场902), +86 10 80465112. 10:30AM-10PM. Sushi is served at the bar while you can have both sushi and teppanyaki in the private rooms. Unusually high level of service here.

Drink
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- The Pomegranate (石榴园), 19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuan, Houshayu, Shunyi District (顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄开发路19号), +86 10 80462558. M-F 11AM-midnight, Sa-Su 11PM-2AM. Sports bar hidden in the hutongs of Shunyi.

- The Cellar Lounge, Outside the south gate of Capital Paradise, Shunyi (顺义区京顺路天竺路口西名都园南门外), +86 10 85897867 (tongue.honey@gmail.com). 11AM-10PM. Wine bar with imported red wine and snacks. Imported red wine from ¥80.

Sleep
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Budget
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- Beijing Country Paradise Conference Center (北京乡村乐园会议中心). Rooms with no internet access. Listed rates for doubles from ¥300, discounted from ¥150, breakfast ¥10.

- Endemin Hotel (北京恩德民酒店), Building 5, Courtyard 400, Dongxiaokou, Changping District (昌平区东小口400号院5号楼), +86 10 84812299 (fax: +86 10 84812200). Rooms with free internet. Meeting rooms, ticket office and gift shop available. Chinese restaurant. Listed rates for doubles from ¥258, discounted from ¥178, cheapest rooms without window, including breakfast.

- Home Inn (Changping Coliseum of Beijing) (如家酒店 (北京昌平体育馆店); Rújiājiǔdiàn (BěijīngChāngpíngtǐyùguǎndiàn)), 11 South Ring Road, Changping District (昌平区南环路11号; Chāngpíngqū Nánhuánlù) (6km north of Ring Road Six and 2km east of Badaling Expway), +86 10 6972 6677 ext 856 (fax: +86 10 6972 6699), [2]. Rooms with free internet. Business center, ticket office, laundry service and fitness facilities available. Chinese restaurant. Lister rates for doubles from ¥179, discounted from ¥164; breakfast ¥15.

Mid-range
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- Wenhuibao Hotel (北京文惠宝宾馆; Běijīngwénhuìbǎobīnguǎn), 36 East Gulou Street, Changping District (昌平区鼓楼东街36号; Chāngpíngqū Gǔlóudōngjiē) (5km norht of Ring Road Six just east of Badaling Expway, buses 493, 914), +86 10 6972 8631 (fax: +86 10 6972 8632), [3]. Spacious rooms with free internet. Meeting facilities, ticket office, laundry service and massage available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥320, discounted from ¥165; no breakfast available.

- Beijing Longmai Hotspring Village (北京龙脉温泉度假村; Běijīng Lóngmàiwēnquán Dùjiàcūn), Xiaotangshan, Changping District (昌平区小汤山; Chāngpíngqū Xiǎotāngshān), +86 10 6178 2666 (fax: +86 10 6178 5766). This hotspring resort is one of the closest to the city centre, but if you are willing to travel further you can also find better places. Room rates include single entry to the hotsprings, but everything else you will have to pay for. Listed rates for doubles from ¥600, discounted from ¥322 including breakfast.

- Aulympic Airportel (空港奥竺宾馆; Kōnggǎngàozhúbīnguǎn), 36 Xiao Tianzhu Road, Capital Airport, Shunyi District (顺义区小天竺路36号奥竺苑; Shùnyìqū Xiǎotiānzhúlù, àozhúyuàn) (8 minute drive from the airport), +86 10 5827 1122, [4]. Three star hotel located close to Ligao Park, Tianzhu Garden, and New International Exhibition Center. 258 air-conditioned rooms equipped with double/twin beds, cable TV, IDD telephone, and free high-speed Internet. The hotel offers venues for corporate and social events. Meeting rooms are available for seminars. Classy bar and a restaurant. From ¥355.58 for a double.

- Bishui Plaza (北京碧水大厦; Běijīng Bìshuǐddshà), Green Rivers Manor, Huilongguan Town, Changping District (昌平区回龙观镇碧水庄园内; Chāngpíngqū Huílóngguànzhèn Bìshuǐzhuāngyuán Nèi) (Take the train from Beijing North Railway Station next to Xizhimen Metro Station, get off at Shahe Station (沙河站) and take an unofficial taxi the last km or so, or take bus []), +86 10 8072 9988 (fax: +86 10 8072 9966), [5]. Four stare hotel located close to mountains and river. Rooms with free internet. Business center, shops, beauty salon and ticket office available. There are also lots of recreational opportunities including disco, karaoke, playground, billiard, table tennis, fitness, bowling, tennis, indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna. Chinese and Western restaurants, large area with barbeque, and also coffee shop, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥759, discounted from ¥402, breakfast ¥68.

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- Commune by the Great Wall, Kempinski (北京长城脚下的公社 (凯宾斯基管理)), 昌平区八达岭高速水关长城出口, [6]. Five star hotel Listed rates for doubles ¥2,415-2,890.

- Rylinwon Resort & Spa (北京顺义瑞麟湾温泉度假酒店), 顺义区南彩镇顺平辅路39号.

Contact
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District Western and southern suburbs Table of Contents

• Get in

Mentougou

Daxing

• See

Mentougou

Fangshan

Daxing

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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Mentougou
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Public transport service from central Beiing to Mentougou is mainly based on buses, many of them starting from Pingguoyuan (western final stop of subway line 1). Buses 336 and 931 run from Pingguoyuan (苹果园 píngguǒyuán) to Hetan (河滩 hétān) in Mentougou District. From there bus lines to most places of interest in the area can be taken. However, for trips from Beijing city, renting a taxi for a day might be easier and less time intensive. A Suburban Railway Line to Mentougou is in planning.

Daxing
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There are five railway stations in Daxing District. Huangcun (荒村 huāngcūn) railway station is served by several trains from Beijing, the fastest being no. 4487 from Beijing West Railway station, taking 21 minutes. Trains from Beijing Railway station take approx. 30 minutes (no. 4401, 4405, 4419, 6451). Access to Daxing District will be more convenient once the planned southern extension of subway line 4 will be finished (scheduled for end of 2010). This new line will connect the Northern 5th Ring Road with the Southern 6th Ring Road, running straight through Beijings city center Xidan.

See
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Mentougou
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- Tanzhe Temple (潭柘寺 tánzhèsì), (Take bus 931 from Pingguoyuan subway station (Line 1) to Tanzhesi bus stop), [1]. Buddhist temple dating back as far as the Western Jin Dynasty (more than 1600 years ago). It is one of the oldest and largest temples in Beijing. The site is especially beautiful to visit in april when the surrounding Magnolia trees are in full bloom. ¥ 55 (students and seniors ¥30).

- Jietai Temple (戒台寺 jiètáisì), (Take bus 931 from Pingguoyuan subway station (Line 1) to Jietaisi bus stop), +86 10 69806611, [2]. 8AM-5:30PM. Though not as popular and well-visited as Tanzhe Temple, this smaller Buddhist temple is definitely worth a visit. It was originally built about 1400 years ago, but its most famous features have been added later during Ming and Qing dynasties. A special attraction of this site are the huge pine trees, some of them being hundreds of years old. ¥45 (students and seniors ¥22).

- Mt. Lingshan Scenic Resort (灵山自然风景区 Língshān zìrán fēngjǐng qū). With 2300 meters in height, Mt.Lingshan is the highest mountain in Beijing.

Fangshan
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- The Cave of Peking Man, Zhoukoudian Village (50km southwest of the city centre, take bus 917 at Tianqiao Bus Terminus and then another bus to Zhoukoudian Village). This is the former residence of the Peking Man dating back 200,000-500,000 years. The caves and some exhibition halls can be seen here. Most of the remains of the Peking Man disappear during World War II and have never been found again.

- Shidu Scenic Spot.

- Mt. Shangfang National Forest Park (上方山国家森林公园 shàngfāngshān guójiā sēnlíngōngyuán). 8AM-8PM. With an area covering more than 300 hectares, this is the biggest National Forest Park in North China. There are nine caves, 12 peaks and 72 temples to discover in this park. The most famous are:

- Cloud and Water Cave (云水洞 yúnshuǐdòng). Beautiful 613 meters long carst cave, featuring the highest (37 meters) stalagmite in China. ¥40.

- Tianzhu Peak (天柱峰 tiānzhùfēng).

- Yunju Temple (云居寺 yúnjūsì).

Daxing
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- China Printing Museum (中国印刷博物馆 Zhōngguó yìnshuā bówùguǎn), 25 North Xinghua Road, Huangcun Town,黄村兴华北路25号. 8:30AM- 4:30PM. ¥20 (students half price).

Do
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Buy
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Eat
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Drink
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Sleep
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Budget
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- Youth Holiday Hotel (北京青年假日酒店; Běijīngqīngniánjiàrìjiǔdiàn), 6 South Guiyuan Road, Daxing District (大兴区圆南路6号; Dàxīngqū Yuánnánlù (Just outside the southeast part of Ring Road Five), +86 106789 5716 (fax: +86 10 6789 5756). Rooms with free internet and purified water. Business center, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, laundry service, karaoke, fitness facilities, and massage available. Chinese restaurant and room service. Lister rates for doubles from ¥238, discounted from ¥190; breakfast ¥10.

Mid range
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Splurge
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Contact
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District Rural Beijing Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Temples

Parks

• Do

Climb the Great Wall

Other

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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See
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Temples
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- Hongluo Temple (红螺寺; Hóngluósì), Hongluo Street, Huairou District (怀柔区红螺路; Huáiróuqū Hóngluólù) (Take bus 936 from Dongzhimen Station). This is the largest buddhist temple in northern China and was built in 378. The temple has been quite important for centuries and has functioned both as temple and monestary. It is beautifully located next to the Hongluo Mountains, which you can climb or reach by cable car. ¥30.

Parks
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- Badaling Wild Park (八达岭野生动物园; Bādálǐng Yěshēngdòngwùyuán), South of Badaling Great Wall, Yanging County (延庆县八达岭长城南; Yánqìngxiàn Bādálǐngchángchéngnán) (Bus 919 from Deshenmen east of Jishuitan Metro Station (line 2), or train S2 from Xizhimen Train Station), +86 10 6912 2591 (bbsp3000@sina.com, fax: +86 10 5856 1360), [1]. Summer 8AM-5PM; winter 10AM-3PM. Large wild animals like tigers, lions, bears and wolfs can be seen in this park from own car or park buses. Here is much better chance of seeing natural animal behaviour than in the zoo. ¥90.

Do
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Climb the Great Wall
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See Great Wall for general information on the Great Wall

- Badaling Great Wall (八达岭 Bādálǐng). Give yourself about 2 hours to climb up the wall if you're a slow climber, an hour or less if you're speedier. The least expensive way of getting there is to take the Bus #919 Express (#919直快, zhíkuài) from Déshèngmén (德胜门) (take Metro Line 2 to Jishuitan stop, walk past a huge number of different buses until you get to an outdoor station with a large number of 919 buses). Make sure you arrive early in the morning. The journey lasts at least one hour depending on traffic, and costs ¥12. Please note: there is more than one #919 line, and only one goes to Badaling. Also be careful about unofficial tour buses that will put a cardboard sign on their dashboard/windshield saying #919 but charge ¥50 and not even go to Badaling. Apart from the public bus, there are the official tourist buses that leave from Dongzhimen, Qianmen, and Beijing Railway Station. Tour companies charge ¥150 and usually stop at a jade factory, and one or two other stops. They do provide an English speaking guide and lunch which may be convenient. Thanks to the opening of the Beijing Suburban Railway Line S2 in 2008 it is much more convenient to reach Badaling by train. There are 16 trains per day in each direction from Beijing North Station to Badaling Station (1hr15min, Y13). The trains are brand-new and offer spacious aircraft-style seating and an on-board bar and as the line is still being developed with only 3 intermediate stations open to the public the train is always half-empty! However as the line is developed more intermediate stations are being opened resulting in more passengers and longer journey times. Once you arrive at Badaling Station, ignore the minibus drivers offering to drive you to the wall, turn left and walk about 500m to reach the main ticket office. The final option would be to hire a taxi for the day. It's common to have a 4-hour package from a taxi running somewhere around ¥600-800 (the driver should pay the tolls). Be sure to get the driver's cell phone number. Your best bet is to hire a driver using a trusted tour guide company, such as those found in the major hotels. Be sure to collect a taxi receipt as well. Near the entrance of the wall it may feel a little like you have entered a ski town, with some gift shops and coffee to warm you up to during the cold winter months. Tickets to climb the wall are around ¥40, with discounts available for the young and the disabled..

- Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪 Mùtiányù), [2]. Summer: 6:30AM to 6:30PM, Winter: 7:30AM to 5PM. Less congested than Badaling, and a good place for a three hour hike. Visitors can take the #916 bus from Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station to Huairou (¥12). The #916 buses run every few minutes from 5:50AM to 8:30PM. From Huairou, hikers can catch a cab to the Mutianyu stretch of the Great Wall (around ¥30). Visitors can also take a cab from Beijing (¥200-300). There is also a toboggan ride (¥55) and cablecars (¥35 single, ¥50 return). The website has more information on tours and activities around the area. ¥41 for entrance to the wall.

- Simatai (司马台 Sīmǎtái), [3]. A great spot for walking the Great Wall. You can walk for hours here, and the wall has not been much restored. A three to four hour drive from central Beijing. Some hotels and youth hostels in Beijing offer organized trips for a trek from Jinshanlin (金山岭) to Simatai, for around 350-360 RMB, including bus, breakfast (the bus usually leaves very early) and lunch on the spot. Be careful with the company responsible for these trips, some of them leave you at the foot of the Great Wall and will pick you up at the other end of the trek, with no guide nor information whatsoever. If you start from Jinshanlin, most probably you will be accosted by locals trying to sell you T-shirts, books, postcards and the like. Most can speak English. Some portions of the Great Wall are hard to climb, either because it's very steep, stairs are too high or boh. Some locals may offer to show you an easier path to get to Simatai. Do not listen or follow them, they will lead you astray and often blackmail you before showing you the real path to the end of the route.

Other
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- Goose'N'Duck Ranch (怀柔县怀柔北宅; éhéyāzhuāng), 怀柔县怀柔北宅; Huáiróuxiàn Huáiróuběizhái, +86 10 5928 3045 (gd@vip.sina.com), [4]. Ranch with activities including go-kart racing, horseback riding, archery, paintball, both outdoor and indoor swimming pool, bowling, table tennis and party games. One day package including food, bevarage and internal transporting ¥260; Two day package including food, bevarage, internal transportation and accommodation ¥600.

- Caribbean Lagoon Waterpark (加勒比海浪水上乐园; Jiālèbǐhǎilàng Shuǐshànglèyuán), 118 Quanshuitou, Yanxi Town, Huairou District (怀柔区雁栖镇泉水头118号; Huáiróuqū Yànqīzhèn Quánshuǐtóu) (Take the train from Beijing North Railway Station next to Xizhimen Metro Station, get off at Huairou North Station and take an unofficial taxi the last couple of km), +86 10 5867 9210 / +86 10 8528 8966 / +86 10 6066 1638 (nibaoer@126.com, fax: +86 10 8529 8879), [5]. 10AM-4PM. Large Caribbean themed water theme park with waterslides, wave pool, lazy river pool and island. Mediocre Chinese restaurants available but good picnic areas if you bring your own food. ¥120.

- International Shooting Range, +86 10 69771368 ext 3103 (Chinese only), [6]. Shoot Chinese automatic guns and other crazy military grade weapons at the International Shooting Range north of Beijing.

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Eat
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- The Roadhouse at Mutianyu, 12 Mutianyu Village, Huairou District (one hour from downtown Beijing), +86 10 6162 6506, [7]. Open March-November, Weekends and Holidays 11AM-3PM and by prior appointment. A revamp of one of the earliest restaurants to be established in the Mutianyu Great Wall area. Surrounded by orchards and country farmland, The Roadhouse is oriented to provide sweeping views of the Great Wall as it stretches along the mountain ridgelines to the North and East. Fresh country-style Chinese food and trout netted from the pond with an unrivaled view of the Great Wall.

- Xiaolumian, Yingbeigou Village, Huairou District (one hour from downtown Beijing), +86 10 6162 6506, [8]. Open March-November, Weekends and Holidays 11AM-3PM and by prior appointment. A rustic farmhouse tucked into a valley next to the Great Wall. Xiaolumian is really a trip back in time and a taste of village life. Serving only local handmade noodles, soups and sauces from locally grown materials, the menu is as authentic as the setting itself. Eat lunch in a private room while sitting on the Kang surrounded by antique furniture and textiles, or enjoy special roasted barley tea on the slate terrace in the small orchard.

- The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu, 12 Mutianyu Village, Huairou District (one hour from downtown Beijing), +86 10 6162 6506, [9]. Open 10AM-6PM. Closed Wednesdays. Located in a renovated schoolhouse at the base of the Great Wall. The Schoolhouse hosts a Western restaurant, an art glass studio and an art room. Part of a sustainable tourism effort, The Schoolhouse is staffed by local workers, and has a charming simple atmosphere. The food is Western homemade style based on fresh and local organic ingredients where possible. Menu items are sometimes simple, sometimes gourmet. Lunch, coffee, homemade ice cream, and a spectacular view make The Schoolhouse worth a visit if you find yourself in Huairou.

Drink
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Sleep
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Budget
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Mid range
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- Village View Resort (北京乡景度假村; Běijīng Xiāngjǐng Dùjiàcūn), East of Quanshuitou Village, Yanqi Town, Huairou District (怀柔区雁栖镇泉水头村东; Huáiróuqū Yànqīzhèn Quánshuǐtóucūn Dōng) (Take the train from Beijing North Railway Station next to Xizhimen Metro Station, get off at Huairou North Station () and take an unofficial taxi the last couple of km), +86 10 6066 1166 (service@villageviewresort.com.cn, fax: +86 10 6066 1188), [10]. Beautifully located hotel close to lakes and mountains. The rooms are not very large and has internet access against surcharge. Business centre, disco, karaoke, children's playground, billiard, tanæe tennins, tennis and basketball available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as coffee shop, bar and room service. Listed rates for doubles from ¥770, discounted from ¥508, breakfast ¥38-180.

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- China Countryside Hotels (The Schoolhouse Rental Homes), 6162-6506 (info@chinacountrysidehotels.com), [11]. Eleven guest houses in a real working village under Mutianyu Great Wall. Each house originated as a peasant dwelling and has its own special story and features. All guest houses offer a quiet retreat from the city with fresh air and breathtaking views combined with modern amenities. 3 Green Stars from Eco Hotels of the World. ¥1800-5000.

- Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski Beijing, [12]. 11 villas designed by top Asian architects and design firms, all of which have butlers. For those with money to splurge!

Contact
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