Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Education
Education options directly in this part of town are fairly limited. Beijing No. 1 Kindergarten
Experimental Sister School, which offers a bilingual, modified version of the Chinese cur-
riculum, can cater to kids aged three to six.
For adults, there is the Institute for Provocation, set in Heizhima Hutong, just off Nan-
luogu Xiang. It's a think tank and work space for visual and performing artists, archi-
tects, and designers. On the very same
hútòng,
cooking enthusiasts will find Black Sesame
Kitchen, which runs a wide array of small, interactive Chinese cooking classes in a lovely
traditional Beijing building.
Shopping and Dining
If you want big glitzy malls, this is not the place to be. The Global Trade Center (GTC)
up near the North Third Ring Road is one of the major business hubs in the vicinity, en-
compassing a wide range of international brands as well as a movie cinema, gym, and spa.
Most other shopping hot spots here are small, street-level, and forever mercurial. You'll be
able to pick up clothes by nascent designers, quirky Chinese knickknacks, and musical in-
struments. Streets to spend your money in are Wudaoying Hutong, Fangjia Hutong, Gulou
Dongdajie, and, of course, Nanluogu Xiang. These streets are forever growing and chan-
ging. A T-shirt store here today will be replaced by a waffle shop tomorrow, which will
probably be replaced by a paper shop the day after. Nanluogu Xiang in particular can seem
a little touristy, but at nighttime it's a true part of expat nightlife.
Supermarkets include locals Jingkelong (up in the north on Hepingli Beijie) and Ti-
ankelong (on Jiaodaokou Dongdajie). A savior in the area is Chez Gérard Boucherie Fran-
caise, a tiny provedore, located just off Guozijian Jie, which stocks everything from rib-eye
and cheese to baguettes and wine. For a large range of fresh produce, try the Jiaodaokou
Chaonei Vegetable Market.
Chinese pharmaceutical needs may be met at Tongrentang branch at number 6 on
Hepingli Zhongjie, but for Western meds, your best bet is to head over to the International
SOS Clinic in Chaoyang.
Places of Interest
There is such an eclectic mix of interesting places here that it's hard to imagine ever feeling
bored. For music there are two of Beijing's hottest live music venues, Yugong Yishan and
Mao Livehouse. Both places bring in quality international and local acts. There is a good
scattering of bars, most within walking distance of each other, so bar-hopping is almost
standard, and in the warmer months, most of them open up their rooftop decks.
