Best for arty types
798 may arguably have become over-commercialised, pushing out the city’s more grass-roots artists to more nascent art districts such as Caochangdi and Songzhuang Village. But a tour around one of 798’s most prestigious galleries, the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art (UCCA), is hard to resist.
Tailored for small groups, this one-hour whiz-round is given by informed insiders. Our guide, Sophie, leads us through exhibitions by luminaries including Liu Xiaodong, Yang Yong and the Indian duo Thukral and Tagra. She peppers our journey with anecdotes: some visitors tried to buy Yang Yong’s lamp exhibition for practical use in their living rooms; while Thukral and Tagra locked themselves in the exhibition room, refusing to leave for an entire day before their grand opening.
There is also time to enjoy the exhibitions by yourself and – best of all – all our questions were answered with not a whiff of artistic elitism (Ever wondered about that huge chandelier hanging in the ‘hope tunnel’? It is, we learn, a creation by all-round Chinese cultural hero Ai Wei Wei). We leave with a better grasp of the artists, their work and personalities.
UCCA 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (6438 6675; www.ullens-center.org). Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sun. Tours in English 55RMB per person (minimum six people); tours in Chinese 35RMB per person. Call three days in advance to book. 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号
Best for aspiring chefs
Ever wondered what that frankly bizarre, phallic-looking vegetable is on your local greengrocer’s stall? Well, this market tour will satisfy your hunger both metaphorically and physically (we couldn’t resist trying the steamed baozi).
All manner of wonderfully weird foods are on offer at this market in a hutong near Beixinqiao, from radishes the size of footballs and oddly elongated pumpkins to dried fruits, tofu (fried, frozen, fresh, you name it, they have it) and cuts of meat. Weak stomachs beware: we mean ALL kinds of meat cuts, including pigs’ trotters and skinned chicken heads.
Sophia from cultural centre The Hutong provided us with both culinary guidance and health tips focusing on traditional Chinese medicine. Celery leaves, for instance, are supposed to be extremely good for cooling down your body, while winter melon (a sort of Chinese squash) is a super-food: boil it in soup for an anti-inflammatory boost. Just make sure to dress warm: though the market is indoors, the howling winds outside still make it a little nippy.
The Hutong 1 Jiudaowang Zhongxiang Hutong, Dongcheng district (6404 3355; www.thehutong.com). Tours 8.45-9.45am every Tue and Wed; 12:30-1.30pm every Sat. 80RMB per person. 东城区九道弯中巷胡同1号
Best for architecture amateurs
The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) – or ‘the egg’, as it is called by cabbies – is an extravagantly modern child of the Olympics, designed by renowned French architect Paul Andreu. So we have high hopes as we step inside the futuristic building. Our guide, Crystal kicks off with a barrage of stats, technical data and measurements that leave our head spinning. It’s a move a little too reminiscent of school trips, and there is only so much data about titanium plates and glass panels that any sane person can take.
Nonetheless, this tour is fascinating as a chance to see a building designed with ‘Chinese characteristics and global ambition’. Make sure to check out the way in which the Chinese marbles and silk-covered panels combine with the ellipsoid and sci-fi design of the dome. Don’t go expecting to see backstage at the theatre: sadly, the curtain is kept tightly drawn. This definitely isn’t a tour for theatre buffs then. But, if you are turned on by the nuts and bolts of modern architecture, you’ll leave satisfied.
NCPA 2 Chang’an Jie, Xicheng district (6655 0000; www.chncpa.org). Tours run daily every half hour, 9am-4pm. 30RMB per person. 西城区西长安街2号
Best for tea geeks
This tea tour deserves its ‘safari’ tag: navigating between the mountains of tea feels like an expedition in itself. Maliandao Tea Street might not be exotic, but – as the centre of the tea trade in Beijing – its sheer size is truly impressive. The vast indoor wholesale market is the destination of choice for tea traders, buyers and experts and – thankfully – not saturated with touristy crowds.
From our guide Jenny, we learn everything there is to know about tea: from how to gauge quality (by colour, smell, taste and the shape of the leaves) to China’s most valued varieties. Those wanting to brew at home will also leave with some tips: a true connoisseur, we learn, only uses purple clay teapots, as the clay retains the flavour of the brew. For those who prefer green tea, however, make sure to serve it in a transparent glass to appreciate its colour and let its leaves breathe. Our tour ends in a shop across the street in a tea appreciation session where we got to put our newfound knowledge to the test.
Known as one of the best markets in China to buy fresh tea leaves (there are over 30,000 varieties sold here), expect some vendors to haggle as you walk past. Some of the tea for sale here is worth thousands of kuai, but there are also bargains to snap up as many sell at wholesale price.
Contact Hias Gourmet at info@hiasgourmet.com or call 6400 9199. Tours run every Mon and Thur, 3-5.30pm (groups of two-six people). Private tours on different days can also be arranged. 350RMB per person (group tour); 420RMB per person (private tour). Price includes tea tasting and demonstrations.