Too many dumplings (and a strong adversity to exercise in -9°C) means we here at Bespoke Beijing don’t feel the healthiest at this time of year. The answer? Ordering fruit salads from Gung Ho Pizza and pretending the coconut dressing that comes with it is ‘low fat yoghurt’. Makes us feel much better. Thanks Gung Ho.
Mmmm, fresh fruity goodness!
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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!
Feeling kind of gloomy this January? Then thank your lucky stars you’re not this poor little fella…
Embarrassed
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Instead of guessing who slept with who (we’ll leave that to the tabloid press), Bespoke Beijing challenges you to guess who slept where. Do you know which hotels these celebrities stayed at when they were in Beijing?
Answers at the bottom…
1. Will Smith
2. Donatella Versace
3. Jessica Alba
Yes Jessica, we agree: who doesn't love Panjiayuan Dirt Market?
4. Anna Wintour
5. Matt Dillon
6. Beyonce
Beyonce at Mutianyu. She actually had her picture taken with those old men in costume!
7. Kylie Minogue
8. Kanye West
9. Christian Bale
Only the best for Mr West. But where exactly did he rest his head during his stay in Beijing?
ANSWERS:
Will Smith: The Wild Wild Westin Chaoyang; Donatella Versace: Got pampered at the Peninsula; Jessica Alba: Stayed at the Fantastic Four Star Yi House; Anna Wintour: The Devil Wears Bathrobes from the China World Summit Wing; Matt Dillon: For Matt There’s Something About The Opposite House; Beyonce: Queen B enjoyed Sweet Dreams over at The Opposite House; Kylie Minogue: Wiggled her way over to the Westin Financial Street after her 2008 gig at The Workers’; Kanye West: Primped, preened and pouted his way around the Peninsula Beijing; Christian Bale Is a Grand Hyatt Man.
Yi House Hotel
But which hotel’s right for you? Get in touch with Bespoke Beijing at info@bespoke-beijing.com and find out!
This is our local shop. They never have anything we want, but we keep returning because they’re close by, it’s hot here, and they have a cute kid we’d like to think our purchases contribute to the wellbeing of.
Our main buys? Mizone drinks (great for hangovers) and Dove chocolate bars. Because sometimes chocolate is the only answer…
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Meet Sid. We’re rather fond of Sid. And not just because he looks like he’s just told a really dirty joke.
No, Sid exists in the Bespoke Beijing office because a photo of him has been pinned to our office manager’s computer to cheer us all up first thing in the morning. So no matter how rude our taxi driver was getting in to work, how busy the subway or how humid the weather, Sid is there to remind us that everything’s just great.
(He also reminded us to book that appointment with the dental hygienist but that’s another matter…)
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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
Jessie the Fortune Teller Tour Guide
Imagine our surprise when a girl called Jessie came in to see us about a tour guide position and instead started telling our fortunes. ‘I love life and I do a bit of everything!” she said breathlessly after about five seconds of meeting us.
After giving our palms the once over, the comment ‘your business line goes up and up, Bespoke Beijing will do very well’ was perhaps a tad predictable, but we can’t blame her for trying.
She wrinkled her nose at our love lines and told us how many children we could have if we wanted them (this involved slapping our clenched fists several times for dramatic effect). She also told us that we should never grow peach trees in our courtyard lest our fortunes take a turn for the worse (no danger of that then, we all live in flats).
So thank you Jessie, for brightening our Tuesday afternoon. You’re a bit of a legend.
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