Around Beijing

Every traveler from time to time craves a bit of the familiar. Whether it bed food, sweet treats, people or music, there is always something that is nice to re-visit. If you start feeling this way in Beijing (which is hard because there is so much to take in), then head towards to Lotus Lane.

The best way for me to describe what Lotus lane is like, is similar to Darling Harbour in Sydney. It is an ‘area’ more than a lane that sits around Qianhai Lake. 

At night it is buzzing, an electric light show of lasers and nightclub strobes – street food and countless restaurants, during the day it is the complete opposite, and it made me question if I was in the same place when I saw it in daylight. 

We had some cocktails the night before – they were OK – potent. One cocktail was like drinking two, alcohol wise. We didn’t eat here as there are many more interesting and cheaper places to eat in Beijing. But the buzz of the atmosphere and people watching is a great way to start a night.

It is OVER PRICED. We stopped at a tea house during the day for some green tea – 500RMB for a pot! (about $78AUD) ARE YOU SERIOUS?

 

A picture is worth a thousand words - 798 Art District

Hands down, the 798 Art district on the outskirts of Beijing's ring roads, has to be my second (only to the Great Wall) favorite place I visited. EVERYWHERE you look there is something happening. From graffiti to posters, sculptures to architectural buildings. the 798 district has it all... And I mean all. Cafes, wine bars, boutique clothing stores, real coffee (it is one comfort from home I cannot live too long without) bric-a-brac items and retro music - it can all be found here.

Putting it bluntly - I could live in this place!

The streets are a maze of sensory pleasures, constantly stimulating you as you move through the space.

Lonely Planet have a great little write up on this place with directions and comments from other travelers.

How do you get here - get a cab! its so cheap and it saves you a lot of hassel - Its about a 20min ride out of the heart of the city and will cost you about 70RMB (around $10AUD). Well worth a visit and save a whole day for it! It normal opens around 10am and its completely free to get in. There are some exhibitions though, inside the complex, that charge a very small fee of between 6-12RMB (about $1-$2AUD).

If there is one thing you must not miss in Beijing... the 798 Art District is it!