traveldk.com

This was the home of Beijing Opera’s greatest ever performer (1894–1961). The rear rooms have been left with their traditional furniture as it was when he died. Others contain a hagiographic account of his life, as well as diagrams of the stylized movements required by the form and a video of Mei, already 61, but still playing the young girl roles for which he was famous (see Mei Lanfang).

Built in 1875 and once home to Chiang Kai Shek (you can stay in his suite) and, later, the Yugoslav Embassy. Today, it still has a bit of a Socialist feel but the courtyard setting is pleasant, and there’s a Japanese restaurant on site.

Once upon a time this was officially the only store tourists could visit. Now it’s the last place you’d want to shop; it’s overpriced and has notoriously unhelpful staff. Visit instead for a glimpse of how shopping in Beijing was in the good old bad old days.

Fundazzle is a massive indoor kid’s playground. Loud and bright, it has a two-story jungle gym, a vast plastic ball-filled pool, trampolines, swings, and a host of other activities and enticements with which to reward young children who’ve just had to endure hours of being dragged round the Forbidden City.

Gui Jie, or Ghost Street, is a mile-and-a-quarter (2-km) stretch of Dong Zhi Men Nei Dajie that come nightfall is jammed with cars double-parked outside its string of around one hundred or so restaurants, many of which open 24 hours. The roadside is all festively lit with strings of red lanterns bobbing in the breeze, while most establishments favor corny, old-China décor with lots of red lacquer and pagoda motifs, and waitresses in silk tunics. This is the home of hotpot, although all regional Chinese cuisines are represented here.

Guaranteed meat free, although many dishes feature “mock meat,” which can look like the real thing.

A park created for a hit TV series complete with pavilions, lake, and zigzag bridge.