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far below ground, and when you find your way down here you'll discover clothing,
electronics, and more. If you're in dire need of some food from home, City Shop
( www.cityshop.com.cn ) is just around the corner from the American embassy. It's one
of the best-stocked but priciest international supermarkets in Beijing. Alternatively, head
across Liangmaqiao Lu to Lucky Street, where you'll find the South German Bakery, and a
little further down is shopping village Solana.
Solana sits at the northwest corner of Chaoyang Park, one of the largest and most vibrant
parks in the city. Not only is Chaoyang Park a place for festivals and events, it's also a key
destination for those with sport on their mind. Take your time wandering around the park
and grab some dinner at one of the restaurants near the west gate of the park.
Day 6
Today we go farther in the direction of the airport to yet another expat enclave, Lido, and
then to 798 Art District, a sprawling community of ex-factories repurposed as galleries.
Lido isn't a place you'd likely come to on a tourist visit to Beijing, as there's nothing his-
torical or scenic about it, but it is packed with conveniences that will give you a comfortable
Western-style life should you decide to live here, and is popular with families. The neigh-
borhood has grown rapidly in the last couple of years. Once, Lido Hotel and the little collec-
tion of outlets at the intersection of Fangyuan Xilu and Jiangtai Lu were the primary social
spots, but now things have extended to including Indigo shopping mall and East Hotel, just
down the road on Jiuxianqiao Lu. Wander around the streets and make some appointments
to look inside a few apartments.
Unlike Lido, the nearby 798 is a major tourist magnet. Busloads of baseball-capped,
flag-bearing Chinese tourists and international tourists alike flood the place on weekends,
coming to see the repurposed factories as much as the artwork they're filled with. Regard-
less, the area is still an important part of life in Beijing and provides ample evidence of the
city's rapidly shifting culture. Without doubt you will find yourself at 798 more than once
in the future for large-scale events or simply a nice day out. While here you can discover
contemporary Chinese and international art in the myriad galleries, shop in the boutiques,
and enjoy lunch or a coffee in the many cafés.
To truly immerse yourself in the area, switch to one of the many hotels in the vicinity
and experiment with travel time by heading to other parts of the city for lunch or dinner.
Day 7
So, assuming time is a little tight today, make today a simple half-day exercise of visiting
a local market—and this doesn't mean the tourist-packed complexes such as Silk Street
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