12.10.07

Beijing: 36 Hours by the Gray Lady

Posted in Beijing, Travel/Tourism at 21:52 by Mul

The Sunday New York Times gives their version of a 36-hour weekend itinerary for Beijing. Personally, I don’t have any huge argument with it: Beihai Park, Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City, roast duck at Dadong, a drink at a bar in the Drum and Bell Tower neighborhood, the Imperial Academy, jazz at Centro in the Kerry Centre Shangri-la or rock at D-22 in Haidian district and, finally, shopping for “antiques” at the Panjiayuan flea market. The Times gives a few hotel suggestions: the Grand Hyatt and two courtyard hotels, the Hotel Côté Cour SL and the Bamboo Garden.

My weekend trip itinerary would not be incredibly different. I would consider adding in a walk down Nan Luo Gu Xiang (also, head over to www.nlgx.org for an outstanding map of the neighborhood), “cultural” shopping on Liulichang, the Summer Palace, and perhaps a stop at the Urban Planning Museum located a hair south of Tiananmen Square.

My big question marks are with their dinner recommendations: dinner at Kong Yiji (Zhejiang cuisine) and Pure Lotus (vegetarian food). First, the vegetarian restaurants are at best a novelty, even for true vegetarians, who can do just as well at regular restaurants in China. Second, why recommend Zhejiang cuisine for a visitor to the North? For a first time visitor to Beijing, how about dumplings? Or a courtyard restaurant such as Hua Jia Yi Yuan on Gui Jie?

All in all, though, a strong effort.

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