Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Start the morning with breakfast at Central Park, a short walk west from Jintaixizhao
subway station (Line 10, exit A). This residential community is packed with excellent cafés,
restaurants, and shops, and even if you don't live here, you'll often find yourself coming
here for a meal. On sunny weekend mornings the cafés overflow with families and groups
of friends enjoying an outdoor brunch.
The neighborhood is well serviced by high-level accommodation options, most of which
will need prior booking with an agent to be seen inside. If you're not up for house hunting,
however, there are other things that will impress. On Central Park's west side is The Place,
a mammoth shopping complex divided by a football-field-sized LED screen that lights up
at night like a humongous screen saver. The Place has a range of cafés and restaurants and
shops, as well as an international supermarket (basement level).
From the western side of The Place, meander through the tree-lined streets south of Rit-
an Park, gradually arriving at Yong'anli subway station (Line 1). Silk Street (a horrid tourist
trap, but occasionally useful) is unmissable on the northwest corner. If you visited Yashow
Market beside Taikuli in Sanlitun, you'll think you're having déjà vu. The markets are re-
markably similar and you'd be forgiven for forgetting which one you are actually in. Pick
up a handbag, sweater, or pair of shoes while you're here—just remember to bargain hard.
Continue along Jianguomenwai Dajie (Chang'an Jie) toward Jianguomen subway sta-
tion, where you'll come across two separate DRC compounds—Qijiayuan DRC and Jian-
guomenwai DRC—which are quiet and spacious, and worth investigating if you're pre-
pared to spend above RMB20,000 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. The DRC com-
pounds house many of the diplomats from the nearby embassies, but they are open to oth-
er residents. Just be sure to book an inspection ahead of your visit to secure a good look
If you're inclined to live a little more locally, make your way over to the Second Ring
Road into the area on the northwest corner of Chaoyangmen subway station (Lines 2 and 6).
There is a dense collection of compounds that house an interesting mix of locals and expats.
Wander inside and around the compounds on Douban Hutong and Nanmencang Hutong
and explore the surrounding streets for a taste. There's no shortage of street-side real estate
agents who will be able to give you a close-up inspection without too much notice.
Finally, finish the day with a visit to Ritan Park at around sunset. Take a break at
the Stone Boat Bar, a cement boat-shaped bar that sits at the edge of a lotus pond. On a
balmy summer's evening, there's nothing that will trigger an epiphany of loving your life
in Beijing more than sitting on the deck here at sunset with a beer, watching the locals walk
around the park en masse for their evening exercise.
