I am almost putting 2014 as the year, everytime...
Before I forget, if going to Japan, make sure that you have a working debit or credit card, one that works in Japan. And for those who shun away from card use, make sure you are carrying USD or JPY.
Train ticket purchase is easily done using JPY bills and coins, and eating in restaurants also by cash, and in some cases, cards - however, do take note that it is reported that cards aren't always recognized.
So when that happens, be sure - have cash - always.
Unlike South Africa's football pitches this month, the World Cup Stadium in Seoul is decidedly quiet. It has been eight years since the world's most watched sporting event was held here. And eight years since Sky Park - the highest situated of five areas that make up World Cup Park - has been turned from a garbage dump into an enlightened hilltop oasis.
Looking at the vast stretch of grass that leads the eye to pale, distant buildings, you wouldn't for one moment suspect the park's humble history.
Low-lying plants such as thistle and clover, as well as man-height feathery pampas grass, cover the hilltop and the view of the city from the 22 lookout points is striking - much like the softly gleaming, metallic pod seats next to them.
Taking it all in, I feel like I'd beamed down from the SS Enterprise into a Star Trek world of enlightened urban planning. Certainly, the green principles of reuse and recycle apply here.
Having been converted from a landfill into a usable public space, the park is an example of up-cyling. What's more, the area's energy is supplied by a sustainable source - in this case, graceful wind turbines that meld into the landscape. Classical music is played from the sound system.
In one space, science is combined with culture, the rustic with the futuristic, greenery with panoramic views. The result is surprisingly pleasant.
The view down under
There will be more of these spaces as Seoul transforms itself into a model of green living. Spearheading the developments is the city's newly-re-elected mayor and environmentalist Oh Se-hoon. In the long term, the city plans to replace all its buses and taxis with electric or hybrid vehicles. More parks and green trails linking major landmarks will be created.
One of Seoul's premier green attractions, however, can be enjoyed now. Like Sky Park, Cheonggyecheon Stream works its magic slowly, and so best appreciated with a cuppa and snack in hand.
Cheonggyecheon Stream is much more than its name suggests. It's not just a body of water, it's a lush garden-cum-creek situated below street level that stretches for 5.8km through downtown Seoul. And like Sky Park, it exhibits a breezy loveliness that belies its dirt-filled origins.
The stream used to be polluted, so was covered with concrete to make way for roads. It was cleaned up and opened in 2005 by then-mayor - and now South Korea president - Lee Myung-bak. Lee received "Hero of the Environment Award" from Time magazine for the project.
Cheonggyecheon today is a place for Seoulites from smartly-dressed youths to suited salarymen to gather, picnic and promenade, making it one of the best places to people watch in the city.
River Renaissance
Like many visitors to Seoul, I've come ready to trawl the city's famous shopping districts - Insa-dong with its side streets of tea gardens and art galleries, and the fashion universes of Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun and the like.
Sky Park and Cheonggyecheon are pleasant diversions. So, too, a liberating bike ride along the banks of the Hangang, which divides the city into north and south. On a typical day, the stretch fills ups with locals indulging in all manner of activity - from rollerblading to jetskiing, to children splashing in the public pools.
The river area is set to change dramatically by 2030 as part of the Hangang Renaissance. When completed, there will be three artificial islands offering gardens, cafes and cultural venues; and eight waterfront towns connected by river taxis.
One of bridges that span the Hangang, the double-decked Banpo, boasts the world's longest bridge fountain.
Installed last September, the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain makes art out of river water by pumping it out in rainbow-coloured sprays to the music of Vivaldi and other classical works.
Designer tastes
The transformation of Sky Park, Cheonggyecheon and Hangang, lend an intriguing dimension to a city that at first glance looks like any other built-up metropolis. But Seoul is eager to distinguish itself as a tourist destination, and not only with its eco projects.
Last November, the city launched its first gourmet food festival, Amazing Korean Table, where top chefs from around the world were invited to cook with Korean ingredients.
This year, it was named World Design Capital 2010, allowing it to highlight its urban projects and design plans. The centrepiece is Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park by renowned architect Zaha Hadid which will merge architecture and nature into one seamless whole.
Beam me down to that green patch, Scottie.
iTour Seoul
Recognising that visitors may have difficulty with the language barrier, the city has rolled out a free application that shows the user's location as well as hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions. iPhones with the application which can be borrowed free of charge at the SHOW Global Roaming Centre at Incheon International Airport, Gimpo International Airport, or City Air Terminal near Coex. More information at www.visitseoul.net
Here is one article that may help you decide, if you haven't, to go to japan. If you have been there, you may want to go again.
Bon jour!
-----
Sun, sea and sushi
It's the classic Club Med experience with an Okinawan twist - sushi, shrines and cool Pacific waters
by Fairoza Mansor
fairoza@mediacorp.com.sg
The Okinawa archipelago lies like a string of pearls dangling from Japan's southern island of Kyushu. It's an apt image for this stretch of about 150 islands that counts pearl cultivation as one of its major industries.
Sailing in from the Pacific though, you would be forgiven if you didn't know you had reached the southern tip of Japan.
The beaches that fringe the islands are startlingly white, the water aquarium clear and lined with soft and hard corals that attract myriad fish. Over 1,000 species - including barracudas, butterfly fish and manta rays - glide through these waters.
The setting is reminiscent of a South-east Asian diving destination until you splash out into cool Pacific waters and step ashore to sushi and shrines.
This Japanese element means that if you're looking for a beach locale with a difference this summer, Okinawa's islands are good spots to explore. Check out the outer reaches, where the absence of American naval bases makes for better preservation of traditional Japanese culture.
The travelling time from Singapore to Ishigaki, part of the outer Yaeyama stretch of nine inhabited islands, usually takes from 10 to 14 hours with a stopover in Tokyo or Osaka. Until Sept 29, though, Club Med has 50-minute charters from Taipei to Ishigaki that cut the journey to Okinawa to about six hours.
Four- and five-day all-inclusive packages include one night in Taipei and cost $2,068 and $2,268, respectively, for adults, excluding airport taxes and fees. For children's rates or more information, contact 1800 Club Med (258 2633) or your preferred travel agent.
Sun, sea and Club Med Kabira
Dive into it: The four-trident Club Med Kabira makes a good base for a family holiday. Situated on one of Ishigaki's best beaches, the resort was ranked the world's fourth Best Diving Resort Hotel at Dive and Travel Awards 2009.
The island has easily accessible reefs, including a patch of rare Ao and Hama corals for enthusiastic divers to ogle. Visitors who don't know their way around an oxygen tank can sign up for lessons at the Scuba Diving School; or go snorkelling or windsurfing in the cool Pacific waters. Lessons and equipment rental are covered in Club Med's all-inclusive package.
To get what is considered Ishigaki's most scenic view, take a glass-bottom boat out to Kabira Bay to see the teeming sea life. While you're there, learn the art of black-pearl cultivation, which Kabira Bay is famous for, and go home with some bling.
On land: Take advantage of Club Med's free lessons to learn how to swing on a trapeze or hit a tennis ball. Or explore Ishigaki's mountainous terrain on a mountain bike.
Sightseers can sign up for a variety of excursions, including a tour of tranquil Taketomi Island, a 10-minute ferry ride away, which has more cows than humans. Immerse in Okinawan culture by riding a water-buffalo cart around the island to traditional songs and music from a sanshin, an Okinawan guitar.
Parents, take a break from babysitting - drop your kids off at Petit Club Med. Themed "Under the Sea", the centre will immerse the little ones in an underwater world with its fish-laden magnetic wall and stingray seats. The Mini Club Med, meanwhile, encourages four- to 11-year-olds to terrorise someone else for a change in a newly constructed pirate ship playground.
The digs: The 183 rooms here marry sleek French and Japanese decor. The Japanese elements come in the form of fabric artworks and paintings of Okinawan women in traditional garb. Yukatas, or cotton robes, are provided for casual lounging.
True flavours of Okinawa can be found in the Habushu, a local pit viper liqueur that is as fascinating as it is macabre. The liqueur is served before you step into the dining hall. The bottle shows a coiled snake with its fangs bared, so if you want to enjoy the buffet spread, you might want to suppress your curiosity until after the meal.
Star attractions: The resort stages nightly performances. Guests who catch the Asian-themed night will get an Okinawan aural and visual treat along with the usual shows put up by the resort's Gentle Organisers (GOs), or staff. A professional Okinawa Taiko drumming troupe will pound out beats that, when combined with vivacious choreography, will leave the audience clapping to the catchy rhythms.
But the resort's real stars? Its friendly GOs, who elevate a stay here from great to unforgettable. I asked Emilie Chiang, a sassy 28-year-old Taiwanese GO, how long she sees herself working for Club Med. "Forever" was her reply.
And how does Guy Cohen, 21, an Australian windsurfing coach report to the beach shack at dawn after a late night? "You got to love your job," he said.
Their cheer was contagious. Or maybe it was just the perpetual Okinawan breeze on my face.
YOU don't always need to get all transcontinental and jetset to Europe if you're looking to experience some mountainous greenery during your summer jaunts.
There are destinations closer by in the upper hemisphere. Culturally cool Japan, for instance, has Nagano.
Nagano is home to the Japanese Alps, so there's no shortage of blossoming flora and expansive scenery to gloat about online on that Facebook photo album of yours.
Noted in the history books for hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics, this central prefecture of Japan is a vacation hotspot among locals because of its comfortably balmy climates during summer and cool ski resorts during the fall. It is also easily accessibility by rail from Nagoya or Tokyo.
The mountainous countryside boasts great outdoor hikes, lakes and waterfalls. And you can end your day soaking your tender feet in the naturally occurring onsens littered across the prefecture.
Just keep in mind that you won't be wearing anything else besides your personality at these onsens.
Or, you can catch wild monkeys bathing in a hot spring. Really.
If frolicking in the nude or watching other primates isn't your thing, other notable attractions include the medieval Matsumoto Castle, which has great views of the Alps and has a moat that's elegantly inhabited by swans and koi.
Zenkoji, a 1,400-year-old temple believed to house the first Buddhist statue brought to the country, is worth a visit as well.
End your trip with a bang, literally, at the annual ginormous fireworks display at Suwa Lake in mid-August. More than 40,000 fireworks will explode and sparkle over the lake, with the surrounding mountains serving as a natural echo chamber. Does the expression "kaboom" have the same meaning in Japanese?
Guess you will just have to find that out for yourself.
(For more photos, follow the sorce article, as indicated below. Thanks!)
Macau celebrates its Latin roots with its second annual Salsa Festival, held in the sumptuous locale of the Venetian hotel. Take a break from the city's slots and sightseeing with a full-on weekend of dance action. The festival programme consists of workshops by day and parties by night, with plenty of food and drink. There's even a "blind date" dance competition. Put your good shoes on. A full pass to all events over the three days will cost about $250, but you can always win it back at the baccarat table afterwards.
Thailand's eastern provinces have been named "the fruit bowl of Thailand", and it's not hard to see why - particular during Chanthaburi's annual World Durian Festival. Chanthaburi alone produces more than half of Thailand's entire durian crop, and is reputed by those in the know to have the creamiest, most succulent fruit of all. This colourful, month-long event, which coincides with the peak of the harvest season, is also a showcase for humbler favourites such as rambutans and pomelos. Gorge to your heart's content.
If a World Expo isn't enough to draw you to Shanghai this spring, then maybe a cup of tea will. Once again this year, thousands of tea lovers will descend upon the Paris Of The East to learn the fine art of the Chinese tea ceremony. Attend workshops, visit elegant teahouses around the city, and learn to distinguish your oolong from your Pu'er. There are also exhibitions of dance, poetry and calligraphy - all dedicated to the fragrant brew.
The streets of Seoul spring to life next month as the city welcomes the return of warm weather. The Hi Seoul festival, running since 2003, is an all-round celebration of Korean culture that includes displays of martial arts, calligraphy, and truckloads of tasty local foods. By night, the skies explode with fireworks. By day, colourful parades fill the streets. The action centres on the Han River region downtown, but events are held in most parts of the city. Prominent venues include Seoul's five palaces, which showcase dance performances, music and reenactments of royal historical events.
MARK D. MERUEAS, GMANews.TV 08-March-2010 07:32 PM
Since my childhood, I have learned a lot about Singapore from other people. Knowing that it was recently named the most livable country in the region, my family and I set our expectations high as we took the three-hour flight from Manila to the island-city state in late January.
As one columnist wrote in Singapores most widely circulated newspaper, Straits Times a copy of which I would later buy "rigid" is usually the most common word used to describe the country which is famous for its high-rise buildings, long stretches of paved roads, and a world-class business district.
The way Singapores roads and buildings were laid out seemed the perfect example of urban planning. With its wide and perfectly cemented roads, driving around the city would definitely be the envy of every Filipino driver.
Everything in Singapore seemed well designed from its corporate buildings to apartments and condominiums that have modern but classy architectural designs. These buildings seemed to be the preferred dwelling places of the locals. I was told typical residences, such as gated houses with a garage or a backyard and stuff, can only be found at the outskirts of the business district, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Huge double-deck buses and cars which all come with black plates, unlike our white and yellow ones, seamlessly dash through the streets. Theres none of the cranky noise emanating from engines in our beat-up jeepneys and dilapidated buses, or their toxic black smoke.
Not used to their right-hand drive vehicles, I made the mistake of trying to open the right side front door more than once, only to realize the seat already has an occupant the driver.
Its pollution-free surroundings and traffic-free roads more than make up for Singapores slightly hotter clime. I wouldnt mind turning the Philippines temperature a notch higher, if thats the only way (although we all know its not) to ease EDSAs heavy traffic, or unclog our sewerage.
----- The world-famous, water-spewing Merlion is best photographed with Singapore's skyscrapers. Mark Merueas -----
Although it was almost like a cutout of a Utopian society, at least to me, there was one big thing missing in Singapore. We were at a McDonalds chain at the Changi International Airport ordering food and, glancing at the menu behind the cashier, I was looking for that one staple meal I always enjoyed back home but could not seem to find it. Then my brother elbowed me and whispered: They do not have chicken here." McDonalds in Singapore does not have chicken?! Aside from iced tea, fried chicken is the only thing that makes fast food dining complete to me. And so, left with no choice, I settled for a burger and twister fries.
After eating, we spent the whole day going around the city until it got dark. In Singapore, the start of night time" would be between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Yes, you read it right. Go out at past 7 p.m. in Singapore and youd be surprised to see the sky still in bright daylight. This probably explains why shops and restaurants in the business district manage to stay open until the wee hours of the night.
Orchard Road, for instance, explodes in vibrancy at night. Similar to New Yorks famous Times Square, Orchard Road is the sight of towering department stores, huge glowing billboards, blaring sound systems, designer shops, party-goers and lots of shoppers. But theres a trade-off to this very late night life establishments open late the next morning.
Multi-cultural city
Singapores population is mainly composed of three races: Chinese, Indians, and Malays. When I was in college, I learned in one of my classes how these three races co-existed" something that tickled my curiosity at that time. When we went to Singapore, this co-existence unfolded right before my eyes.
On the streets, it was not uncommon to see a Malay woman jogging with a Chinese friend, or a group of Indians and Malays having coffee, or even an Indian and Chinese couple dining with their mestiza daughter.
Although multi-cultural, it helped a lot that most locals know how to speak English which means no need for translators or over-the-top hand gestures when speaking with a native.
Before leaving Singapore, we made our final stop at the Marina Bay home of the famous Merlion Statue. The Merlion Statue is to Singapore what the Eiffel Tower is to France, or the Taj Mahal is to India. You just cant fly out of Singapore without having your picture taken in front of what I think is its single, most definitive symbol.
Standing at 8.6 meters, the part-lion, part-fish statue one of only five of its kind in Singapore sits on the edge of the bay with jets of water gushing out of its mouth. On the adjacent viewing deck, tourists can pose for a shot with the merlion and - with the proper angling of the camera the skyscrapers behind as their backdrop.
Before heading to the airport, we dropped by Little India, a small district which is the Singaporean Indians answer to Chinatown. Basically, its the perfect place to buy affordable souvenir items and so, souvenir shopping we did.
Whats the ban?
Just when I thought I was going to leave Singapore without blunders in conversing with the locals, I got a taste of how their unique Chinese accent can leave me as the famous Hollywood film depicts lost in translation.
We were about to board the plane at the (I should say, overwhelming and state-of-the-art) Changi Airport to our next destination when I noticed that my camera was missing. Half the fun of going to a foreign land is returning with pictures to share to your relatives back home, and so I told myself I was not leaving Singapore without my camera. I rushed back to the inspection area, thinking I must have left it there during inspection, and asked one of the airport security personnel.
Oh, this one?" the man replied, producing my camera from one of their lockers. Can you tell me what ban?"
Im sorry. I didnt get that?" I replied.
Can you tell me what baaan?" he said, stressing the last word.
Resigned to the fact that I cannot connect the word ban" with a digital camera, I said: Im sorry, sir. I really dont understand. What do you mean ban?"
As though talking to a toddler who had just learned to speak, the security personnel repeated the word slowly and enunciated every syllable: Bbb-rr-aann-dd."
Oh, brand!" I exclaimed. It turned out he just wanted to know if I was the real owner of the camera.
And so when we reached Malaysia, I had learned my lesson well: Enjoy the scenery, but dont talk much. Instead of asking around, I would read signboards which, when in Malaysia, would turn out really fun.
Tempting tourists back when the bombing stops is never easy, but war-weary Asian countries are planning new treats for travellers in a bid to cash in on a "peace dividend".
When government forces claimed victory against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May, Sri Lankan tourism chiefs set to work, launching a campaign called "Sri Lanka: Small Miracle", to polish its post-war image.
One of the new activities designed to sell the country on top of its beaches, tea plantations and religious sites is whale watching. The giant mammals frequent the island's shores between December and April.
Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's managing director, estimates the promotional campaign will help raise tourist arrivals by at least 20 per cent to 500,000 visitors in 2010.
Nepal
The number of travellers to Nepal slumped during a 10-year civil war between the army and Maoist rebels which ended in 2006. But last year a record 550,000 people visited the Himalayan state after foreign governments relaxed their travel warnings.
Tourism authorities say they hope to attract a million visitors by 2011 and are focusing on some of the less developed areas of the country, where few foreigners have ventured.
One plan involves creating a "Himalayan Trail", taking trekkers to some of the remotest parts of the country. The trail would link paths already used by local people to transport goods and livestock, and would take three months to complete - with most visitors expected to walk it in stages.
Decades of civil strife under the Khmer Rouge ended in 1998, and tourism is now one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the impoverished South-east Asian nation.
Even though Cambodia now lures more than two million foreign visitors a year, most stay only briefly to see the ancient World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex.
"We need time to (change our image)," Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia's tourism working group told AFP. The government last year launched an international "Kingdom of Wonder" campaign promoting the country's eco-tourism and culture.
More than 20 islands have been designated for development while a new airport in seaside Sihanoukville is expected to open later this year. Other plans include a game park for well-heeled hunters in the remote jungle-covered northern Ratanakiri province and several luxury golf courses around the country.
Indian kashmir
Tourists are returning to Indian Kashmir, once described by a 17th-century visiting emperor as a "paradise on earth", as militant violence in the Muslim-majority region subsides to its lowest level since 1989.
In 1988 more than 700,000 tourists visited Kashmir, but the number declined sharply as the insurgency intensified. Now the tide appears to be turning again, with more than 380,000 visiting in the first seven months of 2009. AFP
Visitors to Cebu won't ever have a dull day, says Nazir Keshvani
FLYING into Cebu, depending on which side of the aircraft you're seated, you will swoop over the brilliant azure seas of the Philippines. There's a beautiful mountain spine running the north-south length of this long, relatively narrow island.
Its landscape differentiates it from Sibu, an island that is pronounced the same way but situated in Malaysia. While both are fringed with soft sands and turquoise waters, Cebu, the Philippines, is steeped in colonial heritage.
The capital of the eponymous province, Cebu is the country's oldest Spanish colonial city. It has several historic landmarks, including the original cross planted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The cross is now housed in a roofed kiosk in Magallanes Street.
Magellan's Cross in Cebu Magellan's Cross in Cebu
Downtown Cebu is dominated by Colon Street, which is the oldest street in the Philippines, dating from the 16th century. Today, it is lined with stores, shopping malls, office buildings and movie theatres.
Get to know the place and you'll discover why business travellers and families come back again and again. Cebuanos (as the residents are termed) are laid back, chatty and hospitable, they will charm and entertain you relentlessly. Everyone has time. Lots of it.
Transport is a carnival. Brightly-painted jeepneys, tricycles and buses in gaudy, hallucinogenic hues, careen across the roads. You will also spot gaily caparisoned calesas (horse-drawn carriages) and hubel-hubels (motorcycles that carry pillion passengers).
And here in the Philippine south, if you get caught in traffic, simply jump out and tuck into some baboy lechon (grilled pork), especially around Talisay City, adjoining Cebu City to the south, or chicharon (chicken or pork skin crisps).
In Cebu City, there's much to do and enjoy. The old and more colourful parts of downtown Cebu around atmospheric St Nino and City Hall are fun to browse.
Hop on a calesa and trot off. Colon Street is a lively artery of commerce and entertainment. Giant shopping malls abound like Shoemart (among the biggest in the Philippines), Ayala Center and the Gaisano Country Mall.
A pleasant vantage point from which to see the city is Cebu Taoist Temple. It's situated on a hill 300m high and has an entrance that looks like the Great Wall of China and a giant dragon statue on the lawn.
The hilltop Tops is also a good lookout point. With some foaming San Miguel and munchies in hand, you can survey Cebu City, Bohol and the mountains to the north. The beaches are splendid, too.
Don't miss these sights
Cebu is the gateway to the Philippines, Asia and the Pacific. It lies in the heart of the Philippine archipelago; in the crossroads of domestic and international air and sea travel, and it is a good jumping-off point for island-hopping to the tropical islets of the central Visayas region.
Tarsier monkey
Bohol island province is one of the loveliest in the Visayas group and lies south-east of Cebu. The tarsier - the large-eyed, insect-eating monkey which, fully grown, is smaller than a child's fist - can be found here.
Here, too, are the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a surreal series of 1,768 hills that resemble scoops of chocolate ice cream; they were formed from the weathering of coral deposits formed when the land was submerged. The hills can be viewed from an observation deck.
10am: Beijing Zoo Julong Foreign Trade Clothing Store
Xizhimen Avenue, Xicheng District Open daily 6.30am-4.30pm
It is wholesale markets like this that make the Chinese shopping experience distinct: Goods at rock-bottom prices, a maze of stalls with narrow walkways and a few genuine brand-name items thrown in with mountains of fakes.
Julong is popular among university students and young professionals hoping to chance upon overruns from brands such as H&M, Zara and Quicksilver. Women's tops go for 10 to 25 yuan, men's T-shirts 30 to 50 yuan and jeans 65 to 90 yuan. Everything else a recessionista needs is here: Sunglasses, belts, bags, shoes, fashion jewellery, hats, swimwear.
Since the prices here are some of the lowest in town, most vendors have a no-bargaining and no-fitting rule. But nothing is impossible to determined shoppers.
12.30 Jingdingxuan dumplings
12.30pm: Jingdingxuan Restaurant
77 West Hepingli Street, Dongcheng District Open 24 hours
This three-storey Cantonese restaurant, adjacent to the Lama Temple and The Temple of Earth, is something of a landmark in this historic location. Jingdingxuan, or "golden cauldron pavilion," is known for its dim sum menu and off-hours promotion; every day from 2pm to 5pm and 10pm to 6am of the next day, selected items are only 5.80 yuan.
Among the dishes on daily discount are steamed chicken claw with black bean sauce, preserved egg and pork porridge and baked taro buns. Other specialities include shrimp dumplings (14.80 yuan), beef rice flour rolls (10.80 yuan) and Sichuan noodles with minced peanuts (6.80).
2pm: Imperial Street
2pm: The Imperial Academy Street
Guozijian, Inner Andingmen Street, Dongcheng District
In June, the Chinese government named Guozijian (or the Imperial Academy) Street one of the country's 10 "history and culture streets". This 700-year-old street is lined with courtyard homes, Chinese scholar trees and shops selling cultural and Buddhist items.
Its main attractions are the Imperial Academy and the Confucian Temple. There's a joint admission fee of 20 yuan, and they are open daily except on Mondays, when they open from 9am to 4.30pm. The academy, built in 1287, was China's highest educational institution during its last three dynasties - Yuan, Ming and Qing (1206-1911). Nowadays, before the annual College Entrance Examination, parents and students come here to pray for blessings. It also has an exhibition room of educational artefacts.
Next door is the Confucian Temple, established in 1302, where intellectuals and emperors paid their respects to the eminent Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius. On the grounds are 198 stone pillars with names of 5,000 people who passed the imperial examinations in Yuan, Ming and Qing.
798 Art District
5pm: 798 Art District
Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District
798 is Beijing's version of London's Soho and NYC's Greenwich Village. Its name comes from "Factory 798", one of the many state-owned factories in the industrial zone that produced electronics during China's pre-economic-reform era. The buildings - designed by former East German architects and constructed with the help of Soviet know-how - is the heart of 798's charm.
In 2002, artists and cultural organisations moved into the then-abandoned buildings and set up art galleries, artist studios, design companies, cafes and restaurants. A number of artists and galleries have since moved out, complaining of exorbitant rental fees.
As such, 798 remains one of Beijing's few pockets of quietude, where visitors can see sculptures on a leisurely stroll, check out paintings and photographs, and shop for curios made by struggling artists.
7.30: Tianxiayan
7.30pm: Tianxiayan Restaurant
798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Open daily 11.30am-10:30pm
Rich and spicy Sichuan food is probably the most popular cuisine on the mainland. This three-floor restaurant on the southeastern part of 798 is packed on weekends. Some of its mouthwatering specialities are fried fish with Sichuan pepper (58 yuan), sautéed diced chicken with chilli pepper (32 yuan) and mapo tofu (stir-fried tofu in hot sauce, 16 yuan). Tea is served free. One wall has a Cultural-Revolution-design mural depicting Mao Zedong and Chinese workers and a slogan: "The honour and dream of 798."
Xiu Bar in Beijing
10pm: Xiu bar
6/F Beijing Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomen Wai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Open 11.30am-2.30pm; 5.30pm-2am (Sun-Thurs); 5.30pm-3am (Fri-Sat)
Park Hyatt's three-month old bar is the newest "It" place in town. The upscale venue draws an eclectic crowd of business travellers, tourists, expats, Chinese yuppies and professional partygoers. Inside, traditional and contemporary elements meld: Two terraces are accented by flowing water and these surround a Chinese pavillion that contains the main bar, a stage for the live band, an open kitchen, a wine room and smaller lounges. Cocktails are 65 to 70 yuan, a glass of wine goes for betweeen 60 to 140 yuan, while snacks 20 to 60 yuan. Check out the restrooms for a rare sight in China: Bidets with heated seats.
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