Beijing Expert

It’s easy to tell tea is China’s national drink, tea is consumed in restaurants, at home and carried around all day in transparent thermos flasks. It’s a serious habit, and one that hasn’t been broken by the introduction of coffee or the machinations of sugary soda companies.

Over 4,000 years ago, a legendary ruler of China named Shen Nong insisted his drinking water be boiled, while sitting under a tree a single leaf dropped into his cup and turn his purified water brown. When he braved a sip, he found the new drink refreshing and thus began the cultivation of the tea plant. (more…)

Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BC was also known as Master Kong or Kongzi. Born in the late-Zhou dynasty, his social philosophy has remained central to Chinese and Asian thinking for over 2,500 years. Parents still teach children Confucian virtues and the Five Confucian Classics remain among the most widely-read books in the world.

The end of the Zhou dynasty was a period of constant small-scale warfare between rival landlords and these disputes left much of the population in poverty. To those who lived in this time of chaos, public morals seemed in decline and grim prophets warned that the country would soon fall into total anarchy. (more…)

It’s easy to be a cheap to get drunk in China and it is an opportunity worth taking. Cultural barriers disappear under the revelry and camaraderie a shared drink. For every tale of Chinese history and tradition that are read through stodgy books, there are a thousand more fascinating stories about the country and its people that are told over the fifth glass of baijiu (白酒).

Inebriates often eulogize the inventor of alcohol, but in China it’s unclear to whom the praise is due. Some say it was Yi Di, a daughter of one of the rulers of the Xia dynasty. According to legend, after one taste, dad immediately banned the fiery liquid fearing that a future ruler would overindulge himself and lose the throne. Others say it was a man named Du Kang, also from the Xia or while some date it even earlier to the mythic Huang Emperor. For some, alcoholic drinking occurred in harmony with the creation of the universe.

Less speculatively, 5,000-year-old alcohol-drinking vessels were discovered in Shandong Province in 1987. An early milk-based drink called lilou was superceded by liquor distilled from cereals. Those who first drank this liquor must have thoroughly enjoyed themselves because records are incomplete and scientists can’t decide whether it was pioneered in the Eastern Han, Song, Tang or Yuan dynasties. The cereal based concoctions have evolved into modern Chinese spirits called baijiu (white alcohol). (more…)

Ancient Egyptian and Babylonian characters were invented over 5,000 years ago and have gone through golden ages of development and use, but only the ancient Chinese characters have survived the test of time and continue to be used.

(more…)

The most important Chinese holiday is Chinese New Year, which is known in China as Spring Festival (chūnjié 春节). The festival ushers in the lunar New Year and is the West’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve rolled into one. From sun up to sun down, this is a time when the whole country throws itself into celebrating and eating.

No one is quite sure exactly when or where the festival originated. Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a monster called Nian (nián 年) that attacked Chinese villages every spring, eating anything that came its way – people, animals, plants and the odd building. One spring, villagers hung red paper on their doors and threw bamboo on a fire when Nian arrived. The monster was so startled by the bright colors and loud crackling noise of the burning bamboo that it turned and fled. Today the word “nian” is the Chinese word for year. (more…)

An easy way to find out about current and upcoming exhibitions is to consult the numerous free English-language magazines. Here is our collection of museums and galleries.

Ancient Observatory 古观象台
This observatory was built in 1446 on a watchtower that was part of the city wall. The wall has vanished and today this Ming dynasty relic is surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers and busy highways creating a photo-friendly architectural contrast. The observatory has displays of rare stargazing instruments including some given to the emperor by Jesuit monks in the 17th century.
Address: 2 Dongbiaobei Hutong, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District 东城区建国门外东裱褙胡同2号
Phone: 6512 8923
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, peak-season; 9am to 4pm, off-season
￥: 10

Beijing Tokyo Art Projects 北京东京艺术工程
This gallery hosts exhibits of Japanese and Chinese artists that have drawn rave reviews. It is located in the now-fashionable 798 District in Dashanzi, an area of reconverted factories which, like New York’s SOHO, is full of new galleries, bars and restaurants.
Address: 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Dashanzi Art District, Chaoyang District 朝阳区大山子艺术区酒仙桥路4号
Phone: 8457 3245
Opening hours: 10am to 6:30pm Tuesday to Sunday
￥: Free
Website: www.tokyo-gallery.com (more…)

The real Chinese food is very different from what you know. There is no General Cao’s chicken nor the fortune cookies. Even the sweet and sour pork tastes very different.

Our new Beijing Restaurant page is up. We categorized some of Beijing’s best restaurants for you with address and phone number. (If you really miss a slice of that delicious pizza or just had enough of animal intestines. Don’t worry, we listed western restaureants in Beijing too.)
Explore and enjoy!