Sadly, the Chinese New Year festivities are nearly over, but we had a ball. And while we wouldn’t necessarily recommend anyone to travel to Beijing over this period (all of the best restaurants are closed for starters), we do think it’s a wonderful time to see Beijing at its festive best.
Here is a collection of colourful photos taken by Team Bespoke over the holiday by way of demonstration!
Don’t you just love kooky Beijing pastimes? We came across this guy cracking an enormous bullwhip by the National Art Museum of China (you can see for yourselves if you head there at around 7pm each evening). We don’t know why - and it makes a hell of a noise - but it’s pretty cool. Just stand well back!
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Chinese art collectors and history fiends alike will love Red Gate – which not only happens to be the city’s most unique art gallery, but as of this weekend, also its oldest.
It all started with one man – an Australian named Brian Wallace. He had a passion for art; Beijing had an abandoned 15th century gate tower. In 1991 the local government let him set up Beijing’s first contemporary art gallery inside, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now the magnificent space is home to a consistently excellent rotating collection of China’s hottest up-and-coming contemporary artists, from experimental collective Island 6 to the ever popular Zhou Jun.
Handily, both Wallace and the gallery’s manager Liyu Yeo are usually on hand to offer more information about the artworks. Mention Bespoke and Liyu might even give you a mini talk on the gate tower’s history.
Once you’ve finished perusing (or buying) the art, you can ascend into the rafters to see the tower’s permanent exhibition of historical photographs. The collection shows snapshots of Beijing’s city walls and nine historical gates and is as good as any you’d find in Beijing’s museums.
Red Gate Gallery Dongbianmen Watchtower, Dongcheng district (+86 6525 1005)
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And we admit we’ve been going a little overboard with the ‘Miniature setting’, which turns every scene into something akin to a tiny toy land.
Here are some photos we’ve taken around Dongcheng district over the last couple of days. Sweet aren’t they? And are we crazy or does the temple building look edible? As though it’s made of marzipan?
No? Just us? Must be lunchtime…
The Temple Hotel
Ducks on Houhai Lake
Courtyard doorway near Zhangzizhonglu
Beijing taxi at the Guijie crossroads
Bespoke's Beijing Marianna Cerini and John Tackabery (aka J-TAK) board the Batmobile
Strap yourself in… well actually, you can’t, but at least brace yourself for what is sure to be a bumpy and exhilarating ride. Founded and operated by Frenchman Gael Thoreau, Beijing Sideways offers tours of Beijing and The Great Wall in a motorcycle sidecar. That’s right – imagine you’re the sidekick to your favorite superhero as you whizz around traffic, see the sights, and incite more than a few stares from locals.
We took the “Beijing in a Nutshell” tour (1200RMB for the 1st passenger; 750RMB for the 2nd) and couldn’t think of a better way to squeeze the whole city into a mere four hours. From the glamourous heights of Central Business District to the rough-edged remains of the old city hutongs, Thoreau hit on all of Beijing’s high points without neglecting its real character.
Even better, each tour is improvised at Thoreau’s (and your) whim(s), with a little help from his large circle of friends around the city. We had a fashion designer in our party, so he brought us by the ultra-exclusive Wuhao Curated Shop in Dongcheng for a look at their spring collection (more to come on that later…).
And if you’re looking to escape city traffic entirely, Beijing Sideways can give you a glimpse of rural China with a rustic journey to the Great Wall, complete with a stay at their Guest House and a menu of classic French fare (3500-4000RMB per person, minimum two participants).
So for a thrilling, somewhat dangerous, and altogether unique way to see the city, we thoroughly recommend Beijing Sideways.
To book a Beijing Sideways tour through Bespoke Beijing, give us a shout at info@bespoke-beijing.com.
A bike's eye view of the CCTV Tower
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Hands down our favourite park in Beijing. And here’s why…
We’d like to thank the brilliant Genevieve Carmel and Bespoke’s own Keith Luu for the rather superb editing displayed here. Hat’s off guys.
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