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Visitors headed to Beijing for Olympics can check out city's bohemian side
(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-02 15:43
Get a phone: Buy a SIM card at the airport for your mobile phone or buy a mobile phone and SIM card near your hotel. A Nokia with a China Mobile pay-as-you-go number and three hours of local talk time costs less than a duck dinner. Visitors frequently get lost and it's a nice lifeline. You can always call your hotel concierge for advice.
-Check the air: Cars, factories and construction choke Beijing with terrible smog. Check the State Environmental Protection Administration's Web site for daily air quality reports in English: http://www.sepa.gov.cn/english/air-list.php3. If it's particularly bad, consider staying in the countryside or taking a day trip there.
-Pack common sense: Petty crimes like pickpocketing are on the rise in Beijing so stay alert. Also beware of scams such as the friendly "art students" who offer to take you to a nice tea house. They are in cahoots with the owner and want you to buy absurdly expensive tea.
798 ART DISTRICT: http://www.798space.com/. Located in the Chaoyang district, between alleys No. 2 and 4 on Jiuxianqiao Lu, south of the Dashanzi flyover.
AT CAFE: Chaoyang district, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu. Phone: 011-86-10-6438-7264.
BEIJING PLANNING EXHIBITION HALL: Chongwen district, No. 20 E. Qianmen Ave. Phone: 011-86-10-6702-4559 or 6701-7074. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays.
BAIYUN GUAN DAOIST TEMPLE: Haidian District, Baiyun Guan Lu, east of the intersection with Baiyun Lu, (first right north of Baiyun Qiao, directly across from Baiyun Guan bus stop). Phone: 011-86-10-6346-3531. Admission: 10 yuan (US$1.30;euro1). Open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
ORIENTAL TAIPAN MASSAGE & SPA: Chaoyang district, Lido Shop, 2F Block 9, Lido Place, 2A Fang Yuan Xi Road. Phone: 011-86-10-6437-6299.
SHOPPING:
-Plastered 8: Dongcheng District, 61 Nanluoguxiang Hutong. Mobile phone: 011-86-139-102-05721.
-Jindian Consignment Shop (Jindian Xinqiao Xintuo Shanghang): Dongcheng District, Dongsi Bei Dajie, Bei Xin Qiao, No. 43. Phone: 011-86-10-8402-1939 (across street from post office). Open from 9 a.m.-5:30 pm.
NIGHTLIFE:
-New Get Lucky Bar: On Nuren Jie bar street, inside Oriental Qicai World. Phone: 011-86-10-8448-3335.
-CD Cafe: Chaoyang District, 16 Nongzhanguanlu, Dongsanhuan (next to Great Wall Sheraton Hotel). Phone: 011-86-10-6506-8288.
-Nameless Highland: Chaoyang District, Section 1, Anhuili, Yayun Cun. Phone: 011-86-10-6489-1613.
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