Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Practical Information ❮❮ 113

which has the Taikoo Li Where to Eat with beef/chicken,” or
outdoor mall and some of “something spicy”) and let
the city’s best shops and The complexity of China’s the kitchen surprise you.
restaurants. Other good eight major cuisines (and Chinese people eat
shopping areas include thousands of subsets) is together. Meals are social
Wangfujing (see pp70–71) staggering. Guangdong affairs and the host pays
in the city center and is famous for its dim the check. Tipping is not
Parkview Green (see p92) sum and chicken’s feet. expected – and often
in Chaoyang district. If you Sichuan and Hunan are the service reflects that.
can’t go without haggling, the spiciest cuisines,
visit Panjiayuan Market but Sichuan uses more Where to Stay
for antiques, and the Silk oil and peppercorns.
Market for bags (see p61). Landlocked Anhui stews For short stays, pick
Traditional craft shops mountain herbs and traditional and charming
are best found in Gulou, vegetables; Fujian, parts of the city; most
and you can’t beat Nan Jiangsu, and Zhejiang hostels and courtyard
Luogu Xiang (see p81) focus on seafood. The hotels are located in
for quirky souvenirs. most foreign-friendly hutongs, which provide
Buy art supplies at cuisine is Yunnan. food, entertainment, and
Liulichang (see p75), Most restaurants have hours of people-watching.
and reading material a vast array of vegetables They may also have cafés
at The Bookworm and tofu dishes, but there or rooftop bars, and even
in Sanlitun or the are also many dedicated hostels can help you
Wangfujing Foreign vegetarian restaurants. arrange tours or drivers.
Language Bookstore. Rice comes at the meal’s Business hotels are
Foreign visitors can get end; avoid sticking your scattered around the
VAT rebates on purchases chopsticks in the bowl, city, especially in
worth more than ¥500 since it resembles the Chaoyang and the CBD.
(spent in a single store incense used for funerals. You can expect good
on a single day) on a stay Most menus have glossy service and excellent
of less than 90 days; show photos, if not English English, plus restaurants,
your passport and your translations. It’s a good a pool, a gym, and a
receipt, and take the gifts idea to learn a few key complimentary fruit
with you on the plane. food phrases (“something platter in the room.
DIRECTORY
PRESS DRIVER’S LICENSE Mr. Jack
§ 136 5137 4172
CCTV9 Beijing Capital Airport
∑ english.cctv.com ∑ en.bcia.com.cn Mr. Li
§ 136 2112 7407
China Daily TRIPS AND TOURS
∑ chinadaily.com.cn Travel China Guide
Bespoke Travel Company § 29 8523 6688
City Weekend § 6400 0133 ∑ travelchinaguide.com
∑ cityweekend.com.cn ∑ bespoketravel
CRI (China Radio company.com SHOPPING
International) China Highlights The Bookworm
∑ cri.cn § 773 283 1999 § 6503 2050
∑ chinahighlights.com ∑ beijingbookworm.com
Global Times
∑ globaltimes.cn Discover Beijing Tours Taikoo Li
§ 135 2206 9857 § 6417 6110
That’s Beijing ∑ discoverbeijing ∑ taikoolisanlitun.com
∑ thatsmags.com/beijing
tours.com Wangfujing Foreign
Time Out Beijing Private Car and Van Language Bookstore
∑ timeoutbeijing.com
Drivers 235 Wangfujing St,
Xinhua Mr. Ding Dongcheng
∑ xinhuanet.com § 139 1072 8962 § 6512 6911

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