Beijing Top Day

Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the host city for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008. It is the nation’s political centre, its cultural, scientific and educational heart and a key commercial and transportation hub. As such, Beijing welcomes millions of foreign travellers each year. They pursue business fortunes, educations, experiences or just plain fun; some stay and become part of Beijing’s growing and diverse expatriate community. Regardless, all who come to Beijing take at least a small piece of their time to experience this ancient yet increasingly modern world city. To help you make the most of your precious time in the capital, Beijing This Month has prepared a schedule designed to give you a little bit of everything in only 24 hours.

8 a.m. SEE TIANÕANMENÐÐWITHOUT THE CROWD

This is best done earlier rather than later. Tian’anmen Square is usually inundated with tourist groups led by megaphone-toting, pennant-waving guides racing from site to site amid a throng of freelancing locals, foreigners, and young couples. The early morning, especially during the ritual national flag-raising ceremony at daybreak, is a great time to visit the largest square on earth and share the dawn of a new day with people from all over China and the globe.

9 a.m. BEIJING BREAKFAST

Dining options in Beijing are countless, and if a hearty American breakfast is what suits your style, it should not be hard to find. But considering you are indeed in Beijing, the most appropriate option would be none other than “Beijing Breakfast.” This unique snack is not found in restaurants, served on a plate, nor eaten with chopsticks. Sold by street vendors, it is a pancake in which an omelette of vegetables, sauces, and spices are folded, deftly made in 30 seconds, right before your eyes.

Go to the easy-to-reach Zhongshan or Beihai parks in the centre of the city or one of the cityÕs many other parks, relax and eat in the shade of centuries old trees. Though some foreigners are wary about trying Òstreet foodsÓ in China, the Beijing Breakfast is fairly benign, and extremely delicious. But, if you just have to have your pancakes, bacon, and eggs, head to some western restaurants such as Grandmas Kitchen, Sculpting in Time or the Tex-Mex Grill for home-style dishes, including everything from biscuits and gravy to steak and eggs or Spanish omelettes.

11 p.m. SHOP TILL YOU DROP

Beijing has rapidly become the place of all places for shopping. From tailored clothes and jewellery to sports gear and electronics, it is safe to say you could find almost anything here. Beijing’s most popular markets are the Silk Street, Panjiayuan Market, and Hongqiao Pearl Market. If you are on the hunt for silk, jade, Mao memorabilia, clothes, handicrafts, and antiques, you can rest assured you will not leave Beijing empty-handed.

2 p.m. HOMESTYLE BEIJING

For lunch, treat yourself to some home-style Beijing cuisine at Xiao WangÕs Home Restaurant. This bustling, excellent restaurant offers specials that are simply delectable. Be sure and try the deep-fried spare ribs with pepper salt or the hot and spicy Xinjiang-style chicken wings. Xiao Wang--the owner himself--has devised a formula that pleases expats and local Chinese alike. If you are short on time, or prefer an even more local taste, then take advantage of one of Beijing’s many noodle or dumpling restaurants.

3 p.m. THE GREAT WALL

For 300 yuanÐ500 yuan, almost any cab driver in Beijing will take you to see the Great Wall. Once there, take a cable car to the top (available at some walls) and save your strength for a small hike to a peak in the clouds. Enjoy scenery and photo opportunities while climbing the wall, and in no time at all, you can easily break away from the crowd and experience the Wall on your own terms. Many believe the Great Wall is in its prime during the fall, when the leaves of the trees are turning yellow, but others prefer winter, when snow covers everything in a blanket of white, and you can hear the wind rolling through the mountains. If you enjoy camping, then save this trip for later in the day; pack a sleeping bag and some snacks and spend the night within one of the many guard towers.

If you don’t have the time or energy to see the Great Wall, visiting one of Beijing’s many temples provides a contrast to the city’s increasing modernity. Try the Lama Temple or the Temple of Heaven in the city or lesser-known, but equally fascinating, temples in the mountains west of the city such as Jietaisi or Tanzhesi in Mentougou District.

8 p.m. PEKING ROAST DUCK

Eating Peking Roast Duck is considered to be one of the two things you must do in Beijing other than climbing the Great Wall. Beijing abounds in restaurants whose specialties are roast duck, and choosing the right one is strictly matter of budget and preference. Quanjude is said to be the best place in Beijing to eat Peking Roast Duck. It was established more than 130 years ago. At Quanjude, the duck is immersed in condiments unique to the restaurant and then roasted over an open flame fuelled by fruit tree wood. Brought directly to your table after being cooked, it is sliced onto plates by the chef, and served with Chinese onions and a special plum sauce.

10 p.m. NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Peking Opera and traditional Chinese music provide an authentic Beijing experience rich with cultural significance and intrigue. Keep in mind that most shows begin at about 7 p.m. If you have the time, try the Chang’an Grand Theatre, or Lao She Teahouse. Otherwise, go to the Sanlitun “Bar Street” area where you will find a wide variety of bars, restaurants, drinks and music from around the world. Beijing’s music scene is on the rise, and you can easily find bars and clubs that offer rock, jazz, blues, country, and more. For folk music and blues, try Nashville. This bar is a long-running country pub in a new location, with a rustic wood interior and stone-floors. Every night country, folk, blues or rock music are performed live, on stage. Younger club scenes are prevalent in Beijing, and if pop music, ladies nights, bright lights, and dance floors are what you are looking for, then try Baby Face or Vics. Quite possibly the classiest, and most relaxed bar in Beijing is the Palace View. With a view overlooking Dongchang’an Jie, the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square, set among outdoor tables and palm trees, this bar is truly in a league of its own.

 

Of course, in Beijing, there is no way to see it all and do it all in a single day. As a matter of fact, most people who have lived here for years still have a very long list of sights they have yet to see, activities they have yet to experience.

Most people agree there is a special “vibe” to Beijing-one of momentum, optimism, opportunity and intrigue. But, regardless how your time in Beijing is spent, keep in mind that change is not only inevitable; it is embraced in a city undergoing an Olympic-inspired transformation. Savour the privilege of being here, all the while appreciating where Beijing has been, where it is now and where it will be in the future.