Things to Do in Beijing: Hutong, Peking Opera, Beijing Duck, Must-See Attractions

by Bella Wei Editor

Things to Do in Beijing

Stroll along Nanluogu Lane

Nanluogu Lane is the funkiest hutong in Beijing. With the length of 800 meters, Nanluogu Lane is the best-preserved hutong of Yuan Dynasty (1206AD-1368AD). At night, people hustle and bustle around this hutong area. On the both side of lane stand various kinds of shops and snack booths. It is also a third famous bar street after Sanlitun and Shichahai bar streets in Beijing. It is very enjoyable to roam in the boutiques and souvenir shops and have a taste of Beijing snacks. How to get to: Bus No.107, 124, 635 to Baochao Hutong Stop or bus No.118, 13, 823, 850 to Luoguo Lane Stop.

Buy Handicrafts in Panjiayuan Flea Market

Panjiayuan Flea Market is the most famous flea market which sells antique stuffs and other handicraft. About 60,000 to 70,000 people visit the market at weekend and it once received thousands of foreign visitors. Even the leaders of other countries like Hillary Clinton had purchased here.
In the past, real curios could be picked up here but now it is hard to find a real antique. It still attracts many antique lovers to show their "treasures". You can not only purchase various types of beautiful handicrafts but also explore the real old Beijing trough the old stuff and stories. Location: the southwest of Panjiayuan Bridge, South road of East third ring road, Chaoyang District. Telephone: 010-67100298

Eat Beijing Duck in Pianyifang or Quanjude

Beijing Duck is divided into two types according to cooking methods. After being slaughtered, eviscerated and rinsed in the water, the fat ducks are then soaked in the boiling water for a short time before they are hung up to dry. During hanging, the maltose syrup is smeared on the surface of the ducks. After hanging for 24 hours, the ducks are roasted in an oven. The famous restaurant to enjoy this kind of duck is Quanjude Restaurant. The traditional way is to roast ducks in either closed oven or hung oven till the meat is slowly cooked. Pianyifang Restaurant is very skillful to cook this kind of ducks. It is very indispensable to taste Beijing Duck for tourists to Beijing.

Addresses of Quanjude:
a. No.30, Qianmen Street, Chongwen District
b. No.44 Dongjiao Minxiang (near Tiananmen Square)
Telephone: 010-65122265
c. The 6th floor of Xiushui Mansion, No.8 of East Daqiao Road, Chaoyang District
d. No.217 of Xihe Qianmen
Telephone: 010-63048992
Addresses of Pianyifang:
a. No.87, Tiantan Road, Chongwen District (Near Tiantan Temple)
Telephone: 010-67014280
b. No.15, Middle East Street, Yongding Gate, Chongwen District
Telephone: 010-67020584
c. No.6, Middle North 3th Ring Road, Xicheng District
Telephone: 10-58572687

Wandering in Beijing Hutong Areas

If you want to experience the old Beijing and Beijingers' lifestyle, you should visit Hutong areas. Hutongs once predominated the city. Rickshaw drivers provide the tours in Hutongs but better and inexpensive way is to rent a bike. Riding and lost in the view of Hungtong will be very enjoyable. It is easy to find stops to rent bikes near Hutong areas.

Watching Peking Opera

Beijing Opera or Peking Opera is very traditional theatre form. You may think that it is hard for you to understand what performers are singing but it is still very interesting to enjoy the costumes, mask and beautiful headwear.

Visit Must-See Beijing Attractions

Visit Must See Attractions Forbidden City

Beijing is one of most-visited destinations in China. It also houses numerous attractions. But it is unnecessary to visit every attraction in Beijing for tourists. Which attractions are must-see and can represent Beijing. Great Wall and Forbidden City, of course, is on the list. Chairman Mao Zedong once said that he who doesn't reach the Great Wall is not a true man. This famous motto and its magnificence encourage more tourists to climb Great Wall. Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from Ming Dynasty, houses extensive collections of artworks and artifacts and other treasures. Besides these two sights, some other spots like Ming Tombs, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven also highlight your trip.