Joanna James
The sprawling capital city of China, Beijing has a rich history stretching back 3 millennia. However, it embodies the ultra-modern with the ancient such as the Imperial Palace with grace and aplomb. As you explore this fascinating city during the day, savour those enigmatic experiences at nightfall too.
Beijing National Stadium and Beijing National Aquatics Centre are at the centre of Olympic Forest Park. At dusk, these 02 venues known as the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube are enchantingly lit up. Join the locals and visitors from Beijing serviced apartments who love to stroll around to admire the view or take Instagram-worthy images to recapture those moments. The many restaurants around serve good meals to keep the crowds well-sated.
The endlessly winding narrow alleyways of old Beijing known as Hutongs are an ideal way to witness simple local life. These hutongs are lively places at night when everyone is back home from work. Do a walk down the hutongs in the Drum Tower area to witness locals playing mahjong and even enjoy a meal at an alleyway restaurant as often done by guests at Oakwood Residence Damei Beijing
Houhai bar street is a trendy hangout site with cafes, bars and restaurants. Sing karaoke while you have a drink or a chat with a friend, do a walk down to experience different places and even enjoy a cosy dinner with your loved one.
Get an insight into Chinese Martial Arts & Culture through an entertaining Kung Fu show, The Legend of Kung Fu at Red Theatre Beijing shown daily at 7.30 pm. This is an extraordinary performance with a good storyline, professional martial arts actors, imaginative stage design, and actual Kung Fu actions and scenes. This great performance will strongly move you.
A bustling street which is full of locals and visitors zooming in for authentic and reasonably priced Chinese food such as Peking duck, dumplings, lamb tripe and other delicacies like oxen tongue, scorpions on a stick etc. Stick to what you like to taste and enjoy the experience. You will also encounter that apart from snacks there are an array of other items you can buy like clothes, souvenirs etc.
Chang'an Avenue, meaning Eternal Peace Street, is a major thoroughfare in Beijing and is home to Tiananmen Square which every visitor to China loves to experience. Visiting this street at night is an enthralling experience with the dazzle of lights at various attractions such as the Forbidden City, National Museum, the Beijing Concert Hall etc.
Experience an Acrobatic show for which China is famous at one of the many theatres in Beijing. The outstanding feats of balance, coordination and agility are truly amazing. Having been a part of the Chinese culture since Han Dynasty, over 2,500 years ago, watching a great show in Beijing is an opportunity you must strive not to miss.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
