I have always preferred Beijing to Shanghai, for the city is more cultural and less stressful than my hometown.

And probably for the above two reasons, the dining options are less extensive and sophisticated, as Beijing people are much more casual and less demanding.

This time I chose to stay at the Grand Hyatt because of its convenient location. The hotel is decent, but the rooms do need some revamping. I visited the hotel’s in-house Chinese restaurant, Made in China, which purportedly serves the best duck in town, but I must say it was quite a disappointment. The duck was very oily and quite tasteless, and moreover, for such a high-end restaurant, the service was close to non-existent.


Happily, I had few better experiences: one is Xiao Wang Fu, located in the Ritan Park, a perfect venue for dinners when the weather is warm, featuring simple and tasty local fare at very reasonable price.

Ding Ding Xiang is also great place to go with a group of friends. Each person is provided with his own hot pot, and you can order a huge variety of meat, vegetables and fish, choose your own sauce and start cooking for yourself at your own pace. It is fresh, good, hearty and fun.

Apart from the must-see landmarks such as the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, the 798 Dashanzi Art District is also worth a half-day excursion, an ex-factory compound that was converted into a contemporary art centre, where one can stroll along the galleries and chill out in some avant-garde cafes.

Conversely, go to Nanluogu Xiang, an old hutong filled with hip eateries and designer boutiques.

The day I left Beijing was a most memorable one; it started snowing quite early in the morning, and by the time I was heading to the airport, the whole city was covered in white. The scenery was just so beautiful, pure and serene.

This is one of very rare moments that I regret not having an iPod (no, I don’t have one, have to learn how to download first…) It would have been great to listen to some Mozart piano sonatas while sitting back and being driven through the almost-empty wide avenues. Nature and music intertwined, what more could I ask for?

Perhaps a glass of champagne as an accompaniment?

Photo credits: flickr.com