 |
|
|
|
China: Your next shopping destination!
Mix Hong Kong's cosmopolitan vibe with Beijing's cultural heritage for the ultimate travel experience.
By Line Abrahamian
|
|
|
|
Bejing
Where Mandarin-speaking Beijing is China's capital and host of the 2008 summer Olympics. More sedate than Hong Kong, this northern city is the cradle of Chinese politics, history and culture.
Big picture Broad avenues, hordes of cellular-toting cyclists, vast squares, magnificent rambling palaces and noisy games of mah-jong.
Style "People aren't as brand-conscious in Beijing as they are in Shanghai or Hong Kong," says Kwok. "But Beijing women are proud of their individuality." Just as well, because high-end luxuries are beyond the average person's means. International labels are available, but foreign-owned design houses rely on domestic partnerships to open boutiques-- Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton both have stores in Beijing's Peninsula Palace hotel. Counterfeit branded goods are sold from market stalls (three dollars for a "Rolex,"five dollars for "Prada"shoes), but the government is cracking down on knock-offs, most recently closing the infamous Silk Alley market. It's still wishful thinking that the sale of endangered species' body parts -- like ground rhino horn for cooling blood -- will disappear from China's more nefarious animal markets.
CRYSTAL'S BEST LIST ...
Hangout In Beijing, local fat cats and celebrities dine like kings at Dazhaimen Restaurant of Family Bai, which serves Chinese emperors' favourite delicacies such as hou tou gu mushrooms and shark's fin soup. Situated inside a serene garden with ponds and colourful pavilions, the restaurant recreates the Qing dynasty era by dressing up its waiters as eunuchs with long, braided tresses. The waitresses wear traditional Chinese concubine dress with platform heels and flowered headdresses (concubines were named after -- and wore -- different flowers so they were easily identified).
Pillow talk Hotel lounges and bars are ultra-hip in Beijing, and Shangri-La's luxe Kerry Centre Hotel is home to the popular Centro bar. It's a great place to people-watch, and local celebrities like actor Russell Wong, rock star Zheng Jun and model Mao Mao have been spotted there. Choose one of the spacious sofas overlooking the Japanese-inspired garden and enjoy a few of their famous cassis jelly shots, served on silver toothpicks.
Culture club "Nothing in Beijing compares to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City," says Kwok. Touted as the eighth wonder of the world, the part of the wall nearest to Beijing is always packed, leading to bottlenecks mid-climb. Wander round the maze of 800 buildings in the Forbidden City -- the setting for Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor. Twenty-four Ming and Qing emperors reigned from here for more than 400 years-and the last living relative sells his own paintings from a shop in the Forbidden City.
Photography courtesy of Line Abrahamian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
OR |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
