Whether you are a regular visitor or planning a trip to Beijing, you’ll find a few useful Beijing tips to help make your trip a success. From the best places to shop to where to eat, there’s a lot to see and do when visiting Beijing after a Cathay Pacific flight. And if you’re worried about scams or have concerns about where to go, here are some tips to help you stay safe.
Hutongs
Located in the old part of Beijing, the hutongs have a rich history. Some of them are a few hundred years old. They are a part of the city’s cultural history, and they serve as an important part of its tourism attractions.
Normally, the hutong is composed of four buildings facing a central courtyard. This courtyard is known as a Siheyuan. The buildings are made up of small houses and guild halls.
Hutongs in Beijing are among the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Some tourists even go on hutong tours. They are also great places to find street food. You can find traditional snacks such as dried meat, dumplings, and fish head soup here.
Hutongs in Beijing are also home to many locals. The hutongs are a good place to experience the old Beijing lifestyle. You can get to know the locals by talking to them. They will tell you stories about the neighborhood.
Visiting Beijing’s hutongs will help you understand how the city changed over the centuries. Some hutongs have been replaced by newer buildings, while others remain. The old ones are still there to preserve the history of the city.
The word hutong is also used to describe the shortest lane in the city. The shortest hutong in Beijing is a mere 10 meters long.
Some scholars say the word hutong came from the Mongolian word for water well. Other scholars claim that it was invented during the Ming Dynasty, although the best hutong in Beijing is still unknown.
There are a lot of ways to explore the old Beijing. You can go on a tour of the hutongs, rent a bike, or go by foot.
Bars and cafes
Whether you’re looking for a drink before a night out or just want to relax with a beer and some food, Beijing has plenty of bars and cafes to suit your needs. Some of the best are found in the Hutongs and the waterfront. Some are a little pricey, but others are inexpensive and have a nice, mildly cerebral ambience.
The local offers an excellent range of draught beers and cider. It also has a wide selection of imported drinks and local Chinese wines. The drinks are reasonably priced and the coffees are decently sized.
Atmosphere bar is located on the 80th floor of the China World Summit Wing hotel. Its location provides a panoramic view of Beijing. This is one of the best rooftop bars in Beijing, with a great cocktail selection. Located in the Sanlitun Party District, Atmosphere is a popular spot on weekends.
Lucero Viktoria is a well-known bar in Beijing, and it has a great selection of whiskies and craft cocktails. It also has a good selection of Baijiu, a popular Chinese brand of whisky.
Mokihi is a Japanese-style whisky and cocktail bar that also serves a large selection of snacks. It’s a great place to spend a few hours, either with friends or by yourself.
The waterside area of Nanluoguxiang is full of cafes and bars that are perfect for a light dinner or a quick drink. These places also offer live music and wireless internet.
If you’re looking for a more upscale restaurant, Nina bar offers an Italian menu with arancini and pizzas. They also serve traditional Chinese dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is delicious.
Foodie areas
Whether you’re visiting Beijing for the first time, or a seasoned traveler, you’ll find that the city offers a wide range of foods. These include Chinese dishes, international cuisines, and snacks. Beijing is also home to famous brands and hole-in-the-wall joints.
One of the most interesting areas to explore is the Wangfujing Snack Street, located near the busiest shopping street in Beijing. This street offers a variety of exotic foods, as well as souvenirs.
Other gastronomic destinations include the famous Donghuamen night market, which is home to a variety of unusual foods. Some of the more unusual menu items include fish heads, goose feet, and loofah.
Another food street is Jiangsu Street, where upscale restaurants serve dishes from all over China. There are also a few Cantonese restaurants that specialize in seafood, a popular Beijing food.
Xinjiang cuisine is one of the more interesting areas of food in Beijing. This far western area of China features chicken and noodle stew, bread, potatoes, and spiced meats.
Ghost Street, another one of the foodie areas of Beijing, is a hotspot for stalls and restaurants. It is the site of a variety of unique menu items, including whole grilled squid served on a stick.
Another notable foodie area is the Nan Luo Gu Xiang street, which is home to a new destination for trendy and young Beijingers. This area is home to a number of tea houses, where you can have a variety of cured or cured and cured foods. You can also enjoy some of the best roasted duck in Beijing.
Other foodie areas include Wudaoying, which is a renovated hutong area near Lama Temple. This area offers many different cuisines, including Chinese, French, and British.
Shopping in ‘Great Malls of China’
Whether you are an international traveler or a local Beijinger, Xidan is one of the best shopping districts in the capital. This area is located west of Tiananmen Square. It has many large and small shopping malls. There are also a variety of local markets and antique markets. It’s a perfect place to shop for Chinese silk, satins, and discounted Chinese goods.
In addition to the Great Mall of China, there are many other major shopping malls in Beijing. Among them are the Golden Resources Mall, which was the world’s largest mall from 2004 to 2005. It features an in-house cinema, dining options, and an ice skating rink.
There are several other great shopping centers in Beijing, including the China World Shopping Mall, Oriental Plaza, and the Shin Kong Place. The latter is also a great shopping mall that was opened after five years of negotiation.
The Taikoo Li shopping mall has 19 individual buildings. Each building carries a distinctive modern design, using irregular three-dimensional lines. It is known for its contemporary art-filled design.
Another large shopping mall in Beijing is the Golden Resources Mall. The mall features international brands, local brands, and dining options. It was the world’s largest shopping mall from 2004 to 2005. It is also surrounded by a number of apartment complexes. It is often crowded on weekends.
There is also the Silk Market, which is a market for discounted Chinese goods. The market features a variety of traditional Chinese crafts. Its popularity is increasing with foreigners.
Xidan is known as the fashion center of Beijing. The area is popular with young people. It is also popular with tourists because of its reasonable prices. It also features a culture square.
Avoid tourist scams
Whether you’re visiting Beijing for the first time or you’re an old hand at travel, you’ll want to avoid tourist scams. Scams are not uncommon, especially in tourist-friendly areas of Shanghai and Beijing. You can avoid them by doing a little research online and staying vigilant.
The best way to avoid scams is to plan your tour ahead of time. For instance, a guided tour of the Tiananmen Square is a much safer bet than following a random stranger. You should also stick to well-known markets and malls instead of wandering the streets.
In the same vein, a guided tour of the Great Wall of China is a much safer bet than a cab ride or a pedicab. A well-planned trip will save you time and ensure a memorable vacation.
For instance, the best way to avoid tourist scams in Beijing is to avoid streetside hawkers. Many of them have little or no credibility.
Also, be on the lookout for fake websites. There are several fake websites on the Internet, which advertise dual understandings of Chinese and Western culture. You should be suspicious of any website that claims to be able to tell you how to pronounce Mandarin or how to get a visa to China.
Another good way to avoid tourist scams in Beijing is by using a licensed taxi. Many taxi drivers are friendly and reputable, but others may take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the transport options in the area.
The best way to avoid scams in Beijing is to stick to a well-planned itinerary and use the right transportation method. A cab may be the cheapest way to get from A to B, but if you’re taking a tour, you’ll likely end up paying more.