Keeping Your Cool: The Best Summer Treats in Beijing

 

One cool way to overcome Beijing’s wilting summer heat is to imbibe icy treats. For those with a sweet tooth, summer is the best season, with so many choices of soothing iced treats. In Chinese an iced treat is commonly called lengyin, which means cold drinks or desserts. Having a sip of a milkshake or a taste of ice cream is a great way to enjoy a summer’s day!

 

Iced treats are generally divided into two kinds, depending on whether a concoction contains milk. The most popular ice treat with milk is undoubtedly ice cream. About 40 billion yuan’s worth of ice cream was sold in China in 2006, and the figure is expected to grow by 10 percent in 2007. For most people, a summer without ice cream is an incomplete summer. Diary Queen (DQ) and Baskin Robbins are the two most popular chain ice cream stores in Beijing, where people can choose various flavours of ice cream and view their treat being made. Only six to seven tables are available in most of these shops, with two to three cloth chairs which customers can lean on, making the place perfect for lovers and friends gathering.

 

Iced treats without milk are epitomized by Taiwan-styled shaved-ice and ice-frosting preparations. Shops selling these milk-free iced treats usually have the similar decoration colour and design styles. Simplicity and cleanliness are keys here. The flavours are seldom too sweet or strong. This is another good way to cool down.

 

In addition to shops specializing in iced treats, some restaurants and bakeries also serve unique and creative ice treats. BTM’s editors have searched the city to map out where some of the establishments can be found.

 

 

Ice Cream

 

Haagen-Dazs 哈根达斯

 

Most girls in Beijing are familiar with the seductive advertising campaigns “If you love her, take her to Haagen-Dazs.” Despite its comparably sky-high prices, capital yuppie lovers lap up the velvety rich ice cream.

 

Lovingly crafted from only the finest ingredients, Haagen-Dazs is said to be the ultimate in luxury ice cream. The unrivalled creaminess of the ice cream is achieved by using a high percentage of fresh cream. Haagen-Dazs also whip as little air as possible into their ice cream so that everyone gets to enjoy the unique “melt in the mouth” moments for which Haagen-Dazs is renowned.

 

The chain has nine outlets in Beijing; Haagen-Dazs is considered by most Beijingers as the best supplier of ice cream in the city, providing more than 100 kinds of ice cream with different flavours and ingredients.

 

 

Diary Queen     DQ冰淇淋

 

This American classic “soft ice cream” brand now has more than 40 chains in Beijing, located in shopping malls and other venues that are easily accessible to large numbers of consumers. The so-called “soft ice cream” refers to the fresh ice cream whose ingredients are stored under the temperature of -4 degrees Celsius. DQ ice creams have the reputation as “won’t pour even turned upside down,” and they have a very soft taste.

 

Orange Julius fruit smoothies and fruit-blended beverages are also served in DQ stores, in consideration of girls who are afraid of gaining too much weight from too much ice cream.

 

Baskin Robbins                   美国31种风味冰淇淋

 

The Chinese name of this American brand is “31 flavoured American-styled ice cream.” However, the store provides more than 600 different kinds of ice cream. This is the paradise for ice cream lovers. Strawberry-flavoured, banana-flavoured, apple-flavoured, you can order almost every flavour you can imagine. Low-fat, sugar-free, soft ice creams, ice-cream coffee, ice-cream pie and ice-cream cake are all prepared to meet consumers’ different request.

 

Romana Ice Cream Factory   罗马娜冰淇淋工厂

 

Run by an Italian couple, Romana’s wholly handmade ice cream perfectly reflects the romance and imagination of Italians. All equipments, ingredients and milk are imported from Italy every day, making the brand the most original Italian ice cream in the city. Twenty-four flavours are provided, some of which are never to be found elsewhere.

 

Sprinkles   思冰客

 

Sprinkles provides more than ice cream. This newly opened ice-cream parlour offers 12 flavours made fresh daily on the premises, that customers mix and match with their choice of toppings (chocolates, sprinkles or fruit). This DIY ice-cream experience is aided by a staff that will assist you in your ice-cream creations.

 

 

Shaved Ice

 

Chamate 一茶一坐

 

People looking for a place quiet and graceful to dine will be satisfied in Chamate, which offers an extensive menu of Taiwan-styled dim sum and a selection of nutritious soups. The iced treats here are another shining spot of the restaurant.

 

Red-bean pudding with snowy ice is the most popular summer treat in Chamate, with fresh and plump red beans, melting pudding and mellow concentrated milk poured onto a super-size pile of shaved ice, forming a unique and unforgettable experience. Iced fruit tea is mixed with fresh juice and fruit, tasting both sour and sweet. Golden Age is made of fresh mango, carefully shaved ice and low-calorie mango ice cream. It tastes as good as it looks.

 

 

Bellagio  鹿港小镇

 

One of the coolest and most fashionable restaurants in Beijing, Bellagio is especially popular among party animals because it is located at the West Gate of the hot Workers’ Stadium entertainment area. With huge windows and comfortable chairs, one can snack away in style. Do try their leaning towers of shaved ice smothered with sweet toppings. One dish is enough for two people.

 

 

 

Featured Ice Treats

 

21A Rest House   甲21号招待所

 

Opened by a Taiwan singer Gao Mingjun, who was quite popular in the 1980s, the restaurant serves Yunnan and Guizhou provincial creative cuisine, mostly invented by the chefs. Engraved plum juice uses a unique Yunnan confection: engraved plum to mix with ice. White gourd balls in grape juice and wine combines white gourd, wine and grape juice, therefore giving the ordinary white gourd a whole new taste: fragrant and sweet.

 

 

Tasty Taste    泰笛戴斯

 

One of the best cake bakeries in Beijing. This easy-to-overlook café lives up to its name with a divine range of tempting cheesecakes. Favourites include blueberry and coffee, but the great range of flavours calls for a sampling of all. A minimalist patio and great location bordering Worker's Stadium make Tasty Taste a great impromptu summer time patio haunt. Iced cakes and iced drinks are served for the perfect match to spend the summer afternoon with.

 

 

Fruity Mix   水果捞

 

Fruity Mix offers a choice of fresh and healthy fruit juices, sweet soups and sorbet desserts prepared with freshly-cut fruit squares. There are more than 60 items on the menu, and each comes in mango yellow, watermelon red, and coconut white colours, reflecting the sharp and colourful wallpaper around the restaurant.

 

A bowl of fresh fruit over ice cream or a cold fruit sago drink is the most delicious option in the season.

 

The must-try item for beginners is the house speciality, supreme love (38 yuan). With creamy sago, black tortoise jelly and coconut milk at the bottom, the all-inclusive dessert is decorated with a juicy slices of mango, orange, papaya, kiwi fruit, cherry, grape, strawberry, cantaloupe and dragon fruit. Topped with two different flavours of ice cream, the dessert is ideal as an afternoon tea for two.

 

With a base of sweet and iced sago, the three-layer coconut milkshake with mango (18 yuan or US$2.30) is very refreshing. The two top layers, coconut milk sorbet at the top and mango sorbet in the middle are lightly sweetened so as not to be too unhealthy. Topping it all off are slices of mango.

 

 

 

Ice Treat Map in Beijing

 

Chaoyang District

 

Haagen-Dazs

哈根达斯

 

Tel: +86 10 6532 6661

Address: Room 196, 1F St. Regis Hotel, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街21号国际俱乐部1层196室

 

Tel: +86 10 6505 6527

Address: L125, West Building of the World Trade Centre, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街1号国贸西楼L125

 

Tel: +86 10 8472 9478

Address: 1F Jiamao Shopping Centre, 33 Guangshun Beidajie

广顺北大街33号嘉茂购物中心1楼

 

 

Taiwan Ice Town

宝岛冰镇

Tel: +86 10 6530 5888

Address: B1 Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地B1楼

 

Tila

缇拉意大利冰淇淋

Tel: +86 10 6530 5888

Address: B1 Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地B1楼

 

Meet Point

Tel: +86 10 6587 1367

Address: B146, B136A, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu

光华路9号世贸天阶商贸城B1楼

 

 

DQ

 

Address: B1, Huatang Shopping Mall, A3 Chaoyang Lu

朝阳路甲3号十里堡华堂商场B1楼

 

Address: 2F Hualian Shopping Mall, 4 Anzhen Xili

安贞西里五区4号华联商厦2楼

 

Tel: +86 10 6440 2827

Address: 1F Jintai Plaza, 1 Xibahe Nanlu

西坝河南路1号金泰大厦1楼

 

Address: 5F Beichen Shopping Center, 8 Anli Lu

安立路8号北辰购物中心5楼

 

Address: 1F Sanli Shopping Mall, 208 Andingmenwai Dajie

安定门外大街208号三利百货1楼

 

Baskin Robins

31种美国风味冰淇淋

 

Tel: +86 10 6501 8864

Address: next to Beijing Friendship Store, 17 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街友谊商店旁 

 

Tel: +86 10 6505 6039

Address: NB131, B1 World Trade Centre, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街1号国贸商城地下1层NB131 

 

Tel: +86 10 8497 2472

Address: K2 Huiyuan Apartment, Asian Games Village

亚运村汇园公寓K2座 

 

 

Bellagio

鹿港小镇

Tel: +86 10 6551 3533

Address: 6 Gongti Xilu

工体西路6号

 

Tel: +86 10 6530 5658

Address: 6F Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地6楼

 

Tel: +86 10 8451 9988

Address: 35 Xiaoyun Lu

霄云路35号

 

Tel: +86 10 6489 4300

Address: Building 4, Area 2, Anhui Beili

安慧北里2区4号楼

 

 

CHAMATE

一茶一坐

 

Tel: +86 10 6505 6278

Address: B1 World Trade Centre, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街1号国贸商城B1层

 

Tel: +86 10 6533 1428

Address: 3F Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地3楼

 

Tel: +86 10 6467 6058

Address: 2F Beijing Guozhan Hotel, 10 Jing’an Xijie

静安西街10号国展宾馆2层

 

 

21A Rest House

甲21号招待所 

Tel: +86 10 6489 5066

Address: 21A Tucheng Donglu, Huixin Dongjie

惠新东街北土城东路甲21号

Gustomenta

意大利冰淇淋店

Tel: +86 10 6417 8890

Address: 24 Sanlitun Beijie

三里屯北街24号

 

Gelato

意大利翡冷翠艺术冰淇淋

Address: B1 Pacific Shopping Centre, 2A Gongti Beilu

工体北路甲2号盈科太平洋百货B1楼

 

 

TCBY

天使冰王

 

Tel: +86 10 6505 7619

Address: SB122A World Trade Centre, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie

建国门外大街1号国贸商城地下1楼SB122A

 

Address: Silk Street, Jianguomenwai Dajie

建外大街秀水街

 

 

Yogen Fruz

优根芙丝冰淇淋

Address: B1 Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地B1楼

 

 

Mondo Gelato Beijing

聚乐多

 

Tel: +86 10 6465 1188

Address: 5F Lufthansa Center, 52 Liangmaqiao Lu

亮马桥路52号燕莎商场5层

 

Address: 1F Beijing Fulllink Plaza, 18 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie

朝阳门外大街18号丰联广场1层

 

 

Upper Room

楼尚

Tel: +86 10 6506 8324

Address: 6A Guanghua Li

光华里甲6号

 

Jelly Belly

糖豆

Address: B1 Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu

建国路87号新光天地B1楼

 

 

Fruity Mix

水果捞

 

Tel: +86 10 6539 2279

Address: Pacific Shopping Centre, 2A Gongti Beilu

工体北路甲2号太平洋盈科百货内

 

Tel: +86 10 5190 9461

Address: inside Carrefour, 31 Guangqu Lu

广渠路31号双井家乐福内

 

 

RBT

仙踪林

 

Tel: +86 10 6441 7787

Address: 1F Hualian Shopping Mall, 4 Anzhen Xili

安贞西里5区4号华联商厦1层

 

Tel: +86 10 5861 4661

Address: inside U-Space, 1 Guangqumenwai Dajie

广渠门外大街1号优士阁

 

 

Dongcheng District

 

Haagen-Dazs

哈根达斯

Tel: +86 10 8518 6071

Address: A102 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地1层A102

 

Tel: +86 10 6559 6277

Address: 1F Sun Dong An, 138 Wangfujing Dajie

王府井大街138号新东安市场1层

 

DQ

DQ冰淇淋

 

Tel: +86 10 8518 6163

Address: B1 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地B1楼

 

Address: 5F Sun Dong An, 138 Wangfujing Dajie

王府井大街138号新东安商场5楼

 

Tel: +86 10 6559 0400

Address: 18 Beijingzhan Jie

北京站街18号

 

 

Mondo Gelato Beijing

聚乐多

 

Address: Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地

 

 

ROMANA

罗马娜意大利冰激凌工厂

 

Tel: +86 10 8518 0201

Address: B1 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地B1层

 

Tel: +86 10 6522 1161

Address: B146 Sun Dong An, 138 Wangfujing Dajie

王府井大街138号新东安市场B1层B146号铺

 

 

Fruity Mix

水果捞

Tel: +86 10 8518 6259

Address: CC02 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地CC02铺

 

 

Yogen Fruz

优根芙丝冰淇淋

Address: Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地

 

Sprinkle

思冰客

Address: B1 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号王府井东方新天地B1

 

 

Baskin Robins

31种美国风味冰淇淋

 

Tel: +86 10 6426 2850

Address: 1F Jingbao Garden, 183 Andingmenwai Dajie

安定门外大街183号京宝花园1层 

 

Tel: +86 10 6528 2211, ext., 8508

Address: 5F Sun Dong An, 138 Wangfujing Dajie

王府井大街138号新东安商场5层 

 

 

 

CHAMATE

一茶一坐

 

Tel: +86 10 8518 6067

Address: B1 Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie

东长安街1号东方新天地B1层

 

Tel: +86 10 6526 0295

Address: B1 Sun Dong An, 138 Wangfujing Dajie

王府井大街新东安商场B1层

 

 

 

 

RBT

仙踪林

 

Tel: +86 10 6527 7896

Address: 69 Dongdan Beidajie

东单北大街69号