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Essence Tour of Beijing - Follow the Steps of Hutong (2)

2013-04-08 16:00:00

Continue last tour guide, we will go on our ancient Beijing tour for this time.

Beijing Dashilan

Line 2: Xijiaominxiang – Dashilan Street – Zhushikou – Liulichang Street
Xijiaominxiang, located at south of Xicheng District in Beijing, starts from Tiananmen Square in east to Qianmen in west, turn south, you will get to the Dashilan Street. After rebuilt, Dashilan has no old-fashioned place, but some small hutongs, located west of Dashilan Street, keep many the original feelings of Dashilan.

Along with Qianmen Street to south, you will arrive at Zhushikou West Street. Passed the Catholic Church, Fengze Garden, Former Residence of Ji Xiaolan, Huguang Guild Hall, etc, turn north, and you arrive at Xinhua Street. After walking distance in 700 meters, you can find the Liulichang Street, which is a famous cultural street. Many shops here sell the four stationery treasures of the Chinese study. Constructions on each side are all the Chinese classic construction with obvious features of time. Walking along this old street, you have chance to talk with the shop owners and hear some old stories about this street.

Beijing Nanluoguxiang

Line 3: Juer Hutong – Nanluoguxiang
Located at Jiaodaokou South Street, Juer Hutong has a mansion of Rong Lu, who was the governor university in Qing Dynasty. With white wall and black tiles, the courtyard has the feelings of perfect combination of southern and northern. Out of the west of Juer Hutong, you will arrive at Nanluoguxiang, which has 8 hutongs in west and east arranged tidily. In recent years, more and more bars and creative shops appeared in Nanluoguxiang. After Salitun and Shi Cha Hai, Nanluoguxiang has become the third famous bar street in Beijing. Riding from south to north, you can explore the history and flourishing of Nanluoguxiang.

Beijing Longfu Temple

Line 4: Donghuamen – Nanchizi – Pudu Temple – Huangchenggen Street – Dengshikou – Fuqiang Hutong – Dongchang Hutong – Longfu Temple – Dongsi – Neiwubu Street – Lumicang Hutong
It is worth to visit the hutongs in Dongcheng District. There are various rich family in ancient times, so some courtyards has kept the ancient style, even though many of them has been used as the residences of ordinary people. Without the glory of ancient times, these courtyards still have some feelings of rich people and celebrities from the stone lions in front of gate. May be just the old tree in yard has memory about this courtyard in ancient times. The Imperial Palace Wall Relics Park, rebuilt by government, has comfortable environment. At weekend, you will find many people take exercise or playing here.

The essence tour of ancient Beijing is suspended now, but the cultural and historical deposits of ancient Beijing have been continued from generation to generation.

Essence Tour of Beijing - Follow the Steps of Hutong

2013-04-07 16:00:00

When the traffic jam, vehicle exhaust and no parking lot affect the convenient and mood of driving, bike, the once outdated transportation media, nobly become the favorite choice of trip and leisure under the call of low-carbon lifestyle.

Low-carbon times, riding bike for trip is an ideal choice. No matter the locals or guests, prepare or rent a bike to visit the hutong in inner of Beijing in leisurely time, you will have better feelings. Parking in the front of some interesting shops, choosing the wonderful goods or taste the local snacks, you are harvest enough in this special Beijing tour. Follow us quickly!

Essence of Beijing - Hutong

Beijing, the gathering place of hutong, has various famous and non-famous hutongs. The composition of chess game and the laugh of aunts are the sceneries in hutongs forever. In the courtyards of hutongs, always there are old trees and do not know how old they are, may be the jujube tree, cypress or Chinese scholar tree. When the sun is shining brightly, aged people talked with each other and kids playing around this tree. I guess, it is happiness for most of ordinary people.

Start from North Street of Dianmenwai, you can visit the Drum and Bell Tower first. Walking south along with the Drum and Bell Tower, you will find the Yandaixiejie, the oldest oblique street in Beijing, located at north of Dianmen, about 230 meters in length. You could not belittle the short street, it gathers various characteristic shops, restaurants and wine bars. They decorate this street livelier.

Yinding Bridge

Out of Yandaixiejie, it is the famous Yindingqiao Bridge. It is said that you can see the distance Xishan Mountain in fine day. That is one of the Yanjing Eight Scenes. Pass the Yindingqiao Bridge, you should have good time among hutongs in Shi Cha Hai area. Built depend on the terrain, these hutong is natural. Anyone courtyard here, you could find the historical site easily.

Riding the bike, you are leisurely in lively hutongs, to enjoy the sunshine and strong Beijing culture in the air, and surrounding your soul.

Wandering in these hutongs, you are lucky to find many interesting things and delicious tastes. Just walking and wandering, you have good time in afternoon of Beijing…

Beijing Leisure Tour - Walking Around Shichahai Area

2013-04-03 16:00:00

Shi Cha Hai, a lake in Beijing center, is also a beautiful place in Beijing. Live around Shi Cha Hai, you may have visited it several times, and no feeling about it. But today, I will take you to rediscover the Shi Cha Hai. Different times in one day, we have various ways playing around Shi Cha Hai.

Beautiful Shichahai Lake

Morning Walking, from 7:00 to 9:00
With melodious morning bell, people take morning exercise around Shi Cha Hai. They talk about the news or interesting things happened in someone’s home with smile. Everyone discloses the leisure and free of local Beijingers. After exercise, have breakfast in Huguosi Snack Bar is a good gift in this morning.

Corner Tour, from 9:00 to 11:00
The authentic rickshaw takes you to wander in the various hutongs in Shi Cha Hai. Visiting Prince Gong's Mansion, enjoying the former residences of celebrities, traveling the old temples and listening the stories and cultural deposits of sihe courtyard, you will know the local Beijing culture. Walking into Sihe Courtyard, you have good chance to know about the ordinary life of Beijing.

Shichahai Lake Rickshaw

Noon Rest, from 11:00 to 13:00
Various restaurants, stand closely, are the destinations in noon. You can find the hide small restaurant to taste the authentic private dishes. Close to the shore of Shi Cha Hai, there is a quiet courtyard with grey tiles and wall. That was the London Home in Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, received the Beckham, Blair and many foreign celebrities. Lotus Market is the famous catering street in Shi Cha Hai area, view the scenery of Shi Cha Hai, gathers lots of lotus, showing the flourishing view.

Afternoon, from 15:00 to 17:00
Lots of tourists has gone, this is good time to visit Prince Gong’s Mansion. Many views and allusions are the attractions in this ancient architecture. Out of mansion, you can visit the Drum and Bell Tower. In the setting sun, facing the black Bell Tower and watching the sun set, you will have special feelings about this old city.

Evening Maeket, from 17:00 to 19:00
History scouring the time, left amounts of storie in Yan Dai Xie Jie. Under the light of sun, you can enjoy the lasting appeal of city axle wire. The Chinese gifts sold in nearby shops give you big surprise. Send a postcard to your relatives, give your sincere blessing.

Night Activity, from 19:00 to 21:00
They are the person write the memory, the classic lists performed by them. Among these lists, you will know about the Chinese history and culture. No matter where you go, you will remember it forever.

It is time to go to sleep, have good dream in Shi Cha Hai!

Forbidden City - Feudal Society of Ancient China

2013-03-31 16:00:00

Beijing, experienced the vicissitudes, has long history and rich culture. Historic sites distributed all of Beijing. Walking casually, you have many chances pass these famous sites. The foot of Beijing history has continued thousand years including old, traditional, modern, etc. You can follow any point to explore the ancient but modern Beijing. But I want to say, from history if you want to find the most alright part.

Bronze Lion in Forbidden Ciyt

Former is old, where is the new? If you pay attention to the news, Forbidden City has been maintained from 2001. Nowadays, Forbidden City is not only the ancient construction group, but also a modern museum. From the most famous Cartier Exhibition to the Ming Yongle Xuande Cultural Relic Exhibition, Forbidden City is always changed. Even though you always visit Forbidden City, because of these exhibitions, you will find new foothold for sight.

Yellow Roof, Red Wall

If you visit Forbidden City in May day, you may catch the chance entering Forbidden City from East Huamen. Usually, it is not opened to public, only the pass way for workers. Different the magnificent Meridian Gate, East Huamen has another feeling with soft wind and trees. Through the thick gateway, you will have a wide sight. A river flow before your sight, the bridge on river records the vicissitudes. Passing the bridge and walking forward, you arrive at Wenhua Palace, opened to public after 2008. Because of remote location, Wenhua Palace has less people, is the rare quiet place in Forbidden City. Wenhua Palace, the Ceramics Hall, display the ceramics in different times. From ancient times to Ming and Qing Dynasties, many ceramics boutiques can be found at this palace.

If you think the Forbidden City is just the caky constructions, you are wrong. The soul of Forbidden City thrust deep into the pieces of historical performances. No matter you are seeking novelty or exploring the mysteries, we just look at them and plaint when the particles of history have dissipated. The usual exhibition halls in Forbidden City includes the exhibition of wedding celebration for emperors in Qing Dynasty, the exhibition of concubines life in Qing Dynasty, the exhibition of Henery Pu Yi, exhibition of weapons in Qing Dynasty, the exhibition of treasures, etc. All these exhibitions attract you stay in Forbidden City for full day, and enjoy the imperial culture of Qing Dynasty.

Whenever you visit the Forbidden City, you always find new interesting points easily. Quiet to enjoy the fine and smooth of Forbidden City, you will find more attractive places.

A Bite of Beijing (3) - Quan Ju De Roast Duck

2013-03-26 16:00:00

Beijing traditional cate is one of the marks of Beijing traditional culture. This kind of glory roots in the respect it pays to history and the inappropriate it pays to times. Under the life style of high speed today, the craftsmanship of Beijing traditional cate like a historical museum, almost every procedure is accomplished by people personally and experienced cooks. Fussy procedure can make sure the integrity of the whole taste. One of the most representative cates is Peking Roast Duck.

Peking Roast Duck

As the first taste in China, Peking Roast Duck has famous all over the world. Built in 1864, Quan Ju De almost has become the pronoun of Peking Roast Duck. Among various roast duck shops, without any doubt, the Quan Ju De Roast Duck the boutique in boutique. The reason why the Quan Ju De Roast Duck is so delicious is the cook skills like sorting, process, etc.

Quan Ju De Roast Duck

The sorting of Quan Ju De Roast Duck is very careful and strict. The feeding time is 40 days exactly, because the taste of duck meat is best at this time. The skin of duck cannot fracture, must be complete. Even the immersion time must be kept in fixed time. After these sections, the ducks is more delicious and tender.

After hundreds of years, Quan Ju De (Qianmen) always insists the traditional craftsmanship – Roasted Duck in stove. Before grill, these ducks should deal in 28 careful processes. Cooks hang the sucks into the stove, slowly turn by fruit wood in half an hour, then the roast duck is successful. In tens of square meters, the air is fulfilled with the attractive smell.

Moved from the stove, Peking Roast Duck is purplish red in color and good smell. Before you enjoy the duck, you must appreciate the last unique technique of cooks – slice duck. Just the whole process of slice duck will let audiences praise greatly. In 5 minutes, this whole duck is sliced in 100 ~ 120 pieces, even every piece is connected. Eating the Peking Roast Duck is the most enjoyed time, lotus leaf pancakes, as thin as a cicada’s wings, is wiped tailor-made sweet sauce, mingled some golden duck meat. Looks so beautiful and delicious, can let you forget every problems.

Just see my introduction, you cannot enjoy the real Peking Roast Duck. Have a try in Quan Ju De, you are worth the Beijing tour.

A Bite of Beijing (2) - Instant-Boiled Mutton

2013-03-24 16:00:00

History of the famous ancient Beijing instant-boiled mutton can be dated back to the Kublai, the fifth emperor in Yuan Dynasty. That time, the emperor expedited in southern. In winter, cooks have no time to make the traditional haricot during intense wars. In order to let soldiers have full power before fight, the cooks boiled water and put mutton into boiled water. The done mutton has good taste with seasoning. This dish got the heart of Kublai, so he popularized the instant-boiled mutton in the whole army. In 13 Century, Kublai entered and hosted Central Plains, then built capital in Beijing. He established the first minority regime in Chinese history – Yuan Dynasty. At same time, he brought the delicious foods to Beijing from grassland. Instant-boiled Mutton is one of them. During 100 years ruled by the Mongoloid, the gene of Mongoloid delicious foods plant into the Beijing catering culture deeply.

Instant-Boiled Mutton

After 100 years, the Zhu Yuanzhang, an ordinary people, established the Ming Dynasty instead of Yuan Dynasty. The power of Mongoloid built in cutlery and perished in cutlery. Only the cate of Mongoloid was kept in Beijing. After 300 years, the Ming Dynasty also was destroyed in wars, and the Manchu in northeastern came to Beijing, even built the second minority regime – Qing Dynasty. Same as Mongoloid, the fight motored by Manchu brought the large number of people in Manchu. At same time, they also added new elements to Beijing catering culture. The Kublai brought the mutton cuisines, and the Hong Taiji riched the recipe of ordinary people in Beijing. Manchu is one of the minorities rise the pig. May be the influence of pork is less than mutton, but the snacks of Manchu changed and refigured the structure of snack of Beijing thoroughly.

Today, if you are familiar with the Beijing snacks, you would know that they were brought to Beijing by Manchu, such as pea cake, snowballing usury, bean juice, etc. Taste these snacks and characteristic cate, Wangfujing Snack Street and Donghuamen Night Market are ideal places for tourists. In fact, not every kinds of cate produced in fight, some born in love.

A Bite of Beijing (1) – Background of Beijing Food

2013-03-21 16:00:00

In these ideas of local Beijingers, whatever you eat, Manchu Han Imperial Feast or Fermented Soya-bean Milk, they live equally without envy and contempt. However, it is not much strange because the people always discuss the breakfast of the emperor in Forbidden City when they had these traditional breakfast out of the Forbidden City.

Usually, ecdemic friends like to know the meals of capital people. Of course, capital people always have meals. Consider what Beijingers eat on earth carefully, the question really puzzled me in long terms. No one clear this question.

Owing to the history reason, Beijing cuisine gathers the every success of Chinese cuisines, has its own characteristic but no style of cooking. The most characteristic of Beijing cuisine is it divided into court catering culture, literati and officialdom catering culture and ordinary catering culture. Every stratum has their catering culture, no mix, no disordered. The distinguishing feature of hundred years ago always can be found easily in today. No matter the most luxurious catering culture or most democratic catering culture, you will have chance to taste Beijing. The flourish of luxurious food is as well as the ordinary. Beijing, a complex city to taste the various delicious foods, is ideal place to spend much more money on luxury cater and less money on snacks with unique style.

As well as the cate, Beijingers have fortissimo containment which was cultivated by history. They have no discrimination to ecdemic and ecdemic foods, because of their strong confidence. In fact, now Beijing people are more opened than others in dietary ways. Besides traditional Beijing cuisine, they change their taste between Suchuan Cuisine, Yunnan Cuisine, etc. They never insist their catering culture sedulously.

For tourists in Beijing, the Beijing restaurants are strange much, without any reason. Gormandize travelers always find these restaurants with unique style, delicious foods or characteristics before tour; less cultured people just want to find a restaurant to fulfill their stomach. This kind of action is very adventurous for less cultured tourists. For example, same price, Beijing has two kinds of restaurants. One you want to pack another for next meal, and the other you doubt that what bad things happened between the cook and you. Even people has stayed in Beijing for a long time, they are always carful for every meal in case of becoming an adventure.

Get ready of cuisines for your Beijing tour!

Beautiful Shichahai & Bustling Wangfujing Commercial Street

2013-03-17 16:00:00

Do not know if the profound Chinese Complex or others emotion, seems every Chinese who never have chance to Beijing has a small wish to look at the imperial city with reverence. Beijing, the old city with long history, leaves us many sincerity, sacred, solemn, familiar, leisurely, or helpless. What do you think of Beijing?
Old people said reading history let people wise. The Beijing in my sight is sagacious, and lively. Shuttling back and forth in the old hutongs, always pieces of historical pictures flash before me. The places known in book still silently guards Beijing after so many years.

Beautiful Shichahai
Beautiful Shichahai

I like Shichahai, because it has rich culture and history, it was the place gathering temples in history, famous as the Nine Nunneries and One Temple, so named Shichahai. In Yuan Dynasty, it was the start of North-south Great Canal, with wide water area and beautiful views. At that time, the shipping industry was flourishing, which drove the area of Gulou Street to the bustling business area. The Yinding Bridge stretching across lake, built at the connection of Qianhai and Houhai. Standing on bridge, it is easily to enjoy the magnificent views of Houhai and Xishan Mountain, so it was reputed to the Yindingguanshan which is one of the Yanjing Small Eight Views. Shichahai area is also a traditional scenic spot keeps the original folk customs and the characteristics of old Beijing. And now Shichaihai has become the best place to boating in summer and skating in winter.

Bustling Wangfujing Street
Bustling Wangfujing Street

I also like Wangfujing area as vigor as Beijingers. Beijing culture reveals in everywhere, including this street. In Liao and Jin Dynasties, Wangfujing was just an unknown village, became more crowded in Yuan Dynasty, and it was built with ten prince mansions in Ming Dynasty, the Wangfujing began to task shape. The busy people get rid of burden at night, to enjoy the leisure culture at Wangfujing. Various kinds of delicious smells spread all over the street, stimulate the taste bud of people, it is a place bearing the history and full of vitality.

The winter of Beijing has less bustling and irritable, more quiet and light. After the article about Beijing culture, have already to trip in Beijing?

Excellent 2 Days Tour in Beijing - (2)

2013-03-11 16:00:00

Second day, I got up earlier to experience the morning of Beijing. In this capital city, people all get up in early morning to start the day in office. Compared with them, I felt little joy. According to the tour guide, this day I just stay in center of Beijing to enjoy the imperial buildings including the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.

Beautiful Gate in Forbidden City

Also a sunny day, there were already many people in Tiananmen Square when we got there. Most of them are Chinese people, because this square is always the first choice for Chinese visitors come to Beijing in first time. For Chinese people, this square is a holy land in their heart, but compared with the largest city center public square, I like the Forbidden City opposite it. As the largest palatial structure in the world, it attracts lots of people every day as well as this day. Following this tour guide, I visited the most famous spots in it with fewer crowds. I would say this guide really is clever and patient. She explained every spot even the detail to me again and again until I understand them. I admired her very much, as she grows in such abundant country with various historical sites and cultural deposits, and she also know more about these values. In my opinion, these things really are the values of a country, just these history and culture support it to develop.

Moved on to the Temple of Heaven, the largest existing complex of imperial sacrificial buildings, I enjoyed the traditional sacrificial buildings carefully. In this city that the land is the gold, this complex covers large scale which is four times larger than Forbidden City. How luxury! In fact, the most luxurious thing is the history.

Excellent 2 Days Tour in Beijing - (1)

2013-03-10 16:00:00

Under the allowed time, I booked a 2 days Beijing trip on a local travel agency, to visit the highlights of Beijing. I was amazed by these attractions, and their history and culture back of them. And this local travel agency is also worth to recommend to people like to travel in Beijing, it offers the patient trip advisor and the throughout service.

Hiking at Badaling Great Wall

Met the tour guide and driver at my hotel, they are on time! After simple talk, we were drove to the Great Wall at Badaling which is one of the highlights in this Beijing tour package. On the way, the tour guide introduced me various interesting places along the Badaling Highway. In short time, we arrived at the wall to enjoy it. The best way to experience the wall is just hiking it personally, the charm of this world wonder is the profound history and the background of it. By hiking, I tasted the real flavor of this wall, and knew more about it through the tour guide who is very knowledgeable. In addition, if you have no power to hike it the cable car is the great chance to enjoy its views in the other way.

Stone Bridge in Summer Palace

Get down from the Great Wall at Badaling, we transferred to the Summer Palace, the second stop of the 2 days Beijing tour. It was a sunny day, the park was crowded. It is said that it was the former imperial garden in ancient China, and it was the garden only built for royal and common people cannot visit it. But now, it was opened to public so that people all have chance to enjoy its great scenery. Besides the visitors, the most people here are local people just exercise here and so some handwork, it really is a good place for leisure.

This day was end in quick rhythm. In contrast, I liked the style people in Summer Palace, which is the real life.