Beijing Shore Excursion Reviews

  • Popular Things to Do in Beijing

  • Food and Drink in Beijing

  • Don't Miss in Beijing

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Popular Things to Do in Beijing

Food and Drink in Beijing

As a cosmopolitan city, Beijing is a real treat for foodies. From fine dining down to the dirtiest vendor selling delicious baked yams from a cart on the street, there is no shortage of eating options in the capital city.

Another name for Beijing is Peking, and another name for delicious is Peking duck. Think of a whole duck, roasted for an entire day and then carved before your eyes by the wait staff. The best part is the skin, which should be crisp and also succulent from the roasted fat that lies beneath. We highly recommend that you to sit down for a full-course menu of the city's namesake dish.

Beijingers like to mix it up a bit, too, and the city responds with a vast array of restaurants that showcase not only international cuisine, but regional delicacies from throughout China -- so you might encounter Mongolian barbecue, Shanghai-style soup dumplings or spicy Sichuan food. Each of China's 22 provinces has an official government office in the capital city, and adjacent to many of these offices are eateries representing the provincial cuisine.

One of the best things about dining in Beijing is the price. For the amount you'd normally spend on a dinner at Applebee's, you can eat like you're at Nobu. But the real fun comes with the opposite: finding an obscure hole-in-the-wall and treating yourself to obscene amounts of goodness for merely dollars per person. (While undoubtedly worth experiencing, many of the best local joints offer no English menus. Don't forget -- there is no shame in pointing to the happiest-looking guy in the dining room and gesturing that you'd like what he's having.)

For something completely different, remember, you don't have to stay at a five-star hotel to enjoy the decadent comforts that lie within. Many of the city's finer hotels offer all-you-can-eat-AND-drink brunches on Sundays. You'll surely gain a few pounds before you leave, but what a treat to have lobster, foie gras and Champagne brought to you on demand from waiters darting beneath countless crystal chandeliers. Excellent Sunday brunches can be found at the Westin Chaoyang, the Hilton Wangfujing and the Kempinski.

And, if you're craving a range of international fare, head to the bustling embassy district of Sanlitun. There you'll see not only plenty of foreigners but also just as many bars and restaurants catering to the masses with every sort of international dish you can imagine.

For drinks, if you really want to go local, try baijiu, which is a distilled grain spirit. You may never have heard of it, but thanks to China's huge population, it accounts for more than a third of global liquor consumption. Be careful, though, because baijiu comes in different alcohol percentages, some as high as 60 percent (you do want to make it to your ship, right?). There are all different types, both flavored and unflavored, so chat up a bartender who speaks some English to find the type you'd like to sample; Moutai is one, more upscale, brand to try.

Bianyifang: This old and reputable roast duck establishment claims to have been in business since 1416 -- though there are now a number of modern branches around the city. (Various locations; open daily, most 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Duck de Chine: For Peking duck in a modern, swanky setting (with prices to match) that includes a Bollinger Champagne bar, head to one of this restaurant's two outlets. Other duck preparations are also a specialty here, including French-style duck confit and even duck tacos. Reservations are essential. (Duck de Chine @ 1949 The Hidden City; Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chao Yang District; +86 10 6501 8881; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; or Duck de Chine @ 1949 Jin Bao Jie; No.98, Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District; +86 10 6521 2221; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.)

Lost Plate Hutong Food Tour: Zip around by tuk-tuk to hidden, very local restaurants located in Beijing's old hutong neighborhoods. You'll get to visit five different dining spots, representing a range of Chinese regional cuisine, from noodles to Mongolian barbeque to savory pancakes. These places aren't fancy, but very authentic -- just don't accept a local's baijiu drinking challenge! (+86 1814 944 6747; Tuesday to Sunday, 6:30 p.m.)

Mei Mansion (Mei Fu Jia Yan): For a unique splurge, head to this restaurant celebrating a world-famous Chinese opera performer of the 1920s and '30s. D?cor includes his elaborate costumes and antiques from his era. Refined recipes are handed down from his chef, and dishes rotate with the seasons. There's no menu; rather, the chef cooks a set meal based on the price range you prefer. The restaurant is located in a historic hutong courtyard house and your visit includes a tour. (24 Daxiangfeng hutong, Xicheng district; +86 10 6612 6845; open daily 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5.30-10 p.m.; advance reservations essential)

Bao Yuan Dumpling Restaurant (Bao Yuan Jiaozi Wu): Dumplings, or jiaozi, come in countless varieties here, with colorful vegetable-dyed wrappers to make the experience even more fun. The northern-style dumplings are boiled, rather than steamed; with basic fillings, like pork with cabbage, or more exotic options, including lotus root, cucumber, cilantro and pork (zi bai pi ou xian jiaozi), There are also many vegetarian options. Prices are very reasonable, even if you have to wait, tables turn over quickly. (6 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang District; 6586 4967; open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Donghuamen Night Market: For a taste of the bizarre, head to this market at the north entrance of Wangfujing Street in the Dongcheng district. Here, you can satisfy your late-night munchies with goodies like deep-fried scorpions, lizards or crickets. Or you can just order some spring rolls and watch everyone else eat bugs.

Flamme: Tired of insect cuisine? If you're longing for a juicy steak or a cheeseburger so big you'll need two hands to eat it, then head to Flamme. They offer great deals every day of the week, but the lunch specials are when Flamme really gets hot.

Don't Miss in Beijing

Tiananmen Square: This massive (standing room for 300,000), iconic square bustles with activity while exuding an air of old Soviet grandeur and that still-unshakable memory of Man vs. Tank. It's home to Mao's tomb, with heroic revolutionary statues guarding the entry, and ringed by massive government buildings. Rivers of tour groups flood the area and squads of tall, handsome, stone-faced military guards always seem to be marching around.

The Forbidden City: Lying just beyond Tiananmen Square, the sprawling, walled encampment once housed the Imperial Court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It's so huge that many erstwhile residents are said to have gone their whole lives without going outside the 30-foot-high walls. You'll keep passing through a series of "gates" -- huge buildings with processional paths and courtyards -- until you reach the inner sanctum where the women of the court lived, including a whole section just for concubines. To see every corner of the UNESCO World Heritage Site would surely take an entire day -- and to be honest, it may all start to look the same after a while -- so make sure you hit the impressive Palace Museum within the city walls before you wear yourself too thin. (4 Jingshan Qianjie: +86 10 8500 7421; open daily, April 1 to October 31, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 1 to March 31, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; purchasing tickets online recommended)

The Temple of Heaven: This temple complex, surrounded by a vast 675-acre garden, was built under the command of the same emperor who ordered the construction of the Forbidden City. Dating back to 1420, the towering, round temple (which was visited by emperors to pray to the heavens for a good annual harvest) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding park is one of the greenest places in Beijing -- and you might catch youngsters frolicking, oldsters enjoying a card game with lively betting or women crocheting items to sell. (1 Tiantan E Road; open daily; park open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., buildings open November 1 to June 30, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July 1 to October 31, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 1 to February 28/29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

The Summer Palace: About 7 miles from the city center, this sprawling complex covers more than 700 acres, surrounding a huge lake. It's wonderful for strolling, and a cooling breeze comes off the lake. Built in the 18th century, but twice destroyed by foreign armies, the buildings are frequently linked with the infamous Empress Dowager Cixi. She ruled from a throne (usually strictly reserved for the emperor) in the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity -- when she wasn't throwing parties on her improbable Marble Boat, which (no surprise) remained permanently docked. There are a number of interesting structures, including what lays claim to being the world's longest corridor -- the aptly named Long Corridor, an open-air structure stretching nearly 3,000 feet and painted with 10,000 scenes, including flora, fauna and Chinese tales. You could spend the day strolling along the lake, taking in the views and various buildings. The grounds are particularly lovely in springtime when flowering trees along the lake are in bloom. (19 Xin-jian-gong-men Road, Haidian; +86 10 6288 1144; open daily, April 1 to October 31, entry 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closes 8 p.m., November 1 to March 31, entry 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closes 7 p.m.)

The Great Wall: An old Chinese proverb says, "Not been to the Great Wall, not a great man." And indeed, no trip to China is complete without viewing the countryside's raw, rolling hills from the Great Wall. Most tours to the wall will visit the Badaling section (39 miles from Beijing). This is convenient because it's close to Beijing, and the site is outfitted to cater to the masses. But Badaling is markedly touristy, replete with shops and food vendors and numerous touts hanging out on the wall itself. It's also mobbed with Chinese tourists due to its proximity to Beijing. A more peaceful option is traveling further to the Mutianyu (56 miles from Beijing) or -- for more fit hikers -- Jinshanling (99 miles from Beijing) sections. If you're a real adventurer, head for the rugged Jiankou section (44 miles from Beijing). There will be fewer tourists (and even fewer touts), and you'll be face-to-face with scenic beauty without parking lots or handrails sullying the view. The various sections of the wall are generally open during daylight hours (longer in summer) and offer different modes of paid transport to ascend and descend the wall (gondola cable cars, open ski lift-type cable rides and a fabulously fun toboggan slide to descend at Mutianyu; each is priced differently).

To reach the wall from Beijing, you can opt for a shore excursion, or choose to book a private tour in advance or through nearly any hotel in Beijing. Be aware that most organized group tours will include lengthy stopovers at gem, ceramic or other craft wholesalers where all parties involved will try and make a commission off your tourist dollar. Some tour operators go out of their way to advertise "no stops" trips to the wall; booking one of those is advisable. By all means, avoid the touts in Tiananmen Square hawking bargain tours.

Hutongs: In the Dongcheng area, near Houhai Lake, you can get a glimpse of everyday life in the hutongs, the centuries-old courtyard dwellings of old Beijing. Many hutongs have been demolished and replaced with the skyscraping apartment buildings that dominate Beijing's skyline. But current hutong residents (and critics of overdevelopment) have fought for the remaining hutongs to be preserved. The city government has recognized the hutongs' tourist appeal and has labeled them protected areas. Get a map, find Nanluoguxiang Street, and use it as a starting point. You'll see residents shopping and gossiping, kids playing games and discover small, local restaurants tucked away in these hidden alleys. While you're in the neighborhood, Houhai Lake makes a lovely spot for a stroll in the warmer months. Visitors can paddle around in rented boats or go fishing. The lake is popular with foreign visitors and has become famous in recent years because of a surge in restaurants, cafes and nightlife in the area.

The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube: These are among the most memorable venues of any Olympic Games in recent history. Though probably the kind of thing you can appreciate just as well from a postcard, the monuments are worthy of closer inspection if you find yourself in the Olympic Park area in east Beijing -- particularly when they're illuminated at night.

Traditional Chinese Massage: After a long day on your feet, a little pampering may be in order. Reflexology and pressure-point-based massages are particular specialties in China. Massage parlors are practically ubiquitous throughout Beijing. Ignore touts offering massages; just walk into a place that seems suitable to your tastes, and check it out. Prices are reasonable and often negotiable.

Parks: If you're overnighting, taking a stroll through one of Beijing's parks in the morning hours is a great way to start a day in the city. Watch old men ponder over board games, admire groups of people practicing tai chi and get a taste of Chinese landscaping. Beihai Park, Chaoyang Park and the Purple Bamboo Park are all good choices.


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