I've been very busy over the past few weeks. The tourist season is starting to warm up in Beijing. I've been very pleased to see old friends and also friends of friends introduced by past clients.
It's the middle of May and spring has nearly gone. Temperatures are rising again in Beijing, air conditioners are in demand, and we're all so happy when we get a sunny blue sky. I went with some friends on a stroll down a hutong recently, and it's surprising what you can find. There are some hutongs being restored and developed, but the more they become famous, the more they become commercialised and crowded.
This hutong is getting well known, but for now is still very quiet, look no traffic and very few people!
The street life is so varied. Here we see some neighbours (and their dog) enjoying the afternoon playing mah jong.
This little shop sells exotic products from Nepal
The guy dressed up like a Confucian master actually is a man of many talents, giving clients advice on personal and company names, feng shui for their homes and offices, marriage counselling, choosing lucky days for events.....an all-round fortune teller!
Some grand renovated courtyard houses can be seen...but what an ugly exhaust pipe!
Now used as a school....I hope the students know how lucky they are...and retired cadres' centre.
It was a Prince's mansion before, read on......!
Further down the hutong, we came across 2 quite different food shops. I'm sure you would all like the noodles but I'm not so sure about the duck blood tofu.......
No 46 is an old factory compound which has been turned into a contemporary arts centre.
For relaxation, these prices are very attractive. (1 USD = 6.2 yuan RMB)
A new coffee shop has opened outside No 46.
And there's more choice around the corner. It may not be cheap but it's f....g good!What more would you want!
Thank goodness, a relevant blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, I actually need help about looking for a vacation rental in Beijing. Just linking it here, I need a relatively cheap one but also with a bit of quality
But before that, do you recommend having a tour package or would it be nicer to just travel without one?
Having a tour guide can save you time and money in the end, and show you things you'd never find out yourself. However, it's a matter of personal choice, since some people like to discover by themselves. If you do choose a guide, make sure they don't waste your time shopping (to get commission for themselves), or add on extra charges later.
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