Beijing Three Ways
By Ann Mah
Conde Nast Traveler
Published: April 2007
The best bars, parks, noodle restaurants, and shopping from three of the capital city’s 12 million-plus residents.
Chen Haiqiang, 46, parking lot attendant
Lives in: Gulou, Xicheng District.
Works in: Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng
Favorite haunt: “Beihai Park, which has an enormous lake with an island in the middle. In the winter you ice-skate, in the summer you can rent boats [1 Wenjin Jie, Xicheng].”
Favorite Restaurant: “Beijing Style Noodle King is an institution for its traditional zhajiangmian, thick noodles topped with a preserved soybean sauce [35 Di’anmen Xijie; 86-10-6405-6666; noodles, $1.30].”
Favorite Shop: “Baihuo Dalou is a huge store in the Wangfujing shopping area. They sell everything–food, clothes, electronics [255 Wangfujing Dajie, Doncheng; 86-10-6512-6677].”
Wang Di, 43, music producer
Lives and Works In: Nanshiliju, Chaoyang District.
Favorite Haunt: “Unlike a lot of local bars, which are filled with big spenders, Yugong Yishan is casual and kind of grungy. It features everything from punk to jazz. One of my favorite acts was this experimental band from Finland called the Cleaning Women. They made thier own instruments out of household cleaning supplies [1 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang; 86-10-6415-0681].”
Favorite Restaurant: “There’s great Taiwanese food at Bellagio, which has big wondows and sleek armchairs. I like the baobing dessert: It’s a mound of shaved ice with tapioca, red beans, and condensed milk [6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang; 86-10-6551-3533; baobing, $4].”
Favorite Shop: “The two-story Beijing Photographic Equipment City sells everything photographers need: old cameras, backdrops, and even clothes for wedding portraits [40 Wukesonglu, Haidian; 86-10-8811-9797].”
Jennifer Qiu, 28, sales and marketing assistant, Domus magazine
Lives in: Guomao, Chaoyang District.
Works in: Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng
Favorite Haunt: “When it’s warm, my friends and I ride Harleys to the Great Wall–the Huanghua section is the most beautiful and unspoiled.”
Favorite Restaurant: “The Lan Club was designed by Philippe Starck and is packed with hipsters and Hong Kong stars. My favorite dish is the dou hua’r, a bowl of very soft tofu that can be served spicy or with honey or sesame paste [Twin Towers, B-12 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang; 86-10-5109-6012; dou hua’r, $3].”
Favorite Shop: “Pacific Century Place, a huge department store. I usually start on the ground floor and try on mascaras, then go to the basement grocery store, which has interesting Thai spices and Japanese foods like low-calorie tofu [2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang; 86-10-6539-3888].”