Beijing is a haven for food lovers with its vast range of cuisines on offer. Whether you prefer the familiar sights of McDonalds, Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut or the new experiences of the Chinese hotpot or Beijing duck, every taste is catered for in Beijing. For 20 to 30 RMB you can enjoy the delights of a selection of Chinese dishes and a beer to wash it down with in the local Chinese restaurants. The Lucky House located around the corner from the school has an English menu and a large selection of dishes, great for us illiterate foreigners. For a little more you can eat at restaurants specializing in other Asian cuisine. And if you have a craving for home, don’t worry, there are plenty of Western-style eateries to satisfy your appetite whether you prefer English pub food, Italian, Greek or Mexican. These restaurants are usually a little more expensive than Chinese restaurants and on average a meal will set you back anything from 30 RMB to 70 RMB. A good guide to eating out are the two free publications ‘That’s Beijing’ and ‘City Weekend’ which recommend restaurants all over the city. They contain addresses in Chinese which are very helpful to taxi drivers. Below is a list of recommended eateries in Beijing:

Western Restaurants

* McDonalds, KFC, Subway, Dominoes and Pizza Hut are all located around the corner from school in Haidian.

* Lush, a bar/café located above a bookstore opposite Wu Dao Kou subway station serves everything from fried breakfasts, homemade pancakes and English tea to sandwiches, salads, burgers and pizzas.

* Sculpting in Time, also located in Wu Dao Kou around the corner from Lush is a popular café where students go to work and relax. You can go simply for a drink or you can enjoy a large plate of pasta, a pizza or one of the many sandwiches on offer.

* John Bull Pub located in Jianguomen serves good British pub food from shepherds pie to chilli con carne.

* Hutong Pizza, located in Hou Hai has to be the best pizza in Beijing and beats anything Pizza Hut has to offer.

* Nina’s is a relatively new Mexican restaurant located in Wu Dao Kou which offers set meals for just 35 RMB with a choice of nachos, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas.

* The Elephant is a good Russian restaurant located in Chaoyang.

Asian Restaurants

* The Pink Loft is a very nice Thai Restaurant located at the back of South Street in Sanlitun. A bit more expensive than your local Chinese but definitely worth a visit especially if you are on a date.

* The Golden Elephant located around the corner from Poacher’s Inn in Sanlitun serves excellent Indian and Thai cuisine.

* Japanese restaurant located next door to Sculpting in Time is a popular choice with the teachers because for 68 RMB it’s all you can eat and drink.

Vegetarian Restaurants

* The Pure Lotus, run by monks is located in the Chaoyang area. It offers an extensive range of vegetarian food in a pleasant atmosphere.

Transportation

Beijing is a heavily congested city and at peak times travel can take longer than expected.

Taxis vary in price according to which type you chose. 1.20 taxis are the cheapest and a half hour journey costs only 30 RMB but in the heat you may prefer a 1.60 taxi which is a little more expensive but has the benefits of air-conditioning. It’s almost too tempting to get taxis everywhere!

But for longer journeys you may prefer to use the subway which is very easy to use. The subway consists of Line 13, Line 2 and Line 1. Tickets cost from 3 RMB to 5 RMB and are a better mode of transportation at rush hour. You can get the subway directly to sites such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Buses are also easy to use and are a cheap mode of transportation with ticket prices ranging from 2 RMB to 5 RMB. However in the hot summer months they can often be crowded and uncomfortable.

A popular mode of transportation in Beijing is the bicycle. With cycle lanes all over the city it is a good way to get around. Though a good road awareness is necessary as traffic is pretty unruly and chaotic in Beijing. A brand new mountain bike can be bought for as little as 150 RMB and a second-hand one can cost as little as 30 RMB but be prepared to cough up more money for repairs.

Language

Mandarin is definitely a challenge to us foreigners but any effort to pick up any of the language is well received by the locals and will greatly enhance your experience in Beijing.

There are three options for learning Chinese whilst you are here:

1.) Language Exchanges – These are advertised in ‘That’s Beijing’ and ‘City Weekend’ and are often students looking to improve their English. It is the cheapest way to learn Mandarin as no exchange of money takes place. It just involves you teaching them English for one hour and the other person teaching you Mandarin for the other hour. This is a flexible way to learn and can be organized around your timetable.

2.) Tutors – There are advertisements for tutors all over the city and prices start at 15 RMB an hour. They can fit into your schedule and it may be the best way to learn quickly.

3.) Schools – There are some Foreign Language Schools offering courses to beginners in Mandarin but these courses are often bought in blocks and may have classes everyday, which as a teacher you may be unable to attend.

Out and about

Beijing isn’t short of places to visit in your spare time. From the Great Wall to the Beijing Opera there is always something to occupy the dullest afternoons. Here is a list of recommended sites:

* Tiananmen Square is the grandiose heart of Communist China located at the heart of the city.

* The Forbidden City, the Emperor’s private palace and the centre of China for five centuries is Beijing’s most famous attraction. It can be found opposite Tiananmen Square.

* The Great Wall. A must-see but try to avoid the more restored parts of the wall at places such as Badaling and try to go to the older parts which are far more beautiful at places such as Simatai.

* The Summer Palace, once the exclusive retreat of the emperors, is a beautiful landscaped park worth numerous visits. It costs about 50 RMB for entry and is only 10 minutes taxi ride from Shane school.

* Yonghe Gong, is a lively Lamaist temple located in the northern outskirts of the city. It costs 25 RMB for entry.

* Temple of Heaven located 2km south of Tiananmen is universally regarded as the high point of Ming design.

* Beihai Park just north of the Forbidden City is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

* The Acrobatics, a traditional form of Chinese entertainment is an excellent form of evening entertainment. The spectacular shows will leave you gasping. There are several theatres located across the city: Chaoyang Theatre,Wansheng Theatre and Xinrong Theatre.

* Beijing Opera is a unique experience that may be worth trying whilst you are living in Beijing. You can see a performance at the following theatres: Chang’an Theatre, Huguang Guild Hall, Prince Gong’s Palace and Zhengyici Theatre.

* Hou Hai Lake is also a good place to see the old hutongs or enjoy an afternoon’s drink by the lake. The Drum and Bell towers located by the lake are excellent viewing points where you can see vividly the stark contrasts of old and new Beijing.