4 iconic Beijing hot spots
Before you think your tour to the touristy spots means you've seen Beijing, check out these four iconic spaces.
YugongYishan
Legendary live house YugongYishan is practically a second home for Beijing’s music lovers and hipsters.
The venue, named after a Chinese proverb about a tenacious old fool who defied skepticism to move a mountain, is famous for its consistently brilliant lineup of local and international acts.
YugongYishan also hosts regular DJ nights.
Getting there: West Courtyard, Former Site of Duan Qirui Government, Zhang Zizhong Road 3-2, 100007 Dongcheng district, Beijing, +86 (0)10 8402 8477 (office) and +86 (0)10 6404 2711 (bar), www.yugongyishan.com
UCCA
No trip to the art district of 798 is complete without a visit to the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, or the UCCA. The art center is housed in a former Bauhaus factory built in the 1950s, and has over 8,000 square meters of exhibition space.
Established painters, sculptors, photographers and film directors such as Sui Jianguo, Liu Xiaodong and Hou Hsiao-Hsien have shown their work here, along with a revolving cast of emerging artists.
Those who like what they see might want to head down to the UCCA store, which sells a carefully curated selection of lithographs, photographs, sculptures and art books.
Getting there: 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100015, +86 (0)10 8459 9269 / 8459 9387, www.ucca.org.cn. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., closed on Monday.
Nanluoguxiang
Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing's more famous hutongs. The atmospheric strip, which spans several kilometers, is lined with shops, bars, cafes and galleries that can easily take hours to explore.
Getting there: Nanluoguoxiang is located in Dongcheng District, Beijing 100009. Most taxi drivers should know how to get there.
Emperor Hotel
The Emperor Hotel rooftop bar, Yin, commands a majestic view of Beijing. Literally. The hotel is located just opposite the east gate of Forbidden City, so patrons get to gaze at the magnificent dwelling of China’s former emperors while they down beers and cocktails on the roof at sunset.
The hotel itself is a delight, with 55 well-appointed rooms, and facilities a rooftop Jacuzzi and a fitness center.
Getting there: 3 Qihelou Street, Dongcheng District, Dong-Cheng, 100006 Beijing, +86 (0)10 6526 5566, www.theemperor.com.cn
