PLANNING YOUR FACT-FINDING TRIP - Living Abroad in Beijing - page 113

层 , tel. [phone], www.dadongdadong.com ) . The owner is known for growing his own
ducks just for his restaurants. It's one of a large handful of restaurants at the top of the list
when the inevitable “Who does the best duck?” question is asked. For something more rus-
tic, seek out Siji Minfu (off Qianmen Jie, 四季民福, 廊坊二条烤鸭店, 位于宣武区大栅
栏廊坊二条18号 , tel. [phone]). There are several branches of this restaurant around
the city, but don't assume that they'll serve up the quality that this one does. This tiny wood-
decorated restaurant is much more personal and less touristy than its sister venues, and is
tucked in an exhilaratingly interesting nook of the city.
There are several other Chinese restaurants of note in the general area. These include
Yunnan restaurant Lost Heaven (Ch'ienmen 23, 23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng dis-
trict, 东城区前门东大街23号 , tel. [phone], www.lostheaven.com.cn ) , situated in
Ch'ienmen 23 directly opposite the southeast corner of Tian'anmen Square. It's one of the
few Chinese restaurants that serve vibrant, high-quality Chinese cuisine in an elegant fine-
dining setting, but at a reasonable price.
If you're dinging around Gulou, there's almost no need to give any restaurant de-
tails—just walk 20 meters in any direction and you'll encounter a place to refuel. But just
in case you're in doubt, one of local establishments to consider is Mr. Shi's Dumplings
(74 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng district, 老石饺子，东城区宝钞胡同74号 tel. 10/
8405-0399). Though packed on most nights with more foreigners than locals, this crammed
humble abode pumps out some of the tastiest dumplings in town. Be sure to try both
steamed and fried options.
If the weather is warm, enjoy some local craft beer at Great Leap Brewing (6 Doujiao
Hutong, Dongcheng district, 城区豆角胡同6号 , tel. [phone],
www.greatleapbrewing.com ) . The boutique brewery is set in a sìhéyuàn complete with its
own garden, and though not so roomy in winter, it's an excellent retreat when the weather
warms up. This is definitely one of the harder venues to locate in the city, so study the map
on the website carefully before attempting to find it.
Chaoyang
Chaoyang is the district for dining and drinking, and in every expat hub there are great
places at which to satisfy your appetite. Just head up to the roof-top levels of Taikuli at the
intersection of Gongti Beilu and Sanlitun Lu; or into Nali Patio, just next to Taikuli; or into
1949—The Hidden City, which is hidden behind Pacific Century Plaza near the corner of
Gongti Beilu and the Third Ring Road. All three places are packed with an immense variety
of bars and restaurants.