Weekend trip to Beijing

By Yang Sung-jin
Publisher:The Korea Herald - Publication Date: 20-02-2008

Beijing is now almost automatically associated with the forthcoming Olympics. Alas, it will be difficult to reserve a plane ticket and hotel room during the crowded summer period.

But this discouraging prospect has not put off a new breed of Korean travelers, who have discovered the exhilarating excitement of weekend trips abroad. Beijing has emerged a hot destination, thanks to cheap flights to the city (which are often cheaper than flights to Jeju Island).

There is a catch, however. Beijing, the capital of China and tourist hub, not only has a rich history but also hosts countless sites worth visiting.

It is both a blessing and a curse (or the other way around) for weekend travelers, because so many options confound and complicate the task of choosing which to visit -- and which to skip. By any measure, there are simply too many interesting places to see in Beijing.

If your first time in Beijing, the list is likely to include the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. But there are an increasing number of Koreans who have already taken in the majestic palace and walked along the wall.

Repeat travelers to Beijing, therefore, should look elsewhere, at least beyond the main tourist attractions, and that's the gist of recommendations from a host of recent guide books for Koreans visiting Beijing.

Since Tiananmen Square is at the heart of the city, it's a good starting point. A subway ride to the Tiananmen Square Station is also an intriguing experience for Seoulites, because both train systems are usually overcrowded to the point of near suffocation. About 10-minute's walk from Tiananmen Square, you can drop by at the Lao She Teahouse (ÀÏÉá²è¹Ý) where high-grade tea and traditional performances are offered. Most tour groups from Korea and elsewhere go straight to the third floor to have some tea and watch the traditional shows, but the second floor can be more rewarding. Before 2pm, guests can use a cozy and elegantly decorated VIP room at a sizable discount. The serene atmosphere, aided by the Chinese decorations and furniture, is a great pleasure that gets heightened when a waiter dressed in a traditional long gown warmly welcomes you and serves a cup of jasmine tea, the favourite of many old Beijingers, with its pure, clear taste and strong aroma.

The next stop of choice on the first day, or Saturday, is Wangfujing street -- Beijing's Myeongdong. It's the city's key shopping street and hordes of people fill the attractive and modern boulevards.

Wangfujing is now home to more than 280 famous brands from Beijing, such as Shengxifu hat store, Tongshenghe shoe shop and Wuyutai tea house. There's also a six-story bookstore and other shopping highlights, but many curious Koreans tend to check out the famous outdoor food districts, where you can taste a plethora of Chinese snacks and foods, some of which can be extremely exotic.

For Sunday, it's recommended to focus on about three key spots. Beijing University is an excellent starting point because it is not only China's top education institution but also one of the finest college campuses.

Similarly, the Beijing 798 Art District is a fine destination that can broaden your perspective of China and its modern art. The special district used to be the 718 Factory built in the early 1950s. The factory has been transformed into galleries, studios for artists, design companies, fashion shops, cafes, and bars. There are more than 300 art groups from China and abroad, and many of the galleries are free of charge for visitors, great for weekend travelers with a tight budget.

If you have already checked out other palaces and temples, it's time to visit the Temple of Heaven, registered on the Unesco World Heritage List in 1998, and contemplate its grandeur. A bonus is the hundreds of Chinese elderly people who gather in temple grounds, dancing and singing together.

For dinner on Sunday, Beijingers often recommend the Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant (beijingduck.com.cn), located on the east side of East Third Ring Road, north of Tuanjie Hu Park, Chaoyang East. It's not cheap but the restaurant is rapidly gaining reputation as the top place to enjoy the taste of the city's signature dish.

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