5 Non-Tourist Destinations in Beijing

by Josh Lew on

Everyone is looking forward to the Olympics. It is expected that well over half-a-million visitors will descend on Beijing during the Games. While all those people will probably contribute to the excitement and energy of the event, it going to be crowded. Imagine trying to visit The Great Wall of China or the Forbidden City in mid-August. The crowds will make a packed weekend at Disney World look like a trip to one of the monasteries where the monks aren’t allowed to speak.

True, many touristy sites will be engorged with sightseers, but Beijing is a huge and wide-ranging city with plenty of corners that will go unnoticed by the visiting masses.

Here are a few places that are well worth visiting but will most likely end up under the radar of the average Olympic tourist.

1. Dashanzi Art District (a.k.a. 798 Art Zone) is the epicenter of Beijing’s independent arts scene. The area is made up of converted factory buildings that now act as art galleries for some of China’s most noteworthy talents. Not an art fan? Dashanzi is still worth a visit for its cafes, tailors, and restaurants. Though the neighborhood has recently gone through a period of gentrification, the arts scene is alive and well and worth a look.

2. The Golden Resources Shopping Mall is located in Haidian District. Yes, it’s in the guidebooks, so it’s not much of a secret, but it’s easy to get lost in. Or rather, it’s easy to lose the crowds by wandering through the twisting passages and multiple levels. There are surprises and bargains all over the place. Even if you are not a hardcore shopper, this is a great place to browse, snap some pictures, and maybe get a souvenir.

3. If you must visit the Great Wall, know that there are other options besides the popular spots at Badaling and Juyongguan. Though it is a little further afield, Simatai is one of the better Wall sites for more than one reason. Unlike the sections nearer the city, Simatai has not been completely rebuilt, meaning you are actually seeing some of the original structures. It is a bonus that it is much less crowded than other sites and boasts some magnificent scenery.

4. Lianhuachi Park has many of the attractions found in the more popular Beihai Park. The pavilions, ponds, rock gardens, and flowers (including thousands of lotuses) are straight out of a classical Chinese painting. Though it is a popular spot for Beijingers, most tourists will probably opt for the more famous Beihai, leaving you in Lianhuachi to snap photos of the ponds and practice tai chi with the locals.

5. Longfusi Snack Street (Dongcheng District) is the place to go for authentic Beijing eats. Restaurants line both sides of the street and there are plenty of vendors as well. Those who want to wander the city guided by their stomachs might also want to try some of the mom-and-pop joints located in the city’s many (but fast disappearing) alleyways (hutong).

Photos
Dashanzi gallery by pmorgan
Simatai Great Wall by +Rachel

Halal Inn — Britain’s first Islamic pub. Huh?

by Abha Malpani on

Britain’s first Islamic pub “Halal Inn” recently opened its doors in Oldham. It’s being marketed as a “pub” that offers everything any pub would, except alcohol. So…urrr…it’s a cafe, no? A cafe where you can play pool, listen to Islamic music, eat Asian food. So it’s a cafe targeted to the Muslim population in Oldham.

Fine. It’s great to have hangouts that adhere to certain cultural/religious rules, it offers diversity — I’m happy that people are building places catering to specific lifestyles.

Non-Muslims may not understand how significant this place may be for Muslims, but why can’t they market it like that then? I mean: it’s not a pub (so don’t call it one); it’s not for non-Muslim people — if it was an open establishment welcoming everyone who wants to go out and not drink, they would not call it “Halal Inn”; the article says that although everyone is welcome, the crowd is predominantly male.

So to rephrase: Britain has opened its first Islamic cafe for Muslim men. Good for them. But why is this place being glorified to deceive? It’s not a novel concept, in fact, it’s not even a clear concept.

Instead of trying to modernize and open a clearly Islamic idea by tagging it an “pub”, they would have been better off (and more successful) if they made it into a full-fledged cultural cafe, perhaps more “Arab” style than Muslim. Sheesha, Arabic music, ethnic decor, typical Islamic food, Arabic tea from a big mud pot, etc; then it would have a concept, serve the Muslim population, and be of cultural interest to a much wider audience.

Pay what you want (or not!) cafe in Washington

by Abha Malpani on

What would you do if you went to a cafe and didn’t have to pay unless you wanted to? Would you pay? Or take advantage of free food and coffee?

Terra Bite Lounge in Washington is one such place. This “upscale voluntary cafe” has no price-list and no cash register. You can eat and drink whatever you like, and pay if you want and when you want, by putting the money in a slot by the counter.

The cafe has been running for two years now, with surprising success. You’d think they’d have gone bankrupt by now, but they are actually breaking even.

Some people pay less than they should, some pay more, but most people do land up paying. According to the owners, its success boils down to peoples honesty, and the fact that this policy makes most customers feel trusted and valued. Also, the freedom of paying when they want (for example) just once a week has been a big contributor to its prosperity.

Their site screams that they are not a charity, they are not saints, and not activists. By maintaining an upscale decor and flexible payment system, they attract a decent and loyal crowd.

If I went to such a cafe, I would pay what I’d pay for a coffee anywhere else or I’d feel like a cheapskate. However, if the coffee was bad I’d have to force a penny out, and I’d never go back. What would you do?

Cafe-in-a-box

by Jerry Guo on

For all you lucky New Yorkers, from now until December 29th, make your way to the Time Warner Center, and you can sip a nice cup of espresso next to this cafe-in-a-box. It can transform itself in 90 seconds flat, and in other forms, can function as kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, living room, or library. I do wonder who’d want to read a book in basically what is a crate.

What’s interesting about this cafe is there’s a) a Mac sitting on the counter, apparently just there to look cool b) a toilet, which kinda undermines the aforementioned cool factor.