All the temples, gardens, and...
by Deathray
All the temples, gardens, and imperial palaces are not unique to Beijing. Those are a must-see, but not particularly exciting. My fondest memory was the food. YUMMY!!! All the malls in Beijing have wonderful food courts where one can sample both local and international cuisine. The best dish, though, is peking duck. I mean, it's simply orgasmic. Another place to visit is riu-li-chung. It's an antique district near the Temple of Heaven. It's full of antiques, both authentic and fake ones to fool uninformed foreigners. But it does have a wide variety of artifacts that lend some insight into Chinese culture and traditions. Visiting the condos along Chang-an Blvd where the foreign press hid during the Tiananmen Sq Massacre. I was at the balcony where allegedly many of the now infamous video clips of the killings were shot.
Beijing Homestay - Live with Chinese Family, study
by jackinchina
Beijing Homestay - Live with Chinese Family, study Chinese
Hi foreign friends!
We promote the Chinese education, language and culture exchanges with west countries. According to your requirements, such as the district, we’d like to offer the wonderful homestay for you! Homestay is the best way to study Chinese, understand the Chinese culture, customs and life. It can enhance your cultural experience and practice you Mandarin with host family. Your room has daily furniture, shared refrigerator, shared washing machine, air condition, Internet access, shared bathroom or private room, cover, dinner, etc.
Package I: (Providing language environment with language or cultural exchange, free dinner)
300 USD for one month
550 USD for two months
800 USD for three months
Package II: (Providing language environment with language or cultural exchange, free dinner,)
500 USD for one month (12 hours Chinese study with our professional Chinese teacher)
800 USD for two months (24 hours Chinese study with our professional Chinese teacher)
1200 USD for three months (30 hours Chinese study with our professional Chinese teacher)
Contact: Jake
http://www.newyorkenglish.com.cn
Email & Msn: homeinchina@msn.com
Beijing, the paradise of bicycles
by ntm2322
Beijing is an ideal place for cycling especially in the city's hutongs.
Cycling is not only a healthy and funny way to experience Beijing and the Chinese culture but it is also a much faster way to get around than taking a taxi or a public bus.
For the Chinese, bikes are more than a medium of transportation, bikes can also be:
- Matchmakers
- Friends
- Careers
- Works of art
Points to consider:
While riding by the cycle paths at the side of the road, you be careful for some motor vehicles, it seems they are fond of cycle paths.
Most of bike riders in Beijing don’t wear a helmet, however, in winter it is a must in order to cope with the ice, sandstorms and strong winds.
You also need a good lock.
If you have a flat tire or mechanical problem you will easily find a bicycle repair shop or a bicycle repair stand in the sidewalk, don’t worry. Cycle parking is also available for a small fee at numerous pavement bicycle parks.
Where to rent a bike?
Bicycles can be rented from a hotel and cycle shops, this won’t be a problem for you.
If you want more information about bicycle rents, you may take a look at the following website.
Another funny way to get acquainted to Beijing is by joining a bike tour. For more informations about it, please, check the website I provide below.
Don't leave China without tea
by kokoryko about Ten Fu’s tea: THE tea shop
I am only a very occasional tea drinker, but one evening I passed by this shop and it looked interesting to me; my interest grew when a lady told me to come in to taste the green tea they were promoting that day. Finally I tasted 4-5 varieties of tea, and I found the explanations of the employee who made my teas highly interesting, and I came out later with a few packs of different teas, and a tea service. I learned for instance that for green tea the water must be about 75°C, lower temperature than for the black Sichuan tea which should infuse at more than 90°C. He also explained to make two infusions for the green tea, and throw the first one away, drink only the second one, less bitter.
This shop is located as follows: 100 metres further south of the famous Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant, on Qianmen Dajie, a hutong on the opposite side ; walk 200 m in this hutong, it is on the right side; if it is open you cannot miss, and will see all the golden tea containers.
Main picture: Inside the shop, tea everywhere, in the big golden containers, one different tea in each; also tea in front of the employees; as I see locals buying here, I know it is probably not a tourist trap.
Picture 2: Employee preparing green tea; notice the tea pots are very small, and the size of the glass cups is closer to the size of cognac glasses rather than to beer mugs!
Picture 3: another look at the main part of the tea shop.
Picture 4: Ten Fu’s tea shop not only sells tea, but also all what is related with tea; they sell very nice traditional but also modern design tea services, and tea pots.
Picture 5: View of the shop from the street; it is later than 10 p.m., and they are still working. All sorts of tea from the regular green or black tea to the rare moutain and rare flower teas; Emplyees are very competent and very happy to help make your choice!
Almso many sorts of tea cups, dishes, accessories for tea drinkers. . . Very variable for the teas (1 to 50 Euros for 50 grams, depends. . . . ) dishes are nice and cheap.
Loup Chante
by Lemonita about Loup Chante
This is a tiny cafe/bar located in Haidian, the university district. It's pretty international as a lot of students get together there.
Twice a week (Wed, Sun) there is a live jazz band and the ambience is really cool. There's also a DJ on Friday and a latin music night on Sat.
This cafe/bar is also opened during the day, for people who want to have a coffee and read there.
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Great Wall - Simatai
Killing time
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eating panda
