A Walk From Ri Tan Park to Sanlitun
Morning
The American-style diner Steak and Eggs
(5 Xiushui Jie), which is behind the Friendship Store, opens for
pancake-platter breakfasts at 7:30am. Well fed, head north up
embassy-lined Jianhua Lu to enter Ri Tan Park
via the south gate. This is one of the city’s best parks, with an old
sacrificial altar, a rockery, and a small lake with the waterside Stone Boat
café. Exit via the west gate onto Ritan Lu, then head south, toward
Guanghua Lu, which is lined with shops. Stop at French deli Fauchon (see Fauchon)
to stock up on delicious chocolates and wines, or head to one of the
many stores in this area. Continue on to busy Chaoyang Men Wai Dajie,
lined with malls and the Dong Yue Miao temple.
Afternoon
Departing the temple,
turn left and then take the second left into Gongren Lu. This takes you
up to a park with a lake and then the Workers’ Stadium.
Circle the stadium to exit via the north gate onto Gongren Tiyuchang
Bei Lu. Head east until you come to a foot bridge, which allows you to
cross this eight-lane boulevard safely. It deposits you in front of
Yashaw Market
for more bargain shopping. To the east,
The Village
offers more up-scale shopping
possibilities. Continue east until Sanlitun Bei Lu, the heart of the
city’s entertainment district: bars
The Tree
and
Bookworm
, plus restaurant
Alameda
are all just a few minutes’ walk from here.
Shops, Markets, and Malls
Silk Market
This four-story indoor market is the lodestone for counterfeit designer goods. Haggle as if your life depended on it .
Sunglasses at the Silk Market
Yashaw Market
Similar to the Silk Market, but significantly less crowded and less aggressive .
Boots at Yashaw Market
China World Shopping Mall
The Silk Market and Yashaw Market sell the counterfeits, but this is where you come for the originals .
Shin Kong Plaza
Opened
in April 2007, Shin Kong is a temple for luxury shopping and gourmet
dining. It marked the debut appearance of many elite brands in mainland
China .
Friendship Store
Once
upon a time this was officially the only store tourists could visit.
Now it’s the last place you’d want to shop; it’s overpriced and has
notoriously unhelpful staff. Visit only for a glimpse of how shopping in
Beijing was in the good old bad old days.
17 Jianguo Men Wai Dajie
6500 3311
Dong Jiao Wholesale Market
This is where the traders from Beijing’s other markets come to buy their stock .
The Place
With
its eye-catching LED screen, The Place is hard to miss. This mall
offers mid-range shops like Zara, Aldo, MAC, Crocs, and Puma. There is
also an English-language bookshop.
9 Guanghua Lu
6587 1188
8561 9556
Fauchon
This French gourmet empire opened its first Chinese deli and grocery store in Shin Kong Plaza, levels B1–F2.
The Village at Sanlitun
The upscale Village has shops selling fashion, sporting apparel, and electronics, plus a range of restaurants and bars.
The Village
Jenny Lou’s
Expat heaven with genuine Dutch cheese, German bread, and French wines.
