[Click here for more photos of Beijing.]

If you have never been to Beijing then it’s time you went. It’s true it can be very polluted and overcrowded, but it is just one of those places you have to visit before you die. You’ve got the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and a number of new cutting edge buildings going up. Not to mention China is about to take over the world.

Mabuhay, the Philippine Airlines in-flight magazine, featured my story and photos about 10 things you can do during a weekend in Beijing. Here is what the layout looks like. You can read my original text below the tearsheets or read the article in PDF format here. Pretty cool! Enjoy.

Beijing: 10 For the Weekend

When I first visited Beijing in 1993 many of the locals looked at me like I was from another planet. Okay, I’m 2 meters tall so that might have had something to do with all the stares. However, it still seemed as if they had never seen a foreigner before. And if I stopped to talk to someone on the street, a crowd of onlookers would quickly gather around me to see what was happening.

Today, Beijing is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city with the type of amenities you would expect in any world-class city. Hosting the 2008 summer Olympics also helped the city modernize many of their hotels, create new tourist attractions, and refurbish old ones. Let’s take a look at the best of the old and the new.

Friday

Afternoon

1) CHECK IN

Whether you are looking for high-end or traditional accommodation in Beijing, you can find it all. One of the most upscale luxury boutique hotels in the city at the moment is The Opposite House (THO). When you walk into the lobby it feels like you are entering a fancy art gallery. A woman’s dress made of broken Chinese ceramic plates hangs in the window.

The hotel opened in August of 2008 and has quickly become one of Beijing’s best boutique luxury hotels. Conde Nast Traveler listed it on their 2009 Hot List of world’s top new hotels and National Geographic Traveler said it was one of the best-designed hotels in China. World-famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma created the minimalist design, which includes brushed-oak floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a fantastic Italian restaurant with one of the best wine lists in town.

If you are looking for a more authentic experience, you should try staying in one of the many hostels or guesthouses, especially the ones that are located in the older parts of town. For instance, Bejing Downtown Backpackers, nestled right in the heart of the Nanluogu hutong, is the perfect place to feel the old way of Beijing life. This hostel is housed in a two story grey brick building and offers clean and comfortable accommodation at a very affordable price. Be sure to sign your name and leave a message on the lobby wall!

The Opposite House

T +8610 6417 6688

www.theoppositehouse.com

Beijing Downtown Backpackers

T +8610 8400 2429

www.backpackingchina.com

2) CYCLING ADVENTURE

Beijing is such a wide and spread out city that it is difficult to see on foot. The best way to see the city is like a local – on a bike. The city is so flat and there are so many bike lanes that it’s easy to move around.

If your hotel doesn’t rent bikes, there are many bike rental agencies around the city. Try looking around the Drum Tower or Shichahai Lake. Bike Beijing near the Forbidden City not only rents bikes but they offer guided tours in English such as a the hutong bike tour, night Beijing tour, Great Wall bike tour, and more.

Bike Beijing

T +86 133 8140 0738

www.bikebeijing.com

Saturday

Morning

3) SINGING IN THE PARK

If you want to catch a glimpse of the true heart and soul of this Asian-megacity and its people, look no further than one of the many parks throughout the city. One of the best is Tiantan Park, surrounding the Temple of Heaven.

Every morning around seven, you can see groups of Beijingers practicing their hobbies. For instance, there are impromptu dance classes where people learn how to do the waltz and other ballroom dances. Be sure to join in and dance for a time you will never forget. If dancing isn’t your thing then why not practice the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi with the elders? It’s easy to become mesmerized by their fluid body movements.  You can also watch people playing traditional Chinese games.

Then there are the singers. Up to 50 people or more gather to sing Chinese revolutionary songs. Each group is like a club. People bring their own musical notes, and there is even a conductor. Tiatan Park is a guaranteed highlight for anyone who visits Beijing!

Tiantan Park

Metro: Tianten Dongmen Station, Line 5

Afternoon

4) FUN ON A BOAT

Escape the noise and crowds of Beijing and head to the scenic lakes of Shichahai. Just north-west of the Forbidden city, this series of three lakes ringed with weeping willow trees is the perfect place to get away from it all.

Here you can take a bicycle rickshaw ride around the lakes, or rent a bike and go off on your own. Better yet, try renting a boat and paddle around the lakes yourself. If you don’t feel like moving, there are plenty of wonderful cafes, bars, and restaurants lining the lake.

Metro: Guloudajie, Line 2

Evening

5) DUCK DU CHINE

No visit to Beijing would be complete without trying its most famous dish – Peking Duck. You can find duck restaurants anywhere around the city but one of the best is from the restaurant Duck De Chine.

This sleek and trendy restaurant is housed in what looks like a refurbished old warehouse. It has red brick walls and sleek black wooden beams running the length of the ceiling and lit with warm red silk lights.

And then there is the food. Be sure to take a look at the mouth-watering ducks roasting away in the wood oven in the back. The meat is so succulent, crispy, and not too fatty. Duck never tasted so good.

Duck de Chine

T +8610 6501 8881

www.elite-concepts.com/Promotions/1949/DuckDeChine.htm

Chaoyang District

6) PARTY TIME

After dinner head over to the Sanlitun Bar district just down the street. Here you can find all types of bars from chill to rowdy.  Music pours out from each bar while food vendors sell grilled meat on a stick. People sit in tables out in the street while they eat, drink, and party the night away. It’s very popular with the foreign community living in Beijing, especially since it is located in the middle of the embassy district.

If you’re looking for a late night snack or a great beer in Sanlitun, try Hidden Tree. Voted the best pizza in Beijing many years in a row, along with a number of international beers on tap, you can’t go wrong.

For something a little more upscale, try bar Punk in the basement of The Opposite House Hotel.

Hidden Tree

T +8610 6415 1955

www.treebeijing.com.cn

Punk Bar

T +8610 6417 6688

Sunday

Morning

7) SHOPPERS PARADISE

If China is the world’s factory then Beijing has to be the world’s market. There are so many choices of great places to shop that you could stay in the city for a week, shop all day every day, and never see all the markets.

One of the most famous is massive Panjiayuan flea market (a 15 minute taxi ride from the city center). This is a great place to go to find Chinese style memorabilia like statues of Mao. Be sure to go over the weekend when most shop vendors are open.

However, if you are looking for something a little more relaxed and original, then you can’t miss South Luogu Lane. This street, or better yet alley, dates as far back as 1267 and runs right through the middle of a traditional Beijing-style neighborhood called Nanluogo Hutong. The street is lined with traditional old-style houses that were converted into hip shops selling many custom made goods like t-shirts, leather bound notebooks, and more. There are also many cafes, bars, and restaurants.

South Luogu Lane

Metro: Andingmen Station Line 2 (15 minute walk from station)

Afternoon

8. ART FOR EVERYONE

If you are an art lover, or just interested in seeing odd statues, beautiful paintings, and more, then you can’t pass up a visit to the 798 Art District. Take your time and gallery hop around this former arms factory complex in the Chaoyang district. You can easily spend half a day or more wandering around this huge art complex.  The outdoor statue of a soldier fighting back a pack of wolves is unforgettable.

9) FOOT RUB!

Are your feet tired from a full day of shopping and sightseeing? All that walking around the city will surely drain your energy and make your feet ache. Replenish your “life force”, or chi as it’s known in Chinese, at one of the many foot massage parlors.

Chinese foot massage started in China over 5,000 years ago. A typical massage focuses on stimulating the many acupuncture points in your feet, also known as reflexology.

A foot massage at the popular Liangzi Foot Body Massage Center costs 168 RMB for a 100 min massage and 160 RMB for a one hour full body massage.

Liangzi Foot Body Massage Centers

86-(0)10-6210-6669

30 Branches around the city.

Evening

10) OLYMPIC GLORY

Unless you’ve lived in a cave the past few years, you should know that Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. And if you saw the opening or closing ceremony then you saw the Beijing National Stadium or Bird’s Nest as it’s known on the street.

A visit to this US$ 423 million architectural jewel designed by Swiss architect Herzog & de Meuron is even more spectacular to see lit up at night. Take a walk around the stadium to catch a glimpse of the orange and red colored lights reflecting off the surrounding lake.

Just across from the stadium is a building that looks like a glowing purplish-blue rectangular box of bubbles. It is the Beijing National Aquatics Center but most people call it the Water Cube, and it is the place where 25 world records were broken during the Olympics.

In August of 2010 half of the Water Cube was transformed into Asia’s largest water park. It now boasts a wave pool, spa area, and 13 water slides and rides. The price is RMB 200 for adults and RMB 160 for children.

Water Cube Water Park

Subway: Line 8 to Olympic Park or Olympic Sports Center

Hours: 10:00am to 9:30pm

Public Transportation

Beijing has a very well developed public transportation system. The city now has 10 subway lines and over 230km of track. It’s very easy to use and costs about 2-3 RMB per ride depending on how far you are going.  The only downside to using the metro is that stations can be quite far from some of the attractions.
The bus system can be quite difficult to navigate, especially if you don’t speak Chinese. Taxis are not expensive within the city center so sometimes it is more convenient to just take a taxi.

An airport express train opened in 2008 and it will get you from any of the airport terminal to the center of Beijing in about 20 minutes. A one-way trip costs 25 RMB.

Recommended Attire

October is one of the best times of the year to visit Beijing. Bring some long-sleeved shirts and a light jacket, along with a sweater or two. You may also want to pack a couple T-shirts in case the weather warms up. The average high in October is 21 C and average low is 8 C.

October Events

October 1^st: National Day of China

The People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1^st, 1949. There is a huge celebration every year in Tiananmen Square on that day.  There are often fireworks, parades, concerts, and more. It is a public holiday.

September 25^th – October 10^th: China Open

If you are a tennis fan then you can’t miss the China Open at the National Tennis Center.

www.chinaopen.com.cn

October 24^th: Beijing Marathon

This marathon for both men and women will start from Tiananmen Square at 8am. Check out www.beijing-marathon.com.

출발인 (chul-bal-il): date of departure

시간 (si-gan): time of departure

좌석 (jwa-seok): seat number

운송 회사 (un-song hwi-sa): the name of the bus company – in the first ticket’s case, 천여 (Cheon-yeo); in the second ticket’s case, 금호 (Geum-ho). Unless you ask for a specific company, you’ll typically get a ticket for the departure time you choose. I’ve yet to notice a significant difference in the quality of buses, so any company will do.

승차홈 (seung-cha-hom): platform – which numbered door to look for the bus. Beware: it’s not always listed on the ticket! Be sure to ask if the terminal’s signs aren’t clear.

Two important words to know in the upper-right corner:

심우 (sim-u): a ‘midnight’ bus; the classification of the last bus(es) of the night. You’ll pay a premium above the 우등 (u-deung), or ‘luxury’ bus, though.

Also of note: On each ticket, Seoul is referred to as 서울경부 (Seo-ul Gyeong-bu), which refers to the Gyeongbu Expressway. It’s the major expressway that connects Seoul to Busan.

Since there are multiple bus terminals in Seoul, you might also see them referred to as 강남 (Gang-nam) or 경부 (Gyeong-bu) for the Express Bus Terminal, or 남부 for the Nambu Bus Terminal. The 강변 (Gang-byeon) Bus Terminal is also called the 동서울 (Dong, or east, Seoul) terminal. The 신촌 (Sinchon) Bus Terminal and 상봉 (Sangbong) Bus Terminal are smaller and less likely to confuse you.

Time for the trains!

A little less help here. Sure, the departure and destination points are in English, but the rest needs some explaining. Note that on the second train ticket, 동대구 (Dong-dae-gu) is a transfer station. Directly below the places are the scheduled times of departure and arrival. You may already know 월 (wol) and 일 (il) as month and day, respectively.

Vocabulary:

KTX = Korea Train eXpress. Korea’s first-class train capable of 300 km/h.

무궁화 (mu-gung-hwa) = Korea’s third-class trains; they make more stops but are cheaper.

새마을 (sae-ma-eul) are Korea’s second-class trains – a nice compromise between speed and stops.

열차 (yeol-cha) = train

일반실 (il-ban-sil) = il-ban means normal, while sil means room. Put them together and it makes ‘normal class’ as opposed to ‘first class’.

호차 (ho-cha) = car number

석 (seok) = seat

운임요금 (un-im-yo-geum) = Base ticket price in Korean won

한일금액 (han-il-geum-aek) = Discount amount (getting tickets in advance or ordering tickets from a ticketing machine will get you an automatic discount)

영수액 (Yeong-su-aek) = Amount paid (do the math in your head)

© Chris Backe - 2010

This post was originally published on my blog,Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.

So today I planned on posting on some thoughts I had over the weekend, but something better fell into my lap whilst desk warming at the J.O.B.

I’m happily going through last Sunday’s football highlights when my co-teacher approaches–CD in hand–asking me if I can transcribe the rap verse on some song for her. I first wince at the task, then get all warm inside when I think about the possibility of sneaking some raps into my grade six lesson plans (really I have no clue if the transcribed verse will even be used for a lesson, but I can dream dammit). Half the school already hears me reciting lines from A Tribe Called Quest on a regular basis so using it to teach the finer points of my native tongue wouldn’t be much of a stretch. I take a look at the song she has in mind and immediately  notice Kanye West is on the track.

The song is called Ayyy Girl and apparently it’s the first single of an album entitled The Beginning by  K-pop trio J.Y.J. I know nothing about the group, but judging by the looks of the CD cover, they’re a typical Korean boy band, complete with fucked up hair styles, overtly feminine clothing, and way to much eyeliner, however this is beside the point. I tell my co-teacher I’ll transcribe the verse for her and take a listen. It’s clear the group is shooting for an international market. The track Mr. West is featured on, along with the rest of the album, is recorded entirely in english.

For all that don’t know, I’m a sucker for damn near anything Hip-Hop, and while Kanye has let me down in the past, he still remains one of my favorites. And before all you so called “real” Hip-Hop aficionados leave hate mail my comments section–blabbing  about how commercial Kanye has become–save it for your sissy internet forums. I purely don’t give a shit. I’m a fan.

That being said, Kanye should apologize for fucking up what might have otherwise been an only halfway shitty song. Truth be told, I think K-Pop is some of the worst music on the planet(right up there with the ear cancer better known as Country Western), but at least it’s consistently crappy, and most Korean teenie-boppers only need a few cute faces who can bust out some slick dance moves and they’re golden. J.Y.J. went for the gusto. I’m almost positive they wrote a check, and in return Mr. West sent them some random shit he scribbled in his notepad along with a beat and melody he probably composed while sitting on his Louis Vitton toilet. And here I honestly thought K-pop could get no worse.

But hell, I’m no music critic. Judge for yourself and share your thoughts.

Ciao,

Kimchi Dreadlocks