One thing I had trouble finding in China was first aid supplies. I brought some of my own, but the pharmacy is a confusing place and you can’t expect to find the plethora of supplies available at any Longs Drug, Walgreens, or various other stores that are spread across the Western world. Unless you want […]

“I’m packing for China and I want to know what the maximum weight requirements are for my suitcases”
The times I’ve traveled to China the maximum weights for checked luggage were similar to requirements in the U.S., which I believe are typically 70 lbs. If you happen to take flights between cities in China, things may […]

The Summer Palace is one of the historical destinations everyone should try to visit at least once. Located just outside the 3rd Ring Road, It’s included on most Beijing tour ioutings and is also a popular park for Beijing residents looking for a place to escape concrete and steel. The Summer Palace has survived two […]

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to experience food you’re not likely to find in your home country, Lao Hanzi is the perfect restaurant destination. Located on the edge of the Houhai lake area, this is one of the true culinary bargains in Beijing. Aside from some of the best whole fish selection I had […]

The Red Theater, located in Beijing’s Chongwen district, offers Vegas-style Kung Fu entertainment, complete with requisite lights, fog and bombastic music. It’s Kung Fu if Cirque De Soleil did Kung Fu. The show tracks the story of a boy who’s dropped off at a Buddhist temple by his mother and slowly grows through kung fu […]

Like any good college neighborhood, the Haidian area housing both Bei Da (Peking University) and TsingHua, has a bar district ready to cater to students looking for a party. Propaganda is possibly the best dance bar in the area, playing a popular mix of dance music from Europe and hip-hop from the United States. The […]

Mexican food is nearly impossible to find in Beijing. As of August 2007, Taco Bell hadn’t opened a single store closer than Shanghai. This made El Fogoncito something of a culinary oasis in Beijing.
Four weeks into my most recent trip to China I was sick of noodles and rice and had a craving for Mexican […]

One of the less commonly visited historical sites in Beijing is the Drum Tower (or Gulou). Originally built in 1272 during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the Drum Tower has undergone repair on several occasions during the Yuan and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties, remaining largely unchanged through its current state. The drum tower was used to mark […]

Roast duck tastes better in Beijing. I’ve had it several times in the United States, but Peking Duck is always better in its birthplace. My favorite place to eat Peking Duck is hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, located in the rapidly shrinking Hutong east of Tiananmen Square. The experience of visiting Li Qun […]

While there are now several countries, like Vietnam and Cambodia, rumored to have the best price in the world on tailored suits and custom tailored shirts, Beijing is still among the most affordable places to get a quality tailored suit. For about US $100, you can get a tailored suit equivalent in quality to something […]