FALL & WINTER GUIDE 2008/2009

The best places to eat, sleep and play in Beijing this fall and winter

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You’ll find reviews for more than 230,000 BEIJING hotels, 76,000 attractions and 435,000 restaurants on TripAdvisor.com. Learn from other travelers what to expect before you make your plans. Fifteen million inhabitants call ever-changing Beijing home. As the economy booms and the Chinese capital prepares for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing’s skyline is one of cranes and multistory blocks. But behind this hubbub of activity lies an ancient civilization steeped in a tradition and a culture that is alien to most Westerners. PACKING TIPS Beijing sprouted as a frontier trading post frequented by Mongols, 1. You’ll appreciate remembering earplugs. Koreans and tribes from Shandong and central around 1000 They’ll help combat bustling Beijing’s taxi and B.C. But its significance stems from the 13th century, when Kublai construction noise. Khan inherited the city. 2. “Have your hotel’s address written in Chinese” to show to taxi drivers.— The city’s fascinating past makes it a captivating place to visit. Sights TripAdvisor Member, Norway such as the , the , nearby chunks 3. “It’s best to arm yourself with the Mandarin of the Great Wall at and and the inspiringly names of the attractions so the cab driver will know where to take you!”—TripAdvisor named Hall of Preserving Harmony and provide Member, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia glimpses into this great civilization’s staggering historical wealth. 4. “I know people who wear sandals in China, but there is a lot of dust, so you have to not Seasons in Beijing are very distinct, and temperatures range mind your feet getting really dirty. Light widely, from bitingly cold 25ºF weather in winter to hotter 80º color shoes will also get dirty. I usually wear walking shoes—something very temperatures in the summer. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable.”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing popular times for travel, with temperate weather and clearer skies. tripadvisor.com  Top VIEWS

BEIJING’S BEST VIEWS “When I bring friends or tourists to this area, Views from the Great Wall at Mutianyu “Qinglong Gorge is usually not on the tourist I always start them off at Jingshang Park. are “beautiful.” Situated in Huairou County, map. The scenery from the top of the mountain, When you climb to the top of the small 70 kilometers northeast of Beijing, this looking down on the gorge, is stunning. You hill, you get the most amazing views of the well-preserved section of the Great Wall is can bungee jump, take a speed boat around the rooftops of the Forbidden City. On a good over 2000 meters long, built on steep ridges dam to look at the gorge or take a ski lift up, up, day, you can see all the main central sights overlooking deep valleys. You’ll “have most of up to the top of the mountain for never-ending from that position. It is truly a great little the wall and towers to yourself.” Take the “ski views, including a bonus view of the completely insider tip!”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing lift up and the toboggan slide down. Great fun!” unrestored stretch of Great Wall that links Jingshang Park (Yingshan Gongyuan), 1 Jing Shan —TripAdvisor Member, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Mutianyu to .”—TripAdvisor Member, Qian Jie, Opposite Forbidden City north gate, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Great Wall at Mutianyu, Huairou County Dog Cheng Qu Qinglong Gorge, Dashuiyu Reservoir, Mutianyu

Where Beijing Tourism Authority Hotline: 6513 0828 to PLAY TOP 10 Attractions 1. Great Wall at Mutianyu, Huairou County, 6162 6873 6. Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), Square, 6513 2255, x615 2. Great Wall at Simatai, Town, Miyun County, 6903 1051 7. Tianaanmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang), Chongmen 3. Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), Dajie, , 8. Grand View Garden (), 12 Nan Cai Yuan St., Xuanwu District 6702 8866 9. Pearl Market (Hongqiao Market), 16 Hongqiao Lu, 6711 7429 4. Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), , 6288 1144 10. Lama Temple (Yonghegong), 12 Yonghe Gong Dajie, Beijxinqiao, Dongcheng 5. Great Wall at Badaling (Badaling Chancheng), Yanqing County, 6912 1235 District 6404 3769

FAMILIES has rides for young It’s hard to resist the panda experience at the “I highly recommend the Beijing acrobats.” children and boat rentals. While there, be , though it can be “disappointing,” One of the best venues to watch “zaji” is sure to “drink tea by the lake. It’s the best because “you will not be able to interact with Wansheng Juchang, where the Beijing teahouse on the southern shore of the them. There are enclosures outside where you Acrobatics Troupe performs.—TripAdvisor lake.”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing can get to see them without everybody around Member, Arizona Purple Bamboo Park, 45 Baishiqiao, Haidian, you. We spent two hours and did not see all of Wansheng Juchang, Bei Wei Lu, 6303 7449 6842 0055 the animals. The hippos were the highlight.”— TripAdvisor Member, Sydney, Australia Beijing Zoo, 131 Xi Zhi Men Wai Ave., 6831 4411 ROMANCE The Poly Art Museum is the first state-run “Nature lovers: A variety of tulips at Rent paddle boats at , originally museum on the mainland of China. Its exhibits are in stunning full bloom. built for Kublai Khan. It’s “a great way to tend to focus on ancient Chinese artifacts, There’s also the black tulip!”—TripAdvisor see average, day-to-day Chinese life.”— with special attention paid to the Bronze Age. Member, Singapore TripAdvisor Member Poly Art Museum, 14 S. St., Zhongshan Park, East side of Tiananmen Beihai Park, South gate, Weijin Lu, Dongcheng District, 6500 1188 tower, 6605 5431 6404 0610 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com  Where to PLAY

BUDGET Is it Mao or is it Memorex? Upon the death Stroll around historic , “Worth seeing” is the Lama Temple, of Chairman Mao, a wax copy of the leader the largest public square in the world. “At a series of beautiful pavilions and an was created. See preserved remains—or sunrise and sunset the raising and lowering impressive 60-foot-high Buddha “carved perhaps the waxen idol; no telling which is of the Chinese National Flag was well worth from one piece of sandalwood.” Admission displayed at any given time—of Chairman the wait. Taking the time to really watch the is only $3.—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing Mao, free, in the Chairman Mao people made the square a true highlight for Lama Temple (Yonghegong), 12 Yonghe Memorial Hall. us.”—TripAdvisor Member, Atsugi, Japan Gong Dajie, 6404 3769 Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) Square, 6513 2277 TripAdvisor members have posted more than 1,300,000 photos on the site. Beijing Tourism Authority The good, the bad and the very candid. Hotline: 6513 0828 It’s almost like being there! ADVENTURE Tackle your own Great Wall at Shou Ti If you get to Ditan Park early, you might The truly adventurous can attempt karaoke. indoor climbing gym. be allowed to join a martial arts class, such The number one choice is the popular Shou Ti Gym, 54 Baishiqiao Road, as kung fu or wushu, practiced with long Party World. “Karaoke bars are numerous 6833 5552, ext. 8389 swords or batons. and are worth investigating, if only for a Ditan Park, Yongehong Jie, 6421 4657 laugh.”—TripAdvisor Member Party World, Qian Gui, 6588 3333

“All I can say is WOW WOW WOW!” EDUCATIONAL/HISTORICAL “The Great Wall at Badaling is the top The Forbidden City is a 250-acre palace “We explored every nook and cranny of the tourist destination.” A less crowded six-mile complex consisting of more than 9,000 rooms. Temple of Heaven. We watched people stretch, from Jin Shan Ling to Simatai, “has “All I can say is WOW WOW WOW! It is one singing and playing instruments. Though amazing views and gives you a sense of just of the most amazing places I have been to. The the main temple areas are beautiful and how great an endeavor building the Great first day we were there for seven hours and did busy, go off to the sides and watch and Wall was.”—TripAdvisor Member not want to leave. It was wonderful just to sit, listen—it’s fascinating.”—TripAdvisor Great Wall at Badaling (Badaling see and absorb the splendor of this magnificent Member, Derry, Northern Ireland Chancheng), Simatai and Mutianyu place. I had goose bumps as soon as we Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), Yongdingmen entered.”—TripAdvisor Member, Australia Dajie, Chongwen District, 6702 8866 Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), Tiananmen Square, 6513 2255, ext. 615 RELAXATION To escape the city chaos, head for the At Fayuan Si, you can observe the lives “Tucked away from throngs of tourists,” the , Beijing’s narrow, twisting of Buddhist monks, from their chanting Grand View Garden is a modern construction residential streets. In Back Lakes, “you can of mantras in the prayer halls to their of a classical Chinese landscaping, with elaborate wander through the area and REALLY feel recreational games of soccer. rockeries, lotus ponds, covered walkways and like you’re in China.”—TripAdvisor Member, Fayuan Si—Buddhist Temple, 7 Fayuan Si pavilions. “Late summer is probably beautiful Menlo Park, Calif. Qianjie, 6303 4171 or 6353 4171 because everything is still in bloom. It’s an Back Lakes (Hou Hai), Desheng Meng Jianlou autumn delight as you stroll through the to Qian Hai park.”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing Grand View Garden (Daguan Yuan), 12 Nan Cai Yuan St., 6354 4994 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com  What’s the TOUR How to Get Around

“There are many options for getting around Beijing including “If you find agood/honest taxi driver, try to book him the whole buses, minibuses, taxis, trains, double deckers, rickshaws day.” It’s cheap and saves dealing with less honest drivers. Also, avoid and bicycles. The underground train (also called the subway or “taxi touts at the airport. Go straight to the taxi queue.” Tipping underground dragon) is by far the fastest and most convenient form taxi drivers is “not necessary or expected.” Have small bills ready, of transportation within the city. They can move as fast as 70 km. since taxi drivers might not have change for larger amounts.— per hour, which seems like the speed of light when compared to the TripAdvisor Members buses in town.”—TripAdvisor Member Metro tickets cost three yuan for rides from Circle Line or Line 1 “Although riding a bicycle is a great way to explore the city, don’t stations to any others on those lines. plan on doing so unless you’re a master of the bicycle and are prepared for some dicey navigating.” There are many companies offering bike rentals in the area.—TripAdvisor Member

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“You can get almost any kind of food you like in Beijing. There are restaurants all over town, featuring foods from around the world. There are precious few ‘fine dining’ restaurants, and there is very little formality as far as dress goes, even at the better places.”—TripAdvisor Member

FAMILIES For families, especially those missing Kids (and parents) love Afunti, where meals Kids get to construct mini pizzas to cook simple, Western-style cooking, Grandma’s are followed by dancing on the tables. The alongside larger wood-fired dinner versions Kitchen is recommended for “home-style food is good, too. at Annie’s Café, an Italian eatery. food.”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing Afunti, 2A Houguaibang , Off Annie’s Café, West Gate, Grandma’s Kitchen, 11A Xiushui Nan Jie, Nei Dajie, 6527 2288 6591 1931 6503 2893

“Reserve your bird ahead of time!” ROMANCE “If you tire of Chinese food and want Made in China offers “what may be the One of Beijing’s “hot spots,” Huang something modern and upmarket, the best Beijing roast duck in the city. It’s got Ting serves five-star quality food. “It has Courtyard has superb food, a lovely delectable examples of regional cuisine from a beautiful setting, service is first- class and atmosphere and views over the back walls the rest of China, too. Reserve your bird you just can’t help but love the food.”— of the Forbidden City.”—TripAdvisor ahead of time!”—TripAdvisor Member TripAdvisor Member Member, United Kingdom Made in China, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1 East Huang Ting Restaurant, The Peninsula The Courtyard, 95 Donghuamen Lu, Chang An Ave., 8518 1234 Beijing, 8 Goldfish Lane, , 6526 8883 8516 2888, ext. 6707 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com  to WHERE eat

BUDGET For the price-conscious, the Old Beijing “If you’re feeling a bit adventurous,” Tianjin A little more expensive, but still in the Noodle King serves traditional-style fast Bai Jiao Yuan “is a really good jiaozi (boiled budget category, is Lao Hanzi, “a Hakka food in a lively Old Peking atmosphere close dumpling) place with an English menu. The restaurant in .” It has “a great to the Temple of Heaven. servers speak enough English to get by. It will setting and fabulous salt-prawn skewers, Old Beijing Noodle King, 29 be the best $4 you ever spent for a meal!”— foil-wrapped fish and smoked duck.”— Wai Dajie, 6705 6705 TripAdvisor Member, Rochester, Minn. TripAdvisor Member, Oahu, Hawaii Tianjin Bai Jiao Yuan, 12A Xin Wenhua Jie, Lao Hanzi, Dongan, Xian Hai Nan Off Xuan Wu Men Wai Dajie, 6605 9371 Yuan 12 Ke Jia Zhan, 6404 2259

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS “Serving sashimi as fresh as any you’ll find in English menus help ensure your meal is Indulge in delicious vegetarian cuisine Beijing, Hatsune is perhaps best known for meat-free at Lotus in Moonlight. “There alongside statues of Guanyin, the its fancy sushi rolls.” It attracts “a hip crowd” are lots of mock-meat dishes, since that is Bodhisattva of Compassion, at Pure Lotus, and has “stylish décor.”—TripAdvisor the Chinese vegetarian tradition, but I think a relaxing, pillow-filled Buddhist restaurant. Member you can also find plenty of other things to Pure Lotus, Nongzhan Nanli 12, 6592 3627 Hatsune (Yin Qhuan), Guanghua Dong Lu, order.”—TripAdvisor Member, Beijing Heqiao Dasha C, Second floor, Chaoyang, Lotus in Moonlight, 12 Liufang Nan Li, Chao 6581 3939 Yang Jie, 6465 3299

HIDDEN GEMS While you don’t come to China to “If you can findLi Qun you’ll definitely Don’t be put off by the blah building: Lurking experience European cooking, Aria is feel you’ve earned their bargain-priced, inside the Noodle Loft is a modern dining worth making an exception. The Australian mouthwatering roast duck. This restaurant room serving up Shanxi cuisine, which is chef flies in ingredients from his homeland is in an old courtyard house, and it’s worth made with lots of vinegar (which you can and combines them with local food, creating the extra money to reserve a private get as a drink on the rocks!), tomatoes and, an inventive menu. room.”—TripAdvisor Member of course, noodles. Aria, Jianguo Men Wai Dajie, 6505 2266, ext. 36 Li Qun, 11 Beixiangfeng, Zhangyi Lu, Noodle Loft, 20 Xi Dawang Lu, 6774 9950 Dongcheng, 6705 5578

SPECIAL EVENTS Every spring, 300,000 tulips fill Zhong Shan Park in the colorfulTulip Get down with the local scene at Chaoyang Park Beijing Pop Festival. (May 1 – June 30) Festival, an annual event drawing international as well as Chinese Zhong Shan Park Tulip Festival, 1 Zhong Hua Road, Dong Cheng, pop and rock artists. (September) 6605 5431 Beijing Pop Festival, Chaoyang Park, 6593 0367, http://www.beijingpopfestival.com/ENmusic.asp Dance, play games, enjoy great cuisine and sample of some of China’s most popular beer at the Yan Jing Beer Festival. (June 6) Cheer on over 4000 athletes competing for the coveted gold medals Yan Jing Beer Festival, Shun Yi District Sports Center, Shun Yi in sports from wheelchair basketball to archery at the Beijing 2008 District, 8949 2316 Paralympic Games. (September 6 – 17) Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Various venues, Make your friends at home jealous! Cheer your country toward the http://en.beijing2008.cn/paralympic gold and be part of the action as Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympic Games. (August 8 – 24) Top tennis pros battle it out for prizes exceeding half a million dollars Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Various venues, http://en.beijing2008.cn at the 2008 China Open. (September 20 – 28) 2008 China Open, Beijing Tennis Center, 5820 8725, http://www.chinaopen.com.cn Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com  Where to STAY

FAMILIES Families with young children or teenagers “I stayed at the Holiday Inn Central “We were looking to stay somewhere that appreciate “great little” Park Plaza. It Plaza for 12 nights with my eight-year-old didn’t feel like business travel. Beijing boasts a “great location, very friendly daughter. We both absolutely loved the Sihe Hotel was it! The furnishings were service and good price.”—TripAdvisor place. Rooms are large and comfortable. traditional style; the bed, a bit hard but it Member, Shanghai, China The hotel has attractive fitness, pool and had a gold canopy and was cozy. We enjoyed Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, 97 Jinbao St., restaurant facilities. The staff is friendly, the Chinese style breakfasts very much.”— Dongcheng, 8522 1999 helpful and genuinely fond of kids.”— TripAdvisor Member, Washington, D.C. TripAdvisor Member, Aarhus, Denmark Beijing Sihe Hotel, No. 5 DengCao HuTong DongSi South Street, Dongcheng District, Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing, “The staff is genuinely 5169 3555 1 Caiyuanjie, Xuanwuqu, 8397 0088 fond of kids.” Have questions about Beijing? Get insider advice from local experts in our forums. The majority of questions are answered within 24 hours. ROMANCE “My husband and I splurged a little for Raffles “The Peninsula really is the place to stay in If you’re “looking for a place with some Beijing. Fresh flowers and fruit were Beijing. Not only is it all about location, location, character,” Bamboo Garden Hotel “fits waiting for us when we arrived. The room location, but the concierge desk is simply the bill” with its gardens and traditional was immaculate and beautifully appointed, one of the best in the world. If asked, I think courtyard. It’s “an old-style building” despite the fact that it was an older building. these people could negotiate world peace.”— situated in a hutong in north Beijing.— Lots of thick, rich fabrics and furniture TripAdvisor Member, Huntington Beach, Calif. TripAdvisor Member, Chicago, Ill. that looked at least 100 years older than me.”—TripAdvisor Member, Atlanta, Ga. The Peninsula Beijing, 8 Goldfish Lane, Bamboo Garden Hotel, 24 Xiaoshi Qiao Wangfujing, 8516 2888 Hutong, 6403 2229 Raffles Beijing, 33 E Chang An Ave., 6526 3388 “I think these people could negotiate world peace.” BUDGET Just “a stone’s throw to the Forbidden City For “a real taste of Beijing life,” try Beijing Days Inn Forbidden City is “exactly what and Wangfujing shopping areas,” Hotel Courtyard Hutong B&B. The hosts we were looking for within our budget to get Kapok Beijing offers “very comfortable “were really good and helpful. And boy can a good feel of what is all about.”— and squeaky clean surroundings. The hotel they cook—breakfasts in the morning were TripAdvisor Member, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia interior is totally refurbished and spanking brilliant!”—TripAdvisor Member, Durban, Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing, 1 new. Rooms are clean-cut, with modern South Africa Nanwanzi Bystreet, 99 Nanheyan St., layout.”—TripAdvisor Member, Singapore Beijing Courtyard Hutong B&B, 28 Mao’er Dongcheng District, 6512 7788 Hotel Kapok Beijing, 16 Donghuamen St., Hutong, Di’anmenwai Dajie, 6121 9901 6525 9988 “…exactly what we were looking for” LUXURY Luxurious, modern China World Hotel, in St. Regis Hotel, with its butler service, is Centrally located Grand Hyatt is best the business district, is “magnificent. The bed “a beautiful, grand hotel, clean and well- for “location, service and cleanliness. The was truly heaven—I didn’t want to get out of appointed.”—TripAdvisor Member lobby is beautiful, and the staff is extremely it!”—TripAdvisor Member, Brisbane, Australia attentive.”—TripAdvisor Member, Ontario St. Regis Hotel, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Shangri-La China World Hotel, 6460 6688 Grand Hyatt Beijing, 1 E. Chang An Ave., 1 Jianguomenwai Ave., 6505 2266 8518 1234 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com  Where to STAY

HIDDEN GEMS Hotel Cote Cour S.L. is “a secret oasis in Haoyuan Hotel “is the most charming A little out of town, but close to the Beijing. This wonderful converted house is hotel we’ve ever stayed in. As soon as we Great Wall, the acclaimed Commune is a located in a historically protected hutong and entered the courtyard, noises from the city boutique shrine to avant-garde design. has kept the ambiance of old Beijing, yet still were gone. You simply wouldn’t believe that has modern amenities. Enter through huge you were in the middle of one of the world’s Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski, Great Wall exit at Shuiguan, Badaling shiny red doors to a room filled with modern biggest cities.”—TripAdvisor Member, Highway, 8118 1888 art work, antique furniture, funky cushions Copenhagen, Denmark and large bowls of fresh fruit.”—TripAdvisor Haoyuan Hotel, 53 Shijia Hutong, 6512 5557 Member, Sydney, Australia Hotel Cote Cour S.L., No. 70, Yan Yue Hu Tong, Don Cheng Qu, 6512 8020

“...a secret oasis”

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