A Singaporean who loves cooking, eating, photography and travels. Here to share my experiences and tips for fellow like-minded wanderlusters and foodies! Life is short; eat what you want and travel where you will.
After our very long trek through the massive Old Summer Palace in Beijing, my mother and I decided to stop for a quick lunch near our hotel (one of the malls around Xidan station) before retiring to our hotel for a quick afternoon bath and nap/rest before heading out in the evening.
This Taiwanese restaurant was one of the few shops that still had seats left so we decided to try it out.
Big Intestine and Oyster Mee Sua - definitely not Ah Zhong Mee Sua but decent enough
Stopped by this beautiful bakery with a great interior design and some buns for tea
In the evening, we
randomly decided to go over to Qianmen for Quan Ju De (Roast Duck) and
it turned out to be the best decision ever. There were so many shops
there that we loved as we wandered around. I also particularly love the mix of old and new in terms of the architecture there.
The Zhengyang Gate 正阳门 with a museum inside upon exiting Qianmen Station.
This is the Zhengyang Artillery Tower 正阳门箭楼 which is across the road (although you can't really go up close to look at it).
Me in front (or at the side?) of the artillery tower
Qianmen is bustling with travellers and locals. There are many stores selling souvenirs and traditional Chinese items at great prices. (Cheaper than those bordering the Forbidden City exit)
Cue awkward pose
Look how they have retained the old architecture of the building (Starbucks store near the entrance of Qianmen).
Crazy crowd outside Quan Ju De for some roast duck. Quan Ju De is one of the most famous brands for Peking Duck.
Candied haws for sale
Me with the cute duck ambassador of Quan Ju De. Sighs looking at old photos and miss being that size XD hahaha
Indoor waiting area in Quan Ju De's lobby with a TV screen to indicate your queue number. So if you're coming over, definitely come and get a queue number first before you go wander around Qianmen. During meal times/peak hours, it is very likely that you'll have to wait for a very long time anyway.
Being led in when it was our turn to be seated. Went upstairs and the place is really massive and beautiful.
The professional at work
Really good Peking Duck. We ordered a whole duck, then took the rest back to the hotel to feast on it like cavemen HAHA
After dinner, it was time to wander around a little more to digest the delicious duck dinner we had. So we decided to do some cheongsam shopping! They were at a pretty reasonable price. Haggling seems to be pretty challenging in Beijing as they often have clearly stated prices and are pretty much reluctant to lower prices unless you really buy quite a few of the same product.
Verdict? Qianmen is definitely a must-visit for any of you souvenir scooping folk out there because of how affordable it is. Quan Ju De is also a good stop (although there are other branches all over Beijing). However, you can come and soak in the atmosphere and try to imagine what it was like years ago. The traditional and well-preserved architecture will definitely help! >.<
Thank you and I hope you
enjoyed reading this post. In the next entry, I'll cover Day 4 (last entry: short post) where my
mum and I visited the Temple of Heaven (a must-visit in Beijing) ! Stay tuned!
