Last Day in Beijing - Day 4 (11th Aug '13)

On the fourth day of our Beijing trip, which was also the last day before we flied back to Singapore....we lazed on the bed a little before waking up to hotel breakfast.

Today, the itinerary was a leisure and unplanned one. We got on a cab from the lobby and headed out to Nanluogu Xiang.

Nanluogu Xiang

Nanluogu Xiang is one of the oldest hutongs (narrow streets or alleys), as it is called in Beijing. The 800 metres long alleyway stretches from North to South, lined with bars, cafes, restaurants, artsy shops, souvenir shops and boutiques. It attracts many tourists and locals alike, both old and young. One can easily spend half a day walking leisurely around the vicinity.

A small Japanese eatery decorated with interesting painting of octopus...

A shop selling printed T-shirts...

A Starbucks Coffee chain, located in a premise resembles an ancient Chinese residence.

Inside the Starbucks....posing and snapping pictures while hubby went ordering mid-morning perk-me-up!

The relaxing ambience in the Starbucks....

The Matcha au lait, which I had....nothing beats the one I had in Japan! *Missing Japan again*

Joy City Shopping Mall

After spending about 3 hours or less along Nanluogu Xiang, hubby brought the kids back to the hotel while I stopped by Joy City for shopping extravaganza! Joy City is located at 131 Xidan Beidajie, which spans 13 storeys, accommodates the largest digital cinema in China and the largest cosmetic shop in Beijing. There are a lot of international brands and boutiques available here. However it's a shame that the time I spent in here was too little, and I didn't cover the whole complex. I had to rush back to the hotel for dinner with my family before catching our flight back to Singapore.

There's a level within the premise which houses many Japanese brands and fashion. I wanted to buy everything! Snidel is just one of them!

However waiting for a cab in Beijing during heavy rain was a disaster. I was waiting in a beeline at the taxi stand for an hour plus with horrendous gusty wind and rain blowing into my direction, soaking wet with one hand holding my shopping bags and the other clutching helplessly to my almost-blown-away brolly. I was devastated and at the same time dead worried that I wouldn't make in time for the dinner which hubby had reserved earlier!

I stepped out from the queue and walked to the main road, trying to hail a taxi frantically. But to no avail, most of the taxis were occupied or rejected me, knowing that my staying location was around Wangfujing, a congested and crowded business district. There were a few illegal black taxis stopped and offered to send me back to the hotel, of course with much higher fare. But I turned them away politely. I was lucky to have read some forums online about the crackdown of illegal black taxis which is at large in Beijing city. Before I had nervous breakdown, a taxi slowed down and agreed to send me back to the hotel in Wangfujing.

So, here were the hauls from the Joy City in a 3-hour shopping spree.....yaayyyy! I won't say shopping in Beijing is cheap, especially in big malls...but at least the design is something which I can't find in Singapore, I guess??

We checked out from the Crowne Plaza Hotel where we stayed for 3 nights, at 6 p.m. Yes, hubby paid excess of half a day hotel stay. While waiting for the chartered cab to send us to Fangshan Restaurant tucked in Bei Hai Park....

Beijing Fangshan Restaurant

Fangshan Restaurant boasts a history of 80 years, serving five-starred menu featuring exquisite royal dishes, especially Man-Han banquet. It is located in the building of Yilan Hall of Daoning Palace, which was built during Qianlong reign of Qing Dynasty. It was said first established by some royal chefs from royal kitchen back in 1925. In October 2009, Fangshan Restaurant 'Qing Palace Imperial Court Food' manufacturing process was approved as Beijing municipal intangible cultural heritage. Sounds good to tempt anyone to try? Definitely NOT!....please read on

It was drizzling...the guy who walked beside hubby was our driver. He guided us to the Fangshan Restaurant, which was about 10 minutes walk from the entrance.

We were almost there to sample the imitation of imperial cuisine....excited? No?

Hubby was so anticipated to try the royal cuisine.....we were led into the main dining hall, brightly lit up with chandeliers, with high painted ceilings resembled gold coating and carvings.

The pillars with golden phoenix carvings...

The striking golden interior....

Browsing through the menu...

The emperor's throne.....

The waitress dressed as palace maid...

Dish 1: Cold dish...sliced marinated beef in Szechuan peppercorn.

Dish 2: Wild deer meat with chestnuts

Dish 3: Two pathetic looking deep fried prawns seasoned with salt

Dish 4: Braised sea cucumber

Dish 5: Braised toufu with imitation crab stick

Dish 6: Double boiled Buddha Jump Over the Wall

The total bill added up to SGD400 plus....a hefty price with such food presentation and standard! I would not recommend Fangshan if you really wish to sample royal cuisine...it's definitely not worth the money spent! Hubby jokingly teased that everyone should be conned for once if visiting China! Yeah....you are right! Was that a way to make yourself feel better?

The walkway leading to Fangshan....facing the calm Lake Beihai

After which, we transferred to the airport...bought some Godiva...my family's favourite. Bye bye Beijing...maybe we will be back again for winter?

Around the World in A Day - Beijing Day 3 (10th Aug '13)

Started off morning with a hearty breakfast in the hotel. That huge plate was my brekkie....with whole lots of wholesome eggs! We engaged the same driver as the previous day...which he charged us CNY800 for a day. He picked us up from the hotel's lobby at 8 a.m.

Summer Palace

The first place we visited on the third day was the Summer Palace, located 15 km from Central Beijing. Summer Palace is the biggest and the most well preserved royal park in China. It was built in 1750 with a luxurious royal garden for royal families which later became the main residence for royal members in the end of Qing Dynasty. It was then opened to public in 1924, and ranked as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998.

The Summer Palace attracts many to its natural view and the grand royal gardens, which can be divided into four sections namely the Court Area, Front Hill Area, Rear Hill Area and Lake Area, with total covered space of 742.8 acres.

We bought 3 entrance tickets, cost CNY60 per head. Operating hour is from 8.30 am to 5 pm.


Court Area is the first stop for visitors to enjoy the scenic view of Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.

East Palace Gate, the front entrance of Summer Palace.

Upon entering the East Palace Gate, Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshoudian) is the first architectural complex we visited. Just in front the courtyard, stands a sculpted bronze beast called Kylin, a beast with dragon head, lion tail, deer horn, and cattle hoof. Legend said that Kylin was a guardian of fire destruction.

The view of Kunming Lake.

Long Gallery or Long Corridor (Changlang), the longest corridor of 728 metres long among the Chinese classic gardens. The corridor offers a great observation platform of wide view of Kunming Lake and the Longevity Hill. Long Gallery was built by Emperor Qianlong in 1750, specially for his mother to walk outdoor regardless of weather, be it snow or rain, and at the same time took in the magnificent scenic view around.

The main highlight of the Long Gallery is the coloured paintings on every beams and along the entire  stretch of the walkway. It was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in early 1900s due to its long corridor and abundance of coloured paintings.

The Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyundian)

Took a Pleasure Boat Tours around Kunming lake......with 3 purchased tickets of CNY15 each. We boarded at Paiyun Dian and alighted at South Lake Island.

At the South Lake Island....The local girl was checking out on me...:)

Longevity Hill seen from far, across the Kunming lake.

Seventeen Arch Bridge, the largest bridge of all other 30 bridges in Summer Palace, with length of 150 metres and width of 8 metres. There are 544 distinctive lions sculptures with different postures and expressions on the columns of white marble parapets.

Standing at each end of the bridge are a pair of carved bizarre looking beasts which look like kylin, an auspicious animal in Chinese legends.

Gallery Pavillion

Monkeying around the Kunming Lake with Seventeen Arch Bridge at the background.

Son spotted with his fever patch on his forehead....poor baby. But he was much better than the night before.

Beijing World Park

It is located in Southwestern Fengtai District, 17 km from Tiananmen. The park spans an area of 46.7 hectares, with 100 world famous man-made miniature attractions from nearly 50 countries around the globe. Entrance ticket cost CNY100 per adult and CNY60 per child. 

First thing we did after entering the park, was to rent 2 motorised cars. The park was huge and we surely refused to walk around under the blazing sun. The rental cost quite a bomb for 2 hours. We went around the park in the motorised cars and returned them at the same place. It was easy to control the car...as if like you are driving, key to start the engine, 2 pedals, a brake and an accelerator. You are good to go!

The German Castle

Abu Simbel Temples

The Pyramids of Giza...a real camel for visitors to take pictures with...

Great Sphinx

India's Taj Mahal

Hubby controlled the car's steering while son sitting at the driver's seat, stepping on the accelerator. :D

Greece's Acropolis

The Leaning Tower of Pisa..with a typical must-pose picture! LOL....

St Peter's Basilica at Rome, Italy

Well-known Eiffel Tower

The Notre Dame de Paris

Stonehenge, England

Dutch Windmill

Red Square, Moscow

So yay....we toured around the world in less than 3 hours! But just a reminder for those who wish to visit during summer. Bring along caps, apply thick sunblock lotion and drink plenty of water...coz I saw kids fainted due to heatstroke!

After the World Park, we went for lunch.

Again, we over-ordered...sigh...talking about result of over famished! Stir fried broccoli with fungus.

Egg tofu with shrimp and ham.

One whole Beijing Roast Duck...with condiments. This dish alone was very filling and came in huge portion. So people, if you are ordering Beijing duck, do refrain yourself from order many unnecessary dishes which you impossibly can finish.

The whole duck was prepared in a few different ways..the crispy skin to be rolled with poh piah skin, the meat was served separately, and the leftover bones was stir fried with salt and pepper. We gave away most of the duck meat to our driver.

I love this one....the hot and sour soup. I could finish this most by myself.

Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

It is located in the Southern part of Beijing, with China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings. It occupies an area of 273 hectares which is 3 times bigger than the Forbidden City, built in 1420 for emperors to worship Heaven.

The long passageway leading to the Temple of Heaven, where many locals were seen spending their evening playing chess, erfu and card games.

The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest, stands at 38 metres in height and 30 metres in diameter, built on a round foundation. This towering complex is covered with a three-story, cone-shaped glazed tile roof in blue, crowned with a gilded golden knob on top.

Beijing Old Cloth Shoes

I hardly buy flat shoes but these pairs were too comfortable and many modern designs to choose from. Each of us ended up buying a pair. You can find a few shops along Wanfujing Pedestrian Street and even one across the street opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where we stayed.

Had steak dinner in the hotel, Angus Grill.

Kids had salmon steak.

A perfect cut...with sides of grilled veggies and potato.

Lobster soup...served with sour cream

A huge freshly baked loaf..while the kids looked on.

That's the end of our day 3 in Beijing.