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| THE BUZZ ABOUT BEIJING |
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The Olympics spirits in the air, and
Beijingers are already
making merry and
thinking and living big
as their city prepares for
this once-in-a-lifetime
international party.
Her World soaks
up the atmosphere. |
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| It’s easy to get lost in Beijing. The city is currently
one big messy construction site in frantic
preparation for the 2008 Olympics in August. Its
sheer size, jam-packed roads, maze-like alleyways
(or hutongs as they are called) and perpetually
crowded subways can confound any first-time visitor. And
it’s easy to get awed too by its architectural beauty as highprofile structures such as the iconic “Bird’s Nest” Olympic
Stadium by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, Dutch
architect Rem Koolhaas’ CCTV tower, and British architect
Norman Foster’s new airport terminal have thrown the
city into the international spotlight. |
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WHAT TO EAT
• Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant
The prolific Quanjude (George Bush senior
has eaten here) may be touristy, but this
100-year-old restaurant serves tender,
crispy-skinned Peking ducks complete with
by-the-table duck carving fanfare. Prices are
high compared to other similar establishments
– one whole duck is about 168 yuan (S$33)
each. The main outlet at 32 Qianmen Dajie
is more famous, but this branch has better
service and food quality.
9 Shuaifuyuan Hutong
(off Wangfujing Dajie), Dongcheng District,
tel: +86 10 6525 3310
• Ya Wang
Just as good Peking duck, but at almost half
the price of Quanjude. Nothing fancy, but
consistent and tasty. 24 Jianguomenwai Dajie,
Chaoyang District; tel: +86 10 6515 6908
• Tongda
This Chinese restaurant grows vegetables in
its own back garden. It serves typical zi char
dishes from Jilin province in north-eastern
China which are fresh, finely cooked and
inexpensive. Try the delicious pumpkin fried in
salted egg yolk, where soft, sweet pumpkin is
coated with crusty salted egg on the outside.
A mere 25 yuan per person gets you a big meal.
99 Laiguangying Lu, Chaoyang District;
tel: +86 10 6431 9099/9299.
• Donghuamen Night Market & Wangfujing
Snack Street
These two food streets are bigger than Lau
Pa Sat, and score for sheer variety – from
yang rou chuan’r (lamb kebabs) to smelly tofu
and rou jiamo (a juicy open-faced bun stuffed
with diced lamb or pork sliced from a rotating
rotisserie). Prices are about 1-3 yuan for a
kebab and 5 yuan for a jiamo. Donganmen
Dajie & West off Wangfujing Dajie |
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