Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Finally, one of China's leading pediatric hospitals is close at hand in Xicheng.
Beijing
Children's Hospital
(
www.bch.com.cn
)
is about half way between Fuxingmen and
Fuchengmen subway stations (Line 2). Affiliated to Beijing Children's Hospital and located
at its east gate is the
New Century International Hospital for Children
(NCICH,
www.ncich.com.cn
)
, a private hospital. In addition to all major areas of care it also special-
izes in pediatric eye care and pediatric dentistry. Some international health insurance pro-
viders, such as BUPA, Aetna International, and AXA, are accepted here.
Shopping
Aside from Xidan shopping street and the department stores near Financial Street, there are
a few other places worth getting to know. Whether you live in Xicheng or not, at one point
in your Beijing life you should definitely explore the Zoo Markets, named this because they
sit across the road from the Beijing Zoo (which, if you're like many expats, you'll never
explore for fear of having to look upon the woeful faces of the animals in their depressing
enclosures). The Zoo Markets are a cluster of multistory markets along Xizhimenwai Dajie
(Beijing Zoo subway station, Line 4), and if you don't want to have a headache by the time
you've finished, beg a friend who is savvy with the labyrinth come with you. Winding your
way from building to building, you'll find sunglasses, bags, shoes, jeans and clothing of
every description, lingerie and more, all for rock-bottom prices. It's primarily for wholesale
purchases, but single sales are accepted. Bargaining is required, but nothing like the Silk
Markets or Yashow. Some of the most popular markets—if you can find them—include Jin
Kailede (
金凯利德
), Dongding (
东鼎
), Tianle (
世纪天乐
), and Julong (
聚龙
) or Beijing
Exhibition Center Plaza.
Xinjiekou Nandajie (Ping'anli subway station, Lines 4 and 6, exit A or B) is one of
the other most-popular strips of Xicheng. Window shoppers and actual buyers will be well
pleased by what they find. There are clothing stores, bicycle stores, restaurants, and more,
but the feature item of this street is musical instruments. Come here for guitars, violins,
flutes, pianos, or mouth organs. Many of the salespeople are musicians, so expect someone
to suddenly break out with a performance.
Two other stores that you may be happy to know are in your neighborhood are the
Beijing Books Building, unmissable at Xidan (exit C), and a large Sanfo (
www.sanfo.com
)
outlet. The Xidan Books Building has an extensive selection of English books—possibly
even better than the bookstores on Wangfujing—while Sanfo will reignite your passion for
the outdoors with tents, sleeping bags, hiking gear, and the like.