Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Beijing for Free ❮❮ 63

TOP TEN BUDGET TIPS
1 Tickets
Research museums and other sights
online to decide which to visit. For
some sights, you can buy an all-access
pass or a single-zone pass.
2 Public Transport
Forget taxis; the Beijing subway
costs only ¥4. Subway cards offer
a 60 percent discount on buses.
Charming Beijing hutong
3 Airport Transit
Hutongs
7 Upon disembarking, catch the airport
express (¥25), then transfer to a bus
Hutongs, or traditional lanes,
are where you’ll find Beijing’s old- or subway at Dong Zhi Men.
world charm. Try Nanluoguxiang 4 Street Food
and Beiluoguxiang hutongs, near Eating delicious chuan’r (roasted
Gulou; Fangjia and Wudaoying kebabs) or malatang (boiled kebabs)
hutongs, across from the Lama paired with a ¥2 local beer will be a
highlight of your stay in Beijing.
Temple; and Dashilan hutong in
the Qian Men area. 5 Museums
On Wednesdays, 13 museums offer
Street Dancing
8 free admission to the first 200 visitors.
6 Public Spectacle
The so-called “dancing
grannies” are senior citizens who Dancing or doing tai chi with the locals
costs nothing, and the experience will
meet in public squares for socializing create a priceless memory.
and light exercise, whether it be
fans and drumming, ballroom dancing, 7 Self-Restraint
Markets are exercises in bargaining,
or low-key aerobics. This is one of but the best deals come before closing
Beijing’s more charming features. time, so be sure to pace yourself.
Yishu 8
9 8 Dorm Life
Opt for a hostel over a hotel; beds
MAP M2 • 20 Dong
Huangchengen Bei Jie, Dongcheng are cheap, and the hostel locations
are among the best in the city.
District • 6581 9058 • Subway: 9 Two-Wheelers
Dongsi, Nanluoguxiang • Open Travel like a local and rent a bicycle,
11am–6:30pm Mon–Sat • www. or register for public bicycles on the
yishu-8.com street. Cycle on a quiet side street first.
Housed in the old Sino-French 10 Connections
University, Yishu 8 hosts regular Every café has free Wi-Fi, and WeChat
exhibitions featuring cross-cultural offers free international texts, voice
collaborations of Chinese and French messages, and phone calls.
artists. Each room has its own style,
and the leafy courtyard offers
welcome respite from the city.

Maliandao (Tea Street)
0
There’s little charm about
Maliandao, which is basically a
tea mall for wholesalers. However,
here you can see, smell, and learn
everything you ever wanted to know
about tea. There’s an impressive
range of flower types, and you can
enjoy unlimited free samples on Rack of public bicycles
all three floors (see p78).
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