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highly residential, so isn't terribly scenic, but some streets to be aware of include Dongzhi-
mennei Dajie, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Xingfucun Zhonglu, Sanlitun Lu, and Gongti Beilu.
Muster yourself to add some housing investigation into the day, and make a point of
looking at different price brackets and compound styles to get a feel for what you're going
to get for your money as far as facilities and quality are concerned. There are compounds
that have a more international flavor to them, such as Embassy House, Season's Park, the
various Diplomatic Residence Compounds (DRC), and Sanlitun SOHO, and then there are
the more local-style communities, such as Min'an Xiaoqu and Huayuan Star Compound.
There are endless lunch and dinner options in the area, again from fine dining to the
kind that may hospitalize you thanks to rank produce and absent hygiene systems. In cooler
months, the hot pot restaurants along Guijie (the western end of Dongzhimennei Dajie) are
cheap and fun, and will certainly give you a glimpse of the cacophonous atmosphere that
typically accompanies local restaurants. Alternatively, head into Sanlitun for an unlimited
selection of restaurants and bars.
Day 5
Today is the day to explore one of the more modern quarters of the city, that around the
northeast corner of the Third Ring Road. It encompasses the neighborhoods of Liang-
maqiao, Sanyuanqiao, and Chaoyang Park. The area is home to one of the city's densest
concentrations of international offices and is the halfway point between the airport and the
inner city. If your company is sending you to China to work in its Beijing office, there's a
good chance you will be here somewhere, and if you're coming to work at the American
embassy, this is certainly where you'll be.
With its weighty collection of global businesses, the area naturally caters to the expat
crowd. Among its towering modern and commercial constructions, you'll find markets,
quality shopping malls, and a large collection of five-star hotels.
Start with a morning visit to Sanyuanli Market on Shunyuan Jie in Chaoyang district to
get a feel for grocery shopping Beijing-style. You can walk here from Liangmaqiao subway
station (Line 10, exit A), though keep your map handy as it's not exactly obvious. This mar-
ket is microscopic by contrast to other fresh-produce markets around the city, but it's one
of the best as far as quality goes, and many of Beijing's international chefs come here for
supplies. If you're hungry, you can fill up on Chinese pancakes and fresh fruit.
Next, wander along nearby Tianze Lu, past the American embassy and up to Ladies'
Street and the Laitai Flower Market (identified by the large stone elephants at its front
door). This is an excellent place to visit when you're setting up home. The market burrows
