Beijing's Top Sights - Beijing - page 212

» Hutong Cookery Courses (per class ¥250; 10.30am, 2.30pm & 7pm) Hugely popular, and run three
times a day, the focus is on cuisine from around China, but other Asian-cuisine classes are also run. Some
classes include trips to a local food market.

» Hutong Chinese Tea Courses ( 135 0112 6093; www.t-journeys.com ; tea tasting/tea-market tours ¥160/
250) The Hutong's 'Tea Journeys' are a wonderfully accessible way to learn about this ancient Chinese tradi-
tion. It also sells beautifully packaged own-brand teas (¥110 to ¥180).

» Hutong Traditional Chinese Medicine Courses ( 150 1151 0363; www.straightbamboo.com ;
8am-6pm Sun-Thu) Run by Alex Tan, an Australian-Chinese TCM expert, classes range from introductions to
Qi Gong, yoga and Taoism as well as to Chinese medicine itself.

How to Find The Hutong

Come out of Exit C of Beixinqiao subway station and turn left onto Shique Hutong. Take the second right down
the very narrow Jiudaowanxi Xiang, then take the first left followed by the first right and you'll see The Hutong
on your right.

DÌTÁN SPORTS CENTRE
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP

|SWIMMING

( 6426 4483; Andingmenwai Dajie, admission ¥30; 8.30am-3.30pm & 6.30-10pm Mon-Fri, noon-10pm Sat &
Sun; Andingmen) You can find pools at some four-star and all five-star hotels, but
nonguests will have to pay a fee. Outside hotels, try the pool at Dìtán Sports Centre (Dìtán
Tǐyùguǎn). In summer, head to nearby Qīngnián Hú Park OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( Qīngnián
Hú Gōngyuán; park entrance ¥1, pool entrance ¥30; 6am-9pm Jun-Aug) where there's an outdoor swim-
ming complex with water slides and a shallow pool for young'uns. It's floodlit in the
evening. You can buy swimming gear at both places.