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5dina.y..s
Acapital of exhilarating extremes, with its towering skyscrapers
and rich imperial history! From the ancient fossils of the Peking
Man and the grandeur of Ming dynasty emperors, to Chairman
Mao and almost 20 million inhabitants, Beijing has seen it all.
DAY ONE
L eaving Beijing Capital International Airport, I am rendered
speechless by the city’s immensity. I arrive at the Shangri-
La China World Summit Wing hotel, and there I stand,
speechless, in front of a luxurious sanctuary on the upper floors of a
Beijing landmark –the 330-metre tall China World Tower (shangrila.
com). After settling in, I decide to visit another cultural and historical
landmark - Tiananmen Square. As I walk past the huge portrait of Mao
hanging above the gate, my mind turns to the anonymous hero who
stood in front of army tanks during the 1989 Tiananmen protests. I
then head to Capital M, where I dine on M’s Crispy Suckling Pig as I
admire the view of the city (m-restaurantgroup.com).
DAY TWOfter an early stroll through the Temple of Heaven Park,
where locals perform their morning Tai Chi exercises, I will
A dedicate the day to exploring the Forbidden City (dpm.org.
cn). Built in 1420, this intricate palace was home to 24 emperors of
the Ming and Qing dynasties. After a steaming bowl of noodles at Jin
Mian Xiang Culiang Can Guan (+86 10 1289 2163), I rent a boat and
lull the afternoon away at the adjoining Shichahai Lakes, an aquatic
oasis in the heart of the city. Night finds me at The Opposite House,
a chic space that features interesting contemporary art exhibitions
and fabulous bars and restaurants, for a taste of Beijing’s cutting-edge
modernity (theoppositehouse.com).
DAY THREE
R efreshed after my early morning swim at the impressive
Grand Hyatt pool, I head towards Nanluoguxiang, a hutong
of narrow alleys lined with siheyuan (traditional courtyard
residences). Open-air mahjong games, laid-back cafes, boutiques and
restaurants compose this charming mosaic, but it is best to avoid the
main street and explore the hidden side alleys. Feeling satiated after
lunch at Suzuki Kitchen (+86 10 6403 1518), it is time to explore the
798 district and hangout with Beijing’s hipsters. Housed in a former
factory, this vast space has been converted into galleries, studios, cafes
and bars. For dinner I opt for Dali, a quaint courtyard restaurant that
specialises in food from the Yunnan province (+86 10 8404 1430).
DAY FOURt is almost criminal to visit Beijing and not venture to walk along
the celebrated Great Wall of China. On the other hand, it is
Isenseless to spend a whole day with throngs of tourists, as Beijing’s
true beauty lies in the details. History aficionados may scorn me, but
being an eternal romantic I choose to spend the day at Green T. House
Living (green-t-house.com). This unique lifestyle destination includes
fine dining, art, wellness and a traditional teahouse that blends China’s
ancient culture and philosophy with millennial appeal and world-class
luxury – much like Beijing itself! After a day of pampering, I am ready
to enjoy a performance at the Beijing Opera House, an impressive
titanium and glass dome also known as The Bird’s Egg (chncpa.org).
34
Acapital of exhilarating extremes, with its towering skyscrapers
and rich imperial history! From the ancient fossils of the Peking
Man and the grandeur of Ming dynasty emperors, to Chairman
Mao and almost 20 million inhabitants, Beijing has seen it all.
DAY ONE
L eaving Beijing Capital International Airport, I am rendered
speechless by the city’s immensity. I arrive at the Shangri-
La China World Summit Wing hotel, and there I stand,
speechless, in front of a luxurious sanctuary on the upper floors of a
Beijing landmark –the 330-metre tall China World Tower (shangrila.
com). After settling in, I decide to visit another cultural and historical
landmark - Tiananmen Square. As I walk past the huge portrait of Mao
hanging above the gate, my mind turns to the anonymous hero who
stood in front of army tanks during the 1989 Tiananmen protests. I
then head to Capital M, where I dine on M’s Crispy Suckling Pig as I
admire the view of the city (m-restaurantgroup.com).
DAY TWOfter an early stroll through the Temple of Heaven Park,
where locals perform their morning Tai Chi exercises, I will
A dedicate the day to exploring the Forbidden City (dpm.org.
cn). Built in 1420, this intricate palace was home to 24 emperors of
the Ming and Qing dynasties. After a steaming bowl of noodles at Jin
Mian Xiang Culiang Can Guan (+86 10 1289 2163), I rent a boat and
lull the afternoon away at the adjoining Shichahai Lakes, an aquatic
oasis in the heart of the city. Night finds me at The Opposite House,
a chic space that features interesting contemporary art exhibitions
and fabulous bars and restaurants, for a taste of Beijing’s cutting-edge
modernity (theoppositehouse.com).
DAY THREE
R efreshed after my early morning swim at the impressive
Grand Hyatt pool, I head towards Nanluoguxiang, a hutong
of narrow alleys lined with siheyuan (traditional courtyard
residences). Open-air mahjong games, laid-back cafes, boutiques and
restaurants compose this charming mosaic, but it is best to avoid the
main street and explore the hidden side alleys. Feeling satiated after
lunch at Suzuki Kitchen (+86 10 6403 1518), it is time to explore the
798 district and hangout with Beijing’s hipsters. Housed in a former
factory, this vast space has been converted into galleries, studios, cafes
and bars. For dinner I opt for Dali, a quaint courtyard restaurant that
specialises in food from the Yunnan province (+86 10 8404 1430).
DAY FOURt is almost criminal to visit Beijing and not venture to walk along
the celebrated Great Wall of China. On the other hand, it is
Isenseless to spend a whole day with throngs of tourists, as Beijing’s
true beauty lies in the details. History aficionados may scorn me, but
being an eternal romantic I choose to spend the day at Green T. House
Living (green-t-house.com). This unique lifestyle destination includes
fine dining, art, wellness and a traditional teahouse that blends China’s
ancient culture and philosophy with millennial appeal and world-class
luxury – much like Beijing itself! After a day of pampering, I am ready
to enjoy a performance at the Beijing Opera House, an impressive
titanium and glass dome also known as The Bird’s Egg (chncpa.org).
34
