Down-to-Earth Fun in Beijing, China - 24-Hour Travel Guide
Danbing pancakes make the perfect Beijing breakfast on the go
The ornate architecture of the Yonghe Lama Temple
The White Dagoba is just one of many beautiful sites in Beihai Park
Beijing Roast duck is served sliced and eaten in a thin pancake
Sanlitun Bar Street is the center of Beijing nightlife
Overview - Beijing has been called the “Celestial Capital” and the “Center of the World”, but today, we’ll unpack some of the more accessible and friendly parts of this thriving metropolis, including Beihai Park and the Yonghe Lama Temple.
Breakfast - No Beijing day would be complete without starting off with a danbing, or breakfast pancake. These savory pancakes are made from an egg crepe stuffed with scallions and sesames and served with a fried wonton. You buy one from a street vendor who prepares it while you watch and then gobble it up on the go!
Morning - You’ll start off today at the Yonghe Lama Temple, a working Buddhist monastery. One of the largest and most important Tibetan temples in the world, Yonghe houses bronze Buddha statues, scriptures and scrolls, and carvings. Make sure to check out the 18m tall Maitreya Buddha in the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happiness at the very back of the temple. This huge statue was carved out of one single piece of sandalwood and is absolutely breathtaking to see.
Lunch - For lunch, you’re going to sample some of Beijing’s famous Imperial Court Cuisine, a type of cooking based on the food that was once served to the Emperor inside the Imperial Palace. Fangshan Restaurant, located inside Beihai Park, where you’ll be spending the afternoon, is a large, luxurious dining room opened in the 1920s. You can sample more than 800 different types of Imperial dishes like Silky Chicken Breast and Lotus Leaf Pork Fillet.
Afternoon - A relaxing afternoon awaits you in the massive Beihai Park, located north of the Forbidden City. It is one of the oldest imperial gardens in China, first built around 1100 A.D. You can rent a paddle boat on the massive lake at the park’s center, walk up to the White Dagoba where some important Buddhist scriptures are housed, and generally meander through the many gardens and pavilions within the park. This is a great place to stay cool on a hot, Beijing afternoon.
Dinner - Probably the most famous Beijing dish is Beijing (or Peking) Roast Duck, a crispy, delectable style duck preparation that involves roasting it from a hanging pole. For this special dish, you’ll go to Bejing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant on the Third Ring Road. The duck is served sliced and you eat pieces of it wrapped in thin pancakes with plum sauce, scallions and cucumbers! Delicious!
After Dark - Beijing’s nightlife is centered mostly in an area of the Chaoyang District called Sanlitun. Here, you’ll find dozens of bars, pubs and cafes lined up along the streets for your choosing. Check out Jazz Ya, one of the first bars to open in the area and once a melting point for Beijing’s hip and expatriate crowd.
Sleep - The Leo Hostel is a centrally located hostel/hotel decorated in traditional Beijing style. They offer all types of rooms, from privates to mixed dorms, and they also have a restaurant and internet access for the weary traveller. Best of all, the hostel sits smack in the middle of Dazhalan Shopping Alley near Tiananmen Square.
lehaneb 1 year ago
An effortlessly accomplished expert write-up! That duck looks delicious!