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Notes from the Field: A Beijing fortnight Artventure, beijing, Gao Gao, notes from the field

Hullo Adventurers.

I shall be joined soon by our favourite foreign correspondant here in the ‘jing. I’ve been compiling a list of sights, restaurants and galleries I want to go with him; my goal is to have him ninja level seven when it comes to chopstick manipulation.

Here is a sneak peek at our plans:

EAT

* The Private Room. Locally sourced, Cantonese style dishes. Fanfare included. Park Hyatt Beijing, Chaoyang

*Bellagio. Trendy after-hours hangout with an extensive Taiwanese menu. I recommend the red bean soup, the mango and lychee shaved ice mountain, and the sugar dusted sweet potato fries. 6 Gongti Xi Lu, Chaoyang

*Noodle Bar. Watch chefs pull noodles out of thin air with panache. Cool decor, even cooler liang mian-perfect for hot summer days. 1949: The Hidden City, Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu.

*Apothecary. Inspired by the bayou, this restaurant/bar makes a mean gumbo. Pair with their twist on the Ol’ Fashioned. Go early if you want a seat – this place gets packed around 8pm. Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu.

DRINK

* Yin Bar. Go here for a breathtaking 360 vista of Beijing’s major sights.  Best time to go is at sunset – the glistening roofs of the old city are not to be missed. Extensive wine collection at reasonable prices. The Emporer, 33 Qiheloujie, Dongcheng district.

* Capital M. The colonial decor and art-deco tea sets exude a bygone elegance. Watch the rickshaws circle around Qianmen as you sip on Capital M’s signature tea. Pair with the ‘yoyo’ – an Australian soft shortbread biscuit with a passion fruit filling. 2 Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen district

* Houhai. I recognise that Houhai is a district, but most bars in here offer the same thing. Best thing on a hot night – rent a boat for 10 quai, bring some beers, and float past water lily castles. End the night with the local absinthe and mango flavoured hookah. Yum.

DO

*Beihai Park. When I was a child, my grandparents used to take me here on Sundays. There are rollercoaster rides (Old school communist style), street vendors, platoons of old chinese ladies dancing with fans and lots of fish to throw kibble to. Gather a group of friends, bring a picnic basket, and rent a pedalo for a great afternoon out.

* 798 district. Gallerinas, hipsters, and old money congregate here for the art. Built in an old Russian ammunitions factory, the district hosts hundreds of small contemporary galleries. Bring a beret and fake goatee.

*Mutianyu. This section of the Great Wall is probably my favourite – largely due to the fact that there is a massive helter skelter slide going from the top to the bottom. I think I’ve been at least a dozen times.

For those of you that want to know what ninja level seven is: see here.

Until next time, Adventurers.

GG

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