See China » Daisy Wheeler

April Fool’s and Real Adventure

Daisy Wheeler — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:24:26 +0000

Online travel company Ctrip got a lot of people excited yesterday when they began advertising for adventure trips throughout China, including base jumping in Shanghai, capture the flag in a tiger park, and spending the day as a terracotta warrior.

However, those clicking through to book many of these unique trips were quickly disappointed — Ctrip was merely playing an April Fool’s Day joke on its customers. Even though the joke’s on us, let’s take a look at what’s on offer and how close we can actually get to the advertised level of adrenaline.

Base Jumping in Shanghai: The image is a strong one — a lone skydiver glides among the buildings of Pudong’s impressive skyline, man against his creation. Unfortunately, it’s pure Photoshop. Urban base-jumping would certainly attract a lot of attention, including from the police — such an activity would likely result in the jumper being arrested.

However, for those who wish to take to the skies, the Beijing Flying Man Club can offer lessons in paragliding (basically a parachute with a motor) in both English and Chinese, along with opportunities to practice the sport, sometimes in exotic locations including the Simatai Great Wall, and the Ming Tombs Reservoir. It’s not a dive off of Shanghai’s famous Jin Mao Tower, but probably it’s exciting enough for a Saturday afternoon.

Capture the Flag with Siberian Tigers: One wonders if the tigers would actually understand the rules of the game, or whether they’d be engaged in a different sport called “eat the contestants.” While this one is similarly not real, it is possible to see these magnificent animals do their thing. It requires a ride to Haerbin, the capital of China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, home of the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park. Covering 355 acres, the park is home to 500 rare Siberian tigers, which in the wild are still hunted for their pelts and other body parts used in traditional medicine.

Seeing the tigers in their element is not for everyone: one of the attractions is to purchase feed animals, such as chickens or pigs, to be brought out for the tigers to then hunt, kill and eat. It’s an amazing sight, but a bit too much for many people, including children. The practice has also sparked complaints from animal rights activists and may be stopped. At least it’s better than being chased by one of the animals while carrying a flag.

Posing as a Terracotta Warrior: There was a time when dressing up as a terracotta warrior would have won most Halloween parties held in China. However, it has been done before. Although this fictional opportunity to be part of history for a day would have only cost 75 RMB, it had actually been accomplished for free in 2006. A German art student, in violation of museum rules, leapt over a barricade and hid among the life-size statues, eluding guards searching for him, in part by remaining motionless and imitating the other figures. When he was finally discovered, he remained still as if he were actually a statue, and had to be carried out while still motionless.

For hassle-free terracotta warrior viewing, just go visit the Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warrior and Horse Museum, where numerous displays give you ample opportunity to see one of the world’s most important archaeological sites both in its entirety, and up close, as several statues are available for closer inspection.

Spring hiking near Beijing

Daisy Wheeler — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:55:21 +0000

Ok, so the, uh, increased amount of dust in the air is not what residents of Beijing had hoped for when the the weather first showed signs of warming up a couple of weeks ago. But think of it this way: it’s a spa day for the lungs! People pay lots of money to have their skin exfoliated, this is like a pulmonary system exfoliation, and it’s 100% complimentary.

This dust too shall pass, and when it does, Beijing’s very brief spring season will begin. Now, everyone knows that while spring is pleasant in Beijing, it is both fleeting and a poor cousin to autumn. But we’ll take those lemons and make lemonade with them.

Anyway put away your ice skates and your skis and getting ready to head outside and engage in more seasonal sports.

Hiking/Walking Easy, obvious and inexpensive, these activities don’t get too much better. If you haven’t hiked one of the wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China, start there. There are numerous sections, and even now with new “Wild Wall” regulations that prohibit hiking in some areas, the Wall is your oyster. Badaling is still the easiest section to reach, and while it is sometimes frowned upon for being too “new” and having too many visitors, walk 100 meters in either direction from then entrance and you’ve already dropped 80% of the crowd. Farther is Mutianyu, which has different facilities. It is also northeast of the city, rather than north-northwest, like Badaling. Way out, and you start reaching Simatai and Jinshanling, and it is possible to walk between the two in about three hours.

Another site for spring hiking is usually more popular in the autumn is the Fragrant Hills. Covering a wide area west of Beijing, two areas are perfect just after winter has ended: the Beijing Botanical Gardens, and Tan Zhe Temple. Both are fantastic spots to spend the day, hiking, picnicking, and otherwise getting some fresh air, sunshine and a little bit of exercise in a new area. Although it can be reached by bus, the Fragrant Hills are easier by car, or at least taxi. Also, because they are seen as “autumn” spots, there will be far fewer visitors in the first warm season of the year.

Some general common sense rules for hiking and walking in remote areas apply. If you are using a complex route, carry a global positioning system (GPS) unit, know how to use it, and know the route that you plan to follow. Carry a mobile phone, charge the battery, and make sure that it can be used within China. Even in rural areas mobile phone coverage is very good, but that doesn’t mean that in remote places you will be covered everywhere. If necessary, climb to higher ground to try to get an improved signal. Also, make sure you have someone to call if something goes wrong.

When visiting remote areas, carry plenty of water, the Beijing environs are exceptionally dry, so drink plenty of water. Also, carry a small first aid kit to deal with minor injuries.

Who’s Who on China’s Internet

Daisy Wheeler — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:14:48 +0000

The Internet and China are in the news together this week, with a whole lot of bluster about Google’s operations there, or not there, or somewhere. We’re not touching that one. However, China’s Internet is a vibrant place — it has the most users of any country, and some major companies have emerged, some of which are or will give their Silicon Valley compatriots a run for a lot of money.

Google’s biggest rival in China has long been Baidu.com. Baidu is the undisputed leader of search in China, with at least 60% of the market. Although Google supports searching in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters, Baidu supposedly offers better results to Chinese-language users because it “thinks” more like Chinese people do — whatever that means. Regardless, market survey after market survey has proved that Baidu is the market leader, with no real competition other than Google.

In the beginning, there was the holy trinity of the Chinese Internet — Netease, Sina and Sohu. These were the original “portal” sites, in the way that many early Web sites tried to offer all things to all users: search, news, e-mail, and more. While the once-mighty in the US have since fallen, such as AOL and Yahoo, these three continue to be among the most popular sites for Chinese users. Instead of becoming more streamlined and specialized, the huge number of links on each of their homepages indicates that they have only pushed harder into the general space. Although each has its own specialty, like games or bulletin boards, the two continue to offer a raft of mostly free services in an effort to maintain the largest slice of the pie of 330 million Internet users.

Of the three, the best known CEO is Sohu’s Charles Zhang Chaoyang. While getting his Ph.D. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he met Nicholas Negroponte, then head of MIT’s Media Lab. As the Internet was developing in the U.S., Negroponte and Zhang looked towards China, and Negroponte became one of Sohu’s (which translates as “search fox”) initial investors. Zhang has been Sohu’s only CEO since it was founded in the mid-1990s. Along with being a technology entrepreneur, Zhang is also an established outdoorsman and environmentalist.

The latest titan to emerge from China’s Internet deals not in content or search (at least not yet), but in deals — both business to business and business to consumer. The Alibaba.com Group operates not only Taobao.com, one of the world’s largest auction and retail sites, along with its eponymous www.alibaba.com, which connects buyers outside of China with producers and sellers inside the country. The Taobao juggernaut became so powerful that within three years from its launch, it drove eBay out of China, via its Eachnet site. Although it may difficult for users who don’t read Chinese, Taobao in many ways has become the department store for many Chinese consumers, both those who live in cities, who like the low prices they can find on the site, and for those who live in smaller cities and even rural areas, and have difficulty accessing a wide range of products.

Hot film happenings in Hong Kong

Daisy Wheeler — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:04:55 +0000

One of the top showcases for films from Hong Kong and the rest of China opened Monday, with the Asian Film Awards kicking off the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The red carpet for the Fourth Annual Asian Film Awards featured ethnic Chinese entertainers including actors Wu Chun, Julian Cheung Chi Lam and Daniel Wu, and actresses Zhou Xun, Li Bingbing, Yan Ni, Vivian Hsu, Zhu Xuan and Angela Chow.

Once the ceremony was underway, Chinese filmmakers from all parts of the country fared well. Director Zhang Yimou –now as well known for his production of the 2008 Olympic Games’s opening ceremonies as films such as “Hero” and “Raise the Red Lantern” — received a Lifetime Achicvement Award. Lu Chuan won yet another award for his cinematic depiction of the Nanjing Massacre, “City of Life and Death” (known in Chinese as “Nanjing! Nanjing!”), this time recognizing him as best director. Wang Xueqi was named best actor for his role in the Hong Kong-China co-production “Bodyguards and Assassins.” Canadian-born Nicholas Tse won best supporting actor, also for “Bodyguards and Assassins.” Taiwan-born rock musician Luo Dayou received the award for best composer for Johnnie To’s film “Vengeance.” Cao Yu won best cinematographer, also for “City of Life and Death.” Hong Kong director John Woo was given special recognition as 2009′s top-grossing director, an important if not commercial distinction.

Although it always attempts to present a regional slate and allow filmmakers from throughout Asia, including India’s Bollywood, to participate

One surprise at this year’s festival is the return of actress Tang Wei. She appeared in Taiwan-born and Oscar-winning director Ang Lee’s 2007 film “Lust, Caution,” creating a stir for appearing totally nude in sex scenes with well-known Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Tang’s performance earned her a ban from working in China, including film, television and modeling, for two years. Ironically, Leung, who also appeared nude in the same scenes, went on to star in “Red Cliff” parts one and two, directed by John Woo, which were among the top-grossing films in China in 2008.

Tang is now returning to work, with her new film, “Crossing Hennessey,” referring to a main thoroughfare in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai and Causeway Bay districts, premiering at the festival.

“Coming to Hong Kong for this premiere, I can see (director) Ivy and (co-star) Andy On again. I’ve been very happy. Now I’m just excited to see the movie,” Tang told reporters at the festival

“I will be happy if everyone can see my work,” she said.

Homemade films — in this case, those made in Hong Kong — are getting their own spotlight at the festival. “Hong Kong female directors are in the spotlight, as writer-director Ivy Ho’s “Crossing Hennessy,” starring Tang Wei and Jacky Cheung, and Clara Law’s “Like a Dream,” starring Daniel Wu, will open the festival, along with 25-year-old Heiward Mak’s sophomore feature “Ex” as closing film. Pang Ho-cheung’s “Love in a Puff” and Dante Lam’s “Fire of Conscience” will also host gala premieres at the festival.

“Eleven more new and recent features and three short films from Hong Kong directors are showcased under the “Hong Kong Panorama” sidebar, including: “37” by director Dennis Chan and starring legendary Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing, and Gallants” (formerly titled “Fists of Dignity”) directed by Derek Kwok and starring a cast of 1970s Hong Kong Shaw Brothers kung fu actors. “La Comedie Humaine” directed by Chan Hing-kai and Janet Chun, and director Kenneth Bi’s “Girl$” will have world premieres at the fest. In conjunction with the focus on Hong Kong cinema, a symposium titled “Hong Kong Cinema – Beyond Co-production” will be held on March 25,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 34th HKIFF will be held from March 21 to April 6, 2010. The local film industry also presents the Eighth Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, March 22-24.

China’s Areas of Exploration

Daisy Wheeler — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:50:49 +0000

China is a big country with a long history, but the land and its full heritage are only gradually coming to life. While we all know famous Chinese archaeological and historical sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City/Palace Museum and the Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an. However, there are numerous other sites worth exploring, some easily accessible, some requiring a bit more effort.

1. The Yizhou Fossil and Geology Park may be the best little museum you’ve never heard of. Located in southwestern Liaoning province, a longish bus ride or drive from Beijing, this park is a Sino-European joint venture, and was established in an area of significant dinosaur and other fossil finds. The park’s designers have painstakingly recreated the plant and lake life as it would have been millions of years ago. The museum’s manmade lake started out with five species that were imported to it; it is now home to at least 14 types of plants and animals have that gradually found its environment to be very attractive. Here’s what you didn’t know: the Yizhou Park is home to the world’s oldest flower fossil, and the world’s oldest mammal fossil. Not too bad for a place only a half-day’s drive from big cities like Shenyang and Beijing.

2. China’s rivers. Need some fresh air and sunshine? China’s got lots of both. Take a trip down south and experience real adventure rafting some of the country’s most famous rivers. Although hydroelectric projects have tamed many of the nation’s biggest waterways, others still remain wild, or have raftable rapids depending on dam and weather conditions. Rivers such as the Nu, the Jinsha, and even the Yangtze (Chang Jiang) provide opportunities for serious river running for both the experienced rafter and for those heading out for the very first time.

Last Descents Expeditions provides seasonal trips to these areas, and also organizes special expeditions for scientists and specialists wishing to visit certain areas that are accessible only from the water. The company is also affiliated with the China Rivers Project, a non-governmental organization dedicated to educating people about the value of wild rivers and the issues surrounding dam-generated hydroelectric power.

3. Above and under water. China is one of Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, although not for scuba divers and other watersports recreation enthusiasts. That may be set to change. For example, cave divers are increasing interested in unexplored areas of China. The beautiful limestone hills that surround Guilin tell seasoned spelunkers (people who explore caves) that large cave systems are probably waiting underneath.

Other areas are emerging, including diving on a section of the Great Wall about four hours northeast of Beijing. SinoScuba leads trips there during the summer. Hainan Island, especially around Sanya, remains the number one dive destination in China, although it faces tough competition from Thailand and the Philippines.

Hainan has also emerged as China’s surfing capital. Each year, China’s top surfing competition takes place in November in Hainan, attracting surfers from all over the region, alogn with people who just like to party on the beach. For surfing lessons without having to go all the way to Hawaii, try Surfing Hainan, now the country’s leading surf instruction outfit.

What’s all this fuss about Zhang Ziyi?

Daisy Wheeler — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:11:01 +0000

China’s most famous actress, Zhang Ziyi, has been getting a lot of attention lately, but very little of it pleasant.

The star of “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” has been the target of Internet-based allegations since late January, that she has failed to give donations raised to the victims of the devastating May 12, 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan province. Posted and repeated on Chinese online forums such as Tianya.cn, the main accusations are that Zhang raised $1 million at overseas fundraising events, but that she has not yet disbursed those funds to charities or victims.

Zhang held a single fundraising event at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, shortly after the earthquake. Zhang said at the event her goal was to raise $1 million, she received about $500,000 in donations and pledges, documented by a reporter from China Central Television.

Although the allegations around her have been dubbed “Donation Gate” by the Chinese media, no official accusation has been made against Zhang.

China’s state-run news organization the Xinhua News Agency reported in English that Zhang had made a 160,000 yuan ($23,437) donation to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, satisfying a pledge she made days after the earthquake of 1 million yuan. The Xinhua report makes no mention of the other rumored allegations. The CRCF confirmed the donation and the satisfaction of the pledge. Lucas said in statements to the Chinese media that the missing money had been an oversight and that it was rectified as soon as she and Zhang were made aware of the shortfall.

Also earlier this week, the Ziyi Zhang Foundation said that it would donate $400,000 to Beijing-based Care for Children, which has provided care and schooling for children orphaned by the May 2008 earthquake. Those funds would be transferred to the group “within three weeks after the ground-breaking” of an announced training and resource center in Deyang, Sichuan province.

Zhang got her start in Zhang Yimou’s film “Not One Less,” and firmly established herself in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” where she held her own with a cast that included some of the biggest names in Chinese cinema, including Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh, with whom she had several combat scenes. Zhang has since split her time, appearing equally in China-based and Hollywood film productions, including the lead role in “Memoirs of a Geisha,” directed by Steven Spielberg.

The actress is not new to controversy. She took serious heat from the Chinese press and Chinese blogosphere when photos of her sunbathing semi-nude with fiance Vivi Nevo surfaced. She has also been criticized for having a foreign fiance in the first place, and for concentrating on her Hollywood career, and entertaining English-language audiences, rather than focusing on making Chinese films.

All the negative publicity hasn’t slowed her down. Although she recently pulled out of the lead role in “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” which also features Hugh Jackman, and where Zhang has been replaced by Li Bingbing, she will now appear in Wong Kar-wai’s new production “The Grand Master,” starring opposite “Lust, Caution” actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Things you probably didn’t know about China

Daisy Wheeler — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:30:04 +0000

The Discovery Channel has a pseudo-science show called “Mythbusters,” in which the two hosts, through a series of experiments, sometimes prove or disprove that something often believed by a large number of people is not true. This can include recreating movie stunts for realism, or whether sharks are repelled by magnets or not, things of that nature. As such, China seems to have many myths surrounding it, and so doing some mythbusting, or in some cases myth-proving, may be a good idea.

The name of Beijing never changed over the years, from Peking, as some foreigners think. What changed is the way the city’s name was romanized. Peking comes from the old Wade-Giles system, and actually indicated the same pronunciation. However, because the system was never very clear except to scholars, it led to widespread confusion that continues today. Beijing comes from China’s own “hanyu pinyin” romanization system, which, at least for the name of the capital, is much clearer. There was a period, however, when Beijing was known as “Beiping,” or “northern peace,” from 1911, when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, and 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was established. During those 38 years, Nanjing (“southern capital”) served as the nation’s capital, as it has previously during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Although no longer China’s seat of government, Nanjing is still known as Nanjing.

The pronunciation of any “j” in a romanized Chinese name is said like the j in “jump.” It is not a French “j,” like “beaujolais.”

You can see the Great Wall from space — but it depends entirely upon how far away from Earth you are. Many things can be seen from space if you aren’t too far away. It cannot be seen from the Moon — and neither can any other man-made object.

The famous Peking Man fossils were found near Peking, or Beijing, near the town of Zhoukoudian, in 1920. They were important because they established a humanoid link between primate species like homo sapiens (modern human beings) and homo erectus, and were dated to be about 500,000 years old.

Although it’s possible to go to to Zhoukoudian and see humanoid fossils from that period, the original fossils that made the site famous and gave them its name have been missing for almost 70 years. The fossils disappeared after the Japanese invasion of northern China, and have never emerged since.

One of the more interesting tales relating to the Peking Man fossils is that they were being transported on a Japanese ship towards the end of the Second World War. The Awa Maru was sailing from Singapore back to the Japanese home islands when it was torpedoed by an American submarine, the USS Queenfish. Over 2000 people died in the sinking, with a Japanese cook left as the sole survivor, rescued by the Queenfish. In 1977, China began a three-year salvage on the shipwreck, believing that the Peking Man fossils were aboard. Although they excavated and repatriated 380 sets of remains of passengers that had been aboard, the Peking Man fossils were not found, and remain missing today.

Literary festivals and China books

Daisy Wheeler — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:59:23 +0000

For people who love to read who happen to be in Beijing, Chengdu or Suzhou right now, you’re in luck: the annual Bookworm International Literary Festival is underway at the three locations of The Bookworm.

Over the two weeks of March 5-19, over 40 writers will participate in numerous book talks, seminars and writing workshops at the store’s locations in those three cities. The event in Chengdu runs until March 31. This year’s authors include David Grossman, Jonathan Tel, Ram Devineni, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan, Amit Chaudhuri, Junot Diaz, Jonathan Fenby, Benjamin Zephaniah, Guy Delisle, Cathy Cassidy and others. The full schedule is here.

Not in Beijing, Chengdu or Suzhou? No problem. Shanghai also has its own event, the Shanghai International Literary Festival. The festival is in its second week right now, with presenters including Andrew Field, Sarah Brennan, David Leffman, Garry Marchant, Margaret Read McDonald and Alan Titley. The event is sponsored by the M Restaurant Group and is held in its various venues.

If those four cities are not on your itinerary, there’s one more city and one more event where you can participate: the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival opens in Hong Kong today and runs through March 19. The list of presenters is extensive and includes popular Chinese authors including Su Tong, whose novel became director Zhang Yimou’s film “Raise the Red Lantern,” and Xu Xi. The festival takes place over a wide number of venues during the nine days.

Ok, fine, if you’re not able to go to any of those cities during that time, you can still enjoy the best part of any literary event — reading. If you’re looking for unique China books to get you started, here’s a list of some new titles and some older ones that have generated buzz over the years.

Country Driving by Peter Hessler. Although this is only Hessler’s third book, it already seems like the author has made a long career of writing about China. His previous two books, especially his first, River Town, are considered classics and must-reads for people interested in learning about China today. His latest book is a chronicle of his drives around various parts of China and how the automobile is changing the country. Hessler sadly cancelled his scheduled appearances at the aforementioned Bookworm literary festival — heard he got a flat tire driving to Beijing.

Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman. To the early generation of students, teachers and others going to China, Iron & Silk was an instant classic, a look at a martial arts-obsessed American from Connecticut who goes to Changsha in Hunan province to teach English. Salzman’s unpretentious writing style and willingness to embrace just about any situation makes him a superb storyteller. His later book, Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia is a hilarious look at his life before Changsha, including the roots of his love for China.

Many of the events mentioned above charge a small fee to attend. Check with the organizers both for cost and availability — popular events will be sold out well in advance.

A couple of China blogs worth reading

Daisy Wheeler — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:45:30 +0000

Where once we turned to guidebooks to inform ourselves before embarking on an overseas trip, now more likely we are switching on our computers and using the Internet for trip planning.

These sites are not the only ones out there, but do a good job of informing the reader about what’s happening in China, at least socially and in some cases, technologically. Regardless, they’re a good read and worth bookmarking both before — and after — a visit here. Of course, that’s after you’ve exhausted all the content here on SeeChina!

Managing The Dragon: Written by entrepreneur and long-time China veteran Jack Perkowski, the blog was originally an extension of Perkowski’s book by the same name. Formerly an auto parts company founder and executive, the author now looks at larger issues affecting China and specifically the Sino-American relationship.

Beijing Boyce: With a martini in one hand and a laptop in the other, Canadian expatriate Jim Boyce strives to provide “a consumer’s view of the bar scene in Beijing” with his semi-eponymous blog. With a reputation for strict objectivity, Boyce offers a ground-level view of developments in Beijing’s nightlife and entertainment, complete with reviews of drinks, food, service and atmosphere. Its sibling site, Grape Wall of China, gives oenophiles in China and abroad insight into the development of the industry in one of the world’s most sought-after markets.

Imagethief: Mixing acerbic wit with the lessons learned in the PR game, Will Moss provides readers with both a good chuckle and good advice. Moss particularly excels in describing the PR successes and failures of multinationals doing business in China, although he also covers media and government absurdities.

Silicon Hutong: Named for the traditional and increasingly rare Beijing alleyways, marketing and communications consultant David Wolf (Imagethief’s and Silicon Hutong’s authors are former colleagues) uses the Hutong as an observation post to make some of the keenest comments on China’s technological development. Wolf will keep the big technological picture in focus.

Beijingology: Infrastructure aficionado David Feng tracks the opening and service of Beijing’s mass transit system. “I like to get from point A to point B quickly. The only way to do that in Beijing from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. is underground,” he said. Note: it seems this site may have been on the wrong end of some kind of electronic attack recently, as it produces access warnings on some browsers. Visit with caution until the situation is rectified.

Three locally focused sites are also worth accessing. Perhaps the strongest entrant to the local online English-language media, Shanghaiist does a nice job of updating on local events and happenings, all with a measure of humor and satire. In Beijing, two city magazines have adapted their content online: The Beijinger, a monthly publication, keeps things updated on a daily if not hourly basis via its Web site, and has a very lively online discussion forum. City Weekend, which publishes in both Beijing and Shanghai, has the best calendar listings for music and other live events, although its addresses are not always current. You can also download its online app from the iTunes app store, CityFu.

Great Things to Do in Beijing When It Snows

Daisy Wheeler — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:11:33 +0000

The Temple of Heaven during a snowfall.

Snow in Beijing is no longer the rarity it once was, but compared to many cities at a similar latitude, it’s still uncommon. With possibly the last snowfall of the winter on the ground, now may be the best time to take advantage of this meteorological opportunity.

1. See the sights. Snow may be the best occasion to visit Beijing’s most famous tourist sights. Aside from winter crowds already being generally smaller than those in fairer weather, snowfall keeps away even more visitors, leaving you with large sections of top sights to yourself. Snow also makes for more unique photo opps, although snow is not as scarce as it once was. Still, a fresh, unbroken layer of white gives pictures of palaces, temples and other artifices a serene and pristine feeling that’s hard to match otherwise.

Although the Great Wall may be a bit more difficult to reach and climb when there’s snow on the ground, it’s worth any delays endured along the way. be sure to wear good snow boots or shoes, as steeper sections of the Wall can become slippery and even icy.

Named for the opposite season, the Summer Palace may be the best Beijing monument to visit in inclement winter weather. The combination of imperial architecture along with significant tree cover near its upper sections make for a nice contrast between the manmade and the natural. Also, Kunming Lake — the artificial lake that spreads in front of the palace — freezes in the winter, and walking on the ice (carefully) is a Beijing tradition. It also offers photographers new vistas, perhaps the best views of the palace in the entire complex.

The Temple of Heaven also assumes a different personality when wearing a white blanket. The snow covers its brilliant blue tiles, muting the overall effect of its main prayer hall. However, the part of the temple complex that receives less attention — the expansive, forested grounds to the south of the main halls — provides a silent oasis even more quiet as footfalls and voices are muted by the snow.

2. Eat. There’s no better time than a snowy evening for hot food. The many variations of hotpot are widely available in Beijing, namely the local favorite shuan yang rou, literally flash-boiled lamb, and Chongqing hotpot, the spicy kind that maybe too hot even in the winter.

Shuan yang rou is served in a round kettle with a cone shaped spout, to allow smoke from the coals that heat the kettle to rise up and out, away from diners. Ginger, baby shrimp and green onions (this recipe varies from restaurant to restaurant) are added to the water to create a very light broth. Ingredients such as lamb, beef, tofu, and leafy green vegetables are cooked in the boiling water. Normally, meat is only cooked for 30-40 seconds for maximum flavor. It is then dipped in a sesame paste before eating, which cools it along with adding a unique flavor. Ding Ding Xiang is one of the most famous spots for shuan yang rou at the moment.

For the more adventurous, Chongqing hotpot, which comes from the former Sichuan province city in southwest China, is a cauldron of chili oil to which more chili peppers are added. This is often accompanied by a chicken broth-based soup next to it for to offset some of the intensity of the spice. The ordering is similar, although lamb is less of a focal point, more in favor of beef, fish balls and even luncheon meat. On a cold night, it’s tough to beat hotpot. Try Hai Di Lao (literally, Raised from the Bottom of the Sea) for the pot that’s hot. Good luck getting a table.

See China » Daisy Wheeler

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