HANG LIKE THE LOCALS

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Dong Ming Hutong, Shi Cha Hai, Beijing Shi

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If you haven't heard much about Beijing's leisure offerings, a good starting point would be in the Hutongs. These are "alleys" lined with restaurants, bars and shops where spirits are always high accompanied by a food and drink supply that never runs low. Pictured above, is the Hou Hai Lake which serves as home to a man made island inhabited by wild ducks, situated right at the top of Dong Ming Hutong. Taking in the sights and sounds of the Hutongs is a day out in itself so if you don't fancy lounging around on a roof terrace or patio, there is still plenty you can enjoy. You can find a mix of Western bars scattered amongst restaurants serving sushi, authentic Beijing Duck and other gift or souvenir outlets. On days when the weather is calm, visitors can also enjoy group boat rides on the lake which come with an optional skipper.

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WHERE TO BE SEEN

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The Bird's Nest and Water Cube, Beijing Olympic Park

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Even though the 2008 Olympics feel like a distant memory from many years ago, you can still feel the magic in the air at the Olympic sites. On approach to the Bird's Nest itself, you are greeted by huge red and gold pillars covered in traditional Chinese artwork, the Olympic Village where the world's most elite sportspeople shacked up, and the Water Cube which seamlessly incorporates water features with its tasteful aqua-themed architecture. Individual tickets for the sites can rack up your costs, so we advise getting combination tickets which work out much cheaper and it may help to present a student card for favourable rates. From the exterior of The Bird's Nest, you can enjoy uninterrupted views across the urban sprawl of Beijing before stepping inside where you can almost hear the echo from the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. To find out more of the secrets Beijing's air has to tell, finish off your day with a stop at Wangfujing Night Markets or Flying Acrobatics at Chaoyang Theatre just 20 minutes down the road.

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TRENDY NEIGHBOURHOODS TO STAY IN

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San Li Tun, Chaoyang

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Chaoyang is one of the more affluent areas of Beijing, possibly because of how attracted expats are to the area. Sanlitun itself is home to the Taikoo Li Mall where you can find a wide range of stores from Bulgari all the way to Adidas spread over two sites within 2 minutes' walk of each other. The mall also calls the infamous Opposite House Hotel its neighbour which shares the Sanlitun area with other recognisable chains like The Westin in addition to local names like Chao Hotel. Besides the global chain stores, there are some attractions more unique to China in Sanlitun where you can find all the McDonald's Happy Meal toys ever made under one roof. That beats hours of retail therapy for us any day! Be warned, there is a rotating schedule of entertainment and arts installations so make sure you visit all the exhibits while you're there in case you miss any. There's plenty more of artsy stuff to be revelled in the 798 Art District should you still desire more beyond Taikoo Li. If the sun happens to go down but you still have energy for more, Spark Nightclub and Modo Ultraclub are also situated in Chaoyang District. Both clubs have seen the likes of Justin Bieber and Steve Aoki walk through their doors and you'll see why they're such hot spots when you get a taste of either clubs' ferociously chic atmosphere.

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DAYS OUT

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The Great Wall of China, Juyongguan Passage, Beijing

 

 

The Juyongguan passage along the Great Wall of China is one of many famous sections in the wall. This one in particular is known for being a historical military stronghold during the Ming Dynasty. Today, it is conveniently mapped out in a loop shape so tourists can start and finish at the Juyongguan Passage entrance. This is not for the faint hearted, so proceed with caution as the wall becomes very steep in some areas. But on the bright side , the hiking is surprisingly rewarding and the views make for dreamy selfie backdrops on a clear day. If you enjoy taking a step back into China's fine history, check out the Summer Palace or the Lama Temple which are prominent on the heritage and culture scene of Beijing.

 

OUR TIPS

1. Beijing is everyone's holiday destination

Granted - Beijing is beautifully enchanting and this seems like common sense. But when you consider the size of the country, even citizens from rural China consider Beijing to be a holiday. For all the other tourists, that means it can get very crowded during certain times of the year such as Chinese New Year or other religious celebratory occasions. Make sure you check the Chinese calendar before you go so you know what to expect prior to arrival. That being said, if you want a more genuine representation of traditional Chinese life and culture, your best bet is to go off the beaten track.

 

2. The Chinese LOVE foreigners

If you want to feel like a celebrity, just go into any public place in Beijing and you will attract a horde of fans just for being foreign. It sounds like a bit of an exaggeration which is done purposely because you will get your picture taken by members of the public - whether you like it or not. This is partially due to cultural differences as taking pictures of others without notifying them is a less sensitive subject over there, so don't take offence. However, it's probably not advisable to do the same to the locals as (ancient) Chinese superstition says photographs take your soul. So be prepared for lots of attention and spontaneous conversation from people wanting to practise their English on unsuspecting tourists. Lord knows how many strangers' mantle pieces you'll end up on after the vast amount of family pictures you'll be asked to join.

 

3. You can get by without speaking Mandarin

Don't let Mandarin calligraphy put you off. You'll come across a lot of people who speak enough English for you to both have a basic understanding of simple conversation such as asking for directions. Public signs and most written forms of information are accompanied by Pinyin which is Mandarin written using Latin characters, so you could possibly get away with finding your own way around. If you do find yourself in a situation you can't get out of without speaking Mandarin, take it as an opportunity to play a game of charades. That being said, make sure you download a Virtual Private Network (VPN) such as Betternet to be able to get past the Great Firewall which will allow you to access many realtime translation apps. 

 

4. Communication dos and donts

This comes as a follow on from our previous point. If you do need to resort to charades, keep in mind that certain gestures we use in the West, don't necessarily mean the same in the East. For example, the Chinese hand gesture for the number 7 is very different to what we use in the West. Furthermore, it is perfectly acceptable to haggle if the situation is right e.g. markets, independent retailers or street food stands. Just make sure you aren't being too pushy and try to throw some humour into the conversation to keep it friendly. Last but not least - be mindful of what qualifies as a good conversation starter. As I'm sure you know, avoid subjects such as politics, human rights or comparisons between general quality of life between the East and the West. Similarly, subjects we avoid such as how much you earn or your relationship status are not considered to be taboo in China, in case you get caught off guard. Again, read the situation and if it feels like it's going downhill, try and switch to a different topic. And just a quick tip - the Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp is an application called WeChat and without it, you won't get much of a chance to meet other locals in the area.

 

5. Environmental Differences

Especially during the rainy season which is around March/April, smog gets quite thick in the air so make sure you invest in a mask as soon as you get to Beijing. In addition, do not drink the tap water there as its ridden with particles and chemicals you would not want to ingest. Even when brushing your teeth, try and use bottled water in case you swallow any. Be cautious when eating out at some restaurants as food hygiene standards in China focus on different areas of concern and therefore may present some bacteria your immune system may not be accustomed to.

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