DK Travel : Beijing

At the heart of Beijing is tradition, given physical form in the mighty Forbidden City, from where successive imperial dynasties have ruled since the 15th century. Neighboring Tian’an Men Square is the China of recent history, of red-flag socialism and Mao. But this is also a city on the move, as an all-pervading spirit of change makes Beijing the most 21st-century of capitals.

Rock and pop

Beijing is the Chinese city with all the best tunes. It has a thriving music scene supported by a host of small music bars and clubs (see Top 10 Music Bars). Punk and metal thrive but of far more interest are local folk rockers who mix ethnic instrumentation with Western genres.
Rou bing

Cooked bread filled with finely chopped and spiced pork. A variant is rou jiamo, which is a bun filled with diced lamb.
Ruifuxiang

Silk has been sold on this precise spot since 1893. Tailors can make blouses and qipaos (the old-style Chinese dress).
Saga International Youth Hostel

Featuring spotless doubles, triples, and dorm rooms, a communal kitchen and café, and a roof-top patio. Helpful English-speaking management organize ticket bookings and tours.
Sanlitun

Beijing’s main expat-friendly boozing district, Sanlitun is famed for its “Bar Street”, more properly known as Sanlitun Bei Lu. It also has the highest concentration of decent international restaurants (see Restaurants) and lots of boutique shopping (see Shops, Markets, and Malls). Streets around here, although modern, are at least tree-lined and, with plenty of cafés for refreshment stops, it’s a pleasant district in which to wander.

Sanlitun bar
Schlotzky’s

US-style deli for pastrami on rye and all the rest of it.
Science and Technology Museum

Exhibits at this suitably hi-tech looking complex start with ancient science and come bang up-to-date with space capsules and magnetic-levitation trains (see Science and Technology Museum).
Science and Technology Museum

Exhibits begin with ancient science, highlighting China’s “technological pre-eminence in history.” The technology comes up to date with Chinese space capsules, robots, and an Astro-vision Theater incorporating state-of-the-art cinematography. Although this museum opened only in 1988, a new science museum is already under construction and is due to open in time for the 2008 Olympics.
Science and Technology Museum

Lots of hands-on and interactive exhibits for children to pull, push, and even walk through. There is also an Imax-style movie theater and an indoor play area on the third and fourth floors of a separate building north of the main entrance (see Science and Technology Museum).
Scitech Hotel

A good-value option for both shoppers and hedonists, the four-star Scitech abuts a large department store and popular nightclub Banana. Standard rooms are a bit on the small side but are otherwise comfortable.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under ¥200
- ¥200–¥400
- ¥400–¥800
- ¥800–¥1400
- over ¥1400