Beijing Family Week

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.

Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People’s Republic of China. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. As such it is rich in historical sites and important government institutions.

Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008. Much of the city was in upheaval as infrastructure was being frenetically constructed and sights were being renovated for the Games. Post-Olympics visitors can look forward to some modern additions to the city’s attractions, including the “Water Cube” and the “Bird’s Nest.”

The Forbidden City is the spot to appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City remains mercifully relatively untouched.

Hutongs are Beijing’s ancient alleyways, where you can find traditional Beijing architecture. Rent a bicycle and traverse some of the remaining hutongs. Visit the Temple of Heaven early in the morning to see thousands of people starting the day with tai chi. Or see a Beijing opera at the Laoshe Tea House near Qianmen station. There are always short shows in the afternoon. Admission is free, but you should buy a cup of tea.

The Grand Hyatt Beijing is on East Chang An Avenue in the business, shopping, and tourist district, walking distance from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The hotel is part of the Beijing Oriental Plaza, China's largest commercial complex that includes eight office towers, four luxury apartment buildings, and a shopping mall.

The Forbidden City, also known as the "Former Palace," was the imperial residence of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. The complex has 70 structures and more than 9000 rooms. It is surrounded by a high wall and encircled by a moat. Turned into a museum in the early 20th Century, it houses a great collection of fine treasures. The Nationalist Party took a large number of these treasures to Taiwan in 1949 but 900,000 relics remain. Behind the palace is a delightful royal garden.

Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world and is considered a symbol of the People's Republic of China. The square is surrounded by a cluster of massive buildings including Tiananmen Gate, The Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People, The Monument of the People's Heroes and the Mao Ze Dong Mausoleum. Tiananmen attracts thousands of visitors every year from throughout China due to its political and historical significance. The square was recently renovated to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

This small Italian bistro offers outstanding food and service at highly competitive prices. The interior is simple yet warmly decorated in earthy shades of red, orange and yellow. The waiters are attentive and speak good English, and the menu is also in English. The pizzas here are definitely among Beijing's finest and the pastas dishes are also excellent, particularly the Carbonara. Kids can make their very own mini-pizzas to be cooked by Annie's chef.

Chinese Opera includes more than 300 theatrical forms, among which Beijing Opera is usually regarded as the crème de la crème. In many ways it is similar to ancient Greek theater with its combination of singing, dialogue, acrobatics and pantomime. The actors wear masks, and the performances are accompanied by loud and monotonous rhythms produced by percussion instruments. Local professional Beijing Opera singers give a variety of performances with well-balanced casts and a large repertoire.

Located 15 kilometers from central Beijing, this World Heritage Site is a popular tourist attraction. The Summer Palace is a breathtaking display of ancient art and architecture, lush royal gardens and amazing views. The Palace consists of numerous pavilions, towers, bridges and corridors and the gardens are some of the best preserved in China. First built in the Qing Dynasty in 1750 and known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, the Palace was almost completely destroyed in the war of 1860 and was restored in 1886.

The Blue Zoo specializes in marine life. It features a 120-meter tunnel that offers an underwater experience where you can enjoy fishy surrounds. The zoo is also raising baby sharks to add to their collection and stimulate the marine imagination. Unfortunately, there are no mammals—no Flipper diving through hoops. But they do offer mini-courses in underwater life. For a special treat, big kids can enjoy a romantic under-the-sea dinner in the tunnel on weekends.

For serious stargazing in Beijing, head to the Beijing Planetarium. Shows vary monthly and English is seldom used. If your Chinese is up to scratch, then you may learn a thing or two from your visit. If you are still at a beginner's level, sit back and enjoy one of the few clear night skies you are likely to see in smoggy Beijing during your visit.

Where Are You Going or Qu Nar in Mandarin, is a restaurant owned by a famous Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei. The interiors at Qu Nar are quite interesting with their only adornment being the projections on the walls. The cuisine is typically Northern Chinese and more like home cooked meals. Worth trying out are, "Baked Beef Dumplings With Spicy Vinegar Sauce", "Jinhua Ham", "steam-dried yellow croaker" and "Wild Mushroom Casserole in Broth". If you like veggies you can try the absolutely fantastic stir-fries. A good place to hangout to meet the arty types over delicious meals discussing the latest in art.

China's Great Wall stretches east-west for more than 5000 kilometers. Its origins can be traced to the 7th Century BCE, when independent kingdoms constructed separate walls to keep out marauding nomads. China's first emperor linked many of these during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE). It was renovated several times in later centuries. Built along the rolling ridges of steep mountains, it offers spectacular, even awe-inspiring views, and is surely one of humankind's greatest architectural achievements. For specific details on the Great Wall refer to Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Huanghuacheng.

This spot has a reputation for serving the best Beijing Duck. They say their poultry has less calories than other duck served in the city. There are other tasty items on the menu, like their acclaimed fried oysters in Szechuan Pepper-Salt. Check out their other location at the Nanxincang International Plaza.

The Rear Lakes are three lakes: the Front Lake (Shicha), the Rear Lake (Houhai) and the Jishui Lake. The area around the Houhai lake is known for its nightlife and the alleyways hiding trendy restaurants, bars and stores. Make sure you take a boat ride during the summer.

The fairly large Beijing Museum of Natural History includes an aquarium, an evolution hall and an animal kingdom exhibit. The museum is famous for its weird and creepy halls of evolution and the animal kingdom. Here, you'll find robotic dinosaurs, stuffed animals, fossils, skeletal remains, and pickled human torsos and Siamese twins. If the torsos are too much, then stick to the smaller jars containing various body parts. Many exhibits have English captions.

This night market has to be seen to be believed. Eager crowds jostle alongside red and white stalls, responding to the calls of vendors or the sight of something delicious or extraordinary to behold. Food comes on skewers, in soup bowls, wrapped in tortillas, or even in half a pineapple, and includes familiar fried and roasted meat, fish, seafood, vegetables and fruit, alongside hearts, brains, stomach and other innards. Try baby sparrows, scorpions, crickets and silkworm grubs. Glutinous and sticky, savory and sweet rice dishes are filling and cheap. Vegetarians can eat corn, broccoli, mushrooms and noodles.

This is the biggest zoo in China, with more than 3,500 species from almost every corner of the world. Besides featuring China's famous 'mascot', the adorable panda, the zoo has an assortment of elephants, monkeys, tigers, bears, zebras, and many exotic birds. This fantastic collection attracts hundreds of thousands of kids and adults every year. Visitors can also pick up some zoological knowledge by visiting the various theme areas, such as those housing pandas and amphibians.

Built in 1694, the Lama Temple (or Palace of Peace and Harmony) was the residence of Prince Yin Zhen, a son of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty. After the prince came to the throne, half of the residence was used as an imperial palace and the other half was converted to a lamasery. It features five large halls and five courtyards with beautifully decorative archways, upturned eaves and carved details. It houses a treasury of Buddhist art, including sculptured images of gods, demons and Buddhas, as well as Tibetan-style murals.

Located near one of the Ri Tan Park lake, this cafe has an especially soothing feel with live music playing in the evenings. Free wi-fi is available allowing patrons to work peacefully on their projects while they sip excellent coffee drinks. Its beautiful setting has inspired the claim that it sports one of the best outdoor terraces in Beijing. The bar opens at 10a.

The Grand Hyatt Beijing is on East Chang An Avenue in the business, shopping, and tourist district, walking distance from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The hotel is part of the Beijing Oriental Plaza, China's largest commercial complex that includes eight office towers, four luxury apartment buildings, and a shopping mall.

Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People’s Republic of China. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. As such it is rich in historical sites and important government institutions.

Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008. Much of the city was in upheaval as infrastructure was being frenetically constructed and sights were being renovated for the Games. Post-Olympics visitors can look forward to some modern additions to the city’s attractions, including the “Water Cube” and the “Bird’s Nest.”

The Forbidden City is the spot to appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City remains mercifully relatively untouched.

Hutongs are Beijing’s ancient alleyways, where you can find traditional Beijing architecture. Rent a bicycle and traverse some of the remaining hutongs. Visit the Temple of Heaven early in the morning to see thousands of people starting the day with tai chi. Or see a Beijing opera at the Laoshe Tea House near Qianmen station. There are always short shows in the afternoon. Admission is free, but you should buy a cup of tea.

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.