Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What can be more interesting is trawling your way through one of the many markets
around the district. Some of them, such as Panjiayuan (Line 10), Yashow next to Taikoo
Li Sanlitun and the Silk Markets at Yong'anli (Line 1), are dedicated tourist traps, with
vendors like fully trained bloodhounds, capable of sniffing out na
ï
ve shoppers with loose
pockets. Once you get to what the prices should be and how to get them, these places can
be great for kids' dress ups, sports clothes, linen, and lots of other essentials. These markets
are completely devoid of any genuine culture. For this, try Huasheng Tianqiao Market (a
short walk south from Shilihe subway station, Line 10, exit D). It's a photographer's para-
dise. There are endless cultural items and trinkets, an ocean of aquarium fish, and hundreds
of colorful crickets, which many Chinese people still love to make a pet of, carrying them
around inside their coats. If you wince at seeing cute pets in cages, however, you might
want to skip it.
If you'd love to decorate your home with beautiful traditional Chinese furniture, ac-
quaint yourself with Gaobeidian Furniture Street. The street is lined with shops, such as
Lily's Antiques (
www.lilysantiques.com
)
or Ju Yuan Zhai Classical Furniture Company,
which go beyond what you'll find at Panjiayuan. Kit out your home with elegant oriental
wardrobes, chairs and tables, or other decorations. If you can't find what you're looking for,
there are craftspeople there who can build it for you. It's just east of Dawang Lu, a short
walk south of Gaobeidian subway station (Batong Line, exit F).
Dining
Five years ago, you would have been impressed had you been able to find a premium steak
somewhere. The bar was set by relaxed family eateries, such as Grandma's Kitchen and An-
nie's—both still around today and due respect for their consistency and service. But they're
a long shot from fine dining. Today the dining scene in Beijing is astonishingly different.
There are countless superb restaurants, and the majority can be found in Chaoyang district.
The number-one place has to be the general Sanlitun area. Individual clusters of restaur-
ants in the area make this the one-stop place for dining and drinking. Whatever cuisine
you're craving, it's in the vicinity—Middle Eastern, Spanish, Malaysian, Thai, Italian, and
of course every variety of Chinese. Surpassing even Gui Jie (Dongzhimennei Daijie) in
Dongcheng, it's the most consolidated place of dining in the entire city.
Outside of Sanlitun, you can always find quality restaurants at the five-star hotels. Pop
into any of the luxury hotels around Guomao, Dawang Lu, or Liangmaqiao and you'll enjoy
a good meal, although for much more than street-level restaurants, plus 15 percent service
charge. Weekend brunches are a huge thing in Beijing, and the hotels vie frantically with
each other to our benefit. Each tries to create its own spin, but the real carrots are the brand
