Beijing 2007-2008

From Dongzhimen where we live, take the line 2 subway, after 2 stops and get off at Gulou station, it is not far from Beijing's back sea-- Houhai. To the north of Gulou, Houhai is where the city started to expand at the first place and is where the oldest and most original Beijing lays. It has tons of Hutongs, which is the traditional architecture you can only find in Beijing, and in the last decade, it has been developed as the second bar area in Beijing after Sanlitun. Compared to Sanlitun, Houhai is less chaotic, more classy and more expensive as well.

I like Houhai because it is a good combination of what Chinese like and what expats like. Chinese now go there for the frozen lakes and ice skating, hang out in groups and be loud. Expats go there for the China atmosphere, the Hutongs, for being able to sit in a bar seat by the lake side and probably look at the Chinese, get overwhelmed and think it is nice to get a quiet spot while still can feel China. Last time I went there was with my 2 friends from the states, almost 2 years ago, this time, I wanna check how much has been changed since I left.

From Gulou station, we took what non-Chinese consider a crazy vehicle "Bengbeng", a 2 seater metal cube on a 3 wheel motobike. Passengers sit facing the back, through the half broken back glass, you can have a good peak at what Beijing traffic is and stare back at those bikers and pedestrians who used to stare at you. hmm..7 kuai, it was quite the experience if you are the open minded kind. Beijing traffic is too slow to have any accident anyway as long as the vehicle doesnt fall into pieces.

It was -7 today in Beijing. The lake is quite frozen and it is divided into 3 parts, getting rent out by 3 different vendors. 15kuai all you can skate. Except ice skate, they have some weird ice equipment for rent that you have never seen elsewhere before.

I didnt skate nor did Ryan, what we did was going to a pizza place called Hutong Pizza. We ordered a large size Antrovies pizza with extra mushroom topping. Ryan was dissapointed cuz the pizza doesnt give him enough olive satisfaction. It is mediocre in terms of size and toppings, too thin for two hungry people but the environment is good, servies is good too. It used to be beijing's best pizza place in 2005 and 2006 thatsbj contest, but I guess there are now tons of better pizza places just like Guiness is everywhere now in Beijing. Draft!

After pizza, we had a walk around the back sea, then wandered around the front sea as well. Bars are mostly the same style, some special but I guess it takes longer time and some money to really tell the difference. There are many tricycles by the side of hutongs, waiting for business to carry you around hutongs. I would say it worth trying, if you are interested, you can leave me a msg cuz I know someone who can drive you around and arrange you to eat at a local's family and visit the bell/drum tower for only 80 kuai(12 usd).

Houhai is not far from a hutong called Nanluoguxiang. Also a probably 1 km long narrow alley with stores by the side. It is considered as low key and more original than Houhai with its unique cafe places and clothes shops. There is a t-shirt place I have read from vogue or some big fashion magazine that does personal designed t-shirt, called "Chuangketie8". The owner is an expat now living in Beijing, using some very Chinese logos or concepts to print them on t-shirts, such as Pingpong, gong bao ji ding, and one even has the Beijing subway map in front. Besides the originality, 90 kuai/each, I would say...No..I have a similar printing store next door will probably print out whatever I want for 50 kuai. And I dont think I am less creative.Hehe

On the way home. I saw a few street kids doing skate board, jumping over an obstacle, some were pretty good.

Today is a good day.