tions beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of

Ritan Park Is A Beautiful Parklan, dating from 1530 and 2nd just east of the second Ring Road. There is nothting quite like a diplomat to raise the tone of a neighourhood and if they come by the square meter, as they do around Jianguomenwai, let’s just say its notch above the usual!

Jiangguomenwai is a street as expansive as its name is long and on either side of it, there is rich potential for amusement, entertainment and, as always in Beijing excellent shopping And a good place to start and usually the first stop for the first-time city visitor, the Friend ship Store is a stable staple of western consumerism in Beijing and a front-runner to offer things western and sought after in the city over the last two decades. There is much to see and buy inside. On the east side, the Friendship supermarket, that is conveniently situated beside Starbuck’s, has plenty of snacks, drinks and dry good and a large display of chocolate to satisfy the “snack” hungry western palate. Western chocolate is not available everywhere in the city.

The Store sells traditional Chinese medicine, a huge variety of tea, semi-precious stones and ethnic Chinese jewellery. Western magazines and daily newspapers are available towards the western side of the shop, as well as reasonably priced luggage, CDs and handmade paper kites. There is also an ATM at the exit door on the west that serves international and domestic bankcard holders.

Another staple of the western community in Beijng is Steak and Eggs, clever marketing of an American dinner, Chinese style. Open early until late, the restaurant is a busy hub of local diplomatic community and others aching for a hamburger and French fries, Coke cola and homemade apple pie. As well as being very reasonably priced. Steak and Eggs has great service, provided by Chinese well attuned to the needs of the demanding western dinner, speaking English and always looking for tips on how to speak it better!

On either side of Steak and Eggs further temptations beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of

usually the first stop for the first-time city visitor, the Friend ship Store is a stable staple of western consumerism in Beijing and a front-runner to offer things western and sought after in the city over the last two decades. There is much to see and buy inside. On the east side, the Friendship supermarket, that is conveniently situated beside Starbuck’s, has plenty of snacks, drinks and dry good and a large display of chocolate to satisfy the “snack” hungry western palate. Western chocolate is not available everywhere in the city.

The Store sells traditional Chinese medicine, a huge variety of tea, semi-precious stones and ethnic Chinese jewellery. Western magazines and daily newspapers are available towards the western side of the shop, as well as reasonably priced luggage, CDs and handmade paper kites. There is also an ATM at the exit door on the west that serves international and domestic bankcard holders.

Another staple of the western community in Beijng is Steak and Eggs, clever marketing of an American dinner, Chinese style. Open early until late, the restaurant is a busy hub of local diplomatic community and others aching for a hamburger and French fries, Coke cola and homemade apple pie. As well as being very reasonably priced. Steak and Eggs has great service, provided by Chinese well attuned to the needs of the demanding western dinner, speaking English and always looking for tips on how to speak it better!

On either side of Steak and Eggs further temptations beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of

not available everywhere in the city.

The Store sells traditional Chinese medicine, a huge variety of tea, semi-precious stones and ethnic Chinese jewellery. Western magazines and daily newspapers are available towards the western side of the shop, as well as reasonably priced luggage, CDs and handmade paper kites. There is also an ATM at the exit door on the west that serves international and domestic bankcard holders.

Another staple of the western community in Beijng is Steak and Eggs, clever marketing of an American dinner, Chinese style. Open early until late, the restaurant is a busy hub of local diplomatic community and others aching for a hamburger and French fries, Coke cola and homemade apple pie. As well as being very reasonably priced. Steak and Eggs has great service, provided by Chinese well attuned to the needs of the demanding western dinner, speaking English and always looking for tips on how to speak it better!

On either side of Steak and Eggs further temptations beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of

, clever marketing of an American dinner, Chinese style. Open early until late, the restaurant is a busy hub of local diplomatic community and others aching for a hamburger and French fries, Coke cola and homemade apple pie. As well as being very reasonably priced. Steak and Eggs has great service, provided by Chinese well attuned to the needs of the demanding western dinner, speaking English and always looking for tips on how to speak it better!

On either side of Steak and Eggs further temptations beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of

tions beckon with more restaurants offering food from around Asia and Europe .

Back out on Jianguomenwai, heading east, you will come across the popular but somewhat controversial Beijing Xiushui Haosen Clothing Market building, known as “Silk Alley”. From a previous life as a collection of alleyway stalls selling rock-bottom priced fashion on the same site, early in 2005 the stalls were scooped up and given a permanent home with a permanent roof on Jianguomenwai. However, if you are a fan of unbranded cashmere and silk, bargains can be had. Silk Alley is worth a look, if only to see what all the fuss is about! Again, remember to tug those seams for good quality products.

Back track and head north to Ritan Park along Ritan Lu, you will find the famous CREATION ART GALLERY . Futher north, and experience Little Russia a small community of shops, market stalls, restaurants and noticeably different racial features of the people milling in the streets and lanes around the small gated park School children busting free at lunchtime, hawkers selling food, parents chatting, standstill traffic and the sound of impatient car horns, little Russia is a busy place where there is more to do than just look. Going north , you will find Russian fur shops with every description and price of fur for resale. Not the squeamish, fur bargains can be found, full length or just wrap around!

Step into the Ritan Park and rest a while. Listen out for the sound of birds and you are sure to the older Chinese gentlemen and their bird cages, a favourtie hobby of retired folk in the city. Spoilt for choice in this area. You can go a stone’s throw to the St. Regis Hotel . Also on Ritan Lu, for British-style tea or drop into the John Bull Pub for an early afternoon pint of Sout and take in the authentic interior of a British pub far from home!

As you will notice. Ritan is awash with army security walking double file along its pavements, changing the guard protecting embassy residence and official representative offices in China . Even amid such high security, many of the diplomatic streets are open to the public and if the weather is fine, observing the splendid houses can make a pleasant excursion.