One of the most annoying frustrations about life in China when I first moved to Beijing was that electricity needed to be pre-loaded on to our house meter before usage. I understand this is a better control measure than an unending supply that just runs, especially in a city with millions of people who migrate or who want to save money, but inconvenient for many expats, nonetheless.

In the middle of my first winter, the electricity stopped in the middle of the night, and we had no idea what was wrong. Our landlord had initially put electricity on the meter, which we paid her for, but we were clueless about the process of recharging the meter. It’s one of those things that none of your re-settlers know that you don’t know, since they’ve never lived out of China.

RELATED: How to Set Up Alipay As a Foreigner

I don’t know why we were panicked the first time the juice was cut, but we did. We called one of our friends and he got up in the middle of the night to add more money to our meter. As expats from the South in the US, we felt incredibly embarrassed because it’s expected that you “grow up” in our culture. Responsible people can take care of things for themselves, or pull themselves up by “their own bootstraps.” I typically didn’t like to ask for help, and especially not for things I should be able to do on my own.

I was so happy when I learned how to use Alipay to charge money to our electricity, though I did need a friend to help set it up. This prevented almost all further problems not including the instances when the electricity shut off before I had expected, and then in turn shut down our router and internet. Since I didn’t have data on my phone at the time, I had to ride my bike to school to use the internet.

I became obsessed with making sure our electricity was always charged – even getting up in the middle of the night due to anxiety. I didn’t want to be stuck with the electricity off during a time when the neighborhood electricity office was also closed.

After we moved to a different apartment, I continued to utilize Alipay to pay for our electricity. I was really proud of myself for noticing one night that we only had RMB 300 and that I needed to put on enough for the next season. We had a big apartment and guests over often, so I guessed RMB 2,000 would be more than enough to last us for a while.

I added the RMB 2,000 to my account and had put it out of my mind until one night the electricity cut off in the middle of the night. Our guests at the time woke up along with us, and I set up a WIFI hotspot using their phone since I still didn’t have data (I finally do, by the way). I added another RMB 2,000, in a bit of shock that it ran out so fast, and went back to sleep since sometimes the system takes a while to adjust.

When I woke up, the electricity still hadn’t been adjusted. I felt sick to my stomach that so much money had somehow not ended up on our meter.

After some investigation, I remembered I had to make a separate house account on Alipay to pay for my new apartment’s electricity since it was not as easy as simply removing our old apartment from the account.

Our friends stepped in and immediately contacted the electricity company to see what could be done. Essentially, nothing. The money was already charged to the account, and they would need permission from the owners of the meter to take money off.

Our friends then called our landlord, who we thought would be reasonable, as we had separated on peaceful terms. Surprisingly, her response was that it was our fault, and that it’s major trouble for her to give us this money back, but we could go ask the people in the apartment.

Our friends took my husband and went back to the old apartment. No one answered, and we were never able to get in contact with them.

Finally, a bold friend called the electricity company. The woman at the electricity company told us every time she had ever contacted the owners of meters in this sort of case, the party who had come into the money unfairly would usually return the money. They completely understood. The mobile apps are convenient, but accidents happen. She was shocked to hear our landlord refused.

Our bold friend then contacted a lawyer. The lawyer told us that with a fapiao from the electricity company and clearly establishing that this was a former landlord, we should sue the landlord since there was no reason for her to keep this large amount of money from us.

At the pinnacle of the conflict, my bold friend told her he was going to sue her in our name, and she yelled back, “You’ll never get a cent out of me!”

Our circle of friends, all Chinese, were absolutely furious to hear that this was happening in their country and felt that such injustices were not acceptable. They said they thought instances like these contributed to the reason “everyone” dislikes landlords. They called her crooked and a shame. I was just embarrassed and wanted to hide in a hole. If only I had humbled myself to have someone help me with the Alipay, this never would have happened.

Since the old apartment contract was in my husband’s name, he had to go through the process of appearing in court, which was kind of like a bank with judges sitting behind windows. Those with complaints or small cases would take a number and then wait their turn to explain the problem.

The judge who saw my husband and friend said it was a simple case. The landlord clearly needed to return the money. Eventually the judge required her to come in person and then required her to pay for both the accidentally added money and then an additional RMB 2,000 as part of the settlement. She went on a payment plan, which is hilarious, considering she was very wealthy with a mansion in the north.

My misconception of a lawless, scam-filled China was corrected. Admittedly we succeeded because we had awesome Chinese friends willing to bear with us through the process. Of course, there was also the fapiao to prove that it was actually our money, and our landlord couldn’t prove we owed her money (since we didn’t). If anything this process made me realize if I wanted to be self-sufficient in China, I would need to learn to read the language, not just fumble through speaking it.

This post first appeared on our sister websitebeijingkids.

Photo: Flickr

In the lead up to Spring Festival holidays, following so closely on Christmas, we're feeling a little bit broke, looking to save our pennies for the upcoming holidays. It only makes sense then, to take a closer look at some of our favorite dining deals.

RELATED: Usher in the Year of the Rooster with These Dinners, Promotions, and Parties

One of the latest happy hour deals on the block is the apertivo at Pizza View, which is on every Monday through Friday, from 6pm to 9pm. The deal includes a buy-one-get-one-free on all of their wines by the glass, the spirtzs, negronis, and the Jing-A pints.

As an added bonus, every glass comes with some complimentary snacks and mini pizza, making for a pretty great deal (where else will you get two Aperol spritzs for just RMB 50 with some snacks?). While the snacks may not be enough for a full dinner, they will definitely carry you through the evening.

Another deal we like to make the most of are the Wednesday burger nights at North Capital, when all their burgers, including their latest additions, the California burger and the Swiss mushroom burger, are buy-one-get-one-free. If you haven't been yet, check out our first review of North Capital here. And they will remain open for the holidays. 

Prefer sausages to burgers? Not a problem, Arrow Factory Brewing has sausage Wednesdays, order one sausage meal and you will get the second one at half price from 6pm onwards. 

And finally, as we head into Spring Festival, don't forget that not every restaurant will be open during the holidays. To make sure you're not left standing in the cold in front of a closed door, check our list of opening times during the festive period here. We'll keep updating as we acquire more information.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photo courtesy of Jing-A

Say "KFC" and most people will think of bargain buckets and the Colonel. But here at the Beijinger, we eschew Americana in favor of the other KFC: Korean fried chicken, of course. A relatively recent addition to the Korean culinary canon (read: mid-twentieth century), unlike American-style fried chicken, which relies on a thick, flour-based crust for crispness, Korean fried chicken is coated in the barest hint of batter and then double fried, which when done right results in a crisp, lacquered, and mostly greaseless finish. The chicken may then be coated with a variety of seasonings or sauces, from sweet-spicy gochujang to just plain garlic. Traditional accompaniments included pickled radishes (to cut through the grease), beer (ditto), and soju (because it's Korean food, duh). So put down that KFC delivery menu – here's our pick of Beijing's best Korean fried chicken.

Oumuni: The delivery one
There's no doubt that fried chicken is best straight out of the fryer, but we'll be the first to admit that there are times – skull-splitting hangovers, AQI over 400, you know the drill – that you just need some hot and crispy goodness delivered straight to your door. Thank heavens, then, for Oumuni, a chain with several branches around Beijing (including U-Town Mall and Wangjing) that offers delivery via Baidu Waimai. We recommend getting the plain fried chicken (a whole chicken cut into bone-in pieces is RMB 80) and sauce on the side, as it survives the journey better and stays remarkably crispy. 

Mstar: The Wangjing One
With over 2,600 reviews on Dianping, it's safe to say Mstar is kind of a presence in Wangjing. A second venture from the people behind Chicken Suutak, Mstar's fried chicken is as it should be - crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside - with the soy sauce coated version being particularly highly lauded. Mstar bills itself as a "Western restaurant and bar" which means you can get everything from a burger to a kimchi beef hot pot (with technicolor cocktails to wash it all down), we recommend sticking with the chicken. 

Barsak Chicken and World Beer: The one with all the beers
Perhaps not actually Beijing's best KFC (quality has varied somewhat during our previous visits, with the chicken sometimes arrived somewhat lukewarm), but Barsak is worth a visit for their extensive selection of imported beers, with everything from Korean Cass lager to Guinness. Barsak also does a  mean version of budae jjigae, or "army stew", a hearty concoction of spam, hot dogs, instant ramen, and kimchi, cooked in a spicy broth. 

Don Chicken: The "healthy" one
Small chain Don Chicken stand out from the rest of the fried chicken crowd by offering a healthier, baked version of the dish. As usual, you can choose from a range of sauces. If that feels far too virtuous, you can also choose to top your chicken with melted cheese to push that calorie counter all the way back up. Don Chicken has branches in Wangjing and Jingguang Qiao, but the Sanlitun Soho location is likely to be the most convenient. 

Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken: The trendy one
For us, it's the fried chicken rather than the pizza that's "fly" at this trendy joint. With two branches in Wangjing and Sanlitun Soho, FPHC (forgive the abbreviation) serves outstanding fried chicken in inventive flavors such as Sichuan spicy, all in a trendy setting that panders successfully to China's continued appreciation for all things Korean. The pizzas make for an interesting diversion, although purists might sniff at toppings such as bulgogi beef or the option to choose a sweet potato base.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos: Flickr, Wikimedia, Dianping

You have to be determined not to like Cantonese food – the lovely dim sum, the refreshing sugary drinks, and the creamy desserts. As it’s been a while since I dipped into Beijing's other southern treats at Puffy Torch or Espressamente Illy, it was about time to re-up, which led to my discovery of the small HK Mai Chi Ling in the basement of U-Town. Don't live near Chaoyangmen? No problem, this trendy chain has 15 shops scattered across Beijing.

Located near U-Town's cinema, the restaurant is bright and decorated like an old Hong Kong street-side table-and-stool joint, with a counter to order inside, and two neglected tables that were acting more like trash cans – not a good sign. To make first impressions even worse, half of the menu was redacted, the fancier choices either never existing or the secret recipes lost to a likely neverending cast of turnover staff. Unsurprisingly, the items that made the cull were the simple classics.

RELATED: Street Eats: The Sugary Pleasure of a Puffy Egg Torch

We opted for the bestsellers: the original egg puffs (RMB 13), which were hot and crispy with a delicious creamy flavor and true to the authentic version, as well as cheaper than Espressamente Illy's rendition; and curry balls (RMB 12 for four), which were similar to the variety at Tiger Mama.

If those were going some way to winning us over, the kitchen completely dropped the ball on the Rickshaw Noodles (车仔面, chēzǎimiàn). Perhaps it was the 10-minute wait that was getting our hopes up, but the result was not all that convincing – three fish balls resting on a pile of flavorless noodles and some soup from the balls from which the balls were boiled, with no other ingredients whatsoever. I know that RMB 15 doesn’t get you much in Beijing anymore, but as a self-proclaimed “authentic” shop, the so-called Rickshaw Noodles should at least come with a little pig skin, fish balls, sirloin, carrots, vegetables, flavorful sirloin soup, satay, and curry sauce.

To add insult to injury, HK Mai Chi Ling doesn't even provide chopsticks, but instead bafflingly opts for sporks, which made the whole thing nigh impossible to eat. After several attempts of spooning, stabbing, spooning, stabbing, I weighed up my options before giving up entirely.

One saving grace was the Hong Kong-style milk tea (RMB 13), made from black tea and condensed milk. The sweetness balanced perfectly with the milk and tea, proving an even better version than Lou Jau Cha Don's tea in Sanlitun Soho. Although again, beware the strong caffeine content – this one kept me awake the whole night.

All in all, we loved the egg puffs and authentic milk tea here, but those were not enough to satiate my growling belly. At least we know what to grab before heading to the movies. To be honest, we ended up rushing to nearby The Top Best (第1佳, Dìyījiā) for a fried chicken fillet to ease our dissatisfaction. 

HK Mai Chi Ling
Daily 10am-9.30pm. B1, U-Town Shopping Mall, 2 Sanfeng Beili, Chaoyang District (8527 0644)
香港米芝莲：朝阳区三丰北里2号悠唐购物中心B1楼

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos: Tracy Wang

If you've got limited amounts of time in China, the Chinese New Year opportunity should not be wasted. As long as you've got your travel sorted ahead of time (plane tickets are probably easier to come by by now than train tickets), and are prepared for the crowds, these six domestic desinations outside of Beijing detailed below are still spectacular.

Visiting Yunnan: A Bountiful Paradise South of the Clouds
Flanked by Tibet, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, China’s southern province of Yunnan presents a stunning mixture of Tibetan and Southeast Asian cultures. Yunnan holds 25 of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities and a plethora of rich topographical sights and weekend escapes, making it infinitely explorable, wonderfully diverse, and permeating it with a vibe that can only be described as laidback.

Gubei Water Town
Located closest to Beijing of all of these domestic destinations, Gubei Water Town is an ancient village away from the hustle and bustle of central Beijing. The architecture of the town is in a traditional Chinese style and preserves the ancient culture of China. At night, you have a clear view of the Simatai Great Wall lit up, and if you're lucky you can even see the stars from here.

Three Spectacular Domestic Escapes: Huangshan, Chengdu, and Kashgar
We looked at three of China's most spectacular domestic escapes with three very different landscapes: Huangshan, Chengdu and Leshan, and Kashgar. If you head over during Chinese New Year, make sure you've got layers on and your elbows out, but these sights are beautiful.

Harbin Ice Festival
Figuring out how to escape Beijing's cold is always a challenge, but one surefire getaway it is to completely freeze your limbs off in what is basically Siberia so that cold doesn't even register as a sense. Yes that's right, the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, arguably China's most famous annual attraction, just behind the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, is back.

Shanghai Craft Beer
Shanghai, the magical city we love to compete with, is never lacking in surprises while visiting; it’s impossible to avoid the sea of trendy craft beer, with all the micro-breweries and taprooms, let alone brewer-friendly events like the annual Shanghai Beer Week, Shanghai Craft Beer Festival, Kerry Craft Beer Festival, and Shanghai International Beer Festival. If you happen to travel down to see our Southern brethren, here are several watering holes we recommend you dive into. To get a good overview, you can even make it a pub crawl, since most of these venues are within walking distance of each other.

More stories by this author here.
Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos: Margaux Schreurs, Francois Phillip, Andrew Killeen, Tom Arnstein, Joneil Escobar, courtesy of Boxing Cat

A while ago I shared my recipe for Chai tea, but another drink that has recently recaptured my attention (although not quite a winter brew) is horchata. My Mexican friend in Houston, Texas introduced me to this drink in college. While I was asking around in the Beijing expat community about culinary delights missed from home, this drink resurfaced.

As usual there is always some debate on how to make this drink and which version is the best. All the ingredients can be found anywhere in Beijing, but don’t be fooled as horchata will warm your soul like you are on an unpolluted beach.

Horchata comes from Valencia in Spain, where orxata was made from ordi (barley). Although nowadays in Spain horchata is not made with barley but with tiger nuts, water, and sugar instead. Variations can be made with nuts, rice, seeds, herbs, ground almonds, and lime zest, and the drink is served over ice.

Horchata de Arroz (rice) is by far my favorite variety, one of which I have fond memories. These are the ingredients and instructions you'll need to make it yourself.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of rice
• Half a cup raw of almonds
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of lime zest
• 6 cups of water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Instructions:

1. Pulverize the raw rice in a blender.
2. Combine the rice powder with almonds, cinnamon, and lime zest in a bowl and cover with half the water.
3. Let stand overnight.
4. The next day blend the mixture in a blender until smooth.
5. Combine the mixture with 3 cups of water and blend again.
6. Strain with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel.
7. Add vanilla and sugar to taste.
8. Serve over ice!

This article first appeared on our sister websitebeijingkids.

Images: noshonit.com, the cocktail project

Going to the movies in China doesn’t have to be expensive, in fact, in can be downright cheap, especially if you use an app. There are a bunch of different apps you can use to purchase tickets, but let me just show you how to use just one of them: the Mtime app.

First, download the Apple and/or Android version of the app here.

Once you’ve opened it, you’ll see something like this. Tickets for the movies currently on sale in Beijing are prominently displayed just under the search bar. Movies with an orange button mean the movie is already out. The green ones are for movies that will be out soon if you want to pre-order.

In this case, I clicked on the orange button for Arrival (降临), which brings up this next screen:

This is the trickiest screen for anyone who can’t read Chinese, but you only need to figure it out once with a Chinese friend and then you’ll be fine every subsequent time you use it.

The menu automatically comes up with tickets for today, though you can click on future dates at the top of the screen if necessary.

The cinema listed at the top under the red sticker is for the cinema closest to you. It’s not always the best option though as they can often be dinky little cinemas with poor sound and uncomfortable seats.

What you’ve got to do the very first time is go through the list with a friend, clicking the yellow star for all your favorite cinemas. For me, they include Megabox in Sanlitun, Lumiere at Parkview Green and the Jackie Chan cinema in Wangfujing (mainly for their cheap tickets), as well as a few others.

Once you’ve starred those cinemas, they'll automatically be listed on this screen if the movie you want to see is showing there.

So, the next step is to click on the orange button for whichever cinema you prefer this time.

Pick your session time.

Choose your seat/s.

This screen is just confirming all your details.

Click on you preferred payment method - in this case, WeChat Wallet.

Click the green button to pay, and voilà, you’re done. You’ll get a text message with your ticket number in it. Just show it to the cinema staff when you get there.

Images: Mtime

Beijing’s pollution is repelling skilled employees at an alarming rate, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in China's annual business climate survey.

Released earlier this week, the report details how bad air was cited more than any factor, with 58 percent of all respondents saying it hurt their chances of finding and keeping good people.

Next on the list was the high cost of living in Beijing (which you can read more about here).

The survey draws from the chamber's members nationwide, but the largest contingent are in Beijing and Shanghai.  Although an American chamber, its findings could be extrapolated to represent the pulse of many foreign businesses in China.

Other bad news in the survey includes a sharp 22 percent decline in China’s status as a major global investment magnet in the past five years. “For many years, more than three-quarters of survey respondents said that China was among their top three priority markets for investment. But the number saying China is a top priority has been dropping since 2012 and has reached a new low of 56 percent.”

The chamber also predicts that 2017 will be a year of sluggish economic growth in China, with only a 6.1 percent GDP uptick forecast. “Consequently, an increasing number of AmCham China members say that the Chinese market, while still important, is no longer their top investment priority,” the report’s authors wrote.

Such a paltry state of affairs has caused investment expansion to drop to its lowest level since 2009, and the report says companies will in turn be conservative with their hiring plans.

However, it's not all bad. In fact, in a twist from what China was like for foreign companies a decade ago, most find China to be more technologically advanced than other markets. Thirty seven percent say China is the global tech leader, or at least amongst the leaders, and 82 percent consider it on par or more advanced than other international markets.

And yet, tech is only taking foreign businesses so far: the Great Firewall has also had a dampening effect on business. More than 90 percent of those surveyed say slow cross-border internet speeds and the inability to access or use certain online tools has negatively affected  their company’s competitiveness and operations in China.

Women in the workforce are also an interesting data point in the report. It states: "In China, women represent approximately 17 percent of senior management, on par with the US (~16 percent) and higher than the global average (~14 percent); but women represent only ~9 perecent of board members, significantly lower than the US (~17 perecent) and global average (~15 percent)."

Speaking of women's advancement, or lack thereof, the ever controversial President Donald Trump (who has helped compel many equal rights activist to organize a March on Washington) is also causing a stir with those polled by AmCham China. Seeing as the survey began a mere few days before the votes were counted, those polled by AmCham China were left with a less than optimistic view about bilateral relations in the near future:

"While member companies believe more strongly than ever in the importance of the bilateral relationship, few seem to expect the relationship to improve," the report's authors wrote, adding: "About half  expect the relationship to stay the same, and one-third expect that it will deteriorate."

However, there is reason to believe that the 2018 annual AmCham China survey may bear better news. After all, President Xi Jinping spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos this past week about the need for China and the U.S. to remain in the "hard won" Paris climate accord, while Beijing acting mayor also recently told state media that the city will dedicate 2.7 billion USD to clean up air pollution, using that money to upgrade 2,000 factories, phase out 300,000 high-polluting vehicles and more.

Those efforts could lead to bluer skies and a sunnier outlook for the HR workers polled by AmCham China next year. Such strong action is sorely needed, according to several environmental experts recently interviewed by CNBC-- otherwise, Beijingers might need to wait for "three decades to meet healthy national air quality standards."

That status quo would not only leave the capital with dreary air quality, but also more dismal business findings by AmCham China for years to come.  

The chamber's full report is available here.

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

Images: American Chamber of Commerce, Xinhua, CNBC

Chinese New Year is fast approaching, meaning a lot of Didi drivers are heading home. On top of that, new policies require drivers to hold a Beijing hukou to be a legal driver on car-hailing apps. That means it's increasingly becoming more difficult to get a car from any car-hailing apps.

RELATED: End of an Era for Didi, Uber? New Car-Hailing Service Regs May Cut Out Half of Drivers

According to Xinhuanet, Didi Chuxing announced that they would gradually cancel the “higher pricing” on taxis throughout the country on January 23 in order to decrease prices. They also explained, “we used the suggested fee on traffic and demand as a price lever, so the customer can decide whether to accept the fee or not, and the fee belongs to the taxi drivers. But for some reason, people misunderstood.”

As a result of cancelling the “suggested fee, it may take longer to get a taxi, and there will be a lower possibility of getting a taxi. But it will still be possible for customers to leave a taxi driver tips if they want to” As a result, according to Didi, "the numbers of drivers has dropped 25 percent, while there were 30 percent more orders.”

The report reads that the reason that it’s hard to get “taxis on Didi is because the drivers know that customers can add tips, so if he doesn’t take the order but waits there, they know you will (be forced to) add more tips or accept the higher tariffs (more than 1.5 times of the normal price) to get a car, so they can get more money later.”

According to BJnews, a customer requested a taxi on Didi, but waited for for 20 minutes in vain until he added RMB 10 as tips. Suddenly, there were three drivers fighting to take him within a second, which proves just how severe the issue is.

An interview of taxi drivers by BJnews detailed how, before last July, all tips and tariffs went to the drivers; and from last July to October, they could get up to RMB 50 on top of that. After last October, however, the total tariffs and fees cap dropped to RMB 20 per order.

“Since the policy of requiring a Beijing hukou, one third of non-Beijing drivers in the Tongzhou team will no longer be able to drive for these apps,” Zhang Guohua, General director at The China Center for Urban Development (under National Development and Reform Commission) said. “The new policy doesn’t fix the problem of conflict of supply and demand, and car-hailing services are still in great demand. With numbers of drivers dropping, and subsidies from the platform to the drivers decreasing, drivers are not motivated enough to work on holidays.”

All in all, the cancellation of tariffs and higher pricing will not solve supply shortage problems, but it means hailing a vehicle from the apps could be more difficult during Spring Festival, so prepare in advance, be patient, and keep yourself warm while you wait. Perhaps its time to get back to using regular grumpy Beijing cabbies.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos courtesy of mashable, sohu

Unlike the local-style sushi restaurants scattered around town, or Californian-style Hatsune, Sun Japanese Cuisine offers an authentic taste of Japan. Opened in mid-July and located on the second floor in a quiet alley near Xinyuanjie, the restaurant is a mere there minutes' walk to the west of Great Leap Brewing #45 (otherwise known as "the pizza one"). And it’s the real deal, good enough meet the needs of the pickiest sushi snob.

After being welcomed by deferential waitresses in traditional kimonos, you are given the option to sit around the 10-seat wooden bar, one of three private rooms, or at a table for two along the wall. Three huge modern Ukiyo-e style paintings hang behind the bar, painted by Daybreakswork. Most of the diners on the day we visited were Japanese, although, interestingly, there are five languages on the menu: Japanese, Chinese, English, Spanish, and Arabic.

There are three set dinner options: RMB 380, RMB 580, and RMB 1,080. The first two each contain 10 courses, while RMB 1,080 gets you 12 courses. The set at RMB 380 features two appetizers, a seafood salad, assorted sashimi, shrimp and fish croquette, steamed clam soup, mirin-dried mackerel, chawanmushi (egg custard with fish), assorted sushi, miso soup, and desert. The set at RMB 580 is an upgraded version, with Jamón Iberico (Iberian ham) salad, Australian wagyu croquette, seared beef, foie gras, and uni (sea urchin).

The duration of your time dining at Sun will feel more like a magician’s show than a meal, with the wizardly chef in front of you preparing sashimi, skinning the jumping shrimps, cutting tuna attentively, and using a blowtorch to grill the surface of the saury. The appetizer includes two small dishes, raw fish with natto (fermented soybeans), some fish roe, and baby onion; and bean curd with salted egg yolk. Our sashimi included sweet shrimp, tuna, red clam, scallop, white fish and uni, all of which were incredibly fresh. The Jamón Iberico salad is western style, with wheatgrass and lettuce topped with a thick layer of cheese and Beher’s acorn iberian ham gold label. The shrimp and fish croquette had a crispy crust and tasty filling. 

For anyone new to the serious sushi bar experience, it might be a bit overwhelming – your reaction to every single bite is watched by the chef standing in front of you. The sushi here was expertly made with vinegared rice, and we were urged to finish our round of sushi by the strict chef to ensure it was at the perfect temperature. For one second, I felt if we didn’t finish the sushi at the right timing, either the chef would kill himself or we would be cut up for not treating the food in the right way.  

Dessert includes three options, almond tofu, coffee jelly, and yōkan (red-bean cake). We had the almond tofu, which was soft, sweet and decorated with a goji berry. There are also some à la carte options, such as sushi, salads, sashimi,  soup, and grilled and steamed dishes, but the set dinner offers better value even if ten courses were a bit much for us. There is also a good selection of sake, champagne, sparkling wine, and beer. The meal passed at a perfect pace, not only because of the skills of experienced chef Hao Meng, but also because the fresh ingredients are delivered every morning. So far, the restaurants only caters for up to 13 customers a day to maintain the quality.

This type of service, known as Omotenashi in Japanese, involves the strict entertainment of guests, making sure everything is taken care of from collecting empty plates to topping up your green tea. They even provide masks on polluted days. At the moment, they can only cater up to 13 customers a day to maintain such meticulous quality. For these reasons, and the fact that Sun is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have had the pleasure to eat at, calling in advance is a must. 

Sun Japanese Cuisine
Mon-Sat 5-11.30pm. 2/F, 43 Xinyuanjie, Chaoyang District (135 5217 4797)
粲寿司: 朝阳区新源街43号黑色小楼2层

This article originally appeared in the January/February issue of the Beijinger, which you can read here via Issuu, via the PDF here, or in hard copy at all of your favorite venues across town.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos: Tracy Wang

This post comes courtesy of our content partners at TechNode.

Spring Festival, an annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, is almost upon us. While some traditions haven’t changed much, like family dinners and lighting firecrackers, others have evolved with the times. Since hongbao (红包 or lucky money in English) went digital on WeChat in 2014, we wait every year to see what exciting new features China’s internet giants have introduced. And the Year of the Rooster is no different.

WeChat is out, but that doesn’t mean it’s only Alipay

Although several services backed by the Chinese internet giants have joined the battle, WeChat and Alipay were widely regarded as the two major pioneers of the war since the majority of promotions lean toward them.

One interesting phenomenon for this year is that WeChat, the platform where the red envelope feature boomed, is retreating from the battle.

“Red envelope has completed its historical task. There would be no red envelope promotions on WeChat for the coming Spring Festival.” Zhang Xiaolong, head of WeChat, said on the WeChat Open Class 2017.

This is a surprising development given the critical role hongbao have played in getting traction for WeChat’s payment service. Facilitated by the red packet function, WeChat Payment recorded substantial growth in the past three years, posing a great challenge to the dominance of Alipay to an extent that Alipay’s founder Jack Ma defined it as “the Pearl Harbor attack”. Indeed, over 8 billion WeChat red envelopes were sent during Chinese New Year last year.

But the retreat of WeChat doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the battle. Tencent is replacing WeChat with QQ, another IM tool developed by the company, which also performs exceedingly well in the sector. During Chinese New Year last year, over 308 million red envelopes were sent through QQ, which claims that 75% of their users are from the post-90 gen.

More LBS and AR

Although Pokemon Go probably won’t be coming to China anytime soon, it hasn’t stopped Chinese users from having fun in similar games that combine the LBS and AR technologies.

Alipay is continuing last year’s theme of collecting five different styles of fu (福 or “good fortune” in English). Instead of acquiring the fu cards by inviting friends of shaking your phone while watching the New Year’s Eve Gala on CCTV, you can collect the card by scanning anything with the Chinese character fu on it, no matter if it’s on the poster attached to your door or on a physical red envelope.

Another difference from last year is that the 200 million RMB total giveaway will be distributed in various sums among users who have collected all of the five styles of fu cards, rather than everyone sharing the same amount as we saw year.

Actually, this is not Alipay’s first endeavor to integrate new technologies with hongbao. It already launched a Pokemon Go-inspired feature at the end of last year to add more gamified ingredients to the cash gifting function.
Tencent’s QQ rolled out its marketing campaign for the Spring Festival this week. From Jan. 20 to 24, users in 369 Chinese cities will be able to collect red packets that have been placed in 4.25 million geographical entry points nationwide. The total red packet amount will hit 250 million RMB.

Overall 127 million QQ users have participated, winning 484 million red packets as of 21:00 Jan. 20, Tencent disclosed.

Photos: vhteam.com; others acquired by Technode

According to Xinhuanet, the 2017 Beer Rumor Refutal Forum was held on January 17 in Beijing, in collaboration between the Cyberspace Administration of China, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), Xinhuanet, and China Alcoholic Drinks Association, with people from Tsingtao, Yanjing, Snow, ABinBev, and Carlsberg attending.

China has had the highest beer consumption levels in the world for the past 14 years, consuming a quarter of the world's beers. As such important beer consumers, those involved in China's beer industry decided to arrange a forum to clarify some of the rumors going around about beer. 

Zhang Wujiu, the vice president of the China National Research Institute of Food & Fermentation Industries, refuted three rumors, including “1. a beer belly is the result of drinking beer, 2. hops extracts are addictive, and 3. drinking beer can cause gout.”

Zhang said, “a beer belly is not the result of drinking beer, but taking in too many calories. Women who don’t drink, but who don't have a high calorie intake, will also get a beer belly. A one-liter beer with 3.5 percent ABV has between 450 and 460 calories, which is lower than other products made from grains.”

There are also rumors that hops extracts are addictive, which Zhang denied. “Hops is one of the essentials to brew beer, providing bitterness and aromas, while hops extracts are drawn with carbon dioxide in high-pressure, which doesn’t mean it is addictive.”

And as for drinking beer causing gout, Zhang argued that “gout is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, and is a combination of diet and genetic factors. There’s no direct relation between drinking beer and getting gout. Normally, food items where 1kg food contains less than 250mg purine are known as low-purine foods, which can be eaten with no limit. Average domestic beers have 38-151mg purine per liter, which means ther are no problems from a medical respect.” According to Fang Jiaxi from ABinBev (Budweiser), “the domestic beer industry has suffered from negative growth for 25 months in a row. Hopefully these clarifications will help raising the reputation of beer.”

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos courtesy of Xinhuanet,memeaddicts

If you've got no money, click away from this blog now. We mean it, because prices to get out of Beijing are astronomical at the moment. But, did you get a massive bonus? Did you just get paid? Have you discovered you're not as broke as you thought? Take a look at these destinations for your final chance to escape Beijing this Spring Festival.

RELATED: Click here to see our full travel coverage

Where to Indulge in the Malaysian Capital: Tips to Enjoy Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, a tropical country in South-East Asia. Depending on one’s perspective, the country is either enriched with sunshine and people are blessed with sun-kissed skin, or it’s cursed with year-long summer weather and people are suffocating in the humidity. Nevertheless, the locals love living there and tourists flock to the city to get a feeling of the relaxing lifestyle. KL, as it’s more commonly known, is a melting pot of mouthwatering food, world-class shopping, outdoor adventures, culture and history. Don’t know where to start? Read on and begin planning your next trip.

Awe-Inspiring Temples and Bohemian Living With a Short Break in Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the main jumping off point for the UNESCO World Heritage listed Angkor Archeological Park, home to the ancient cities and temple complexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom (and many more). The town itself is understandably touristy, yet maintains a relaxed, bohemian vibe, with world-class wining and dining options, and a thriving creative scene. A four-night stay is enough to visit the majority of the major temples and fit in some quality time shopping and relaxing in the town center.

Chasing the Sun: The Best Short-Haul Winter Getaways from Beijing
There are plenty of things to love about winter in Beijing – ice skating on Houhai, a glass of mulled wine after a stroll in the hutongs, shopping for thermal underwear in Uniqlo – but there’s no denying that the sub-zero temperatures and bone-chilling winds can wear you down. While Beijing isn’t as well positioned for short hops around Southeast Asia as, say, Guangzhou, there are still plenty of destinations within an easy four to five hour direct flight that afford a sunny getaway.

November and December can be tricky months to travel in Southeast Asia. Towards the beginning of November, many cheap and cheerful destinations will experience their final month of monsoon rain. December is better, although note that this is considered high season for many Asian destinations, so prices are higher.

Heritage and Hospitality with a Short Break in Hoi An
Just a four-hour flight away from Beijing, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient town of Hoi An is the ideal destination for a short break from Beijing, offering a blend of beaches, sight seeing, and incredible food. The nearest airport is Da Nang International Airport, a short 45-minute drive away from central Hoi An. China Eastern flies direct to Da Nang twice a week, or alternatively Vietnam Airlines flies to Da Nang via Hanoi.

Thong Lor: Bangkok's Hot Old Neighborhood
Bangkok has a lot of cool nightlife areas, and its relaxed atmosphere and warmer weather make it an easier place to hang out after hours than our fair city. Of late, no neighborhood in Bangkok has sucked up as much heat and light as Thong Lor. It’s not exactly a new area, but some new bars and restaurants are drawing the spotlight back on this part of town. It’s a bit like Zoolander: Thong Lor is so hot right now. 

Osaka: The Best Place to Eat in Japan? Let Your Tastebuds be the Judge
Although it is the second or third largest city in Japan, depending on which metric you go by, Osaka doesn’t make it onto the itineraries of as many tourists as Japan’s other megacity, Tokyo. As a result of comprehensive bombing during World War II, Osaka is a mostly modern city (even its castle is a concrete reconstruction) but its bustling commercial character and outstanding food makes for a welcome break from the historical sites of nearby Kyoto. ANA, JAL, and Air China all offer direct flights to Kansai International Airport, 38km southeast of Osaka. The flight takes around three and a half hours, the perfect length for a weekend break.

Kyoto: A Short Break in the Thousand-Year-Old Capital
Indisputably Japan’s most beautiful city, and formerly capital of Japan for more than one thousand years, it’s hard to sum up the cultural and historical riches that Kyoto has to offer on one short page. From iconic temples and shrines to hidden Zen gardens, and on to winding alleyways where geisha still entertain guests, Kyoto should be top of the itinerary for any visitor to Japan. The best times to visit Kyoto are fall and spring, during the fall foliage and sakura viewing seasons, respectively, but the climate is temperate enough to make year-round visits a possibility.

We love Kyoto: read our secondary guide here.

Hiroshima: A Once Devastated City Now Rich with History, Warmth, and … Okonomiyaki
It is unlikely that Hiroshima will shake its reputation as the first city to be the victim of a nuclear bomb, but far from tumbling into despondency as one might after such extreme shock, the city shows few signs of the trauma that devastated it 70 years ago. Instead, the Japanese coastal municipality has woven the events of August 6, 1945 into its conscious narrative while embracing outside influences, which posits it as the perfect getaway, rich with history and modern touches, and surrounded by smaller cities of exceeding beauty.

A Precarious Balance Between Wildlife and Metropolis: Four Things to Do in and Around Nairobi
The capital of Kenya, Nairobi, is rather verdant, especially to someone coming in straight from a loufang inside the rather concrete Second Ring Road. The shift from the occasional hutong weasel eating trash to lions eating larger things was exactly the change of scenery I was looking for. 

The Caucasus: Unmatched Hospitality, Stunning Architecture, and Deep House
Upon announcing to my friends and family that I’d be spending my summer vacation in the Caucasus, the general reaction was “where in the hell?” Admittedly, the three countries that sit on the Caucasus Mountains – Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia – nestled between Turkey, Russia, and Iran as well as the Black and Caspian Seas, are not the world’s biggest tourist hotspots, but that’s not to say that each is not brimming with its own charm, arising from the territory’s tumultuous history. The region is a breeding ground for warring states battling over resource-rich and strategic land (some ongoing), making it one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse places on the planet. When coupled with its extremely sumptuous ecology and the unmatched hospitality from its people, the 10-hour flight from Beijing (approximately RMB 2,200 each way) is more than worth it.

Visiting Corfu, Xanadu of the West with Sea, Beaches, Mountains, and Local Delicacies
When you spot “A” for August in your calendar, your office is empty, and everyone is posting holiday pictures, one thing becomes clear: it is the season to get out. This year, the summer itch beckoned stronger than most, so I put aside my usual Southeast Asian antics, and headed to Corfu in Greece with the coolest family, a 13-hour flight west plus an hour from Athens.

Ethiopian Escapades: What to See in Northern Ethiopia
During Spring Festival, I spread my wings beyond the usual Southeast Asian travel destinations, and went on a tour of East Africa. In Ethiopia, we decided to visit the northern part of the country using Awaze Tours. They took us from the busting capital of Addis Ababa to the mysterious northern city of Axum in six days.

Visiting Yunnan: A Bountiful Paradise South of the Clouds
Flanked by Tibet, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, China’s southern province of Yunnan presents a stunning mixture of Tibetan and Southeast Asian cultures. Yunnan holds 25 of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities and a plethora of rich topographical sights and weekend escapes, making it infinitely explorable, wonderfully diverse, and permeating it with a vibe that can only be described as laidback.

– Robynne Tindall, Steven Schwankert, Tom Arnstein, and Tracy Wang contributed to this blog.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photos: Robynne Tindall, Stephane Bidouze, Margaux Schreurs, Tom Arnstein, Tracy Wang, Annie Lin

As a teacher at a study abroad program here in Beijing, I feel it's my duty not only to introduce the wonders of Chinese civilization to impressionable young minds from America but also to keep them safe. Each year, it is customary for me to prepare a short talk to acquaint the students with the Spring Festival. Happy New Year to all and stay safe.

RELATED: Beijing Chinese New Year Events

Greetings China Newbies:

Tonight is the beginning of Spring Festival. For many of you this will be the craziest, happiest, and most exciting night of your time studying in China. I hope you all have fun celebrating the Year of the Golden Cock. 

Yes, a question…

No, that is neither a euphemism nor a reason to call your university’s legal department. It is the actual date on the Chinese Lunar-Solar calendar. Don’t blame me, blame the Yellow Emperor.

Yes, another question…

No, that is not a racial epithet or form of imperialist micro-aggression, it is his actual title. We okay? Good.

As you take part in the festivities this weekend, please consider the following advice so that you can stay safe and healthy.

Be careful with fireworks. Consider for a moment the amount of care and attention Chinese manufacturers pay to things like “Quality Control” and “Product Safety.” Now look at the explosive device you are holding in your hand and which you just purchased from some dude squatting in a tent on the side of the road. Fireworks are part of the culture and they can be fun, but every year at this time the emergency room is filled with horrible injuries. They are often the kinds of injuries which will leave the victim answering to new and interesting nicknames like “Lefty,” “Three-Finger Zhou,” and “No Scrotum Li.” 

Question … You say you saw a grown man help his toddler son light a string of fireworks? Yes, that sometimes happens. Follow up question … No, I don’t think it’s part of a government program designed to retroactively return to the One Child Policy. The guy’s just an idiot. 

Drinking is also an integral component of Lunar New Year festivities. Remember however that “baijiu” is defined in the Kangxi Dictionary as “liquid regret flavored with ethanol.” It is perfectly appropriate, preferable really, to say, “No, thanks.” Your host will not think you are being rude if you decide to stick to Sprite. On the other hand, they will think you are being rude if you drunkenly vomit half-digested dumplings as you suggestively grope their cat.

Your host family will make you watch something called the Spring Festival Gala. No, it’s not your imagination or the baijiu fumes … it really is that bad. Yes, it does seem surprisingly similar to Donald Trump's inaugural gala. 

It is customary to present a gift to your host family. They may reciprocate. If your host father hands you an envelope of cash he is not, despite what last year’s students told you, being “pervy.” You should thank him and wish him a Happy New Year. If however he hands it to you while wearing only bedroom slippers and suggestively groping his cat, that is pervy and you should call a grown up.

Finally, never get into a car with somebody who has been drinking. The Beijing government is getting tougher about drinking and driving, but attitudes toward driving under the influence here are lax by US standards. Caution is also necessary when traveling around the city or walking in the area around campus.  It is an unfortunate reality that many drivers today and tomorrow will be lit up like a forest fire. Especially avoid any Black Audis, just trust me on this.

Enjoy the holiday! See you on the other side.

More stories by this author here.

Jeremiah Jenne is a writer, educator, and historian based in Beijing. You can follow him on Twitter @granitestudio.

Photos: ibtimes, Flickr

[Updated January 26]

Not going anywhere for the turn of the lunar new year? There's no reason to panic, as you can still ring in the Year of the Cock with festivities at some of your favorite spots, or escape to a hotel for a staycation to pretend you're not in smog-and-cracker-noise filled Beijing anymore.

RELATED: Full Chinese New Year events' listings

DRINKING AND PARTIES

2017 Orchid New Year's Eve Party
To celebrate the mass exodus that is Chinese New Year in Beijing, Great Leap Brewing and the Orchid Hotel are once again throwing one of the year’s raddest revelries on January 27 by hosting the 2017 Chinese New Year's Party at the Orchid Hotel. Last year we partied like no other, and this year we are going to party even harder. There will be endless free flow beer, bottomless snacks, and more. We are going to ring in the Year of the Cock with more excitement, mischief, and mayhem than a Monster Truck Rally in Denton, Texas.

The party will be at the Orchid Hotel with all you can drink Great Leap beer and all you can eat Indian-Mediterranean inspired snacks being served from the kitchen of wacky Canadian genius Joel Shuchat’s restaurant Toast, conveniently located within the confines of the hotel. Reservations are limited, so be sure to reserve with jimmy@greatleapbrewing.com as soon as possible! 9pm-3am. RMB 300. The Orchid

Spring Festival Dinner Party at Zeit Berlin
Welcome the year of the chicken with a big buffet of German food offerings, live music, activities, and fireworks at midnight. Book your seats on 6461 8842. 7pm-1am. RMB 288 (adults), RMB 120 (kids 5-16 years old). Zeit Berlin

BenCham New Year’s Reception
BenCham is delighted to organise its annual New Year’s Reception on Thursday January 19. As a tradition, we would like to welcome the community to kick start the year together. What better way to celebrate the new year than to raise the glass together with friends? For more details on how to register, click here. 6.30-10pm. RMB 200 (non-members). Conrad Hotel Beijing

Chinese New Year's Eve at the Great Wall 2017
​Enjoy a Chinese New Year's party away from the city at The Brickyard near the great wall with live folk music, jiaozi-making, and 188,000 firecrackers at midnight. Go all out by renting a room for RMB 2,688 including private transfer to and from Beijing for a staycation. 6pm-midnight. RMB 198-2,688. The Brickyard

Chinese New Year Cuisine at The Hutong
Get ready to ring in the Year of the Rooster hutong-style on January 25. The Hutong's chef's will share the traditions common around Spring Festival with everyone attending. 10.30am-1pm. RMB 300, RMB 260 (members). The Hutong

Zhege Band Chinese New Year Party
Zhege is Beijing oriented pop. Their entire songlist is a joke, but their execution is not. After their energetic, thought-provoking show, you are guaranteed to leave sweaty and fulfilled... yet still yearning for more. Performing songs from their upcoming EP 'Ba Ba Beijing' (coming March), this Chinese New Year it is time to get Zheggered. January 27, Free. 9pm-midnight. Hot Cat Club

"MY"-Jiaozi Party
Are your friends gone and having reunion dinners with their families or Pina Coladas somewhere in South East Asia, while you are stuck in cold Beijing during the Spring Festival? Then join Zarah on February 1 for their annual “MY”-Jiaozi Party and celebrate the New Year with us. They are organizing a big reunion dinner with communal cooking tables where they will teach you the art of dumpling making! Mix and match the ingredients from our extensive buffet selection to create your-style dumplings. RMB 88 per person (includes all-you-can-eat dumlpings and one drink). 6pm-midnight. Zarah

HOTEL DINNERS

Family Reunion at Qi at the Ritz Carlton Beijing
Capture the spirit of the season on January 27; welcome the New Year with traditional Chinese cuisine at Qi to unveil a prosperous Year of the Rooster. The creative team of chefs would like to introduce the most authentic family-style dishes to guests. Such as Steamed Green Grouper, Braised Pumpkin with Mushroom in Abalone Sauce and Wok-Fried Shrimp with XO Sauce and Asparagus. 5.30-9.30pm. Starts at RMB 3280 (plus taxes) for 4-6 people. Ritz Carlton Beijing

Chinese New Year Family Package at The Westin Beijing Financial Street
Head to the Westin Beijing Financial Street between January 27 and February 11 to enjoy Chinese Executive Chef Jacky Fan's signature dishes. 11.30am-10pm. Set menu's starting from RMB 1,999 per family. The Westin Beijing Financial Street

Year-End Dinners at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang
Choose from the Seasonal Tastes buffet, the signature Japanese restaurant Mai, or Cantonese restaurant Zen5esfrom January 27 onwards. 11.30am-10.30pm. Starts from RMB 258 net per person. The Westin Beijing Chaoyang

Festive Reunion Dinners at China World Summit Wing
Something for every taste and budget at the China World Summit Wing starting from January 27 including their Summit Ballroom, the Red Chamber, Chairman Rooms, and Grill 79. 5.30-11pm. Starts from RMB 2,888 net per table (10 people per table). China World Summit Wing

Spring Festival Reunion Buffet at The St. Regis Beijing
The St. Regis' Garden Court presents a reunion buffet put together especially for Spring Festival. Indulge with your family in the harmony of Spring Festival with traditional festive delicacies and international flavors. RMB 328 net (lunch, food only), RMB 388 net (dinner, food only). 6-10pm. The St. Regis Beijing

Reunion Dinner at the Four Seasons
Commemorate traditional Chinese New Year at the Four Seasons' Cai Yi Xuan with a creative feast for intimate family gatherings and celebrations, from January 27 through to January 30. 11.30am-10.30pm. RMB 800 net per person, minimum six peope. Four Seasons

Chinese New Year Feast at Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport
Come and celebrate at Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport between January 27 and February 11. Meals available for four people, for eight people, or just per person. RMB 618 per person. Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport

Feasts of Good Fortune at 8 Qi Nian
Enjoy an elegant modern Chinese ambience and traditional dishes to ring in the new year. Set menus are priced at RMB 1,988 for four people, RMB 3,888 for eight people, and RMB 4,888 for ten people including a bottle of red wine or Chinese spirits. New World Beijing Hotel

STAYCATIONS AND PROMOTIONS

Spring Festival Staycation at the China World Summit Wing
Get an executive room at RMB 1,500 per night (subject to 10 percent service charge and 6 percent VAT) inclusive of breakfast for two at Grill 79 between January 27 and February 5. 

New Year's Staycation at Sheraton in Langfang
Head to Langfang to ring in the Year of the Rooster with a RMB 968 net room between January 27 and February 1 including dinner and breakfast the next day for two adults and a child.

Chinese New Year Staycation at The Opposite House
Stay at The Opposite House during Chinese New Year. Reserve the Chinese New Year Staycation package from now until February 5, which includes complimentary upgrade to the next room category, daily breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child under 6, dinner for two at Sureño or RMB 1,000 dining credit at Jing Yaa Tang. 

Nian Gao Hampers
Get traditional niangao, or sweet rice cake, hampers for yourself or as a gift. Available from now until January 27, they can be ordered and collected from the counter in the lobby. RMB 258 onwards. The Westin Beijing Financial Street

Turnip and Rice Cake Hampers
Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport has prepared turnip cake and rice cake hampers to treat your friends or family with until January 27. RMB 58-168. Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport

More stories by this author here.

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

Images courtesy of the organizers, telegraph.co.uk

[Updated Jan 26]

Spring Festival is coming up, and if you didn't jump onto the flight or train-booking bandwagon early enough, you may find yourself stuck in Beijing for the week.

To make sure you aren't left pouting out in the cold in front of a closed door at your favorite bar or restaurant, below are details on opening and closing times of our favorite establishments throughout Spring Festival (Jan 27 through Feb 2 if not indicated specifically). If your restaurant or bar isn't listed, please comment or send us a message and we update accordingly.

Gulou/Dongzhimen/Dongsishitiao

Open

8-Bit - Open 6pm-2am (including Monday, Jan 30), closed Jan 27
Antlers - Kitchen closed Jan 26-Feb 1
Caravan
Crêpanini - Open as normal except Jan 27, 9.30am-11pm; Jan 28-29, 11am-11pm
Chill Bar
The Dirty Duck
Fang Bar
Great Leap Brewing (all locations)
Hutong Pizza - Open as normal except closed Jan 26-28
Paddy O'Shea's - Open 5pm-late
Ramo - Open 5pm-11pm
Slow Boat Taproom

Closed

Arrow Factory Taproom - Closed Jan 22-Feb 3
Bar 4 Nine - Closed Jan 27-31
Bungalow Tiki - Closed Jan 23-Feb 13
Cafe Sambal - Closed Jan 26-31
Capital Spirits - Closed Jan 28-Feb 10
The Distillery by Capital Spirits - Closed Jan 25-Feb 9
El Nido
The Georg
Hatchery
Juice by Melissa - Closed Jan 26-Feb 2
Palms LA Kitchen and Bar - Closed Jan 25-Feb 2
Mas - Closed Jan 23-Feb 6
Mercante - Closed Jan 23-Feb 5
Mimi e Coco 
Modernista - Closed Jan 23-Feb 2
MoxiMoxi
Stuff'd - Closed Jan 24-Feb 1
Tuk Tuk
The Vineyard - Closed Jan 22-Feb 3
4corners

Sanlitun/Liangmaqiao/CBD 

Open

Annie's Sanlitun/Annie's Chaoyang Park/Annie's Sunshine 100 (Guanghua Lu)
Bottle, Boot and Cigar
Beer Mania - Open 5pm-late
The Big Smoke - Open 5pm-late
Chat Room by the Rug - Open as normal except Jan 28 10am-6pm
Crêpanini - Open as normal except Jan 27, 10am-5pm; Jan 28-29, 11am-6pm (Parkview Green) and Jan 27, midday-6pm; Jan 28-29, midday-7.30pm (Nanluogu Xiang)
Ganges Indian Restaurant
Great Leap Brewing (all locations)
Hatsune (Sanlitun)
Hatsune (Kerry Center) - Open as normal except Jan 27 11.30am-5pm
Home Plate BBQ
Karaiya 
Moka Bros (Sanlitun, Solana) - Open as normal except Jan 27 closing at 5pm, closed Jan 28
Moka Bros (The Place) - Open as normal except Jan 27 closing at 5pm, closed Jan 28, Jan 29 11am-6pm
Mosto - Open as normal except 5pm Jan 27-28
Q Mex
Saigon Mama - Open as normal except Jan 28-31 from 12-8pm
Tavola
VSports

Closed

Annie's The Place/Annie's Ritan Park/Annie's Guomao - Closed Jan 25-Feb 3
Arrow Factory Brewing - Jan 22-Feb 3
Baozza - Closed Jan 21-Feb 5
Bottega 
Fiume - Closed Jan 23-Feb 5
Glo Kitchen and Fitness 
Hatsune (Guanghua Lu) - Closed Jan 27-29
Jing A Taproom - Closed Jan 18, Jan 23, and Jan 26-2
Kagen Teppanyaki - Closed Jan 27-29
Migas - Closed Jan 24-Feb 2
La Social - Closed Jan 27-28
LM Plus - Closed Jan 25-Feb 7
The Local - Closed Jan 25-31
Obentos - Closed Jan 27-31
Okra 1949 - Closed Jan 27-31
Opera Bombana 
Pachakutiq 
Palms LA Kitchen and Bar - Closed Jan 25-Feb 2
The Rug - Closed Jan 24-Feb 3
Sake Manzo (all locations) - Closed Jan 27-Feb 1
Slow Boat Sanlitun Brewpub - Closed Jan 27-29
Tribe Organic - Closed Jan 26-Feb 2
Yotsuba (all locations) - Closed Jan 25-Feb 3

Shuangjing

Open

The Brick
Plan B - Open 3pm-late Jan 27-Feb 2

Closed

Aussie Wine Bar - Closed Jan 30-Feb 2
Lily's American Diner (all locations) - Closed Jan 25-Feb 4

Lido/Wangjing/798

Open

Ganges Indian Restaurant
Hffousa Taco
Tiago - Open 11.30am-10pm

Closed

Annie's Lido/Annie's Wangjing - Closed Jan 25-Feb 3
Tribe Organic - Closed Jan 26-Feb 2
Yotsuba (all locations) - Closed Jan 25-Feb 3

Others

Open

Annie's Riviera (Shunyi)
Ganges Indian Restaurant
TRB Bites

Closed

Capital M
Juice by Melissa (Shunyi) - Closed Jan 26-Feb 20
Lily's American Diner (all locations) - Closed Jan 25-Feb 4
Man Yo - Closed Jan 25-Feb 3
Temple Restaurant Beijing - Closed Jan 27-29, dinner only Jan 30-Feb 2

We'd suggest ringing ahead anyway if you're unsure if the venue will be open, as locations may be forced to change their opening times again closer to the date to deal with staffing issues.

More stories by this author here.

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

Photo: sandraespinet.typepad.com, Tracy Wang, Trevor Metz, Paddy O'Shea's

Fireworks usage in Beijing is expected to decline once again this Spring Festival, a trend that shows a radical departure from just nine years ago, when it was fully expected that every resident of Beijing would be blowing shit up, living in what amounted to a war zone of fireworks that would last all night – if not all night and day for two weeks straight.

A combination of factors –  increased air pollution awareness, increased injuries, and a notorious 2009 fire that took down part of the new CCTV Tower complex –  has resulted in increasing regulations to restrict the practice within the city limits, and indications are that urban residents are growing weary of the centuries-old tradition.

Back in 2008, a giddy Beijing on the eve of hosting the Olympics was in full celebration mode, and the main topic of discussion around fireworks was the amazing variety on sale. Writer Cecily Huang detailed how that year featured "a broader variety of fireworks, with more than 80 new kinds of crackers to choose from" including the Olympic-themed Aoyun Beijing firework (a video for which can be viewed here) and other ear-popping selections.

Now, nearly ten years later, a massive dip in sales might make things seem less festive, but will surely keep fresher air in our lungs and prevent equallying troubling ringing in our ears.

Increased limits on the sale of fireworks has been one way Beijing has been dealing with excessive fireworks usage, paired with a consistent message of not overdoing it at this time of year.

Air pollution awareness certainly has a lot to do with it as well. It took a lot of Big Data to convince people that their individual fireworks use could contribute to the city's air pollution problem, but the message, seems to be sinking in. A recent poll by the Legal Daily indicated that 82.9 percent of Beijingers have no intention of setting off fireworks this year. A similar poll last year showed 76.5 percent did not intend to use fireworks.

RELATED: Usher in The Year of the Rooster with These Dinners, Parties, and Promotions

An editorial in the Legal Daily even went so far as to say that those that feel fireworks are an essential component of celebrating Chinese New Year obviously don't understand the real meaning of the Spring Festival.

This year, fireworks usage within the Fifth Ring Road is restricted to between the dates of January 27 and 28 (all day) and January 29 through February 11 from 7am to midnight. Fireworks usage will be completely restricted if an Orange or Red Alert is declared, although neither has been issued for the coming days yet.

As for now though, it looks like New Year's Eve (January 27) and New Year's Day (January 28) will have the highest levels of pollution, which is also when the most fireworks are bound to be set off, adding to an already high AQI.

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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
WeChat: 13263495040

Photo: China Smack, The Times, Xinhua

Daoxiangcun (稻香村), the local lao Beijing brand known for snacks and cakes which was first established in 1895 announced on Weibo that for the coming Chinese New Year, their new rooster-shaped cake (金鸡饼) will hit the market.

With golden pastry and floss stuffing, we were intruiged and ran over to Daoxiangcun, but sadly we found that there was no sign of this special snack. We also visited three other branches at Dongdaqiao, Chaoyangmenwai, and Andingmen, and none of these places had it.

During our visit to the Andingmen branch, there were about one hundred people waiting in more than six lines, most of them senior locals, waiting to get boxes of “eight treasures” (eight different cakes in one box) before Chinese New Year. There were a few more buying Tangyuan (汤圆, sweet dumplings) and braised meat.

So far there are more than 300 Daoxiangcun branches in Beijing, providing traditional local snacks and cakes. If you are not lucky enough to find the Cock cake (like we weren't), try the nori cake (RMB 20 per 500g), which is savory with nori and a little sweet (since it’s a sponge cake); the Tanghuoshao (糖火烧) which are similar to brownies, made of brown sugar and sesame paste; or the flower-shaped cake stuffed with jujube. All their outlets open from 8am to 7.30pm.

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

Photos courtesy of visitbeijing, Tracy Wang

Hello beer-heads! We feel your pain: the shops are closed, restaurants are closed, food delivery is taking longer than ever, and getting a car on a car-sharing app is basically impossible ... and then, there's the latest round of pollution. But believe me, after the firecracker-heavy Chinese New Year is rung in, air pollution will probably be worse. Since you have decide to stay in town, let's see which brewpubs stay open, so we can run there to quench our thirst (through our tears).

Arrow Factory Brewing (Liangma River) and the Vineyard (Wudaoying) will be closed from January 22-February 3, and back to normal on February 4. While their taproom (on Jianchang Hutong) and Stuff'd will be closed from January 24-31, and be back to normal opening hours on February 1. 

El Nidowill be closed from January 25-February 2.

Jing-Awill be closed from January 26 to February 2. If you fancy their beer, check this list of the places which are still open during the holiday serving their suds. The Big Smoke will only take one day off for Chinese New Year (Jan 27), but they won't be serving brunch during the holiday.

Also, you can find Jing-A new brew – Lucky 8 Lager at the Chinese New Year party at 4Corners (on Jan 27). They will offer a buy-one-get-one deal on this beer starting at 9pm, which is a crisp, hoppy and easy-to-drink India Pale Lager, with 6.5 percent ABV, and also has fruity aromas, thanks to the fresh pomelo juice they add during brewing.

Great Leap Brewing (all three locations) will remain open during the holidays. If you plan to kick off the year in style, join their CNY party at The Orchid Hotel (Baochao Hutong, Jan 27, 9pm till late, RMB 300 entry). Entry includes a full menu of party snacks including potato samosas, lamb kofte with tzatziki, hummus and fresh rye pita, and stewed beef pastries. And Liu the Brave Stout, Count Eulenburg IPL, and Explorer General IPA will be served (free flow) all night long, as well as the new Honey Ma Saison. The Orchid will be serving mulled wine too. Click here to grab yourself a ticket.

RELATED: EAT: Apertivo at Pizza View, Deals at North Capital and Arrow Factory Brewing, Chinese New Year Opening Times

I know some of you are loyal Heaven fans, and here’s the good news: Heaven Supermarket (both locations) will remain open during the holiday (5pm-5am). 

Peiping Machinewill be closed for two days (Jan 25-27), but we recommend you go on another day to try their Founders Devil Dacer Triple IPA (12 percent ABV, RMB 80!), you will love it. Make sure you try our favorite Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room from Evil Twin (I know, it’s a long and weird name), which is an imperial stout with 10 percent ABV with tons of rich coffee, chocolate and toffee flavors, and a silky finish.

Slow BoatTaproom (Dongsi Batiao) will open throughout the holidays, while the Sanlitun brewpub will take three days off (Jan 27-30).

NBeer Pubwill be closed from Jan 26-Feb 1.

Steamrhino (at Xindong Lu) will be closed Jan 27-31.

North Capital will remain open during the holidays and they still have their Wednesday burger nights.

This will be the last What’s Up in Beer blog before the Chinese New Year. We hope you all enjoy your time (and beer), and have a happy, wealthy, and soggy (with beer) holiday. See you in the Year of Rooster. 

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

Photos courtesy of the venues, Tracy Wang

We almost strained our arms high-fiving ourselves once the new policy that permits foreign holders of residence visas to register and use the e-channel at China Customs checkpoints. We may also have hurt our shoulders punching the air in triumph as we actually used said e-channel upon returning from end-of-year holidays, as we blazed through with a passport scan and a thumbprint, and 300 of our closest friends sucked it up in the usual serpentine immigration line. 

All along we suspected that this might be too good to be true, and in at least a few cases, it has proved that it is.

The ability to use the e-channel even some of the time is preferable to not using it ever, but the sinking feeling when one is directed back into the immigration Trail of Tears and filling out that sad, yellow form is a bitter pill to swallow when you were expecting the express treatment.

Your writer tasted this bitterness while flying to Hong Kong last week. That charming dusting of snow we received in the small hours of Thursday, January 19, turned what should have been an easy commute to Hong Kong into a 30-hour race against the clock thanks to icy roads and the numerous accidents they caused.

Re-routed via Kunming, this meant a domestic flight to the Yunnan capital followed by customs clearance and immigration procedures in Kunming. Smugly, I strolled to the e-channel, only to be told, twice, by an immigration official that it was closed, and was shown to the line for the rest of humanity. It wasn't closed only to me. While the lights were on and it would have appeared otherwise operational, a barrier had been placed in front of it for no apparent reason. 

Another Beijinger editor was refused use of the e-channel at Terminal 2 in Beijing because his/her international airline was "not registered" for e-channel passenger use, which of course makes absolutely no sense – registration is done with China Customs and has nothing to do with the airline being flown. Sense or no sense, he/she too was sentenced to The Line.

However, said editor used e-channel upon returning to Beijing with no hiccups, and I was able to use it inbound upon arrival at Guangzhou Train Station, the first land-based test of the system in our ad hoc focus group. We continue to recommend the e-channel as a nice benefit of having a residence visa. However, don't assume that it – and the time savings that may be derived – are automatic, and continue to arrive at least two hours in advance for international air travel.

Speaking of allotting time: if you're reading this shortly before heading to the airport to begin Spring Festival celebrations, add at least one hour to normal arrival times. That means three hours before an international flight, two hours before a domestic connection. Check-in and security lines are at the longest point of the year, and everyone else is in the same boat as you.

Charge your devices, bring something lightweight or disposable to read, and take a deep breath. Just because we live here doesn't mean it isn't still the world's largest annual migration of people on the planet. 

We'll revisit why China Eastern is the nation's worst carrier and how sucky websites are now costing airlines money and passengers in an upcoming edition of Talking Travel. Until then, we wish you the flattest and safest of roads on your Spring Festival journey.

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Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
Weibo:​ @SinoScuba潜水

Photo: Steven Schwankert/the Beijinger