Forbidden City Starbucks Now Forever Forbidden!
by Confucius
You don't need to know how to say "Starbucks" in Mandarin Chinese. Workers inside the Forbidden City are used to hearing the same question from foreigners and can guess from your cup drinking hand motion that you're seeking a latte and not the loo.
Many foreign tourists are outspoken on whether an American company should be allowed to have a shop inside the emperor's historical residence. Of course the Ming emperors are rolling in their tombs out by the Badaling Great Wall, but most ordinary Chinese actually don't have a strong opinion about the international coffee chain's presence since it opened in 2000.
Maybe they just didn't see it. There aren't any signs posted on the palace grounds directing people to the Heavenly Altar of Almond Latte, but ask any Chinese museum worker pushing a broom and even they can understand what you are trying to find. ("Ah so! Foreign tourist asking me question, must be looking for coffee shop!") JULY 2007 UPDATE
Starbucks chose Friday the 13th as its unlucky last day of business inside Beijing's Forbidden City. The shop closed after months of controversy prompted by the Chinese blog of former CCTV television reporter Rui Chenggang, which called for Starbucks' eviction from the historic site out of respect for Chinese culture.
Starbucks finally decided to end their lease agreement following the Forbidden City's announcement in late June 2007 that it wants to operate all stores inside the palace museum and turn the present location of Starbucks into a beverage station selling multiple brands.
Out on the street
by mke1963
Beijing folk just love sitting outside in the street playing games. You see it everywhere in China, but it seems to be particularly prevalent in the streets of Beijing. On every corner, on every street, there are people sitting out playing mahjong, chess or cards.
No matter how cold, no matter how hot, people of all ages and social classes will just pull up some old chairs, a rickety table and play.
It's all serious stuff, and usually draws a crowd of onlookers. These onlookers are all far more expert than anyone playing and feel free to offer advice on how the game is going and what move should be made next. This advice often turns into raging arguments between the spectators with raised voices, animated waving and gesturing. This draws more people to join in, and these are even more experienced players who can always offer more and better advice.
Meanwhile, in the background, the players just get on with it.
Peking opera is best watched on the street, whenever someone pulls up some old chairs and a rickety table.....
The Southeastern Corner Tower
by Nprawira
This tower was an arrow tower at the south east corner of Beijing inner city wall in Ming and Qing dynasties. It is 30m high with 144 arrow holes for defenders of the city to shoot down on invading armies. Inside the tower it a totally refursbished structure, often housing art exhibitions including a history of the city wall itself. The entrance costs Y10, half price for students.
One of the biggest books centre
by wwliu about Beijing Books Building
Sell books.
whatever books you want to look for just go to Books building. If you can not find the book there, it is mean that you almost won't find the book anywhere.
Publish meeting.
Famous publisher always like publish their work there because it located in the centre of Beijing and beside Xidan shopping centre. It is seems publish work there stand for that the work will popular. whatever books you want to find.......surely It is indicated Chinese books
During the peak times...
by Jontxu
If you need a taxi during the peak times, try not to ask your driver if he/she knows the adress you are heading to till you are in, if it´s very close they´ll refuse to bring you, and at least if you are in will be a little bit more difficult.
However you´ll be forced to close a fix price, it will be difficult to convince them to turn on the taxi meter, they´ll prefer to tell you that they don´t know the place where you want to go.
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Wow!
Strange glasses of flower tea at train station
the room
the buffett
