First published on 2 Dec 2010. Updated on 6 Sep 2012.
The hub of Wudaokou, and thus student central, The Bridge is where it’s at judging by the 24-7 crowds that flock here from nearby Peking University, Tsinghua and BLCU.
Hike up past the Lara shop and enter the first of its three floors. Here, smokers and non-smokers sit divided while a polyphony of English and other vocabularies crackle in the air. There’s a corner piano that’s rarely heard, as well as outdoor seating that boasts such precious sights as the Wudaokou light rail.
Mercifully there are other attractions to grab your attention, and the cafe’s simple food is the big draw here. Breakfast is possible at all hours, as is tucking into the sandwiches, muffins and decent sweets, including a slice of carrot cake that will bring a smile to your face.
There are postings for jobs, language tutors, rooms for rent and lots of couches to sit back and just chill on. Bottles of cheap wine make for a decent, civilised date, and if you want to pop out into the gardens of Huaqing Jiayuan’s large apartment complex for a good, cheap massage, it’s just around the corner.