DK Travel : Beijing : Eastern Beijing

East of central Beijing, in a corridor between the Second and Third Ring Roads, is the district of Chaoyang. It’s not an area that is particularly old and it doesn’t have very many significant monuments, but it is home to two main clusters of international embassies, and it is where a large proportion of the city’s foreign expatriate community chooses to live. As a result, Chaoyang is the city’s entertainment and nightlife center, and, for the visitor, it is the prime area for eating and shopping.

Distances in eastern Beijing are considerable and it may be preferable to take taxis between some of the sights For more modern architecture in eastern Beijing See Beijing Olympics 2008

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A Walk From Ri Tan Park to Sanlitun

Morning

The American-style diner Steak and Eggs (5 Xiushui Jie), which is behind the Friendship Store, opens for pancake-platter breakfasts at 7:30am. Well fed, head north up embassy-lined Jianhua Lu to enter Ri Tan Park via the south gate. This is one of the city’s best parks, with an old sacrificial altar, a rockery, and a small lake with the waterside Stone Boat café. Exit via the west gate onto Ritan Lu, which is lined by shops with signs in Cyrillic. This area is Yabao Lu, Beijing’s Russian neighborhood. Walk north to Aliens Street Market, a two-story jumble of cheap clothing, shoes, and cosmetics. Continue on to the next major junction and turn right on to busy Chaoyang Men Wai Dajie, lined with malls and the Dong Yue Miao temple.

Afternoon

Departing the temple, turn left and then take the second left into Gongren Lu. This takes you up to a park with a lake and then the Workers’ Stadium. Circle the stadium to exit via the north gate onto Gongren Tiyuchang Bei Lu. Head east until you come to a foot bridge, which allows you to cross this eight-lane boulevard safely. It deposits you in front of Yaxiu Market for more bargain shopping. Continue east until Sanlitun Bei Lu, the heart of the city’s entertainment district: bars The Tree and Bookworm , plus restaurant Alameda are all just a few minute’s walk from here.
Afunti

A Xinjiang restaurant, which means lamb kabobs, flat breads, plus live bands and the inevitable audience participation. It may be touristy but it’s fun (see Afunti).
Alameda

Beautiful modern restaurant serving Brazilian-inspired contemporary cuisine (see Alameda).
Aliens Street Market

Another in the same mold as the Silk Market, but with a pronounced Slavic twist (see Aliens Street Market).
Ancient Observatory

Dating to 1442, Beijing’s observatory is one of the oldest in the world. In fact, there was an even earlier Yuan-dynasty (1279–1368) observatory also located on this site but no trace of that remains. Today, a collection of reproduction astronomical devices lies in the courtyard, some decorated with fantastic Chinese designs. There are more impressive instruments on the roof.
Aria

The Continental-Asian fusion cuisine here constitutes possibly the most satisfying dining experience in Beijing (see Aria).
Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant

It is the opinion of a great many Beijingers that there is no finer duck than that served here (see Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant).
Bellagio

Packed until the early hours with hip Beijingers filling up on carbs before moving on to one of the clubs up the street (see Bellagio).
Blue Zoo Beijing

Not a zoo at all, but an excellent modern aquarium, reckoned to be the best of its kind in Asia. The main attraction is a central tank holding literally thousands of fish, plus there are also 18 additional tanks with specifically themed displays (see Blue Zoo Beijing).
China World Shopping Mall

The Silk Market and Yaxiu Market sell the counterfeits, but this is where you come for the originals (see China World Shopping Mall).

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Restaurant price categories

For the equivalent of a meal for two made up of a range of dishes, served with tea, and including service.
- under ¥100
- ¥100–¥250
- ¥250–¥500
- over ¥500