If you had worried that Anchor Bar sunk for good earlier this year after the bricking up of most of the street’s businesses, then brace yourself for a welcome bit of good news: the bar has since relocated to a much bigger, spiffier location around the corner at Yolee Plaza under the new name Anchor 2.0 (just behind the complex's popular Cafe Groove).

Known for having a fun, low-key atmosphere, and for being LGBT friendly, the former Anchor had a dedicated clientele that eagerly made their way to the new location for their reopening party this past Saturday (Jun 24). Some last-minute renovations and decorating had yet to be completed at the time, so the staff settled on a construction site theme and dressed the part for the occasion.

Co-owners Sherry Zhao and Albert Tang recruited her friend Kai, a Taiwanese bartender friend of hers, to take the helm at this new Yolee location. He has developed a handful of specialty cocktails like the Anchor 2.0 (made with rum, dita, tea, sprite, and lemon; RMB 55), the Downing Street No. 10 (comprised of vodka, Earl Grey, lemon, and coke; RMB 50), the Luoshenfu (named after a Chinese fairy tale, featuring gin, red wine, reselle syrup, and plum syrup; RMB 50), and the Guanyinyun (also taking its name from a Chinese children’s story, made with gin, oolong, and orange juice; RMB 50).

Our copper cupful of Guanyinyun packed quite a wallop thanks to a generous pouring of gin, though remained palatable through the oolong tea pairing, making for a tart but smooth concoction that went down a little too easily.

The venue’s concrete floors, wooden booths, a handful of small outdoor tables, and a literally flowery decor at the entryway, all make for a considerable upgrade over their prior, humbler digs. A small selection of standard coffees are also available for customers that come in during the day, and who may be looking for an energy boost before beginning their boozing.

All that and more make Anchor 2.0 a down-to-earth destination for cheap drinks and good times. Though many of us were worried about how Beijing’s nightlife would fare after the original Anchor and many venues like it shut down during the street business crackdown that swept the city earlier this year, it’s a pleasant surprise to see Anchor and other pop back up again so quickly and sail on to hopefully smoother waters.

Anchor 2.0
Mon-Fri 10am-2am, Sat-Sun 10am-4am. 1/F, North Side of Yoolee Plaza, 21 Gongti North Beilu, Chaoyang District (5801 0515)
朝阳区工体北路21号永利国际购物中心北侧一层

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
WeChat: 13263495040

Photos: Kyle Mullin, courtesy of Anchor Bar

“I can’t wait to rush around the city checking out empty houses. There are just so many great homes to choose from!” said nobody in Beijing, ever.

House hunting in China’s capital is probably one of the most stressful, and sometimes downright demoralizing experiences you’ll face when moving here, but it’s one that cannot be avoided. Unless you want to reside on your friend’s couch forever, of course.

We don’t want that – no one wants that, which is why in this issue Jeremiah Jenne has put together some tips on how to find a suitable place to live, Tracy Wang looks at how to get your mountains of stuff into your new pad, and Tom Arnstein investigates why it pays off to decorate or entirely revamp your new home.

Now you’ve found your haven it’s time to settle in. Carmel Moersalim guides you through some easy, seasonal cocktail recipes to greet your guests at your housewarming party, while Kyle Mullin outlines how to stay safe inside from lurking particles that may arise from renovating.

Elsewhere in this issue, research where to spend your summer holidays with my tips for visiting Thailand’s idyllic island of Ko Tao, whereas Tom Arnstein delves into our southern sister Vietnam’s capital Hanoi and surrounding areas. As always, we also went to check out some of the hottest bar and restaurant openings – you’ll want to get out and explore your new area while relieving the stresses and strains of moving.

When we started planning this issue a few months ago, I did not realize quite how apt the theme of our July/August issue would be, as I too now pack my bags (unending boxes …) to head down south and begin my own house hunting adventure in a new city. For that reason, I’m sad to announce that this will be my last issue as Managing Editor at the Beijinger.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has made my time in Beijing, and particularly my two and a half years experiencing the city to the fullest with the Beijinger, so exhilarating and fulfilling. To all the friends I’ve met along the way: I’m sure we will still see each other around. It’s a shockingly small world after all.

Read the issue via Issuu online here, or access it as a PDF here. Otherwise, grab a hard copy at your favorite outlet around town in the coming days!

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photo: Dave's Studio

Are you looking for a weekend getaway that won’t break the bank but will be fun for all? Well, make use of the shared economy possibilities of Airbnb, and head for the great outdoors this summer. There are plenty of stunning properties available that can fit one or even a bunch of your friends, so that you can soak in the sun and a bit of nature for a couple days at a place that’s only a short car trip away. The best part of all is that the prices aren’t that bad when compared to a decent hotel anywhere in the world. We’ve scoured the Beijing Airbnbs to find some of the best locations so that you don’t have to.

Chengde Mountain House with Lake Access
We’ve had numerous acquaintances visit this mountain house in Chengde. Due to it being near a lake, having an onsite barbecue pit that’s just calling for a lamb feast, and the ability to accommodate at least 16 people, we can understand why. Also, we can see from the reviews that both the landlord and old dog on the premises are sweet and very accommodating.

Accommodates 16, RMB 2,727 per night.

Chic Mountain Village Home
A group of young architects built this spectacular, modern courtyard facility in Changping. Surrounded by scenic mountains, it is about a 50km ride from central Beijing. Though it may seem a little pricey, if you join forces with many friends it could actually be a very cost-effective place to spend a long weekend in rural luxury. The entire complex is 800 square meters, and includes a self-service kitchen, restaurant, bathroom, roof terrace, and each room has its own independent courtyard. Check out the pictures to get a better idea of just how smart this place really looks.

Accommodates 16, RMB 5,988 per night.

Galaxy House
These fantastic looking structures should appeal to anyone who likes to gaze at the stars. In what appears to look like a transparent shell covering a small room with a queen size mattress, this is the perfect place if stargazing and nature are what you fancy during your weekend sojourn outside the city. This place is also not far from the Great Wall, making it a convenient spot if you want to get some hiking done. The facilities here are pretty minimal, so it'll pay to have an open mind regarding the shared bathrooms and the expected amount of insects that might make their way into bed with you throughout the night.

One bed per galaxy house (a total of 10 on site), RMB 417 per night.

Mountain Courtyard
90km away from the city in Fangshan District is this quaint courtyard surrounded by pure unadulterated nature. There are two rooms, a woodsy decorated kitchen, a simple toilet, and a terrace so that you can soak up the sun in true rustic fashion. From the pictures, it looks like there should be plenty of mountainous fun to be had in the area.

Accommodates 6. RMB 1,497 per night.

Villa with Swimming Pool
Last but not least, this spot located near the mountains, rivers, and Ming Tombs of Beijing’s Changping District, is a cost-effective property that should please even the most discerning of Airbnb’ers. Between the scenic surrounding, secluded vibe, top-notch amenities, there is also a pretty impressive pool located on the premises so that you can soak and swim the day away. We love it for this fact alone, as private access to a pool is a luxury that can’t often be afforded in Beijing.

Accommodates 6, RMB 1,681 per night.

This article first appeared on our sister website beijingkids.

Photos: Airbnb

Although we've moved on an entire 10 years, back in 2007 our concerns about our favorite bars being forced to close were uncannily similar.

A blog from our archive dating back to June 2007, ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, ends on this happy note:

Finally, we can confirm that rumors that Cafe de la Poste and other Yonghegong area hangouts are about to be chai’d are false. Apparently a project to beautify Yonghegong Dajie for the Olympics is not as drastic as some residents originally thought, and while work on the street may make access a little less convenient for a while, it will still be business as usual for these guys.

Well, we're also happy to report that Cafe de la Poste is still standing strong in 2017. In fact, it is still up to its usual tricks, staying open late and plying Beijingers from all walks of life with coffee shots.

Since 2016 though, it has also attracted plenty of competition, most notably from Queenie's Sandwiches and Bar just across the road. Open until similarly ludicrous hours, QS, as its known by it's loyal followers, has also become a hub of late-night activity for its good sandwiches and wide-ranging boozy collection.

READ: See You Later, Dirty Bar Street

The last 10 years have seen the nearby Fangjia Hutong thrive, too, and regardless of recent bricking, we're so relieved to see some of our favorite bars holding on. Cellar Door, for example, has basically turned into Cellar Window, Ramo and Mimi e Coco are still going strong, and El Nido and Fang Bar are also still operating as usual for the time being. You'll have to find your way in around the side, but once you get there nothing has changed. Even Tiki Bungalow is making a comeback with what will now be their third incarnation, not far from their last location on Jiaodaokou Santiao.

Some bar owners further east did not see their bars survive, but have seen their joints move to safer locations. There's Aperitivo, for example, which has now found another home in Sanlitun Soho, and Anchor Bar, which has moved into Yonglee Plaza. 

Sadly, not all of our other bars have been so fortunate as to thrive in the name of cleaning up and beautification, as well as eradicating so-called illegal structures and reducing Beijing's central population. In the last year or two we've lost the likes of Drum and Bell Bar, personally one of my all-time favorites, and popular spots like BBC, Más, and the Slow Boat Taproom.

READ: Future of Xingfucun Bars and Restaurants Unclear

As of right now, the Great Brickening is likely to continue through Dongcheng District, spreading further north as it has been. Andingmen's Yongkang Hutong, home to Guanshuyuan Compound inhabited by many of our readers, has seen some of its fruit, convenience, and everything stores close preemptively.

Thankfully at least one thing that has changed between now and 10 years ago is that we don't need to worry about the Spice Girls coming to grace us with their presence this year. 

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Images courtesy of Cellar Door, courtesy of Slow Boat

As Joerg Wuttke recently prepared to end his term as President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and head back to his hometown in the German countryside, he felt a deep nostalgia for Beijing, pangs that he’d contended with for years. Specifically, he had long pined for the Beijing of old that first greeted him in the early 1980s. 

“When I was first here in August of 1982 the streets were empty,” he said during a recent interview at the Chamber’s Liangmaqiao office. “We were sitting on the pavement and donkey carts came in to bring vegetables for the next day’s market. I thought: ‘Maybe this is not the kind of market I was thinking about working in.’”

Yet the prospect of remaining in his tiny hometown was stifling enough to turn Wuttke’s gaze toward the vast, untapped Far East. And despite living in a backwater, Wuttke was no stranger to the pillars of Chinese culture. As a boy, he’d see his elder brother crisscrossing the streets hoisting Chairman Mao’s Red Book high.

That irked their father, a refugee from East Germany who held political views that were deeply opposed to those of his rebellious eldest son. And yet, young Joerg’s father had an interest in Eastern philosophy, and often read the works of Confucius. That contradiction compelled Wuttke to look into studying Mandarin as well as applying for funding so that he could begin an adventurous business career in China.

When Wuttke revealed those plans to his mother, she “broke out in tears. She thought I’d lost my marbles because in the early 1980s there was no business in China,” he says, adding that all the universities and think tanks he applied to rejected him. Wuttke says one professor dismissively asked: “‘What are you going to sell to those people?’ But I was committed to go to China, to avoid staying in my hometown in the countryside.”

Though Wuttke managed to escape that provincial upbringing, he was by no means greeted by a glamorous metropolitan Beijing, despite all he’d heard about the size of China’s capital. Wuttke and his wife first lived in Taipei as teachers, where he says he mingled with a unique Chinese middle class. When he finally ventured to the mainland for a holiday, he was shocked by Beijing’s sparse development. He recalled how: “My brain was telling me this must be a big country, a big market. But when I was here for the first time in 1982, my heart sank. The whole of Beijing’s expat community went to the Friendship Store, where you could get foreign crackers. That was it.”

Still, the compassion and pure curiosity of mainlanders, who had few opportunities to meet foreigners, charmed and inspired Wuttke. This is why he jumped at the opportunity to work for a major German multinational in the 1980s, and was further heartened by Deng Xiaoping’s reforms in the 1990s. Before the end of the decade, Wuttke became head of the multinational. “When I was negotiating multibillion dollar deals for my company we were used as a guinea pig for transfer agreements," he recalls. "Working in a lawless setting, where the policies creep up one by one, was actually quite enriching.”

That being said, Wuttke often saw limits to China’s potential. During one exhibition in Shanghai in the 1990’s, officials lead him through the rice fields that would eventually become Pudong, before inviting him in a hall to unveil their grand plan for the area’s development. “I said to my assistant ‘Let’s go, they are crazy.”

He adds: “Years later, I had to eat dirt as I saw how everything in this model had been implemented. China makes you humble.”

Despite all the business deals he made in Shenzhen and Shanghai, and his formative days as a teacher in Taiwan, Beijing has been Wuttke’s home base in China. Yet, it hasn’t always been accommodating.

“Shanghai has always seemed to embrace the future and building itself out of nowhere, while Beijing, for me, has always been more of a farewell story,” Wuttke says. He cites the 2008 Olympics in particular as the source of his Peking melancholy. “High rises came up. It was just the ultimate Chinese story of history turning into modern glitz. That made me sad.”

He is quick to concede that Beijing had to modernize, just like any capital. Yet, when he thinks back on his favorite Beijing days, he won’t dwell on the gridlock and the gentrification, but instead the horses on the empty streets and the endearing, earnest locals, all of which were more akin to his rustic German hometown than the modern metropolis it is today. Before he leaves, Wuttke hopes to spend as much time as he can visiting hutongs and temples. He adds: “Now you really have to look for them, but you can still find corners in Beijing that have that history I love so much.”

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos: Uni You, courtesy of Joerg Wuttke

Beijing Beats brings you the best in Beijing nightlife each weekend so that you can soothe the woes of a long and stressful week with some out-of-body gyrating and some experiences you'd rather forget come Monday. Check the weekend's full list of nightlife events here.

Friday, June 30

dART presents Abstraxion
Like so many of his countrymen, musician français Abstraxion is fond of squelch and buzz, combining sinister techno and impish electro over punky disco rhythms. The Marseille-based producer has already played in the best clubs of Europe as a DJ and with his live audio and video opening for Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington's joint project Darkside. For his new live set, Abstraxion will perform alone on stage, further exploring his house and techno tendencies. Price TBA. 10pm. Dada

Great Dane and Madkosmos 
Dane Morris is Great Dane, an LA transplant from Orange County, CA with a taste for independent hip-hop and an ear for sticky beats. An active front man in the LA music movement known as the “beat scene,” as well as in the larger hip-hop and trap genres, Great Dane has been featured in numerous major publications and radio programs, including BBC Radio 1, Diplo & Friends, Red Bull Music Academy Radio, NTS Radio, NPR, DJZ, and Dubspot. He’s joined by Kyoto-based bass DJ, producer and promoter Madkosmos. 11.30pm onwards. RMB 120, RMB 70 (advance, tickets here). Modernsky Lab

All Night With Boflex
Back in the day, resident DJs in the best clubs played long sets. A long set often meant eight hours or longer, with the DJ having complete control of the arc of the night. “All Night” aims to go back to this standard of long sets and letting DJs have the time and freedom to take the party wherever they want, with Boflex taking the stage. Price TBA. 10pm-4.30am. The Bar at Migas

Saturday, July 1

The Great Wall Summer Wonderland Electronic Music Festival 2017
This Saturday, be transported to a mysterious land by the Great Wall, where all of your musical dreams will come true. Some of Beijing's best DJs, straddling house, techno, drum and bass, trap, and Goa-Back2Basics will keep their sizzling summer tunes pumping throughout the day and into the night. RMB 300, RMB 160 (advance, buy here), RMB 100 (bus, leaves from Wudaokou and Chaoyang Park North). 3pm-6am. Secret location

Two Fresh
Twin producers, dancers, and hip-hop and experimental DJs Two Fresh were born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, but have gained traction around the world, especially for their 2016 Coachella set. They also happen to be the producers behind Team Supreme. 10pm. RMB 100 (RSVP required here). Room 79

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Images: Lagasta, courtesy of the organizers

If you or your family recently switched from Chinese citizenship, there's one last bureaucratic hurdle to cross before you start travelling outside China.

A government policy to be formally implemented next week will temporarily ban foreign passport holders from leaving the country if they have not cancelled their registered Chinese permanent residence.

Besides having to face undetermined penalties, violators will be forced to return to their original place of residence to cancel their household register with the relevant authorities before being allowed to leave China.

The policy will have the most impact upon families and individuals living in China making the transition away from Chinese citizenship as well as overseas Chinese with foreign passports returning to China, but had neglected to cancel their residency beforehand.

Expats living in China under temporary residence permits are not required to cancel them before leaving the country. 

First introduced in February, the policy is set to be fully enforced in July. 

Because China does not recognize dual citizenship, Chinese residents that have accepted foreign citizenship are no longer considered to be citizens.

According to Quanjing, some overseas Chinese have been reluctant to cancel their registered permanent residence out of convenience due to owning property or stocks in China. Meanwhile, others are said to retain a "sense of belonging to China."

READ: Are You a Grade A Expat?

This same policy will also authorize the collection of biometric information such as fingerprints from foreign nationals entering China, a mandatory procedure only waived for those with diplomatic passports or don't have hands.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Diyitui, icswb, Sohu

A 300-year-old French comedy has been winning laughs and plaudits on its Chinese tour, proving that its themes of financial greed and the corrupting power of wealth still resonate across ages and cultures. And now Beijingers will have an opportunity to see it for themselves, as Moliere’s classic L’Avare (The Miser), comes to the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center this weekend (30 June and 1 July).

The miser of the title, Harpagon, is a rich man, but hoards his wealth and lives in a constant state of suspicion and paranoia. He plans to marry a much younger woman, unaware that she and his son are in love. In classic farce style, the deceits and misunderstandings pile up with breathless speed, until all is finally resolved through a series of unlikely coincidences.

French company La Comédie de Reims have given the play a fresh spin and a contemporary setting. Harpagon’s house, where the action takes place, becomes a warehouse filled with cardboard boxes, representing the uselessness of stockpiling wealth. Everyone in the play is obsessed with money, despite being surrounded by it.

“The issue is not about a lack of money, it is more about the lack of monetary movement,” says director Ludovic Lagarde. “The function of money is to pay, and here it has lost this function. It seems to have become the target of a mortiferous worshipping. Everything can be sacrificed for money, since nothing else matters, there is no value, and no price ... except for money of course.”

It’s not hard to see why audiences have been responding to this portrayal of what Lagarde calls, “a society under crisis ... where money rules like a despot.” Fortunately both Moliere and Lagarde have not forgotten the humor, with witty dialog, physical comedy, and fun with theatrical conventions sugaring the play’s serious message.

L’Avare by Moliere plays at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center at 7.30pm on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1. Performances are in French, with Chinese and English subtitles. Tickets cost RMB 99 to RMB 580, and are available from the box office or online here.

Images courtesy of the organizers

Are you finding the heat unbearable? Get a refreshing take on the city this summer by suburbs taking part in the Yanjing Beer Festival being held at the Olympic Water Park in Shunyi.

Now in its 26th year, the beer festival will host a variety of activities and concerts under the auspices of beer culture.

Running until July 9, the beer festival will have no shortage of beer as Yanjing debuts a thick-bodied coffee-flavored, mellow Yanjing stout; an IPA Yanjing golden-bodied citrus-scented beer made from American hops; and a ruby-colored ale. The festival will also cater to diners by making room to accommodate some 9,000 diners.

True to its roots as a competitive rowing facility for the Olympics, visitors will get a chance to take part in dragon boat races. For RMB 50, groups of no less than six people can get together and race a 250-meter-long course.

If water sports isn't your thing, you can relax and listen to the daily live music performance. Ten bands will perform original music in styles ranging from folk to heavy metal to punk every night at 6pm.

Coinciding with the Yanjing Beer Festival are other activities held at Olympic Water Park over the coming week.

On July 2, the park will host a motorcycle show that will feature a hundred motorcycle clubs as well as exhibitors that include brands like Harley-Davidson, Indian, and BMW.

The following week will see the Cool Run take place on July 8 and 9. In addition to the amateur running course, the Cool Run will include a foam bubble party, a water gun fight, and a big ball fight.

Here's how the beer festival looked from past years:

This summer, enjoy your alcoholic beverages in the suburbs and head out to Shunyi!

The Yanjing Beer Festival

Location:Shunyi Olympic Water Park
Date: June 26-July 9
Time: 9am-9pm
Cost: RMB 20 admission; half-price admission for elderly, enlisted and disabled soldiers; free for disabled persons and children under 1.2 meters in height
Subway directions: Get off at Shunyi Station, 2nd last stop on Line 15; walk west from station and take either the Shun #32, Shun #5 or Shun #45 bus (顺 #32, 顺#5, 顺#45); ride the bus 9 kilometers for 12 stops until you reach the park. Conversely, there is also a special beer festival bus that runs from Shiyuan South Boulevard (石园南大街) south of Shunyi Station; last bus runs at 9.30pm, fare is RMB 2.
Driving directions: Take Jingshun Lu and turn east onto Baima Lu, about 24km from Wuyuan Qiao; follow signs and keep driving for about 4km.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: BJ News, Nanbeiyou, CE, Sina Blog

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” These wise words were spoken by the esteemed Benjamin Franklin, one of the leaders of the Free World, so who can argue with that sentiment?

Beijing’s smoldering summer has most, if not all of us, in constant search of an ice-cold beer. Let’s face it, what could be worse than standing in front of a wall of bottles in a stacked fridge or flicking through a menu with over 30 varieties of draft beer, and not being able to order a single one them because of limitations in the language needed to do so. This is a problem that can plague fresh-off-the-boat foreigners or anyone with a weak grasp of Mandarin in Beijing, and that's truly sad.

Fear not, however, as we have compiled a guide to knowing your lager from your stout, and your pint from your flight in Chinese, as well as the all-important means to order a nice, cold, refreshing beer.  

First things first, beer (啤酒, píjiǔ) can no longer be roughly divided into three categories, as they used to be before the arrival of craft beer in China (white 白啤 bái pí, yellow 黄啤 huáng pí, and black 黑啤, hēi pí).

Popular styles of beer

Lager 拉格 lā gé
Pale ale 淡色艾尔 dànsè àiěr
IPA 印度淡色艾尔 yìndù dànsè àiěr
Porter 波特 bō tè
Stout 世涛 shì tāo
Cider 苹果酒 píngguǒ jiǔ
Wheat/whit/weiss/white 小麦啤酒 xiǎomài píjiǔ
Saison 塞森 sài sēn
ABV (alcohol by volume) 酒精度 jiǔjīngdù
IBU (international bitterness unit) 苦度 kǔdù

Simple questions at the bar

What’s the ABV of this beer?
酒精度是多少？
Jiǔjīng dù shì duōshǎo?

Can I have a pint of …?
我可以要一杯 … 吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yào yībēi … ma?

Do you have any new brew?
你们有新酿的啤酒吗？
Nǐmen yǒu xīnniàng de píjiǔ ma?

Can I have a taste, please?
我可以先尝一下吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ xiān chángyīxià ma?

I’d like a flight.
我想要一个品尝套装。
Wǒ xiǎngyào yīgè pǐncháng tàozhuāng.

More technical chat

Let’s head to Great Leap Brewing after work, I heard that the Leaping The Dog Barley Champagne Rose is really nice.
我们下班去大跃啤酒吧，听说白云苍狗大麦香槟很好喝。
Wǒmen xiàbān qù dàyuè píjiǔ ba, tīngshuō báiyún cānggǒu dàmài xiāngbīn hěn hǎohē.

Remember Slow Boat’s Sea Level Chocolate Stout that we liked last year? It’s back on tap!
记得去年我们都喜欢悠航的海平面巧克力世涛吗？它又回来了！
Jìdé qùnián wǒmen dōu xǐhuān yōuháng de hǎipíngmiàn qiǎokèlì shìtāo ma ? Tā yòu huílái le!

The ale pie pairs well with the Guanxi Pale Ale at Arrow Factory Brewpub.
牛肉啤酒派搭配箭厂啤酒的关系淡色艾尔特别好。
Niúròu píjiǔ pài dāpèi jiànchǎng píjiǔ de guānxì dànsè àiěr tèbié hǎo.

Have you tried Dualistic Oversimplification Szechuan Sour, which is a collab-brew between Pasteur Street and Jing-A?
你尝过二次元酸啤吗？是Pasteur Street跟京A合酿的。
Nǐ chángguò èrcìyuán suānpí ma？shì Pasteur Street gēn jīng-A hé niàng de.

The new NBeer Pub at Wukesong offers lots of bottled imports.
在五棵松新开的牛啤堂有很多进口瓶装啤酒。
Zài wǔkēsōng xīnkāi de niúpítáng yǒu hěnduō jìnkǒu píngzhuāng píjiǔ.

That sour ale tastes like cold sweat.
酸艾尔喝起来像冷掉的汗。
Suān’àiěr hēqǐlái xiàng lěngdiào de hàn.

I like Hoegaarden Wit a lot, do you have a similar beer to recommend?
我喜欢福佳白啤，你有相似的啤酒推荐吗？
Wǒ xǐhuān fújiā báipí, nǐ yǒu xiàngsì de píjiǔ tuījiàn ma?

Do you believe there’s pizza-flavored beer in the world?
你相信世界上有披萨味的啤酒吗？
Nǐ xiàngxìn shìjiè shàng yǒu pīsà wèi de píjiǔ ma? 

I can’t drink anymore, look at my beer belly! / I’m almost broke!
我不能再喝了，瞧瞧我的啤酒肚！/我快要破产了！
Wǒ bùnéng zài hē le, qiáoqiáo wǒ de píjiǔdù!/wǒ kuàiyào pòchǎn le!

Phrases for those growing weary of artisan pints

I don’t give a damn about this craft beer thing, do you have Budweiser?
我才不关心精酿啤酒呢，你们有百威啤酒吗？
Wǒ cáibù guānxīn jīngniàng píjiǔ ne, nǐmen yǒu bǎiwēi píjiǔ ma？

Do you have Guinness on tap?
你们有健力士扎啤吗？
Nǐmen yǒu jiànlìshì zhā pí ma?

I don’t feel like having beer today, do you have white wine?
我不想喝啤酒，你们有白葡萄酒吗？
Wǒ bùxiǎng hē píjiǔ, nǐmen yǒu báipútáojiǔ ma?

Mandarin Month is sponsored by Sanfine International Hospital. Keep on track with your studies with all of our 2017 Mandarin Month content here. 

Photos: wikihow.com, startupdaily.net

As a zero-sum society where everything must be fought and contested over, China is an exhausting place to live. From birth to death, Chinese live in constant competition with each other, fighting for a better spot in a queue or to have a more impressive CV.

Despite living in an golden age of revival that has brought unprecedented prosperity, some Chinese just can't find any reason to be happy. Resigned to their lot in life as perennial losers in the game of life, this disenfranchised part of Chinese society have found little reason to live, except to experience more despair and misery.

Previously referred to as diǎosī (屌丝), the outlook of these "losers" is characterized by "funeral (丧 sāng) culture" that sums up their bleak perspective on life. And when it comes to funeral culture, one television show stands above them all: Bojack Horseman.

Now in its third season, Bojack Horseman is an unconventional show, even by Western standards. Revolving around a washed-up sitcom star attempting to regain his lost celebrity status, the animated show follows the titular character as he stumbles in his attempts to find intimacy and acceptance in a world populated by both humans and talking animals. 

It doesn't seem as though such a show would appeal to Chinese audiences who are known for a preference for cuteness, as seen by everything from selfie modification apps to the recent popularization of breeding dogs to look like teddy bears. 

And yet, the malaise of cynicism depicted by the show has struck a chord among Chinese audiences – namely, a disenfranchised young generation of Chinese in their 20s and 30s who, like Bojack Horseman, live in an idealized world, but can't find any reason to be happy. So although the show is a biting satire on Hollywood and the celebrity culture, Chinese viewers have found the dialog in Bojack Horseman to be profound and poignant, quoting it to each other on Weibo in massive numbers.

Yes, Chinese audience can't get enough of the show described in the Chinese media as "a meticulous picture of despair and self-loathing." Here are some of their favorite quotes:

Funeral culture is huge right now in China, so it was only time before this disillusioned group found a spokesperson. Characterized as slackers with no ambition, funeral culture is best represented in China by the "Ge You-leaning" meme (shown below, to the left), the sad Pepe Frog meme (of 4chan fame, middle), and finally, a four-legged salted fish meme (itself based upon a Hong Kong-saying quoted in the film Shaolin Soccer: "In what what are you different from a salted fish if you don't have a dream?").

In fact, funeral culture is so big in China that onlline food retailer Ele.me opened a "funeral tea" café franchise to cater to this demographic (shown below).

And it's not just China. Funeral culture is mirrored across the ocean in Japan where the most popular mascot right now is a lazy fried egg named "Gudetama" who feels that existence is a burden too heavy to bear. Created by the same people who made Hello Kitty, Gudetama is best characterized in a prone position, lacking the will to even stand up.

Unfortunately, whenever anything attracts widespread attention in China, authorities will step in to limit its influence, whether it be banning live-streamers on Weibo or detaining a bishop for giving Mass. So, as much as funeral culture in China has to despair for, things just got worse for them.

Just two days after it began streaming on the iQiyi video platform on June 21, Bojack Horseman was pulled by Chinese censors to have its content "altered." 

Western TV shows have been pulled from Chinese distribution before, sometimes for no discernible reason, as when sitcom The Big Bang Theory mysteriously disappeared from the Sohu video streaming platform two years ago. 

Bojack Horseman was Netflix's best chance of cracking the hard-to-crack Chinese market, and this proves to be a huge setback for them. There is no word as to when, or if, Bojack Horseman will return to the Chinese market.

Who knows? Maybe by then, the problem will magically solve itself, and China's misanthropic younger generation will cheer up. But if things aren't going to get any better for the second-best diaosi who identify with Bojack Horseman, at the very least they can stop having such a long face.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Daily Dot, Weibo (1, 2, 3, 4), AV Club, Indiewire, Dwelling In Erised

Homesick foreigners hankering some wholesome eats are sure to delight in the offerings at Constellation Café. The Xingfuyicun newbie boasts a selection of paninis and other sandwiches, salads, smoothies, mac and cheese among its arsenal of comfort food. And while that simple, filling fare is sure to quell both the appetites and longings of most patrons, an even better facet of the café’s food is some of the subtly creative twists given to these classics. Think of it as your grandma’s fixings, gone gourmet.

Case in point: the croq panini. Priced at RMB 45, like all four of their paninis, this option is undeniably cheese thanks to its mix of cheddar, Swiss, and manchego, along with roasted red bell peppers, pickled radish and tongue tinglingly salty bacon (the latter being an extra RMB 10 addition that’s more than worth it).

Meanwhile the butcher's special panini (also RMB 45) might be even better, depending on how much of a carnivore you are. This protein packed sandwich features house roast beef, bacon pickled red onion, cheddar, and spicy aioli, that last ingredient giving the panini a zesty zip. And while I preferred the eclectic range of cheeses in the croq, this butcher’s special came in close second in my books, because its cheddar is immersively gooey and stringy throughout much of the sandwich, save for a few especially hot spots in the center that border on creamy. And then there's the meatball panini (pictured in the lead image above, RMB 60), a soon to be hit thanks to its juicy, deeply tender, hunger slaying all beef meat balls, enticingly bitter pickled Anaheim peppers, and gooey provolone and Parmesan cheese all wedged between tender yet sturdy slices of toasted bread. It would be an understatement to say this sandwich will hit the spot for hungry patrons.

We tried a few other items on the somewhat small menu, such as an RMB 45 Jamaican jerk chicken salad that was layered with flavor thanks to its succulent dressing and mix of subtle spices, all of which gave it a gradually spicy kick that's invigorating, but never overwhelmingly hot. The slices of mango nestled in the greens were freshly nourishing and made for an ample palate cooler. The salad’s chicken had a pappy consistency that gave it a stick-to-your-ribs quality which is sorely lacking in lesser, overly light chicken salads found at other restaurants. If you’d rather have more of a guilty pleasure side, then try the three cheese mac. Made with manchego, cheddar, and Swiss, these chewy noodles are a bit less healthy, but all the more satisfying, than a salad, though you need not feel too woeful, given the pumpkin seeds and granola thrown in its mix that make it far lighter than more conventional takes on this classic.

The artisan flair that elevates what we were expecting to be generic homestyle fare comes courtesy of Kara Brouillette, an American expat who founded the Butcher Brouillette butcher shop in the past and once collaborated on the Butcher Brouillette project with Douglas Williams of BBC for Chi Fan for Charity, along with being a bartender at Slow Boat. She makes all of Constellation’s food from scratch, to the point of pickling some of the dishes' pickles herself, meaning the relatively short menu goes deep on quality and creativity.

Her partner at Constellation is Jo Wee, a Singaporean expat who has brought her juices and smoothies to numerous events around town under the moniker Spatula. Her drink menu features half a dozen super blends, all priced at RMB 38 per glass, like the Happy Green Monster (loaded with kale, carrot, blueberry, and banana), the Clear Skin Detox (featuring spinach, avocado, grapes, and strawberry), Berry Slim (made with cranberry, strawberry, blueberry, and acai berry), the Go Bananas (which includes mango, strawberry, avocado and yep, surprise surprise, loads of banana). My glassful of Go Bananas was thick enough to border on gelatinous, feeling almost like a meal unto itself. Its banana flavor definitely dominated the proceedings, which suited my sweet fruit cravings more than amply (though other patrons might want to try one of the other blends for more varied flavors, depending on their preferences). There’s also fresh juices (also RMB 38), milks, yogurts, and teas, and a selection of fruity cocktails like Bloody Mary’s, margaritas, among others (ranging from RMB 38-45).

The restaurant’s atmosphere is straightforwardly chic – a room that can seat about thirty patrons comfortably, featuring vast pictures windows on the front along with slate grey concrete walls and exposed piping, not to mention racks of wine bottles from previous owners InVino (who ceded the space for the most part to focus on their more lavish newer venue, Mojo; Constellation began as a Spatula pop up at InVino before that handover, though the InVino team still comes back to the space from 7-11pm Tue-Sun to sell wine).

All of that and more make Constellation poised for success in the relatively quiet Xing Fuyi Cun nook, for anyone hoping to quickly duck out of the nearby Sanlitun bustle. This new café’s fresh juices and filling yet light eats are perfect for a casual weekday lunch or rejuvenating weekend brunch, while the ample creativity and friendly demeanor of its owners are also sure to help them quickly build a steady stream of regulars.

Additionally, on July 1, beginning at 1pm, Constellation will host a small block party with neighboring venue Purple Bar (in prewritten statement promoting the event Brouillette explained: "Purple Bar is a new cocktail bar located inside Purple Isle, the long-established Thai restaurant formerly known as Purple Haze"). Wee and Brouillette will be selling meals and a juice for the event at a discounted RMB 68. For more information, click here.

Constellation Café
Tue-Sun 11am-3pm (lunch), 6-10pm (dinner). Xianhuayuan, 103 Jia Liu Lou, Xingfuyicun Xili (136 8107 9980)
幸福一村西里甲六楼103室 鲜花园

Photos courtesy of Constellation Café

Twenty years after the reunification of Hong Kong, the "One Country, Two Systems" concept is being promoted to the mainland Chinese public by employing stereotypes of the former British colony.

A video made by the Xinhua All-Media Service explains that Hong Kong operates under a different system than the rest of the country after the 1997 handover. And yet, the animated video takes an antiquated and myopic view of the city it attempts to praise as a "peer" to China with its own set of rules.

The video features junks more than once in its depiction of Hong Kong Harbor even though they disappeared in the late 80s, long before reunification occurred. As well, lyrics in the video point out some of Hong Kong's distinguishing characteristics include judges that wear wigs and that "Victoria Peak is not that high."

Although this doesn't really represent how locals think of their city, this perspective is further skewed when the video chooses to remember Hong Kong for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which is not even open yet.

And yet, such misconstrued views don't matter when the video is able to get its main message across, as explained by a rapping teacher. 

According to the video, Hong Kong has been given a "big gift box" as part of its return to China after colonial British rule that include judicial independence and the right of final adjudication. 

Not part of the "gift box" is the appointment of Hong Kong's Chief Executive, which the video proudly points out with a photo of current appointee, Carrie Lam.

Using the familiar media tactic of combining cartoons and pop music as a way to educate the public, verses spoken in rap explain that Hong Kong is wholly independent except for matters of diplomacy and the military. To clear up that up, explains the video, "please take it up with the central government."

The video doesn't mince words when it comes to criticizing Hong Kong's former rulers. Lyrics describe the lowering of the Union Jack for China's five-starred red flag at the 1997 handover ceremony as "Down with the humiliation, up with sovereignty."

Have a listen for yourself; here are the full translated lyrics (mainland China version here):

Teacher: Time for class! Time for class! We're going to do a very, very, very important exam...
Student: What? Really?
Teacher: It's Hong Kong's... "One country, two systems!"
Student: Th.. th.. that's a blind spot in my knowledge!

Teacher (rap): For emphasis, I knock on the blackboard,
so pay attention to the teacher's important points
This is a real cut-off line, for this year is the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China
You must listen to me carefully, make it enter your heart and mind in order to broaden your knowledge
For Hong Kong's yesterday, today and tomorrow, people can
laugh and smile with "One country, two systems"

Male Narrator: A socialist system of 1.3 billion people 
is the main factor in unifying the People's Republic of China 
Hong Kong maintains its original social system and way of life by becoming a special administration system of China
that has special autonomy
Of note: Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China. "One country, two systems" is a basis for unifying the entire
country
That's why the flag of the People's Republic of China flies simultaneously alongside that of the Special
Administrative Region of Hong Kong

Female Singer (chorus one, in Putonghua):
There is a red background to the flag of the bauhinia flower (Hong Kong flag)
The red background comes from the red flag with the five stars
Five star-tipped stamens grow from the bauhinia flower flag
that will stay forever with the motherland

Male Narrator: When the country took authority, it granted a big gift box to Hong Kong that included:
administrative power, legislative power, judicial independence, and the right of final adjudication
As for diplomacy and the military... sorry, but Hong Kong does not have authority here
If you have a problem with that, please take it up with the central government

Teacher (rap): English, Cantonese, and Mandarin are all equally important
The red Hong Kong dollar is the official currency
Judges still wear wigs
Horses at the racetracks are still bustling
At that moment in 1997
Chinese people in China and throughout the world were brimming with tears
Down with the humiliation, up with sovereignty
Up went our imposing sovereignty
 
Female Singer (chorus two, in Cantonese):
There is a red background to the flag of our beloved bauhinia flower
Our hearts rely upon our full confidence
The beautiful bauhinia dissolves into five stars will never fade
The shining glory is the most dazzling sight for the eyes

Male and Female (rap):
The red flag with five stars sails above Hong Kong
Olympic gold is also the pride of Hong Kong
Financial centers remain strong and have performed well after the financial crisis
Whether by airplane or boat, you have travelled all over the world
And don't envy bridges of other cities
The longest ocean-spanning bridge is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Exchange, the Shanghai-Hong Kong Exchange
will lead to silkworms put into space capsules
The fifth director of the Special Administrative Region has been selected
as only appointed by the central government
The Greater Hong Kong-Macao area is a large bay
The science and technology park opened in Shenzhen
Getting onboard the "One Road, One Belt"
it's important to make arduous efforts and work unceasingly

Female Singer (chorus one, in Mandarin): (same as before)

Male (rap):
Fragrant egg puffs
Chilled mango sago with pomelo has a great taste
Streetcars have a 100-year history
The Star Ferry sets sail by blowing its whistle
Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway harbor, Victoria Harbor are yours to explore
Victoria Peak is not that high
but you must remember that "One Country, Two Systems" has
been designed well

Female Singer (chorus two, in Cantonese): (same as before)

As far as pop songs about the reunification, this is not the only one.

The lack of substantive answers is also seen in the official song of the 20th anniversary to reunification, "Hong Kong, My Home." Sung by an all-star cast that includes Hacken Lee and Miriam Yeung, the song's chorus of "That's how I know I cherish Hong Kong" is explained with verses like "I built my home here" in a place where "alleys are narrow" and "fireworks are bright."

But reasons to explain how Hong Kong fits in with China weren't even part of the official Hong Kong handover song, "All Along There Was You." With versions that include the Four Heavenly Kings of Pop, the lyrics of that song focused upon Hong Kong's convergence "between East and West," imploring it to continue "striding forward" to "surprise the world".

In the years after the handover, Hong Kong has been left at a loss when it comes to its identity. The city has flirted with civil disobedience, views the years before 1997 with heavy nostalgia, and even gifted an alarmist piece of fiction with its top film prize. But as the Xinhua video tells us, what's important isn't what Hong Kongers think of themselves, but the lesson that the teacher is teaching.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Sina Video

Grab your best red, white, and blue outfit and slap on your "Make America Great Again" caps because it's time to celebrate the Fourth of July. Venues around town are marking the occasion with parties and events; we'll be updating this blog as and when the events come in, or you can find the most up to date list of July 4 events in our Events Section here.

Jul 1-4: Independence Day Weekend at Ramo
Independence Day celebrations are all about comfort food and Ramo is celebrating everything that makes American cuisine great with an all-American menu featuring pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw, baked beans, and potato salad, strawberry shortcakes, and hard lemonade (just so things aren't too wholesome). The menu will be available throughout July 1-4, when they'll also be screening classic American movies.

Jul 4: Barbecue Whole Hog Buffet and Live Music at Home Plate
What restaurant in Beijing says "America" more than Home Plate? They'll be honoring the picnics, carnivals and backyard barbecues held across America on July 4 with a hog roast and buffet, including smoked chicken wings, potato salad, ranch beans, and more. Steve Mac and The Mac Daddies will be on hand to provide some live music from 9pm. Buffet priced at RMB 138 per person, from 6-8pm. 

Jul 4: Quiz and Cookout at The Local
Better brush up on your US trivia because from 8.30pm on July 4, The Local's Kenn and Martin will be hosting a one-off themed quiz. Expect prizes for the winners of each round, as well as a prize for the overall winner. Before the quiz, they'll be hosting a classic cookout, with burgers and hot dogs on the grill (from RMB 50, served as a set with jalapeño :popper" potato salad, spiced corn on the cob, potato chips, mojito-basted pineapple and watermelon, and a bottle of Firestone Walker or Boulevard beer). 

Jul 4: July Fourth Barbecue at the Project Pengyou Courtyard
Project Pengyou is hosting their annual Independence Day celebration at their courtyard, offering all-you-can-eat barbecue and drinks for RMB 100 (veggie options are also available). There will be a special performance by JingSing Acapella. Register via EventBrite here.

Jul 4: Carne Pop-up at Cantina Agave
This July 4, slider providers Carne (usually operating out of Yu on Chunxiu Lu) will be popping up at Cantina Agave, serving their signature mini burgers alongside an all-night happy hour.

Jul 4: Free Beer for US Citizens at The Brickyard
The founders of Mutianyu retreat The Brickyard are celebrating their fellow Americans this Independence Day, giving away a free beer for any US citizen who eats with them on July 4. Note that you'll need to present your passport as proof.

Rager Pie Freedom Pie
Finally, if you're looking to stay in over the holiday period, or just want to guzzle on some delicious and patriotic pie, Rager have created a special Freedom Pie for the occasion. Order via their WeChat (ID: wilnos).

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Images: Flickr, courtesy of the organizers

There is no greater pleasure than discovering a great restaurant when you least expect it. Such is the case with Radici, a classic Italian restaurant tucked away in the hip yet oft-overlooked Langyuan Vintage complex just east of Guomao. Radici means “source” in Italian; the owners chose the name because they want to return to the very source of Italian cuisine – authentic, accessible dishes that are designed for sharing. 

The first thing you will notice when you walk into Radici is the large wood-fired pizza oven, giving a clear indication of the restaurant’s specialty. Radici's pizza comes charred, fragrant, and minimally-topped, a style perfected in the city of Naples, and otherwise known as Neapolitan pizza or pizza napoletana.

Pizza napoletana is a Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) product. This means that it has been deemed to possess specific characteristics that make it different from all others in its category and that its raw materials, composition, or method of production have been consistent for a minimum of 30 years. In order to meet these stringent standards, pizza napoletana must be prepared with type 0 or 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Radici uses imported flour from venerable Neapolitan brand Caputo, which has been milling flour in Naples since 1924. The dough made from the flour is left to slow prove for up to eight hours, giving it a distinctive flavor and texture.

Of course, no matter how good the ingredients, a great pizza is nothing without a great oven. Radici’s oven was custom made in Naples and shipped over to China brick by brick. The oven, which is fired by traditional fruit wood, has a high dome shape and just a small opening, which ensures that it reaches the scorchingly high temperature necessary to cook the pizzas quickly and ensure they come out with that essential puffy, charred base – a temperature of 485 degrees Celsius (905 degrees Fahrenheit), to be exact. Pizzas take just 60-90 seconds to cook, meaning customers will never have a long wait for their dinner. 

The menu includes more than 10 different pizzas, hand-shaped in the traditional way, from a simple margherita pizza topped with buffalo mozzarella to a pizza topped with four luscious types of Italian cheese. For a real treat, order the pizza calzone con prosciutto, a crescent-shaped pizza stuffed with ham, mushroom, and ricotta, topped with prosciutto and arugula, and for the final flourish, a ball of creamy burrata. 

Pizza is not the only treat on the menu at Radici; fans of Italian cuisine will find a full selection of antipasti, pasta, risotto, and secondi, the main, meat-based course. As executive chef Wilson Zhou explains, just like pizza Napoletana, all Italian dishes rely on sourcing and using the best possible ingredients. “For example, we spent a long time looking for exactly the right tomato sauce with the perfect level of sourness and tomato flavor. Many restaurants don’t go to that much effort,” he says.

Chef Zhou’s skill in choosing ingredients – as well as his decades of experience in the kitchen – show in the decadent seafood spaghetti, packed full of prawns, mussels, and clams. The spaghetti, from Italian brand De Cecco, is cooked to the perfect al dente, a quality that the chef insists on, despite the fact that the restaurant’s Chinese diners are not always versed in the propriety of al dente pasta. All of the pasta dishes, which include old favorites like rigatoni bolognese, pesto linguine, and spaghetti carbonara, are portioned to share.

Complete your meal with a bottle of wine from the short wine list, which focuses on interesting, accessibly priced bottles rather than the fancy French selection favored by many Beijing restaurants. 

Authentic food and wine in a classy space just a stone's throw from Guomao make Radici a great choice for Italian cuisine in the heart of CBD.

Radici
Daily 11.30am-1.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm. Bldg 7, Langyuan Vintage (close to the south entrance), Tonghuihe Beilu, Chaoyang District (5741 7196)
根壚意大利厨房：朝阳区通惠河北路郎园Vintage7号楼

This post is paid for by Radici. 

Photos: Uni You (the Beijinger)

I’ve yet to put on my A/C. Not sure if it’s stubbornness, laziness, or plain ol' hoboness. But since I can’t go 20 meters without turning into a sweaty mess, I figured what’s the point. Might as well bask in my liquids instead of wallowing in resistance. And there’s no better place in Beijing to find solace in the perspiring madness then at any of the hot wire gigs across town, particularly School Bar where they go out of their way to make sure you’re shedding some kilos. Divine. Here’s your weekend roundup.
 

Friday, June 30

Glow Curve, Sparrow, Residence A, Penicillin at Mao Livehouse
Heat up your summer with four riotous groups at Yugong Yishan – indie dance group Residence A, who reportedly are back in fine form, Britpop outfit Penicillin, post-rock luminaries Glow Curve and instrumental rockers Sparrow, who are prepped to release their new EP and hit the European circuit this summer. 150 RMB

Slud, Four Five, Nuclear Fusion G, Ice Moon, Life Awaits, Collision Dreamer at Modernsky Lab
The label Beisanerli celebrates their second anniversary with a label showcase featuring multiple DJs and bands stretched out across two days – night one goes heavy with Mongolian folk metal group Suld, hardcore emo outfit Life Awaits (fresh off their sexy debut release), seminal melodic core group Four Five, and more. 150 RMB

Phuture Vulture and the Absolute, Mimik Banka, The Peppercorns at DDC
Phuture Vulture and the Absolute is a new group fronted by Daniel Taylor from the art rock band The Harridans. This new project takes a melancholic approach to songwriting, incorporating a string section, piano, and electric guitar to create songs that are richly melodic and sad. They debut tonight alongside alt rock groovers Mimik Banka (formerly 16 mins) and The Peppercorns. 60 RMB

Never Before, Swingin Barbarellas, Kuso Eyes at Temple
Stoner doom metal outfit Never Before bring their steamy intense performance to Temple bar alongside punk ruffians Swingin Barbarellas and up and coming melodic punk band Kuso Eyes. Free

Cyclops, Crabox, Plateau, The Opposite Side at School
Henan pop punk band Cyclops bombard School Bar in support of their latest album Defend The Sicilian, full of catchy hooks and sugar rush gusto. They’ll be joined by easycore outfit Crabox, Plateau, and more for some high-octane fun. 70 RMB

Samaga at Fruityspace
Finding roots in Indian, Middle East and worldwide musical influences with a joyful dash of modern harmonies, Samaga’s music happily marries different musical traditions as the band melts modern compositions into Indian ambiances, delivering their own interpretation of traditional Arabic Maqam and Indian Raga, constantly reinventing the soundscapes painted by the Indian sitar, Middle Eastern percussion, and the oud. 50 RMB

Silent Speech, Getting Better and Better, Before Sunrise at Mars Club
Mars Club hosts three unhappy rock acts to play you sad songs including alternative rockers Silent Speech, and emo, punk and pop groups Before Sunrise and Getting Better and Better. Sad face. 60 RMB

Liu Dongming at Yue Space
Folk rock singer-songwriter Liu Dongming releases his latest album at Yue Space tonight. The singer has been a prominent figure in the folk world for years, and even recently was awarded the Best Folk Album Prize from Douban’s Abilu Music Awards. 100 RMB

The Plum Trees at 69 Café
The Plum Trees, made up of Australian siblings Shannon (vocals, acoustic guitar and ukulele) and Clancy (electric bass) and American electric guitarist Scott bring their expansive sound which has evolved from lighthearted folk to relaxed but still upbeat folk-rock and experimental rock. 66 RMB

Jiang Jian, YangYiNan, Wolf at Hot Cat Club
Rock and folk collide at Hot Cat Club as these ruffians duke it out on the stage, including Jiang Jian, Wolf, and more. Free

Lu Bin at Mogu Space
Guitarist Lu Bin, who has supported some big bands such as Muma and The Third Party, returns to his folk roots for a special outing at Mogu Space. 60 RMB

Lucky Roots, Maomao, HeiHei at Soi Baochao
Reggae love, jam sessions galore, and electronic music thrown in for good measure – looks Soi Baochao is throwing their name into the game with their first live event since ever. Color me intrigued. Free

Liu Donghong at ROCKLAND
Bluesy folk rock singer-songwriter Liu Donghong a staple of the folk scene brings out his band mates for an intimate unplugged showcase at the cozy record store. 150 RMB

Croma at Jianghu Bar
The Hebei-based rock group Croma pays tribute to Hong Kong pop-rock great Wong Ka Kui, who died in 1993. Beyond was a major influence on the group, so expect to hear several of their songs as well as original works by the five-piece rock act. 80 RMB

Tang Huabin, Han Yongjian at Snail Hostel
Tang Huabin, the lead singer of the rock band Aquarius and singer-songwriter Han Yongjian pay tribute to Hong Kong great Wong Ka Kui of Beyond. 60 RMB
 

Saturday, July 1

Foster Parents, Backspace, SNSOS, Boiled Hippo at School
Live Beijing Music returns to School Bar for another round of Schoolhouse Rock – four bands with diverse sounds and backgrounds looking to cut loose and throw down including guest of honor, the nimble math rock duo Foster Parents (read my interview with them here), out of Shanghai, who’ll join indie rock scrappers, Backspace, one of this year’s runaway successes, as well as instrumental rock favorites SNSOS, and the return of slowdive noise rockers Boiled Hippo. 50/70 RMB

Macondo, Hotline, By Dream, Death Narcissist at Temple
Besides the riotous tricfecta lineup of power rockers Macondo, electro rock boppers Hotline and post-rock mooders By Dream, this evening will mark the last outing for old favorites Death Narcissist, who’ll give a special 1pm (!) farewell performance before Carlo bids Beijing adieu. Free

WHAI, Next Door Band, december3am, Residence A, The Fallacy, at Modernsky Lab
The label Beisanerli celebrates their second anniversary with a label showcase featuring multiple DJs and bands stretched out across two days – night two brings the alternative tunes as post kruat duo december3am, art rock vets WHAI, post-punks The Fallacy and more bring the noise. 150 RMB

NZT, Hard Candy Revolution, Jokers Belief, The Peppercorns, Better Off Alive, and Disaster Chat at Yue Space
Substrainian – a ”mockumentary“ created to showcase the amazing Beijing live music scene, debuts its pilot episode tonight at Yue Space with an array of bands including NZT, Hard Candy Revolution, Jokers Belief, The Peppercorns, Better Off Alive, and Disaster Chat. 80 RMB

Abstracts, Collision Dreamer, The Skin I Live In at Yugong Yishan
Keep it emo, keep it post hardcore, keep it fast and loose with Hotpot Music invites Japanese avant-garde metal outfit Abstracts who’ll join some of Beijing’s most melodically inclined core bands. Scream your heart out. 120 RMB

Liron Man (IS) at La Plantation
Handpan maestro Liron, the fastest handpan player in the world has worked with legends everywhere – Zohar Fresco, one of world's leading percussionists (Israel), Badi Assad, famous singer/guitarist songwriter (Brazil), Jorge Pardo, awardwinning Flamenco/Jazz flautist (Spain), Govinda Goswami, sitar master (India). He brings his skills and culturally rich and diverse sounds to La Plantation. 200 RMB

The Lake, Bye Bye Noise, Sophia’s Garden, Locomotive Gentlemen at Mao Livehouse
Pumpkin Head – the newest promotion team bring their latest showcase to Mao Livehouse with an indie pop ensemble featuring The Lake, Sophia’s Garden and more bands looking to tap those soft spots while rocking out. 120 RMB

Nower, Empty Eyes, Skyfire, Three Quarters Dead at 13 Club
Rock it hard and steady with this aggressive and mean lineup at Wudaokou’s premier haunts, 13 Club. 80 RMB

Wootacc, Murukao, Fake at Fruityspace
Digging the eclectic diversity of Fruityspace more and more as it gives the hip-hop scene a home away from home – catch producers and DJs Murukao, Fake, and Wootacc take turns spinning at the latrest Fruity Groove party. Free

Zhang Shouwang at Rockland
Carsick Cars and White+ frontman Zhang Shouwang goes solo this evening for a special showcase at the NLGX record store. 66 RMB

Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies at DDC
Inspired by all things classic, pop, and big band, Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies bring ‘a vintage approach to contemporary music.' Enjoy classic reimaginings from the ever-expanding trope at DDC. Free

Eric Allen, Nick Parsons, ClusterCuss at 69 Café
No strangers to the cozy 69 Café on NLGX, Eric Allen, Nick Parsons, and more bring an evening of acoustic folk. 60 RMB

Nightcrawlers at Soi Baochao
Hey – looks like Soi Baochao is getting back into the live music game. Good for them. For this particular evening they’ve tapped Chicago blues outfit the Nightcrawlers. Free
 

Sunday, July 2

The White Tulips, The Cheers Cheers, School Girl Bye Bye, Default at Yugong Yishan
Hot damn – this crazy good lineup snuck in last minute. Some of the newest contenders in indie rock across China who dabble in what many have coined ‘slacker rock’ – a mix of shoegaze, dream pop, and noise rock – lay it down at Yugong Yishan including Xiamen’s The White Tulips, Shanghai’s Schoolgirl Byebye, Shaoxing’s The Cheer Cheers, and Beijing’s own Default. It’s not often we get the opportunity to check out budding talent from elsewhere China so jump on it. 100 RMB

The Sino Hearts, Free Sex Shop, The Flyx, Xiao Wang at Temple
A special No Future tribute to the great Sex Pistols with a out of control Sunday punk evening at Temple with some of the scene’s newest firestarters, power pop trio Sino Hearts and riot girl outfit Xiao Wang, as well as two of the scene’s beloved punk bands, The Flyx and Free Sex Shop. Best be prepared to mosh it up all night long and into Monday. Free

Djang San, WHAI, Macondo, Su & The Paramecia, Coupla Cups at Yue Space
Mr. Djang San – the flyest guy in the neighbor and rockers of many colors presents The Beijing Underground’s Sweet Summer Music Days – a three-part gathering of some of the coolest entertainers in the music scene. Part three finishes off at Yue Space with WHAI, Macondo, Su & The Paramecia, Coupla Cups, and of course, Djang San. 60 RMB

Boss Cuts, Ghetto Blaster at School
Surf rock inspired tunes and bluesy spaced out rock jams courtesy of Boss Cuts and Ghetto Blaster at Sunday this frantic evening. 30 RMB

Rudra’s Sage at ROCKLAND
Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, brings his sitar for an intimate performance at record store Rockland. 150 RMB

Lucifier at 69 Café
The Guzzlers frontman (as well as Rustic from yesteryears) goes solo at the cozy 69 Café. 60 RMB

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers

It’s steaming hot outside, and if you're not sweating like a pig then you are the chosen one, and I envy you. Yes, this time of year does indeed have its benefits and drawbacks. And while Independence Day falls on this coming Tuesday, there are several events to keep you hydrated until that big occasion. So hoist your beer up toward the blazing sun and let that glassful shine, like an intoxicating sparkler on the 4th of July.

Peiping Machine, the taphouse located at 46 Fangjia with 32 taps from domestic brewers and imports, is turning one year old on Friday (June 30). For RMB 200, you can get all-you-can-drink, and free-flow jianbing from 4pm to 2am. Oh, don’t forget to ask for a special glass to take away.

Out of Step, a bar near the New Zealand Embassy with Canadian imports on tap from Black Kettle, Fuggles & Warlock, Hearthstone, and Postmark, will celebrate Canada Day with a Red Party on July 1 (8.30pm-1am). RMB 40 (pre sale, or RMB 50 at door) will get you in the door with a growler for free. What's more, there will be music all night, performed by music producer Yan, along with VJ, DJ and producer Wu Jing, and bass player, programmer and producer PR. Dress code: red or white. Get your tickets here, and let's get out of step together!

It’s the season for watermelon again. And that can only mean one thing: Jing-A has its Beijing Bikini Wheat back (4.5 percent ABV) on tap for the third time (oh, how time flies) launching it with a Watermelon Eating Challenge on July 1. The competition has six rounds, each scheduled to be 30 minutes long, happening from 3-6pm. Anyone who joins and be the first person to finish their slice of watermelon will win a free beer. Then the championship match will be at 6pm, and the fastest watermelon muncher will win a massive canvas of the Beijing Bikini’s label art. If you're not so competitive, you can also enjoy the competition from the audience while enjoying glasses of the Beijing Bikini, which will be poured all night with a RMB 10 discount. Jiayou!

Also, as a relief to all this hot weather, Jing-A has released a new beer called Lychee Xanadu, which is the latest in their Xanadu series of Berliner Weisse-style beers. This cloudy straw-colored ale was soured with lactobacillus and infused with loads of juicy Chinese lychees. With enticingly sweet flavors like white peach and lychee, it is balanced by a refreshing tartness and a sparkling, off-dry finish.

And here's some even juicier Jing-A related news. Fans of The Big Smoke will be interested to hear that the deep south barbecue spot will be closing down for a while for renovation. Sources involved tell us Jing-A will take over the space and reopen it after that. So you better head there now for one more go before any changes take place. We look forward to seeing what the endlessly creative Jing-A team does with this new venture. Stay tuned for more information!

After releasing some new beers last week, the Torpedo Juice Coffee Kölsch and White Cap IPA, Slow Boat Brewpub is keeping the momentum going with two new cocktails. The first: a Sour-Cherry Bourbon, which is a bourbon version of an old fashioned, infused with dry cherries to add complexity. Their second new cocktail offering is the Thai Collins, a refreshing summer cocktail to pair with one of the brewpub's Lao Thai Thai burgers. They also have a new secret weapon: a canning machine, in order take-away draft beers more easily. Order any beer on tap to take away, and the Slow Boat sailors will pour them in a can for only RMB 25 (for a massive 500ml). The deal lasts from next Monday-Friday (July 3-7).

To celebrate Independence Day, Great Leap Brewing is putting on some special deals. RMB 100 will get you any two beers and a burger or sandwich at Great Leap Brewing #12 (the burger one). Meanwhile, RMB 200 will get you any four beers and a whole pizza at Great Leap Brewing #45 (the pizza one). These deals are so good you'll be tempted to shout the joyous, profanity laden theme song from Team America: World Police.

Don’t forget to order a pint of dry-hopped cider at Beersmith next Tuesday (July 4), which is on a buy one get one free offer all day long. This cider was brewed with apples from Shangdong province, fermented with specialty champagne yeast, and infused with American Mosaic hops to add more citrusy fruitiness. Also they released a lunch set featuring a soup and a choice of eight mains, along with a pils or soft drink for RMB 88 on weekdays.

NBeer will organize a beer tasting on July 2 (4-6pm) at their Huguosi location, and RMB 588 will get you a chance to try 25 different barley wines, enjoy cheeses, and nibble on some finger food. Reserve a seat via WeChat (ID: BHSxia). Also, you may have noticed that their location at Sanlitun Soho is now closed, so patrons better head west to Huguosi or Wukesong instead.

And here's some more good news: Flow Brew, which opened just last March, survived the Great Brickening. Getting inside might be a bit hard, due to the fact that the door is now blocked off, so you'll need to head to the small hidden entrance (from the place with the green tick above). All your favorites are still on tap, such as Demon Warrior IPA, Whirling Wild House American Pale Ale, Foreplay Pale Ale, Smoked Peat Ale, and German Wheat Ale.

That's all we got this week, God bless America ... and your liver. Cheers!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos courtesy of venues

Beijing is at risk of losing its standing as a world-class, cosmopolitan city with the news that it came dead last in a survey of international cities as ranked by their openness and tolerance towards its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

China's poor treatment of its LGBT communities was reflected in the poor showings of its top Chinese cities on the "100 best LGBT cities in the world." Beijing (#100) was joined at the bottom of the list by fellow first-tiered mainland city Shanghai (#89) as well as former British colony Hong Kong (#83).

The survey was conducted by German-based housing rental website Nestpick which narrowed its list from an intial grouping of thousands of cities from over 80 countries. The final criteria for the survey required a minimum of 2,500 respondents from the LGBT community of each selected city, indicating that this survey included at least 250,000 people.

READ: 61 Percent of China's LGBT Community Worry About Being Treated Differently by Medical Staff

Beijing fared the worst overall in terms of safety, scoring only 1.84 out of five from its own lesbian and gay community. Beijing also did poorly on the survey's other criteria that included its gay dating scene (2.15), nightlife (2.12) and the openness of its society towards gays (2.03). 

With "gay conversion" therapy still regularly practiced in the country whereas same-sex marriage has not yet been legally recognized, the Chinese cities also ranked poorly on LGBT rights. 

READ: Beijing LGBT Center: Half of Chinese Homosexuals Face Depression Risk

Beijing scored just 9.14 out of 25, a far cry from the 23.56 scored by Madrid, the top-ranked city for LGBT openness.

To get a sense of how poorly Beijing was rated by its gay community, the Chinese capital ranked even lower than Belgrade (#99). Homosexuality remained classified as an illness in Serbia until 2008 when a public opinion poll saw 70 percent of respondents call homosexuality "a sickness."

As bad as that is, things are still better in Belgrade for gays and lesbians than in Beijing. Unlike China, Serbia recently had the honor of appointing its first-ever openly gay prime minister, Ana Brnabić, a person who also happens to be the country's first women prime minister.

China's decriminalized homosexuality in 1997, but public attitudes haven't improved much since then. Depictions of homosexuality are banned from films and television last year, resulting in Chinese censors banning internet drama Addicted as well as a gay kiss in the recently released Hollywood film Alien: Covenant.

By comparison, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriages in May.

READ: Transitioning at 69: The Heartwarming Story of a 72-Year-Old Transgender Beijinger

According to a 2013 Pew Research Survey, only 21 percent of China's population are in favor of homosexuality. 

Concurrently, a study made by Peking University last year revealed that 58 percent of gay and straight Chinese respondents felt that people of the country's LGBT community were ostracized by their families. The same study showed just 15 percent of gay people had revealed their sexual orientation to their families.

Twenty percent of people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual (LGBT) face a "high risk of depression," says a report by the Beijing LGBT Center and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Psychology.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Sixth Tone

Summer in the city is always a whirlwind, with people in and out of town, and restaurants and bars coming and going. Never has this been more true than this year, when the city's renovation initiatives are leaving a path of destruction (and little piles of bricks).

New Restaurants

Mai Fresh
A new breezy Beiluogu Xiang courtyard eatery might just fill the spot of your favorite bricked up restaurant. Opened by Ji "Jeff" Ping or nearby Mai Bar and Saniltun's Parlor and JW Tailor Bar, this new brunch spot satisfies without being pretentious. Try the trio of open bagel sandwiches (pictured above)

Under Clouds
Yunnan Province doesn't exactly conjure images of slick, cosmopolitan trendiness; instead, most of us associate the southern locale with exotic fare and rustic charm. And yet Under Clouds counters those conventional notions, serving up a far more posh version of the cuisine than what's found at hutong mainstays like Little Yunnan or even more upscale alternatives like Sanlitun's In and Out or Middle 8th.

Nasca Cafe
Nasca Cafe has opened their fifth restaurant, this time picking Lido as their location of choice. Considering the fact that Gung Ho and Tube Sation recently closed there, that might be a solid choice. The menu is a compilation of pizzas, burgers, salads, snacks, and barbecue ribs.

Bottega
Italian favorite Bottega has opened up their new branch in Xinyuanli after closing their Sanlitun branch (and their Nali Patio branch is also still in the making, to be opened soon!). The space is much, much bigger, but in the same style, and we're happy to confirm that the food is as incredible as before. Try one of their new pizzas, like the carciofina pictured above, a pizza without a tomato base topped with artichokes, salty salami, and mozzarella.

Root Pop
Shuangjing newbie Root Pop wowed with their fully vegan menu including mostly American grub you wouldn't necessarily associate with veganism such as burgers, fries, salads, hot dogs, and more. The restaurant was opened by Glo Kitchen and Tribe mastermind Brandon Trowbridge, who spent a lot of time finding vegan alternatives for meat, cheese, and other ingredients without compromising flavor.

Bistro 108
Located in the strip of restaurants in Beijing's sleepy embassy district this new French restaurant has a lively terrace and serves up some great French dishes. Try the filet de boeuf sauce au poivre, the wine braised beef bourguignon (pictured above), or the mouthwatering fish tartare.

Bistro 3
The team behind Courtyard 4 cocktail bar Infusion Room have opened an on-site bistro that boasts a tasting menu as refined as anything from their bar. The dishes border on fine dining with their intricate textures, but there's no dress code or white linen by any means.

Vineyard Cafe
Though longtime Beijingers have fond memories of the pioneering Western food at Vineyard Café since it opened a decade ago, owner Will Yorke wasn’t exactly devastated when his restaurant was shut down along with a number of neighboring Wudaoying Hutong venues this past spring. After all, he already had many other irons in the fire, including Stuff’d around the corner and, more famously, the Arrow Factory brewery on the Liangma River. But also, Vineyard Cafe lives on in Chaowai Soho, primarily as a takeaway joint found on Sherpa's.

Origine
Our heart has been gradually breaking following the depressing chai-ing going on in the hutongs, but thankfully, one new restaurant's opening has mended some of the little broken pieces, even if just a little bit. Origine serves up delicate French cuisine, but also has an accessible wine list that won't burn a hole in your wallet.

Constellation
Homesick foreigners hankering some wholesome eats are sure to delight in the offerings at Constellation Café. The Xingfuyicun newbie boasts a selection of paninis and other sandwiches, salads, smoothies, mac and cheese among its arsenal of comfort food. And while that simple, filling fare is sure to quell both the appetites and longings of most patrons, an even better facet of the café’s food is some of the subtly creative twists given to these classics. Think of it as your grandma’s fixings, gone gourmet.

New Menus

Obentos
With the changing of the seasons you can always expect a new menu at Obentos, one of our favorite healthy lunch spots. This summer is no different, with a new seasonal salad (RMB 52), a new seasonal abundance bowl (RMB 68, pictured above), and a new seasonal bento (RMB 78).

Pachakutiq
We've been fans of Peruvian joint Pachakutiq since our first visit just under a year ago at its original location on Jianguo Lu. Since having settled in Sanlitun Soho, they've been working on adapting their menu, adding both more Peruvian and Nikkei dishes to their already mouthwatering list of rare-to-Beijing offerings.

Moka Bros
All three Moka Bros locations recently revamped their menus, adding the option to have half a salad and half a sandwich/wrap, new poke bowls (including the Sassy Salmon pictured above), new salads, a DIY rye bread menu, and a rendition of the artichoke spinach dip popular in Modo before that was closed.

Tiger Pancake House
Shuangjing's Tiger Pancake House has added a bunch of new dishes to their colorful menu. The strawberry pancakes pictured above, for example, but also new salads and some meatier options.

New Bars

Aperitivo
Aperitivo 1.0 shut it doors after more than a decade, but just as quickly re-emerged with a new spot in Sanlitun Soho. Its new digs are a little smaller, but it does have a more polished, modern vibe that amounts to a considerable upgrade. The food and drinks have made the move thankfully relatively untouched.

Charlie Chaplin
After the success of the original Charlie Chaplin Bar in north Sanlitun, the team have opened a second location on the west side fo Xinzhong Jie near Great Leap's #12 location. We tested the bartenders skills by giving him our favorite flavors, and approved of the concoction of raspberry juice, rosemary, lemon, and top-shelf booze we were presented with.

Hoper
It would be an understatement to say cocktail offerings are dwindling in the hutongs, with beloved mainstays having shuttered after recent rampant crackdowns and construction. But one impressive relative newbie spot has thankfully bucked the trend and not only begun business a few months before this tumultuous time, but also survived. The name of this hope instilling institution: Hoper.

Transmountain
Beijing's newest taphouse, Transmountain, located in Zuojiazhuang, is an ambitious project, boasting 30 taps stocked with local and imported brews and hopes to fill a gap in the market northeast of the Second Ring Road.

Yu Shi
A new unpretentious wine bar tucked into a quiet corner, this new Central Park spot might have limited by-the-glass options, but a pretty big by-the-bottle list. While deeper devotees might be underwhelmed by its selection and breezy ambiance, the menu is thick enough to have at least a few satisfactory options for all but the most uppity of patrons. But Yu Shi’s bigger priority seems to lie in not scaring off casual newbies with snootiness.

Bungalow Tiki
Tiki devotees were happy to hear that after a heart-crushingly sudden closure last April, the tropical venue has reopened not far from that location with a new spot that is similarly colorful.

Anchor Bar
After having been bricked up on Xingfucun, Anchor Bar has found a new home in Yolee Plaza. Their new location is much bigger and spiffier, but maintains its fun, low-key atmosphere that it was known for. The new spot even has a handful of outdoor tables and chairs.

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Images: Kyle Mullin, Tracy Wang, Margaux Schreurs, courtesy of Root Pop, Uni You, courtesy of Moka Bros

It's a common scenario: Your parents are coming to visit and their dining preferences are unadventurous, to say the least. So where on earth do you take them? Having entertained many guests over the years, we've put together a guide to non-adventurous hutong dining for the parental units. Don't worry, we did include a few more exciting options, because you have to challenge them a little!

The first day (or the unadventurous)

Mr. Shi's
Mr. Shi's dumplings and standard foreigner-friendly fare served in a clean environment are made even more accessible by the English menus and foreigner-focused staff. Their branches throughout the city also make for a good option for those parents daring enough to wander the mean streets of Beijing by themselves while you're at work.

Xian Lao Man
Another great place to send or take your parents for its wide-ranging menu (that is also available in English but may be slightly intimidating for its small writing and extensive options). While the staff here don't speak English and are in fact often quite surly given that their average age is around 15 years old, the food is very good and very foreigner-friendly If worst comes to worst, there are always others foreigners around that can help you order. Expect a short queue during peak lunch and dinner times.

Nice Rice
This trendy Hunan eatery spans two floors and offers a great introduction to regional dining for parents. The English, picture-heavy menu, clean surroundings, and occasionally English-capable staff make for a good bet for people who are new to China or are still working through that initial culture shock. Given that they serve Hunan cuisine, expect the dishes to be spicy but not too spicy.

After the first day (or for the slightly more adventurous)

Spring Trees (Andingmen location)
Spring Trees presents a clean eating environment for the slightly more adventurous (it even has tablecloths!), but the menu is a little less attuned to foreign tastebuds, providing a more authentic spin on Sichuan cuisine. That being said, the food here is not overly spicy and chili can be avoided altogether depending on what you order. However, we do recommend the mapo doufu, of course, and the dandan noodles. The staff here are also notably some of the friendliest we've encountered in Beijing.

Jindingxuan (Ditan location)
For a taste of Southern Chinese food, we recommend the infamous 24-hour, bustling four floors of Jindingxuan. While very clean and easily accessible because of its English picture menus, the queuing outside and the raucous atmosphere indoors might be a turn-off for someone who has only been in China for a day. Still, Jindingxuan provides an unmatched experience for anyone wanting to eat cheap dim sum coupled with the excitement that comes from true mayhemic Chinese hospitality. Bonus: throw your parents into the deep end with an order of chicken feet.

Baron Rozi (Dongsishitiao location)
Slightly outside of the hutongs, near Dongsishitiao, is Baron Rozi Xinjiang Cuisine, one of the city's newer Xinjiang restaurants. Try the dapanji (pictured above) and of course, a great rendition of the city's ubiquitous lamb chuan'r. The Uyghur entertainment of dancing and music makes Baron Rozi the perfect place to bring visitors, and the palatial surroundings don't hurt when you've got fussy parents in tow.

The last night (or for the adventurous)

Zhang Mama
A Sichuan mainstay for those of us living in or frequenting the Andingmen area, Zhang Mama can be a bit of an attack on the senses with lots of smells, tastes, and general over-stimulation (think screaming). Expect a long queue and no English menu, but the restaurant will give your parents a good introduction to Sichuan cuisine if they're not fortunate enough to be traveling south.

Bonus points

Lamb spine hot pot
Offering exactly what the name suggests, lamb spine hot pot is really tasty and if your parents can get over the initial "wait, what?" it is worth taking them to. There's one over on 21 Cheniandian Hutong, or if you're in the Wangfujing area try 101 Baofang Hutong.

"Baby poo dumplings"
Located opposite the branch of Mr. Shi's Dumplings on Cheniandian Hutong, this restaurant actually serves up superior dumplings than Mr. Shi's. The catch? The staff definitely don't speak English and you'll have to navigate a Chinglish menu, and most "interesting" of all, multiple the Beijinger staffers have seen the owners' baby do a number one or a number two in the restaurant at some point in time. Is the risk worth delicious dumplings at much lower prices than Mr. Shi's? That's your call.

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos: Dianping, Margaux Schreurs