From political protests to pollution scares, the world is witnessing one of the most talked about Olympics in history. And the torch hasn’t even reached Beijing yet. Explorer Publishing’s Helen Spearman gives you the lowdown on what else the city has to offer.

While the legacy of the Olympics remains to be seen, the swell of excitement caused by the games has certainly thrust sports to the forefront of local minds in Beijing. Meanwhile, the older generation continues to play mahjong and practice tai-chi in parks all over the city, all through the year. And as architectural wonders like the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube are finished, temples stand as they have for centuries.

Even without the upheaval caused by the Olympic juggernaut, this is a city in flux. Affluent shoppers in designer labels walk among beggars, while ancient hutongs are tucked in the shadows of towering skyscrapers. Michelin-starred restaurants and tiny hotpot cafes vie for your attention; five-star hotels and courtyard B&Bs offer varied accommodation while shopaholics and history buffs are both amply catered for. In short, Beijing offers vast choice of ways to spend your time and money.

The city has always attracted tourists with its wealth of temples, parks and tombs but with the Olympic flame comes a new wave of traveller. Many will be combining watching sport with exploring this manic metropolis, so what is there to do once the medals have been handed out? These are Explorer Publishing’s Must Dos while in Beijing:

Climb The Wall
Mao Zedong said ‘Bu dao changcheng fei hao han’, or, ‘You’re not a real man until you climb the Great Wall’. Whether you visit the heavily restored Badaling, less crowded Simatai and Mutianyu (Mutianyu Town, Huairou county, 010 6162 6505) or the desolate Jingshanling (Gubeikou, Luanping county, Hebei province, 031 4883 0222), seeing the Great Wall in all its glory is a must. You can even camp overnight on some sections.


Stroll Tiananmen
Tiananmen Square has been the site of protests and celebrations throughout history. Located in the heart of Beijing, it’s the world’s largest patch of concrete, and a great place to watch people, fly a kite or amble about. Early birds can catch the daily flag raising ceremony at dawn.



Eat Duck
Roasted in a special oven, the skin on peking duck is crispy, while the meat is tender. It is delicious wrapped in a thin pancake with scallions, sliced cucumbers and sweet plum sauce. Quanjude, established in 1864, is the best known (and most touristy) place to try Beijing kaoya (peking duck). There are a dozen locations in Beijing but the one at 14 Qianmen Xi Dajie, Doncheng (010 6304 8987), where Mao and Nixon dined together, is the most famous.

Shop At The Silk Market
Prepare to bargain hard at the Silk Market in Chaoyang. This bustling, seven-floor indoor market sells everything from pearls to silk to fake designer gear. It’s a favourite with tourists and locals, and there’s a Quanjude where you can tuck in to peking duck after a day of shopping.



Chow Hot Pot
Sitting around this bubbly pot of herbal broth (huo guo), diners place paper-thin sliced meats, noodles and vegetables in to cook, then dip them in sesame or peanut sauce. Beijingers like lamb the most, and while you can choose a non-spicy broth, locals opt for ma la (spicy). Try Hot Loft (8 Gongti Xi Lu, Chaoyang, 010 6501 7501) for individual servings with a good choice of broths and sauces.


Fly A Kite
Buy a kite at San Shi Zhai Kite Store (010 8404 4505) in Xicheng where the Liu family has been making bamboo frame kites for three generations. Then head to nearby Beihai Lake and see how high you can fly.




Wander The Hutongs
There is no better way to see how the locals live than to walk the quickly disappearing hutongs (alleyways) of Beijing. Expect to see beer drinking, intense games of mahjong, pigeon walking, toddlers running around with kaidangku (pants with a slit in the crotch so youngsters can relieve themselves anywhere) and women steaming dumplings.



Enter The Forbidden City
Until 1925, no ordinary folk were allowed inside the imperial residence. Covering a square kilometre, the city warrants repeat visits because there is simply so much to see. Try weekday mornings to avoid the crowds.




Marvel At The Temple Of Heaven
This is where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would come to worship and to pray for a good harvest. While the temple itself is impressive, seeing pensioners doing their morning exercise in the surrounding Tiantan Park is delightful.




Meet The Giant Pandas
Head to the Beijing Zoo and see the iconic, cuddly giant pandas. While there’s plenty more to see here, including the Beijing Aquarium (www.bj-sea.com), the pandas are the main attraction.




Useful Beijing websites include:
http://en.beijing2008.cn - Full information on the Beijing Olympics
http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn - Online city guide from the Beijing Tourism Administration
www.thebeijingguide.com - Virtual travel guide on Beijing
www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/listings - Community and entertainment listings

Where to stay:
Five-Star
Grand Hyatt, Chongwen, 010 8518 1234, www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com
Kempinski, Chaoyang, 010 6465 3388, www.kempinski-beijing.com
Ritz-Carlton, Xicheng, 010 6601 6666, www.ritzcarlton.com

Four-Star
Jianguo, Chaoyang, 010 6500 2233, http://www.hoteljianguo.com

Three-Star
Bamboo Garden, Xicheng, 010 5852 0088, http://www.bbgh.com.cn


For more information on visiting Beijing check out the Beijing Mini Guide, a handy book packed with insider tips, maps and essential information. If you're thinking about living in this metropolitan marvel or have been a citizen for years, the Beijing Residents' Guide is an indispensable guide to living, working, exploring and enjoying the city.

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