Getting Around Town (Chinese Phrases #1) - Airport Chinese Read Post

Getting Around Town (Chinese Phrases #1) - Airport Chinese

It’s all good knowing where you’re going and what you’re going to do in Beijing but being able to actually get yourself there is a different thing; especially since everything has been made to benefit the needs of the native Beijinger who speaks fluent Mandarin. Communication is essential for when you’re lost and when the 2RMB translated map isn’t sufficient for quick and easy navigation through the interconnected hutongs and bustling Chinese streets. I’ve been there, done that and am here to get you through those dark days by teaching you some of the most needed Chinese phrases for the average foreign traveller.
Just follow me on your journey to mastering my 4 Chinese Phrased: Getting Around Town lessons and you’ll be rendering all native speakers you come in contact with speechless with your ability to carry out conversations.
Help:
-          Click on the Chinese Character’s to hear the pronunciation and try to remember it as best as you can. In the case that you bring your phone to Beijing, the sound-file for each phrase is available to be downloaded.

-          Pinyin is the Chinese English system which dictates how the characters should be pronounced. To learn more about Pinyin, visit this link.

Arriving at the Airport


So, you’ve finally landed in Beijing after the extremely long flight from your native country {Or if you live relatively close to China then I’m sure it was very short in its entirety} and you’ve been stumped with your first challenge in Beijing: Getting around the airport and meeting that contact/taxi in order to check in to your hotel. Although since its international status was declared the owners of Beijing airport did try their best to accommodate to the needs of tourists, sometimes, the bare minimum isn’t enough.
Being a normal tourist, you’re going to have brought some luggage with you and are looking to pick it up. The problem is, ‘Where is the luggage claim area?’ The best person to ask this question to would be any official looking person who appears to be working in the airport.
The first rule when talking to someone in China: Be polite!
In China, politeness can get you a long way, a lot of bargains and a much more helpful person at your service!
So, firstly say: 请问！
This in Pinyin is: Qing wen!
In English, it means: Excuse me!

In Chinese: 行李领取处在哪儿？
This in Pinyin is: Xing li ling qu chu zai nar?
In English, it means: Where is the luggage claim area?

Once you’ve stopped an official worker and asked them this, they will most likely answer you eagerly and politely - but in Chinese. Most likely they’ll be telling you instructions or they might just tell you that they don’t know where it is, either way, knowing what these phrases sound like in Chinese will make it easy for you to know what’s going on.

Possible Reply: I don’t know.
Translation: 不知道.
This in Pinyin is: Bu zhi dao.
And you already know the English translation: I don’t know.

If they didn’t say anything which sounds remotely like that then it’s safe to think that they probably know where it is and are directing you there in Chinese. Since learning all of the directions in Chinese is quite time-consuming, let’s just learn how to ask them to take you there themselves.

So, to say, ‘Would you show me the way?’
In Chinese, you should say: 怎么走？
This in Pinyin is: Zen me zou?

And you already know the English translation: Would you show me the way?
A curt nod or a short ‘好/好的/好吧’ – Click the characters to hear the sound- may follow and in that case, you should start following the person until you get there. If they shake their head - which is highly unlikely - then you’ll have to find another person and follow the same routine until you reach success.

Once you’ve got there, remember to be polite and say, ‘Thank You,’ ‘谢谢 ’to your helper.
Now that you’ve got your luggage, it’s time to go through immigration control in which case, you should find another official worker like you did before but ask them the question,
: ‘Where is Immigration Control?’

In Chinese: 入境审批在那儿？
This in Pinyin is: Ru jing shen pi zai nar?
In English, this is: Where is Immigration Control?

Like before, listen closely for the replies and ask if they can take you there. Say thank you and you’re done!
(Beware, getting through immigration can take hours considering the time at which flights have arrived, the length of the lines and the amount of staff on duty.)

Leaving the Airport is a completely different story considering the different types of transportation available in Beijing. We’ll talk about that daunting challenge next time on Getting around Town (Chinese Phrases #2) - Transport Chinese.

Any questions, just drop a line!
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Tuesday, June 04, 2013 No Comments
A Chef's Chopstick Challenge {Beijing Street Food} #Part 4 Read Post

A Chef's Chopstick Challenge {Beijing Street Food} #Part 4


Dinner

Although many street food stalls may be getting ready for another shift at night, dinner in Beijing is definitely marked by the hums of the steam and sizzle of 70,000 restaurants showcasing the country's best regional cooking. Diners can eat their way through China without leaving the capital city. Scrumptious sweet and sour duck laid out on a platter of ribs drenched with black bean sauce will make your mouth water, but don’t splash out on your entire trip allowance yet!


Here’s my list of Beijing’s best eateries made for all budgets for you to get your evening fix of true Chinese cuisine.

 1. Duck de Chine (全鸭季)



In a city famed for roast duck, Duck de Chine stands neck and feathers above the rest.
What started as a father-son restaurant has now flourished into one of Beijing’s prized places for duck. After 11 years in preparation, a renowned recipe for the perfect Peking Duck will leave your wallet empty once slices of duck dipped in homemade hoisin sauce and folded into gently steamed pancakes reach your taste buds. The results can’t be refuted. And with the dazzling surrounding scenery and elegantly decorated building, Duck de Chine never ceases to awe.



Even the price of your food will leave you dumbstruck but for true value, who can dispute?

 

Address 


                   Duck de Chine                    Duck de Chine 

              56 Dong Xinlongjie                   东兴隆街56号

              Dongcheng District                       东城区

                         Beijing                                   北京



2.   Spicy Little Thing (Crayfish) – Ghost Street


Red, fiery kerosene lanterns that’ll take you back in time to the early days of Beijing’s streets, traditional courtyards filled with diners; reminiscent of the emperors and empresses who once dined in that same spot. This enclosed hub of historical nightlife located on Gui Street (AKA. Guijie in Chinese) is completely different from the normal ‘clubbing’ and ‘drinking’ scene which we normally associate that word with.

For Beijingers, its more than the food and the drink - it’s a way of life.

 Although it’s known as “Ghost Street” because of the ghostly spectacle of the grocery and produce night market formerly located there, Gui Jie is now one of the most alive places you can find in the city.

Stretching over one kilometre from Dongzhimen Bridge to Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, this is the only street in Beijing that truly never sleeps. Gui Jie is a 24-hour celebration of Chinese cuisine, with hungry patrons arriving anytime from noon to 4am to chow down on the street where some of Beijing’s best loved specialities were created. Home to more than 200 restaurants, you can sample almost anything here, from Spicy Sichuan Shuizhuyu and Mesmorizing Malatang to the rich taste of Grilled Seafood Chuan’er and the renowned Peking Duck. This spot surely hits the benchmark to be considered as one of Beijing’s most unique streets.

The structure of Guijie Street is like a dumbbell - bigger both ends and smaller in the middle. Restaurants at the ends are flourishing businesses, but the centre area is rather dull. Either way, this guide will lead you to some cultivating cuisine regardless of the stereotypes of the shops.


Here is my guide to eating out on Ghost Street for all food-lovers:

1.   Best Place for Spice

For the hot pot experience, there is none which can compete with Jingui XiaoShanCheng; a chain restaurant from Sichuan which serves up some of the best seafood found in Beijing within the medium price range bracket. What more could you ask for? It is most renowned for its ‘Ma la xiao,’ the nickname for Guijie’s Spicy Crayfish. At a meagre ¥6 each, seafood lovers who were disappointed with Beijing’s mainly pork precedence can eat their fill. With 3 exquisitely ornamented adjoining courtyards and large private rooms, this is the must-go-to location for old Beijing ambiance.

TIP:

Always make reservations on the weekend as although the restaurant itself can hold a staggering 400 customers, it is also always full.


Average Price: Less than ¥100 per couple.

Address 

No. 253 Dongzhimen Inner Street     253号东直门内大街
                Dongcheng District                 市东城区
                        Beijing                                北京

*If travelling by taxi, print out the Chinese address and make sure to show it to your driver.

Opening Times: 24Hours!
Telephone: +84 6407-6570

Subway


Take Subway Line 5 to Beixinqiao and exit from Exit D.
Turn right as soon as you exit the station and walk up the road until you reach the main road. (Dongsi North Street)
Once you reach the main road, turn left and walk up the road until you reach the intersection.
Turn right and cross the bridge to the other side of the road.
Turn right again and walk up the street until you see the bright lanterns in the picture above. - It shouldn't be hard to miss!

Bus:

Take any bus which goes towards Jing Zhuang (静安庄).
From that bus stop, get the 201 towards Jijiamao (纪家庙).
       - The bus service runs every 10 minutes so the wait shouldn't be too long!
Get off at 交道口南.
Head north up that street (In the opposite direction as the bus) and turn right.
Walk straight up the road until you reach the bridge. Then follow step 5 under the Subway heading.

2.   Best Chuan’er

Alcohol and good food is one of the main reasons that Xiao Yu Shan never seems to lack customers and now that it has recently installed a new roof and four gas burning fire places to keep you warm while you enjoy a cold draft beer (¥8), no matter the weather, there will never be an excuse to resist popping over to this garden and grabbing a pint. In addition to great chuan’er (Kebabs), grilled seafood is the speciality here. You can pick the fish, shellfish (¥8), shrimp (¥48) and turtles live directly from the tank to ensure you get fresh food.

{See an example of 'La zi ji' on the top right}.

Make sure that you try their ‘La zi ji’, (Chicken with Peppers) as time and time again, the La zi ji is served at an outstanding standard: nicely crisped on the outside and almost juicy on the inside, swimming in a sea of red dried capsicums. Honest to goodness, this spicy heaven is most definitely worth the trek to the Dongzhimen area of Beijing.


Address 


XiaoYu Shan                                             小渔山
No.195 Dongzhimen Inner Street      195号东直门内大街
Dongcheng District                                  市东城区
Beijing                                                         北京

Opening Times: Every day from 10.00am – 8.00am
                            -      Yes, it is open overnight!

Bus:

Take any bus which goes through Dongzhimen Bridge (静安庄).
Then get either the 106 | 107 | 117 | 635 towards Wuluju (五路居).
       - The bus service runs every 10 minutes so the wait shouldn't be too long!
Get off at Dongnei Xiaojie. (东内小街)
Head north up that street (In the same direction as the bus).
On your right, you should see XiaoYu Shan (小渔山).

Subway

Take Subway Line 2 to Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) and exit from Exit A.
Head west as soon as you exit the station and walk up the road until you pass the 3rd bus stop.

Keep walking up the road until on your right, you see XiaoYu Shan (小渔山).
So that’s it for the ‘A Chef’s Chopstick Challenge’ series. If you just happened to open this post and haven’t seen the others, go to my Frugal Feast page here to find the previous posts. Keep watching that blog-roll for some more Beijing Tourism posts!


Any questions, just drop a line!
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Monday, June 03, 2013 3 comments
Yonghe Lamasery {Lama Temple} Read Post

Yonghe Lamasery {Lama Temple}



Interested in Chinese Lamaism or Buddhism?

Even if you're not, this sacred temple should be ranked in the top 5 of your must-visit Beijing attraction list.

  Known to be the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in China, it’s not a surprise that Yonghe Lamasery is the site of many tourist excursions after the predominant attractions which give Beijing its name: The Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. 


Although this is the biggest site for Buddhism in Beijing, the pure golden statues and luxurious decorations will never fail to leave you marvelled . A hub for China’s history, just like every other place within Beijing, the furnishings of the interconnected temples evidently show that this building was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng in 1694 during the Qing dynasty.

Zhao Tai Gate which leads to the main hall.
The Lama Temple features five large halls and five courtyards with beautifully decorated archways, upturned eaves and carved details. It houses a treasury of Buddhist art, including sculptured images of gods, demons and Buddhas, as well as Tibetan-style murals.
South Courtyard:

In the south courtyard, a large wall screen and three tall Pailous (Pailou: a form of Chinese traditional buildings) herald the entrance to the building. After walking through the imperial passageway, you will reach the Zhaotai Gate  (See image on the right) which is the entrance to the north yard.
(See image on the right)
A drum tower in the west and a bell tower stand solemnly facing each other as though greeting visitors. The tale behind the purpose of these two structures is that one was used to mark the start of the working day and the end of it as there was no other means of telling the time. These two towers later became implemented in every province in China and by visiting those other provinces, you will be able to see them. Of course, none can compare to the grandeur of the originals within the Yonghe Lamasery.                          



Hall of the Heavenly Kings:
(See image on the right)
The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is actually no more than an entrance to the other four main halls. The corners of the hall are hung with Sanskrit bells and mantras are written on the lintels of the doors, which lends a religious atmosphere to the hall. The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is so called because Four Heavenly Kings are enshrined in the hall. At the centre is a statue of Maitreya who is beaming with a kindly smile and sitting with his legs crossed.

Hall of Harmony and Peace:

On stepping out of the Hall of the Heavenly Kings you will see a courtyard. The courtyard is centred on the Hall of Harmony and Peace and has four wing halls. It is definitely the biggest attraction in the whole temple due to a copper cooking vessel made in 1747 just beyond it in the courtyard being reputed as one of the 'three rarest objects in Beijing'.

    (See image on the left)

This is also the epitome of Buddhist prayer and it won’t be strange to find many people kneeling on mats in front of the temple praying with burning incense. Although the temptations to take pictures to capture the beautiful, serene scenery will be in the fore-front of your mind, it is important to remember that for many Buddhists, this temple is a very sacred and tranquil place and we tourists should respect that.

To stress this point even more, the Hall of Harmony and Peace is laid with statues of the three Buddha and of course, being Beijing, they’re all made out of pure gold:

·         Sakyamuni (Buddha of the Present)

·         Kasyapa Matanga (Buddha of the Past)

·         Maitreya Buddha (Buddha of the Future).
The four wing halls are where lamas study the two different types of Buddhism, Tibetan medicine, astronomy and geography and if you’re lucky, you might find some monks there during your visit.  Always be polite if you want to ask for a photo, especially if you’re interrupting them from their work. Remember, they have chosen to dedicate their whole lives to this religion.


A nice way to ask for a photo of someone is:

Chinese:  可以照您吗? Listen to the native pronunciation here.
Pinyin: Keyi zhao nin ma?
English: Would you mind if I took your picture? / May I take a picture of you?

Since many places within the lamasery are considered sacred, finding out whether or not pictures are allowed to be taken is mandatory before you end up in huge amounts of trouble.

One way to ask if pictures are allowed to be taken is:

Chinese: 这可以不可以照吗？Listen to the native pronunciation here.
Pinyin: Zher keyi bu key zhao ma?
English: Am I allowed to take pictures here?


Hall of Everlasting Blessings:
The Hall of Everlasting Blessings in the adjacent courtyard was the residence of Emperor Yongzhen when he was still a prince. The Amitabha (Infinite Life Buddha), the Medicine Buddha, and the Lion Buddha are positioned in the hall. Two depictions of White Tara and Green Tara respectively are hung along the sides of the wall; the picture of Green Tara is quite unusual as it is made of over 4,000 pieces of silk of different shapes and colours. - Definitely a hit for your Beijing Travel Album.


Hall of the Dharma Wheel:
The Hall of the Dharma Wheel is where lamas hold ceremonies and read a sacred book called 'sutra'. The hall houses a statue of Tsong Khapa, the father of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. A fine mural on the wall gives a detailed account of the whole life of Sakyamuni - much like the hieroglyphics in Egypt but more sophisticated and being Beijing, pure gold!

Also displayed here are some Buddhist scriptures, the 'Gangyur of Tripitaka' included and enshrined in the assistant halls, there are the five Heavenly Guardians.
 (See image on the top left)

 Pavilion of Infinite Happiness:

The Pavilion of Infinite Happiness, the last main hall, is the highest hall of the entire temple. It is a three-storey building, accompanied by two smaller pavilions. In the main hall, a huge statue of Maitreya is positioned which the seventh Dalai presented to the Emperor Qianlong, the son of Emperor Yongzheng. A niche for Buddha in the assistant hall is another excellent woodcarving which is carved with ninety-nine lifelike dragons.

                (See image on the right)
          
Make sure that you visit this part of the lamasery as it is a photo-must that will surely complete your Beijing Travel Album.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 No Comments
A Chef's Chopstick Challenge {Beijing Street Food} #Part 3 Read Post

A Chef's Chopstick Challenge {Beijing Street Food} #Part 3

Snacks!


It’s snack time, and where else would you rather be than in Beijing where anything from candied fruits, cakes and desserts to dumplings, BBQ meats and crab are considered as snacks! You can even still find a lot of the listed breakfast foods available throughout the day if you look far enough.

Here are some of my much-loved Beijing bites:


1.  Tang Hu Lu (糖葫芦)


Tang Hu Lu (candied fruit on-a-stick) Is a loved by everyone and anyone in Beijing. Widely sold is the original recipe of frozen hawthorns skewered onto a chopstick, dipped in sugar syrup and left to solidify to form what resembles a candied apple – only much tastier.

Types of fruits and toppings vary from vendor to vendor – sesame seeds and roasted nuts
could be added to the luscious caramel mixture as well as different fruits like kiwis, oranges and plums used as the base. Make sure that you stop by at one of the many vendors around Beijing. – You can surely find them around many of the tourist attractions.

The range of brightly coloured fruits, when cooked just right, will be shiny and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.


Eating your way through one of these is surely a hassle as the sugar relentlessly sticks over your molars but be assured that this tasty treat is addictive. You’ll find yourself going back for more whether it’s because of the taste or the bargain which they are at only 5RMB a stick.


Visit Wangfujing Snack Market to find this snack as well as the one that I'm about to mention below.

Address


Wangfujing Street                             王府井大

Dongcheng  District                              东城区

Beijing                                                    北京


*If taking a taxi, make sure that you print this address in Chinese and hand it to the driver.


Subway 
Take Subway Line 1 to Wangfujing  Station (王府井站)and exit from Exit A.

Once you’re out of the station, walk directly up the road directly in front of the station. Once you reach the triple intersection, turn left and you’ll see the big walkway marking the Wangfujing Snack Market.

-       At the sight of people munching on the delicacies, you’ll know you’re going the right way!

Bus
Take either bus 103 | 104 | 201 | 211 | 420 | 2 | 11 towards Wangfujing (王府井) and get off at Wangfujing North Intersection (王府井路口北).

Then walk up the road until you reach the triple intersection, turn left and you’ll see the big walkway marking the Wangfujing Snack Market.



2. Beijing Yoghurt Drink (老北京)


What’s inside these ceramic pots which you’ll see frequently around Beijing?
Fresh, lightly sweetened yoghurt! And some of the best yoghurt that foreigners have said they’ve ever tasted! This sweet but refreshing snack contains all of the goodness yoghurt is said to contain as well as an unexpected sweetness that blows you away. Choices range from a warm, room temperature pot to a chilled, slightly refrigerated one – the Chinese don’t believe in very cold drinks. But all of them still retain the same flavour that’ll make you sigh in delight after a long day of sight-seeing.

At 2RMB a pot if you drink it on the spot or only 3RMB if you take it away, this treat isn’t very hard to find. They’re normally around every famous attraction so try looking around for one of the blue crates and you won’t be too far away.

 Make sure that you watch out for the last part in the ‘A Chef’s Chopstick Challenge’ series where I’ll cover some of the best dinner Beijing has to offer.

Any questions, just drop a line!
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Friday, May 17, 2013 No Comments