Guidebook for Beijing
Food Scene
Xianlaoman Restaurant
252 安定门内大街Great dumplings!
Jindingxuan (Ditan Branch)
Fun dim sum, open 24 hours.
Hani Gejiu
Best Yunnan food in Beijing - from China's southwest.
Otherwise known as "Crescent Moon," this place is the best Xinjiang food in Beijing. From China's far northwest.
Xinjiang Curved Moon
Otherwise known as "Crescent Moon," this place is the best Xinjiang food in Beijing. From China's far northwest.
Qimen Meat In Hot Pot
240 东直门内大街Tasty and clean hot pot, not far from the house
Da Gui
69 Da Xing Hu TongGuizhou food in a cool courtyard. Try their beef ribs.
Great restaurant serving American-Mexican classics, with amazing tequila drinks. Reasonably priced, and always a good time.
THE TACO BAR
Great restaurant serving American-Mexican classics, with amazing tequila drinks. Reasonably priced, and always a good time.
A little hole in the wall Shaanxi place that serves amazing Biangbiang Mian (think of "Xi'an Famous Foods" in NYC, but a quarter of the price and twice as good). No english menu here.
小陕娃
21 美术馆东街A little hole in the wall Shaanxi place that serves amazing Biangbiang Mian (think of "Xi'an Famous Foods" in NYC, but a quarter of the price and twice as good). No english menu here.
The canteen attached to the Sichuan Provincial Representative Office. It's a state-owned restaurant, so the service is horrible -- but it's the best Sichuan food you'll ever have.
Beijing Chuanjingban Hostel
The canteen attached to the Sichuan Provincial Representative Office. It's a state-owned restaurant, so the service is horrible -- but it's the best Sichuan food you'll ever have.
If you want Beijing Roast Duck (KaoYa) done in style, this is the place. Not cheap, but worth it.
1949-club49 (Sanlitun Branch)
If you want Beijing Roast Duck (KaoYa) done in style, this is the place. Not cheap, but worth it.
Budget Peking Roast Duck here. Cheaper than other places, but still good, and with lots of other Chinese classics.
Jing Zun Kao Ya Dian （ Chun Xiu Lu ）
Budget Peking Roast Duck here. Cheaper than other places, but still good, and with lots of other Chinese classics.
Drinks & Nightlife
Modernista
Good music, good drinks
One of Beijing's famous craft breweries, this is their original location. Near the house.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Great Leap Brewing Original #6
One of Beijing's famous craft breweries, this is their original location. Near the house.
麥吧
Interesting cocktails for a reasonable price in a cool hutong venue.
京A Taproom
Another one of Beijing's microbreweries. Good food, too.
毛毛虫酒吧
Ban Chang Hu TongQuirky hutong bar with good cocktails, and pizza (that takes forever).
Parks & Nature
On a clear day, you can see all of the forbidden city, and the rest of Beijing. Approximately 5km from the house.
74 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Jingshan (Jingshan Gongyuan)
44号 Jing Shan Xi JieOn a clear day, you can see all of the forbidden city, and the rest of Beijing. Approximately 5km from the house.
"temple of earth" -- Lots of old folks doing exercises in the early morning and evenings. 1mile from the house.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ditan Park
"temple of earth" -- Lots of old folks doing exercises in the early morning and evenings. 1mile from the house.
"temple of heaven" great if you want to see big choirs of old folks singing, or the "singles markets" where old folks try and auction off their single children for marriage.
68 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Templo del Cielo
1 Tian Tan Dong Lu"temple of heaven" great if you want to see big choirs of old folks singing, or the "singles markets" where old folks try and auction off their single children for marriage.
Good for a stroll, and you can also rent paddle boats by the hour. Feel free to take beers and snacks on the boat, and watch the tourists go by - and the old dudes swimming in the lake. We don't recommend you jump in, however.
112 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Houhai Lake
Good for a stroll, and you can also rent paddle boats by the hour. Feel free to take beers and snacks on the boat, and watch the tourists go by - and the old dudes swimming in the lake. We don't recommend you jump in, however.
Sightseeing
Lama Temple
12 Yong He Gong Da JieFamous for Tibetan buddhism
Arts & Culture
Probably crowded, but a must-see. If you're adventurous, you can ride your bike right through the middle of the Wumen and get a sense for the place without buying a ticket. Otherwise, you can enter from the Tian'anmen gate (where Mao's portrait hangs).
63 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ciudad Prohibida - Museo del Palacio
4 Jing Shan Qian JieProbably crowded, but a must-see. If you're adventurous, you can ride your bike right through the middle of the Wumen and get a sense for the place without buying a ticket. Otherwise, you can enter from the Tian'anmen gate (where Mao's portrait hangs).
Worth it if you're spending a lot of time in Beijing (but not if you're only on a short trip). My favorite exhibit is the gallery of all of the diplomatic gifts China has received throughout the years. They also have the standard classic calligraphy, art, sculpture, etc...
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
National Museum Of China
Worth it if you're spending a lot of time in Beijing (but not if you're only on a short trip). My favorite exhibit is the gallery of all of the diplomatic gifts China has received throughout the years. They also have the standard classic calligraphy, art, sculpture, etc...
Shopping
Largest tea market in all of Northern China. It's an entire district, so just go and wander around. Ask Jake for advice on what to get, and how much to pay.
Maliandao Street
Largest tea market in all of Northern China. It's an entire district, so just go and wander around. Ask Jake for advice on what to get, and how much to pay.
Old antique market. Not quite as good as it used to be, but this is a reasonable place to pick up China Tchotchkies and gifties for friends back home.
You can also visit the wholesale eyeglasses district from the same subway stop. Depending on your prescription, you can get glasses made quickly and cheaply, of reasonable quality.
Panjiayuan Market
Hua Wei LuOld antique market. Not quite as good as it used to be, but this is a reasonable place to pick up China Tchotchkies and gifties for friends back home.
You can also visit the wholesale eyeglasses district from the same subway stop. Depending on your prescription, you can get glasses made quickly and cheaply, of reasonable quality.
This is the neighborhood you go to get furniture. Lots of interesting pieces, mostly traditional Chinese, but some modern and interesting. Probably cheaper than buying furniture in other countries, but still not cheap. Worth it if you're hunting for interesting pieces.
Gaobeidian Old Furniture Street
Gao Bei Dian Gu Jia Ju Yi Tiao JieThis is the neighborhood you go to get furniture. Lots of interesting pieces, mostly traditional Chinese, but some modern and interesting. Probably cheaper than buying furniture in other countries, but still not cheap. Worth it if you're hunting for interesting pieces.
Big shopping area with lots of Chinese and Western restaurants, major brands, bookstores, etc...
194 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sanlitun
San Li Tun Xi Liu JieBig shopping area with lots of Chinese and Western restaurants, major brands, bookstores, etc...
The Bookworm
Nan San Li Tun LuA quirky bookstore / cafe / event space / bar.